Double Barrel Ale by Firestone Walker

January 25, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Amber Ale, american oak barrels, black tea, DBA, Double Barrel Ale, English, English Pale Ale, Firestone Walker, flavor profile, Kos-MOS, Megaman X, MMX, Pale Ale, Rockman X, Xenosaga | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Double Barrel Ale by Firestone Walker is a 5% ABV British Pale Ale.

Description:
Our patented Firestone Union uniquely incorporates 60-gallon American oak barrels into the fermentation process that yields beers of extraordinary character and complexity. This system improves the fullness of the palate, balances hop character and lends a clean briskness to the finish. The influence of the toasted oak also imparts unique hints of smokiness and vanilla, as well as a subtle fruitiness to the flavor profile.
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Aromas are of mild citrus, grassy and earthy hops, biscuit, caramel, butterscotch, and a slight smoke or campfire oak. The flavors of this beer are of caramel, anise, slight grapefruit hops, slightly citrusy, earthy, smokey, oak, toasted bread and black tea. I think this beer speaks better in the taste than its fragrance. Not quite as nutty as an amber ale but leans more towards an amber ale that is lightly oaked and smoked. For a beer that is 5% ABV, way better than an average lager. Definitely above average beer with some great flavors to keep stuff interesting. Served all year long.

Samaranth Quadrium Ale by De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel)

January 22, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged belgian beers, Belgium, De Leyerth Brouwerijen, Quad, Quadrium Ale, Quadrupel, quadruple, Samaranth, Samaranth 12, Urthel | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.9/5

Samaranth Quadrium Ale by De Leyerth Brouwerijen (Urthel) is an 11% ABV Quadrupel Ale

Label:
Urthel Samaranth 12 Quadrium Ale is a malty, full-bodied special Ale, brewed in a way that only Belgian Brewers can. Huge mouthfeel and layers and levels of flavor make Urthel Samaranth the perfect beer for the end of a meal or at the finish of a special day. And when you want something different, Urthel Samaranth 12 Quadrium Ale is with its fine bitterness, definitely something different… Try it! First brewed at Van Steenberge, now brewed at Koningshoeven – La Trappe brewery.
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I was recommended this beer by a friend advising that it was pretty awesome. In fact, seems like most things from Belgium are very awesome. So I decided to give it a shot. This one however is actually brewed in the Netherlands for The Leyerth, Ruiselede, Flanders, Belgium. The fragrance starts off with caramel, candied sugars, raisins, grapes, oak, slight boozyness, and some sweet bread. Upon trying it I noticed a good amount of rich dulce de leche caramel and raisin bread pudding, toffee, walnuts, cinnamon, apples, plums, grapes, bananas, nutmeg, cloves and a little bit of that yeast phenol . The aftertaste is almost like yogurt trail mix with a slight boozyness. The alcohol is mildly present in the taste but does not take away from the sweet overall flavors of the beer. It is a great beer if you can find it. 😛

Starfish by Fish Brewing

January 22, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged barley wine, fish brewing, Imperial Amber Ale, Imperial Red Ale, roasted peanuts, Starfish, T-elos, west coast style, Xenosaga | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

Starfish by Fish Brewing is a 7.5% ABV Imperial Red/Amber Ale. This is part of their Reel Ales Series.

Description:
Born in Head Brewer Tony Powell’s home brewery, this West Coast Style Imperial Red Ale is a hearty celebration of the brewing art. Almost welcoming you, four hops impart floral, citrus and sprucy Northwest notes to open the festivities. Then, seven malts and flaked barley dance happily across your palate. In the finish Starfish waves a crisply fond farewell. Convivially forthright without cloying agendas, Starfish is like time well spent with your future best friend.
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Aromas of this red ale are of grassy hops, grapefruit, caramel, toffee, biscuits, roasted nuts, honey and butterscotch. The flavors are of honey, barley wine almost, caramel, toffee, biscuit bread, slightly bitter grassy pine, earthy and grapefruit hops, citrus, orange, roasted peanuts, almonds and a bit of buttery biscuit. The after taste remains sweet and malty through and through. A pretty good amber ale.

5 Golden Rings by The Bruery

January 22, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged 12 Beers of Christmas, 5 Golden Rings, Golden Ale, pale ales, pepper corns, pineapple juice, Spices, The Bruery, Twelve Beers of Christmas | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

5 Golden Rings by The Bruery is a 11.5% ABV Belgian Strong Golden Ale brewed with Pineapple Juice and Spices

Label:
The fifth verse in our “Twelve Beers of Christmas” saga incorporates sweet, cake-like spice into a rich and robust golden ale. Happy Holidays!
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This is the latest installment to the 12 beers of Christmas. The aromas of the 5 golden rings is reminiscent of some of those special Tripels or special Belgian Pale Ales. This has aromas of pineapple, apples, mango, guavas, apricots, banana cloves, biscuit bread and possibly like a vanilla danish. The flavors are of mango, pineapple, peaches, guavas, oranges, apples, pears, banana cloves, biscuit bread, bit of pepper corns, caramel, honey, vanilla, coriander spice, wheat and cane sugar. The aftertaste is of caramel, banana and more pineapple. Well hidden alcohol. Although it is a pretty sweet beer and I love sweet beers, the hard part is trying to distinguish between what was of flavors created through actual fermentation versus what was added to give it the easily noted flavors. I don’t really mind this at all. In fact I wouldn’t rate the beer this high if I didn’t think it was delicious but just be warned that you will get a great amount of pineapple which was a added versus fermentation created. Either way, great beer worth the try. People that don’t like tangy and sweet beers may not find this one appealing. To each his own I say. Besides, this is meant for aging. It is still too early in the tasting process to see it’s true potential over a several years. I am sure it will blow my mind next time :D.

2 Turtle Doves by The Bruery

January 22, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged 12 Beers of Christmas, 2 turtle doves, belgian beers, cocoa nibs, ginger spice, Panty, Panty & Stocking, Stocking, The Bruery, toasted pecans, Twelve Beers of Christmas | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.2/5

2 Turtle Doves by The Bruery is a 12%ABV Belgian Strong Dark Ale Brewed with Cocoa nibs & Toasted Pecans

Label:
The second verse of our “Twelve Beers of Christmas” saga begins with caramel and toasty, nutty malt with a luscious layer of chocolate. Happy Holidays!
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The 2nd bottle their 12 days of Christmas. As soon as I opened the bottle I got a rush of amazing dark fruit character. Raspberries, cherries, grapes, raisins, plums, cranberries, blue berries, chocolate, cinnamon, ginger spice, hazelnut, dulce de leche caramel and some sweet bread mocha fragrance as well. The flavors are of dark chocolate covered raisins, cherries, slight wine funkyness, dulce de leche caramel, vanilla, oak, coffee, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecan pie, roasted almonds, chocolate mocha, whipped cream and coffee cake. This is a luscious desert in a bottle. I would only have to assume it is to die for when floated with ice cream. I will admit, I almost wanted to chew although it is just liquid ;). The aftertaste is a lot like a caramel, chocolate mocha, whipped cream and coffee. As for the alcohol it does no deter from the drink-ability or the flavor. It is kinda smooth going down for a 12% which is quite unheard of. What really wins for this is the flavor. Just way good. This beer has probably been aging for quite a while and has developed a great amount of complexity. It is freaking delicious.

The Royale Beer #5 by Gigantic Brewing Company

January 18, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged banana bread, Belgian Pale Ale, Bitter Monk, BPA, bpas, edition artist, Eschatological Ale, Gigantic Brewing, The Royale, The Royale Beer #5, yeast bread | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.6/5

The Royale Beer #5 by Gigantic Brewing Company is a 6.3% ABV Belgian Pale Ale. This is the 5th beer in the endless series of limited edition artist and artisan beers. Hooray for Beer and Art 😀

Label:
A beer fit for sophisticates and flaneurs, The Royale is a golden concoction of fruity and citrusy flavors meant for whiling away one’s time in brasseries, cafes and pubs, or anywhere friends can be found.
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The aromas of this beer are of yeast bread and grassy hops with fragrances of banana, grapefruit, citrus, grassy herbs, spices, fruity esters, floral almost like a saison and farmhouse ale. Reminiscent of the the Eschatological and the Bitter Monk. The flavors are of grassy, grapefruit and pineapple hops, citrus, banana bread, biscuit, pears, apples, grapes and flowers. It is a great beer if you can find it. However, if you can find the other BPAs even better. It is an awesome example of a Belgian Pale Ale and truly delicious. Maybe not blow your mind delicious but is still great.

Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout by Goose Island Beer Co.

January 18, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged best beers in the world, Bourbon Barrel Aged, bourbon barrels, bourbon vanilla, cherries, Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout, Chocolate, chocolate coffee, coffee chocolate, dipped cherries, FLCL, Fooly Cooly, Goose Island, goose island beer, Haruko, Haruko Haruhara, Imperial Stout, Rye Whiskey, Whiskey | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Cherry Rye Bourbon County Brand Stout by Goose Island Beer Co. is a 13.7% ABV Imperial Stout aged in rye whiskey barrels with whole cherries

Label:
Our brewers love experimenting with their beer almost as much as they love drinking it. This unique blend, aged in rye whiskey barrels with loads of whole Michigan cherries, is the one they are proud to finally let you share with your friends at home – or not. After your first sip, you’ll agree, this beer has some real stones.
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I once did a review under the Original 2008 Bourbon County Stout (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/bourbon-county-brand-stout-vintage-2008-by-goose-island/) and I found it to be freaking amazing. So in 2012 they decided to release this variant which was super hard to find. I already know this is gonna be good and I highly recommended it you find it. Now on to the Review. The aroma of this amazing beer is of coconut, vanilla, whiskey, oak, flan, dulce de leche caramel, walnuts, rich dark and milk chocolate, cherry, cranberries, coffee, mocha, . The flavors are like a cherry pie or tart cherry cobbler with caramel made with chocolate dipped cherries, cinnamon, rich dark, milk and sweet chocolate syrup, pecans, raisins, coconut, vanilla, flan, oak, bourbon, coffee, whipped cream, Mexican vanilla crème filled sweet bread with vanilla cherry and chocolate pudding. The aftertaste leaves a sweet chocolate cherry trail with coconut, bourbon, vanilla and leche nestle (Mexican Sweetened Condensed Milk). No alcohol trace and no Boozy burn off of this one. I almost wanted to chew this beer as it truly is a dessert in a bottle. It is an extremely delicious world class beer. I know that Goose Island is an AB-InBev bought craft brewery but politics about beer aside, this is a new guy that stepped into the ranks of best beers in the world. I think I just liked this beer so much because it was so close to Grey Monday and Chocolate Rain it was not even funny. Just like the pictures above with Haruko, It will blow your mind!!!

