Say the brewers: "We are trying to appease the Mayan gods with this light-colored, bold flavored strong lager so they kill us quickly. Apocalypse beer was made using malted barley, flaked maize, white wheat, Owens Valley honey, organic raw blue agave nectar, Indian paintbrush essence and flowers, hops, Mexican lager yeast, and mystical Palo Santo wood. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. Drink up the Apocalypse."
It may have been a long day of drinking, but that description is hilarious. Why aren't more brewers making "the world is ending in 2012" beers? Anyway, clearly a lot went into this American Pale Lager from Mammoth, which ends up at 7.5% ABV -- not bad for a lager! This was a special brew created for the annual Bluesapalooza in Mammoth Lakes, CA during the summer, and it's a brewery-only offering for as long as it's available. Having tried it up tap when I was up there a month or so ago, I knew I'd want to take home a bottle and write about it; it's definitely one of the more unique and tasty lagers I've ever had. And look at that bottle art! Kinda cool, right?
Appearance: Clear and honey-colored, with a head that pours to about two fingers in height, before receding to a thin layer of foam on top of the beer and leaving rings of lacing on the sides of the glass.
Smell: Some phenolic notes, slightly medicinal or bandaid-ish, with more prominent bready characteristics from the grain. There is also some spiciness and a bit of dank grassy earth from the yeast and hops, definite floral notes, and even a scent that seems a bit like coconut.
Taste: The most prominent flavors are honey, grain, a hint of spicy floral that seems a bit like dandelion. As the beer warms, I get a bit more of the agave flavor, and it becomes a lot more rich and warming at the front of the beer, but still remains grainy and light at the back end.
Mouthfeel: Extremely smooth and creamy, but also light in body with a moderately dry finish. This is the type of mouthfeel I expect from a lager, and it delivers. Very refreshing.
Overall: Mammoth's intention here was definitely to make a full-flavored lager, and they absolutely succeeded. They packed a lot of dimension into this beer, even while retaining the lightness and sometimes grainy characteristic I often associate with this category of beer. Even as I recommend this beer, I'm aware that it's not an easy "get" for anyone, really, but I acknowledge that I was fortunate to try it. The more that I have Mammoth's beer, and particularly their seasonal offerings, the more that I am impressed by what they accomplish. As the only brewery for miles upon miles around, it would be really easy for them to rest on their laurels; instead, they continually push themselves and produce interesting beers featuring local ingredients. Anyway, I really enjoyed this beer, particularly as it's been hot as all get out in Los Angeles, and this was a perfect beer that offered deep flavor while not feeling too heavy or strong.
4/5
It may have been a long day of drinking, but that description is hilarious. Why aren't more brewers making "the world is ending in 2012" beers? Anyway, clearly a lot went into this American Pale Lager from Mammoth, which ends up at 7.5% ABV -- not bad for a lager! This was a special brew created for the annual Bluesapalooza in Mammoth Lakes, CA during the summer, and it's a brewery-only offering for as long as it's available. Having tried it up tap when I was up there a month or so ago, I knew I'd want to take home a bottle and write about it; it's definitely one of the more unique and tasty lagers I've ever had. And look at that bottle art! Kinda cool, right?
Appearance: Clear and honey-colored, with a head that pours to about two fingers in height, before receding to a thin layer of foam on top of the beer and leaving rings of lacing on the sides of the glass.
Smell: Some phenolic notes, slightly medicinal or bandaid-ish, with more prominent bready characteristics from the grain. There is also some spiciness and a bit of dank grassy earth from the yeast and hops, definite floral notes, and even a scent that seems a bit like coconut.
Taste: The most prominent flavors are honey, grain, a hint of spicy floral that seems a bit like dandelion. As the beer warms, I get a bit more of the agave flavor, and it becomes a lot more rich and warming at the front of the beer, but still remains grainy and light at the back end.
Mouthfeel: Extremely smooth and creamy, but also light in body with a moderately dry finish. This is the type of mouthfeel I expect from a lager, and it delivers. Very refreshing.
Overall: Mammoth's intention here was definitely to make a full-flavored lager, and they absolutely succeeded. They packed a lot of dimension into this beer, even while retaining the lightness and sometimes grainy characteristic I often associate with this category of beer. Even as I recommend this beer, I'm aware that it's not an easy "get" for anyone, really, but I acknowledge that I was fortunate to try it. The more that I have Mammoth's beer, and particularly their seasonal offerings, the more that I am impressed by what they accomplish. As the only brewery for miles upon miles around, it would be really easy for them to rest on their laurels; instead, they continually push themselves and produce interesting beers featuring local ingredients. Anyway, I really enjoyed this beer, particularly as it's been hot as all get out in Los Angeles, and this was a perfect beer that offered deep flavor while not feeling too heavy or strong.
4/5
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