Accidental and appreciated tasting: New Holland Brewing Company

Rather then working tonight, I was somewhat easily persuaded to go out and sample some food and beer tonight (I heard the beer requests, don’t worry!). And, coincidentally, my (somewhat) local beer establishment was holding a beer tasting for my personal pleasure tonight! Perhaps not for MY personal pleasure, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. So, I sit here now, watching Top Chef, reading my favorite live blogger, and relaying to you the lovely beers of New Holland Brewing Company.

New Holland is based in Michigan, as I learned from the delightful Joel, the proclaimed Beer Beast From the East, who insisted I try all 6 of their proffered beers. It did not take much persuading.

Not my best pic...

The first beer was the Golden Cap-Saison Ale, a vibrant beer smelling of yeast. The mouth was very citrusy and yeasty. My friend said “It makes me smile!” An excellent ale, although almost too much acid. When done with the local touch of a rim with cinnamon sugar, the acid and citrus are perfectly balanced. A really excellent beginning.

The Mad Hatter IPA was a totally different experience. Smelling bitter, I expected a big hoppy taste. Instead, it was watery and had very little bitter hop action at all, not what I would want from my IPA. Its okay, but I would want more kick or floral flavor.

Now, the Ichabod Pumpkin definitely kicked it up a notch for me. It, of course, smelled like pumpkin and spices. And tasted like pumpkin pie, nutmeg and a light toasty aftertaste. More pumpkiny, less spicy then other Pumpkin beers I’ve had and prefer to have the subtle flavors to overwhelming spice. Let me taste the what the beer is named for! Oh, and when Joel mixed it with a little of the stout (is that allowed?), also really good!

The Black Tulip Trippel Ale opened up with a yeasty, sweet smell. A sweet, grapey taste suggested the characteristic Belgian yeast. Nice, but not the punch I love of my Belgian Ales.

On to the stouts! I’m ready for a thicker, flavorful beer and with The Poet Stout, I definitely get flavor. It smells like burnt coffee and, I have to admit, I really like that about Starbucks coffee so I was ready to enjoy this beer. The mouth was even lovelier, tasting of burnt sea salt caramel. Rather watery for a stout, however. So, while the flavor is lovely, if a bit one dimensional, the mouth I want from a stout is lacking.

Nice hand modeling Becca

Picking up the Dragon’s Milk Ale, I had no idea what to expect. Not a stout (I can tell from the name), but it sure looks like. The nose is a big no to ale with molasses hints and overly ripe bananas. In the mouth, those ripe bananas seem to be smashed with some rum and vanilla, like bananas foster in alcohol form. You can definitely taste the alcohol and its a bit watery, but still a fun, different beer to try.

Good round, New Holland! Hopefully there’s another one in the future. Thanks for the intro Joel.

Golden Cap-Saison Ale

Alcohol: 6.25%

Rating: B/B+

Mad Hatter IPA

Alcohol: 5.25%

Rating: C-

Ichabod Pumpkin

Alcohol: 5.2%

Rating: B

Black Tulip Trippel Ale

Alcohol: 8.8%

Rating: C+

The Poet Stout

Alcohol: 5.2%

Rating: C+

Dragon’s Milk Ale

Alcohol: 10%

Rating: B