Quingenti Millilitre Series Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11 (Aged in Red Wine version)

January 17, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged 11-11-11, ale yeast, anaheim chiles, belgian bread, Bleach, chile spices, Mexican Candy, Quingenti Millilitre, Red Wine, Red Wine Barrels, Stone Brewing, Stone Vertical Epic, Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11, Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11 Aged in Red Wine Barrels, Tamarind, Tamarindo, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.11/5

Quingenti Millilitre Series Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11 (Aged in Red Wine version) is a 10.6% ABV Chile Beer brewed with Anaheim Chilies and cinnamon aged in Red Wine Barrels. BRILLIANT 😛

Label:
Our Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale proved to be an eccentric diversion from our previous lineup of innovative Belgian-inspired brews. And considering we’re Stone, that’s really saying something. This unprecedented beer was brewed with cinnamon stick and Anaheim green chiles, giving it an amazing flavor profile unlike anything that came before it. It certainly didn’t need any enhancement, but we just don’t know when to leave well enough alone (and we’ve demonstrated before that you can, indeed, improve upon perfection). So we decided to tinker with it a bit and laid a small portion to rest in wine barrels. Not wanting to limit our experiment to only red or white wine barrels, we chose both. Treat yourself to a bottle of each and compare. All in the name of science, of course…
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An already awesome Chile beer that came out in 2011. One which I had already reviewed in 2012 (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/stone-vertical-epic-11-11-11/) but now aged in Red Wine. Very Interesting. Fragrance of Red Wine grapes, apples, possibly some pepper plan, tamarind, smells like that tamarind Mexican candy as well with the chili powder, some caramel, a slight aroma of Belgian yeast and banana bread and cloves. The flavors are of Mexican Tamarind candy, tamarind juice, chile peppers, cinnamon, chile powder, pears, bananas, red wine, a bit of sour grapes, cranberries, raspberries, plums, raisins, sour apple, dulce de leche caramel, banana bread, cloves, oak wood, and vanilla. The aftertaste leaves those awesome Belgian banana esters with the chile peppers (with out the heat ) wine and tamarind. This one is pretty freaking awesome. The original, the beer I aged and the Red Wine version are remarkable beers. Especially for being chile beers. Now this is another level of awesome. If you can find it, try it. It goes down so nicely and the alcohol….hmmm what alcohol :P.

Killer Penguin by Boulder Beer Company

January 17, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged barley wine, Barleywine, Barleywine-style, bitter grass, Boulder Beer Company, dark garnet, hidden alcohol, Killer Penguin, Penguins | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.45/5

Killer Penguin by Boulder Beer Company is a 10%ABV Barleywine.

Label:
Dark garnet red in color with undertones of candied fruit, Killer Penguin is an aggressive, full-flavored Barleywine-style ale and a perfect beer to share among friends. Once a year we release a very limited amount of Killer Penguin, making this our most rare and sought-after bottled beer.
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Hard to find little guy. The aromas are of slight pine, grapefruit and grassy hops, honey, caramel, toffee, cherries, raisins, biscuit, citrus and candied apple. The smell is not too particular hop strong but you can still tell some of it. The flavors of this barley-wine focus a little more on caramel sweetness and a little on bitter grass hops. There are some other flavors of cherry, raisins, raspberry, maple syrup, sugary biscuit bread, pineapple, apples, and butterscotch. Surprisingly smooth, easy to drink and well hidden alcohol. It is hard to believe this one being a 10% ABV, but maybe that is also what makes it special 😛

Birra Etrusca Bronze collaboration with DogFish Head, Birra del Borgo, Baladin and Dr Patrick McGovern

January 16, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Baladin, Birra del Borgo, Birra Etrusca, Birra Etrusca Bronze, cherries, Dogfish Head, Dr Patrick McGovern, Etrusca, hazelnut flour, Hazelnuts, herbs and spices, honey hazelnut, Italian Beers, Italy, myrrh, Pomegranates, Raisins, Rome, Tortillas, Traditional Ale, tree resins, y | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Birra Etrusca Bronze collaboration with DogFish Head, Birra del Borgo, Baladin and Dr Patrick McGovern is an 8.5%ABV Traditional Spiced and Spiced Ale brewed with honey, hazelnut flour, heirloom wheat, myrrh, gentian root, raisins, pomegranate juice & Pomegranates

Label:
Dogfish Head worked with our Birreria Brother Brewers (Birra del Borgo and Baladin) and biomolecular archeologist Dr. Patrick Mcgovern to create this Ancient Ale. We made a research pilgrimage together to earl Etrusca warrior tombs in the hills and along the coast of Tuscany. The 8th c. B.C. Recipe is based on chemical and botanical evidence of tree resins; beeswax and honey; whole pomegranates; hazelnuts; grapes; and apples found inside ancient jars and drinking-bowls. It represents the prehistoric mixed beverage of Italy before the arrival of wine. Our version is fermented with bronze, a popular material brewing and cooking in the Etruscan era.
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Dogfish Head has been known to come out with some really awesome ales. Especially those with a lot of history behind them and research. This one is one of their latest coming all the way from Rome
Upon opening the beer, there was a great amount of fragrance that reminded me of the Shati beer. Honey, biscuit, herbs, spices, Banana cloves, flowers, citrus, grapes, cherries, pomegranate, sweet bread, brown sugar, hazelnuts and almost like a corn or wheat tortilla smell. The flavors are kinda mixed and complex. Hazelnut and caramel biscuit bread, candi sugar, oranges, banana cloves, raisins, pear, grapes, pomegranate, herbs, spices and slight peppercorn. I almost feels like sugary and fruity wheat or corn tortilla in the after taste. Not a bad thing at all really. It is different in a good way. Some of the ingredients I have not tried so I can only guess as to how close the flavors are of the beers to something I can relate to. Another Delicious Ancient Masterpiece brought to life by Dogfish Head. Give it a try 😛

Chupacabras Pale Ale by Cucapá

January 16, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Chupacabras, Cucapá, goat sucker, Mexicali, mexicali mexico, mexican beer, Mexico, mythical extraterrestrial, Pale Ale, wheat grains | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.5/5

Chupacabras Pale Ale by Cucapá of Mexicali Mexico is a 5.8% ABV Pale Ale. This is the 3rd Cucapá beer I have tried. Some of the other 2 like the Tequila Barrel Aged Ale and Obscura ale have been pretty good beers.

Label:
Chupacabras; a mythical extraterrestrial animal said to inhabit both of the Americas. The name translates literally from spanish as “goat sucker”, an activity avidly performed by this creature. Sightings of this cryptid have been reported all the way from Puerto Rico to Maine crossing all of central America and Mexico in his journey.

Description:
This pale ale is in a way very related to this legendary creature. From one end this brew can be found from Mexico as well as in the U.S. on the other hand [sic] Chupacabras Pale Ale fortunately does not suck goats but will suck you into believing that there is a truly unique Mexican beer. However it is not necessarily an extraterrestrial however we like to think it is.
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Aromas are of grassy and floral hops, a little bit of pineapple and peach, caramel, cereal and wheat grains. The flavors are of some grapefruit, grassy and floral hops along with some caramel, slight mango, apricot, pineapple, coffee, peanuts, biscuit and grains. This pale ale seems to be more on par with an amber ale or bock but not as balanced. The hops seem to linger in the aftertaste but then disappear leaving some biscuit and caramel sweetness. It is still a good beer. While I think the Tequila Barrel Aged Ale one is one of the best I’ve tried, this one still worth a try if once.

Decadence 2012 Anniversary Ale by Ale Smith Brewing

January 15, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged alesmith brewing, anniversary ale, Belgian Quadruple, Belgian Style, Belgium, creamy mouthfeel, dark fruits, Decadence 2012, ginger bread, Quad, Quadrupel, raisin bread pudding, world class style | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Decadence 2012 Anniversary Ale by Ale Smith Brewing is a 12%ABV Belgian Quadruple Ale. Right below The Cloak of St. Martin 13% ABV, this is the strongest quad I have ever tried. Each year, decadence is a different beer style. This year pays tribute to the Belgian Monasteries and their age old brewing methods for Holy Beers

Label:
Alesmith Decadence Anniversary Ale was originally brewed in 2005 to celebrate our first decade in business. Our brewers had such a great time creating it that they decided to brew a new style each year to commemorate our anniversary.

Now, seventeen years after we started, we’re proud to present another great addition in this ongoing series. AleSmith Decadence® 2012 is a big Belgian-style quadruple ale. A variety of Belgian malts impart notes of bread and ripe fruit with subtle hints of cloves and molasses. Its creamy mouthfeel is balanced by a rich, full-bodied finish. This rare offering is meant to be savored and will age nicely.
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Get this one while it is still out there. Belgian Quads or Quadrupel ales are some of my all time favorite beers being fermented 4 times to release a world of complexity that truly creates a world class style of beer. The aromas of the Decadence the the similar dulce de leche caramel, raisin bread, dark fruits and candied sugars like other quads. However, Decadence seems to offer some more aromas. From what I can tell, I gather some ginger bread, fruit cake, cherries, cinnamon and banana cloves. Almost Christmasy in a way. The flavors are pretty much like the name. So decadent and delicious. WOW… first sip and It was a just a bit more than the fragrances gave into. Dulce de leche, caramel, chocolate, a small amount of mocha coffee, ginger bread, bananas esters, cloves, molasses, anise, cherries, cinnamon, dates, pecans, raisins, plums, and slight raisin bread pudding flavor. It is almost in par with The Lost Abbey’s Judgment Day Ale except it has more flavors and much stronger in flavors and in ABV. Forget the fact that it says 12%ABV, you can’t tell that it is even in there. It gets you later but no strong boozyness just a lot of sweet Belgian caramel dark fruit bread goodness….. This is a must grab for Belgian fans…

Bigfoot Ale by Sierra Nevada

January 15, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Barleywine, Bigfoot, Bleach, bold flavor, hop aroma, mild bitterness, new flavors, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Zabimaru, Zanpakutou | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.45/5

Bigfoot Ale by Sierra Nevada is a 9.6% ABV Barleywine

Label:
Bigfoot is a beast of a beer, brimming with bold flavor from massive amounts of roasted malt and spicy hops; brewed in the barleywine style, with a rich, bittersweet body and whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops.

First introduced in the winter of 1983, Bigfoot is a cult-classic beer brewed in the barleywine style, meaning a strong, robust, bruiser of a beer with the refined intensity of a wine. Bigfoot is prized by beer collectors for its supreme cellarability. Under the proper conditions, it can age like a fine wine, developing new flavors and character as it matures in the bottle. Each new release or “expedition” is vintage dated. Collect your own and see the flavors develop and progress.
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Barleywines are the type of beer styles that that range from bitter to bittersweet and are intense in terms of alcohol, hops and complex flavors. They can also be cellared to age like wine. This beer has avery nice grassy and pinecone hop aroma, with other fragrances of caramel, lemon peel, honey, pineapple and biscuit bread. The flavors are of the nice Sierra Nevada pine cone, grassy hops at mild bitterness, pineapple, raspberry, apples, caramel, toffee, powdered sugar, cinnamon, butter on toast biscuit bread and slight boozy feel. As I said, these beers get better with age. This is probably too early in its stage but it will probably get a lot better after a while.

