Wolaver's Pupmkin Ale

Otter Creek recently ran out of their last batch of the Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale, and consumers are eagerly awaiting the next batch to come on tap as this fall's seasonal beer. It is still available at grocery and liquor stores, so apparently the brewery sent most of their batch out of their warehouse... Anyway, the beer combines a variety of spices with a delicate pumpkin aroma and flavor. The pumpkins are organic and are grown by a local farmer.

Alcohol Content: 

IBU:

Malts:

Hops:

Adjuncts: Will Stevens, VT Organic Pumpkins, Ginger Powder, Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon

Price: $9/ 6-pack

Medium: Pint Glass

Aroma: An interesting ginger root (or in this case ginger powder) creeps through the other aromas with a distinct freshness. Spices dominate the restrained pumpkin character. Clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon all remind me of spice additions in pumpkin sweets such as pie, bread, desserts, etc. This creates a warming sensation. Some graininess provides body and sweetness but spices are the showcase in this example. Hops cannot be determined.

Appearance: Slight haze with an amber/ orange color. Caramel malts probably provide the deep color while most would suggest the pumpkins are the sole reason. I know this example is unfiltered but turbidity is not very high. A creamy tan head presents a nice finish for this festive beer. Great retention and solid lacing.

Flavor: Malts are very sweet and provide depth of body for the big spice additions. Spices are still favored, just as in the aroma before sipping. Ginger remains on the palate long into the aftertaste and gives an extra kick to the pumpkin spices. Clove also shines through the predominately malty sweetness. Hops do not contribute flavor, or at least unidentifiable within the grand mix of sweet and spice. Finish remains dry, suggesting a highly attenuative yeast strain/ low residual sweetness from the malts. Only a light pumpkin flavor compared to the depth of all the 

spices.

Mouthfeel: Bitterness is refreshing for the style and potentially aids in the crisp, dry finish. Moderate to light body with a sweet malty start that is cleaned up as it move across the palate. In other words the beer starts out sweet, with a supporting body but then finishes light and refreshing. Spices add to the mouthfeel and provide the warmth in this beer (as opposed to the alcohol warmth often perceived). Not cloying. Carbonation is moderately high.

Overall Impression: Ginger is very noticeable and provides a unique twist on the beer. I couldn't put a description to this taste at first but after giving it some thought, (and peeking at the ingredients) it clicked! I think this differentiates it from other pumpkin beers. Cinnamon perhaps adds a little heat in aftertaste - I enjoyed this aspect a lot. After trying various pumpkin beers, Shipyard is still one of the best on the market; However, ff I had to choose Vermont's best offering it would surely be Wolaver's.

Wolaver's/ Zero Gravity Collaboration Berliner Weisse

Berliner Weisse is a a sour wheat beer traditionally brewed in Northern Germany. In Germany, they would let the mash sit, sometimes for days, to allow bacteria to work on the grains causing it to sour. This is what derives in a light-bodied beer with a distinct tartness almost champaign-like due to its lower pH. I sampled it at the Vermont Brewer's Festival last weekend. Samples were offered with either raspberry or woodruff syrup additions. Destiny suggested the woodruff as a better option if I were to have syrup, so that's what I went with. (This is not uncommon for Germans to add woodruff syrup in their Berliner Weisse)

Alcohol Content: 3.0%

IBU: ?

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

Price: 1 tasting ticket

Medium: 5oz pilsner-like sample glass (see right)

Aroma: Woodruff adds an herbal and floral sweetness that is otherwise absent in the beer. Also commonly noted as perfumey but this was not the case. I was fortunate enough to sample it twice, the first time getting a bit more fruitiness (from fermentation?). Fruity notes can be described as pear or raspberry-like and quite pleasant. Interestingly, raspberry esters are in the beer naturally which makes sense to add raspberry syrup to bring out more of that aroma.  I found no malt aroma, masked by the acidic character. Some lemongrass notes, perhaps from woodruff. No hop aroma, diacetyl, nor DMS.

