Oh Happy Day #12 – Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner

We tasted this the other day at the Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA Release Event, but the official Oh Happy Day package came just a couple of days ago… see below in all its glory… and then below that for the not so glorious outtake with Mr. Dave.  As noted in the official tasting, this is going to be a great summer beer that looks as pretty as it tastes.  Enjoy!

Tasting: Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner 

Previous Oh Happy Day posts:

• Oh Happy Day #1 – Pipeline Porter
• Oh Happy Day #2 – Fish Tale Organic Ales
• Oh Happy Day #3 – Bell’s Brewery
• Oh Happy Day #4 – Widmer Brothers Brrr
• Oh Happy Day #5 – Redhook Double Black Stout
• Oh Happy Day #6 – Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale
• Oh Happy Day #7 – Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale
• Oh Happy Day #8 – Widmer Brothers Cherry Oak Doppelbock
• Oh Happy Day #9 – Redhook Treblehook
• Oh Happy Day #10 – Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale
• Oh Happy Day #11 – Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

Official Press Release:

This month, Redhook Brewery (NASDAQ: HOOK) will release its summer seasonal, Rope Swing Summer Pilsner.  The seasonal is brewed in a traditional Czech style and is the first pilsner the brewery has ever released.  Rope Swing Summer Pilsner will be available through July in grocery stores in 12-ounce bottles and on draught nationwide.

“Rope Swing Summer Pilsner is an excellent warm weather lager.  The beer is fermented with a yeast strain rooting back to the Czech Republic, and is aged at a temperature close to freezing for four to six weeks prior to finishing and packaging for a clean, crisp finish.  We also use 100 percent Saaz hops and unique specialty malts to ensure the style is as authentic as possible.” – Greg Deuhs, Redhook brewmaster

Alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5.3 percent, 25 IBUs

Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner

**Added pic of bottle and pour… so, so pretty!  After tasting out of the bottle, the rating stands… this is an outstanding pilsner!!!**

While my perma-smile is starting to fade from the Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA Release Event the other night, the memory of the first beer of the evening is not.  Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner was served, glass full, as I walked up to the tasting room bar at the brewery and my oh my what a way to start the evening.  The first keg was a little warm, but this pilsner handled it with flying colors.  Two glasses later, when a cold keg was brought out, I was ready to just keep going… not that the chilling wasn’t an improvement, but this beer drinks so easy and with such solid flavor, that it didn’t really matter that much.

I didn’t get a picture of the actual beer as I was too busy drinking it, but here is a picture of the tap.  I will post a picture of the actual beer at some point as it is absolutely beautiful and clear and golden… you have to see it to believe it.  This is a simple beer.  Just a malt, some hops, and some yeast… not tons of each, just the simple ingredients and you have a masterfully crafted summer pilsner that I can gaurauntee will be in my fridge.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

 

Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA

Coming out of the Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA Release Event, here is the official tasting…

Goal!   Redhook scores with their Big Ballard Imperial IPA. Tasted tonight, at the event, this brew pours darker than a normal IPA but has the characteristic nose.  Getting into the body, you can taste the Caramel malt and wheat as it eases on down your throat… in a great way.  The overall mouthfeel is definitely a little more substantial but well balanced.  The finish is clean and easy… at 8.6% ABV, this beer is dangerous and should be consumed at all costs. 

Enjoy!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA Release Event

How to reach perma-smile… get off work, drive to Redhook Brewery, attend special invite release party for great tasting beer with friends, neighbors, and strangers.  Pretty simple equation, I figure…  

Summary:

A great night with great people… potentially the best beer night of my beer career!  I love the folks that were there as well as the philosophy and culture… Sums it up when I tried to ask Kim (Brewing Manager) whose idea the beers were and he *would not* tell me one person.  It was a team effort, he says.  We all contribute.  Both he and Tom were just so nice and accommodating… oh… and they know their shit. 

