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Friday, November 4, 2011
Boston Brewing Co./Sam Adams - Third Voyage DIPA Review
Brewery: Boston Brewing Co./Sam Adams
The Facts:
Location: Boston, Mass.
Established: 1984
Tidbits: This is new 4 beer series release late 2011. Founder, Jim Koch initially sold his brews from his car at local bars. Named after the 3rd voyage of Christopher Columbus to the "New" world.
Availability: One and Done
Type: Double India Pale Ale
ABV: 8.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Comes out of the bottle nearly "Boston Lager" like, Middle of the road transparent-brown with hues of sienna-red and light golds. The tall head is soap sudsy and slightly off-white. Lacing is tremendous all the way down the glass.
Aroma: The aromas don't jump out of the glass like I would have liked from a DIPA. They are there...Sweet grapfruits, and other citrus hop pops break through the strong malt frame. Some spice of clove, maybe cinnamon bleeds through as well.
Taste: Surprisingly mellow, with plenty of muted floral hops, that bring through a great amount of dryness on the tongue. Sweet touches of roasty malts fill in the spaces between the hop notes. Tingles of spice, poke the tongue and a mild presence of alcohol arrives at the end.
Overall: Was in between on this one...I liked the look of the new Sam Adams series, but it was "Sam Adams"...and I'm a little apprehensive on going for a Macro-brewery diguising itself as a Micro(no matter what the guidelines now say). Mouthfeel is medium, with a welcome sour aftertaste on the tongue, that pleases long after the drink is finished. This beer reminds me to keep an open mind on selecting brews in the future.
Similar Brew(s):
Score: 8.9/10
 
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Deschutes Brewing Co. - Hop In The Dark Review
Brewery: Deschutes Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Bend , Oregon
Established: 1988
Tidbits: Was picked #2 beer of the year by Wine Enthusiast magazine in 2010. Named after the Deschutes River in Oregon.
Availability: May through September
Type: Cascadian Dark Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: As the name implies, it is dark as hell. Pours with a hint of ruby in the right light. The head is gorgeous and full, nearly an inch and a half tall, of a fluffy chocolate milk color.
Aroma: Plenty of fresh hop in the first breath, light grapefruits, and pine intermingle well. Mellow sweet chocolate malts come from behind, with a touch of coffee...these fragrances help take things to the finish.
Taste: Coffee with a twinge of chocolate lead the aggression on the palate. Some of the hop shows through nicely, bitter pine resin, and a ever-so-mini citrus addition.
Overall: Being a fan of the "Dark Ales" I was really happy to find this before I came home from Colorado. Mouthfeel was fairly thin and barely leaves an aftertaste after the sip. The head dies off nicely with spiderweb like clings all the way down the glass. Can be surprisingly sessionable even with the higher ABV.
Similar Brew(s): 21st Amendment Brewing Co. - Back in Black IPA or DuClaw Brewing Co. - Black Lightening IPA
Score: 8.4/10
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Friday, October 7, 2011
New Belgium Brewing Co. - "Lips of Faith" Fresh Hop Ale Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Ft. Collins, Co.
Established: 1991
Tidbits: Fresh Hop used Washington hops that were in the kettle within 24 hours of picking...hence the name "Fresh-Hop". Turned to an all wind-powered brewery in 1998, becoming the first to do so.
Availability: Limited
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: An ultra bright-white head creates a lid on the surface of the brew...Creamy like merangue, while still thin enough to lace the inside of the pint glass as it wanes over time...A beautiful sight. The main body of the beer is transparent and lager golden with a ever-so-slight twinge of red hue to it.
Aroma: From a standpoint of inhale, this beer might be the best smelling one I've had the pleasure to do so with yet. Citrus smacks the face from a distance. Orange, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit are there in varying levels. Piney resin quaffs are abound as well. You might think that with that many things going on you wouldn't be able to discern one from the other...not in this one...they peak and valley to seperate well.
Taste: Sticky sweet forward with a rather aggressively-chill bitter from the Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo hops that were only 24 hours old when added to the brew. So many flavors punching the corners and deepest parts of the mouth. Citrus hits the back, pine tingles the front of the tongue. A mellow creaminess actualy builds the longer between sips. An original profile in my opinion.
Overall: Had the pleasure of tasting this at the bottling line, during a tour recently and it quickly became a favorite from New Belgium for me. Aggressive, but still tame...Killer but still docile. A fresh example of how an IPA can be done nearly dead on. Mouthfeel is medium, with a building creaminess coating the tongue, while an aftertaste is there, it isn't harsh or interferring with the overall finished product.
Similar Brew(s): Sierra Nevada - Estate Homegrown Ale or Great Divide - Fresh Hop Pale Ale
Score: 9.3/10
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Friday, September 30, 2011
Twisted Pine Brewing Co. - 16th Anniversary Bough Breaker Barley Wine Review
Brewery: Twisted Pine Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Boulder, Co.
Established: 1995
Tidbits: Legend, Gordon Knight was the owner and first to brew pints for TP in 1995. Distribution in Texas, Louisiana, and now Missouri. Taken many medals at GABF and World Beer Cup.
Availability: Summer of 16th Anniversary
Type: Barley Wine
ABV: 9.1%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Deep burnt-red that isn't really able to be seen through. Thin to no head frms on the surface. A small halo does form on the top in a dull-white tone.
Aroma: Caramel candy sweet nose up front, with plenty of floral hops mixed in. There is a definite alcohol spice that trails, but also assist's the hop to stick around and emminate from the snifter. More grapefruit near the finish ties it all together.
Taste: Dry and sweet in the beginning. Spicey and and fruity in the middle. Some caramel toffee creeps in near the end. Alcohol tingles are there, but not overpowering...just an added element to keep the tongue on it's toes.
Overall: A nice mix of strength and mellowness. Great flavors from both the malts of caramel and the hops of grapefruit & pine. Mouthfeel for a barleywine is thinner than expected, with a tart aftertaste that hangs a touch too long. Overall another great brew from Twisted Pine.
Similar Brew(s): Troegs - FLying Mouflan or Dogfish Head - Old School
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, September 23, 2011
AleSmith Brewing Co. - X Review
Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Established: 1995
Tidbits: Sold to Peter Zien in 2002. Most bottle artwork is simple and has the trademark AleSmith anvil on it.
Availability: Year Round
Type: "Extra" Pale Ale
ABV: 5.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This bad boy jumps out of the bottle, virtually filling the whole pint glass with foam instead of liquid. Not the end of the world, I sucked down the head, that was bright-white as snow, and ever so slowly poured the clear perfectly yellow elixer into the glass again. This time turned out well.
Aroma: Pleasant belgian yeast notes of banana and some coriander lead the way. Light cereal grains help bring forth a mellow pine hop note that isn't to powerful, but is strong enough to be noticed.
Taste: Mild, with enough of a flavor profile to get a wonderful pine and grass notes popping like a fourth of July firework. A thin malt body holds things together well...letting just enough alcohol bleed through to warm the back of the throat.
Overall: Even while Alesmith doesn't distribute in the Baltimore area yet, I found this one while on a craft beer tour of south-central Pennsylvania. I'm happy I did get this one. Crisp, clean, mild and a touch creamy make this a decent brew to enjoy while out on a nice warm day. Mouthfeel is light to medium with a ultra-mild aftertaste, making this an over the traditional ABV, sessionable brew. Good work.
Similar Brew(s): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Score: 8.7/10
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Friday, September 2, 2011
New Belgium Brewing Co. with Elysian Brewing Co. - "Lips of Faith" Kick Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Fort Collins, Co.
Established: 1991
Tidbits: Turned to an all wind-powered brewery in 1998, becoming the first to do so. The labels are created by original watercolors from a neighbor of Kim and Jeff's, Anne Fitch.
Availability: Til it's Gone
Type: 75% ale brewed with Pumpkin and Cranberry juices aged in wooden barrels
ABV: 8.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Well, if nothing else the visual of this brew turned out a pleasant pumpkin orange that is nearly completely see through. The head fills the upper inch of the snifter with a fluffy bright-white cloud of cream.
Aroma: Plenty of sours bits penetrate the nose with the expected cranberry, while a light yeast tries to make it through, but can't.
Taste: Wow, the taste profile comes in two layers...the under-layer is a lightly-pumpkin enhance malt that is clean and ever so sweet. The upper-layer is the sour cranberry wood aging that adds depth. The said sour, isn't overpowering, it lingers at the back of the roof of the mouth and peeks through between sips nicely.
Overall: Again, NB has hit it on the head with the Lips Of Faith series, fall edition. I love that there are different depths to the taste. When you think the pumpkin, which is subtle, is gonna be the main area of concentration, surprise…hears some sour tartness to think about. It keeps the tastebuds on alert all the way through. Mouthfeel is lighter than medium, with a lingering aftertaste of sour cranberry. I would have given an even better score but I didn't get any essence of wood in the taste, what ashame...That would have been Re-Dunkulous...Great job.
Similar Brew(s): New Belgium Brewing - L.O.F. La Folie
Score: 9.0/10
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
New Belgium Brewing Co. - "Lips of Faith" Super Cru Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Fort Collins, Co.
Established: 1991
Tidbits: Turned to an all wind-powered brewery in 1998, becoming the first to do so. The labels are created by original watercolors from a neighbor of Kim and Jeff's, Anne Fitch.
Availability: Til it's Gone
Type: Cru(Wine)?
ABV: 10%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Bright-orange elixir flows from the bomber...transparent with a bright-white whipped egg lid for a head covering the surface. That head fills the upper inch of the snifter. As the head fades, it doesn't leave much lacing on the inside of the glass.
Aroma: Notes of clove, and banana front the nose with. Light sweetness of caramel malt and sourdoughiness(possibly the pears)flows directly after. Limited hop trails but lends a touch fresh flower essence to the mix.
Taste: Extra sweet front with notes of the belgian yeast showing off strongly. Ginger, plum, and those asian pears come through nicely. There is a slight off element in the mix, could be spice of clove, but maybe not.
Overall: Was expecting alot from this brew for 2 reasons...1. It's New Belgium, 2. I have had a few of the "Lips Of Faith" beers and I have been completely impressed...Unfortunately this brew didn't achieve the level of awesome that the others did. The pear didn't pop, the yeast dominated, and there was too powerful of a pinching aftertaste. The mouthfeel was medium and tongue-coating, with a distracting aftertaste. I know this will be one of those misses in a huge array of hits. Better luck next time.
Similar Brew(s): Chimay(Blue)
Score: 7.5/10
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Friday, August 12, 2011
Baying Hound Aleworks - Lord Wimseys Mild Pale Ale Review
Brewery: Baying Hound Aleworks
The Facts:
Location: Rockville, Md.
Established: 2010?
Tidbits: A Nano-Brewery named after the owners beloved Bloodhound Marmalade, who has passed away. The owner, Paul Rinehart was influenced to brew from his Grandfather being on the board of directors for Carlsberg. He had other relatives who were associated with chemistry or brewing also.
Availability: Year Round
Type: Mild Pale Ale
ABV: 6.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: The dog pours a deep tomato-red with browns and touches of gold intermingling. The head was rediculously tall...roughly 1 1/2" tall off-white and like fluffy-clouds.
Aroma: Malts overwhelm the hop, but do let some pine needle and grapefruit notes bleed through. A touch of char in the deeeeeep inhale completes the nose.
Taste: Pleasantly roasted malt rides strong out of the gate. Drying of the tongue comes next with a lemony-sweet bitter thrown in there for good measure.
Overall: My first taste of this small brewery that's about an hour from home. The brew isn't exactly as described, to me...not really "mild" in terms of "Pale Ale". It is actually more hoppy than a normal Pale Ale, but not quite an IPA. The hop is strong and front-forward, while not being "West-coast" dominant. The malt controls the profile, but still lets the hop present itself well. Mouthfeel is medium, and leaves a slightly earthly bite on the corners of the tongue.
Similar Brew(s) Evolution Craft Brewing Primal Pale Ale
Score: 8.0/10
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Friday, August 5, 2011
Dog Brewing Co. - Imperial Dog Review
Brewery: Dog Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore/Westminster, Md.
Established: 2001
Availability: Year Round
Type: Imperial IPA
ABV: %
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: It drops out of the bottle a caramel brownish-orange with peeks of yellow mostly centered around the base of the glass. The head comes thick, about an inch +, but wanes really quick to a creamy-wispy slightly off-white trace head.
Aroma: Sweet nectar or tangarine and orange dominate, then mellow, leaving some floral hop notes and a touch of booze in the closing first breath.
