Brau Brothers Sheep Head Ale

Brewed by Brau Brothers Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Lucan, Minnesota USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tulip

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I thought this was rather good in sum even if not in its parts. I can see why some would have said that this seems like a homebrew--I’ve had homebrews (admittedly from award-winning homebrewers) that are more polished and sophisticated than this, but despite being a bit noticeably strong (alcohol) in the flavor, and lacking complexity in hops, it strikes a rather nice balance between hops and malts--it’s plain in the aroma and then in the flavor it carries through with a rounded woody caramel. Sweetish finish without any hop unpleasantries. Decent and drinkable.

12oz bottle. I wouldn’t have associated sheep with an APA, more of a Bock or Scottish Ale thing..whatever....this doesn’t really fit in a style, something like an APA and an American Strong Ale combined. Orange-copper filtered body, thin off-white head. Mild and respectable soapy pine hop aroma. A pretty balanced creature, with big, yet mellow malt tones which plant the hops firmly in the backseat. Some fruity notes, could be amber malt, but maybe just the yeast. Pretty enjoyable beer.

This brewery now has one of my least favorite named brews to one of my favorite named brews. College was just an excuse to play hours upon hours of Sheepshead – two handed, three handed, lousy four handed and the Cadillac, five handed. I don’t play as often as I’d like to these days but when a game break outs I’m ready to go. Murky mahogany with a quickly fadgin tan head that wastes into pond scum. Aroma of deep caramel, roasted malt, grains along with light floral and citrus hops. Tastes of caramel, light floral hops, citrus, nutty notes and mild bitterness.

A little different malt character than the usual APA, almost a caramel flavor in there. Good hop character and overall a good APA.

12 oz bottle purchased at TC Craft Brew in New Hope, Minnesota. Pour is a hazed orange golden with a big fluffly light tan head. Head is quite lasting, eventually falls with coating lacing. Aroma is nice toasted malt, along with some fainter sweet resin. There is perhaps a bit of vanilla cola present as well. Taste is a grainy, resin, mildy bitter hop and malt mix. Finish is earth and mineral, a bit more of the bitterness. Palate is light to medium bodied, lower carbonation, the earthiness lingers and turns dirty in the long finish. This was likely not real fresh, but was also not bottle dated. Bonus point for naming a beer after Sheepshead.

12 oz. bottle from HyVee, Storm Lake, IA. My first encounter with these brewers. Sure, there was a pils and a dark ale on the shelves, but when you see "single batch series" on a label, that’s what you gotta grab. Claims four "spicy" varieties of hops besides the dry-hopping. Pours a rich-looking amber color with a lot of bubbles at the start. Doesn’t kick up much of a head. Smell says "pale ale" indeed, a bit more peppery and hoppy than malty. But the taste is pretty big. I get the impression of German hops, it seems, balanced by a little bit of American piny hops. Slight ale fruitiness noted in this hop-forward beer. Ends up with more malt in the finish.

Holy cow this is 7.7% abv? I guess this is the second night in a row of something absurdly strong for the style from Brau Brothers.... Pours a rust color with a small white head. The aroma is soapy at first but gives way to some toffee and toast-like maltiness. there is a good deal of citrus hops here as well along with some hairspray. The flavor is fruity with a nice toasty malt character. The beer is very hoppy, and as such very bitter. It retains more of a character of an APA as opposed to an IPA because of the noticeable malt character. The high level of bitterness works about as well in harmony with the malt flavor of this beer as I could imagine. There is a bit of astringency on the palate, I think if they could take care of that sensation this would be a lot easier to drink, but it’s all right beer nonetheless.

Golden pour with thick, creamy white head. Caramel nose with light bittering hops. Flavor is lightly bitter, some nice hop flavor. A bit pineapple and nice malt. Solid pale here.

Golden pour with small head. Aroma of sweet malt, lemon zest and grass. Flavor is quite funky and sour. Citrus hops initially, leading to a slightly sticky, sweet finish. Hints of diacetyl.

Pours copper with thin head. Aroma is decent herbal hop, some light lemony citrus. Toasted and caramel malt with a hint of vanilla perhaps? Flavour is nicely balanced. Medium hop with a nice toasted malt presence. Almost comparable to a british pale though more assertive hop.