Thanks to Ted, Dan, and Ciea for hosting!  We got some good stuff out of it:

Detail:

Tonight was one of those nights that just puts a smile on your face… in a big way.  After getting off work, I rushed myself to the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville, WA to attend a new beer release party for Big Ballard Imperial IPA.  First to arrive, I met with Dan, who poured me a quick glass of not-yet-released Rope Swing Summer Pilsner, much to my delight.  This tasty, tasty pilsner got me started off on the right foot for sure (can’t wait till released) and I started chatting with Ted, Dan, and Ciea as we waited for others to arrive.  Much to my happiness, all three were down to earth and had a beer in hand as we talked… tonight was going to be good, I could tell.

As folks started to arrive, ‘The Belly’ a JustBeer taster, Paul from Northwest Beer Guide, Mr. Dave a JustBeer taster, Justin from The Brew Dude, Julie from Woodinville Weekly, and someone (sorry… can’t remember your name) from Ballard News Tribune, the conversations got lively and everyone started to mingle with the guests and folks at Redhook (Tom, Kim, Dan, Ted, and Ciea.  Good conversation was lubricated by some great beer and networking, bonding, and discussion ensued.  The Belly and Mr. Dave may have taken their ‘sac love a little to far, but who am I to judge?

At some point in, I recall the announcement for food and we started in on some Caesar salad, some bacon wrapped scallops (which were AWESOME), and some pork sandwiches with chips.  All very tasty and all very unexpected.  Thanks Redhook!

The team finally let us taste the new brew as we all sat down and let me tell you… it was worth the wait.  Check out the official tasting for more info (Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA), but needless to say it was a great brew, worthy of an official release event. 

Dinner was an amazing conversation about beer, brewing, and food.  It felt like one of those TV shows where some famous chef helps make dinner and they sits around the table with some super famous people and they talk about the food, life, and other stuff.  Very similar minus the super famous people.

For a JustBeer first, I am trying a short video of our experience… enjoy!

Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

 Straight off of an Oh Happy Day moment (Oh Happy Day #11 – Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale), I have to post this with satisfaction of a beer well tasted.  Mr. Dave and I had an opportunity to try this bad boy out and let me say that we were duly impressed.  From the beauty of the golden brown pour to the smells of sweet malty goodness, this beer delivered.  You can definitely taste the brown sugar and honey… I am very happy to type that, so let me type it again… You can definitely taste the brown sugar and honey, which bring this beer a wonderful smooth and sweet mouth feel and a great overall taste.  The finish is complex but distinct… unlike just about any beer I have ever tasted.  Nothing off, just lingering remnants of the malt, brown sugar, and honey as it faids into the next drink.  At 9.5% ABV, this beer doesn’t drink like it.

Overall well crafted and definitely unique.  the 8-4-1 process worked for them this time around…

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Deschutes Black Butte XXI

Deschutes Black Butte XXI is a new take on the old Black Butte Porter.  Thick and viscous, this brew has both chocolate nibs and coffee beans (dry hop) in it, giving it a solid hit of each.  Chocolate in the nose, coffee in the body. Rich and velvety finish.  Nice and smooth for an 11% monster.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

2009 Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout

The 2009 vintage of the Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout looks awesome in the glass, doesn’t it?  Really… that is an amazing head with some dark beer syrup under it… mmm mmm good.  I wish it all were true… I think the wax around the top may have been to try to pull this beer off as a little more than it ended up being.  At 9.5% ABV, wood aged, and looking good, this beer is a bit like some of the women in the Philippines that I tried to hook my good friend Doug up with so many years back… looks good on the outside but when you actually get close, things aren’t what they seem. 

Either way, here is our tasting… thanks to Mr. Dave for bringing this one over and sharing.   The nose starts it by being just a little bit off… a little too mannish, if we keep with the mental picture.  This leads to a definite off-ness in the body, as well.  You can taste the oak and wood aged characteristics, but it is a bit esthery… not going to go there with the mental picture… a potentially too bitter finish brings this one to a close just like your friends telling you she is a dude… so… think of this blog as your friend saving you before things progressed… she is a dude. 