Taste: It seems to initially go over the tongue and into the throat without much impact, but hold on...Surprise...It creeps back with a vengence. Whoa...Rediculous pine flavors overwhelm the cereal malt frame. Some citrus of grapefruit helps close it out.
Overall: Living in Baltimore we have numerous brewpubs to go have a pint and fill a growler, and I've benn to most of them...But I've actually never been to the Pubdog here in the Federal Hill part of town. Why? Maybe because I just haven't been motivated to do so, or there is always something else going on more familiar...I don't know. Needless to say after drinking the Imperial IPA, I will make it a new item on the "To Do" list. I am kinda lingering towards the packaging and promotion of the brews themselves. I believe that these smaller breweries are limited on how extravagant the marketing can be and that lends to my prejudice in the labels...not fair I know but, it is what it is. That being said, the mouthfeel is medium with trace amounts of lingering hop on the tongue.
Score: 8.2/10
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Friday, July 29, 2011
Peak Organic Brewing Co. - King Crimson Review
Brewery: Peak Organic Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Portland, Maine
Established: 2005
Availability: Winter til gone
Type: Imperial Red Ale
ABV: 9.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Crystal-clear dark chestnut-red glistens from the glass. A thin, roughly half-inch tall head of mochaccino brown seals the elixer well with wisps and bubbles.
Aroma: Lotsa earth essence out of the gate...Hop is next, bringing in hints of grapefruit, lemon-zest and pine. Clean malt toastiness cradles everything nicely, like a a mother cradling her newborn child.
Taste: Oh, my God...Roasted chocolate nibs, and mild coffee add both a sweetness and char touch that is refreshing as Hell. Some bitter follows, with a smidge of alcohol warminess helping close out the sips.
Overall: I am completely impressed with the completely unique in the many brews I've tasted. I've tasted chocolate notes in brews and there have bee plenty of coffee notes as well. But, I have never had this most perfect interwoven flavor profile ever. Smooth, slightly creamy, with a mouthfeel of medium body, that leaves a slightly sour tingle on the tongue. This is by far the best Peak Organic brew I've had...and I've had many from them. Great job!
Score: 9.3/10
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Friday, July 22, 2011
Nogne O Brewing Co. - #100 Review
Brewery: Nogne O Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Grimstad, Norway
Established: 2002
Availability: Year Round
Type: Barley Wine
ABV: 10%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Brown with barely a trace of light glimmering through at the bottom of the sipper glass. Some yellows bleed from under the maple cloud of refreshment above. The head fills the top inch of the glass with a fuzzy bubbly cocoa sand brown.
Aroma: Caramel and chocolate malts a most present in the front, then lead to the pleasant hoppy greatness...not to strong,but just the right amount of floralty to let you know what you about to drink.
Taste: Bitter overwhelms the malt slightly. But, it works for this brew. Some warming and tingling of booze rides the body nicely. More mild bitter is near the end...not really anything too strong to take away from the balanced elements. Roughly 3 seconds after the swallow there is a drying effect on the tongue and cheeks that I do love.
Overall: Nogne O had made this #100 batch brew as a sorta celebration for the workers, but with much coersing from the staff, they decided to make this a regular batch brew. I'm glad they did. Smooth, with some warmth and bitter thrown in. Mouthfeel is silky and medium, with a great aftertaste effect that keeps me coming back for more.
Score: 9.1/10
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Heavy Seas Brewing Co. - "Letter Of Marque" Belgian Style Dubbel Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore, MD.
Established: 1995
Availability: Once each year
Type: Belgian Dubbel
ABV: 8%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: It pours out smoothly...building a small head, then at the top of the glass the head finally sprouts a frothy slightly off white mountain of bubbliness. The body is a auburn-brown with plenty of intermingled reds and oranges.
Aroma: A hellashishly sweet toasted caramel front with yeast bursting through well. A little booze essence comes up from behind and helps close out the profile.
Taste: Wow, pleasantly surprised..not expecting it to suck, but damn the mouthfeel is very thin compared to what the nose would lead you to believe. Sweet caramels and fig along with light notes of citrus meld well with one another. The Belgian strain does show, but it isn't the dominant flavor in the mix.
Overall: I really dig Dubbels, and the belgian yeast strain incorporated into this brew is a great combo. This "homebrew", which was made by Heavy Seas after Doug John & Dave Edmundson won the annual "Letter Of Marque" homebrew competition. Doug has actually won awards for this brew in Canada and throughout America. Aftertaste is mild and doesn't linger too long on the tongue.
Score: 8.7/10
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Friday, July 8, 2011
DuClaw Brewing Co. - Colossus Review
Brewery: DuClaw Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Bel Air, MD.
Established: 1996
Availability: June til gone
Type: High Gravity Hybrid Ale
ABV: 21%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: At first gander the snifter holds an elixer of what I would call an Iced-Tea brown in color. but after moving it around in different lights and giving it a chance to warm a tad, that has changed...Tones of red bleed through, as well as golden touches near the thinner surface area. There is no doubt that Colossus makes a visual impression right out of the bottle. Nearly no head forms, although there is a active amount of carbonation rising from bottom to the top of the glass.
Aroma: I get a warming alcohol infused bouquet of dark-fruits, and caramels leading the first inhale. Prune, Date, and even some citrus poke through the intensely sweet but, completely refreshing nose.
Taste: Extremely sweet front, with dark-fruits infused in a thinner than expected frame of creamy caramel goodness. More sweets of tangerine seep from within, as well as an apple note that I wouldn't have expect. The sips finish with the warming booze element coming up, reminding you that this isn't your fathers beer...Still not hellish enough to deter the modern beer enthusiast.
Overall: Liquid candy is the best and most simple way to give an overall impression. The flavors, while wide and unique meld with one an other extremely well. The thing that is really unique for a beer of this size to me is the lack of reminants left in the mouth after the sips...Virtually no aftertaste. I had this at the "World Tour" kick off Party at our legendary watering hole in Fell's Point, and now in bottle while doing this review. I can only dissern a small difference in one from the other...maybe more heavier/thicker body from the tap. Both are worthy of a few bucks of your hard-earned cash to get this very limited edition brew if you can.
Score: 9.1/10
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Full Sail Brewing Co. - "Brewers Reserve" Elevation Review
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Hood River,Or.
