Rating: 4.5/5

Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout 2012 by Widmer Brothers is an Imperial Russian stout at 9.3%ABV brewed with raspberries. I will admit, I was intrigued by the Raspberry and chocolate aspect of it. The beer actually has some good sweet flavors but then are covered by the bitterness. Reminds me of Old Rasputin if it was sweeter with a little bit of Lidemand’s Raspberry Framboise. This beer has roasty dark chocolate and coffee notes as most stouts go. Raspberry, black berry, currants, earthy, grassy, piny and hoppy bitterness. The alcohol is felt throughout as well. This would go awesome on a Beer Float I am sure 😛

Rating: 4/5

Norse Legend by Sam Adams, is a Sahti ale at 7% ABV. Sahti is a special style of Farmhouse beer as made in Finland. Brewed mainly in barley, rye, wheat and oats with fermented bread and Juniper berries for flavoring. This particular brew is said to be brewed in the style as was famous in the times of the vikings. It was brewed by women in the 1500s and it is a style that succeeded eve

Rating: 5/5

Saison du Buff, this is the Dogfish head bottled version of the beer. Last year I tried the Stone bottled one. Reminicent of the Eschatological BPA but not as strong. More sweeter and rose like though. 6.8% ABV and still the awesome estery and delicious flowery saison I remember. Breweed with Sage, Thyme, Rosemary and Parsley herbs and spices. No more words needed. The below is enough to cover my feelings toward this beer Xd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en_hZnsI-98Watch the trailer XD2011 Review:
DAMN!!!! I just got my ass kicked with flavor. This here be Saison du BUFF. ( Beer United for Freedom of Flavor). Brewed by the Greats as DogFish, Stone, and Victory brewing. This farmhouse ale is quite different. Yes you have you delicious wild yeast flavor in there but what if you took that wild yeast and tamed it, domesticated it and raised it like a good little yeast should be. Then you have this insanity of flowery flavorful concoction only known as the Saison Du BUFF collaboration brew. You get flavors of sweet citrus with apples, herbs from parsley, rosemary, thyme and sage. Just ridiculous amount of never tasted before flavors on my part. It truly is hard to describe as the only thing that may come close is the Still water artisan Stateside Farm House ale, but even then, that is only a small portion of the flavor I get from this beer. Dogfish added sweetness, Stone’s bitterness, and Victory’s complexity. I think mainly the reason why it is so good has to do because this beer tries to imitate a fancy meal at that :P. As time I got one was with Stone’s 15th anniversary Escondidian Black Imperial IPA which was like an Italian meal. No joke, that was very delicious. The sweetness of this beer would also make it a meal and dessert as well. LOL and unlike Wild yeast, it really isn’t sour at all :O which is extremely surprising for a farm house ale. Definitely a ride of experience worth the trying. I would EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU FIND THIS!!….I had a hard time finding it myself

Rating: 3.75/5

Staropramen Prague is a 5.0% ABV Czech Pilsner by Pivovar Staropramen Praské Pivovary. The guy at the BevMo recommended this one. Pilsners are common in most lagers but this one is different. A floral sweet beer. It has this faint Heinneken taste but with way more flavor. Taste of grass, lemon, pepper, spices and a little bit of bread. Not bad at all :P. Even for a green bottle, this is good stuff. The Czechs practically invented Pilsners so there is no reason why their beer isn’t awesome

Rating: 3/5

Shock Top Belgian White by Anheuser-Busch is 5.2% ABV beer. This is very common beer. I don’t often review common beers, but I was requested by a friend to do a beer review. So here it is. In terms of wheat beers, this one is brewed with coriander and citrus peels. Most people have this with a lime or orange. The flavor is decent. I would prefer other Belgian Whites over this one but when you have no other alternative when you go to the store or a restaurant then this will please the taste. I will say this, this beer is better on tap then in a bottle. The sediment doesn’t always mix all the way with the beer when poured out of the bottle so it is best to get it well mixed in there. The orange citrus is there with a little bit of grainy feel but it finishes dry. So it definitely makes you want to try some more. It is refreshing and sweet for sure but not as sweet as Blue Moon’s flavor. This is one was a beer of choice for me when I first started exploring different beers several years ago. So what if it has A-B on it, I am pretty open for a lot of beers 🙂

Rating: 3.5/5

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat at 5.3% ABV is light wheat ale that drinks more like a lager. Brewed with Real cherries so I assume the cherry flavor is natural. This was a freebie that was given to me by the local liquor shop guy. At first taste there is an immediate cherry cereal and bread component too it with like a pilsner and minor bitter aftertaste. Easy to drink and refreshing. There is some minor tangy and citrus flavors as well. Some minor darker and sour fruit flavor is there but very faint. The flavors end up dry so you can sip some more. 

