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| Lion Stout - imported from Sri Lanka. This Gold Medal winner in many beer festivals is one of the top stouts around. The nose instantly brings notes of roasted barley and light coffee. First sip has a pleasant sweetness in a background of dark fruits and molasses. The taste quickly shows a dryness boasting of roasted grains. A very subdued bitterness throughout with a medium-heavy body. Lightly carbonated, the brew has a smooth, slightly creamy feel which hides its 8% ABV quite well. Overall, an enjoyable and complex stout. Note- this beer seemed to develop at the higher end of the recommended temperature range. |
| Brewery Michael Plank Hefe Weizen. This bottle conditioned opaque-hazed brew pours with a mild effervescence under a creamy off-white head. Taste is sweet and yeasty with notes of white grape, banana, and honeydew. Mouthfeel is medium bodied. There is a flavorful mineral element to the beer, with succulent spices emanating from the hops (lemongrass, starfruit, wildflowers, lilacs) and a welcome lack of wheat blandness. The fresh malts highlight the crisp, dry, drinkable nature of the beer. With warming, a honey-cream sweetness emerges which leads to a bit more body. Overall, this is a very enjoyable hefe. |
| Brewery Michael Plank Heller Doppelbock Universally praised by club members this brew poured a dark golden color with a medium sized, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. There was a warm, welcoming aroma that showcased the brew's flavor profile of honey, toasted dough, caramel, floral hops, citrus, and grain notes. Taste was lightly sweet, with hints of raisins, and toffee malt. The 7.8% ABV is mostly hidden though it does appropriately appear at mid-sip. Might not fit strict guidelines of a Dopplebock to some, but this proved to be a truly excellent beer. Overall it was the highest rated beer in our tasting! Note- only 400 cases of this outstanding beer are produced each year so if you see it consider buying as many as are available.. |
| Brewery Michael Plank Dunkler Weizenbock The lush nose brings notes caramelized fruit bread, dark caramel, plum, stewed prunes, and light nuttiness. The body is soft and somewhat creamy, with a smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel. There is a moderate sweetness throughout with ever present banana bread flavor in the background. As the finish approaches, a light spice emerges with tastes of biscuits, roasted grains, toasted bread crust, nuts herbs, and caramel. A gentle bitterness arises in mid-taste but quickly moves towards a long, slightly sweet finish. A lively carbonation is seem throughout along with a moderate acidity. This is another fine brew from Plank! |
| The Brewery Michael Plank was established in 1617. It is a small family owned business that is now under the direction of the 16th generation Michael Plank. The current Michael Plank is now the brewmaster and is credited with honing the traditional recipes to their current levels which have led to the company being named as the "Best Small Brewery in the World" at the 2006 World Beer Cup! |
| Draught Board 15 - Tasting Notes |
| The October meeting of the DB 15 was highlighted by an outstanding presentation from Ken Kerdock, the Northeast Sales Director of Elite Brands, importers of Lion Stout and a selection of excellent offerings from Brewery Michael Plank, Laaber, Bavaria Germany. These tasting notes represent a summary of those taken by various club members who attended the meeting. |
| Brewery Michael Plank Distribution in NJ You will find Michael Plank Hefe- weizen, Dunkler Weizenbock, Heller Weizenbock, and Heller Doppelbock at these locations. ----- Marketplace 647 G Highway 18 East Brunswick ----- Flemington Fine Wine & Spirits State Highway 31 Flemington ------ Canal’s Burlington ------ Buy Rite 901 Oak Tree Road South Plainfield ------- Jonathan Ron’s 60 Main Street Matawa ------ Canal’s 110 Marketplace Road Hamilton ------ Spirits Unlimited 56 Newman Springs Rd Red Bank ------- Canal’s 904 Rte 38 East Hainsport ------- Buy Rite 100 Neptune Dr Stafford ------- Wegman’s 55 Rte 9 South Manalpan ------- Wine & Beverage Depot 823 Riverview Dr Totowa -------- Note- you can ask your local store to order these beers since they are now available in our area. |