Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

I recently did a video beer review with Chad from Chad'z Beer reviews on the Long Trail Blackberry Wheat beer. I was not very impressed with Long Trail's version but I figured I would give the style another chance when I saw the Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier.

The beer poured a hazy, golden orangish color with a finger width white head. Berries dominate the aroma. The body starts out with some thin wheat. The berries start to show through in the middle palate and stay through the finish, lingering on the palate for a while. There are some very light hops on the finish. The beer left a faint lacing on the glass.

Overall, this beer is fairly well made but this style is just not for me. I think spices and citrus are much better suited for wheat beers then berries. This seems like a beer replacement for fruity, sparkling wines, but it is just not impressive for me.

21st Amendment IPA

Another new beer on tap at Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, NY means another new blog post for The Foaming Head. The new beer is 21st Amendment's India Pale Ale. 21st has canned their beers since June of 2008, but the beers have only recently been available in New York.

21st's IPA poured a semi-hazy, golden color with a big frothy white head. The aroma consists mostly of dry, floral hops. The cascade is most apparent. The body has a creamy mouthfeel with some light, pale malt up front. The hops start to make their presence felt in the middle of the palate and lead to a very dry finish. The beer leaves lots of beautiful circular lacing.

Overall, this is a really nice IPA. The hops are not overwhelming so the hop heads that love American IPA's may not be impressed but I think this is a nice beer. There is plenty of flavor and the hops balance well with the pale malt. This is a real nice IPA for the Summer and I am sure I will be stopping in for a few more.

Harpoon IPA

Chef/Owner Marcus Guiliano invited me into Aroma Thyme Bistro, in Ellenville, NY to taste their newest beer on tap; Harpoon IPA. Harpoon's beer checks in at a relatively strong 5.9% and is brewed with American Cascade hops and three different malts.

The beer poured a golden yellow color with a inch high, frothy, white head. There was some floating sediment that made its way into the glass from the keg. The aroma is clean and hoppy, with the Cascade hops dominating.

There is some malt up front before the hops really start to show through. The body is pretty dry, yet a little thinner than most American IPA's with the hops showing through more on the aroma and finish than the body. The beer leaves a decent amount of lace on the glass.

Overall, I really like this beer. The lighter body makes this a perfect IPA for the summer. Harcore hopheads may look for a beer with a little more bite in the body, but I enjoy Harpoon's version as I can enjoy more than one without a glass of water nearby. This beer would pair very well with any of Chef Guilano's Thai dishes.