Long Trail Double IPA

I picked up a bomber of the DIPA along with Otter Creek's Russian Imperial Stout after pouring for them at a recent fundraiser. This American-style Imperial IPA is surprisingly simple in its grain bill and hop variety. The version I sampled listed it at an ABV of 8.2% while their website says otherwise. Its date of introduction was in 2009 and started out as a seasonal (typically found in the late spring to summer). Apparently it can now be found year-round.

Alcohol Content: 8.6%
IBU: 86
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Crystal, Wheat
Hops: Chinook, Cascade

Price: Gifted
Medium: 22oz bomber poured into a pint glass

Aroma: Floral with more of a delicate citrus and piney hop character. The hoppy aromas are still the showcase but with a more restrained profile than I would expect for an Imperial IPA. West coast versions will certainly be much stronger. Caramel malt aromas stay in the background and are only mildly sweet. With the first few whiffs I noted fruity esters reminiscent of strawberries, of which fade out later on. Alcohol sweetness is more present for the style, perhaps due to less hop influence to hide behind.
Appearance: Although an unfiltered version of IPA, I found its vibrant golden amber to have decent clarity. Poured for a billowing white head with great retention and a brilliant layer of foam caking to the sides of the glass. Steady bubbling representing moderate carbonation. Keeps a simple profile while maintaining a pleasant appearance.
Flavor: Clean malt sweetness with a hint of caramel in the front. The malt sweetness is whelmed by the higher alcohol flavors, which becomes most apparent about mid-taste and continues to move over the tongue as the hop bitterness takes the stage. Hop bitterness is clean with hints of citrus and pine. I don't sense a strong dry-hopping rate. the aftertaste finishes sweet from the alcohol and not from a residual malt character. Alcohol wins long into the aftertaste and affects my perception of a balanced beer.
Mouthfeel: Initially well carbonated, turning into a softer, creamier mouthfeel as the beer sits and warms (letting out some of the carbonation). This also makes its moderately full body turn into an easier-drinking, less viscous or smoother experience. Alcohol warmth in both the mouthfeel and nose.
Overall Impression: I'm not sure if there is enough of a hop character to math the strength of the beer nor style. That being said, the simplicity makes it a pleasant experience while packing in the alcohol. Good but not great for a big IPA fan looking for that hop-smacking beer. Overall clean with a light ale (fruity ester) character. I would be careful with the alcohol content in this beer - at 8.6% ABV and a 22oz bomber, be sure to have something in your stomach beforehand. Speaking of, great food pairings are beef brisket, grilled lamb and sharp, rich blue cheese. Okay, I stole that from Long Trail's website. Otherwise I love an aged sharp cheddar cheese to help cut through the alcohol and bitterness.

Brewmaster's Series Coffee Stout

Long Trail teams up with Vermont Coffee Company to bring us a wonderfully crafted coffee stout. The grains play more of a forward role than the addition of coffee which keeps the beer's integrity and only enhances the experience by playing a supporting role - the beer's base style is an Imperial Stout, which typically does not include coffee or other adjuncts. Be sure to also check out the brewery's new website design!

Alcohol Content: 8.0%
IBU: 50
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Chocolate, Caramel, and Black Patent
Hops: Columbus
Adjuncts: Vermont Coffee Company Dark Roast (specially roasted for Long Trail)

Price: $3.50/ half; $6.50/ full
Medium: 8oz snifter

Aroma: A roasted profile typical of imperial stouts is more consistent with the roasted grains that resemble a coffee aroma, as opposed to a forward coffee bean aroma. In other words, I believe the profile to be less of a direct result from roasted coffee beans, which play more of a supporting role to the malts. Some bittersweet chocolate notes. Hop aroma low to none. Esters low to none.
Appearance: Practically opaque looking or black - I could see a slight garnet hue around the edges but this was under bright light. Some darker browns towards the end of the session/ last few sips. Strong visible carbonation with a creamy dry stout appearance. Persistent mocha/ brown head with lingering bubbles and lots of lacing.
Flavor: Bittersweet coffee notes start with a roasted barley character finishing. A balance of hop bitterness plays its role mid palate - fairly clean at this point. Finish is also characteristic of dried fruit, with a distinct tart mouthfeel. Malt sweetness is not cloying. Yeast character fairly restrained. Roasted malts continue into the aftertaste. Favored somewhat towards malts but the hop bitterness supports well.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with a pleasant and slightly fruity tartness. Strong carbonation with moderate creaminess. Neither cloying or drying. Alcohol content is masked quite well by the big malt and coffee profile. I will also say that this beer cut through all of the hoppy beers I was previously sampling that day; a great finish to the night. Just add raspberries for a delicious combination.
Overall Impression: The company's suggested food pairings include beef, smoked meat, wild game, and soft Brie cheese. After discussing with the bartender, we also came up with dark raspberry chocolate desserts or lava cake. Otherwise, a dark bitter chocolate would be another great pairing.

Long Trail Triple Bag

Long Trail Triple Bag is characteristic of an American Strong Ale. Its step up from Double Bag in alcohol content with somewhat of a similar profile. I saw it displayed on a sign outside of JP's pub as I was walking by and just couldn't resist catching their last keg on tap for the season.

Alcohol Content: 9.2%
IBU: ?
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Price: $5.25 at JP's Pub
Medium: Served in a regular pint glass

Aroma: High alcohol content as shown by a nice warming sensation in the nose with each whiff. This is backed by very complex layers of malt partaking aromas of molasses, toffee, caramel, and some darker malt notes. Little to no hop presence. Strong bubblegum/ fruity ester from fermentation.
Appearance: Very clear pour with a deep amber/ mahogany color. A minimal white-ish head appeared and quickly faded back into the beer. High alcohol beers may or may not have good retention. Appears filtered from the nice clarity. No distinct carbonation characteristics.
Flavor: This beer opens up with heavy caramel and toffee characteristics. This is matched by a strong biscuity malt flavor that really brings the style together. The hops lag behind its forward malt presence, contributing no distinctive flavors but offering a sense of balanced bitterness. Yeast character is slightly spicy, possibly from phenols, or may be confused with fusel alcohols. Aftertaste can be described as a strong malty finish with some residual sweetness - not cloying.
Mouthfeel: Its very similar to an American barley wine in its heavy body, warming alcohol sensations, low carbonation, and chewiness that coats the mouth from start to finish. Malty finish is slightly sharp with an overall mellow drying effect.
Overall Impression: What's really nice about this example is that is well-rounded from start to finish without overdoing the alcohol presence. I feel this would be a nice introduction to some of the higher alcohol varieties for one who may not have this acquired taste yet. Try the Triple Bag before moving on to something with a sharper alcohol quality like the Otter Creek 20th Anniversary Ale (12%).
* At second review of the beer, I noticed more of the fusely alcohol character that I was unsure of, or at least in identifying. I also know that the brewery uses Ringwood yeast and ferments for just a week before packaging. This could be the reason for stressed yeast, leaving considerable fermentation character in a high ABV beer.

Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat

Long Trail's popular American Wheat beer offers a unique and refreshing experience for the summer and is served year-round for those looking for a lighter "recovery" beer in between the more hearty beverages. The addition of fresh fruits gives it a light sweetness that won't wear down your palate.

Alcohol Content: 4%

IBU: 8

Malts: Two-row Pilsen & wheat

Hops: Nugget

Price: $2.50 early bird "local beer" special/ $4.50 @ Nectar's

Medium: Pint glass (for best results a Bavarian Weizen glass is preferred)

Aroma: A very light, sweet & moderately dry fruitiness reminiscent of blackberries and pears. The fruity cider-like character overwhelms any hop aroma - no distinct malt character as well. Everything else feels very clean and pleasant.

Appearance: Pale/ golden, crystal clear (filtered) unlike its Bavarian cousin. Poured for a small white head, clinging only around the rim's surface. No distinct retention otherwise, but this was the nature of the pour. Large bubbles travel sporadically slow and steady up the glass giving it a nice presentation.

Flavor: Initially, a lightly sweet malt character with an underlying breadyness is combined with a cidery/ fruity pear and blackberry. Definitely some wheat character pairing up with the fruitiness. Bitterness is very light and only factors into balancing.  The blackberry plays an increasing role especially, into a crisp finish. Aftertaste is still represented by some residual sweetness from the blackberry. Somewhat tart.

Mouthfeel: Moderately high carbonation combines with a thin body that is smooth and crisp. The overall experience is pleasant and very light on the palate. No signs of alcohol or distinctive yeast character. No other off-flavors were observed. Slightly acidic or "cidery" presence.

Overall Impression: Perhaps a little too light for my liking but it does serve a purpose, especially for a recovery beer or hot sunny day. A nice pairing for this would be a light appetizer such as other fruits or salads, perhaps one containing a lemon dressing. 

Brewmaster Series Centennial Red

Long Trail's Brewmaster Series features four beers including a coffee stout, double IPA, imperial porter, and the Centennial Red, their Imperialized version of a red ale. Although the availability is normally from November-January, I got a chance to sample from the last keg offered at Skyburger.

