Conifer
McKenzie Brew House

First had: on tap at the Boilermaker, Philly, PA

A collaboration between McKenzies, Earth Bread, Tired Hands, and Iron Hill. Seems like a lot of work.

Half-pour served in a little stem glass, clear copper color with a small white head that receded to a ringlet. Aroma more of potpourri than pine, with hints of apple skins. A little on the air freshener side, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. Taste followed the aroma well, though in that sense, I didn't like it quite as much. Pine needles, meadow flowers, distant malt sweetness, quite hoppy, crisp, drying, again more Lysol-y than resinous, as far as the pine taste goes, and sort of bordering on a gin flavor--which unfortunately means bordering on something I don't like. However, I did like this just fine...I think if the pine was any more intense, I would not have liked it. Mouthfeel was light and crisp, and I'd say it's a well-made beer overall. Not sure why it took 4 breweries to make it, but it's good to have collaborations.

 

Growler shared by yourefragile. Served in my newly-acquired McKenzie wine glass.

Pours a medium copper color with a pretty-good white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. Thin collar throughout. The nose has just a touch of pine and some mild citrus character; other than that, this one presents quite a bit of pale malt. The flavor is fairly similar, and I would certainly have a hard time picking out the conifer if it weren't for the name. Body is light to medium with a soothing bitterness. Decent enough, but a bit muddled.

 

 

Third in the Trois Enfants collaborative series (McKenzie, Earth Bread + Brewery, Tired Hands). Beer 1, Winter 2011, was a dark rye saison, sampled a few times at EB+B. Beer 2, I have no idea, please, someone tell me what it was. Sampled on draft at McKenzie Devon.

Pours a hazed golden orange with a light, airy white head. Fades a thin collar with nice lace. Aroma has a nice APA malty presence, caramel and biscuit with a potent punch of Christmas trees masquerading as pine hops. Unlike a typical APA, the bitterness and pine is a little rawer and woody. Flavor is a little less interesting than the nose, but more of an aggressively hopped APA, bordering on a malty IPA. Some pine and tree branch linger in the finish along side light citrus hops. Medium body with moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Not quite as exciting as hoped for.

A collaborative beer follow up, which garnered a top five local beer on Philly Food and Beer 2011. A tough act to follow...

Appears a hazy golden amber with a small head of white fluff that slowly fades into a gentle cap and collar. Scattered spots of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of light caramel, pale malt, some pine sap, and bundles of Christmas tree greens. A clean yeast profile allowing for the wood and tree needle addition to shine through.
Taste is of the aromas with a somewhat neutral flavor. Tiny punches of citrus and hoppy bitters grasp from the background. Nothing bad but it's very clean and middle of the road.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, spritzy, doughy, cut wood and floral notes lingering...dry finish.

A collaboration with brewers from Earth, Bread and Brewery, Tired Hands Brewing and Iron Hill Media. An American Pale Ale mashed with douglas fir branches and boiled with the needles. Had at the new Devon location of McKenzie's.
Pours a.nice amber color. A little hazy.
Aroma is of resinous hops and slight citrus. Some green apple.
Taste is just a bit piney - resinous pine bark. Just a tad. Not overwhelming like i assumed.. thought this would taste like a christmas tree. It doesn't. Hops are up front. More so than a pale ale. More like an IPA. Dry on the the tongue. Resin and weed follow. Overall a good colloboration. And different.