…perhaps I should clarify. The beers were rare, the tasting of beers…not so rare.
I was extended an invitation to a private tasting at Brewforia, in Meridian, ID the other day as Rick was trying a few beers from Mayfield Brewing Company, considering whether to carry themat the store. Saturday at 2pm I showed up and spotted Chad, Chris and Clayton, guys who are plugged in to the Treasure Valley craftbeer scene, and of course our host.
First up was the Mayfield Iconoclast “Aurora”. an altbier that was a hazy light tan/copper that mustered up head that barely consisted of a ring of coarse bubbles. Light aroma of mustiness, applesauce and honey. The oak character was subtle and worked well with the pale maltiness, light body and lively feel it had.
The next was another Iconoclast series brew, “Eclat”. As an IPA I thought it was sweet, fruity and somewhat floral. The Cabernet and Zin American Oak barrels that it is conditioned in lent it a noticeable tannin-like bite and while it seemed to have the IBUs for the style, it didn’t come across with a big hop flavor profile.
The third Mayfield beer was the best, “Nocturna” Aged in French Oak barrels previously filled with a California Port Wine. Huge licorice, chocolate and something else I couldn’t put my finger on…that is untill Rich blurted out “green apples…! “. He was right, in the aroma and even more so in the flavor. That wine/tannin flavor comes through as well, with a medium body and very soft carbonation. The slightly roasted smokey trailer finished it off. We all agreed it was delicious but like the other two of the set, we wondered aloud if they merited the rather spendy price tag they would wear. $40ish for the first two and $50 for the Nocturna is what I was told.
We also shared a Dogfishhead Burton Baton, and the famous, or rather notorious 120 Minute IPA both contributed to the cause by Clayton. Like almost anything DH makes, the Burton baton was big and brash. Open fermented and oak aged and blended with their 90 Minute IPA. It had a huge pine and citrus pith aroma, carmely malts that had quite a bit of residual sweetness but was bittered enough to make it all work out. The 120 was very sweet and at 18% ABV you would think after smelling that it should come witha “No Smoking” warning on it. I hae sampled this beer back in 2006 when it was 21%. Yeah, that’s right…Twenty-One. Good for what they are, but very sweet, syrupy almost, but tons of flavor and something everyone should try once.
To lighten things up we had the Stumptown Tart (Frambiose), from Bridgeport Brewing. Ive had most of their offerings, 14 or so I think and this one was my least favorite of all of them. Pink, spritzy, and disappointing. Definitely not up to their Marion Berry edition of this series and quite frankly I am rather hesitant to try the “Cherry Wheat”, the third one of the set.
Next was splitting a 12oz Harviestoun Ola Dubh 7 ways. It’s classified as an “Old Ale” but the name translates to “Black Oil” and not surprisingly it tasted more like a stout or very rich dark porter. Aged in 40 year old whiskey barrels, the earthen peaty aroma and flavors were big time and other smokey and whiskey notes made this the most “Scottish” tasting beer I can remember having.
To cap it all off I pulled out the DogfishHead World Wide Stout. Even the label unabashedly claims that it is brewed with a “ridiculous” amount of barley. 
Very dark, sweet, roasted flavors with tootsie roll, purple grapes and a heavy slick palate. this bottle was 3 years old and if anything, it may have toned down a little of the bitterness that usually should be in an Imperial Stout this big.
Just about that time I got the call I was waiting for and had to leave to pick up my daughter from a baby-sitting job. That all these samples were small, worked out for the good I guess.
My thanks to Rick of Brewforia for the invite and to the rest of the group there for some enjoyable “Beer-Snobery”
