Beers, beers, beers.

Bell's Oarsman Ale

2010-10-07T22:20:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note, since I'm finishing a six-pack and didn't want to not tell you how good this beer is. It's intended to be a more interesting session beer, at 4%, and definitely succeeds. It's got some Berliner-weisse style tartness, which makes it refreshing and quite drinkable. It'd be great for summer, but it's still good now. And while I don't usually comment on labels, the art on this one is really lovely. Point being: very strongly recommended.

Dogfish Head Namaste

2010-10-06T22:51:00.001-04:00

I guess I left this in the fridge too long - it's explicitly a summer beer, basically a Dogfish riff on a white ale. Big yeast nose, maybe hints of the coriander and lemongrass that are in there. Lighter in flavor than expected, but a pretty typical white ale profile. It's not the best white ale I've had, but it's surprisingly straightforward and not-crazy for Dogfish. Quite drinkable. I'd definitely have this again - preferably not in the limited-run large bottle, though.

Dogfish Head Sah'tea

2010-07-20T22:19:00.001-04:00

I've been wanting to try this ever since I'd heard about it, but being in California kept me from it. I've had this bottle in my fridge for a minute, and tomorrow's a big day, so here goes. (And for background, this is Dogfish's take on a traditional Finnish sahti, of which I've had a few and which are quite odd.)

Big chai spice in the nose, maybe a bit of a hefeweizen yeast too. A bit lighter in body and flavor than I expected. Spices, a bit of tea astringency, bubble gum yeast. I'm not picking up the juniper so much. Very surprised this is 9%; it's remarkably drinkable. It's a different flavor profile, for sure, but pretty tasty and less crazy than expected. I could definitely drink this again - I think I wouldn't mind at all if it were available in four packs, like the Midas Touch. Strongly recommended.

Jerome Andean Stout

2010-07-06T22:51:00.001-04:00

Here's a craft beer from Argentina - that's a new one to me. I'm not sure if "Andean stout" is intended to be a distinct style, or just geographically descriptive.
Smells very metallic, a little musty, a little sour, some roastiness as well. Not a smell that inspires confidence; I wonder if this is a bad bottle. Flavor-wise, there's a decent stout in here, but those notes from the smell came back with an extra note of this-does-not-belong-in-my-mouth. Honestly, bad enough that I can't being myself to take another sip to further analyze the flavor.
Bad bottles happen, unfortunately, though it's disappointing when quality control allows them to make it onto shelves. I'm hoping that this is just a bad bottle, because otherwise, Cerveza Jerome is doing something very wrong here. Try with caution, I suppose.

He'brew Rejewvenator 2010

2010-07-04T22:51:00.001-04:00

I've enjoyed the last two beers in the Rejewvenator series, but I'm a little apprehensive of this one. It's still half doppelbock, half dubbel, with fruit - this year's fruit is grape, though. I'm not sure at all how this is going to be. Lots of alcohol in the nose, and a very sweet fruity smell - not wholly pleasant. Flavor is pretty weird: I don't notice it at all on the tip of my tongue, and it's a little light in flavor overall. There's a clear dubbel yeast presence, and a tiny hint of alcohol in the finish. Maybe a little grape juice in the aftertaste. Very odd. I don't love the smell, but don't hate the taste, but do wish there was more of it. I'm hoping this opens up more as it warms, but this is a big step down from last year. It won't hurt you to try it, but you're not missing much.

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

2010-07-03T23:25:00.001-04:00

One thing that always baffled me while I lived in California was that Great Divide, in Colorado, distributed to DC but not San Francisco. I often lamented not being able to get their imperial stout, Yeti. But the last time I had it, I found that I'd built it up in my mind a bit; it just wasn't nearly as good as I remembered. And I never cared much for the oak aged version, if memory serves. So I had some doubts when I saw this in the shop, but I figured it was worth a try - frankly, I'm interested in just about any beer whose label copy claims they've "toned down the hops".

Smells actually a little floral hoppy, with roasty malts and a sort of coppery note. Taste is solid stout, hints of chocolate. I don't taste alcohol, but there is definitely a notable burn in the finish. This could cover the alcohol better, and have a bit more chocolate presence. Also, the oak is barely present: I actually forgot about it while I was scrutinizing the taste. Overall, I'd like to see the flavors balanced better, and a more general sense of quality. This isn't bad, honestly, but it's not what I'd hoped for, and I doubt I'll seek it out again.

Yards Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce Ale

2010-07-01T23:16:00.001-04:00

I'm trying to break my cycle of never reviewing the last beer of a six-pack with this. I especially didn't want it to go unnoted because it's a historical recreation (based allegedly on an actual Benjamin Franklin recipe), and I'm a sucker for a concept beer. Smells sweet and, well, sprucey - green and piney but also sort of rosemary-savory. That savory herbal quality is what really jumps out. Lightly sweet, drier finish, thick body. Tastes very much like a brown ale but with that spruce flavor running through it. I'm a big fan of spruce flavor - this isn't the first spruce beer I've had - so this is definitely enjoyable to me. I can see this not being for everyone, and it'd be pretty tricky to pair correctly so you really need to know what you're getting into when you open this up. Still, totally worth trying.

Stone/Dogfish Head/Victory Saison du BUFF (Stone bottled version)

2010-06-29T21:33:00.001-04:00

Another collaboration beer - this time it's a saison, which has me pretty stoked. Smells super herby - rosemary pops out, but there's a lot more going on there, including some herbal hops. Same big herbal punch in the taste, with a little sweetness up front front and a mildly bitter finish. Light malt and yeast notes, too. This reminds me of a terrible saison I brewed once, but much more enjoyable. The bit of sweetness keeps this from being too savory, like a marinade, but it's flavorful enough that it's not a quick, forgettable drink. Worth a try, and I'll certainly seek out the other two bottlings when they happen.

