anderson valley brewery

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Spring Hornin’ Spring India Pale Ale

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into the second craft beer from Anderson Valley.  It is their Spring Hornin’ Spring India Pale Ale.  If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Wild Turkey Bourdon Stout, you know the history of this craft brewery.  If you have not, please, read it to get to know Anderson Valley Craft Brewery.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on this IPA.  The aroma has hints of blueberry and honey with notes of citrus.  There is a little bit of floral notes.  The taste has a light carbonated citrus with a nice honey notes.  The aftertaste is not overly bitter but kind of refreshing.  This is a smooth drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Burnish gold hue with a persistent, rocky white head.  Floral, spicy aroma redolent of lilacs, white pepper and Bartlett pears with undertones of blueberry honey and roses.  A pleasant balance of crisp bitterness with a clean malt profile adorned spicy, herbal hop flavors lasting into a dry, refreshing finish.

Here is a description from their website (www.avbc.com):

With floral, spicy aromas reminiscent of lilacs, white pepper and Bartlett pears, our new Spring Hornin’ IPA embodies the season with a clean malt profile and herbal hop flavors lasting into a dry, refreshing finish.

FOOD PAIRINGS:
Fish and chips, roasted lamb, peppery Korean beef, oatmeal raisin cookies

CHEESE PAIRINGS:
Mild English Cheddar, Gouda

GLASSWARE:
Pint Glass

ALC/VOL:
6.8

BITTERNESS:
55 IBU

MALTS:
Pale Two-Row malted barley, Crystal (40L), Munich (20L)

HOPS:
Columbus, Golding, Nugget, Northern Brewer

AVAILABILITY:
Jan-Mar: Draft, 22oz bottle, 12oz bottle

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avbc.com

Twitter:  @avbc

Ending, I really like this beer.  It is a simple statement.  I have been slowly getting into their beers because I am finding they are making some nice brews.  I loved their Stout that they used Wild Turkey Barrels.  I love the unique blueberry notes with hints of honey in this IPA.  I am glad these craft breweries are pushing the limits again.  It was getting to the point that everyone was putting out the same boring stuff with different hops.  Yes, hops do make a difference.  This is a great light Spring IPA.  I will be checking more of their beers out.  I highly recommend this brew.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout

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In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Anderson Valley Brewery.  I loved their Winter Warmer.  I have been wanting to get into more of their beers.  I saw this from a friend’s check and photo on Instagram.  I had to pick up a bottle.  I am talking about their Bourdon Barrel Stout.  If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their Winter Solstice, you know the history of this brewery.  If you have not read that post, please, read to get to know this brewery.  Let us get into this brew.

It has a jet black color with a creamy fluffy tan head on this stout.  The aroma has chocolate notes with hints of coffee but a strong bourbon whiskey notes.  The taste is a whiskey chocolate notes at first.  The back half of the drinking experience just before the aftertaste has a smooth chocolate notes.  The aftertaste is a chocolate with a light bourbon notes.  It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.  It is not like rest of bourbon barrel age stouts on the market.

Here is a description from their website (www.avbc.com):

Complexity.  Aged for three months in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels, this luxurious stout has a deep ebony hue and a beautiful mahogany head. The woody, vanilla-like notes imparted by the barrels mingle with aromas of fresh-baked bread, toffee, and espresso and envelop the rich chocolate and roasted barley flavors with a fine bourbon character.  Our exclusive partnership with Wild Turkey gives Anderson Valley a world-class, consistent source of barrelage, allowing our brewers to explore new frontiers in barrel-aged craft beer.

Since its introduction, Wild Turkey has maintained a distinctive distillation and ageing process that gives it a smooth taste and a lingering flavor. Wild Turkey uses a differentiated process whereby the bourbon is distilled at a low proof to seal in its flavors. Very little water is added to Wild Turkey, resulting in a full-flavored authentic bourbon taste similar to what one would get straight out of the barrel. Wild Turkey is a genuine drink with a sought after “burn” that comes from its high-proof, an attribute fundamental to the brand and critical in maintaining its authentic bourbon characteristics.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avbc.com

Twitter:  @avbc

Closing, I loved this Bourbon Barrel Stout.  This beer is drinkable compare to other Bourbon Barrel stouts.  It is still a sipping beer but compare to others it is more drinkable.  I enjoy the chocolate, bourdon, to a slight whiskey notes.  I was pretty impressed by this brew.  This brewery is going to do a full other line when they run through the Wild Turkey Barrel.  I am pretty excited to see what the next stout will get from those Bourdon Barrel.  I recommend this brew if you can find it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

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In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another brewery that I have been wanting to try their brews out for a while.  Anderson Valley was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen in Boonville, California.  This brewery was sold to Trey White with two silent partners in 2010.  They still brew several of David Norfleet’s beers and have added on since he sold the company.  Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it.  The smell is a strong cinnamon and a little caramel to the beer.  The taste is a smooth and silk caramel with a touch of cinnamon.  There is really no aftertaste to the beer.  It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brilliantly clear dark copper color with a dense tan head. Caramelized malty and spicy aromas redolent of cinnamon, allspice, black currant, and black licorice. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, hints of seasonal spices and a clean, malty finish.

Here is a description from their website (www.avbc.com):

The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker, weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys, cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. WinterSolstice Seasonal Ale evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium sweetness.

As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized.

6.9% ABV6 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.avbc.com

Twitter:  @avbc

Closing, this beer was an awesome beer.  I was pretty stun on how good it was to the rest of the winter beers I had so far this season.  It is kind of drinkable beer.  I love all the flavors that this beer has kicking around in my mouth.  I really hate when breweries uses the term “winter warmer.”  It is really not a beer style but more and more it is starting to become a beer style.  This is why.  Most brewmasters I talk to about their beers and I bring up what is the beer style of your “winter warmer.”  Pretty much all of them could not nail it down to a beer style.  With all of this said, I recommend you as a craft beer drinker to try this beer.  Please, let me know what your thoughts on this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser