Weyerbacher Brewing Company is one of the latest in a rush of new breweries coming into Minnesota. Out of Easton, Pennsylvania, Weyerbacher specializes in full-bodied, full-flavored ales. Big beers, in short. I sampled their Double Simcoe IPA and Merry Monks Tripel last night for a Weyerbacher double-feature. Here’s my notes:

Double Simcoe IPA
Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, Pennsylvania
Style: Double IPA
Serving Style: 12 oz Bottle

Aroma: Citrusy hops dominate the aroma with lemon/lime and grapefruit pith. Some earthy, resinous notes hang in there as well. Sweet, syrupy malt forms a base, complemented by stone fruits and alcohol. Nice orange notes come in as the beer warms.

Appearance: Dark amber and clear. The huge, rocky head lingered on and on.

Flavor: Bitterness is the key word for this beer. Sharp bitterness starts it off and finishes it up. The bitterness comes across as a bit astringent. Hop character is mostly citrus with hits of earth and pine resin. A bit grassy, perhaps from dry-hopping. There is a menthol-like cooling effect from the intense bitterness, hop flavor, and alcohol. The grainy sweet and syrupy malt is almost enough to balance, giving brown sugar and light caramel character. The fruitiness from the aroma makes an appearance with the same orange coming through as it warms. Sweet caramel lingers after swallowing.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium carbonation. Somewhat astringent. Definite alcohol warming, although not hot.

Overall Impression: This is certainly one for the hop heads. A bit too bitter for my taste, it struck me as a bit harsh. However, the malt is full and sweet enough to make it drinkable and enjoyable. I do love Simcoe hops.

Merry Monks
Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, Pennsylvania
Style: Belgian Tripel
Serving Style: 12 oz Bottle

Aroma: A Belgian fruit basket. Lemons, banana, apricot and other stone fruits. Some sweet malt lurks behind. The typical “cotton candy” of Belgian yeasts. Alcohol and cloves keep the fruits and candy in check.

Appearance: Gigantic, mousse-like white head that lasted nearly to the end of the glass. Golden color with a slight chill haze that disappeared as the beer warmed.

Flavor: Fruit, candy, spice, and sweet pils malt. The malt provides a sweet and slightly bready base. The fruity and spicy character of the yeast gives off masses of banana, stone fruits, and pears. This is countered by spicy hops and yeast-derived black pepper. Alcohol is a bit hot. The finish is very dry with an intense blast of bitterness on the way out.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body, but mouth-filling in the way of a German wheat beer. High carbonation. Slightly hot alcohol.

Overall Impression: This is a very nice tripel. Has the dryness and intense bitterness of Westmalle, but with elevated fruitiness. A bit rough around the edges, not quite as refined as some of the Trappist versions of the style, but still quite tasty. I had this with a chicken and kohlrabi soup spiced with cinnamon, coriander, and saffron. It went quite well.