Flying Fish Exit 6 Wallonian Rye

2010-06-15T23:30:00.001-04:00

I've been getting press releases about Flying Fish's Exit series for a while, and felt a little teased since they don't distribute to California. Being back on the east coast, I've for access, and the release for this piqued my attention.

Yeasty nose, hints of citrus. That yeast shines through, creamy and lightly lemony. Not a lot of rye spice, but it's there, and it puts a little slant on this. Not incredible, but lovely enough, and worth having again.

Brewer's Art Resurrection Ale

2010-06-14T23:24:00.001-04:00

Bought entirely on the strength of the Brewer's Art name - I missed them in California.

Big yeasty Belgian aroma - this actually smells a lot like actually being in a brewery, which is pretty rad. Light sweetness, classic Belgian flavor, but not too big. Really drinkable, if slightly unexciting, but totally solid. Highly recommended.

Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes Cuvée Alex Le Rouge

2010-06-14T22:24:00.001-04:00

An interestingly minimal label caught my eye at my favorite beer store recently, so I looked closer. What I found: a Swiss(!) "Jurassian" imperial stout made with black pepper, bourbon vanilla, and Russian tea. I love black pepper, and am very curious about brewing beer with tea - basically there's too much interesting going on here for me not to try.

Nose is fruity tea, which could be hops or actual tea. Not much of the pepper or vanilla (or malt) shining through. Oddly light and thin body; the base doesn't really seem like an imperial stout. There's a slightly sour fruitiness, and a bit of astringency.

This might open up more as it warms, but the balance seems way off and the noted additions aren't really showing up like you'd want them to. Not recommended.

BrewDog & Stone Bashah

2010-06-09T23:19:00.001-04:00

I knew about this before seeing it in stores, and I was skeptical: double IPA from BrewDog and Stone sounds like crazy hops. But then I saw it the other day and just grabbed it on a whim.

Big hop nose, not all crazy citrus, a little yeast and roasty malt there too. Hmm. Bitter, astringent tea-like dryness, but then there's that porter-like roasty element right behind it.

I'd like to see more of the Belgian in the flavor - maybe I will as it warms - but this is interesting. I just wrote about how I hate the hoppy porter, but this does a very similar thing in a much more balanced way. The hop flavor isn't quashing the roastiness, which the bitterness is helping to pronounce a bit. I don't know that I'd have this again, but I don't regret trying it.

Heavy Seas Letter of Marque 2010 Rye Porter

2010-06-07T22:32:00.001-04:00

Not that it's an excuse for my absence in posting, but I've been moving cross country, and hustling in general. I've had a few great beers post-move that I didn't bother to take notes on - offhand, Schlafly's quad sticks out as being pretty great.

Anyhow, I'm trying to resume blogging. I love rye beers, but still don't love hops, so most of your R.I.P.A.s definitely don't do it for me. A rye porter, though? Now we're talking.

Hoppy nose, more citrus than herbal. Tough to notice too much underneath it... doesn't bode well. Thick, dark malt followed quickly by hop bitterness. Maybe some rye spice in there somewhere; it's certainly more of a savory porter.

I do not understand the hoppy porter, though. Hops are not what I want in a beer like this. I feel like I'm missing out on the rye, which ought to be the star of this beer. Not undrinkable really, but I won't be buying it again.

Widmer Brothers Brothers' Reserve Prickly Pear Braggot

2010-05-16T22:47:00.001-04:00

I don't love Widmer, but I do really like prickly pear, and I'm very interested in braggot. And this was pretty cheap for a "reserve" offering.

Big fruity smell, a lot of that apple-y prickly pear aroma, and hints of honey. Thicker, honey body, reasonable carbonation, but weirdly light flavor. There's honey and fruit there if I really probe, but mostly it's sweet thick water with some alcohol presence. Drinkable, but not recommended.

The Bruery Papier

2010-05-11T02:16:00.001-04:00

The last of my pre-move beers (don't worry, my cellar's moving with me), this is 75% oak aged and 25% bourbon barrel aged. Bottle #2649 of 4777 - I'm stoked.

Tons of wood on the nose - crazy woody. Cocoa, bourbon, dark fruits, malt, just heaps of smells. Very thick, barely carbonated. There's a brightness that shines through the wood and syrupiness that makes this distinct from sludgier imperial stouts I've had. There's some alcohol presence, but not the 14.5% the bottle claims.

This is something else. It's unique without having to do anything too extreme (well, other than high gravity and barrel aging, but I mean there's no wacky ingredients mentioned). It could use more carbonation to counteract the thickness, but it's a pleasantly rich treat, fairly appropriate for my last night in California.

The Bruery Autumn Maple (Barrel-Aged version)

2010-05-10T03:10:00.001-04:00

Honestly, I'm not a huge maple fan - the regular version of this is fine, but not my favorite - but I do like barrel-aging. I've been hanging on to this for a while now, after picking it up the last time I was in LA, but I'm drinking it now because I'm moving.

Smells malty, a little sweet potato, a little sweet alcohol, some wood. Thick and sweet, sweet oak predominates. Has some of that brown sugar sweet potato taste happening underneath. A little hint of alcohol, slight dryness in the finish, but overall big and boozy and woody and sweet.

I like this more than the regular version - the oak sort of plays down the parts that I don't like as much. Good for the crisp night here (it's sort of like autumn), and recommended if you like oak (and if it's even still available).

The Bruery Two Turtle Doves

2010-04-28T01:12:00.001-04:00

A bit out of season - this was stashed pending the girl feeling like sharing it, but we're moving soon and so have to drink the stash down. Kind of terrible to be rushed, but a nice excuse to drink interesting stuff.

