Box of beer from Redweasel!

[Tankard]

Sorry Red that I can't do this with my webcam. This is a new laptop and the drivers I need for the webcam are "not available" on the Acer website. If I figure it out before I crack open the other amber, I'll do a video review.

I'm reviewing his Crossroads Amber, which was brewed using Kaiser's cold sparge method.

First Impression: Great start. Perfect amount of carbonation. Formed a nice 1" head that lasted for a decent amount of time. Absolutely stunning amber color, spot on for the style. Very good clarity, which I believe was your biggest worry in doing the cold sparge. You mentioned you cold crashed this, I'm curious about how clear this would be otherwise.

Aroma: Once the beer warms up a little, the first thing that jumps out is a strong caramel aroma. This is followed up with a slight citrus note. The overall impression here is malty. I wish it had a bit more hop aroma.

Flavor: In one word - awesome. The hops make a big comeback here, with the amarillo and cascade giving the beer a solid grapefruit/citrus flavor. The sweet caramel that was present in the aroma is still here, although more subdued, and it balances out the hops perfectly. This is everything you would expect in a great amber ale.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, not sticky-sweet and cloying like some ambers can be. I must admit, the aroma worried me a bit, and I thought the beer would be too heavy. Luckily that didn't happen.. this is balanced really, really well.

Overall: Overall I'm a bit pissed that I can't consistently make beer like this. You should write out your exact procedure for me. Very, very well done Red. I detected absolutely no flaws with this brew, and I think I'll give the cold sparge a try with my next batch. The only thing that could make this beer better is if the hop aroma was a little more evident. That's a minor gripe though, this beer is great. Thanks for sharing it.

[Tankard]

Redweasel's 999. I wanted to review this here instead of the in the swap critique forum, considering I wasn't involved in the 9/9/9 swap.

I'm completely unfamiliar with this style, so bear with me...

First Impressions: Very faint hiss as I popped off the bottle cap, and then it gushed a tiny bit. Pours with little to no head ... is low carbonation typical for this style? Very nice amber color. Good clarity.

Aroma: A combination of tart cherry and a slight vinegar aroma. Once the beer warmed up a little, I detected a little bit of a vanilla character as well.

Flavor: I think I'm starting to gain an appreciation for these funky sour beers. The sourness is definitely noticeable but it isn't overpowering. I really like the oak and malt backbone in the aftertaste. Good amount of bitterness here as well. I'm glad that this beer is carbonated more than I thought it would be, based on the pour.

Mouthfeel: A little heavier than what I would consider a medium bodied beer. I couldn't slam this one and took my time with it. What was the alcohol % with this one?

Overall: I was surprised that I enjoyed this one as much as I did. I am usually not too fond of these styles. I really liked the sour cherry aroma and flavor of this beer. It wasn't too sour, and it had the right amount of malt and bitterness to balance everything out. It has a very bold flavor. I don't know if I would want 5 gallons of this stuff around my house, but as an occasional sampling, this was a great beer. Since I am so unfamiliar with this style, I can't think of anything to really critique. I think the gushing and lack of "pssssst" when I opened the beer might be a problem. Other than that, I can't think of anything. Thanks again, Red.

[Redweasel]

Glad you enjoyed them Tank. The Amber is definately one of my better beers so far. I hope the BJCP judges feel the same.