Alcohol Content: 7.9%
IBU: 55
Malts: Two-Row, Caramel, Roasted Barley, Chocolate
Hops: Centennial, Nugget & Chinook

Price: 2$/ 8oz sample glass or 4$/ pint
Medium: Served in an 8oz sampler

Aroma: A pungent floral and citrus hop aroma of Centennial supports a complex caramel malt focus with some additional aromas of woody/ earthy hops and some sweetness from darker malts. The roasted barley plays only a minor role in adding a light touch of roast. This is combined with a slight alcohol warmth underneath the layers of malts and hops. Extremely well balanced and pleasant.
Appearance: Crystal clear with a deep amber & an emanating red glow with the help of some direct sunlight from the nice sunny day. The roasted barley most likely plays more of a role in this. The server poured for almost no head, maximizing the 8oz sampler. Looks rather still, with minimal retention around the rim and no visible carbonation after the initial pour.
Flavor: Definitely a nice alcohol kick in the presence of layer after layer of malt sweetness and dark caramel. The mid-palate is met with an assertive and balancing bitterness (but not over the top). Hop flavors consists mostly of floral and citrus notes. Finish is crisp and pleasant. Aftertaste is combination of residual sweetness of caramel & molasses.
Mouthfeel: Very warm from start to finish from the alcohol, but this only supports the experience. Feels a bit chewy like a barleywine, maybe from a high percentage of caramel malts in the mash. Carbonation was moderate to moderately-low.
Overall Impression: Balance was key to this experience, and this beer delivered! Its hard to believe how well the malts and hops match up to the 7.9% ABV. I love how Long Trail interpreted what an Imperialized version of this beer might look like. I would include this in a barbecue dinner night with a heavier aged cheddar.

Jay Peak Tram Ale

The Jay Peak Tram Ale is not brewed by the popular Northern Vermont mountain resort as it appears; Instead, it is crafted by Long Trail. I believe this to be of a Northern German-style Altbier (like Long Trail Ale), although there are clearly differences between this new one and the original best-seller.

Alcohol Content: ?
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass (A tall 'stange' glass is appropriate).
Price: $8.00 for a 6-pack @ City Market in downtown Burlington

Aroma: Malty, sweet caramel, and deep chocolate notes dominate the nose of this beer. The hop profile is very restrained, possibly masked by the deep bitter chocolate aroma. It is perhaps a bit toasted from the use of Munich malts but I'm unsure of this. A bit grainy nose to it as well.
Appearance: Pours for a dark mahogany/ deep copper hue with a rather small tan head. Much of the head dissipates slowly but there remains a ring around the glass throughout the entire session - small amount of lacing. Appears to be mildly carbonated and is quite clear, although dark for an altbier.
Flavor: A rich, toasted/ bitter chocolate character rolls over the tongue first, making it difficult to distinguish caramel flavors (they are present, but well hidden). There are some minor off-flavors that hit about mid-taste that I found hard to define - could be sulfury or yeasty. The finish is a lingering dryness and some astringency. Overall balanced.
Mouthfeel: A characteristically medium/light body that is surprisingly watery with lingering astringency that makes it just a tad bit unpleasant. Gives some sense of drinkability in its moderately thin quality. Moderately high carbonation.
Overall Impression: Not exactly impressed with this one when compared to competing styles such as the Otter Creek Copper Ale and the Long Trail Ale. I would have liked to see just a bit more on the hop profile and less on the astringent finish.

Long Trail Double Bag

Long Trail Double Bag is a Strong Ale under section 19 of the BJCP style guidelines; However, according to the brewery, it is a full-bodied beer similar to Altbiers (Long Trail Ale for example - see section 7A). This double alt is also known as "Stickebier", German for "secret brew". A high alcohol beer, Double Bag can be found year round but is not offered as part of their seasonal variety packs.

Alcohol Content: 7.2%
International Bitterness Units (IBU): 25
Malts: Two-Row, Crystal, Chocolate & Wheat
Hops: Northern Brewer and Mt. Hood

Medium: 12oz bottle purchased and poured into a standard pint glass. A tall German-style 'stange' glass is preferred.
Price: $9.00 for a 6-pack

