Snow Cap
Sisters and Brethern,
I have gathered you here today to talk about Pyramid Brewing' s Snow Cap Ale. Snow Cap is there annual winter offering. The recipe changes from year to year as does it's cool and taste. Some times it is outstanding. Other times, it is less than ordinary. I saw the beer sitting on the shelf of the local grocery and thought it would make a great a pairing with the ritual of football.
I opened the beer. It smelled nutty. It had a prodigious a foamy head and for the first time I can remember, it has a red color. I was curious and hoping for a hit.
On first taste, had a hint of hazel nuts, crisp, a bit bitter, and then... soap. I thought my palette might be off, so after drinking a glass of water and chip or two, I tried again. It became more bitter and the subtle hint of soapiness stayed in my mouth. I like like the beer less with each sip. I was sadly disappointed.
I am hoping Brother B will give Snow Cap a taste, so he can explain to me what created the odd flavor.
Until next time,
Cheers,
RD
Labels: Pyramid
posted by Raindog | 2:34 PM
8 Comments:
Do you still have some out of that batch or do I need to just go buy some and give it a go?
Sometimes the malts can do that but I would be surprised if they released it on mass if they had a problem like that.
Hopefully it was just that bottling run. It was fantastic last year.
A quick web search suggested that fatty acids can break down (literally turning into soap) if the brew is left in the primary fermentation too long. If that were the case, the whole batch would be FUBARed (though, as Brother B said, I couldn't imagine them releasing it). I have to say, you haven't inspired me to go grab some to try. :)
Any chance there was some residual dish soap in your glass?
@ BB,
Sorry, I picked up a single 22 OZ. bottle. I was thinking an odd malt variety was causing the taste.
@ Jim,
There was no soap in the glassware. I was drinking water out of the glass before I turned to beer.
Okay I will grab a 22oz and give it a go. Try picking up a 12oz at Market of choice and see if you get the same thing. 22s and 12s are not bottled out of the same batch generally.
There are only a few malts that would lend that type of strangeness to a beer. I think we experienced something similar in one of our winter brews but I don't remember exactly what we figured out it was.
Well, I couldn't find a 22 so I settled for a six.
Tasting the first warm the alcohol is quite noticeable and the malt back is strong. The Caramel malts stand out to me with a hint of Chocolate malts. Half way through I don't get the 'soapy' character to the taste, however the buildup of the malt characters combined with the alcohol do coat my mouth giving it a singularly clingy mouthfeel, not unpleasant just like a good winter warmer should be.
The Nuggets on the back end bitter did seem a bit more resiny then usual.
RD, give it another shot in the 6s and see if it is different. I will report back if the coldness of the beer brings on a different character.
i will see if i can find some and see if the taste is differen
the 22s are awful
Brother B,
Brought over a 12 ounce bottle. I had the same reaction: Nutty on the front and a soap taste on the make. It's the malts. I don't like the flavor of the variety used. It's not my type of beer.
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