Taking a break with some Naked Cats

[Brewbirds]

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A short time after my beer fridge went out I was honored to receive beer mail from Naked Cat Brewery. It took way to long for all the planets to align but BB2 and I finally got to do our tasting.

First up was Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - ABV 5.8% Bottled on 3-24-13

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Poured with a creamy white head, very nice lacing and a lovely yellow/orange color.
I was surprised that this beer was pretty cloudy because it had lager conditioned in my ice chest for several weeks after I was able to hold the temps in the mid forties and my beers had been pouring very clear.
The aroma was mild but pleasant hops slightly floral.
There was a very pleasant sweetness almost sweet orange in the background that I would love to have in my next batch.
This was a beautifully balanced beer with very mellow bittering and maltiness with no harsh tones.
A very nice APA that was not near as "in your face" as its namesake.


Next up was Stone Vertical Epic 09-09-09 ABV 8.6% Bottled on 5-12-13

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I knew there was a problem immediately with this because there was no resistance from the cap when I put the bottle opener on it and the beer, sadly, poured flat.
This was probably a very nice beer as the color was wonderfully dark showing deep amber on the surface and rich ruby red in sun light.
Trying to review any further is surely mute but we felt it would have had a silky mouth feel. We also noted that there was a big presence of chocolate malt in the aroma. I was intrigued with how smooth the chocolate malt presented in the flavor because, unlike my previous experience using it, it was very mellow and not at all harsh.

Sorry that this one didn't work out Inkleg but it did send us to Stone's website to look this one up and it is something we'd like to try brewing.

So I'll end my review with a question: Did you use/find French Oak when you made yours?

Oh I also got a couple of ciders to share with my sister when she comes to town so I'll follow up on those later.

Thanks Inkleg you sir are THE BOMB

[Inkleg]

Thanks for the shower and review.
Sorry about the VE, but all Naked Cat beer come with a guarantee. Not a guarantee that you like them, but that they will be carbed. I still have it in the keg and will get another one out to you. That one was not bottled from the keg. I will include a little something extra to keep y'all a happy customer .
I did put it on 1oz of medium French oak chips for 4 days. Drinking it now I feel it should have been longer, I'm thinking 2 weeks. I used 3 whole vanilla beans and Sweet Orange because at the time I could not find Tangerine peel.
The Sierra Nevada has been cloudy from the start, so that's not you. When I transferred it from the pot to the fermenter I used a inline T to pull Air into the wort. So it is either something to do with that or chill haze.
Hope your sister likes the ciders. I like them straight, but others here prefer them cut with some Sprite or Ginger Ale.

[Brewbirds]

No worries on the VE just one that didn't get capped good, it happens.
If I wanted to convert it to a partial mash any suggestions on which LME would be best? I can get Extra Pale, Marris Otter, and Munich. (they have amber and dark but we don't use them)

[BB2]

Naked Cat Ciders

BB2 here. Fortunately included in our recent beer mail from Inkleg were two delicious cider recipes; my sister from NM was visiting, a self-professed non-beer drinker (more about that later), so as he intended, we cracked them upon her arrival
Nong Orange Cider - This was the Brewbirds first cider tasting, so not knowing what to expect or how to describe it (is there hop aroma in there, ummm), here goes. The bottle poured a very fine carbonation if any with thin "head" that disappeared quickly. Beautiful golden orange color, though . We couldn't get a fix on aroma but kind of champagne/wine (gewurztraminer not chardonnay). Sharp alcohol. Citrus. Very tart with slight sweet finish. Drinkable .

Nong Agave Cider- Poured with a good carb, definate head forming. Super-pale color very appealing. Nice lacing. Aroma was delicate with a hint of vanilla. Dry, tart. Very smooth alcohol with pleasant aftertaste. No hoppiness. We liked this cider best. Not sure, but I read where there is sweet and dry cider; we believe this was the dry one. If I chose to drink a cider this could be it.

Cider, the gateway drug for beer: After sampling the Naked Cat cider, BB1 proceeded to whoop out samples of our three insidiously delicious rye beer recipes (Smoke Gets in My Rye, Ruthless Rebel, and Texas Crispy Red); sister and bro-in-law were suitable impressed and (may I say) instantly converted So cider, my friends, is the answer for your beer-yuch friends who only think they are. Thanks, Inkleg

[Inkleg]

Glad the ciders were there to lead your sister to the dark side.
When I made those(at least a year ago), I thought it would be great to keep a 2nd note book for ciders. Guess what I have not been able to find for over 6 months. The Orange is a straight up Nong Cider recipe and the Agave is close I just used Light and Amber Agave Nectar along with the apple juice and golden brown sugar. Used Star Champagne yeast and fermented for over 30 days at room temperature. Neither were supposed to be carbed. What I have found out since then is the Agave had not fermented out completely, nOOb mistake, Oh wait I was one when I made this. At 10% and 12%, I'm glad you survived the tasting.

[Brewbirds]

While discussing the ciders my sister made a comment that "she liked dry" which I was pleased to hear.
One of the beers in her package is a Saison that will be pretty dry and I thought she may not like it so now I'm looking forward to her comments on this one.
The tasting session went so much better than I thought that I am now going to add an APA and an AIPA to her box to see how she responds hoppy brews.
Inkleg I think you might have created a beer drinker, you are a hero.