Maybe next year will be better.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Widmer Brothers W ’10 Pitch Black IPA

I just finished off 2/3 of a six pack of these bad boys (Widmer Brothers W ’10 Pitch Black IPA)  in nothing flat… easy to drink, nice as a session, this 6.5% beauty tastes good and packs a punch.  I drank out of the bottle tonight, but you could smell, even through that small little neck of a bottle, that this was maltier than hoppy… the black malt came through both in the nose and the body, making you wonder where all the hops had gone.  Then… all of a sudden… POW… HOPS IN YOUR FACE!  They sneak up on you and give you a little ‘hows your father’ right as you think you are safe. 

Overall a really balanced brew with complexity that keeps you guessing and the right amount of malt and hop to please just about anyone.  Nice work Widmer Brothers!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale

I was very excited to get to my new BBFF (Beer Best Friend Forever) tonight with dinner after opening the box yesterday (Oh Happy Day #10 – Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale).  Offical tasting splendor: Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale.

Let’s just say I was not dissappointed!  This is one of those brews that, moreso than any in the past 6 months, I really wanted a six pack with me.  Sure it has been a bit of a dry spell, but this beer broke it.  Overall = oustanding.  The nose is malty and sweet, the color is dark brown/amber.  It poured a perfect thick, rich, and creamy head with a thick body as the bubbles took a while to mill about in the glass and then finally rise to the top of the thick nectar.  The body is nutty, mild, and smooth with malt sweetness in the undertones.  And the finish is short and tight, leaving you ready for your next drink immediately.  This beer was so easy to drink yet full of flavor that it may be my new favorite session beer once I get my hands on more.  I could drink this beer all night and wish I had more… right now!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Oh Happy Day #10 – Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale

Oh happy day!  Came home from work late after a long day of work and night of catching up with some friends to a familiar sized/shaped box.  Upon opening it, I found two bottles of brew that I have been very, very interested in tasting… Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale (which is a reincarnation of their past nut brown ale).  In to the fridge they go and tomorrow will be the official tasting.  Great to have a bottle for me and a bottle for Po, although the packaging wasn’t nearly as cool as some of the previous shipments (I swear I am not trying to be a beer diva or anything). 

Tasting: Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale

Previous Oh Happy Day posts:

• Oh Happy Day #1 – Pipeline Porter
• Oh Happy Day #2 – Fish Tale Organic Ales
• Oh Happy Day #3 – Bell’s Brewery
• Oh Happy Day #4 – Widmer Brothers Brrr
• Oh Happy Day #5 – Redhook Double Black Stout
• Oh Happy Day #6 – Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale
• Oh Happy Day #7 – Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale
• Oh Happy Day #8 – Widmer Brothers Cherry Oak Doppelbock
• Oh Happy Day #9 – Redhook Treblehook

Official Press Release:

Nut Brown Ale Returns to Grocery Stores and Draught as Mudslinger Spring Ale

Woodinville, Wash., Jan. 11, 2010

This month, Mudslinger Spring Ale, previously known as Nut Brown Ale, from Redhook Ale Brewery (NASDAQ: HOOK), will return to grocery stores in 12 ounce bottles and on draught in the Western U.S.

“Mudslinger is one of my favorite beers. We brew it in a traditional American Brown Ale style, using six of the highest quality malts available. The malts, which include pale, chocolate, three different caramels and a touch of roasted barley, lend flavor, complexity and offer excellent drinkability.”

 – Greg Deuhs, Redhook brewmaster

Tasting Notes:

·         Mudslinger Spring Ale has a medium body and features malty layers of dark chocolate and caramel along with subtle notes of brown sugar and vanilla. 

·         The seasonal ale was brewed with six barley malts and two hop varieties, creating a smooth, well balanced brown ale flavor.

Mudslinger Spring Ale Rundown:

·         Brewed in a traditional American Brown Ale style

·         Alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5.8 percent

·         30 international bittering units (IBUs)

·         185 calories per 12 ounces

·         Available through April

Recommended Pairings:

·         Grilled meats, fowl, stews and even smoked oysters or salmon.