Overall a decent beer. Cherry flavor and bread but not too complex. Just right for some minor flavors and not an overwhelming rush

RATING: 4.5/5

8-bit Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV is an APA by Tallgrass Brewing of Kansas. This beer is grassy but not super bitter. A Hop head treat. Who knew one day some people who grew up with the Nintendo would one day enjoy a beer and some old school NES games. This beer is made Galaxy hops so it taste grassy but there is some sweetness to this beer for sure. Almost like a cantaloupe and a mango combined and add a little bit of orange, pineapple and lime. The beer is quite refreshing and has some biscuit bread sweet flavor to it that makes it very unique. Almost like Fat Tire except for the caramel and chocolate. Replace that with some fruit, pine and some minor sweet bread. The flavor dissipates after a while but it makes you want to try a little more. Kinda hard to find out here in West Coast so you may have to find it online or have someone help you get it :P. If I was a kid and I was allowed to drink and play SMB for NES then I would imagine it would be something like this. Quite the little can indeed. It may not be up to the standard of an IPA but the added bready and fruity flavors make up for this retro experience.

Tart Lychee by New Belgium is a 7.5% ABV sweet and sour Wild Ale. The ale consists of 56% ale aged in oak and 44% ale brewed with Lychee and cinnamon. Quite the interesting combination here. There is a good amount funky sour notes but not the level of Jolly Pumpkin. For people that do not like sour ales this may be good as sourness is not super overwhelming. It’s tart but not super sour. The Lychee fruit is one of those rare fruit you find on certain occasions. They come in this red and brown spiky skin with a white inner sweet edible fruit that looks like a white grape with a seed in the middle. This adds this almost raspberry and grape flavor to the beer. There is some apple and mango notes but hard to make out . The sourness is almost like a wine and grapefruit type of sourness, almost lime in a way. The Ceylon Cinnamon adds a nice balance and spice to it in the aftertaste. All the flavors combined sure hide the alcohol 

Rambler Ale is a Belgian-Style Blonde by Adelbert’s Brewery of Austin Texas. This is a local brew that was traded to me by my friend from Austin, Matt. More than likely unless I look hard I probably won’t find it here in California. So to try this is a very rare opportunity and I am thankful to Matt for sending this one my way. Cheers dude :)!! 

According to the label, the brewery was made in tribute to George Adelbert Hovey which was the founder’s brother. George took it upon himself to work well with everyone he met and took consideration of other peoples welfare over his own. If the same values that are placed into the small brewery business are similarly placed onto the brewers that make these beers, then I know for sure this has got to be one carefully crafted and quality beer. Which is one of the best things about craft beer, you choose what to drink and you know that what you drink actually is made with a lot of care. 

Urkontinent a.ka. “The Google and Dogfish Head Collaboration” is a Dubbel or Double Fermentation Belgian-Style beer at 8% ABV. This ale is brewed with Wattle seed, Amaranth, Rooibos, Myrica Gale and Honey from Google’s private honey bee collection.

===============

Urkontinent is a Belgian-style dubbel that begins with Pilsner, Munich and Chocolate malts and Belgian Dark Candi syrup. 

