Harpoon Brewery: UFO White

I apologize for the long delay between posts. Even though I haven't written a review in a while, I've been drinking beer and stashing information. I'm finally back from my annual Massachusetts trip so here goes. This time around, I went on an extended vacation and I also ventured into the tri-state area in addition to the cape.

While removed from native soil, I hunt for out-of-state brew. I love comparing east and west coast beer. This year while traveling through the east I sampled some fine craft from

Brooklyn Brewery, Victory Brewing Co, Long Trail Brewing Co, Smuttynose Brewing Co., and Cape Cod Brewing Company.

But while relaxing on the coast, I always try to drink a Harpoon brew. As long as I can remember Harpoon Brewery has placed their beer on the shelves of Mass liquor stores. This year I went with one of their UnFiltered wheat Offering; or UFO for short. Harpoon has a variety of unfiltered wheats and my brother and I snagged the 'white' ufo. The white is a witbier with a soft orange flavor throughout. The beer is brewed with orange peel and coriander but the rind represents the prominent flavor. Besides the orange flavors, the beer tastes more like a pale wheat than a witbier with bready and yeasty flavors.

The white is a great summer beer to cut the heat and refresh the pallate during the humid east coast summers. I must say I really enjoyed this beer and overall I loved sampling most of the east coast breweries that I found. However, even when the novelty effect of trying new beers has run out, I still probably reach for a Harpoon. I've enjoyed all of their beers that I've tried and I'm looking forward to more next year. Cheers

Southampton Publick House: Double White Ale

I had this beer a few days ago when the weather was still nice, and I've been meaning to get a post up. Despite its name, Southampton is not just a brew pub--they're a full scale craft brewery shipping beers all around the Mid-Atlantic region. The idea of a double white ale particularly intrigued me. Wits are generally so mild; I didn't really have any clue what a double would taste like.

The answer is oranges. As my friend remarked after taking a sip, it's as if instead of putting a slice of orange on the rim a la Blue Moon, they just squeezed an entire orange directly into the glass. So be ready for a very sweet, very citric beer. Fortunately, the sweetness is tempered by a hefty dose of coriander and some cloves. Having doubled up on the fruit and the spices, an increased ABV would be only too appropriate, though at 7% it's not going to knock you on your ass. Despite all this, the beer is pretty light bodied, and as a result it manages to pull off a crisp finish.

It's a unique offering, to be sure. I couldn't really make up my mind how much I liked it, nor could I figure out what the appropriate occaision is for this brew. Is it a best suited for the heat of summer or a cool spring day? Would it go well with a meal or is it more of an after-dinner beer? Will girls like the increased sweetness or be put off by the bolder flavors?

Unfortunately, I'm in the midst of finals and don't have the time to ponder the subtleties of beer. Somebody else give it a try and report back.

Flying Dog: Woody Creek White

I'm a big fan of Hoegaarden, but when it comes to American witbiers, I generally find them lacking. Great White, Blue Moon, and Sam Adams White are all decent, but they all strike me as being a bit lacking in flavor. Well, I'm not sure that Woody Creek quite lives up to the genuine Belgian thing, but in my book it's the best witbier I've tasted yet on this side of the pond.

Woody Creek is a fairly sweet brew. A fruity citrus flavor is present throughout. It's tempered by the distinctive coriander taste unique to witbiers, and while it might be a bit spicier, it definitely is less so than Hoegaarden. It finishes a little dry, which I think is actually an asset here, because otherwise it might be a little bit too sweet. But as it is, it is a very well-balanced and supremely drinkable brew. Definitely a summery beer, however, so I have a feel that I may not be picking up another one for a while.

Samuel Adams: White Ale

As spring rears its overdue head around Boston's horrendously long winter, I've resumed drinking white ales quite regularly in order to distract myself from mother nature's icy grip. Hofer recently made it out to Boston for a second New England reunion of SCU ex-pats, and of course we had to sample and argue beer. One of these sessions was held at the Sunset Bar and Grill here in Allston (it's like the Yardhouse in California, but with a more developed selection, if you can imagine that). The other landmark event was our trip to the Sam Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain, with Jeff and Galen.

After about a half hour of Sam Adams corporate propaganda and brewing information, we were finally entitled to our free 21oz of beer. Our guide offered us three different beers; the first being Boston Lager, and the second being the White Ale. Our guide tried to excite us with the third beer on tap, explaining that it was usually "experimental" or not usually found in stores. Unfortunately, it was the 'tussin-tasting Cherry Wheat, which is readily available at package stores and bodegas alike, throughout the Boston area. Ugh. Anyways, this report is really about the White Ale, so I'll focus on that.

Sam Adams' attempt at a bottled witbier is a far cry from other witbiers, microbrews and imports alike. The label around the bottle claims that it is an American version of the classic Blegian white white ale, and it's definitely American; it's bland, lacking strong flavor, and despite its high alcohol content (5.2% abv). More particularly, it's really missing the delicate citrus flavor I expect from white beers. I taste maybe a hint of lemon, but the flavor washes away far too quickly. Additionally, you really get a sticky taste in your mouth after drinking a pair of pints, similar to what I'd expect from a soda, not a beer.

On the positive side, it's definitely drinkable if you're feeling something mildly citrusy. Don't expect an explosion of flavor unless you get it from the brewery (or on tap?), where it's far more strong. Just watch out for drinking more than a few, because it does get quite sticky. It also has a mild hop flavor, good for those who aren't too keen on hops but don't mind a slight hint of it.

Witbiers traditionally are thirst quenchers for a spring day. This is something else. While it's decent to have once in a while at a pub if you're feeling something fresh, you're better off going for something traditional, like a Hoegaarden or an Allagash. I laud the Boston Brewing Company's attempt to bring something like this to a big market, but it's definitely an American beer, and lacks the charms that make white ales so special.

Lost Cost Brewery & Cafe: Great White

We all love sharing a beer with family and friends. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find a beer that the whole crew will love. Especially if that family or friend group is comprised of both men and women.

To generalize, most girls don't enjoy especially hoppy or malty beverages. Thus, ancient man invented the witbier (more commonly know as the Belgian White Ale). This style is lighter than most beers and is always refreshing. Girls love this stuff. It's not super heavy, has a lighter coloring, and most bartenders will add fruit to it without the purchaser even asking (think Blue Moon or Hoegaarden).

I know three things: Girls love witbiers (see above). I drink a lot of beer. And my girlfriend does too. So recently I have purchased a lot of Lost Coast's Great White because it's a beer we can both agree on. Great White has that Coriander flavor that girls enjoy but is also an unfiltered brew with bready and doughy flavors to provide enough taste for the male drinker. It actually reminds me more of New Belgium's Sunshine Wheat (an American Pale Wheat beer) than a witbier.

As Hofer mentioned, Lost Coast Brewing and Cafe is a California brewery that makes a lot of quality beers. For some reason Great White is their flagship beer. This could be because the beverage can cross gender barriers. Never know. However, with the recent invention of the 'build your own six pack' at World Market and City Beer, sharing a sixer with a chick is no longer a necessity. But if you are off to your local Northern California Safeway with a woman, may I recommend the Great White; you both won't be disappointed. Cheers