Really interesting nose! A distinct melon smell, Belgian yeast, dark sugars. Quite thick and sweet, dark malts, tons of fruit, hints of cocoa. A little alcohol presence at the end.

I was worried this would be too wintry, and while it does nod to that, it doesn't seem too inappropriate. It's a quite interesting combination of flavors; recommended if you like your beers complex.

Goose Island Sofie

2010-04-27T02:43:00.001-04:00

Yeasty, wheaty nose. Smells a little tart and crisp, like a good summer wheat. Much rounder in the mouth than that suggests, though, with a really interesting interplay between light tartness and sweetness. Maybe a little heavy to be truly refreshing, but still quite drinkable. Absolutely recommended.

Goose Island Pere Jacques 2010

2010-04-12T03:00:00.001-04:00

As promised, Goose Island beer I haven't seen in California before. This one's an abbey ale.

I usually don't bother with appearance notes, but this is unusually clear for something bottle conditioned, and the head retention is pretty mild. Good Belgian yeast aroma, with some dark sugar. Sweet, malty and thick, brown sugar and dried fruits. Better carbonation than I'd expected. Really pleasant - a solid impression of a Trappist dubbel.
The bottle notes that this can be aged for five years. I wonder: why five? At any rate, I may stash a bottle or two away.

Mad River Steelhead Scotch Style Porter

2010-04-11T01:37:00.001-04:00

I've had a bad tendency lately to buy a six-pack, planning to review it, and then drink through it thinking that I'd take notes on the next bottle. I'll try to not do that; to that end, here's the last bottle of this six.

Dark malt, a little smoke in the aroma. Same profile in the taste, with a little sweetness. Like other smoked porters I've had, but with the thick malt leaning toward a scotch ale. A really pleasant porter variant which I've enjoyed drinking. Recommended.

De Proef La Grande Blanche Belgian Imperial White Ale

2010-04-10T23:51:00.001-04:00

Clear sour note on the nose, citrus and wheat too. Thick and a little sweet, no tartness at all. Nice wheat character; okay, maybe a hint of funky tartness at the end. Though I could be imagining it, just because this is from De Proef.

Not bad, but I don't love it. I'd drink it again, I suppose. I should note that the girlfriend got this for herself, and she's quite pleased with it.

Nøgne Ø Saison

2010-04-08T03:10:00.001-04:00

I'm writing this largely because I'm giddy to find out that my local Whole Foods is dramatically increasing it's beer section, and the buyer isn't filling it up with a bunch of west coast stuff I can get elsewhere. Especially great for me is seeing some of the special Goose Island stuff - look forward to notes on that soon.

As for this, I can't recall if I've had it before or not. Smells a little wheaty, hint of citrus, a slightly musty tinge. Full carbonation, wheat flavor and texture, with that citrus again and a bit of an herbal note.

I'm not sure it's the best saison I've had, but it's probably the most drinkable. Summer arrived here today, and this is a fine beer for it; really refreshing. I'll be sure to turn to this again in July when I want a beer that's still got plenty of flavor.

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale

2010-03-31T01:56:00.001-04:00

A collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Anchor, two breweries I've been a little dismissive of (especially since moving to California). Since it's a stout, I'm hoping it's not a crazy hop bomb.

Classic roasty stout nose, a little coffee, a little chocolate. Nice and smooth mouthfeel, noticeable chocolate, light sweetness. Interestingly, there is some hop presence, but it's a light touch that doesn't clash.

I shouldn't have doubted - this is solidly made. Definitely recommended.

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot

2010-03-28T01:17:00.001-04:00

I'm not really a big Lagunitas fan - I've tried a few of their beers, and they've always been overly hoppy, west coast style, so not my thing. But lately I've actually been a little more interested in hoppier beers, and the girlfriend wanted to try this, so I thought it was worth a shot.

Big west coast hop nose, very citrusy. From the appearance, you'd think I'd smell malt, but I don't - just hops. In the mouth, the balance is all wrong. Too much bitterness suppresses whatever other flavors are there. There might be some caramel sweetness, but it's too hard to tell under all those hops.

If you're a hop geek, you might like this. For me, this just cements my opinion of Lagunitas as a brand that's just not for me.

St Martin Cuvée De Noël

2010-03-16T03:17:00.001-04:00

It is admittedly a little late to be drinking Christmas beer; spring has clearly sprung here, and it's gotten a trifle warm. On the other hand, Santa Cruz wasn't really all that cold in December either, so I can't sweat seasonality too much.

Smells really Christmassy: tons of spices, big licorice, clove, and some cinnamon and nutmeg. Big carbonation, thinner than expected, light sweetness, and plenty of those same spices.

The licorice is a little much for me; if you like that sort of thing you might like this. It's a little unremarkable otherwise, but certainly not bad, by any means.

Mikkeller Monk's Brew

2010-03-04T01:40:00.001-05:00

Smells like sweet alcohol, fruity brown sugar. Much less alcohol in the mouth - raisiny fruit, yeast. Quite smooth, actually; this is really quite enjoyable. One of the best non-Belgian Belgians I've had.

Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout

2010-03-03T02:01:00.001-05:00

Smells like cold coffee, with sweet malt notes. Smooth, fairly burnt and bitter - a little heavy on the black patent malt - some sweetness, and an odd flavor in the finish. Maybe a little soapy?

That doesn't sound very good, but this isn't terrible. Still, not something I'll seek out again, though I can drink the bottle.

Mikkeller Draft Bear

2010-02-28T01:37:00.001-05:00

Mikkeller has become one of those breweries who I'm willing to try just about anything from without needing to ask too many questions in advance. The bottle just calls this "malt liquor" - that doesn't sound like something I'll hate, right?