Appearance: Hazy, especially for such a small, slender glass which usually shows beers as brighter and more clear than they may actually be. Golden yellow or straw in color. Poured for a small head, but otherwise a large white head with poor retention is expected. Carbonation looked moderately high at first and came out of solution after a few minutes.

Flavor: Lactic sourness from lactobacillus is strong with fruity esters in the background. Pear and raspberry notes from fermentation combine with woodruff sweetness. Grainy notes are soft and pleasant. Bitterness is very low and does not add any flavor. Tart flavors linger into the aftertaste. Woodruff syrup falls to the bottom, with the last sip giving off a nice balance between sweet and sour.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with no signs of alcohol present. Carbonation is moderately high with a dry finish. Sourness coats the mouth leaving a slight puckering effect.

Overall Impression: Lactobacillus was used to sour the mash for three days in the boil kettle, of which was then driven off by the boil. Kolsch yeast was then used to ferment out, resulting in a low alcohol session beer. The low pH and natural acidity makes this Berliner Weisse a versatile food pairing (Wine has a low pH which is why many believe it to be a better food pairing than beer). Great as a session beer on a hot sunny day.

Vermont Brewer's Fest Beer & Chocolate Pairings W/ Lake Champlain Chocolates

I decided to put up a post this week regarding the chocolate and beer pairing event I attended at the information tent during last weekend's brewer's festival. I was fortunate enough to have tickets to both sessions that day, which meant an afternoon of learning followed by an evening of beer gluttony. I also volunteered for our local homebrew club, the Green Mountain Mashers. John and I ran into some good friends as well as a few other homebrew "know-it-alls". The following is basically copied from a printout I received at the pairing event - I thought some people would like to see it if they didn't get a copy:

Pairing 1: Zero Gravity & Otter Creek Collaboration, Berliner Weiss (3% ABV) with Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Carmael. The sour wheat beer is traditional to Northern Germany and is very light with a tartness resembling champaign. Sea salt highlights the dairy and lactic sourness of the chocolate. Together the beer's high sour lifts the cooked dairy flavors of the caramel. I noted the seas salt giving a kick in the last bite.

Pairing 2: VT Pub & Brewery Lake Champlain Chocolate Stout with Organic Vanilla Truffle. The beer is a rich, dark, smooth and sweet; a full bodied milk stout brewed with Madagascar cocoa nibs roasted at Lake Champlain Chocolates. Organic butter and heavy cream pair well with the milk stout. Deep roasted, chocolate flavors blend nicely with the Madagascar bourbon vanilla. The pairing is sort of self-explanatory with the use of chocolate in the beer.

Pairing 3: Alchemist Heady Topper (8% ABV) with (1) Dark Chocolate Orange Peel & (2) Dark Covered Almond. A variety of citrus, bitter, and sweetness of pineapple are led by a piney aroma in the beer. The orange peel in the chocolate creates a citrus bomb. Balance of sweet and sour notes. The chocolate almond's bitterness complements this big beer by boosting the roasted almond notes.

Pairing 4: Wolaver's Organic Oatmeal Stout (5.9% ABV) & Cordial. The cordial piece is showcased by the oatmeal stout inside a thin dark chocolate shell. They do this by cooking the beer down only slightly, to highlight the oatmeal and malt flavors and aid in a thicker consistency. This was by far the best chocolate of the night. You have to eat it in one bite as the beer easily flows out of the thin shell. This is also a 100% organic food and beer pairing!

Black Velvet - Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout & Sparkling Wine (Mixed Drink)

The last mixed concoction sampled last Friday at the Otter Creek/ Wolaver's tasting event at Red Square. Otter Creek brewmaster told me it was the best offer there and I couldn't agree more. The only one I did't sample that night due to slight inebriation was, On The Seventh Day, a mixed drink of Shed Mountain Ale, Campari, Barr Hill Gin, Grapefruit Juice, and Lemon (Seven Days was a sponsor of the event).

Price: $3.50/ Half; $7.00/ Full
Medium: The full is served in a tall, slender 'stange' glass (a slender water glass will suffice)

To recreate this mixed drink, fill a tall, slender drinking glass approximately half to 3/4 full of Oatmeal Stout and pour sparkling white wine very slowly over the back of a spoon to reduce agitation and excessive foaming. Stir lightly for a better blend of flavors or experience the sparkling wine first and watch it transform into stout throughout the session.

Aroma: Sparkling white wine aroma is reminiscent of white grapefruit juice. The wine/ vinous aromas hide the oatmeal stout character at first, but when blended together both enhance each other. About half way through the session the blending becomes much more apparent, yet adding much complexity.
Appearance: The sparkling white wine was slowly poured over the back of a small spoon to prevent foaming. Effervescent streams presented from the highly carbonated sparkling wine combines with a frothy off-white/ tan head. The head fades away quickly due to the white wine, but would most likely remain otherwise. Similar to a black and tan color scheme, the wine and beer do not particularly mix well unless lightly agitated. More ruby colors shine through at the bottom.
Flavor: Opens up more of a highly carbonated wine flavor of grapefruits. This was expected due to the appearance and nature of pour. When mixed better about half way through, a lightly roasted and smooth malty/ oat flavor - becomes more apparent towards the bottom/ end of the session. Minimal chocolate malt sweetness. The aroma profile also changes while the flavors start to blend together better. Balanced more towards the sweetness, which is in part due to the sweet wine.
Mouthfeel: The combined drinks create a lighter/ fluffy, more drinkable beer that maintains its creamy smooth base style. The wine actually simplifies the beer, thinning out the body and making for a less full beer. High carbonation aids in a crisp finish and cleanses the palate in the end. Simply refreshing.
Overall Impression: The sparkling wine thins out the style, adding more carbonation while not detracting from an otherwise creamy, smooth, oatmeal character - the oatmeal stout suddenly becomes more appropriate for a hot, sunny day! As a homebrewer, I suggest recreating this concoction with a batch of oatmeal stout that didn't attenuate fully. It will help turn an otherwise sweet, thick-bodied stout into a more enjoyable session beer.

"Beerini" - Wolaver's Wildflower Wheat, Peaches, & Raspberries (Mixed Drink)

On Friday, May 4, Red Square teamed up with Otter Creek and brewmaster Mike Gerhart for a mixed cocktail event exemplifying various cocktail creations and Otter Creek/ Wolaver's beers. I started out by sampling the lightest one offered, a Beerini. Although the name suggests a martini-like cocktail, the Beerini is a very light, fruity, and refreshing blend.

Price: $2.75/ Half; $5.50/ Full

To recreate this beverage on your own, mix any base American Wheat beer with approximately 1-2 tablespoons of peach puree syrup and top off with 1-2 fresh raspberries or to taste.

Aroma: As the name suggests, this one starts out floral and sweet from the addition of chamomile flowers and peaches. Hops are overridden by the extended adjuncts of peaches and raspberries (although you won't smell the whole raspberries since they are added after the pour). Some citric or citrus aromas stem mostly from the peaches but perhaps from wheat malt as well. Strong carbonation scrubbing effect on the inside of the nose - you will find this when sniffing sodas like sprite.
Appearance: Very large, thick, 2-finger tangerine-colored head embellished with chunks of peach puree flakes. The peach chunks float mostly around the rim and within the head of the glass, succumbing to gravity and dispersing throughout the beer as the session progressed. This stuff ended up being everywhere, sticking to the glass and adding to the already hazy base style. Color was golden with some orange hues. Served with one raspberry, which maintained well hidden in the thick, long lasting head.
Flavor: Very forward peach presence and creamsicle flavors. I surprisingly get a lot of coconut, like drinking a beer mixed with coconut milk. The coconut milk is similar in mouthfeel as well - a bit water. Mild bitterness is just enough to balance the malts while the peachy sweetness gains momentum and takes over in the end. Some fruitiness may be due to the yeast character as well, but this is hard to determine until I try the Wildfire Wheat by itself. Raspberry flavors add complexity towards the bottom of the glass as the raspberry had more time to settle. The best sip is the very last one when I ate the raspberry (if you can resist the temptation of eating it sooner).
Mouthfeel: Chunks of peach puree roll over the tongue with each sip, sometimes creating a chewy mouthfeel or sneaking by in smaller amounts. This doesn't deter from or add any viscosity to the beer and maintained a lightly-bodied, easy flowing texture. Very smooth finish and quite pleasant. Balanced a little more towards sweetness but no doubt due to the additional adjuncts. Just enough carbonation which may have been affected by the peach puree. A bit more carbonation may help scrub the semi-sweet peachy aftertaste.
Overall Impression: This one gears more towards women drinkers but that doesn't mean an interested palate like myself can't have one also. Keep this in mind for your next beer tasting event or spring it upon that friend of yours who says they don't like beer - because that's impossible, they probably just haven't had one they liked yet.

Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout - Organic

Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout is exactly as it sounds - a dark Stout with hints of delicious oatmeal aroma and flavor (section 13C of the BJCP style guidelines). This particular example leans more towards the sweeter side for a Stout, along with a comparably lighter body and rich flavor that makes it a delectable dessert. Part of Wolaver's variety pack purchased at City Market in Burlington.

Alcohol Content: 5.9%
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Price: $17.00 for a 12-pack Wolaver's sampler

Aroma: Can be defined by a very strong, overly roasted character. The roasted, burnt aroma is immediately released, completely masking any potential hop aromas. This is then followed by a subtle and delightful coffee-like aroma with hints of sweet oatmeal. There is also a slightly bitter chocolate presence underlying the coffee notes.
Appearance: Pours for a thin, light mocha head with a small amount of lacing. Visible carbonation is very hard to make out due to the beer's opaqueness. The overall appearance is practically black, with dark ruby hints when held up to the light. Heavy yeast sediment in the bottle.
Flavor: A roasted, somewhat grainy flavor coincides with hints of coffee and some bittersweet chocolate. The sweet oatmeal character is subtle but noticeable. A clean bitterness slowly takes over the roasted coffee flavors, followed by slight drying. Like the aroma there is a lack of hop character (appropriate for the style); however, its very clean bittering properties complement the malts quite well. Definitely malt balanced and sweet for a stout.
Mouthfeel: The oatmeal character can be defined as slick and slightly creamy. There is a subtle alcohol warmth noted in the aftertaste along with some drying. Moderate to strong carbonation. Has a moderate body that is comparably thinner than other stouts I have tried.
Overall Impression: This uniquely crafted stout should be one to treat yourself after a meal. The strong carbonation will give the illusion of fullness when it is actually thin for the style. Very good but I have no other organic Oatmeal Stouts to compare to. Definitely worth the sampler.

Wolaver's India Pale Ale - Organic

Wolaver's India Pale Ale is a traditionally unfiltered American IPA packed with a clean bittering hop and a distinctly floral aroma. Like other traditional Wolaver's beers, this handcrafted brew uses the finest local Vermont and domestic ingredients.

Alcohol Content: 6.5%
Malts: 2-Row, Munich, Caramel, ?
Hops: Magnum, Fuggles, Centennial

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Price: $17.00 for a 12-pack sampler purchased at City Market

Aroma: A delightful, pungent floral aroma is subdued by a pleasant citrusy orange aroma - there in lies a subtle fruity & yeasty character as well. Sweet caramel malts are only vaguely present along with a hint of spiciness that quickly fades. Overall fantastic.
Appearance: An almost white, one finger head is formed with little bubbles scattered on the surface. Minimally slow bubbling up the glass suggests a moderately low carbonation. Good lacing and great head retention all the way until the very last drop. A dark golden ale with hints of orange hues describes this beer best (not to be related with the pleasant orange citrus aroma). Slightly hazy. Yeast sediment present in the bottle.
Flavor: Sweet malts are almost completely overlooked as most of the sensations are derived from different parts of the pallet - mainly sides and roof of mouth. There is a slight degree of toasty and even grainy character from Munich Malts. A very clean bitterness rolls over the tongue about mid-taste, followed by a citrusy (& slightly dry) aftertaste similar to eating orange zest.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation seems appropriate - moderate. A slight alcohol warmth is present within a medium body. Perhaps some astringency from dry-hopping rates.
Overall Impression: The aroma is absolutely phenomenal; In comparison, the flavor and mouthfeel were a little more lackluster. I would have liked to see a little more of a sweet malt presence to balance the drying finish. Either drink in moderation or have a nice water to complement its dry, bitter quality.