Established: 1987
Availability: June to September(til gone)
Type: Imperial India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This brew poured very difficultly...The traditional pour didn't creat any head so I had to aggitate the liquids as they came out to creat a 1 inch slightly off-white head on the lid of the glass. The body comes crystal-clear in a rust-orange tone...some bubbles rise from the bottom to the top.
Aroma: Mild notes come forward, but are still strong enough to be smelled roughly a foot from the glass. Pine, grapefruit, and candied malts lead the way. A slight twinge of alcohol can be included in there as well.
Taste: Full body,(not what the eyes would lead you to believe) creates a nicely hop bitter bite in the front. Dominant citrus notes are the basis of the taste profile, along with some pops of dry and malty sweets trying to break through.
Overall: I have had a number of the "Brewers Reserve" beers from Full Sail and again they are hit or miss for me. I love IPA, and I can really get into a Imperial of the style if the correct parts of the base are hit right-on. Some breweries do it completely good, or they miss completely. Well Full Sail Brewery actually came through at the surprising mid-point. I could take or leave this IIPA. Enjoyable at the same time missing a key element of the formula to make this a great brew. I think the "malt" might be that element. It's slighly sweet, but not strong enough to balance out the dominance of the hop. Usually I would be, "Bring On The Hop", but that little something missing prevents the hop from being presented in the profile to the correct level, IMHO. Keep up the aggression of the "Brewers Reserve" series...I enjoy tasting the many attempts you've made.
Score: 8.0/10
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Friday, June 10, 2011
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers - Big Daddy IPA Review
Brewery: Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
The Facts:
Location: San Francisco, California
Established: 1997
Availability: Year Round
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Cloudy wheat yellow that is topped with soapy bright-white bubbles roughly a half-inch thick on the surface. That head dwindles to a nice still-bubbly film on the top of the elixir.
Aroma: A very mellow nose doesn't completely impress...light cereal malts are there but not strong. Very distant floral notes touch on a tremendous inhale.
Taste: Mild bitter jumps foward and covers the bland malt body. Some tingle of carbonation, as well as a touch of citrus grapefruit-peeking through. Sweet hints of malt finally realize they need to be in this mellow party. The close the taste profile uneventfully.
Overall: It's ashame that I wasn't completely impressed with this brew, I really wanted to be. The last of my brews from a trade with Wes(@Bjornidentity), I was hoping for a big finish, but it didn't come. Mouthfeel is thin to medium on the tongue with a light sour bite hanging on the corners for a few moments after the sip. Not hated, but not loved either.
Score: 7.9/10
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Friday, May 27, 2011
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Union Jack Review
Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Paso Robles, California
Established: 1996
Availability: Year Round
Type: American India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Union Jack pours out of the bottle nice and slow with a gradually building fluffy-white head of about a half-inch. The liquid itself is completely clear and of a sunshine golden wheat with a blend of orange mixed throughout.
Aroma: Light fragrances of grapefruit and pine are subtle but there. Not much to speak of on the malt nose...maybe a touch of the pale malt sweetness on a deeper inhale.
Taste: Well, this brew is very subtle in it's IPA elements...The pine essence, and bitter from the hop is mild, but still powerful, while the malt adds a nice sweet shelf for said hop to balance on. Some dryness assists in keeping the malts in check, and tames what could be a powerful floral punch.
Overall: Another trade brew, this one becomes a Big Bottle Friday review. Smoothness and nice balance...some bite but not overwhelming. A completely enjoyable brew that could be a regular drinker for me if I could get Firestone Walker over here on the east coast. Mouthfeel is medium, with a lightly lingering aftertaste of pucker on the tongue.
Score: 8.8/10
Your Comments:
Name: Steve Jones Brewmaster Oliver Ales(Baltimore,Md.)
I love this beer. I was lucky enough to have quite a fresh bottle from one of Nick's West Coast visits and I thought it had quite an assertive hop profile, though I agree, it does have a good malt balance. I'd heard that Legends were to start distributing the brewery in MD soon, but these days, with so many breweries pulling out of territories, who knows?! I can only imagine how good this would be on cask should we ever be lucky enough to get it for the Real Ale Festival!
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Friday, May 20, 2011
Heavy Seas Brewing Co. - Plank 1 Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Established: 1995
Availability: Seasonal(Limited)
Type: Old Style English Ale
ABV: 8%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Mahongany brown with glistens of red coming through when the light hits it just right. This pour came from a 2 day old growler, so the head didn't produce as it originally did from the tap. A cinnamon brown film still forms on the surface...Very attractive.
Aroma: Notes of alcohol booze fight through the woodsey notes of toasty caramel. There isn't much of a hop presence, but that wasn't expected anyway. A friendly charred sugar essence keep eminating throughout the inhales.
Taste: The new method of infusing the wood, did just that...intermingle the wood notes within the taste profile, not on top of the other flavors. Booze, and caramel malt bleed through the spiciness to leave a smooth light creaminess on the tongue. Dark fruit notes are dispersed thoughout the palate.
Overall: Been waiting for a while to get a swig of this one, and it was well worth the wait. Smooth, slightly boozy, charred, and sweet mix well, leaving a trace of sour on the corners of the mouth. Mouthfeel is a little creamy and tingly on the tongue. Heavy Seas is planning many different styles using this unique thermal wood infusing process.
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, May 13, 2011
Brewers Art Brewing Co. - Coup De Boule Review
Brewery: Brewers Art Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Established: 1996
Availability: Year Round
Type: Belgian Strong Pale Ale(Limited)
ABV: 6.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Opaque deep-orange body that has an overwhelming off-white head that fills more than half of the glass at first...That head disappears fairly quickly, and keeps a half inch lid on the glass.
Aroma: Saffron, and cardimon are great in the front, putting a hold on any yeasty, malty or hoppy notes that usually are potent in this style. On the second inhale, more of the same with a slight hint of floral freshness.
Taste: Front of the profile brings fruity notes, of peach, graperfruit, and mild apple, which leads to a smooth extra-sweet malt with a twist of dry from the hops. A very good balance of the flavors throughout.
Overall: This is the first Brewers Art brew I've had other than Rezzie Ale, in about a year...I am so upset with myself after this one. Balanced, and well-rounded, with perfect carbination, and flavor. Mouthfeel is lighter-to-medium, with a very thin aftertaste. Great Job.
Score: 8.9/10
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Nogne O Brewing Co. - Pale Ale Review
Brewery: Nogne O Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Grimstad, Norway.
Established: 2002
Availability: Year-round
Type: Pale Ale
ABV: 6.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This brew empties of the into the glass smoothly, filling 50/50 head to elixir. After letting it settle a touch the head crumbles to a rocky bubbly slightly off-white. The elixir is crystal clear of a golden-orange tone.
Aroma: Fresh earthtones abound over a light sweet maltness. Fresh grass, earthy flowers and notes of mild citrus come through also.
Taste: Mellow front, with a chilled-out bittering dry following right behind. Caramel malts are sweetly strong and help keep the hops in check. Well balanced profile from front to back.
Overall: I love this brew. It isn't over the top, or under the radar in the Pale Ale style it is straighforward and completely satisfying...I could drink this brew all day long. Mouthfeel is light to medium with minimal aftertaste...Great job.
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, April 22, 2011
New Belgium Brewing Co. - "Lips Of Faith" Le Terroir Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado.
Established: 1989
Availability: Limited Year-round
Type: Dry-hopped Sour Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: The brew pours a beautiful nearly clear pure orange with plenty of rising carbonation floating to the top. At the top there is a head of pure-white that is crazy bubbly, about a half-inch tall. When disappeared there remains a thin ring of foam around the rim.
Aroma: Notes of sour are strong...peach is the dominant fruit, with touches of orange, and pineapple creeping fro behind. Very limited to no malt aggression shows, this is a hoppy sour fruit driven nose to say the least.
Taste: Tremendous pucker is initiated with the first swig. Sour peach, and/or pear lead the way with a sour apple essence being the glue that holds things together.
Overall: Like the great Jolly Rancher candy, every taste makes me more intrigued for more tastes characteristics. I had La Folie from The "Lips Of Faith" series last year at BBC10 and it became an instant favorite of mine. This one doesn't disappoint either...you will need to be a fan of sours to get this one, but if you are, you'll be happy. Mouthfeel is thin to lighly-medium, and the aftertaste holds sour on the back of the tongue long and strong. Loved it. Only missing notes are, wood essence from the barrel aging, and a more effective hop from the Dry-hopping.
Score: 9.2/10
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Friday, April 15, 2011
Mission Brewing Co. - IPA Review
Brewery: Mission Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: San Diego, Ca.
Established: 2007
Availability: Year Round
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.8%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: The brew pours fast and builds quick(almost an inch)...if you don't slow the pour the head of a faded white would have wasted over the top of the glass. The body is an almost rust-orange with hints of red peeking through the translucentness.
Aroma: This is the big difference for me. The nose has the obvious hop punch, but the malty skeleton is covered with potent candied orange, and pineapple. What a great nose, hints of pine and a twinge of alcohol poke thier heads thru for a sec also.
Taste: Well the sugar-sweetened nose of orange and pineapple aren't there, but there is a nice hop presence of bitter that receeds to a earthy framework that carries the flavors of lighter-citrus to the very end. No sign of the alcohol to speak of, which is a good thing.
Overall: .
I always like getting special beers to review, whether it is a gift from a brewery, a one-off , or a beer grabbed from another state that I can't get back home...with that being said I got this Brew while on a little trip to Wilmington, NC last week. I am very happy I did. The beer is a great rep of the style, and has a little something missing that actually makes it a brew more designed to possibly guzzle on a warm day to quench the thirst. Mouthfeel is light to a refreshing medium and an aftertaste is on the back of the tongue but dies off quickly.
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, April 1, 2011
Full Sail Brewing Co. - "Brewers Reserve" Hop Pursuit Review
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Hood River,Or.
Established: 1987
Availability: Mid April to June(til gone)
Type: Extra Pale Ale
ABV: 6.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This pours a dull foggy sunset brown, with thinner brighter hues of orange fading to golden yellow at the bottom. A very unique pour...virtually a layered drink look. The head is off-white, and of standard height, it fades quickly to a bubbly film.
Aroma: The nose is a tad undercheiving. I get some earthy notes with the main wiff...Citrus, and woodsie-pine. Light caramelly malts are very mellow lending to the major hop profile.
Taste: Sweetness is there, but only in the beginning. The strong hop character dominates all the way through. but it isn't really bitter...it is more of a dry hop with alot of earthy tones over a light citrus body.
Overall: The line of Full Sail "Brewers Reserve" have been hit or miss for me. "Old Boardhead" Barleywine was average, "Bump In The Night" was great, "Wreck The Halls" was good. Now "Hop Pursuit"...I dig the hop fowardness, but the way it's profile comes through with more dry than bitter confuses me a touch. The mouthfeel is medium with a hint of creaminess, while the aftertaste holds the tongue agressively. On the fence with it...WOuld buy again, but wouldn't seek it out.
Score: 8.1/10
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Friday, March 25, 2011
Mikkeller/Stillwater Brewing Co. - "Two Gyspsys" - Our Side Review
Brewery: Stillwater Artisanal Ales & Mikkeller Brewing
The Facts:
Location:
Established: 2010
Availability: Limited to remaining stock
Type: Saison/Collaborative Gypsy Ale
ABV: 7.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This collab pours one of the nicest bodies of a beer I have seen. Gorgeous oranges and reds popping through the clear golden base. Tremendous bubbling rising from the depths of the glass. A bright-white rocky head of about a half-inch covers the surface for awhile, then dwindles to a hazing film with minimal lacing.
Aroma: Strong yeasty nose leads well, giving way to spiced-sweet notes of grapefruit and apples. Grains take over leading the inhale to it's end.
Taste: There is a unique taste of what I would say is grape that is the mainline of the brew. Sweet caramel malts and light hop bittering add to the complex profile. Light touches of orange close out things nicely.
Overall: I had this brew for the first time during a Stillwater Artisanal Ales Beer Dinner a few months ago. It paired perfectly with a Smoked Gouda and Prosciutto Quesadilla...Cutting the smokey brown sugar well. The mouthfeel is medium and tingly with plenty of carbonation. Grainy resin holds the back of the tongue with just a touch of sour.
Score: 8.7/10
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Friday, March 18, 2011
Full Sail Brewing Co. - "Brewers Reserve" Bump In The Night Review
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Hood River, Oregon
Established: 1987
Availability: January to Mid March(Limited)
Type: Cascadian Dark Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This beer pours magnificantly with a thick off-white rocky bubbly head. This head falls quickly, and leaves a decent sized film on the surface. The body is a awesome dark ruby-red, that is easy to see through.