Le Petite Prince Farmhouse Table Beer at 2.9% by Jester King of Austin is a Farmhouse Saison that was traded to me by founder of http://www.youstayhoppyaustin.com/ and a good college friend of mine. Thank you Matt for this awesome ale sir. This beer, aside from non-alcoholic or low ABV beers like …ummm well …bud light :S …is the lowest yet most delicious beer I have ever had at the lowest of alcohol levels. Forget it.. No Miller/Coors/ AB or even Coronas and Heinekens can stand to this ale in terms of REAL Delicious flavors at the lowest and maybe even dietary levels of servings. Crisp taste and very refreshing saison. Great things do come in small packages. Who knew one could go to the opposite side of the beer spectrum and find some good flavor :P. This beer has flavors of light biscuit bread, pilsner (which is common in some lagers), light banana, light lemon citrus, light honey, faint apple and peach, possibly some cinnamon spice. Truly something one would toast to at a fancy party. Craft Beer beginners or even those that may not like the taste of a regular light lager…do not be afraid to try one. Austin got it right with this masterpiece.

La Trappe Quadrupel Trappist Ale at 10% ABV is a Quadruple fermented ale by Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V. I have always glazed this one over and well, in my mind I was like I should try it one day. So here it is Belgian beer fans :P. The story of the brewery goes:

Since 1884, the monks of Koningshoeven have brewed La Trappe Ales to support themselves. Made with traditional ingredients and age old recipes, La Trappe Ales use the most modern quality-control methods to produce beer that is the perfect marriage of the old and the new. Fermentation takes place using a type of yeast which is most active between 62 F and 68 F. This type of fermentation is called top fermentation.La Trappe Ales are made from carefully selected malts and hops and fermented with a strain of yeast unique to Koningshoeven. Each of the La Trappe Ales bottles is conditioned for a full, complex flavor and long shelf life. Unlike commercially produced, filtered and pasteurized beer, La Trappe Ale can be aged like fine wine. 

Mad Meg Farmhouse provision ale by Jester King is a 9.6% ABV Farmhouse saison ale that was traded to me for some Lost Abbey by my good friend from Austin Texas. Thanks Matt :D!!!! This beer reminds me of a Belgian Pale Ale like the As Follow Eschatological Ale I had a couple of weeks back. The irony how they both talk about hell…lol. Difference from that one is that this one has more sweet orange citrus than bitter grapefruit. The wheat definitely makes it happen here. Some notes of banana clove are in there as well. The beer states about the character breaking the status quo and becoming a bad ass and she will damn you to hell if you get in the way…..simply EPIC!! So what is this beer like? The beer has an awesome sour and bready wine flavor from wild yeast but it also combines well with bitter grassy and pine hops and the orange wheat flavors. It is a Belgian Hoppy saison that leans toward a German Hoppy saison. Leaves with like and apple and peach after taste that lingers for a while. Rich and creamy as well. Surely this came from the depths of hell..straight into the Jester King recipes to become well….fucking delicious!! Saison and Belgian beer lovers, if you can find this one then pick it up. This is brand new stuff from Jester King of Austin…

Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale at 9% is a stronger version of the awesome Dead Guy ale. This is the second time I try this beer. As stated for the other Rogue ales, they always list the ingredients. Different variety of malts and hops than the original dead guy but really close but stronger as the pacman yeast does make the awesome difference in these fine beers. The flavors are of honey and caramel bread with peach, pine, grapefruit, vanilla and minor chocolate. You can tell this is strong as it hits you good if you drink to fast. It is the opposite of zombies…in this case if your too fast they will eat your brains (alcohol in the system). Then you will be the walking dead too. So remember like any other craft brew, it is meant to savor, not chug….

This is Double Dread Imperial Read Ale at 8.6% ABV by Mad River Brewing. Damn good amber ale right off the bat. Caramel and minor chocolate malt flavors. Decent amount of hops gives a minor grassy bitterness. Minor citrus with honey and caramel overwhelming the palette. Almost bready like Fat Tire but a little bit the biscuit bread and more focused on the malty sweetness with also smokey bitterness. There is also some nice fruit flavors like peach, raspberry and some minor banana. Aftertaste is like I ate some peanuts. It is quite pleasing as it will probably go good with some bar peanuts. Amber ales is not something that is my most favorite of beer styles like my friend Jorge, but this Amber ales very fucking good. I am quite surprised. Double Dragons aside, this is one of those beers that you know will be very good. The best part is it covers up the extra booze feel. Also even though it is full bodied, it drinks very nicely :P. Amber Ale fans, get this one!!! 😀