Wolaver's Brown Ale - Organic

Wolaver's Brown Ale is an unfiltered organic Brown Ale that most likely fits with an English-style more than an American-style Brown (section 11 of the BJCP style guidelines).

Alcohol Content: ?
Malts: ?
Hops: Magnum, Fuggles, Goldings

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass
Price: $17.00 for a 12-pack Wolaver's sampler

Aroma: A subtle earthy hop and moderately fruity character is submerged within a dominant butterscotch/ caramel aroma. Some toasty notes are present as well.
Appearance: Pours for a thin, off-white head that is quick to disappear but leaving a small amount lingering on the surface. Moderately low carbonation is visible. After letting it settle for a few seconds, it presents a cloudy dark amber/ copper, perhaps even perceived as bronze in appearance. Yeast settlement in the bottle.
Flavor: Butterscotch flavors roll over the tongue, immediately followed by a clean bitterness. The caramel aromas play more of an important role in identifying the flavor as I sip and smell at the same time. Hints of vanilla appear about mid-taste followed by a slightly nutty and toasty character. Fairly balanced, perhaps a bit more towards its malt profile.
Mouthfeel: Some degree of drying coincides with butterscotch and toffee slickness in the aftertaste. Perhaps a slight amount of diacetyl dictates the butterscotch but this is unlikely. Moderately low carbonation with a medium body - relatively lower carbonation is characteristic of English brown ales and I found this to work well with this american version.
Overall Impression: The prevailing butterscotch and toffee characteristics make it tough to compare to others of the same style. However, Wolaver's has some of the most drinkable (or should I say "approachable") beers. This one is full of flavor and not too heavy, making it easy to session. I think this is one of Mike Gerhart's (brewmaster) favored beers they brew.

Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter - Organic

Wolaver's Coffee Porter possesses many qualities of a Brown Porter with adjuncts. This beer is "brewed with organic roasted barley and chocolate malts for a rich, dark and robust flavor with an infusion of organic vanilla beans, and coffee from the Dominican Republic farm community of Alta Gracia." Enjoy.

Alcohol Content: ?
Malts: Roasted Barley, Chocolate, ?
Hops: ?

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a standard pint glass
Price: $17.00 for a 12-pack Wolaver's sampler

Aroma: A nice mild roastiness is dominated by a mocha character with hints of vanilla bean. Hop aroma is completely out of the question because of the intense coffee aroma. Also, there is an infusion of bitter chocolate aroma that finishes.
Appearance: Poured for a thin mocha head with very little retention and minimal lacing (I'm not sure I cleaned the glass properly which may have played a role in this). Color is dark brown with ruby highlights. It was a little hazy and somewhat opaque; however, when tilted it was decently clear - this is also when the ruby highlights really came out. Carbonation thus far is hard to say for sure.
Flavor: A strong coffee and vanilla bean character dominates this beer from start to finish with a nice bitterness that comes into play about mid-taste. I'm not sure as to whether this bitterness is from the hops or coffee (similar to drinking black coffee). A lingering bitterness in the finish with a cocoa character. The roasted qualities outweigh any sweetness in the beginning, which leads me to think this beer is a little more balanced towards the bitter side.
Mouthfeel: A little watery (like drinking black coffee). This rather light-bodied ale contains a minimal degree of lingering harshness as well - possibly some alcohol warmth or due to a similar off-flavor?
Overall Impression: I have recently used vanilla bean in a batch of homebrew and this porter definitely presents this quality in a strong way. Brewed by Otter Creek, this is probably one of their finest treats. Perfect for that after-meal "coffee" (or a hangover if you must).