Posts Tagged ‘Long Trail’

Brewery: Long Trail
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Double IPA

Having enjoyed the the other member of the Brewmaster Series (Long Trail Coffee Stout), I could not pass up the opportunity to try the Double IPA. Add to this the fact Oliver’s Discount Beverage was selling bombers for $3.99 and it was a slam dunk to pick up two for the cellar.

As I have mentioned in several IPA reviews, I spent many years avoiding the hops. Stouts, porters and ambers were the standard drink for me. At the beginning of the warm weather here at OAB HQ, I declared this spring and summer the season of “Embrace The Hops”. I’ve gone out of my way on each cellar restock to find at least one hop bomb or big hop beer – much to the dismay of Mrs. Ohabeer. (She is decidedly not a hop fan…) While the Long Trail Double IPA does not qualify as a hop bomb, it certainly satisfies my desire for something hoppier than my usual fare and was declared by Mrs. Ohabeer: “too hoppy”.

It pours a slightly cloudy gold color with a clean foamy white head. The aroma is definitely an DIPA: large hop scent – citrus with a faint flower and malt scent. The flavor is a lovely balance of citrusy hops, a subtle balance of malt with a touch of flowery hop at the end. Mrs. Ohabeer and I discussed the citrus profile and decided it comes through mostly as lemony. It’s a medium light bodied IPA with a bit of “tongueyness”. By that I mean, it’s a slight bit dry on the end leading to that strange sort of feeling on the tongue. If you’ve encountered it you know what I mean. It’s not a bad thing – just a little unexpected in an DIPA.

Certainly lighter than most DIPAs in body, it’s 8.6% ABV is nicely hidden in the balance of citrus hop and sweet malts. A very mellow DIPA that could easily sneak up on you if you’re not careful. At $3.99 a bomber, drinking several – while economical – may not be the most advisable session on a BBQ afternoon.

Brewery: Long Trail
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Imperial Coffee Stout

Question: what do you do when you see a bomber for a brewery’s Special Edition series prices at $4.99?

If you answer is anything other than “Buy it without thinking” I have serious doubts about your sanity and fiscal responsibility.

So it was that I encountered the Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout in a bomber at the remarkable price of $4.99. Without thinking – I picked up a bottle. I now wish it had been more, but that’s another story.

For full disclosure, I am a big coffee junkie. I brew via French press, prefer to grind my own beans and feel most coffee stouts fail to actually impart a coffee profile. To me, if you are going to call it “coffee stout” – it sure as hell better have a coffee taste. To their credit, Long Trail has accomplished this task creating a decent low priced stout with a solid coffee base.

The bottle states “Made with Vermont Coffee Company Coffee” and to a coffee geek that’s a good thing. Vermont Coffee Company has a fairly good reputation for quality roasting and that come through in this brew. It pours a jet black with a dark brown head that falls fairly quickly. It’s a big imperial stout scent – huge on roasted malt – with a very heavy coffee tone. Think morning coffee brewing crossed with a big stout.

The taste carries this combo through – big stout taste with a nice bitter coffee tone. Here is where I think most people discussing coffee stouts part ways. If you prefer a smooth mellow roast coffee – most coffee stouts are going to be a fail for you are they tend to use a stronger coffee flavor. If the brewer has decided to go LCD and use a coffee extract or cold brew coffee – the bitter edge is gone and the hardcore coffee geek is unimpressed. To me, if you’re not a fan of strong coffee – why are you buying and drinking a big coffee stout? The Long Trail is a big bitter coffee taste – like a great fresh cup in the morning – and finishes with a hint of chocolate.

My only real complaint is it is a bit thin on body. If this had been a bit thicker – it would have been a damn near perfect coffee stout. Excellent aroma. Solidly balanced bitterness. A nice mid-range 8% ABV makes it no session drink but fine for the seasoned professional. All for the low low price of $4.99. I certainly hope to run into this again soon.

I haven’t really done much of a restock lately to the cellar. We’ve been a bit too busy around OAB HQ drinking various foamybeers – our own line of brews. A recent trip to pick up more brewing supplies lead us to drop by Oliver’s discount Beverage in Albany. so, the latest beerventory…

Growlers
Cave Mountain Hefeweizen (bought at the brewery on $8 browler Sundays)

6 packs
Widmer Drop Top Amber Ale
Widmer Drifter Pale Ale
Saranac Summer Brew
Wolaver Ben Gleason’s White Ale
Sherwood forest Friar’s Belgian White ale
Boulder Brewing Hazed & Infused
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

12 Pack
Smutty Nose Sampler featuring Shoals Pale Ale, Old Brown Dog, IPA and Robust Porter

Bombers
Long Trail Brewmasters Series Double IPA
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja Amber Ale
Arcadia Ales Cocoa Loco
Arcadia Ales Cereal Killer
Southern Tier Jah-Va Imperial Coffee Stout
Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale
Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale
Smuttynose Gravitation Belgian Quad
Ommegang Biere de Mars
He’Brew Jewbelation 12
Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale
Flying Dog Wild Dog Weizenbock

A recent client meeting meant a trip to New Paltz, NY and a return visit to K & E Discount Beverage. Our mission was to add a few more bombers to the cellar and begin the transition to ale drinking season. I did end up buying one six pack.

Six pack
Troegs Hop Back Amber Ale

Bombers
Troegs Flying Mouflan
Wells Banana Bread Beer
Avery Ale To The Chief
Docs Draft Black Currant Hard Cider
Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale
Smuttynose Gravitation Ale
He’Brew Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A.
Long Trail Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout

A run into downtown Roxbury for some chips to accompany some grilled chicken added another – and quite unexpected – six pack to the cellar. (Trust me – Roxbury is not known for any store having a fine selection of craft beer…)

Six pack bought locally
Hook & Ladder Backdraft Brown Ale
(very surprised to see this in our local convenience store)

Brewery: Long Trail Brewing
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Unfiltered Scottish Ale

Another in the parade of seasonals. It’s a fairly simple ale. Reddish in color with a light head. Good malt flavor. Another in the utility ale category. 6% ABV. The six was nice to have, but nothing I’d return to quickly.