Brewbirds Ale House a review

[Inkleg]

As you are reading this, I am editing and adding more. Had three beer reviews completed and lost them all, so here we go again.

BB and BB2 were gracious to send a great selection of there beers to me. First up

2013 Fall RCE APA
This poured a beautiful clear light amber brown with a nice 2 finger head that stayed around to the end of the glass. A wonderful citrus aroma hits the nose along with a slight malt sweetness. A nice bitterness up front that follows to the end. The malt complements the hops, not over powering them, but working in harmony with them. Kinda like each is holding the door and then deciding it's best to go through together. This would be a really nice APA to have on hand to quench one thirst any day of the week.

BB 2013 RCE APA.JPG (105.89 KiB) Viewed 824 times

Galaxy IPA
This one poured a little darker amber brown with lots of head and I had to slow the pour. Aroma was a little hard to nail down on this one, getting some citrus some passion fruit/cantaloupe on the nose. I caught myself smiling every time I brought the glass to my nose. This had a very nice bitterness up front that followed through to the end and you got it on the sides of the tongue with just enough, but not a lot of malt to get in the way (I like that in my IPAs ). There was more citrus on the nose as it warmed, but the problem I found was it was almost gone by that time.
After you had a sip you just wanted more and I'm man enough to say it "I'm weak" and this went quick. Except for being a little high on carbonation this was a well brewed beer.

BB Galaxy IPA.JPG (105.9 KiB) Viewed 819 times

[Inkleg]

Next in line, Joes Beer an American Pale Ale.
This poured a gorgeous VERY clear amber/orange with a slight tan head that stuck around to the end of the glass and good carbonation. This had a nice citrus/floral aroma and taste that made me say "wow grapefruit" with great mouth feel. This was a very nice "hey while your up, could you pour me another" Pale Ale. Like the Galaxy it did not last long.

BB Joes Beer.JPG (91.7 KiB) Viewed 816 times

Itsabella IPA
Poured a nice amber brown, but more towards burnt orange with a good head and carbonation level. A slight, but hard to detect tangerine aroma. This had a harsh upfront bitterness that I didn't like with no follow through on either the hops or malt and it was like that cold or warmer. I had a hard time coming up with what was going on with this one. I know I don't like Citra hops, but I don't think that's what it was. I'll have to see if you have the recipe posted here. Here's what makes this hard, was it a decent beer, yes. Would I ask for another, no. It's not what I look for in an IPA. Sorry guys, I'm having a hard time posting this, but if nothing else I'm going to be honest with my reviews good or bad.

BB Itsabella IPA.JPG (108.6 KiB) Viewed 816 times

[Inkleg]

Texas Y'all Pecan Praline
Poured a medium brown with a half inch head that hung around to the end. There was a exceptional amount of trub that was stirred up upon opening and transferred to the glass (that was bad on my part).
The aroma from the glass was sweet and nutty with no hint of hops. That would be a good thing as I think this is based off a Brown Ale. Taste is Brown Ale, but wait, that's not Brown Ale, that's....wait another sip, yeah there it is, no....wait....no.....yeah it's there, pecan sweet roasted pecan. Y'all know how it is. You know WHAT'S in the beer and you're thinking it's going to punch you in the face, but it doesn't. It just lurks in the shadows, flitting about, tickling your taste buds just enough to make you smile and then it's gone again leaving you wanting more. As it warmed hints of vanilla came in on the back end adding a very nice touch. This was a WBBB (Well Brewed Brewbirds Beer), I still have the Stout to drink.
Thank You both for sharing.

BB Praline.JPG (82.81 KiB) Viewed 815 times

[Beer-lord]

Wow, what a way to spend the evening! These all sound so nice. I love the labels too. With labels like that, you know the brew is top notch.
Good reviews!

[jpsherman]

From our 2013 RCE they sent me the galaxy and joe's beer, along with of course the RCE we worked on.

Your reviews for these 3 beers are spot on, the Brewbirds make very good beer!

[FedoraDave]

Nice reviews, with great pics. Well done, Jeff, and Brewbirds!

As far as the "negative" review on the Itsabella IPA, I think you were fair and honest. Many times even a well-made beer is simply not compatible with our tastes, and there's nothing wrong with that. You acknowledged that it's a decent beer, but not what you look for in an IPA. I think we've all had that experience, and it's nobody's fault, really.

Also, to have one beer out of five be something of a disappointment is a superb track record, frankly. Looks like Brewbirds Alehouse is an up-and-comer!

[Inkleg]

Thanks Dave, you're right. It could have been my taste buds that night, some ingredient in the recipe or something in the brewing process that turned me off of that beer.
Except for that one, there is not one of the others I wouldn't take that label off and replace with mine.

Speaking of those labels, BB how do you attach those to the bottles. WOW, you talk about SUPER EASY to remove, they just fell off with a quick soak.

[Brewbirds]

Thanks for the reviews on those Ink and I'm glad you liked most of them.

I'd like to post the Itsabella recipe over in Advanced so you IPA guys can look it over for me.

This was intended as a Bell's Two Hearted Clone and it was our first IPA so I'm very interested if there is something in the notes or ingredients that gave it the harshness.

This IPA was brewed in October so it may have had some staling; I waited on the Galaxy to be ready before shipping and then the weather delayed further.

Unfortunately we drank them all a while back so I don't have a bottle to refer to.

I'm with Dave on the reviews as far as wanting to hear an honest opinion and not just flattery because that is how we can improve our beers.
I wish we had the budget to send beers out all the time to get reviews on them.

I thought the Texas Y'All had a bit of extract twang or something slightly off (from adding bourbon ?) and that it was sweet but not the caramel/toffee I was looking for.

JPSherman did a great job on the RCE recipe and I agree that it would make a great house APA which is exactly what our RCE goal was.
Joe's Beer was Citra hops which gave a lot of grapefruit but I didn't get the "melon" flavor others have mentioned.

Oh and if you would change anything in any of those beers I'd like to hear your thoughts.
One thing to point out is that we do Partial Mash w/late extract addition ala SMEIBB and I was wondering if you got anything from these not being all grain?

Thanks again for taking the time to post this review.

[John Sand]

I'm just enjoying this thread, thanks!

[FedoraDave]

Birdie, you are a true student of brewing. Great attitude. And you know Jeff was being honest because he trusted you to take it in the spirit he intended.

Man, is The Borg a great place, er whut?!

[Brewbirds]

Birdie, you are a true student of brewing. Great attitude. And you know Jeff was being honest because he trusted you to take it in the spirit he intended.

Man, is The Borg a great place, er whut?!

I am proud to call myself a product of the ; I was born to home brewing with you guys raising me and I wouldn't want any other way. Have someone actually taste and critique beers BB2 and I have made is an absolute honor. A negative comment actually excites me because I know it was said with a sincere interest in helping us improve.

Inkleg I put the labels on with a glue stick (thanks RickBeer).

[MadBrewer]

Them are some fine looking beers! Nice of you to share the pics.

[FedoraDave]

Birdie, I put my labels on with milk. Weird, but it works.

I print a test sheet at home; six to a page, and then take them to Office Depot to get laser copies made. Laser copies don't run when they get wet, like inkjet copies do. Then I cut them out and brush the backs of the labels with milk, and they stick like magic. And they come off just by running them under warm water. No residue at all.

It'll only work with glass, though. PET bottles won't work.