Cornerstone Esoteric Ale

On tap @ Buckeye Brewing first, then @ Cornerstone...2 very different beers!!! I’ll explain later: Clear amber w/ a lasting white creamy head. Aroma is spicy & peppery from yeast. Toasted malt aroma as it warms w/ a very low herbal hop. According to the description, there is rye malt used, but it did not come through as far as I could tell. There was only a little fruitiness that I noticed in the aroma. Toasted malt flavor, peppery from yeast w/ a very slight hint of clove. No fruitiness in the flavor, semi dry finish & well balanced throughout, but there is a little bitterness that creeps into the aftertaste. Medium carbonation, lighter medium body, dryish m/f. Very different from when I tried it @ the Buckeye Brewing Xmas in Belgium. It has a lot more character and it’s a lot more fresh tasting. I’m not sure why they differ as it’s the same batch, but it does. A decent Belgian Pale ale. The smell of burning oil from the kitchen might have knocked down some of the esters.

Another strong hop tasting pale ale, I hate these and hated this one as well.

Slightly hazed copper and served with no head. There are lots of esters and a bit of clove and caramel in the nose making this smell almost like a malty hefeweizen. In addition to that is a touch of orange. The finish is slightly bitter (which came as a surprise given the style). It’s interesting, especially for it’s small size, but could perhaps benefit from a warmer fermentation to make better use of the yeast strain.

On tap for Buckeye’s Xmas in Belgium event. Ligtht brown, bubbly looking. Spicy sweet nose. Taste is sweet medium bodied malts with a light fruit up front followed by a short bite of hop (maybe from the rye too). Finish is dry with lingering woody notes. I’d like to try this again in a quieter, less smokey environment and re-rate it.