L’Affriolante by Le Bilboquet

January 14, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Amber Ale, Canada Beers, Daisy, L’Affriolante, le bilboquet, Mario Bros, Nintendo, Peach, peach nectar, Rosalina, Spiced Amber Ale, sweet honey, Toadstool | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.9/5

L’Affriolante by Le Bilboquet is a 7% ABV Spiced Amber ale.

Label:
Tantôt elle taquine, tantôt elle séduit. On se sait pas comment l’aborder. Une bière forte et douce à la fois, légèrement sucrée, réhaussée d’un soupçon d’épices. L’Affriolante saura égayér vos soirées aussi bien que vos journées. Tout ce que vous souhaitez, c’est de la toucher de bout des lévres et de vous laiser border. Santé!

Sometimes it teases you, sometimes it charms you. One does not know how to approach it. With both a strong taste and a mild flavor, this beer slightly sweet with a touch of spice. L’Affriolante will enrapture your evenings and enliven your days. Once it hits your lips you will know it is everything you wished for. Cheers!
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Now this is a pretty potent amber ale. Haven’t had something like this before especially in an amber ale. Fragrances of rich honey, hops, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, fruit cake, nuts, grapes, cherry, roses and toffee. The flavors are of honey, caramel, peach nectar, nuts, maple, toffee, vanilla, biscuit bread, plums, cherries, raisins, dried grapes, pineapple, almonds, cinnamon, butterscotch, coriander and ripe sweet orange creme. For being an Amber ale, it is more sweet than bitter really. Quite nice actually. Seducing almost :P. Drinks more like a Christmas type of beer with oh so much sweet honey. Simply very delicious give it that. I need to find more of these Canada beers. Simply just that damn good. Troise Pistoles is my toe to toe World Beer favorite along with St. Bernardus abt 12. Belgian Inspiration in Canada 😛

La Corriveau by Le Bilboquet

January 14, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged black berries, blue berries, La Corriveau, le bilboquet, Marie-Josephte Corriveau, Oatmeal Stout, Sadako, wine grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

La Corriveau by Le Bilboquet is a 5.5%ABV Oatmeal Stout. This beer is based on the story of Marie-Josephte Corriveau or La Corriveau as she’s know in Quebecois Folklore. She was sentenced to death by hanging in chains and cage by a British court marshal for the crime of murdering her second husband. Legend has it that she haunts people at cross roads… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Josephte_Corriveau

Label:
Du haut de sa potence, la Corriveau vous regarde déguster une bière noire aux arômes d’expresso et de chocolat noir. Sa robe profonde est coiffée d’une crème riche et onctueuse qui cache une amertume tranchante, digne des idées noires qui hantaient l’esprit de cette meurtrière légendaire.

Translation:
Hanging from the gallows, La Corriveau watches you as you are savoring this black beer with espresso and ark chocolate aromas. Its deep color is topped with a rich and unctuous cream that hides a sharp bitterness, worthy of the gloomy ideas that haunted this legendary murderer’s mind.
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This is quite the good beer coming from Canada. Eerie tribute but damn good beer. Aromas are of coffee and chocolate with a lot of dark fruits like raisins, blue berries, black berries, tart cherries, wine grapes, oatmeal, caramel, roasted coffee, and a little bit of vanilla. It is quite potent and interesting fragrance. The flavors have another unique story to tell. The flavors are of sweet and dark chocolate covered grapes, cherries, raisins, blue and black berries, raspberries, mocha coffee, whipped cream, oatmeal cookies with cherries and toast covered in fig jelly. The aftertaste leaves with these nice coffee and caramel notes. Berries covered in chocolate dipped in coffee and mocha is a major emphasize. I am not sure if it is the Oatmeal sugars which provide the unique smoothness and special sugar which give it such a berry like sugary flavor but this is just too good. Maybe the legend is true. The sorts of flavors with a stout that was not made with certain indicated ingredients…just..supernatural stuff. Amazing Stout and a must try….I think all beers are enchanted and full of magic…take your taste buds to levels beyond reasoning.

Stillwater Artisanal Sensory Series v.1 – Lower Dens

January 14, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged collaboration, herbs and spices, Hibiscus, Lower Dens, Saison, Sensory Series, Stillwater Artisanal, Stillwater Sensory, Volume 1 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Stillwater Artisanal Sensory Series v.1 – Lower Dens is a 6% ABV Spiced and Herbed collaboration ale brewed with Jamaica (Hibiscus Flowers) between the Lower Dens band and the genius that is Stillwater Artisanal.

Label:
welcome to the sensory series
a collaboration to create the experience to stimulate the 5 senses: Sound, sight, smell, touch, taste
In this first collaboration, Stillwater works with Lower Dens to make an ale based on an interpretation of their song, “In the End is the Beginning.” On the bottle itself, a QR code will link to an exclusive Lower Dens performance of the song.
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Needless to say I scanned the barcode just for the full effect :P. Initial aromas are very floral and sweet like that of Eucalyptus, Roses, Hibuscus and peppercorns. Lots of tropical aromas like Mango, Orange, papaya, pineapple, lime and also a bit of bubble gum. The Flavors are that of a Saison with its nice bready yeast, peppercorns,herbs, pineapple, hibiscus, mango, papaya, stone fruit, tangerine, peaches, pears, apples, roses, manzanilla (Chamomile tea), cane sugar, banana cloves and biscuit bread. The after taste is of nice buttery bread with orange and sugar cane. This would probably go good with some nice cheese. I think this beer reminds me a lot of the stateside but with more tropical flavors. It is pretty good

While you watch the video: http://www.stillwatersensory.com/ you get sense of what it is about. It is pretty good stuff

Nitro (aka Milk Stout) by Left Hand Brewing

January 11, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged chocolate coffee, coffee espresso, creamy goodness, DBZ, dessert, Dragonball Z, Left Hand Brewing, Milk Chocolate Sweet Stout, Nitro, Nitro Milk Stout, Nitrogen, Videl | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Nitro (aka Milk Stout) by Left Hand Brewing is a 6% ABV Milk Chocolate Sweet Stout. It is the original Milk Stout but using special equipment to bottle it with nitrogen which is responsible for less carbonation and with more creaminess. I think since I poured in a tulip glass, a lot of the foamy head was gone. It is still very creamy though.

Label:
Brewed on the Banks of the Mighty St. Vrain Super Smooth with soft roastiness and Mocha Flavors.

Description:
This English style of beer, also known as Sweet Stout or Cream Stout, first appeared in London in the late 1800’s. The early brewers touted the health benefits of the milk sugar in this beer which today relates mainly to the increased amount of calories(no real health benefits…sorry). The milk sugar adds a well rounded sweetness to this dark beer and makes it an outstanding, year ’round stout.
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One of the nations top sweet milk stouts and for many reasons. On the lines with Moo Hoo Milk Stout but more coffee notes. The aromas are of a very nice coffee, mocha and caramel frappucino fragrance with notes of chocolate milk. Quite nice really. The Flavors are way too creamy and smooth. Hardly any bitterness and goes down very nice. Liquid Frappucino with nice flavors of dark chocolate, coffee espresso, mocha, caramel, whipped crème vanilla, lots of sugar, milk chocolate, and almond milk. Mouth feel in the after taste is coffee and chocolate with hardly anything rough. So much rich creamy goodness. It is soooooo damn easy to drink. People would probably have a hard time deciphering whether this a beer or a cold special coffee. Definite craft beer gateway. It is really outstanding…gotta try 😀

Bourbon Barrel Aged 4 Calling Birds by The Bruery

January 11, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged 4 Calling Birds, Bananas, Belgian Dark Ale, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgium, Bourbon Barrel Aged, bourbon barrels, bourbon vanilla, Bruery, cherries, coconut and banana, dark fruits, Fruit Cake, gingerbread, Raisins, The Bruery, Twelve Beers of Christmas | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5

Bourbon Barrel Aged 4 Calling Birds by The Bruery is a 14.8%ABV Belgian Dark Ale Brewed with spices and aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
The fourth verse of our “Twelve Beers of Christmas” saga incorporates ginger-like spice into a rich and robust dark ale. Happy Holidays!
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This is a barrel aged version of the original 4 calling birds. Haven’t tried the original but this one is still awesome, maybe even better :P. The aromas immediately are of strong vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, coconut and banana crème pie, bourbon, raisins, cherries, holiday fruit cake, some chocolate and coffee cake. The flavors are pretty complex with a major solidification of Bourbon, Vanilla, matured Banana, dulce de leche caramel, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, gingerbread, fruitcake with dark fruits like plums raisins, cherries, a bit of apple, hazelnuts, pecans, dark chocolate and and some citrus. The aftertaste is a lot like banana and raisins with some good bourbon and vanilla still there. The alcohol is well hidden, yet do take your time with this. While it is very delicious, it is past the 10%ABV and quite hefty in alcohol. An 8oz serving would suffice and save some for later :). Good flavor is hard to come by. Some beers meet or exceed expectations. For me, this one exceeded them quite a bit. If you can find it…fuck yeah!!!

Blue Moon Belgian Pale Ale aka Pale Moon by Coors Brewing

January 8, 2013 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Style Pale Ale, Blue Moon, coors brewing, hop aroma, pale moon, wheat bread | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.2/5

Blue Moon Belgian Pale Ale aka Pale Moon by Coors Brewing is a 5.4% ABV Belgian Style Pale Ale. It isn’t often I get to review some of the regular stuff we see on the market but if I have the opportunity, I will give it a shot. While I do prefer other beers I don’t mind trying even some of the other beers. When it comes to beer, it is important to keep an open mind even if you onlywant to try the beer once.

Label:
Our interpretation of a pale ale is brewed with a touch of wheat for a smooth finish and Cascade hops for a subtle hop aroma. We add a twist of orange peel and hibiscus for a well-rounded, balanced taste.
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The aroma of the beer is of pilsner and grains with small amount of caramel bready fragrance, citrus and honey. The flavor is like light brown ale with small flavors of caramel, honey, minor notes of biscuit and wheat bread, peanuts, orange, pilsner and grain. I don’t sense a lot of the hops in this one as the bitterness seems to come more from the pilsner and citrus which the after taste leaves some orange flavor. This would probably be a lot better on draft and would be a great substitute for lagers when available. This used to be called Pale Moon but now it goes by its new name. Now if only blue moon would release some of their more specialty crafts that they only have on tap… would be interesting to review those …maybe….