Aroma: This beer reveals for many layers of aromas ranging from a plethora of sweet caramel and toffee notes to hints of honey, bread, or sweet biscuit. Although a very minimal influence, there is an earthy hop aroma underlying the sweet malt profile that dominates.
Appearance: Poured for a very thin head; Regardless, the white-ish thin film creates for nice head retention. The thin film is accompanied by minimal bubbling, suggestive of moderately low carbonation. A nice light copper with a gold hue and great clarity.
Flavor: A very sweet caramel flavor masks the true alcohol-packing qualities. There is also a clear indication of toffee and sweet honey or molasses characteristics that dominate the overall flavor profile. Although present, there is a low bittering profile that creates an illusion of balance - the sweet malt characteristics linger on the pallet along with some drying.
Mouthfeel: A superb crisp, clean finish and moderate carbonation transcends. This moderate to full-bodied beer creates for some "chewiness" and some creaminess.
Overall Impression: The alcohol is well hidden by its sweet caramel and molasses features which creates for an intoxicating beverage that should be one to approach slowly. There are no major flaws; Although, the intensity of its sweet honey/ molasses is conflicting in comparison to competing styles. Definitely a 6-pack to split amongst a few friends on a casual night.

Long Trail Hibernator

Long Trail Hibernator is an unfiltered Scottish Ale under section 9 of the BJCP style guidelines. Introduced in the winter of 1995, this seasonal delicacy packs a robust maltiness that will be sure to keep you occupied on those cold winter nights. Typically available from November - March

Alcohol Content: 6.0%

International Bitterness Units (IBU): 25

Malts: Two-Row, Wheat, Crystal, Chocolate, Caramel & Black Patent

Hops: Nugget and Mt. Hood

Medium: 12oz bottle purchased and poured into a standard pint glass (Nonic glass also acceptable).

Price: $13.00 for a 12-pack Long Trail Sampler

Aroma: Has a particularly sweet malty aroma with some earthy notes and possibly some fruity esters from yeast activity. There is a fresh herbal, slightly spicy aroma that underlies this heavily malt influenced style.

Appearance: Ruby red/ amber in color. This beer created for a thick pour with an off-white or grayish head and particularly great head retention. Cloudy appearance with a particularly strong, visible carbonation.

Flavor: Definitely more malt balanced with a caramelized character. Contains some fruity esters and has a very nice, clean bitterness. The aftertaste embraces a toasted malt profile and subtle spiciness. The bittering qualities become more obvious after several minutes of slowly sipping (maybe because of warming beer temperatures). Some diacetyl.

Mouthfeel: Many sensations form on the roof of the mouth which is most likely attributable to levels of diacetyl in the beer, creating an overall slick impression. Encompasses a creamy thick mouthfeel that goes down surprisingly very smooth while creating a nice warming sensation from start to finish.

Overall Impression: There are some subtle off-flavors that are hard to define; However, this full-bodied beer is  full of wonderfully sweet malt complexities. Great for slowly enjoying after coming in from the last run of the day on the mountain.

Long Trail Ale

Like Otter Creek Copper Ale, Long Trail Ale is a German-style Altbier under section 7A of the BJCP style guidelines. Introduced in November of 1989, Long Trail Ale is the largest selling craft-brew in Vermont. This very drinkable beer is crisp, clean, and full of complexity. For sure a must try for any occasion.

Alcohol Content: 4.6%
International Bitterness Units (IBU): 30
Malts: Two-Row, Wheat, Crystal, and Chocolate
Hops: Northern Brewer, Willamette, and Mt. Hood

Medium: 12oz bottle purchased and poured into a pint glass (for best results, serve in a German-style "Stange" glass - a tall slender cylinder sometimes slightly tapered towards the bottom to increase hop and malt subtleties)
Price: $13.00 for a 12-pack Long Trail Sampler

Aroma: Has a distinctive sweet malty aroma and complex potpourri of minty, earthy, and woody hop characteristics. Upon pouring, it also releases a robust spicy herbalness. Somewhat similar to the noble hops used in Otter Creek Copper Ale but slightly more herbal. Fruity esters from an English ale yeast (Ringwood).
Appearance: Clear/ clean amber in color with a subtle copper hue. Very nice off-white foam that lingers around the rim of the glass and a thin layer of foam dissipates slowly across the surface. Contains large steady bubbling consistent with moderate carbonation.
Flavor: An initial sweet malty flavor rolls over the tongue followed by some bitterness and spicy undertones. Sweet flavors are consistent with the crystal malt (which also aids in head retention). As the complex flavors linger, a smooth, slightly nutty aftertaste slowly takes over and finishes very clean with no dry aftertaste. Consists of some fruity esters reminiscent of the English ale yeast.
Mouthfeel: A refreshing warming sensation with some creaminess and moderate carbonation. This Ale is very crisp and refreshing, with an overall smooth mouthfeel.
Overall Impression: Long Trail Ale is very well balanced with an equal amount of complexity coming from both the malts and hops. I suggest this beer to any beer drinker on any occasion due to its refreshing qualities and unique complexity that comes with any craft beer.