Ithaca Apricot Wheat

On draft this week, Ithaca Beer Company's "Apricot Wheat". I made this random selection off the shelf among other singles because it was a hot summer afternoon and it seemed like a good idea. As I set out to learn about it, I discovered a few interesting things. First of all, this is a new beer to Ohio. Having only been in this state for less than a month, I think I got lucky enough to find it and try it. Something else I liked about the company.....they are a really small brewery. There are 9 employees listed on their website. They encompass the whole company from - ownership, to the office, to brewing and packaging. I feel glad to be part of helping them grow and hope this brand takes off here in the Buckeye State. Also, their story reminds me of the Samuel Adams story in that it started off small and grew. Good luck to the Ithaca Beer Co. crew.

Now on to the beer itself. As you can tell from the photo, it certainly looks like a nice think Wheat. This one is a little different though. There is a mix of barley in there with the wheat giving it a look that matches the name, but a flavor that surprises the taste buds. I poured the beer into the glass and watched the thick head pile up, then settle down a bit. I took a deep sniff of it. What a great aroma! Wheat beer and fruit - apricot to be precise. As the beer warmed just a little, a wonderful, but not overwhelming, apricot flavor came right through rounding out the wheat. It finished with a nice, but not overly bitter hoppiness. I definitely recommend this beer to anyone who loves fruit beer or wheat beer.
I look forward to trying their "CascaZilla" and "Brown Ale", and possibly even buying a T-shirt!!


KT's Comments:
"I liked it"

Top List

I figured a specialty passion like beer must have a source. So as I sat thinking about why it is that I like beer - make that love beer - so much goes back to the beers on the following list:
(in no particular order)

• Newcastle - because it's just a great all around beer. It goes great with so many meals and just has a great taste.


• Honey Brown - now this may not make it to the top of many lists, but it was the first "dark beer" that I ever tried. In fact it was even on draft there. It will always hold a special place on my top list.


• Guinness - What's not to like about Guinness? Plus it makes interesting conversation with those who think it's tar in a glass. It is so much more than that.


• Sam Adam's Boston Lager - Jim Koch is just living the dream. He may have revived craft brewing in America (unfounded opinion not fact). Plus it's just good beer.


• Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout - this was the first beer I had that combined the goodness of stout with the complexity of oak. It's like when worlds collide, only with great results instead of catastrophic results.


• Lagunitas Imperial Red - the first really hop heavy beer that spoke to me. Not like an IPA but more punch than an Irish Red.


• Blue Moon - because I needed a wheat on the list and because it's a great summer beer.

So I guess it's a Top 7 list. I wasn't sure how many I would come up with when I started. Please try as many of those as you can and let me know what you think.

Belly Up

Hi, and welcome to On Draft. The reason I hope you are here is to learn something about the wonderful creation that is beer. Well now that you are here, let's get to it.
So what's On Draft? Well, most recently I decided that a passion like this needs an outlet. I love beer. I make and drink my own and that of many others. This is where I plan to let out all the information I have about the processes, products, and ponderings. I will call it my BrewLOG.
In the future, there will be notes on my home brews & tastings of other brands that I have tried, recommendations, recipes, and bar stool logic.
So thanks for stopping by, come back as often as you like to see what's On Draft.