Grey Monday by The Bruery

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Black Tuesday, Bourbon Barrel Aged, bourbon barrels, bourbon vanilla, Chocolate Nirvana, Chocolate Rain, Chocolate Raine, Dragon ball, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z, Fusion, Gogeta, Goku, Grey Monday, Hazelnut Nectar, Hong Meiling, Imperial Stout, Izayoi Sakuya, molecular gastronomy, roasted hazelnuts, Super Saiyan, The Bruery, Vegeta, Vegito, world beers | Leave a comment

Rating: 6/5 * Final Review of 2012*

Grey Monday by The Bruery is an 18.6% ABV Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Hazelnuts. Essentially, this is the Black Tuesday Variant but made with Hazelnuts. Black Tuesday along with it’s cousin, Chocolate Rain are one of my most favorite Chocolate beers ever. They may not be the highest in the world but they certainly rated higher in my opinion. While St. Bernardus abt 12 and Trois Pistoles covers my most favorite Belgian/ World beers ever. Mainly this cover covers my ultimate chocolate beer sweet tooth. This is like a very special chocolate liquid of the gods.

Label:
Originally brewed for a molecular gastronomy dinner at Beachwood BBQ, this decadent version of Black Tuesday is brewed with Oregon grown, roasted hazelnuts.
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The ABV on the label said 18.6% however, at the tasting rooms in The Bruery they have it at 19.2%. Chocolate Rain was about that much, maybe more. This year’s Black Tuesday is in the 19 something as well. Anyways, on to the review 🙂
Grey Monday is hard to get. You have to basically go out of your way to get it so for those that want to seek this on out, be ready to climb over a good amount of obstacles. If your lucky, you may find it online though. So immediately after you open the beer is an massive explosion of extremely rich chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, cherries, plums, pecans, hazelnut, and caramel. Like literally, you can smell how sweet and nutty this is. Aromas are just that rich. Just like I said about Chocolate Rain. Basically Diabetes in a bottle. Also a note to the wise. Take your time and do not consume in one sitting. 1 small 8 ounce glass or less is best. Nectar of gods should be taken lightly and savored to the best ability and saved some for later or for friends. I decided to drink this on Monday 31^st as being the last beer of 2012 I review :). So I figure why not. Upon trying it I was taken to the boozy world chocolate nirvana. Immediately I was surrounded by flavors of very strong milk, dark, sweet chocolate, chocolate covered raisins and tart cherries, rich mocha, rich dulce de leche caramel, rich sweetened condensed milk (Mexican Lechera), flan with pecans, almonds, walnuts, Bourbon, vanilla, raisins, port chocolate, Chambord Raspberry in chocolate cake, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, chocolate cheesecake with maybe some macadamia nuts and well lots of burnt sweet caramelized sugars and cocoa. There is also an underlying banana nut bread with cherry and chocolate, vanilla and caramel hazelnut in the aftertaste. This beer is pretty deep and it takes grasp of the spirit. You would probably be done in one sip. The Oak Bourbon is present but no burn, just a small level of intensity for this super giant megaton fusion super saiyan of an ABV beer. Certainly one of the greats and nothing less. World Class in its own special way. The Grey Monday, The Black Tuesday and The Chocolate Rain. I love Trois Pistoles and I love St. Bernardus abt 12, but just as Chocolate Rain has taken me above and beyond this has taken me to another level of rich hazelnut, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, dark fruits and oak bourbon vanilla heaven.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy by Ale Smith brewing

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Alesmith, best beers in the world, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy, bourbon barrels, bourbon vanilla, Great American Beer Festival 2008, King of Fighters, Kula Diamond | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.5/5

Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy by Ale Smith brewing is a 10% ABV Wee Heavy/Scotch Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels. This is a recent 2012 release.

Label:
Great American Beer Festival 2008 “Small Brewing Company of the Year”
This Barrel-Aged version of our Scotch-Style Ale is matured in premium bourbons barrels for at least one year to add layers of complexity to its rich, malty flavor profile. Notes of Vanilla, Oak, and Bourbon from the Barrels combine with the beer’s profile of caramel and toffee to make an utterly unique beer we think you’ll love. Enjoy it now or let it mature in the bottle for years to come. Serve in a goblet at 50-55 degrees.
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Wee Heavy beers are pretty good. I once enjoyed a Sam Adams Wee Heavy which probably does not come close to the awesomeness of this on. I still have to try the original of this but I figured when I saw my chance to get this one I take it. The fragrance coming of the beer in the glass is pretty sweet. Bourbon, Vanilla, plums, caramel, licorice, molasses, butterscotch and possibly some chocolate as well. The flavors are freaking phenomenal. So the first thing I notice is there is really not a lot of burning alcohol for being a “Heavy” ABV beer. The flavors flow of Bourbon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, Blueberry Cheesecake, flan, Dulce de leche and Sweetened Condensed Milk (Leche Nestle), raisins, butterscotch, blackberries, boysenberries, sugar coconut crème pudding, Chocolate Mousse, oak, walnuts and like a Jaggermeister Licorice sweetness. I remember some of the very good notes reminiscent of the original wee heavy I have tried which was a Sam Adams version but this is amplified to over 9000 times in complexity and flavor. I exaggerate ofcourse but when it comes to some of the best beers in the world, this is certainly one of them and I can’t explain it enough. It is just delicious. Now… I am sure this will pair great with a nice dessert 😛

Ron And The Beast Ryan collaboration by Evil Twin Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged bread wheat, Brettanomyces, cute appearance, Evil Twin Brewing, Farmhouse Ale, jolly pumpkin, Queen's Blade, Ron And The Beast Ryan, Saison, wine grapes, yeast bread | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Ron And The Beast Ryan collaboration by Evil Twin Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin is a 7% ABV Saison/ Farmhouse Ale brewed with honey

Label:
n Denmark we have a lovely tradition for funky beer, and what you have here is certainly no exception. This is a never before seen collaboration between Ron and the Beast Ryan. A fluffy and precious Saison-style ale brewed with a beautiful yeast called Brettanomyces. It may sound like a true fairytale, but don’t be fooled by it’s cute appearance.
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Quite floral saison here. Aromas of honey, botanicals, bread, flowers, orange citrus, herbs, barnyard hay and spices. The flavors are kind of funky like a Belgian Ale, but it is a saison. Flavors of honey, biscuit bread, wine grapes, a touch of lemon, grapefruit, apples, peaches, wild yeast bread, wheat, coriander, herbs, rose petals and hibiscus. The after taste is floral sweet with some hoppy bitterness but not a lot. This Saison is worth trying although other saisons that may come close are like the Stillwater Stateside or the Anchorage Love Buzz. Still an awesome beer to try 🙂

Rare Vos by Ommegang

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged banana slices, Belgian Amber Ale, flemmish, fox tails, Ommegang, raisin bread pudding, Rare Vos, sly fox | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Rare Vos by Ommegang is a 6.5% ABV Belgian Amber Ale. This was a Christmas day present from my awesome friend Adrian. I have never tried this one from Ommegang so I figured it be an awesome treat as Belgians are some of my favorite beers

Label:
Rare Vos is flemmish for “Sly Fox,” and the name of one of Brussels’ great cafes. It is also the name of our cunning Belgian-Style Amber, which sports a mellow, fruity character and elusive spiciness.
And Remember: A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable – Jefferson.
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Upon opening the beer there is grasp of bready sweetness in the aromas. Honey, caramel, orange gummy bears, biscuit bread, citrus, coriander spice and a bit of vanilla. The flavors are of raisin bread pudding, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, toffee, orange, apple, pear, grapes, apricot, banana slices in honey, cloves, cherries and oak. The aftertaste is still rich in flavors of raisin bread pudding and spices. You can never go wrong with Ommegang beers. The art on here is of in relation to a fox. Tails, Naruto and Krystal are some of my favorite fox or fox like characters so in order to match the fox and colors of the beer I chose this piece of anime work. As for the beer, you should know I already recommended, it is remarkably delicious World Class Belgian beer. Not sure on how rare this beer really is…but regardless it is a must try for sure.

Hullabaloo by Hangar 24

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged domestic malts, Hangar 24, hazel nuts, holiday beers, Hullabaloo, Scottish Ale, winter beer | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Hullabaloo by Hangar 24 is a 6.5% ABV Scottish ale.

Label:
Experience a world of hearty flavors and aromas with this special winter beer. This brew starts as a Scottish ale featuring European and Domestic malts, giving Hullabaloo intriguing caramel and roast nuances. A blend of American and English hops delivers ample bitterness & unique hop profile. This is a big, rich beer with a nice, underlying complexity – Toast to the Season!
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Never had a Scottish ale but this is one is almost like a smoked amber ale. Aromas are of caramel, toffee, smoke, maple, earthy hops, roasted peanuts and hazel nut. The flavors consist of caramel, toffee, earthy and grassy hops, a little bit of grapefruit, peanuts, hazel nuts, biscuit bread, minor flavors of campfire sweet maple glazed bacon, minor hints of chocolate and coffee. The aftertaste is bitter with a slight touch of sweetness and smokey. It is a good beer for the holidays but I think you can probably find some other awesome holiday beers. It is worth a try. People that like smoked beers might like this one

Monks Brew (Elixir) by Mikkeller Brewing

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged ale yeast, Belgian Quadrupple Ale, Cuvee de Tomme, Framboise, Mikkeller, Monks Brew, Monks Elixir, oak wine barrels, Quad, Quadruppel, Raspberries, Rochefort, styrian goldings, trappist monasteries, westvleteren | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Monks Brew (Elixir) by Mikkeller Brewing is a 10% ABV Belgian Quadrupple Ale brewed with Raspberries and Aged in wine Barrels.

Label:
Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proefbrouwerij in Lochristi, Belgium. Known as Monk’s Brew in the U.S.
Ingredients : Water, malts (pils and pale), candy syrup, brown sugar, hops (northern brewer, hallertauer and styrian goldings) and ale yeast
Monk’s Elixir is a heavy dark Belgian ale inspired by the Trappist monasteries of Rochefort and Westvleteren. The beer style, characterized by its high content of alcohol, distinguishes itself by its dominant yeast character, delicious malt background and balanced hop notes.
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Immediately after opening this beer, there is a strong fruity and sweet aroma. You can tell that there is grape wine fragrance along with Framboise Raspberries, apples, Dark Fruits like cherries, black berries and raisins and Belgian sweet bready aromas with nice caramel. Some of the barrel aromas are present as well. The flavor is quite vinious. There seems to be a stronger grape wine and oak presense it is immediately balanced by the dulce de leche bread. Some flavors or raspberries, raisins, bananas, figs and apples dipped in dark chocolate and caramel are also present. The wine and oak notes give it a bit of a tart, sour, lemon and bitter taste, it is not enough to take away from the the fact that this is still a quadruple ale. This means it is a hybrid of fancy wine and Belgian Dark quad ale. Something like the Cuvee de Tomme with that extra fermentation creating a quint or quintuple (5th) fermentation style which really isn’t heard of but it just makes sense when adding a 4th (quadruple) fermentation to a oak wine barrels and letting it age again. Complex dessert beer and the fact that it uses Trappist yeast is definitely one holy elixir of gods :P.