Wee Heavy by Samuel Adams is 10% ABV Scotch Ale. This is the second time I try this beer. It is a beer that is dark and sweet but not so bitter. Flavors of smokey chocolate, vanilla, caramel, coffee, cherries, peach and dark fruits like raisins. While the beer is flavorful and masks some of the alcohol, there is enough in there that flows through to feel almost like liquor. I guess Wee Heavy is the name as this beer has to be sipped and enjoyed leisurely. Syrupy feel but in a good way :P. A dessert beer that drinks closer to a wine. I am sure it goes well with a good steak or fish. It is not bready like other dark beers but that’s what makes this one different. This is a beer that comes in a 4 pack and well it was one that is worth saving for a good day. Easily a favorite of mine without the bull of long explanations :P!!

Pliny the Elder at 8% ABV by Russian River is famed to be 3rd best Imperial India Pale Ale in the world…yet somewhat easy to find…if you know where to look. Okay, I got this at Ramirez liquor in East L.A. This is the second time I try this beer and while I admit it is a pretty damn good beer and well..world class… I won’t say a lot to go along with the hype except what is best…. I hope…lol. One of the reasons I think hop heads like this beer so much is because the usual IPA flavors or citrus, grass, grapefruit and pine concentrate more towards the more grassy and herbal flavor. This beer smells like weed. LOL and has this oregano flavor. I don’t know if the true Pliny the Elder took any pot….LOL. According to the label:

Wells & Young’s Banana Bread Beer at 5.2% ABV is an English Banana Brown Ales. Paying tribute to liquid bread beers all over the world. This beer is fermented with malts, hops and spices and fair trade bananas. The flavors of which taste like banana nut bread and light caramel buiscuit. This is the second time I grab this beer and just like a remember it. Refreshing, not too strong, easy to drink, creamy and overall fruity sweet with nutty bitterness. The aftertaste is a lot like you had a bowl of cereal with bananas and then some tangy citrus. LOL Breakfast. This beer is mainly a dessert beer and will probably go well with other desserts, foods or beer mixes. Not too complex but just an overall decent beer for anyone that loves sweet beers.

Double Jack Double IPA by Firestone Walker is a 9.5% Imperial/Double IPA. The mega deuce of citrus. So I have had a lot of different IPAs in the past. Some only quite the difference in flavors as others. So what makes this IPA well, different than others? Well that is the challenge about tasting these beers. You run into issues where stuff starts to taste very similarly as the others and you try to find what is different from the others to at least be like…this kicks as because…such and such. So let’s see, lets start off with the basics. It definitely has the citrus, grapefruit, piney and grassy taste. This is the second time I try this beer so let’s see. I have no idea what blue basil is as stated in on the description of the beer. There is this minty herbal taste to it though as well as the sweet tangerine, vanilla, and caramel. This combinations is probably what masks the alcohol well in this IPA. Sure sweeter and fruity as well as fragrant than most IPAs

Hoptober Golden Ale by New Belgium brewing is a 6.00% ABV blonde ale. Brewed with 5 hops and 4 malts. Pale, wheat, rye and oat malts blend with centennial, cascade, Sterling, Willamette and Glacier hops. This bring about interesting flavors. Smells a little like a pale ale but the flavors are way different. The mix of hops and malts in this particular beer taste like sweet peach up front and sugar coated honey biscuit bread after taste. Has this Malibu Rum and Coconut flavor to it as well but more bitter than super sweet. Bitter citrus and pine is there through out the taste but not as harsh as an IPA or grassy as a APA. The odd combination sure does gives all sorts of flavors. A nice sweet and bitter, creamy beer. Refreshing and just enough to make you want a little more. Not the usual blonde or pale for that matter, but something well…a little different. Find this one in six packs or unless you find the specialty store and buy one just to try it.

