Tasting: Three Hour Tour Clone

Appearance- Pours a super dark black with light edges of dark brown near the top where light is able to penetrate. A nice two finger medium brown head forms thats nice and creamy. A beautiful cap and collar is maintained the entire beer unfortunatly little, if any, lacing remains.
Smell- Nice light chocolaty tones that are on the milk chocolate side along with a bit of sweet cream. The coconut isn’t all that potent in the nose but you can definitely tell it’s there. It’s got a light Mounds Bar smell going but not quite as potent as was Town Hall’s version. The coconut mixed with the light sweetness has a almost vanilla like smell.
Taste- Starts with a bit of lightly sweet milk chocolate and a bit more of that milky cream from the lactose. Definitely not too sweet though and I’m very happy with the amount of lactose that I added. The coconut is much lighter than it tasted when I bottled this and I think if I could have kegged this brew the coconut would have been a bit more intense. The finish is lightly chocolaty with a very light tinge of bitterness. Nothing really hoppy though, more of a charred bitter.
Mouthfeel- Even though I only used 3 carb tabs in this one it’s pretty well carbonated. I wish the carbonation was a bit less and it was a bit finer. The body ended being okay though as it’s around a light medium and not as thin as I was expecting.
Drinkability- Overall I’d say I’m somewhat happy with this brew. I wish the coconut was a bit more pronounced and I think I’d use a bit more crystal for more of a caramel flavor mixed in. The oats really would have aided in the mouthfeel as well. If I ever brew again I think I might toast some coconut and “dry hop” with those too. Definitely not bad but not 100% what I was wanting.

Tasting: Langs Lil' Smokey

Appearance- Pours a super dark brown that borderlines on black with a small dark tan cap that’s fairly small even with a aggressive pour. A nice thick collar and thin cap is maintained the entire beer as is a bit of spotty lacing.
Smell- Chocolate and bacon. The smoke is very strong and has almost wet ashtray like traits. Very intense and exactly what I was hoping for. Notes of tobacco and leather are fairly prevalent as well and as the beer warms the chocolate fades. Mostly just intense smoke.
Taste- Crazy intense. A big rush of smoke hits my mouth immediately as its super intense and almost ham like. Notes of raw cocoa nibs hide underneath with a dry bit of chocolate. It’s a bit too bitter though as a light citric tone from the hops is noticeable but I don’t think the majority of the bitterness is the hops. I think it’s from the char of the roast and the intensity of the smoked malt. The alcohol is noticeable as well. Some coffee notes, tobacco and more smoke lingers and lingers.
Mouthfeel- Awesome feel. It’s thick and rich with velvety smooth body as the carbonation is light and spot on. I wish all my beers had this body.
Overall- Not bad. This will definitely tame up a bit over the next couple months and become much more drinkable. For now though, it’s very intense and about the manliest brew I’ve ever had. It’s slightly too bitter for the style though and the alcohol is slightly too high. This brew will get better and better though and that applewood will meld nicely.

Tasting: Simcoe and Chinook Single Hop IPA

Chinook Single Hop IPA

Appearance- Slightly chill hazed but pretty good clarity overall, great head with tons of staying power. Looks like it might be slightly over carbonated.
Smell- Fairly piney and sappy, intense, not very fruity, earthy, a bit of caramel pops through as it warms
Taste- Holy bitter, resiny, pine tar and grass, dandelion stem, almost no malt to speak of. I’d say overly bitter but as it warms a bit it’s just really hoppy. Probably could have used a bit more caramel malt.
Mouthfeel- Great carbonation, spot on, heavy body, numbing feel. Somewhat dry.
Overall- Needs more of a malt backbone. A touch more crystal might have helped a little and prob 1/3 less hops. Chinook is pretty intense as I might have gone slightly overboard. It was a good example of what Chinook tastes like though as it’s basically all you can taste.

Simcoe Single Hop IPA

Appearance- Pours a beautifully clear reddish orange with a big fluffy off white head with serious staying power. A cap and collar is maintained the entire beer along with a ton of sticky lacing.
Smell- Very earthy and piney with a bit more of a citric nose than the Chinook. Some orange peel and lilac add to the really nice nose. A touch of caramel is noticeable as a light grainy undertone is detectable. Much more malt makes it way out than it did in the Chinook.
Taste- Starts slightly bitter with a big rush of caramelly malt. A pine and dandelion like bitterness steps in and like the Chinook, not really any citrus. The bitterness really lingers as does some grass and a touch of alcohol in the finish.
Mouthfeel- Perfect carbonation with a nice big feel and somewhat oily/slick feel. The bitterness actually gets numbing after a few sips.
Overall- Like the Chinook it bitterness is almost too much as a touch more malt (or less hops) could have helped. Saying that, it is a bit more balanced than the Chinook and I do enjoy this one much more. Next time maybe more malt but the Simcoe’s really were the showcase here.