Very floral hop nose, some citrus behind it. Has a crisp, lagery smell underneath. Good body, modestly hoppy, not overwhelmingly flavorful. There's a sweet malt presence, and a little spiciness.

Pretty drinkable - more than the hoppy nose suggested - but I don't love this. It's got a real amped-up pilsener character, which is interesting for being so distinct, but I don't see myself really craving this again.

Beer Here Mørke Pumpernickel Porter

2010-02-26T02:49:00.001-05:00

I'd never heard of this brewery, but rye porter sounded good. I just looked more closely at the label; it's a Danish brewery using Nøgne Ø's facilities, which bodes well.

Smells roasty, a little burnt, with some rye spiciness. Real thick, savory dark malt. The rye isn't too pronounced, but it's there, mingling with a teensy bit of hop presence. Finishes with a gentle sweetness, which gives it a nice drinkability for something so thick.

This is good - clearly I need to learn more about Beer Here. Recommended.

Alaskan Barley Wine (2009)

2010-02-25T02:10:00.001-05:00

I've had a handful of Alaskan's beers, and haven't really loved or hated any if them. Their smoked porter is a touch too smoky for me, but I recently found their summer ale to be fairly pleasant. That positive experience led me to try this, while it's still (sort of) cold here.

A bit of spicy, piney hop nose up front, with some brown sugar behind it. Almost smells minty, actually. Thick, herbal brown sugar sweetness. There's more hop here than I usually want, but it's not citrusy, and it actually works for me; the fruity sweetness carries it, I think.

I only want a barleywine every so often, so this might be my only one for the season. For that, it's not bad. Definitely one of the better American-style barleywines I've had.

Grand Teton Sheep Eater Scotch Ale

2010-02-22T21:22:00.002-05:00

This is the fourth in Grand Teton's Reinheitsgebot series, and apparently I had the first one long enough ago to be confused. I knew it was a doppelbock, and I'd assumed accordingly that it was intended to showcase malt. I'd been wondering after the last two in the series (yeast and hops) how they were going to showcase water; I was pretty surprised to see a Scotch ale.
Of course, I had it wrong - the doppelbock was the water showcase. I don't think that makes a lot of sense, but I can't argue that Scotch ale's not a good place to show malt.

Smells malty, a little smoke. Very light carbonation, but thick. Definitely sweet and malty - almost candy sweet - and a little smoke.
I'm okay with the smoke; my girlfriend claims it's "too bacony". The sweetness is a little one-dimensional, though, and it definitely should have more bubble. Perhaps I got an off bottle in that regard. I'd consider trying this again, but it's not my favorite of the series - that might have to be the weizenbock.

Nøgne Ø Sunturnbrew

2010-02-13T01:58:00.001-05:00

Another attractive bottle from Nøgne Ø. I don't really like to talk about packaging much here - this is s beer blog, not a marketing blog - but this new label style looks sharp.

Smells big: herbal hops, dried fruit, malt, some alcohol. Sweet malt with a smoke character, a little fruitiness. I can tell the hops are there, but not too much - the finish is still quite sweet.

This is kind of wacky. The smoky character is pretty unexpected, but much easier to enjoy than smoke in beer often is. I believe that I quite enjoy this. It's absolutely worth trying, and I'd gladly have another.

Lucky Hand Black Lager

2010-02-07T00:20:00.001-05:00

Smells roasty, stout-like. Tastes like one, too. Light lager character, really toasty, roasty. Not bad, sure, but I've already had a few tonight (I was at a party earlier), so who really knows? I'd try it again, yeah.

Nøgne Ø Tiger Tripel

2010-02-06T02:18:00.001-05:00

I should go to different beer stores more often - there's all kinds of beers I don't see usually out there. Here's a pretty new bottle from Nøgne Ø.

A citrusy fruit nose, with a little tartness - almost like a funky kind of tart. Full and yeasty flavor, with a different, more traditional fruitiness. Mild sweetness, maybe a ginger note?

This is clearly not Belgian, but it's much better than a lot of American tripels I've had. I'd have this again.

Magnolia Brewing 4 Winds Quadrupel

2010-02-05T18:08:00.001-05:00

Light nose, without the Belgian yeast quality I expect. Thick, sweet, but also a little crisp and bitter. Fruity, but still, where's that yeast? Maybe this could use bottle conditioning? Good, but can't touch a real Belgian quad. I'd have another, sure, but I doubt I'll miss it when it's gone.

San Francisco Brewers Guild 2010 Collaborative Imperial Common

2010-02-05T17:45:00.001-05:00

Light hoppy nose, not too much else. Thick, but quite bracing and crisp - a little of that lager character. More herbal hops in the flavor, but they fit pretty well. Pretty balanced, and while it feels heavy, the alcohol is well hidden. Probably won't have another, but I'm very glad to have tried it.

Magnolia Brewing Delilah Jones Rye

2010-02-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

Light caramel malt aroma. Sweet, lightly spicy, thick but not syrupy. This is really, really enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Mikkeller Not Just Another Wit

2010-02-05T02:26:00.001-05:00

Another interesting recent acquisition - I've loved some Mikkeller beers, and some really missed the mark with me. I don't think there's anything about this that suggests it won't be one of the former...

Big wit aroma, with hops - lemon/grapefruit with a little yeast. Surprisingly brief flavor: a little citrusy malt, tasty, but it doesn't really hang on the palate. Totally doesn't taste like 8% - much more easy drinking than that suggests.

I don't love the hoppy nose, but this is certainly not bad. I'd have it again, but I likely won't seek it out. You might feel differently, though, and should probably try it.