Elysian Doom

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged 12 Beers of the Apocalypse, American Pale Ale, Doom, Elysian Doom, Golden Syrup, Golden Treacle Pale, Judgment Day, Pale Ale, Panty & Stocking, Panty and Stocking, Raisins, Scanty and Kneesocks, The end has come, The end is Beer, tropical fragrances, tropical fruits | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

This is a series from Elysian, The 12 Beers of the Apocalypse. “The End is Beer”
Beer#12 (December) Doom is a 6% ABV Golden Treacle Pale Ale brewed with oats and fermented with golden syrup and raisins. Doom is the End.
This is the final installment to the series depicting the End has come…

Doom is in reference to the final apocalyptic event of ultimate judgment. Whether it was the good deeds or bad that had set fate in motion or simply predetermined at birth, the final stage in which will result into the ultimate judgment of that fate will be sealed. We have already passed 12-21-2012 which was set as the Mayan Apocalypse to be the end of the world. Since it did not happen, does not mean that humanity itself is invulnerable to each individuals fate. We are mortals, we will face death one day and what comes after is the unknown. However, it is believed some type of fate or judgment will come after. Whether you are brought back as a speck of energy, a fly, another person, whether there is a heaven or hell OR whether your existence becomes another piece to the molded universe of this reality…nothing is certain. Things happen for a reason and all we can do is wait and see what happens. Till then, pass the time and drink some phenomenal beers 😛
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This is it, the final beer in the series. Upon opening the beer, there was some tropical fragrances reminiscent of a double IPA or an Imperial Pale Ale. Aromas of mango, orange, papaya, pineapple, hop grass, grapefruit, treacle syrup, honey and caramel. There is no aromas of raisins in the fragrance though. The flavors are of orange, tangerines, mango, lemon, pine, grassy and grapefruit hops, honey, caramel, treacle syrup, matured bananas, raisins and a little bit of biscuit bread. The matured banana dryness and hoppy bitterness remains in the aftertaste along with the notes from the tropical fruits. It is pretty good ale and reminiscent of a more Tropical IPA but with lower ABV. Recommended to those that like tropical hoppy pale ales.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Cauldron by Grand Teton Brewing

December 31, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged bakers chocolate, Black Cauldron, Bourbon Barrel Aged, Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Cauldron, bourbon barrels, FFX, Final Fantasy X, grand teton, hop bitterness, Lulu, Lulu FFX, Russian Imperial Stout, Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels, Yuna, Yuna FFX | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Cauldron by Grand Teton Brewing is a 8% ABV Russian Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

This is part of a rare release of brewers’ series beers that may be available soon. The beer has no particular description noted. I have tried the regular version of this beer in the past and have considered it a favorite. With a release of a barrel aged version, it brings forth something even more magical, mystical, dark and well, just delicious.

The aromas of this beer come off as a semi sweet semi bitter bakers chocolate, coffee, mocha, vanilla, some bourbon, oak, dark fruits and berries. The taste reminds me of the Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti with bourbon. It is pretty good. Like a Dark and semi sweet/bitter bakers chocolate and coffee cake dipped in a little bit of bourbon with notes of wooden oak barrel, caramel, vanilla, blackberries, raisins, cherries, sweet bread, minor earthy hop bitterness with disappears into some coconut like notes but just a little bit. It is quite smooth and rich going down. It is not super boozy but you get some nice notes of the oak and the bourbon. It is not like the Old Rasputin Barrel Aged but it is still a great barrel aged stout. Remembering how good the original was for me, this is a great step up in complexity and a must find.

Bran Reserva by Birrificio Grado Plato Montigioco

December 28, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged barbera wine, Belgian Strong Ale, Birricio Montigioco, Bran Raven, Bran Reserva, English Porter, grado plato, Grado Plato Montigioco, Oak aged, Quote the Raven, rich flavors, sweet flavors, Wine, Wine Barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Bran Reserva by Birrificio Grado Plato Montigioco of Italy is a 8.5%ABV English Porter aged in Barbera Wine Barrels to become a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. They take their Bran Raven ale and age it for several months

Description:
Produced a Bran aging for 10 months in barrels (ex Barbera Bigolla Walter Massa). In the glass is black, impenetrable, with foam cappuccino color, the nose coexist roasting (with a scent reminiscent of cocoa paste) and notes derived from aging in wood (reminiscent of balsamic vinegar). In the mouth it is very divided: on one side the obvious toasty, cocoa, soy sauce, and secondly the acidity. Long in the mouth, the tannins in the finish shows the wood and a slight astringency of roasting. Beer very complex, difficult, for lovers of strong emotions. Serving suggestions: hard to match, recommended after a meal, maybe (if you want) with a big cigar.
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I don’t smoke so the Cigar might be a no go here ;). .The flavors are of vanilla, wine grapes, banana, dulce de leche bread, possibly a flan, sweetened condenced milk (Leche Nestle), raisins, butterscotch, lemon, cherries, blackberries, sour apples, peach. minor tart, vinegary and Jolly pumpkin style funky notes, oak wood, The after taste is like raisinettes, those chocolate covered raisins and coffee. Despite being somewhat tart and somewhat funky, this is pretty amazing. Lots of sweeter and rich flavors verlap the sourness. The little bit of sourness does not last and disappears soon and leaves some awesome sweet flavors. This is the Third beer I try from Italy’s Birrificio Montegioco. None of their beers have disappointed me at all and possibly this one and the Draco are my favorites from the 3. This is a must try if you can find it. It is the type of beer that steps into the realms of the Wine and becomes Neo from the Matrix…quote the raven…Forevermore…

Finding this in a specialty shop or online and is also considered to one of the 100 beers to try before kicking the bucket: http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2012/12/100-beers-to-try-before-you-die/grado-plato-montegioco-bran-reserva

de Viento (of the Wind) by Jolly Pumpkin

December 28, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged abu nawas, Annet Futatabi, Annet Myer, coffee roasting company, de Viento, Dexter Michigan, El Viento, Farmhouse Ale, Genesis, Great Lakes Coffee, jolly pumpkin, Oak Sour Saison, pumpkin seeds, Sega, wine grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

de Viento (of the Wind) by Jolly Pumpkin is a 7.5%ABV Oak Aged Sour Saison/Farmhouse ale brewed with coffee and spices

Label:
De Viento … and still we dance

March 15, 2012 a tornado tore through Dexter, missing the brewery, but not all of our neighbors. What could we do to help? Hmmm. We do know how to make beer. So make a beer is what we did. This beer. Teaming up with co-conspirators Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company, Schera’s and the Abu Nawas Beverage Company to create a collaborative beer like noneother.

A dark and smoky sour Saison full of rich aromatic coffee and the spicy heat of a secret Algerian spice blend. Proceeds go to the Dexter Relief Fund.
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It has been a while since I have tried something completely new from Jolly Pumpkin. This one was hard to come by but based on the beer information and first whiff, I knew it wasn’t gonna be a typical sour Jolly Pumpkin beer. Aromas of grapes, wine, coffee, almost like a mocha, chocolate, vanilla, citrus, apples and some earthy notes. The flavors are that of a sour Porter. Unlike Madrugada Obscura which has coffee and chocolate with nice sour notes, this breeds more of sweeter notes along with the sour notes. It seems the sourness is only like a squash or a pumpkin and wine taste. Coffee, Mocha, caramel, dark and milk chocolate, wine grapes, tart sour apple, some vanilla, oak wood, roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin and squash (which is complimented oh so well with the sweet cappuccino flavors), some lemon, cloves, peppercorn, almonds and pecans. The flavor is quite different that what I was expecting. In a very good way ofcourse. The good thing is that the sour notes are not as dominant as other JP beers which people that don’t normally enjoy sour beers may take a liking to this one as the sweetness balances out the sourness to create a pretty tasty beer here.

Snow Day by New Belgium Brewing

December 27, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged black ipa, Cascade, Centennial, Emeralda, india pale ale, June Mermaid, new belgium brewing, Snow Day, styrian goldings, Winter Ale, Xenogears | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Snow Day by New Belgium Brewing is a 6.2% ABV Winter Black India Pale Ale.

Label:
With three feet of powder closing the roads, a brewery is not a bad place to get snowed in. Given the unanticipated hall pass of a snow day, our brewers decided to experiment. Hmm…what about this dark caramel roasted Midnight Wheat braced with a serious load of Styrian Goldings, Centennial and Cascade hops? Shovel it in. What a deliciously unexpected way to spend a SNOW DAY!
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Just like the Stone 15th Anniversary or Self Righteous, but much much lighter in flavor and depth as well as alcohol. Aromas of Italian herbs and spices, oregano, basil, pine, grass, maple and minor chocolate coffee. The flavors are of oregano, basil, earthy pine and grass, smoked campfire bacon, beechwood, orange, lemon, grapefruit, alittle bit caramel, chocolate and coffee, some honey and biscuit notes. Some smoke, bacon and chocolate remain in the after taste. Not a mind blowing Black IPA but it is still pretty good as it has flavors of some of the best Black IPAs out there. Got this as part of the Folly Pack this year.

The Cloak of St Martin by Brunehaut of Abbey Reconnue

December 27, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Abbey, Abbey Reconnue, Belgian Ale, belgian dark chocolate, Belgium, Brunehaut, champagne yeast, Charity, fermentation capacity, fermentation yeast, Quad, Quaddruple, Quadrupplr, St Martin, The Cloak of St Martin | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5

The Cloak of St Martin by Brunehaut of Abbey Reconnue is a 13%ABV Belgian Quadruple fermented ale. Quad’s are some of my most favorite styles of beers and this is probably the strongest quad I have ever seen. It is also a rarity in itself. Brewed in a Belgian monastery

Press Release info: (via beerpulse.com)
The Cloak of St. Martin is a limited-edition Barleywine-style Belgian ale, ready to warm the North American autumn and winter (fermentation details seen below).

The Cloak is Brasserie Brunehaut’s first Abbaye ale brewed using doubled fermentation capacity gained via three new vats installed on Leap Day 2012. This increased capacity delivered enough vat time for the first batch of this labor-intensive 13%+ ABV quadruple.

The Cloak of St. Martin is a new Belgian Quadruple celebrating St. Martin’s famous charity of “sharing” his cloak with a beggar!

A very dark quad, The Cloak of St. Martin’s first fermentation, to 9% ABV, uses Brasserie Brunehaut’s signature, centuries-old yeast strain. Rare, exquisite champagne yeast boosts ABV from 9% to 13% during a six-week second fermentation. The Cloak is then cellared six more weeks before final fermentation yeast is added.

The low foam pour, due to high (13.2% ABV) alcohol content, announces with an extraordinary aroma. Robust, complex notes include blackberries, coffee and bitter Belgian dark chocolate. Only 1200x six-bottle cases of engraved, individually wrapped and corked with-muselet 750ml bottles were shipped. Demand seems certain to outpace supply.

