Review # 13 Eel River Brewing Company: Triple Exultation

Hey!  It's another Old Ale!  This one is Certified Organic to boot!  The folks at Eel River have won a number of awards for this fine beer, so when better to review it than right after Founder's Curmudgeon?

I really dig this beer and have bought on many occasions.  It pours a hazy amber color with a cream colored head that lasts a good while.  The nose of this beer is mostly what you would expect from an Old Ale, prunes or raisins, molasses, and malt.  But wait, whats that?  Are those hops I smell?  Yessir they certainly are.  Unlike most Old Ales the nice folks at Eel River have jacked up the IBU's in this guy to 100, adding some nice, although faint citrus aromas.

It has a very malty start with a sweet hop finish, notes of wood, tobacco,  molasses, caramel, and the above mentioned fruits.  The first few sips will create a slight alcohol tingle, as this bad boy clocks in at 9.7% ABV, but it diminishes quickly as the rest of the flavors do the talking.

What do I do?:  Drink it, silly!  If you are a fan of Old Ales, IPAs, or a tasty cheap buzz, this should be high up on your list.  It is widely distributed so there shouldn't be much trouble finding it at one of the quality craft beer stores in your hood.

Review #8 Peak Organics Summer Session

Ahhhhhh, Summer.  Baking in the sun.  Being covered in sweat just from walking to the corner bodega.  When the subway is a sauna and everyone smells pretty gross.  Yet it is still one of our favorite times of the year, but why?

Drinking outside.

There are not many things as enjoyable as a great cold beer on a hot Summer afternoon outdoors.  It is for this reason I will try to review every Summer beer I can get my hands on this season, starting with Peak Organics Summer Session.

Normally I am not really excited by Peak's offerings.  They just strike me as kind of "meh".  They aren't bad, but I would definitely choose something else to drink.  But, when I heard that this was actually a Three Floyd's recipe (unconfirmed, but from a reliable source) I wanted to give it a go.

What I found was a smooth, summery beer with a creamy white head, that smelled and tasted like lemon and wheat the whole way through.  That's it.  Nothing more, nothing less.  It is simple, but not boring, very refreshing, and remarkably easy to drink.  There is a slight hint of sweetness and a dry finish that make it a great beer for pairing with almost any Summer food.  In true session fashion it is only has 5% ABV, which I think is great for those long days of drinking and barbecuing.

What do I think?:  If you are tailgating, barbecuing, or just hanging out in the park, this beer will do you no wrong.  I cannot for the life of me think of anything that I will eat in the next three months that would not pair well with this beer.  I will definitely buy this again, and you should too.  Plus, it's organic for crying out loud, at least your drinking could have some benefit for the planet.