La Trappe Isid'or

2010-02-04T22:23:00.002-05:00

As it's the only trappist brewery I've had occasion to visit, I have a soft spot for Koningshoeven (and honestly, I tend to think well of any brewery I've had occasion to visit, particularly when they're nice). I had heard they had a new beer coming out some time ago - this one - and I was pretty intrigued. But it was a long time before I saw it for sale. I found a bottle recently and grabbed it, since I couldn't remember if I've had it before or not. (A quick search of the archives suggests no, but I wonder if I drank it without taking notes. Who knows?) Long story short, this is a beer made to celebrate their 125th anniversary of brewing, and regardless of the current commercial status of the brewery, that's not to be scoffed at.

Smells like good Belgian yeast, a little peachy-plum type fruit. Lovely fruit taste - maybe a little white grape? - with sweetness up front that dries out pretty quickly. Lots of lovely little bubbles; very satisfying texture. The flavor fades a little fast, which sort of works well here - being less sweet makes this really drinkable. At 7.5% I hesitate to call this a session beer, but if your tolerance is a little higher, it could be one. Good flavor, with enough to interest but not so much complexity as to make you need to sip it. Definitely recommended.

The Lost Abbey 10 Commandments (2009)

2010-02-04T01:36:00.002-05:00

Grabbed this recently on account of it being made with "honey, raisins and rosemary". Intriguing enough for me.

Big raisiny aroma (sort of reminds me of Dogfish Head's Raison D'etre, but it's been a while since I've had one of those), with a little dark bready malt and a hint of alcohol. Big, sweet Belgiany taste: sugar and fruit up front, dark portery malt in the middle, and a little hint of rosemary in the finish. The rosemary is definitely not overplayed, and its subtlety is appreciated. There's just enough there to really play off the other flavors well.

I am totally about this. It might be a little sweet for some, but I doubt it's that bad. It's a little like a Belgianized sweet stout with a few twists. I would absolutely love to see how this ages. Very recommended.

Haandbryggeriet Norse Porter

2010-02-01T02:40:00.001-05:00

I'm glad I'm drinking this at home - I would certainly butcher the name if I was ordering this at a bar.

Lots of raisin in the nose, and a definite burnt note. A hint of alcohol, too. Dry and roasty in the mouth, with a vinuous character, maybe a bit of wood, and some rye.

Kind of more savory than expected; this is a real bready kind of beer. Enjoyable for that.

BrewDog Chaos Theory

2010-01-29T02:23:00.001-05:00

A random purchase - no idea if I'm about this or not.

Big hoppy nose, but not all west coast and citrusy - green, mainly, and a little caramel underneath. More bitter than I want, without sweetness to balance it out. It's got a real herbal, dry, tea kind of thing going for it.

You know, I don't hate this. It's not really my thing, but I can see the appeal here, and I'll drink the rest of this, sure.

Fantôme Saison D'Erezée - Hiver

2010-01-27T21:25:00.001-05:00

When I lived on the east coast, there was only one place I could go that offered Fantôme's beers. Even when I went to that bar, the price was enough that I'd have to convince a friend to share a 750 with me - something rare, as I've never known anyone who liked saisons as much as I do.

So: this is either the first or second Fantôme I've had, and I'm stoked. I do quite like a saison, and Fantôme's reputation proceeds them. And I'm quite curious about what a winter saison is like.

Smells like a saison, yeah, but with a little bit of winter spicing - maybe cinnamon, vanilla. Tastes more dry than expected, with more hop bitterness. Under that, though, is a creamy malt with those hints of winter that were in the nose.

I suspect this will improve as it warms up. As is, this would probably be great with food. On its own, not incredible, but good. I don't know if Fantôme has become more available back east lately, but just in case, I'll be making a point of having more while I'm still living here.

Grand Teton Black Cauldron Imperial Stout

2010-01-27T02:31:00.001-05:00

Having had a number of tasty beers from Grand Teton (and a double IPA which simply wasn't my thing), I've got an open eye now for stuff of theirs I haven't tried. The Whole Foods near me have been featuring this prominently, so let's check it out.

Smells like bitter chocolate, though not so much like cocoa - more that it's that style of bitter. Coffee too, of course. Thick, but still well carbonated. Mostly that bitter cold coffee thing in taste, but smoother than that suggests; the more-than-typical fizz helps with that, I suspect. Finishes with a tiny sweet aftertaste and maybe a hint of alcohol.

Not the best imperial stout I've had - I'm glad I got a single bottle rather than a four pack. That said, being stuck with three more of these wouldn't be so bad. I doubt I'll get more, but I wouldn't say no to having this again. It's just not quite the kind of character I want. Worth a try, though: maybe it'll do more for you.

Speakeasy Payback Porter

2010-01-25T21:26:00.001-05:00

Despite their being fairly local to me, I haven't had most of Speakeasy's offerings. The ones that are readily available are styles I don't tend to enjoy, so I haven't gone out of my way to try them. But I saw this in the store yesterday, and figured I should give it a go.

Smells roasty, with hints of coffee and chocolate. More coffee than chocolate in the flavor, though, and just a hint of green hoppiness. Normally I don't go for hop notes in stouts and porters, but it doesn't really offend me here.

Maybe my anti-hop stance is softening? This is worth trying - it's nothing incredible, but it seems like it'd have broad appeal.

Grand Teton Brewing Co. Pursuit of Hoppiness

2010-01-25T02:27:00.001-05:00

This is the third in Grand Teton's Reinheitsgebot series, highlighting one of the ingredients allowed by that law. I enjoyed well enough the previous two -malt and yeast - that I thought I'd try this one, hops.

However, those first two were a doppelbock and weizenbock respectively, both styles I tend to like. This is billed as an "American red ale", and as it's meant to accent hops, well, I'm not so confident I'll love this.

Pretty big hop nose, piney more than citrus. Juicy in the mouth, hops, and a noticeable but not too prominent malt backbone. Remarkably non- bitter, though, and it finishes a bit sweet.