Ingredients – Pure Belgian H20 + four malt types, three yeast strains, three hops varieties and candy sugar.
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This is a real treat to be able to a find a bottle like this. The fragrance is of Raisins, chocolate coffee, Quadruple aromas like that of Judgment Day ale which is a lot of raisin bread with caramel, The flavors just very exquisite. The quad flavors of St. Bernardus meeting with some of the Trois Pistoles. Flavors or Dulce de leche caramel on sweet bread, candi sugars, dark fruits like that of raisins, blackberries, Blueberrie muffins dipped in bourbon like that of the birrificio montegioco draco, cherries, grapes, apples, pecan pie, vanilla, dark and milk chocolate, mocha, coffee, port wine, honey on biscuits, oak, and capirotada (Mexican Raisin Bread Pudding). The strangest part about this beer is the mouth feel. You cannot tell anything about the booze and yet it is not a concentrated as other Belgian quads. Also, there is hardly any head retention and goes down too smooth. Quite the conundrum really. I guess that is what makes this beer so special. Still, I have taken a liking to this beer and it is difficult to believe this is the only quad they have from Brunehaut. Also, after a while it will hit you. It is a strong quad after all. Regardless, just like finding the holy grail, finding the cloak of St. Martin should be an utmost treasure. Belgian lovers will love this one…probably as much as I liked this one. One of the strongest quadrupels with some surprises and greatly flavorful 😀

Scaldis Blond Ale Triple by Brasserie Dubuisson Frères

December 27, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Triple, Belgium, brasserie dubuisson, Brasserie Dubuisson Frères, citrus honey, fruit aromas, Golden Ale, orchard fruit, pepper corns, Scaldis, Scaldis Blond Ale, Scaldis Triple | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Scaldis Blond Ale Triple by Brasserie Dubuisson Frères is a 10.5% ABV Belgian Triple

Label:
Scaldis Blond Triple is brasserie Dubuisson’s golden ale. Sharing the finesse and balance of all the delicious Scaldis beers it is an elegant and dry ale with wonderful orchard-fruit aromas of orange and peach. And because it is refermented in the bottle, it has the natural sparkle that perfectly compliments its flavors. Suitable for cellaring!
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Reminds me of the Cent Cinquante by Chimay. Smells like citrus, peach, pepper corns, honey, bread, biscuit. The flavors are of champagne, citrus, honey, biscuit bread, apples, peaches, grapes, little bit of banana, caramel, herbs, coriander, peppercorn, cloves, and other spices. This beer is quite like Allagash Fluxus and the Cent Cinquante by Chimay. Not as full bodied as some of the other Tripels I have tried but still very good. Lots of honey and citrus in the after taste. Give it a try if you love Belgian Beers. You might like this one 😛

Ranger IPA by New Belgium

December 27, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Batman, Batman Poison Ivy, Bitter, bitter aftertaste, Cascade, Chinook, Citrus, herbs and spices, Hop Heads, Hoppy, Hops, india pale ale, IPA, new belgium, Ranger IPA, Simcoe | 4 Comments

Rating: 3.6/5

Ranger by New Belgium is a 6.5%ABV India Pale Ale

Label:
Are you a hopinista? Thank our Beer Rangers for inspiring (and begging for) this well-balanced Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook hopped IPA. 70 IBUs
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New Belgium makes some nice beers like their Fat Tire Ale. This is their IPA. I have tried many IPAs so I will try to find what is good about this one. The aromas of the Ranger IPA start off with alittle bit of citrus, grassy pine, grapefruit and minor honey biscuit.The flavors are as many IPAs go. Grassy, Pine, Grapefruit, citrus, subtle caramel, biscuit, some herbs and spices, minor notes of peach or a mango but not too fruity. It has a nice hoppy, grassy and bitter aftertaste. While it is quite balanced with flavors, it has nothing new that blows me away. Yet, this is still a good IPA to have. I have tried other bad ones, but this one won’t let you down. Especially if your into IPAs for the hops mainly.

John John Series Whiskey Barrel Aged Dead Guy Ale by Rogue Brewing

December 27, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Barrel Aged, Dead Guy Ale, Dead Guy Whiskey, Helles Bock, John John Series, master distiller, rogue brewing, Whiskey Barrel Aged Dead Guy Ale, whiskey barrels | 1 Comment

Rating: 4.9/5

John John Series Whiskey Barrel Aged Dead Guy Ale by Rogue Brewing is a 6.4% Helles Bock. It is the original dead guy aged in Dead Guy Whiskey Barrels. Interesting as this is the lowest ABV Barrel Aged beer I have had. Most Barrel Aged beers usually are stronger in alcohol.

Label:
40 IBU, 78AA, 16 Plato, 16 L
Malts: Carastan, Rogue Micro-Barley Farm Dare & Risk malts.
Hops: Saaz, Willamette, Rogue Micro-Farm Hop Yard Revolution hops.
Yeast & Water: Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.

In a collaboration of crafts, Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot have joined forces to create a distinct, innovative series of brews called John John Ales. The series will take Rogue Ales legends and age them in Rogue Spirits barrels. A 3,100 gallon batch of John John Ale produces 1357 cases of beer. The first of the John John series is John John Dead Guy Ale, Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Ale matured in Rogue’s award winning Dead Guy Whiskey barrels.
Deep honey in color with a malt aroma, a caramel, vanilla and oak finish.
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Rogue Dead guy ale is one of the most awesome beers out there. So far I have only tried the regular and the double dead guy ale. So finding this variant with Rogue dead guy whiskey brings a lot of in house quality when aging it in a barrel that they used similar ingredients from dead guy ale. Aromas of nice caramel covered pecans, whiskey, pecans and biscuit bread. The flavors of this version of Rogue Guy dead ale are of the original caramel, honey, biscuit bread, toffee, vanilla with added notes of the whiskey, oak, some coconut, banana, mango, pecans, alafajor (Mexican Coconut sugar candy), minor bittering earthy hops, minor citrus and some funky tart notes. For being only 6.5%ABV, there is a lot of flavor that you would normally get from a higher barrel aged beer. I haven’t tried the Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey but if its as close to this it would be definitely worth trying. Finally, a beer with some Barrel Aged oak and liquor flavors but without the excessive booziness.

Mayan Apocalypse Judgment Day Ale by The Lost Abbey

December 21, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged 12-21-2012, Apocalypse, Armaggedon, Belgian Quad, Bleach, book of revelations, Capirotada, caramel candy, chile spices, chocolate abuelita, Cinnamon, Dulce de leche, End of the World, Guajillo, Judgement Day Ale, Judgment Day, Kos-MOS, Mayan Apocalypse Judgment Day, Mayan Apocalyse, mexican bread pudding, Naruto, o, raisin bread pudding, Tamarindo, Temari, Temari Sabakuno, The Lost Abbey, Xenosaga, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5

Mayan Apocalypse Judgment Day Ale by The Lost Abbey is a 10.5%ABV Belgian Quad brewed with Raisins, Chiles and Spices. The original Judgment Day Ale with the 4 horseman of the Apocalypse is one of my top 10 favorite beers. So this will probably give it a slight twist 😛Label:
Five thousand years ago the Mayan Calendar last turned over. Since then, Nostradamus. The Book of Revelations and random Shaman have all prognosticated that mankind would meet a fateful end. Currently, our demise is is scheduled for December 21, 2012for it has been so decreed our world is about end not in a Christian Judgment Day but rather a Mayan Apocalypse.

Funny thing is. The Mayan’s don’t actually believe in the concept of an Apocalypse. We at The Lost Abbey didn’t want to miss an opportunity to update our original judgment Day recipe to accompany us as we collide towards this impending Rapture. Like us, we’re pretty sure you can believe in dried chiles. Cinnamon and Tamarind working well together in this beer. This means, you can count on this little bottle of beer to help you survive this cultural Armageddon. Please pop the cork and enjoy this version. We’ve got you covered. See you on December 22nd wherever life may take us.
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So it has finally come….opened this one at 12:00 AM on the dot 12-21-2012…trying this one for the occasion, the special Judgment day Mayan Apocalypse Ale. So let’s get into it…before the world ends today…. Immediate fragrance of this was something else. Being a fan of chiles and spices and Belgian quads (Ale fermented 4 times). Aromas of Cinnamon, Mole, chocolate abuelita (Dark chocolate Mexican hot cocoa), guajillo, chipotle, dulce de leche/cajeta caramel, candy sugar, some minor capirotada fragrance (Mexican Raisin bread pudding with pecans, bananas, spices and other fruits and flavors. Definitely rich in smell. The flavors of the end of the world are a Mexican and Belgian clash. I have never had a quad that was melded like this… WOW….. It took Judgment day to a new level. Immediate Dulce de leche/ cajeta, Capirotada with mild chile peppers (not too hot but enough to notice you are drinking chiles), coffee cake, Belgian candy sugars, pan dulce/sweet bread, dark fruits like figs, raisins, plums, cinnamon, dark chocolate like that of abuelita, and some tamarindo/tamarind at the end of the flavor. In the after taste, the Tamarindo calms anything that has to do with the chile spices leading them into Belgian Abbey redemption. Even the Devil can redeem for his sins…. lol although the Mayans and early indigenous did not believe in such things…but greater beings from the stars. Great Mathematicians creating meaning for the moon sun and the stars… and that is what this is about. It may not be the end of the world just yet, but the beginning of something new…something else. Keep in mind, as my dearly mother one said: “The end of the world comes to those who’s time has run out” explains that no matter what..whether it is the end of the world today or tomorrow…every one is on a schedule to someday pay the piper a.k.a death and will do so regardless of Apocalypses, End of Times, Armageddons, Raptures…you name it….I leave this this…. and the message explained from the original Judgment day ale…Belgian and Mexican alike will love this creation…. so if you seek this after 12-21-2012….try it out… as for finding meaning in your lives and this whole End of the World business…According to the original label:

“Live an inspired life. Find opportunities in everything to make a difference. Seek out new and spontaneous adventures and when you find them, embrace them as if they were the devil’s song. For an interesting life is one worth living. Challenge yourself to embrace passion, persistence and a motivated way of life. So that when Judgment Day arrives from nowhere, you’ll go out knowing full well that you’ve lived your life on your terms and they can’t take that away from you.”
http://lostabbey.com/beer/judgement-day/

Smoking Wood by The Bruery

December 20, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Bacon, Barrel Aged, bourbon vanilla, Bruery, Kushina, Naruto, Porter, Rye Whiskey Barrels, smoked beers, Smoked Imperial Rye Porter, Smoking Wood, sweet flavors, The Bruery, Uzumaki, vanilla flavors | 1 Comment

Rating: 5/5

Smoking Wood by The Bruery is a 13% ABV Smoked Imperial Rye Porter Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels.

