Thursday, July 14, 2011

50 States/50 Beers- Idaho!

Grand Teton Brewing Company-Sweetgrass American Pale Ale Beer Review

Grand Teton Brewing Company is the original brewery of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, located in Victor, Idaho.  They have been brewing handcrafted beers at the base of the Tetons since 1988.   This beer is a hard to find beer in the South, that is unless you live in South Carolina.  Thankfully for us South Carolinians, Advintage Distributing stocks Grand Teton's beers at some of our favorite beer stores.   The only other state their beers can be found on the East Coast is Massachusetts.   One more reason why I love living in Charleston! Here are some local places I have seen Grand Teton's beers: Charleston Beer ExchangeColeman Public HouseMagnolia's RestaurantTotal Wine & More.

Today's beer that I am reviewing is their Sweetgrass American Pale Ale.  Taken from the Grand Teton Brewing website: "Sweetgrass APA is a Pale Ale of distinction! 2009 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner in the American Pale Ale category, this crisp and fragrant beer is hopped and dry-hopped with plenty of Amarillos and Cascades." Other beers in their portfolio include: Teton Ale, Bitch Creek ESB, Old Faithful Ale, Howling Wolf Weisse Bier, Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial Red Ale, Black Cauldron Imperial Stout and Lost Continent Double IPA The Grand Saison, Persephone Imperial Pils.


Tasting Notes

Appearance:   Poured a copperish amber color with a thick, creamy head.   Beautiful lacing with a head retention that wouldn't quit.

Smell:   Citrusy, piney and slight grassy hop aroma.  Plenty of hops in this one.  Slight sweet malt aroma as well.  Loving the aroma and hoping the beer tastes as good as it smells.

Taste:   Getting the hops up front. Pine notes and grass in the middle.  Nice citrus finish.  Hops linger, but not aggressive.  Malt flavor is a mild sweet one.  Very nice!

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied beer.  Carbonation is adequate.  Slick on the tongue.

Overall:  One of the better American Pale Ale's out there in my opinion.  As a lover of hops, I thought this had just the right amount for an APA.   Very flavorful and well balanced. Very drinkable, would love to have another 2 or 3.

Grade: A-
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle
Stats: Alcohol by Volume 6%
International Bittering Units: 60
Awards: 2009 - Gold Medal, American Pale Ale (Great American Beer Festival)
Malts: Idaho 2-Row Brewers, German Vienna & CaraAmber
Hops: Columbus, Galena, Amarillo, Simcoe & Cascade, Dry hopped with Cascade


      

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