Aroma: Super citrus sweetness of orange, with spices interwoven through a full malt spine. Chocolates, and earthy notes help finish out the nose.
Taste: A tremendous roasted malt, leads off with sweet tingles of grapefruit, and pine taking things to the middle. I get bitter, charred notes, subtle as they are, nearly taking over the flavor profile, before a warming sensation of alcohol completes the sips.
Overall: I have had a few brews from Full Sail and was on the fence with them. They were good, but nothing to go and make a stink about, til this Bump In The Night. Great balance, and mouthfeel that is light to medium with a pleasant earthy char holding on to the tongue nicely. I wish I could get this regularly.
Score: 9.3/10
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Friday, March 11, 2011
Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. - Gale Force IPA Review
Brewery: Scuttlebutt Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Everett, Washington
Established: 1996
Availability: Year Round
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Wow, what a nice pour...A gorgeous orange with hints of browns and reds mixing in. The head is the real achievement here, Fluffy, creamy, slightly off-white, cloud-like...beautiful...maybe one of the best built heads I've ever seen.
Aroma: I guess the plus of the head creates a negative in the nose. I can't get much through the buffer of head, still residing on the surface, a half-inch thick, minutes after the pour. (After a sip to barely clear the head)I do get some clearance to catch notes of grapefruit, orange, and pine, but malt is hard to find.
Taste: Delicately-sweet malt holds the dominating flavors from the hop well...Dry, awesomely strengthened bitter with qualities of pine, grapefruit, orange and even pineapple. The sense of alcohol is nearly absent, making this brew easy to enjoy in abundance.
Overall: 96 IBU's where making me very happy and nervous at the same time...I love IPA's and hops, but alot of breweries have trouble balancing flavor while presenting Hop bitterness correctly. Scuttlebutt hit it dead-on. The 96 IBU's are there but are disguised very well. Flavors are balanced, with sweet malts intermingling with the hop almost perfectly. Mouthfeel is light to medium and there is minimal aftertaste. I think this has become my highest rated IPA, and for that matter, my highest rated beer overall. Superb job Scuttlebutt, keep it up Chris & Matt.
Score: 9.5/10
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Friday, March 4, 2011
Stoudt's Brewing Co. - "Brewer's Reserve" Imperial Schwarzbier Review
Brewery: Stoudt's Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Adamstown, Pennsylvania
Established: 1987
Availability: Limited Yearly Release
Type: Imperial Schwarzbier
ABV: 7.6%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: The brew pours completely black...hence the name "Schwarz", black in German. There is though an ever so slight tint of red or "Rot" within. The head is both, a creamy and fluffy sand brown. It disminishes to a thin wispy film on the surface and creates a ring around the glass.
Aroma: Sweet malts as well as dark fruit essences come through well in the front. I do get some chocolate notes and a distant hop note near the end.
Taste: Wow, strong chocolate malt that lightly tingles the tongue. Creaminess coats the back of the mouth nicely. Some mild earthiness is in the mix as well, and some balanced warming spice of alcohol finishes the sip off.
Overall: I've liked Stoudt's beers that I've tried before, but I wasn't Wow'd by them. This brew has turned the corner for my opinions. I am completely impresed with the strength of the malts while not being to aggressive. There is a tremendous balance of all of the elements. Mouthfeel is perfect, and the aftertaste matches the sips without going sour on the tongue. Great job Stoudts.
Score: 9.3/10
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Friday, February 25, 2011
Heavy Seas Brewing Co. - Aarsh Imperial Irish Red Ale Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Established: 1995
Availability: February til gone
Type: Imperial Irish Red Ale
ABV: 7%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This imperial pours of a dark red tinted brown that is transparent through and through. A decent head of a quarter inch forms at the top of the glass and fades to a frothy, just off-white film.
Aroma: It's actually hard to pull unique notes from the inhale on this one. Yes, I get a lightly roasted malt note with hints of caramel and biscuity-yeast being the standouts.
Taste: Sweet and toasty accents of malt are very forward. There is a very chill dry element that is a conduit from the front to the back of the sip. More malty sweetnes rests in the back of the mouth along with a subtle warming of alcohol.
Overall: Heavy Seas lauched a "Mutiny" series of beers that are unique big and bold in presentation. Most are above 8% ABV, and are of limited quantity. The Aarsh is one of these beers...The flavors are even throughout, and the alcohol can sneak up on you, so be careful. An easy drinker for 7%, it coats the tongue fine with a medium creamy body, and minimal aftertaste. Not a bad brew, but I would have either made it more aggressive or included it in the "Pyrate" fleet of beers instead.
Score: 8.1/10
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Friday, February 18, 2011
Left Hand & Terrapin Brewing Co. - Teutonic India Pale Lager Review
Brewery: Left Hand & Terrapin Brewing Co. - Longmont, Co. & Atlanta, Ga.
Type: Teutonic India Pale Lager
ABV: 7.2%
Sight: The brew pours opaque orange with brown notes intermingling throughout. The head is a 1/2" thick and is a fluffy bright-white, that dies off quickly to a thin film on the surface.
Aroma: The nose gives notes of a slightly sour funk. A tad abrasive, but interesting nonetheless. I'd hate to say it but the biggest part of the nose is what to me reminds me of a fresh bag of....You know. Strong and in your face, but still welcoming.
Taste: Very earthy, with an odd mouth. Citrusy, but not overpowering...thin but not refreshing...Malty but not sweet...Missed some key flavor points. Maybe this is what they mean by "Teutonic"...definitely different.
Overall: I was so looking forward to this Left Hand beer, due to the others I've had, but this one left a bitter taste in my mouth...and yes the pun is intended. Thin mouthfeel without an identifying character. Very odd-hoppy water is what I call it. I am so sorry to be the bearer of a bad review, but Left Hand/Terrapin, WTF?
Score: 6.1/10
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Friday, February 4, 2011
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. - Brewers Reserve Barrel-Aged Brrrbon Review
Brewery: Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. - Portland, Oregon
Type: Winter Seasonal aged in Bourbon Barrels
ABV: 9.4%
Sight: Dark sunburst orange dribbles out of the bottle, creating a very thin head of bubbly white. Said head dies off quickly with minimal lacing on the glass.
Aroma: Toasty woodsiness leads the inhale...Sweetened candy-essenced malt with a touch of the bourbon mixed in continues the nose til the end.
Taste: Malt creaminess with pops of alcohol and nearly burnt sugars flowing through. The main body has a stronger, but still not overpowering alcohol element that is definitely from the bourbon barrels. More malts carry the beer to it's finish.
Overall: Sampled this brew at the 2010 Beer Bloggers Conference. Finally found it to enjoy fully. Smooth, and sweet, little warmth, and bourbon...can't forget the bourbon. The only complaint could be the lack of any noticeable hop presence. Mouthfeel is light to medium, with minimal aftertaste.
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, January 28, 2011
16 Mile Brewing Co. - Amber Sun Ale Review
Brewery: 16 Mile Brewing Co. - Georgetown, Delaware
Type: Amber Ale
ABV: Unknown%
Sight: The beer pours out of the "aluminum bottle" a dark red that when light hits it, lightens it up nicely to show oranges and even some pinks. The head is roughly a 1/4" tall and sand brown in the color of the bubbles.
Aroma: The nose is nearly undetectable, but there are hints of toasted malts of caramel that do show. Maybe a touch of dark fruit(prune or raisin), and little earthy hop on a deeper inhale.
Taste: Malts are foward and sweet. A tad bit of char associates with the toasty taste of the malts. There is an almost non-existent hop tastes if any at all. The finish is clean with again a minimal alcohol presence.
Overall: Yes there is another brewery in Delaware...16 mile is roughly a 30 minute ride from both Evolution and Dogfish Head, but nearly everybody who reads this wouldn't have even heard of them. This beer is good, and not so good...Good in the sense that it is an easy drinker with nice malts and a light body...Not so good in the sense that the flavors aren't too balanced. Malt heavy, hardly a trace of hop in the nose or taste profile, which kills the balance. I would drink it again, and might even possibly recommend it to a friend but, so much more could have been done. Mouthfeel is light with a hint of a dry aftertaste.
Score: 7.7/10
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Friday, January 21, 2011
Rodenbach Brewery - Grand Cru Review
Brewery: Rodenbach Brewing Co.
Type: Sour Ale
ABV: 6%
Sight: The beer pours out of the 750ml bottle a dark-brown in natural light, but when direct light is thrown on it, there is a tremendous cherry to tomato red that flashes out of nowhere. The head is foamy and fills quickly, but disappears just as quickly, leaving the surface with nothing to protect it.
Aroma: Crazy sour cherry smacks the nose as if you called a woman a bad name. This sour really covers any other notes you might have hoped to get, other than possibly a woodsie hint near the end.
Taste: Fizzy with a touch of creaminess, both are drenched in sour apple, cherry, pear, and grape. Those flavors flow nicely from front to back, while an ultra-mild, almost non-existant malt attempts to help keep things together. Alcohol also get overwhelmed by the extreme flavors.
Overall: The mouthfeel is of a Cola drink consistency...fizzy with trace syrup. The flavors bounce off each the whole way through, leaving the tongue a dancefloor for those disco dancing tastes. It is a complex while simple beer...The best of both worlds, with a very limited aftertaste. Gotta love them sours
Score: 8.9/10
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Friday, January 14, 2011
Left Hand Brewing Co. - Twin Sisters DIPA Review
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co.
Type: Double India Pale Ale
ABV: 9.6%
Sight: The twins pour very cloudy, making it unable to see through the golden-orange colored body of the brew. The head is wispy bright white, about 3/4" inches thick...this holds for a good 2 or 3 minutes, then dies off leaving a ultra-thin film on the surface.
Aroma: Tons of malt sweets lead this one off nicely. The hops are solid with touches of lemon and pine-needles pertruding through the caramel and toasty malts. There isn't any nose of alcohol as I would have expected with a 9.6% DIPA.
Taste: I taste piney, bittering hops in a overwhelming sense. There is a little citrus of lemon or lime and a warming alcohol element in there also. The malts are near the finish and are a little dulled...probably because of the hoppiness.
Overall: This is the last of the beers I brought back from the trip to Colorado I went on in November, which sucks. I like the hop aggression, but wished it was more of a citrus hop instead of the earthy hop. The malt was a tad mellow leaving the mouthfeel medium with an aftertaste gently bitter and slightly dry.
Score: 8.4/10
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Friday, January 7, 2011
Bristol Brewing Co. - Local 5 AleReview
Brewery: Bristol Brewing Co.
Type: Extra Special Bitter
ABV: 5.4%
Sight: Bristols pour a deep transparent dark auburn-brown with just a touch of a red hue coming through. The head drops quickly from a half-inch bright white bubbly thickness.
Aroma: A nice roasted, almost burnt malt with notes of chocolate forcing to the front of the initial inhale. On second breath, I get more chocolate, and bitter hoppiness.
Taste: Roasted malts lead the way that lend to some dryness up front. More malt...stronger earthy notes in the middle part, then the creaminess rides all of it til the end of the sips.
Overall: Got this one in Colorado, and held on to it since early November...actually now, after trying it, I would have liked to have this one earlier. Very good roasted malt backbone holds the chocolate and dryness well. Mouthfeel is medium with a wonderful creaminess. Aftertaste is distant, but slightly dry.
Score: 8.7/10
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Friday, December 31, 2010
Left Hand Brewing Co. - St. Vrain Tripel Ale Review
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Co.
Type: Tripel Ale
ABV: 9.0%
Sight: I pour this brew out abruptly, trying to stir up a little residue from the bottom of yeast...to no avail. No head formed at all, but the body's color is a nearly crytal clear bright golden-yellow with a nice playful carbonation rising from the bottom.
Aroma: Sweetness of the malts comes through strong, almost candied fruit. Yeast reminants poke through also on the deeper inhale. I think this nose is friendly and inviting.
Taste: I'm getting sweet grains and yeast intensely in the beginning, then fruits and alcohol pummel the front tastes and take over. Biscuity towards the finish, staying pleasant and clean.
Overall: Balance and mellowness describe this brew best...the fruitiness and malt balance well, while trying to allow some yeast notes to strike through. Mouthfeel is lighter-to-medium while there is a chilled out aftertaste that is slightly sour and tingly at the same time. I am so happy I grabbed this brew while in Colorado, well worth it.
