As summer comes to a close, New Glarus Brewing Co. has come out with a two very different new seasonal beers: Laughing Fox Kristal Weizen and Black Top Black IPA. One is traditional, the other modern; one is mild, the other assertive; one is light, the other dark; one is...ok I'll stop there, but you get the idea.
New Glarus Laughing Fox Kristal Weizen
RB(NA) BA(B+)
Appearance: Surprisingly dark, copper-orange with a big, foamy, lingering head.
Aroma: Clove, cinnamon, and just of hint of the hefeweizeny banana ester.
Flavor: In short, very mild. Hints of wheat and clove, with a very thin body. None of the caramel flavors the darker color implies come through in the taste. The yeast notes become a bit more pronounced as the beer warms up; I'd drink this one at cellar temperature for full effect. A very light, clean beer with mild hefeweizen-yeast notes.
Drinkability: Absurdly drinkable.
Summary: The copper color made me think that Dan might be throwing us a curve ball here, but this beer is basically a light, filtered Hefeweizen, which, I suppose, is exactly what a Krstial Weizen should be. According to the bottle, the color is meant to match that of a fox's fur, which it nails head on. I have to say I prefer Dancing Man, but that one clocks in at 7.2% abv, where as Laughing Fox is a modest 4.5%, making it a good choice for a session on the last few hot days of summer (which may already be behind us, unfortunately).
Black Top Black IPA
RB(NA) BA(B+)
Appearance: Very dark brown if not quite black, with hints of dark amber when held up to the light.
Aroma:: Classic American hop notes of Citrus and Pine, with a hint of caramel in the background.
Flavor: Assertive American hop flavor up front, finishing with a strong bitterness and just a hint of roast. I suspect they use a combination of de-bittered black malt with some roasted malt to get the dark color without too much roast. There is a hint of an acidic bitterness, likely from the roast malt, that melds with the hop bitterness to form a minerally, almost quinine-like bitter note. However the roast flavor is restrained enough so as to not be astringent or unpleasant. A very interesting blend of flavors.
Drinkability: Moderate. The bitterness and roasted note combine to wear out the palate a bit as the glass goes down. I don't see my self drinking a bunch of these in a row.
Summary: Not an IPA/Stout hybrid, but rather a solidly bitter IPA with just a hint of roast that adds some uniqueness and complexity. A tasty brew.
I'm a fan of both Kristal Weizens and Black IPAs. I had the BIPA at Great Taste and really enjoyed the brief sip I had. My recollection of that was that the pine was quite prevalent and made it distinctive.
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious on the Kristal. I'll have to track down a 6 pack (or is it a four-pack?). I wonder if the color came first or the name; it's not often that that tail wags that dog.
I also tried both these beers this past weekend. I liked them both quite a bit. The Laughin Fox had a unique sourness that was a bit off in the beginning but soon went down easy. I liked it's Belgian/Bavarian profile. The Black IPA was just well made. What can you say about the master, DC.
ReplyDeleteI thought the black top was okay, but seemed a bit cloying by the end of the glass. It was actually fairly hoppy, something I didn't expect from New Glarus. It's kind of a try it once beer for me, so I'll be looking to trade what I have left. The one sip of the Krystal Weizen wasn't bad, but I'm not a huge fan of this style.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2, I agree that the drinkability was not top notch on the BIPA, though I didn't find it cloying but rather a little bit harsh in the roast/bitter combination. Overall a great beer though, in my estimation.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I'm drinking the BIPA right now and can't really detect the roastyness that the article mentions. Also the aroma of this beer is fantastic.
ReplyDelete