Saturday, March 04, 2006

Smithwicks Irish Ale

My ability to describe the taste of beers and to distinquish the nutty, fruity, metallic etc... nuances is non existent. I like a beer or not and it is because it taste good or not. Aftertaste can be bad or good. There can be no aftertaste and that is its own virture. I supposed all the nutty, fruity, metallic etc... qualities of the beer is what makes me like or dislike a particular beer, but to describe it -- that is not a natural or acquired ability for me.

So Smithwick's Irish Ale has a thumbs up vote from me just because I like it. Tuesday night Joan and I ventured down to the Peddler's Daughter Resturant in Haverall, MA to have dinner with Joan's sister Mary. When it came to choosing an ale, they were out of the one I wanted to try (it had a nice name), so Smithwick's was served up. I wasn't disappointed. Definitely good with very little aftertaste.

Looking on the web this morning I ran across a site where people rate beers. Much to my delight, I found my ability to distinquish taste has good company. Smithwick's, according to some has no metalic taste, but lots of metallic taste to others. It has a head, and it doesn' have a head. It is very hoppy, and then again it isn't. I've come to the conclusion this difference of opinion is because either there are people with as little ability as I or everyone's tastes buds function differently and make the taste a different experience.

6 comments:

Jewels said...

I'm right there with you. I do not know how to rate beers. I really like strawberry-blonde beer (Dan says it's a seasonal Sam Adams beer).

Fly Fisher said...

BEER...What a wonderful creation. I am in the process of automating my brewery. As a good American, I enjoy the liberty to brew my own. I am excited by your evaluation of the styles you have tried. There is so much out there. As you say it ultimatley comes down to what "you like". I am currently enjoying what I call Prairie Breath Ale...brewed with Amarillo Hops from British Colombia and grains from North Dakota. I will be growing my own hops this season and hope you and mom can come out to see them and give gardening advice. I estimate the vine will be over 15 ft long by fall.

My goal this fall it to brew a jalepeno beer with all the ingrediants coming from our garden.

Fly Fisher said...

Keep on "rambling"!!!

Anonymous said...

Where have you been? We need to hear your thoughts!

Anonymous said...

WHere have you been?

Anonymous said...

WHere have you been?