Week 11: Smoked Fruit

1. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Bier

2. Port Brewing Co. Hop 15

3. Dogfish Head Aprihop

4. Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon

5. Springhouse Smoked Porter

6. Stone Smoked Porter

7. Roy Pitz Ludwigs Revenge

8. Iron Hill Roggenbier

Like a sunrise to sunset, these beers seemed to fall naturally in appearance from light to dark. For months upon months I have been trading in my IPAs for the deep dark pools of temptation, but finally...my taste buds are riding up the hop vine.

In terms of the porters this week, I must say that it seemed like barbeque season. Springhouse Smoked Porter was like liquid bacon. This may sound gross unless you like rauch biers or smokier beers in general. I, for one, have a weird fondness for them even though I'm of the vegetarian persuasion. I have indulged in my fair share of them lately, and I must say that the Springhouse had the most fire underneath it. It is everything that you would expect from a quality smoked porter, dark in color, spicy on the nose, very smokey with a bit of a bitter backbone. I look forward to trying this again in the fall next to a campfire or quoit pit.

Let's now move to the fruit and vegetable aisle. Yes, Aprihop is back. I was a bit unimpressed with this beer last year, and I never feel that way when it comes to Dogfish Head. It seemed a bit weak for fairly big IPA. The hops weren't quite there and the apricots weren't noticable. Well...that is not the story this year. Basically this was like one of those flower arrangments made of fruit and dosed with alcohol. Are you with me? The apricots sail into your senses immediatly. And like any DFH IPA, the hops are perfectly well-balanced, never too sweet. A nice hazy orange appearance, piney, fruity and pleasant throughout. If you were disappointed last year, try and try again.

Cheers for now.