Big Piney
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company

 

 

A: The beer is somewhat hazy amber in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high beige head that gradually died down, leaving a thin he'd covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of caramel malts are present in the nose along with notes of piney hops.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste starts off with lots of flavors of caramel hops and has notes of piney hops, the latter of which masks most of the malty sweetness and contributes a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I was expecting a hop bomb with this beer, but the IPA seems to be more in the way of malty than it is hoppy. Nonetheless, it evokes smells and tastes of early West Coast IPAs with their caramel malt base and piney hops.

Serving type: can

 

 

 

 

The name big piney gives an indication that this would be really hop forward. I must have gotten some old cans. There was hoppiness but lots of malt taste. Poured hazy orange with a white head. Smelled pretty good. Just not what I expected

 

 

 

 

Pours a deep amber/orange with a short-lived light tan head. Smells of earthy hops and caramel malt. Taste is strong Chinook up front and finishing malty and piney. A nice solid brew that really does take one to the forests of the Pacific Northwest! Pick it up if you get the chance!

What's old is new again as the brewers at Christian Moerlein turn their attention to America's earlier known hops. Once again popularizing the Chinook varietal, Big Piney's bold pine bitterness and sharp grapefruit nose is both a blast from the past and a breath of fresh air.

Honey amber and with a tinge of orange and copper- the ale's hazy appearance is capped with a lathery white foam. The sharpness of white grapefruit and bitter orange hit the nose along with the not-so-subtle counterparts of fresh grass clippings and pine. Yet to taste, its the malts that seduce the early palate with its under current of caramel, honey and slight biscuit sweetness.

Its middle palate shows a flavor shift as the sweetness relaxes and the bitter hops intensify. Retreating to a simple support for hops, the malt takes a backseat to the growing citrus and pine character that overtakes the taste, culminating in that herbaceous, fresh-cut grassiness and floral woodiness of freshly shaven pine. Light apricot and marmalade extend from the malt and estery yeast.

Finishing crisp, clean and refreshing, the medium-bodied IPA manages to retain a tether of sweetness and starch to keep the hops creamy and vibrantly ripe tasting. Drying to a quiet and smooth bitterness leaves a lasting grip on the throat that lingers with muddled grasses and torn pine needles- taking the senses straight to the pacific northwest.

Poured from 12oz can into tulip glass. Cloudy. Solid caramel color, which was intriguing to me. I love unfiltered beers, but this is not advertised as such. Solid pine notes. Firm beige head and solid lacing. Good mouthfeel, almost chewy. Only flaw was not quite enough hop taste for those who want big hops. Moderate smooth bitterness that does not linger too long. Overall a really solid IPA, and one of the best Moerlein beers.