New Belgium’s Trippel is a Triple Fermentation style Belgian beer. NB brews it with Coriander spice at 7.8% ABV. Got this as a freebie as I was on my way out from the usual place I grab goods. Maybe not as mysterious as many I have tired before but an ale with coriander sounds a lot like a heff. However because its in the Belgian triple style, well it leans more to a bready orange like heff. Needless today, while it is not as full bodied as most trippels or Belgian ales, it sure is good and full of flavor. I would almost say it is like a light Trippel. The beer has bready banana, citrus and caramel flavors. Very sweet indeed and doesn’t pack a wallop. These beers normally come in 6 packs as they are easier to drink and full of flavor. Refreshing beer suitable for those who want to start off small and into the world of craft beers 😛

Watch what you say, The seas are not forgiving. Even in the calm, storms will brew and you will be at the mercy of its bitterness. A rare beer I thought did not exist. I only knew about it from a label I once saw but never seen it even all last year. Digging for treasure sure paid off but it cost me my tongue. Oh how the double edge sword is a curse of Davey Jones. For amongst the deep some will find this… Tongue Buckler Imperial Red Ale at 10%ABV by Ballast Point. A ton of malts and hops to sear the tongue off. Bitterness is not the only quality of the beer but caramel malty goodness as well. Think of it as Fat Tire on Steroids. Caramel, pine, citrus, vanilla, apples, Sangria (wine punch), butterscotch, cherry and grape. Very tropical and cherry aftertaste for an aggressive hoppy beer. It all makes sense now. How one has to have an open mind for opportunities and exploration to be able to find something rare and delicious. Look for this one in Bevmo in Torrance. This won’t be out for long. Funny thing was I found this one by accident. Must have been a lucky day…so why don’t you set sail and see what other seas and treasures of flavors you find? Sure you may sacrifice your tongue at first, but unless your willing to find something that works, you will never know what it could be like to swim in the harshest of storms… They will be waiting….

It’s finally here, the Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2012 Release at 10.5% ABV. A couple of weeks back I reviewed the Belgo Anise version. It has been well over a year since I last tried this beer. So I figured might as well talk a bit about it. The beer is very dark and viscous. Just like my previous review of the Belgo Anise it does not stray from good yet evil like ingredients as provided by Stones great beers. This beers is not as minty chocolate as the Belgo Anise is but it leans toward another type of fruit flavor. Dark currant berries, figs, vanilla, caramel, chocolate and coffee bread/cake flavors blend to make a beer only fit for the Russian Kings. There is this other flavor I cannot pin point that feels like the cocoa mole beer I had the other day as well. Except for the Champurado and Chile feel. I am thinking it must be the anise which gives the licorice flavor but not to the awesome extent of the Belgo Anise, but just enough to know something is there. It is pretty cold in Russia so having this definitely provides that warm feeling. Either this or Vodka..lol. One thing to note about this beer and the mysteries it holds is that the 2012 version is heavier and sweeter. Sipping this is a must. It is not as bitter as the previous year and feels more sweeter than the 13th Anniversary Bottleworks one I had the other day. I would get this beer over that one…depending on the mood I am in ofcourse (Smokey Sweet vs Smokey Bitter). Stout and sweet beer lovers, pick this up while supplies last :). I got this at Bevmo in Torrance.

Raging Bitch, Belgian Style India Pale Ale at 8.3% brewed by Flying Dog brewing is one interesting little SOB. They say that when a woman is on her period, it is best to stay away. Then again even when not or even when she is mad and you don’t know why, it is probably best to let it have it her way. Just accept the masculine inevitability of defeat. As for women reading this, praise to you for we men cannot fully comprehend your ways and are sometimes at your mercy. We will try not to mess up the next time if we did wrong this time…LOL. The beer looks like it tastes…Sweet with bitter aftertaste. Caramel bread with citrus, pine and grassy hops. Some spicy and herbal notes are there as well. Some minor banana and orange but not enough to take away from the IPA essence. Sip carefully as she likes to be treated with great care. Unless you want to feel the ultimate rage. This is the second time I try this beer. For those who like Belgium and Hoppy beers, this fusion is pretty awesome. It is not as thick as a Belgian but it is crisp and refreshing.