Label:
Smoked Imperial Rye Porter aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. A rich porter layered with rye spiciness and earthy smoke, caramel-like flavors, roasty malt and oaky deliciousness.
Brewed with beachwood and cherrywood smoked malt, and aged in rye whiskey barrels, Smoking Wood is a delicious demonstration of what wood has to offer when it comes to beer. This imperial smoked porter is brewed with a hefty amount of rye malt, contributing to a full body and light spiciness. Toasty oak, caramel and vanilla flavors balance the smokiness, contributing to an intense yet refined flavor profile. This is one of our favorite beers at the moment, we hope you agree.
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For smoked beers, I hear this one was phenomenal. The aromas are of whiskey or a bourbon, vanilla, caramel, smokey notes, campfire, bacon, some rye bread, minor coffee, chocolate and raisins. The flavors are of dark and milk chocolate, campfire, bacon, BBQ Ribs, whiskey, Jack Daniels Honey, scotch, vanilla, caramel, mocha, maple syrup, oak, coconut, minor flan notes, brown sugar, sourdough bread, plums, cherry, walnuts and pecans. This beer turned out to be fantastic. While it has a high ABV, the flavors prevent too much burn. You can kind of tell that it is strong but not to an overwhelming point. In fact, the smoke and sweet flavors take care of that. Ofcourse, do not drink this in one sitting. You will get wasted. Try some and save it for later. For people that do not like smoked beers might find this one pretty appealing and pleasant.

Cellar Door by Stilwater Artisanal

December 19, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged american farmhouse, Belgian White, Cellar Door, citrus flavors, Deadman Wonderland, Farmhouse Ale, german wheat, Saison, Shiro, Sterling & Citra hops, Stillwater Artisanal, wheat ale, white grapes, White Sage | Leave a comment

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Rating: 5/5

Cellar Door by Gypsy/Gangster brewer, Stilwater Artisanal is a 6.6%ABV Farmhouse ale/Saison wheat ale brewed with White Sage. It is actually closer to a witbier (Belgian White). Perhaps, a fusion of a saison and a Belgian white

Description:
over the ages the term ’cellar door’ has numerously been referred to as the most beautiful term in the English language. upon setting out to create the first summer addition to the Stateside line up of ales; the feeling that almost instantly came to me was that of beauty & cleansing. many summer offerings tend to lack the complexity of their bigger, colder season counterparts; so my goal was to craft an ale of extreme balance with a delicate complexity that allows for contemplation while also providing quaffable refreshment. Starting with a base of German wheat & pale malts this crisp slightly hazy foundation was then accented with a blend of Sterling & Citra hops providing a intricate blend of herbal grass & tangerine citrus flavors and aroma. to pull this all together and to complete the ’cleansing’ aspect of my vision i gently finished the ale off with a touch of white sage, lending a mild earthy spice character to the blend. of course let’s not forget our house saison yeast that brought all the elements together leaving a dry yet intricate finish. enjoy, b.
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Upon opening the Cellar Door of this fine ale, we are exposed to sweet Belgian and saison aromas. On one hand you have floral and some peppercorn notes but you can also smell the fragrance of tangerine, lemon, coriander spice, some mango, almost like a tang orange sweetness. The flavors go in many directions. We have Belgian wheat brad, sweet bread, orange, honey, minor grassy, pine and grapfruit hops in order to establish a minor Belgian Pale feel without compromising the sweet flavor for bitterness. There are some flavors or caramel, white grapes, mango, apples, peaches, pears, sage, coriander spice, banana cloves, peppercorn, oak wood and biscuit. It is kind of crazy as you get a load of tropical like fruit flavors, with rich Saison and bready goodness along with the way a Belgian White tastes. Quite the awesome blend of flavors here. Saison, Belgian White and some Belgian Pale Ale lovers will love this one. It is quite the exquisite beer and a must pick up if you can find it 😀

Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV by North Coast Brewing

December 19, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Aged, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV, bourbon barrels, bourbon county, chocolate caramel, coffee chocolate, Legend of Zelda, Link, Mexican Flan, Midna, Never say Die!, Nintendo, North Coast Brewing, Old Rasputin, Russian Imperial Stout, Zelda | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.5/5

Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV by North Coast Brewing is an 11.9% ABV Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Label:
Never say Die!

Every year we age a special batch of our much-loved Russian Imperial Stout in Bourbon barrels. The depth, intensity, and complexity of the flavor profile of this special release, like its predecessors, make it a worthy tribute to Old Rasputin.

Prior to 2010, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin was released in such limited quantities that it was available only at the North Coast Brewing retail shop in Fort Bragg, California. However, we received so many requests for this beer that we began producing enough Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin to put into broader, but still limited, distribution.
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This a pretty awesome beer. Upon opening this one, there was immediate aromas of rich coconut, vanilla, bourbon with roasted coffee, chocolate, caramel and some notes of Mexican sweetened condensed or flan. Maybe California’s response to Bourbon County Stout? The flavors are pretty sweet. The boozyness is only slight the flavors that hit the palate. Sweet rich chocolate, espresso, mocha, vanilla, caramel, whipped cream, rich Mexican flan, bourbon, coconut, figs, raisins and prunes. Another masterpiece exceeding the expectations. A must find for Barrel-Aged Stout lovers. Just awesome is what this is. If the original Old Rasputin is world class, this takes it to another level for me.

Bam Noire by Jolly Pumpkin

December 19, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged apple cider vinegar, Bam Noire, bat wings, caramel apples, Dark, Farmhouse Ale, Halloween beer, Jack Russell Dog, jolly pumpkin, Saison, wine grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.9/5

Bam Noire by Jolly Pumpkin is a 4.3% ABV Dark Farmhouse Ale/Saison. This is the second time I get to try this beer. One of the things I failed to notice when I did my first review, is the fact that… THIS BEER IS LOWER IN ALCOHOL THAN A BUDLIGHT. Also, the flavors is probably over 9000 times better than a bud light.

Label:
One of Bam’s brown eyes is, in fact, black. When mischief reigns supreme, it positively glows. Dedicated to the dark side; smooth, dark, incredibly delicious as only a Jack Russell with bat wings can be.
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One thing to note about Jolly pumpkin ales is that there is always some aromas and flavors of like wine grape sourness. This one seems to have a lighter amount of sourness to it. The fragrance is of wine grapes, coffee, lemon, caramel, cherries, raisins and oak wood. The flavors are somewhat balanced. There are some coffee cake notes, wine grape sourness, molasses, notes of apple cider vinegar, citrus, lemon, caramel, apples, ginger, brown sugar, and cherries. This is a nice low ABV beer to try if you like Saisons or sour ales. Even for some that may not like sour ales, this is pretty moderate to low sourness. It is enough for you to taste the dark roasted malts and fruits.

2011 Review:
Bam Noire Dark Farm House Ale is a well balanced beer consisting of sweet flavor from the malt, bit of bitterness from the fresh hops, and that Jolly Pumpkin goodness of wild yeast making this sour as well. It is refreshing and not too overwhelming in complexity. Just the right beer for the special occasion where you want to try sweet,sour,bitter at once…Definitely good stuff :P.

Warmer by Hangar 24

December 19, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged caramel malts, Christmas Trees, Cinnamon, ginger christmas, holiday beers, Maple Syrup, san bernardino mountains, Spruce, Warmer Hangar 24, Winter, Winter Warmer | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.6/5

Warmer by Hangar 24 is 7.8% ABV Local Fields Series Winter Warmer ale brewed with Maple Syrup, Spruce and Cinnamon.

Label:
This rich, strong ale neatly balances caramel malts and spices, providing warmth on a cool winter day. Every fall, we trek up the San Bernardino Mountains to harvest fresh spruce, then carefully add just the right amount of cinnamon and maple syrup to create our Warmer. It’s a lightly hopped, tantalizing ale with festive notes of maple, spruce and spice; a nice complement to a cooler time of year.
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This is the winter time holiday ale from Hangar 24. They usually make some pretty awesome beers. I have tried several different holiday beers and most of them are pretty awesome. This probably won’t be an exception. :P. Fragrance here is of maple, citrus, oak, nutmeg and other holiday spices. The aroma is not super intense but it still smells nice. The flavor reminds me of stronger Fat Tire notes. Ofcourse, mostly the malty sweetness and not the bitterness. It taste like maple syrup, caramel, biscuit bread, graham crackers, cinnamon, a little bit of ginger, Christmas Cookies, nutmeg, a little bit orange, pear, apples, raisins, bananas, Christmas tree oak, and notes of chocolate covered cherries in the after taste. All in all it is a very good Winter/Holiday time ale to enjoy and stay warm. It is common this time of the year so this one should be a pick up so try it out. Although Some of the other winter warmers may be much more sweeter because of their Ginger bread or Holiday Fruit cake properties, this is still a very ale and, most likely, easier to find 🙂

Gorch Fock by Three Floyds

December 18, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged craft beers, German Helles, German Style Helles Lager, gorch fock, graham crackers, Helles, Helles Lager, hop bitterness, Munich, Munich Helles Lage, Three Floyds | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Gorch Fock by Three Floyds is a 5.2% ABV Munich Helles Lager. This style originated from the need to come up with a German “light” beer so that people would not seek Czech Pilsners as a ligh beer alternative. These beers are light in color and generally sweeter due to the malts

Label:

A light golden colored Franconian style Helles Lager. With a slightly sweet malt body, a noble hop profile and a crisp finish this beer is as traditional as we’ll ever get.
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The fragrance is of pilsnery grains with some of the sweet peppercorn fragrances, spices, apples, honey and floral with some reminiscent spices like that of Allagash Curiex. This beer almost drinks like Curiex or like an Oktoberfest beer. Some honey biscuit bread, citrus, cereal, pilsner, peppercorn, graham crackers, and apples, grassy but crisp and refreshing hop bitterness. This would go good for like a summer day. The beer is pretty good and way more flavorful than an average lager beer and is quite drinkable too. Since it carries so much flavor yet it is still a lighter beer than most, it is definitely worth trying for those wanting to see what certain gateway craft beers are like.

Jubilee by Eagle Rock Brewery

December 18, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged banana bread, christmas beer, Eagle Rock Brewery, hop bitterness, Jubilee, Naruto, Naruto Rin, pumpkin spice, Rin Nohara, Spiced Old Ale, Winter Warmer | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Jubilee by Eagle Rock Brewery of Los Angeles California (Yes my home county) is a 8.1% ABV Winter Warmer Spiced Old Ale. I explained in an earlier review about winter warmers. Usually malt forward, sweeter beers that only hop bitterness is used for balance and are spiced up for holiday servings.

Label:

Jubilee, spiced old ale, is a delicious holiday treat with the aromas of freshly-baked banana bread and rich caramel. The spices used in this full-bodied winter warmer combined with a hint of molasses are reminiscent of the complex flavors of gingerbread. The rounded malt sweetness is balanced by an earthy finish, and just enough bitterness to give way to a lingering warmth, subdued sweetness, and rich fruit character on the palate.
Whether you choose to drink this beer during this holiday season or age it for another special occasion, enjoy it! Because ‘tis the season for jubilation!
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The fragrance reminds me of a cherry bread, cinnamon, and grapes. It is somewhat like the Holiday Fruit Cake Ale I tried before. Yet, the flavors are more abundant than the fragrance. The flavor is pretty delicious. Just the right type of Christmas beer. Its is full of cinnamon, delicious gingerbread flavors, cherry, some pumpkin spice, vanilla, caramel, bananas, raisins, pears, apples and brown sugar cookies. This is a very damn good Christmas beer. This is a definite pickup for Christmas, it is really awesome 😛

Dead Cat by BeerHere

December 18, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Amber Ale, BeerHere, dead cat, Fat Cat, hop aroma, medium bitterness, orange mango, Pizza Cats, Polly, Polly Ester, Samurai Pizza Cats | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

Dead Cat by BeerHere Brewing of Denmark is a 4.7% ABV Amber/Red Ale.

