Sixpoint Mad Scientist Series #1 Spelt Wine

Labeled a “spelt wine”, this is the first in an upcoming series of unique, limited-release beers brewed by Sixpoint (the “Mad Scientist Series”).

One-finger head, very white and somewhat restless like a champagne/bubbly, or the spray of the waves on the beach at Assateague Island. Color is a very hazy pale orange, like the golden fields of wheat that Vincent painted near St Remy.

Yeast, cooked juices. Lemony citrus. Herbal candles, shampoo. Lemongrass and a tad of booze.

Grassy bitterness upfront. A bit like a Belgian IPA. Hoppy-yeasty-champagne-y. Dry all around. It’s got a cider feel to it, like a carbonated light wine.

Intense carbonation, but not too high or overwhelming- just right. Dry and bitter finish. Medium body.

A little filling. Definitely a sipper for that reason more than the alcohol, which at 9.4% is well played and not too evident.

They claim this beer is unique. Sure enough, I have never heard of a “smelt wine”, but this tastes like a regular wheatwine.

Caroll Gaarden by Kelso of Brooklyn

Growler from work poured into a Blue Point pint glass.

Good sized, two and a half finger white pillowy head, atop a darker body. This is about the color of unfiltered apple cider, way darker than the straw yellow I was expecting. Even bulky witbiers are still lighter in body than this.

I can smell some clove, and some spice that might be coriander. No yeast smell???

As for the taste, Herm. A lot like a hefeweizen, actually—there’s plenty of esters from the yeast, but nothing that suggests “Belgian.” More clove and much more oily butterfat diacetylic notes. The tang from a considerable wheat presence does come through and cut this a little, but it still doesn’t belong. And where’d the coriander go? Where’s the citrus, of any variety? Put a blindfold on me and I would guess this was a Bavarian wheat beer, though not necessarily a very good one.

Mouthfeel was pretty good, light and spritzy and creamy all at once. That had a suggestion of witbier to it. But all in all, this isn’t much above mediocre.

I really wanted to like this beer. Really. But I have to judge with my head, not my heart. Sorry, guys.

Cold Front by Ithaca Beer

Sorry about the glasses, I was at my friend’s place when we drank this beer and his drunk ass insisted on showing that they’re Rolling Stones glasses.

A very nice seasonal beer, the coor was excellent an almost perfect shade of amber (somewhere between red and orange). The color was somewhat cloudy. There was a taste of cinnamon that I did not expect. The smell was just to die for, it was very floral. All in all a beer I would drink again and again this time of year, because it certainly make me feel warmer.

Sixpoint Brownstone

Another Growler from work. A nice looking brown with a thick headed pour. A tad caramel to the caramel wash color. Mild cloudy. Nose is subdued floral and toffee malt. Palate is a nice caramel malt toasty a little hint of coffee. With a mild tang that blends into the rather dry crisp bitter. Quite simple but very enjoyable and drinkable.

Greenport Harbor Ale Leaf Pile Ale

I liked the strong pumpkin-spice taste that was creamy like Cappuccino and the first aromas were very inviting. I couldn’t tell what the abv was, but the medium to light bodied ale was very easy to drink. Having tasted a few other pumpkin ales this week, I was impressed with the quality of this one. It has more of the nutmeg and cinnamon spices to it than most other Pumpkin ales.

Captain Lawrence Pumpkin Ale

Smooth, semi-creamy, easy to drink with a great pumpkin taste that is well-balanced with mild spice and pepper notes. Contains some cinnamon and nutmeg as well to complement the pumpkin sweetness. Nothing that pops but this is a standard pumpkin beer that is a must try at least once. I would love to try the Vanilla Pumpkin Ale they make.

Recessionator by Kelso of Brooklyn

As you can see, this is another growler from work since Kelso doesn’t bottle their beer this is my only option. Malt was the expected sniff, yup, as expected. Nice malty brew, notes of whole wheat crusts, caramel, the advertised raisins, with the abv well hidden. Low hopping , but the back end remains dry, and thus highly drinkable. Nothing real special, just a well put together and malty (duh) doppelbock.

Sly Fox Oktoberfest

Bought this in growler form from work. It has a medium orange color with a slight head and some lacing. No bubbles. Slight hoppy scent. It’s more of a bitter, German style Oktoberfest, which I prefer. It’s a very calm fall beer, with a bit of spice, but very easy on the mouth.