The End is near. What you face here is the beginning of the end. If you thought you were a bad ass before, well forget it. The end comes to those whose time is up. If it really is true about the whole 2012 deal then this is what this ale is all about. Even if it doesn’t happen, there is always a free for all between who is gonna keep your soul. Only chance you got is how you lead your life. Whether God or the Devil…who will be the higher bidder?…If you believe that stuff of course..meaning you either go to heaven or hell and all. As Follows by definition as stated in the bottle means

Lost Dog Rum barrel aged Imperial porter is a collaboration between 2 of my favorite breweries. The Lost Abbey and BrewDog. The beer stands at a whopping 11.5% ABV. Little bottle with an entire world of flavor. A rare beer indeed as it was very hard to find :/. The legend of the lost dog as stated in the label begins with 
=========
a mystical brewers ship traversing across the Atlantic carrying precious cargo of hops and malts. Swash buckling their way on the curled claws of giant waves were the brewing pirates from the Lost Abbey on a treacherous sortie to conspire with their Scottish comrades in arms. A conspiracy against the tyranny of insufferable ‘gold beers’ the colour of sunken doubloons. An Imperial porter was said to be brewed and committed to the ocean in a blaze of fury. Lost Dog was buried into a seemingly eternal deep sleep in rum casks so encapsulating, they vowed never to set the beer. Except for the few bottles that mysteriously washed up along the shores of Scotland. Bottles that – to this day – are said to been brewed by the Atlantic Ocean itself. And so the Legend goes of the Lost Dog.

Theobroma by Dogfish Head is Mayan and Aztec history in a bottle. A tribute to my ancestors. This is a 9% ABV chile beer. Brewed with natural honey, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, ancho chiles and grounded annatto. Brewers notes state:
=========================
Theobroma or “food of the gods” is a recreation of the premier chocolate beverage of the Americas which was intended for the gods, kings and the elite. This liquid time capsule is based on the earliest chemical and archeological evidence of cacao in the New World, dating 1100 B.C and enhanced by natural additives of the later Mayan and Aztec drinks. 

Stone India Pale Ale. The initial signature of IPAs, a pre-Ruination if you will. This beer stands at 6.9% ABV alcohol. I have tried this beer, well…countless times….why haven’t I wrote about it? Well I’ll admit, because Ruination is a little more my type :P. Why start with the trailer, when I can just go for the whole movie. Not to say that this beer is not up to par. Quite the contrary actually. This beer is world class just like its massive brethren. To put it in a sense some people can understand. It is like playing 8bit Megaman vs. 16bit Megaman X. Okay sorry that made no sense…I guess it is more like saying you prefer a light beer vs. a stronger beer. The light one is quick and refreshing while the strong one you take your time with and more complex in flavor. Not to say that this is a light beer. It is not….but for those who have graduated in much experience in flavors would say that this is the minimum requirement. Such a great beer can only relish in the taste buds of the worthy. As for the flavor. It is in perfect harmony. Hops and alcohol are balanced to provide the citrus,pine,grass and grapefruit flavors of IPA allowing other flavors to go through without overwhelming the palette. Flavors such as caramel, mango and kiwi are very minor but the difference as opposed to other IPAs is there. Not the Ruination of beers, but if I had to pick an IPA over others (unless they have Sculpin) I would pick this one.

XS Imperial Stout 2011 edition by Rogue brewing is a strong Russian style imperial stout at 11% ABV. One of the best things about this brewery (aside from their awesome Dead Guy Ale) is that they always tell you whats inside the bottle. No frills, no preservatives, just awesome awesome flavor of beer. Theres some minor hoppy fragrance in there. This beer is very creamy. Almost like drinking a thick cup of expresso with chocolate. Not too sweet but the dark chocolate. Made with that awesome pacman yeast with gives it a caramel bread taste to it. So basically like dark chocolate coffee cake. Pairs great with desserts and I am sure other good meals. Some raisin, plum and figs are noted in there which is one of the reasons is not too coffee bitter but just right. I have had a lot of different stouts but this one is not the average kind of stout and can hold its own greatly. Poured into a ceramic bottle for later storing or possibly aging. What does the XS in XS Imperial Stout mean? Not too sure but they sure did their homework with providing a push of extra ordinary flavors. How does this compare to Serpents stout? Well this one is more caramel bread tasting where the other one is more bourbon. Kinda hard to decide but I like Serpent’s stout for the extra kick while this one I like for the extra sweetness. By the way, good luck finding this… they had more XS Imperial IPAs than the stouts…maybe I will try the IPA one next 😛