Label:

Dead Cat is an ale based on BeerHere’s Fat Cat which has been temporarily discontinued due to hop shortages. Dead Cat is an easy-going red ale with subtle bitterness, but a great hop aroma and hop flavor from American Simcoe hops. THE CAT IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE CAT!
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Hard to find back in October, now easier to find online and possibly in some beer specialty shops. This beer cries with hop, mango, peach, pears, citrus, maple and caramel aromas. For an amber ale, this seems pretty good. I would wanna say, just as close to dead guy (no pun intended…maybe 😉 ). That is pretty good balance of hops and caramel. The flavors pour in of maple, hazelnut, roasted peanuts, pine, grass and grapefruit hops but mild to medium bitterness. Some nice biscuit bread, caramel, but not as yeasty and sweet like the glory of Rogue Dead Guy. The Dead Cat likes to take it alittle bit more tropical. Not into the bitterness though. There are still some notes of orange, mango, and peach but not super fruity. The amazing thing about this beer, is just the fact that it is so low in ABV (.2% higher than Bud Light) and yet somehow it packs so much flavor. It is quite an amazing beer for such flavors and being so low in ABV. Too bad this is an import, this would be a top for so many amber beer lovers.

Fantôme Boo! by Brasserie Fantôme

December 18, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Boo, Brasserie Fantôme, Fantôme Boo!, fruit flavors, pumpkin seeds, sweet caramel, wine grapes | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Fantôme Boo! by Brasserie Fantôme of Belgium is an 8.0%ABV Saison/Farmhouse ale brewed with pumpkins. Just as a fair warning, BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN OPENING THIS BOTTLE and open over an open sink. As you can see from the picture the bottle spewed all over the place. LOL, it certainly spooked me….lucky I was able to save the majority of it 😉

Label:

Fantome Boo! Special Begian Ale. Burgundian Babble Belt. Imported by Shelton Bothers, Belchertown MA
—Been looking for this beer since October…I’m glad I found it and is more abundant now than before. I figure…One more pumpkin beer before the end of the year…why not 😉
Right off opening the bottle, there was a distinct pumpkin and vegetable smell like a tomato . Some orange zest, lemons, flowers, pine, grass and wet hay. Flavors are of peach, banana, wine grapes, tamarind, funky tart , biscuit bread, earthy must, sweet caramel, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, sweet orange, pear, old apples, pumpkin bread, pumpkin seeds, squash, mushrooms and like a cilantro or basil after taste. This has some very strange but rather delicious character. I don’t think I have tasted an ale that was like this with certain sweet and sour vegetable and fruit flavors. The sourness is hardly anything bad, more or a tart. People that love Saisons and possibly less artificial spiced, more fruity and more fermented pumpkin beers will like this one. The overall beer is sweet but the sourness balances it out.

Mouette à Trois (Three Seagulls) by Karl Strauss

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged cherry apple, chocolate caramel, chocolate coffee, Holiday Fruit Cake Ale, Holiday Fruitcake Dubbel, Karl Strauss, Mouette à Trois, Three Seagulls | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Mouette à Trois (Three Seagulls) by Karl Strauss is an 8.5%ABV Holiday Fruitcake Dubbel.

Label:

Mouette a Trois est la meileure biere que vous avez jamais goute ou notre nom n’est pas Karl Strauss. Mouette a Trois, meaning Three Seagulls, is the 3rd installment in our less than literal “Twelve Days” series of holiday ales. Brewed with fresh apricots, cherries and a blend of spices, the resulting strong ale is Belgian Dubbel meets fruitcake. Rich layers of candied fruit and warming spices are punctuated by notes of toffee and fresh baked bread. Aging on brandy-cured French oak adds hints of vanilla that linger through a warming finish. Don’t. Even. Think. About. Regifting.
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Sounded pretty interesting, so I said pourquoi pas? First pour of the beer had hardly any head retention. The fragrance of this beer is of cherries,peach, apple, citrus, chocolate, caramel and sweet bread. The flavors are quite fruity. There are some flavors of raisin, cherry, apple, peach, gummy bears, chocolate, coffee cake, buttery bread, dulce de leche caramel and vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, walnuts, almonds, oak wood, some flavors of the brandy, earthy hop and cider bitterness but the caramel and vanilla compliment in the after taste. Quite the complex, sweet, but not full bodied or overpowering Christmas beer. Now that is Christmas in a bottle. Pretty fancy and well worth trying. I’m liking this one a lot.

Bavarian Style Hefeweizen by Black Market Brewing

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Bavarian Style Hefeweizen, best german beers, Black Market Brewing, bread wheat, fruity aroma | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5.

Bavarian Style Hefeweizen by Black Market Brewing is a 5%ABV German Hefeveizen

Label:

Our award winning example of an authentic, traditional Bavarian (southern German) style Wheat Ale offers a fruity aroma with a touch of spiciness ad a creamy, but dry palate. Unfiltered for richer flavor and a characteristic haze. Enjoy it as a summer refresher, or anytime you’re feeling a little parched. Keeps bet when refrigerated.
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Bavarian Heffs are some of the best German beers in the world to me so to try one like this is an awesome thing. Fragrances include orange, tangerine, bread, some banana cloves but very little of it. The flavors include of the nice citrus like a lime, orange and tangerine, banana cloves, sweet bread, wheat, some coriander spice, and a little bit grainy cereal aftertaste. It is a pretty good beer but then again, Fransiskaner Heffeweisse is much easier to find. Still, not a bad pick up for an awesome hefeweizen though :).

Celebration by Sierra Nevada

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Celebration by Sierra Nevada is a 6.8%ABV Fresh Hop India Pale Ale

Label:

We first created Celebration Ale in the winter of 1981. Each year, we use only the first fresh hops of the growing season to create this complex and robust IPA. Layered pine and citrus hop aromas balance delicately against rich malt sweetness – creating this bold winter time classic.

Fresh hop ale is a special ale for the holidays. Featuring the first hops of the growing season, this pioneering IPA is full of complex flavors and aromas from fresh aromas from the generous use of whole-cone American hops.
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I have hear good things about this beer. Being one of the first craft brewing IPAs back in the 80’s, there is surely some history to this. A real hop bomb so fresh even for being the winter time. No wonder it is called celebration. Upon opening the beer it screams with grassy, pine, floral and herbal aromas. There is a scent of citrus and caramel in there as well. The hop fragrance is the usual nice hops from Sierra Nevada beers that I know of. The flavor of the beer is strong with hops. Not in the super bitter IPA but the actual grassy piney rich hops. The oily hops possibly or like a Christmas Tree pine. Some notes of caramel and maple. Flavors of grapefruit, apples, orange, herbs and some breadyness but not lot. Through out the beer, the hop flavors do not seem to dissipate at all. They go there even in the after taste. Huge hop head favorite I am sure. The bitterness is quite pleasant and not like actual IPA overpowering, although that may not be so bad ;). Still an awesome IPA for Christmas.

Organic Gingerbread Ale by Bison Brewing

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged banana notes, Bison Brewing, Elly Van Houten, ginger spice, malt flavors, Organic Gingerbread, pumpkin spice, Xenogears | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Organic Gingerbread Ale by Bison Brewing is a 6%ABV Gingerbread spice ale brewed with Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon

Label:

Gingerbread Ale our spiced holiday porter is brewed with only a touch of spices for the aroma of fresh baked gingerbread men! The chewy dark malt flavors are sure to smooth out that dinner with the in-laws.
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The aromas on the beer are of cloves, gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, maybe some pumpkin spice but it is not very fragrant. The flavors of this beer are not too strong. I can tell that there is some cinnamon, some ginger spice, a little bit of biscuit, ginger bread, some grainy cereal, faint chocolate and coffee, and somewhat of banana notes as well in the after taste. While this beer is not super overwhelming, it is still pretty good. Very drinkable and goes down well. Worthy of a taste although Sam Adams Merry Michief I think is a better alternative for the holiday season. Still, if you want a gingerbread beer that comes in a pack to share got get this one.

namaste. By Dogfish Head

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian White, lemon honey, Namaste, namaste Dogfish head, orange slices, Queen's Blade, refreshing summer, Witbier | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

namaste. By Dogfish Head is a 5%ABV Belgian White (Witbier) brewed with coriander, orange and lemongrass.

Label:

Namaste, the word kinds sorta means the spirit in me recognizes and celebrates the spirit in you. Namaste the beer kinda sorta means white ale as in wheat and coriander but also means dried orange slices and lemongrass. A refreshing summer thing. Namaste.
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Namaste has nice wheat, citrus, lemon, grassy, peppercorn and honey aromas. The taste is of wheat, coriander spices, coriander, lemon, honey, light biscuit bread, peppercorn, light peaches, grapes, light pears, mild grass and pine hops. It goes down smooth, crisp, refreshing and is light bodied. It is definitely more of a summer and is a good alternative if you do not want something too strong or overwhelming. Quite enjoyable Belgian White.

Organic Chocolate Stout by Samuel Smith

December 17, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged organic chocolate, Organic Chocolate Stout, samuel smith, yorkshire squares | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Organic Chocolate Stout by Samuel Smith is a 5.00%ABV Milk Stout Brewed with Organic Chocolate.

Label:

Brewed with water from the original brewery well sunk in 1758, the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and real organic cocoa used in this ale impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavors and a delightful finish—this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate that will lead to smiles and refills. Samuel Smith’s brews in traditional coppers, uses stone ‘Yorkshire Squares’ for fermentation, and ships every bottle from the brewery with great pride
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Oh my fucking GOD!!!… another epic chocolate beer….lol just like the art work of the bags of chocolate, just plug it into MY VEINS!!!….Fragrance explodes with very rich milk chocolate aromas. Taste is like nectar of gods. Chocolate, rich but not super ultra mega sweet. There is still some caramel and vanilla notes there as well. There is some roasty bitterness but it is very little. So little that it is only there balance the beer and not try and detract from the amazing chocolate flavor. It is all natural beer which totally tells any form that is not chocolate tasting to take a hike. This is so good and the only reason it has not reached chocolate rain is because even if it is rich in chocolate, it is not ultra mega sugary boozy epicness like chocolate rain. It is just to let you know look, you are looking at beer that when it says it taste like true chocolate, you better believe its gonna be chocolate. Also it is a 5.0%ABV so that is even more amazing. Doesn’t have to be super strong to pull some amazing flavor. You know what else is 5.0%ABV? Budweiser, and this is way way better than that. This has become another chocolate favorite beer of mine and is a must try..