Anderson Valley Brewing Co: High Rollers Wheat

While it's getting dark very early and most of the leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees, it's still hot out here. I don't know why, but as long as this weather keeps up I need to cool down. I was in wine country over the weekend and it was a toasty 77 degrees. One of my favorite ways to regulate my body temperature is to have a nice cold class of beer. Yes, even in wine country. So I picked up a sixer of Anderson Valley's High Rollers wheat. Most of Anderson's offerings are quite good so I'd decided to give this beer a chance to cool me down.

On first look the beer is very clear with almost no head. It's not like many cloudy pale wheats you'll find on the market. I think AVBC went with a clear wheat ale because they are trying to make a very refreshing beer. Just what I needed.

The bottle label recommends adding a lemon wedge to this brew to enhance the taste. I wouldn't recommend that addition at all, because the beer already has a pronounced lemon citrus flavor. It tastes as if it is brewed with a splash of lemon. The aftertaste is very buttery with a pale wheat finish. Therefore despite this beer's lemony flavor, the extended taste of the body will remind you that this isn't a Belgian witbier. It's not sharp and no coriander flavors are present. AVBC doesn't make a witbier so there should be no problem of confusing this beer with any other of Anderson's offerings. I'm still working my way through all this brewery's brews and most have been quite good. This one is not as complex as some of their heartier ales, but for what it is, it works. Therefore, I think this is a beer that most people, regardless their personal palate, can enjoy.

So while most beer and grocery stores are promoting every type of winter warmer and other cold weather beers, unless it gets cold out west, I'll continue to mix in an occasional wheat beer. And probably share it with others. Stay cool. Cheers.

Anderson Valley Brewing Co: Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

My recent raves over Rogue and Bells have left me feeling a little bit like a traitor to my California roots, especially since I developed a taste for stouts. I figured maybe California wasn't stout country; after all, stouts aren't generally considered a "warm weather" beverage, and California is significantly warmer than its northern sister states. But then I had the good fortune to stumble into Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, and that all changed.

Mattie has been good enough to review a couple of Anderson Valley brews, and I've had a couple others myself, so I already had some high hopes when I grabbed this one out of the fridge of the pizza place across the street from my apartment. But in retrospect, I didn't set the bar nearly high enough. Barney Flats is an exceptionally good stout. It pours out fairly dark, though with surprisingly little head. But whatever it lacks up top is more than made up for when you get down to the beer itself. A true-to-form oatmeal stout, Barney Flats hits you with a mouth-filling taste of roasted oats and malt. Combine the malty oats with a thick body and a subtle sweetness and you get what in my opinion amounts to an exquisitely crafted flavor. The taste of hops persists in the background, but can't even begin to compete with the oats and malts. Finally, slight notes of coffee and an indescribably tanginess just barely linger on the taste buds.

I have to give this one very high marks. Even if you aren't a big stout fan, I'd encourage you to give it a try. None of the flavors are overpowering, and it splits the difference between the bitter and the sweet with remarkable precision. If this brew won't convert you to a love of stouts, then I'm pretty sure nothing will.

Anderson Valley Brewing Co: Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

With all this talk about the lunar eclipse last week and now more buzz about the leap year approaching on February 29, I had to give a shout out to my new favorite astronomical event: The Winter Solstice.

Although the Winter Solstice passed without me even blinking an eye, it now serves as a reminder for the release of a new favorite: Anderson Valley's Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. Winter Solstice is Anderson Valley's take on the winter warmer. This beer is a great winter ale without the overpowering nature of most winter brews. It's best quality is its smooth creamy mouthfeel. Although brewed with winter spices, the caramel malts make this beer incredibly drinkable. What's even more extraordinary is the brew packs a punch. With the alcohol content teetering at 6.9%, its silky feeling is even more impressive.

I had been meaning to try a six pack of this beer for a couple months (as I've enjoyed all other AVBC beers) and for some reason or another never made the investment. I may have prematurely skipped over this winter ale for a couple of spring releases, but luckily I found a pair of 22 ouncers still sitting on the shelf. This beer, in a 22oz bottle, turned out to be the perfect commitment. As Hof mentioned in a prior post, a bomber of a strong ale can be a hearty and apt pre-party packed into a single bottle. This beer is the perfect pre-party substitute for Arrogant Bastard or any other strong ale. This winter warmer has just as much alcohol content but without the alcohol taste. So if you’re in a mood for something smooth prior to your next shindig, give Winter Solstice a try.

It is possible by now that Witner Solstice is out of stock . If that's the case, you may have to wait 'till next winter. But when winter solstice 2009 hits, hopefully it’ll jog your memory to go grab this beer. Cheers

Anderson Valley Brewing Co.: Hop Ottin' IPA

I was introduced to Anderson Valley after moving up to Davis. It's very popular in upper Northern California. The "Boont Amber Ale" is their flagship beer. Boont Amber and their "Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout" can be found at most northern California Safeways and bars. I just never really noticed it before. My dad and I split a 12er at Christmas of the amber cause my dad likes unique ambers (i.e. Alaskan, Fat Tire) but I couldn't even begin to write a post on it cause its tastes are everywhere. AVBC makes a ton of other beers (just look for the half bear-half deer creature on the label). I decided to go with the IPA for the review. I would recommend any of their brews. Warning though: the company is pretty weird. All their bottle caps promote how their brewery uses only solar power energy, also each cap has strange like Snapple facts after you crack 'em open, and the labels use obscure lingo.

The first and most prominent feature is the head on this beer (if you are pouring into a glass) Doesn't matter how you pour it, you get a thick spongy, styrofoamy yellowy head. Nice and thick. It'll dissipate after a little bit but some of the thickness will stick with you. The foam acts like a ship ballasting comfortably on a dark sea. You can sip the beer right out from underneath it.

The wave to the mouth is a nice dark orangish color. This beer is very hoppy. I was very surprised. Because it's alcohol content is right at 7% so its still technically a IPA and not a double. But they push the threshold. I'm very impressed with their hopping, cause it's more hoppy than some imperials you'll pick up. Despite it's intense hoppiness, which can be bitter at times, the flow down the throat is surprisingly smooth. This is due to the dark malty flavors dispersed throughout the body. Very well balanced taste despite the massive hops.

Overall; weird company, tasty beer.
Cheers