Hangar 24 Double IPA is brewed at 9% ABV. The second time I try some of Hangar 24’s beers, the first being the Orange Wheat (Thanks to my friend Carlos) which was extremely exceptional with it’s direct orange and corriander flavor. This doible IPA is a delicious hoppy and honey mango IPA. Decided to pick this one up after trying it at the local Buffalo Wild Wings on tap. The usual citrus , pine and grapefruit flavors of an IPA is there. Some more sweeter orange is there. The added alcohol fermentation definetely adds the honey mango bread like flavor. This goes very well with some nice chicken wings. Especially the mango habanero ones ;P. One 22 ounce is enough though, you definitely want to save some alertness for trying other beers :P. Even though the alcohol is very well masked by the delicous flavor…do take caution if driving. Best enjoyed among friends and if possible at a place where you wont have to drive home…lol. Or in this case, fly home, as you will be taking the first boarding pass to the delicious skies of flavor. Enjoy 😛

Samichlaus Bier Helles (Limited Edition) is a doppelbock lagered for 18 months by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg. It is a brew that is only brewed once a year on Dec. 6 ( Why that date? who knows). Most Helles styles of beer are lagered for 10 months where this one goes for 18. This is a special beer as the process of lagering has allowed the ingredients to age as if they were an ale. For many that do not know, the process between making a lager and an ale is the temperature (Cold vs. Hot). So as time goes on, this beer will not go flat as other lagers and instead bloom into more complex fruit flavors. Did I mention this beer sits at 14% ABV? It’s predicessor the Samichlaus Bier original used to be the strongest beer in the world. You have to be very careful if you have this beer as even just a small amount is enough to get one relaxed. Let me tell you about the flavors. Pure caramel raisin syrup. Why is that? well for starters, the sugary caramel of this beer covers up the alcohol extremely well. But the sugary flavor is an attribute of the beer that can be divided into its complexity as a bready, dark fruit, vanilla and somewhat bourbony taste. There seems to be some Barley and Pilsner aftertaste reminiscent of the Stone Guardian in there. This beer just does not carry alot of fizz since it has a good amount of alcohol. However, don’t let that deceive you from picking up this beer. If there is a beer that was made for some type of dessert, then maybe this is it. Sugary sweet/alcohol high beer fans rejoice B-P…

Grande Reserve 17 from Unibroue, The makers of the legendary Trois Pistoles, makes their entrance with their 17th anniversary ale at 10%alc/vol. It is an Belgian Dark Ale on Lees aged with French Oak and spices. Made in 2007 and released in 2011, inspired by the brewing tradition of the Trappist monks of Belgium. It has been awarded the prestigious title of “World’s Best Dark Ale” as well as winning 3 platinum medals since that time. Because it’s rarity it has only been brought back for a limited time and it is a specialty brew of beer enthusiast. Can be aged up to 5 to 8 years just like a good french wine. Because Oxygen is a mortal enemy of this beer, yeast is added to the bottle to trigger the natural fermentation and creating CO2 and alcohol to act as a natural preservative and giving it an aging characteristics :P. It has flavors or cocoa, mocha, honey, apples, dates, dark fruits like figs and raisins and well…alot of oak flavor. It feels like drinking it straight from the barrel as it has that sharp oak dryness but almost like a corriander heffeweizen feel. Some vanilla and caramel are left in the after taste. There are other flavors of the Terrible and Troise Pistoles in there. Would I say it is better than Terrible and Trois Pistoles? well it sure is up there and introduces a new range of “oak wine” I have nor tasted before. Certainly it can be at the top as world class. LOL the only problem is that I have run out of beers to keep in my top 10 and have had to extended into my top 20. Which is not a bad thing, just trying different ones is just part of the hobby of exploration of art, taste and experience. The ever lasting expansion into the unknown.

Albino Python by Coney Island is a white lager brewed with spices. This is the second time I pick up this beer and needless to say, it is a great beer. Mainly because it is a lager at (6.0%) which means unlike an ale, is fermented in cold temperatures rather than warm temperatures. This allows the brewers to take more control over certain flavors during the brewing process. This beer adds ginger, fennel and orange peels. The result is more of a Wit lager. It has those Belgian White, Coriander spice flavors but with more of a caramel pilsner malt light taste as well as some piney and citrus. Amazing how this brewery can brew beers in lager form and provide something that is well, rich in flavor, and very, very refreshing :P.

