I’ve finally made it to the last version of the Vienna Lager that I have been tasting. This was a single hopped Simcoe Ale that was the second runnings from my grains. I added some table sugar and dried malt extract to get the original gravity up to 1.050 with a whole ounce of Simcoe added throughout the boil for a one gallon batch, which would make the IBU’s around a billion… roughly. I also used bohemian Lager yeast from Wyeast, which can be fermentated at warmer temps without the nasty, weird flavors that lager yeasts produce when warm. What came out of this beer was something quiet pleasant, for someone other than myself. A really nice American IPA with all the characteristics that make hop heads happy. Pine and resin and bitterness galore. Hop heads not like me of course… I didn’t like this beer and I don’t like this style or flavor, but whatever, it still tastes good.
Appearance: A slight haze with an amber brown color
Nose: A calm mild malt and orange scent.
Taste: A significant Simcoe dank hoppy flavor that is restrained by the malts, but the hops still shine through the sweetness. A bitter hop flavor lingers long after the beer
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a smooth finish, the carbonation is a little low
Overall: a good American IPA. The lager yeast made a smooth and neutral flavor profile. 7.5 / 10 (would be higher if I dug this type of beer)