I'm surprised by how much I enjoy this. I probably won't buy more, but I'll certainly be able to finish the bottle (with assistance, admittedly). I'd definitely recommend this to anyone else who doesn't usually like hoppy beers, though I suspect those who like intense bitterness might find it boring.

Bitburger Premium Pils

2010-01-10T22:55:00.001-05:00

I've had lagers on the brain, so I picked up a few. This smells honey- sweet, grainy (maybe corn?). Flavorful, with more sweet grain, and maybe a bit of vegetal character. Sweet finish, with an odd aftertaste a little like diet soda.

Not exactly what I was craving, but tasty enough. The aftertaste is less than desirable.

Hello, Cheese

2010-01-10T21:20:00.003-05:00

A brief aside from the usual tasting notes -

If you like the way we're doing things here, and also happen to like cheese, you may well be interested in Brittany's new project, Hello, Cheese. Because she's a better writer than I am, and generally does a better job of committing to projects than I do, her blog will likely consist of more than just dashed off tasting notes and so ought to be a fine read/resource.

And you can follow it on Twitter, if you prefer: @hellocheese.

I hope you enjoy it!

Abbaye de St. Martin Blonde

2010-01-09T20:32:00.001-05:00

Maybe a little fruit and grain on the nose, but it's pretty faint. Almost smells lagery (but I've admittedly got lager on the mind at the moment). Nice high carbonation, very light sweet grain. A bit of yeast in the finish.

This reminds me of a lot of American lagers, but better, and with an ale twist. Very drinkable and sessionable; I'd definitely have another.

Widmer Brothers' Reserve Cherry Oak Doppelbock

2010-01-07T23:00:00.001-05:00

Smells oaky, some fruit. Wood and cherry, brown sugar, a little alcohol presence. Tasty enough, but a little too sweet, and not super- complicated. Worth having once.

Special Holiday Ale - Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin / Stone

2010-01-03T01:37:00.001-05:00

I had the version of this that Stone released, but I guess I never published notes. I recall liking it; I'm not sure if I should expect anything different from this. (I'm sort of dreading the Jolly Pumpkin version - I respect what they do, but it's not my thing. But now that I've had two of three, I'll feel obliged to try it.)

Spices are noticeable on the nose - maybe the juniper the label mentions. Really high carbonation, and a very herbal sort of fruitiness (probably the white sage). Not sure I notice the chestnuts. Fairly sweet snd malty beneath all the other stuff.

This is pretty weird. Sage and juniper are pretty distinctive flavors, and if you like them you may like this. I remember the Stone version seeming a little odd, but enjoyable. The balance here might be a little too far toward odd.

Brooklyn Local 2

2010-01-01T22:38:00.001-05:00

I'll be honest: I don't love Brooklyn's Local 1. This has gotten me some dirty looks. The thing is, it's not bad - it's a really well- crafted, solid American Belgian. But I didn't find it very interesting, and there's not a lot to make me want to drink it again.

I've expected Local 2 to be about the same. So:

Smells good - a little yeasty, lots of fruit (apple, maybe fig?), some caramel-roastiness. Tastes a lot like it smells, fruity and Belgiany and all that. Sweetness, but finishes a little more dry, and the alcohol is well carried.

I haven't had Local 1 lately, and I'm not sure how this compares directly, but I feel about the same. There's no flaws in this beer, but I'm looking for more character. Still, would recommend trying, and would drink again.

The Duck-Rabbit Märzen

2009-12-19T19:32:00.001-05:00

Smells right - malty and lagery. Taste is almost exactly what I want, with sweet malt and a crisp finish. There's an odd note in the end, but otherwise this is quite good.

Penn Brewery St. Nikolaus Bock Bier

2009-12-17T23:08:00.001-05:00

Grabbed this randomly at a wine shop. I don't think I've had anything from Penn before, but while I'm on the east coast I like to try pretty much anything I haven't seen in California.

I should first confess that I have a small cold, so my sense of smell isn't perfect right now. That said, my girlfriend claimed this smelled off, and I thought I got a whiff of skunkiness (and it is in a green bottle, for some reason). Now, all I smell is sweet lagery malt. Taste is really good: sweet but not too sweet, thick but not too heavy, a little stronger (7.5%) but not boozy. This is really very drinkable.

Founders Backwoods Bastard

2009-12-14T00:04:00.001-05:00

I'm back on the east coast, and so once again reaping the benefits of beers I can't get in California.

This smells really oaky, with sweet strong beer underneath. I believe this is the oaked version of a barleywine, and that's how it tastes. The oak dominates a little too much, but the beer below isn't overly sweet, and for a late night tipple this certainly works. Recommended, unless you hate wood.

St. Martin Brune

2009-12-12T04:17:00.001-05:00

The place I bought this from had it deliberately mislabeled as a Hitachino Nest beer. The guy told me he wasn't supposed to be selling it. I figure: any beer that he'd break the rules to sell me is a beer I'd like to try.

Big aroma here - smells a lot like pears. A little more beery when I really poke my nose in. High carbonation, nice Belgian candi- sweetness, and more pear-centered fruitiness.

This is really enjoyable. Not wildly remarkable, but I very much love pears, and that's enough for me - I'd drink this again.

Grand Teton Black Cauldron Imperial Stout

2009-12-10T02:41:00.001-05:00

Smells really roasty, hints of fruit and maybe a whiff of alcohol. Tastes about like expected, really. I'd say, actually, that if you can imagine how an 8% imperial stout tastes - this is like that. Not bad, by any means, but I'm not getting anything from left field here. Worth drinking; I'm not sure I'll be coming back for more anytime soon.

BrewDog The Physics

2009-12-09T23:14:00.001-05:00

At 5%, this is one of two session-strength beers from BrewDog I've had occasion to try. The other was good; let's see about this.