Mutiny & the Mollusk, a 5.6% ABV collaborative brew by Three Floyds and Half Acre.I have never had a chance to try half acre brewing beers but this is close. I hear they make good beers. This is an English style stout made with roasted coffee/chocolate malts and to add a touch of something special to the sea of flavors that this beer provides, it is brewed with Oyster sauce and shells. There’s no weird stuff floating in there just so you know ;). Along with the roasted smokey flavors, there is some minor salty essence. Reminds me of a time I ate mussels in their juices in Mexico. A dark soup with alot of lemon and hot sauce. I am a huge fan of Oysters so this doesn’t really bother me. Some oats and grains reminiscent of some of the English stouts I tried before with a nice dry finish. Dry as in the flavors don’t last and makes you want to try some more. This is perfect for fans that would like to enjoy a nice smokey beers low in alcohol. Just be careful when in the sea of flavors…sometimes you may find something very unexpected ….hopefully in a good way.

Birra Artigianale Draco by Birrificio Montegioco of Italy is a Strong Dark Belgian ale. It is a Beertilla Ale Ale brewed with blueberries at 11% alc/vol. This beer is freakin’ sweet!!!. Blueberry muffin dipped in bourbon. Simple as that. this is my second try at a Belgian style beer from Italy. Nice brown and murky magic in appearance. There was some initial tart feel like some of the sour Jolly pumpkin ales I have tried but this one was sweet. It must be from the yeast strain and the aged blueberries that gives it this semi sweet and very low sour taste to it. It feels like Angel Share but with more fruity flavor covering up the alcohol. In short, flavors of blueberries, bread, bourbon, honey, caramel, faint aged apples, cherries, port wine and plums. You don’t really feel the alcohol which is surprising for 11% ABV and well it goes down well. I think this is why it is hard to find but a Belgian Beer enthusiast delight regardless. Dragons are legendary, stories of fairy tale, but trust me they do exist and the magic brew they make is friggin’ awesome!! If you ever spot one like this…take it…it really is a nice magic potion….

Black Perle by RJ Rockers Brewing is a Dark Ninety Minute Octo-Hopped IPA. It sits at 9.5% ABV. This ale has a good story from the Label:
============
In the late 17th century the Honourable East India Company lost one of its ships on a return voyage from the Indies. The flagship, The Harvester, was attacked by malay pirates and sank beneath the swells into darkness. It is said that The Harvester was carrying a strange and wondrous cargo known to the company as Black Perle. This once lost treasure has now risen from the depths allowing the world to discover its mystery

Delirium Tremens by Brouwerij Huyghe is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale with 8.5% ABV. This is the second time I get to try this beer. The beer is pretty good. It comes in a completely sealed bottle that almost looks ceramic. This allows the beer to age well and not allow any light. With flavors of biscuit bread, pears, honey, apples, bananas, mango, peach, minor bitter hoppy pine flavor. The best part is that since beer is so fruity and bready flavored, it masks the alcohol very well. Not sure why they would name it after the disorder dealing with alcohol withdrawal  They probably figure that this beer was so good you cannot get enough of it. A deficiency in this fine Belgian is enough for those to go insane. Although drinking too much beer (or consuming/doing anything excessively for that matter) is not a good idea. Everything with moderation. I like to try beers one bottle per every other day or day. Like a fine wine, they say beer at 16oz a day or every other is actually beneficial. Not only is it in moderation but also keeps you from getting this crazy disorder. Unfortunately  those that have 7-8 pints of beer or alot of liquor for a month may find this disorder. As for me, moderation is key as it should be for you :). Anyways, this is a very fine high class beer that should definitely be tried by the many Belgian Beer enthusiasts.

Lost & Found from the Lost Abbey is 8.0% ABV Dubbel brewed in the monotheistic style as made in the Abbeys of Belgium. This ale is brewed raisins and rich malt and bready yeast. The beer is actually in dedication to the stuff that is lost in translation from the stuff that we read to even that of what is percieved. Nothing if not everything is what it seems but maybe even though it is lost, the conclusion found maybe all that is important. The Label explains: