Beer #350 – Hopivore by New Holland Breweing Company

Hopivore by New Holland Breweing Company

I am feeling better today and the Dallas Cowboys are winning and winning big…good day indeed.

Beer #350 is Hopivore by New Holland Breweing Company.  This American Pale Ale is brewed in Holland, Michigan and has an ABV of 6%.  According to the label, this is brewed with Michigan grown hops and they are used wet-hopped…which means they are added fresh and not dried.  Interesting…

Appearance – Amber color with hints of red when held up to the light.  The head was tiny and white.

Nose – OK…I know I’m coming off of being sick but I couldn’t smell much of anything other than the faintest aroma of malts..caramel possibly?

Taste – Again…pretty much nothing.  There was maybe a bit of a bitter pine flavor but other than that there was nothing distinguishable here.

Mouthfeel – A bit north of light in the body with a low amount of carbonation.

Overall – Horrible…there was nothing here that would make me recommend this to anyone.  Skip this.

And then there were 15…

Rating: F

Read Full Post »

Beer #251 – Envious Vintage 2011 by New Holland Brewing Company

Envious Vintage 2011 by New Holland Brewing Company

As the summer quickly rolls on and beer after beer are consumed, I start to think of many things.  One of those thing being that ever so slightly I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, or beer #365 that is.  I wonder to myself what should be that beer, #365?  I think it should be something pretty special…I was thinking maybe Tequiza.  I kid of course.  Sad to say there was a time in my life where I actually liked that stuff and it is good to know it isn’t made anymore.  Beer #365 is still quite a few away, so instead of thinking about that, lets try another beer in the long line of beers I have had.

Beer #251 is Envious Vintage 2011 by New Holland Brewing Company.  Brewed and bottled in Holland, Michigan, this Fruit Beer has an ABV of 7.5%.  It is part of New Hollands Cellar Series although I’m not quite sure that exactly is other than maybe a special run they brew?  On the label it mentions this was brewed with pear juice and raspberries.  Sounds like something I will like.

Into my tulip glass it went with a very dark brown color and a tan colored head.  I picked up the glass to take a whiff with thought of pears and raspberries on my mind and sure enough there was a nice light raspberry aroma coming from the heavier caramel malts.  There was also a slight chocolaty smell here too.  I took a sip…dark fruits take over in that department.  When I say dark fruits, I usually get raisins or a plum like flavor.  Towards the middle of the sip, I picked up, very slightly, that raspberry I picked up in the nose.  It finishes kind of bland and nondescript.  The mouthfeel was decent, medium bodied with low carbonation.  It was very smooth and the alcohol was hidden really well.

Overall I was really disappointed.  I wanted to taste the pear, I didn’t (although my wife did).  I wanted the raspberries (which I love) to make a bigger appearance,  they also didn’t play that big of a part here.  I did finish the bottle though so it wasn’t all bad.  Onwards I roll…to beer #365.

Rating: C

Read Full Post »

Beer #123 – Full Circle by New Holland Brewing Company

Full Circle by New Holland Brewing Company

Play ball!!!  The Yankees domination of the MLB started today with a victory!  One little victory (Rush reference there…) in which I hope springboards them into 95 or so wins.  Lets go Yankees!!!!

Beer #123 is Full Circle by New Holland Brewing Company from Michigan.  This is a Kolsch…I have no idea what a Kolsch actually is so to the web I went for an answer.  A Kolsch is a traditional German beer first brewed in Cologne, Germany.  This particular beer has an ABV of 4.9%.

Full Circle poured a gold color with a little white head.  The nose was very light, there was almost no smell whatsoever until I agitated the brew then I got a bit of grass and maybe some wheat.  The taste was a bit bready…and that was about it.  It finished very dry and flat, almost if there was no carbonation.  The mouthfeel was that of a light bodied brew with very little in the way of carbonation.  It was a very mild and easy drinking beer.

This really reminded me of a Pilsner but without the crispness.  It was OK, nothing to write home about.  Oddly enough, my wife liked it better than I did but she prefers lighter style beers…me…not so much.

Rating: C

Read Full Post »

Beer #46 – The Poet by New Holland Brewing Company

The Poet by New Holland Brewing Company

Beer #46 is The Poet by New Holland Brewing Company.  This brew is an Oatmeal Stout with an ABV of 5.2%.  Stouts are yummy, if you like coffee, you will probably like stouts.  Oatmeal Stouts are brewed with, get this, oats.  Huh, who would have thunk it.  Oatmeal Stout for breakfast anyone?

The Poet had a nice deep dark brown color.  It sort of reminded me of a cola appearance wise.  There was a small tan head that dissipated quite quickly.  The smells consisted of coffee, chocolate and roasted malts.  Taste followed the nose, coffee was the dominating flavor with a roasted smoky ending.  One thing I didn’t get in either the nose or taste was oats.  I’m not quite sure I should have gotten them either since this was my first Oatmeal Stout, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  This was a nice smooth beer, a little lighter in the body then I would have guessed.  This was very drinkable, line ‘em up and knock ’em back.

A pretty good brew is what this was.  I also liked the label, that raven (or is it a crow) is cool and creepy all at the same time.

Rating: B

Read Full Post »