Hoppy nose, but not west coasty, and light malt. Taste is a little malty, juicy, with a definite presence of hop bitterness. A little more bitter in the aftertaste than I care for.

I don't love it, but it's fairly drinkable. If you're more into hops than I am, but not crazy for cascades, I'd bet you'll like this.

Dogfish Head & Sierra Neveda Life & Limb

2009-12-09T02:03:00.001-05:00

I could tell a long story about trying to find a bottle of this with little luck, but the short version is that I was at a local Whole Foods the other day and two were on the shelf.

Smells malty and brown sugar sweet, maybe a little spice. Thick, but briskly carbonated (very welcome). Not as maple as expected, but solidly malty, and then my mouth is coated at the end with birch/maple syrupiness.

I kind of expected this to taste really wacky, but it's not too weird at all. For something quasi-experimental this is really drinkable, and I have to recommend picking up some if you see it.

(I haven't been able to try the Limb & Life, but based on this I suspect it's probably not so flavorful.)

Bell's Christmas Ale

2009-11-29T23:34:00.001-05:00

Smells of fruit mainly. Very carbonated and juicy, mostly malt with a dry finish. Not as scotch ale-y as expected, and maybe not super "Christmas", but enjoyable.

Bell's Rye Stout

2009-11-28T21:18:00.001-05:00

I've never had a rye stout. I've thought about brewing one, since I like rye, but couldn't commit to five gallons without having ever tried one. So: very curious.

Smells roasty and grainy. Tastes more of the same - roasty malt, a little spiciness, and just enough sweetness to balance it. I would've thought that this would basically be a dry stout plus rye, but the sweet stout base makes much more sense.

So, strongly recommended, and this'll go on my list of things to try brewing someday.

The Duck-Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale

2009-11-27T18:22:00.001-05:00

Smells right - caramel malty, hint of smoke. Flavor's on, too. Maybe a bit of an off note, but ignorable. Just enough smoke in the aftertaste to be pleasant. Recommended, if you like a wee heavy.

Juxtaposition Black Pilsner - Stone / BrewDog / Cambridge

2009-11-21T00:58:00.001-05:00

As with anything Stone's involved with, I'm cautious about this one. My experience has been that they make tasty beers and hop bombs - hoping this is the former.

Citrusy hops in the nose, maybe something roasty underneath? This bodes poorly. Tastes a lot like Dogfish Head's 90 minute, with a little more roast and a clear alcohol presence (it's 10%). Sweetness up front, and a bigger malt backbone than most beers hopped this much. There's an aftertaste that I can't place which isn't entirely unpleasant.

Hoppier than I expected, but not terrible! I doubt I'd have this again, but I can drink the rest of the bottle, sure.

The Bruery Rugbrød

2009-11-20T01:27:00.001-05:00

I had this on tap a few weeks ago when I was in LA for a long weekend. It was really intriguing, but tasted a little off (everything I had that day did). I finally found a bottle of it, and I'm eager to evaluate.

Smells roasty and malty, like a dry stout. Very bready taste. A little sweet up front, a little spicy, a little dark rye bread. A tiny bit of a weird aftertaste, perhaps.

Definitely better than I remember it being. I'd never guess that it's 8%. Very recommended, if you like your beer like liquid bread. (I sure do!)

Ommegang Adoration Special Winter Ale

2009-11-17T01:48:00.001-05:00

I am always excited by new Ommegang beers - they're easily one of my favorite American-Belgian brewerys (probably vying with Allagash for the top spot).

Smells sweet and spicy; very wintery. More in the taste - lots of spices. The blend is nice, and there's a good amount of sweetness (i.e., not too much), but there's maybe a little too
much spice in this for my taste. The aftertaste is a little weird.

I'll try this again while it's available, I'm sure. It's probably good with festive meals. Not sure I love it, though.

He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah

2009-11-14T02:31:00.001-05:00

I don't love everything from He'Brew, but I very much enjoyed their 12th anniversary beer from last year. Big, complex, but very drinkable and a pretty low price tag to boot. I'm very curious about this year's edition.

Smells quite fruity - apples and pears. Thick and roasty with more of that fruit flavor - this reminds me as much as possible of apples without being overtly apple-flavored. Sweet, too. Reminds me of abbey ales even though it's clearly not trying to. Very autumnal, and pretty smooth for 13%.

I guarantee I'll be having this again.

Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale

2009-11-10T02:21:00.001-05:00

When I moved to California, I was very surprised to never see Great Divide's beers anywhere. I mean, they're from Colorado, which is closer to California than Virginia. Point being, in the last year and change I've only had one - a bottle of their Yeti imperial stout - and I'm not sure how many I'd had before moving. I'm certain I never had this, though.

Smells sweet and malty, maybe a little woody fruit and a hint of smoke. Perfect texture for the style; thick with gentler carbonation. Fruity malt, brown sugar, again that woodiness. Something interesting I can't place in the aftertaste.

If you like a scotch ale, you'll like this. This might be the best in recent memory - I think I'd take this over Oskar Blues' Old Chub (my reigning favorite American scotch ale). Don't quote me on that; I'd need to have more of both.

The Bruery Trade Winds Tripel

2009-11-07T02:33:00.001-05:00

Smells yeasty and a little tart. Heavy carbonation, golden sugar sweetness, yeast, and a greenish note. I can smell the basil on my breath more than I can taste it, I think - maybe it's there deep in the aftertaste?

This is perhaps not as unusual as you might expect from the label, but it is pretty tasty. And unlike some stuff I've had from The Bruery, there's no obvious off flavors present. Recommended.

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel Aphrodite

2009-11-04T03:06:00.001-05:00

Smells quite roasty, bits of chocolate, vanilla and maybe a slight bready note? A little thick, sweet up front and slightly dry on the finish. Lovely flavor; dessert without being outrageously heavy and decadent.

