Beer Review: Schell's Emerald Rye

Serving Type: Bottle

ABV: 6.2 percent

Appearance: This came in at pretty much a straight amber. There also was a thin white head, but was only present for a few seconds. It seemed to want to fade away fairly fast. This didn't play towards leaving any lacing at all. This had somewhat of a light complexion. Some portions of the body were a bit transparent. Still, this doesn't look like a light brew at all.

Smell: I was able to notice a fine aroma of peppered sweetness. It was quite interesting and appeasing. There was also a decent presence of both grain and rye. I'm sure some of the rye was responsible for the peppery aroma I picked up.

Taste: Surprisingly, this had a roasty taste profile to it. There was also sweet malt and even sweeter caramel up front to compliment the rest of the first noticeable flavors.Still, something seemed a bit off. This might have played a bit too light.  The spiciness of the rye and slight bitter notes of the hops provide a decent bite on the back.

Overall Rating: 

This had an interesting set of flavors. There were multiple, yet complex flavors that played quite well off of each other. Still, I found it a bit lacking in the body and mouthfeel department. The head was very week. Not much texture once I began to drink it. 

Monday Rant: Definitions, Definitions

As I'm a well-known cynic, I take exception many things in both life and society.I complain like an old man. Everyone tells me that I'm pretty much a 60-year-old man in the body of a what is now a 25-year-old. Many issues irk me within the beer community. I threw a fit when there was a big push to exile the English Shaker Pint. I did much the same when everyone drooled at the thought of purchasing the Dogfish/Spiegelau hop-forward glass which we eventually found out was simply an updated wine glass.

One issue that makes me have to remind myself to breathe, as comedian Lewis Black would say, is the craft vs. craft debate and defining of craft beer, craft brewers etc.

I came across a CNBC article that kind of pointed out that the definition of a craft brewer has been expanded to cater the growth of certain brewers such as Boston Brewing Co. At least, that's what I took from reading it.

I'm just tired of the Brewer's Association laying down it's own law. It's all just beer. Who cares how many barrels a brewery produces per-year? Why does it matter if a brewery like August Schell uses corn as an adjunct in some of its offerings?

The Brewer's Association says that you can't be considered a craft brewer if you use corn or rice. The major American companies use corn and rice, but most of the beer that comes from said companies simply is repulsive. I've had beer with corn that tastes great. Craft beer should be a very loose term. A personal definition for each of us that drinks beer we like. That's what craft should be.

Beer Review: Schell's Pils

Serving Type: Bottle

ABV: 5.3 percent

Appearance: This pilsner poured something close to a neon gold. The color was quite vivid. The body was hazy, but the majority of the haze seemed to settle towards the upper portions of the glass. The bottom portions of the brew were a bit more transparent. The body was crowned by a half-inch head that came off as a lemon meringue color. The head would end up leaving tiny, intricate rings of lacing on the inside of the glass.

Smell: Initially, I picked up loads of grain and sweet corn. I instantly recalled the Brewers Association fiasco that involved August Schell Brewing Company and the use of adjuncts such as corn. I generally don't mind corn in my beer, but this was as close to a bag corn in the barn as I've been when drinking beer. It was interesting, but not totally sure if I enjoyed it. Consider me on the fence.

Taste: A positive of the corn came through in the taste department for me. The corn provided plenty of sweetness on the front. This beer also had a biscuity, bitter and very noticeable hop bite on the back.  The bitterness was a nice compliment to the sweetness and lingered in the aftertaste for quite a while. I couldn't see much carbonation due to the haze, but it was very noticeable once I started drinking. The texture of this beer is crisp and fizzy. I enjoyed it.

Overall Rating: 

The only thing I was feeling odd about was that I felt like I was opening a bag of corn on a farm and sniffing it. Maybe the corn was a bit too potent for me? The head and the body also had intriguing colors to gaze at. The taste left me refreshed as well. I'm glad I have a few more of these left from the sampler I bought.