Score: 8.5/10
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Friday, December 17, 2010
Rogue Ales - Yellow Snow IPA Review
Brewery: Rogue Ales.
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Sight: It pours a tranlucent golden-orange with plenty of bubbly carbonation rising from the base to the top. The head comes out slow, but gains momentum and ends up almost an inch thick...whipped egg-white, white. There is great lacing and a thin film covering the surface.
Aroma: Malt and fruit notes emanate upfront, intermingle nicely. Midpoint is where some traditional hop characteristics start to present themselves. Floral, earthy, biting are all there until the end of the sniff.
Taste: Sweet malts dominant in the foreground, then hops of grapefruit bitters fight through and hold strong til the end where there is a flash of light alcohol tingles.
Overall: Not really "Yellow" as the name would imply...more orange. Still a quality IPA though. Nice malt base character with highlights of pleasant hoppy bitter. Medium mouthfeel of a slight creaminess, with a strong, but not overbearing hop bitter.
Score: 8.2/10
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Friday, December 10, 2010
Stone Brewing Co. - Lucky Bastard Review
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Type: American Strong Ale
Sight: This brew pours a nice dark brunette-red that is completely see-thru. The head pours creamy-beige, and fills a 1/4" or so tall, reducing to a ultra-thin film on top.
Aroma: Re-diculous floral notes punch you right in the nose with the first inhale. Some pine and citrus essence of grapefruit, and/or orange overwhelm the backbone of sweet caramel malts.
Taste: There is a nice roasted malt leading things off with an awesome hop bitter breaking through. Hints of toffee ride through, and brings on the citrus that lends to a mild sour bite on the back of the tongue. The 8.5% alcohol is hidden well.
Overall: I had the privelige of trying this beer before the general public, while at the Beer Bloggers Conference this year, and couldn't wait to get it again to do a write up on it. The mouthfeel is medium, with an ever so slight creaminess that lends to a nice friendly bitter-sour that hangs for awhile on the back of the tongue.
Score: 9.1/10
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Friday December 3, 2010
Stillwater Artisanal Ales - Cellar Door Review
Brewery: Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Type: American Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 6.6%
Sight: Nearly clear, a little foggy, and plenty of carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass to the beautiful bright-white head. That head(an inch tall) is, at first, egg-beaten fluffy, then lends a creamy 1/4 inch cap on the surface.
Aroma: Grains dominate with fresh-fields air flowing from the glass. Light malt and mellow citrus come through...possible lemon. Grass, yeast, and a slight hint of alcohol close out the nose.
Taste: Sweet citrus of tangerine or orange are carried beneath the creamy and light malt notes. Virtually no bitterness or dry from the hops at all. A pleasant earthy flavor comes next to add a touch of spice to the mix, helping it finish clean.
Overall: Superb in all aspects, clean, refreshing, flavorful...can't ask for much more. Mouthfeel is light to medium with some creaminess, and a very light aftertaste.
Score: 9/10
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Friday, Novenber 26, 2010
Santa Fe Brewing Co. - Chicken Killer Review
Brewery: Santa Fe Brewing Co.
Type: Barley Wine
ABV: 10%
Sight: A nice auburn-brown elixer is what pours from the bottle. A thin bubbly white head of roughly a 1/4 inch lands on top, then disappears quickly leaving nearly nothing on the surface.
Aroma: Sweetness of dark-fruit fill the glass with a subtle alcohol tingle following. Smells are strong up front but trail a little as it warms.
Taste: Warmth of alcohol is definitely there, then the sweeteners start pushing through. Plum, cherries, and raisin blend well with the mild dark-malt body. There is a very light bitter near the end.
Overall: I don't drink to many Barley Wines, because i'm usually not the type to dig tremendous over-the-top alcohol taste in my drinks. Maybe this is why I really have now dyer need to try the High ABV Beers from Brewdog. I did grab this while in Colorado for the Beer Bloggers Conference 2010(I can't get it here in Maryland). I did enjoy it though, the body is medium with nice sweetness and nearly no aftertaste.
Score: 8.6/10
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Monday, November 15, 2010
New Belgium Brewing Co. - Fat Tire Amber Ale Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
Type: Amber Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Sight: This brew pours almost perfect from the bottle. Crystal clear golden-orange with hints of red in the correct light. The head is fluffy-bubbly of a bright white color that built to about an inch before leaving a nice film on the surface.
Aroma: A nice malt nose fills the glass appropriately with sweet notes of caramel. There is a touch of alcohol that finishes this nicely.
Taste: Light bisquity-malt fronts the brew with a good representation of dry and a very subtle hint of bitter. Well balanced and very drikable for me. The way the sweetness of the malt hits with the light-hop character is a very good 1-2 punch.
Overall: I have waited a long time to get my hands on any of the beers from New Belgium, and finally was able to do so at the inaugural Beer Bloggers Conference in Boulder a few weeks ago. I can definitely say I wasn't disappointed with the beers I tried from them while out there. The Fat Tire is a great example of brewing simple, while still getting great results. A mouthfeel that is light to maybe medium, that lends to a very mild aftertaste that reminds you to come back again, and again, for more.
Score: 9.0/10
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Friday, Novenber 19, 2010
New Belgium Brewing Co. - Ranger IPA Review
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co.
Type: Indaia Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Sight: It pours a nice gold, with hints of orange and the occasional red peeking through in the right light. The head comes out full, of a whipped egg-white consistency, and retains nicely, coating the inside of the glass the whole way down.
Aroma: Smells fill the glass crazily and seep out from within good. Citrus of orange, grapefruit and lemon are intermingled with earthy notes of pine and grass.
Taste: The first tongue touch gives me an intense, malty-pine flavor that is creamy swishing around in my mouth. A little bit of the citrus tries to overcome the earthiness, but underwhelms. The finish leaves a slight taste of alcohol, as well as a malty-sour on the sides of the cheeks.
Overall: I couldn't wait to try this offering from Colorado's New Belgium. I hear so many good things from the blogging community about the brewery that I have high expectations for the beers they offer. I've finally had Fat Tire which was good, and a Brown-Sour Ale called La Folie was the best sour I've ever had...So Good. The mouthfeel of this brew was medium and creamy, and left an aftertaste of the earthiness and malt.Not Great but not bad either.
Score: 8.2/10
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