All posts by micraftbeer

Dark Horse Smells Like a Safety Meeting

It’s been years since I had this.  I haven’t seen much from Dark Horse since they were bought by Roak, so I was excited to see a throwback.  This was canned on 03/25/23, drank on 04/29/23.

Aroma has faint caramel malts with some sticky hop aroma. Taste starts clean with a slightly sharp hop bite, then slowly builds a thick hop bitterness mixed with some caramel malts. Finally finishes clean as all the flavors somehow disappear.

If you’re in the mood for a caramel-y IPA, this hits the spot.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Homebrew Janet’s Tasty Brown Ale

This brew is well-known in the homebrew world.  A recipe by a well-known homebrewer that was always well received, that gained in prominence after he died from cancer.  It is regularly done as a basis for various charity/fundraising for cancer research.

A lot of malt flavor/complexity, but not too overwhelming.  A nice, noticeable hop flavor and bit of bitterness make a nice combination.

Brewed: 2/12/2023.  Distributed: 3/14/2023.

ABV: 5.6%,  IBU: 44

Malts: Brewer’s 2-row, Caramel 40L, Carapils, White Wheat, Chocolate Malt.

Hops: Northern Brewer, Cascade, Centennial.

Yeast: Wyeast 1056 American Ale.

Homebrew Bursting Pale Ale

This was just a random beer created in a time window I had to brew something.  I attempted to create a bright hop profile.

This turned out OK I thought.  Fairly clean taste with some hop flavor, but not much bitterness.

Brewed: 12/27/2022.  Distributed: 2/3/2023.

ABV: 5.7%,  IBU: 36

Malts: Brewer’s 2-row, Munich, Caramel 20L, Flaked Wheat, White Wheat, Red-X, Vienna.

Hops: Cluster, Cascade, CTZ, Amarillo.

Yeast: Wyeast 1056 American Ale.

Homebrew Lone Fish IPA

This was originally envisioned to be a beer that I brewed over the summer (Isolation IPA) that was decent, but I wasn’t happy with the hops.  This Lone Fish IPA was going to be focused on Centennial hops, but when I had a chance to brew it, I had accidentally used most of the Centennial hops for something else.  So I improvised.

The beer turned out much higher ABV than planned.  I’m not a fan of Double IPAs in general, but thought this turned out OK.  But overall, I think the alcohol taste is too present.

Brewed: 12/21/2022.  Distributed: 2/3/2023.

ABV: 8.4%,  IBU: 78

Malts: Maris Otter, Brewer’s 2-row, Munich, Caramel 20L.

Hops: Cluster, Citra, CTZ, Amarillo, Centennial.

Yeast: Imperial A07 Flagship.

Rogue Gumberoo

Just bought today, 1/14/2023, they have no marking on cardboard box, but saw after opening this was canned on 2/10/22. Damn I hate buying old beer!

Very sticky sweet aroma of hops and caramel malts. Taste is mostly smooth with a little bit of a hop edge on the back end. Almost mediciny-like taste comes in, a mix of malt and yeast. Finishes with a dry palate and a slight edge of hop bitterness as the malt/yeast sweetness crescendos and then fades.

3 out of 5 stars.