A really nice dessert sip for anyday - not so big that it needs a special occasion. Strongly recommended.

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

2009-11-04T01:48:00.001-05:00

Smells awesome - just like brownies. Much drier than expected, well- carbonated, roasty coffee flavor. Maybe a little sour?

I don't know that I love this as an oatmeal stout, but as a dry stout this is pretty swell. The smell is seriously fantastic, though.

Odonata Rorie's Ale

2009-11-03T02:33:00.001-05:00

Just found out about this brewery the other day, and it turns out that their very limited distribution includes a store in Santa Cruz. This is a barrel-aged quadrupel with cherries, which sounded too good to not track down.

Smells like cherries (almost like dried cranberries, really), dark sugar, maybe just a hint of alcohol. Sweet, but not nearly as much as I expected, and very, very juicy. There's wood, but not a ton, and a solid maltiness. But mostly, a lot of fruit and juiciness.

This is really delicious, but the balance doesn't seem quite right: I'm getting too much of the cherries and not enough beer. That said, the underlying beer seems solid, and the 10% abv is well hidden. The next beer these guys are making (and their first "proper" production) is a saison - I'm hoping to find it around here as well, as I'm now even more eager to try it.

BrewDog Rip Tide

2009-11-02T02:08:00.001-05:00

This might actually be the first BrewSog beer I've gotten to try. I think everything I've seen for sale from the before this was either a little too pricey at the time or too hoppy for my tastes. This is an 8% "twisted merciless stout", which sounds like something I can dig.

Smells roasty, but also woody and slightly sour. Carbonation is thin, but not unpleasantly so, given that the body is a little light. Chocolate, a slight oaky note. There's something I can't quite place about it.

Quite good - maybe next time I see a more expensive BrewDog, I'll pick it up.

AleSmith Speedway Stout

2009-10-31T22:33:00.003-04:00

Imperial stout with coffee - a classic combination, for sure. Smells like cold coffee, yes, with a hint of sweet alcohol. Very, very thick; carbonation is light and this really coats the tongue. Coffee, roasted malt, a slight fruitiness. Maybe I notice the 12% abv a little bit?

Pretty much as expected (which is to say tasty), except for the lighter carbonation which I don't really care for. Without more zesty bubbles, the thickness of this really sits in the mouth feeling heavy. Could be that my bottle is off, of course - your mileage may vary. Worth trying if it sounds like your thing.

AleSmith Speedway Stout

2009-10-31T22:33:00.001-04:00

Cucapá Obscura

2009-10-26T03:23:00.001-04:00

While in LA recently, I kept an eye put for new (to me) beers and found this one. Says right on the bottle: "Mexican Craft Beer". I was very intrigued - I've never had a Mexican beer I'd describe as craft.

Big chocolate malt aroma, with a very clear note of barley (distinct from malty smells). Taste is a little thin, and echoes the aroma with a little less sweetness and a slight sourness.

Almost definitely the best Mexican beer I've had. Doesn't taste as good as it smells, but still not bad. Glad to try it; can't really say for certain whether or not I'd get it again.

The Bruery Saison Rue

2009-10-24T01:09:00.001-04:00

I had this on tap at the Bruery last weekend, but I'd also had several other things and didn't take notes... so I've got a bottle here.

And, though I wouldn't by any means say that I didn't like the beers I had there, some of them - including this one - didn't taste right. I wanted to try this in a bottle for a real comparison.

Smells yeasty, a little musty sourness. Sweet up front, malt with a real wine-like quality, a touch of hop. A little musty funkiness, but not overwhelming.

Tasty - moreso than on tap, yes - but lacking the depth of your more "classic" saisons. Probably a little thicker and heavier, too. It's not great, honestly, but it's good and I'd drink it again.

Stone Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter

2009-10-23T01:31:00.001-04:00

Smells a lot like coffee, with a clear nutty aroma as well. Very smooth mouthfeel. Tastes about like you'd expect: the coffee and roasty malt are most prominent, with the macadamia and a hint of coconut showing up more at the end.

This is really tasty, and very well balanced. Some might want more coconut, and I'd understand, but this is a little more drinkable for being understated. That said, this was not a cheap bottle, and while I get that it very much wasn't cheap to brew, I don't know that the beer's good enough to warrent repeat purchasing. If it were less expensive, I'd probably get this regularly. Definitely recommended to try.

Alaskan Baltic Porter Ale

2009-10-10T02:26:00.001-04:00

"Brewed with cherries, brown sugar, vanilla beans and oak chips" - sounds like a pretty unorthodox Baltic porter to me.

Very fragrant. The cherries are there, very clearly. Not sure what else I smell - sweetness, caramelly. More of that in the mouth; big fruity caramel. Not really getting the oak, but the cherry isn't overly pronounced. Actually, a few sips in I am smelling and tasting the oak, and it's playing well.

This is quite sweet, and not much like any other Baltic I've ever had. That said, it's quite tasty, and I'm looking forward to the rest of this glass: I'd bet this opens up a lot as it warms. Recommended.

Bayhawk Ales Chocolate Porter

2009-09-28T03:25:00.001-04:00

Purchased for me in L.A. - it's nice to try something I've never had and can't get around here.

Smells chocolatey, all right, but also maybe a little soapy. Hmm. Tastes thinner than I'd expected from the smell, and there's a very weird kind-of-citrusy acidity that really doesn't work.

It's not so bad that I think something went wrong with the bottle. I'm pretty sure this is how this is supposed to taste. Not undrinkable, but definitely not recommended, and I'm personally pretty unlikely to seek out anything else from Bayhawk.

Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09

2009-09-22T03:32:00.001-04:00

I normally don't really care for reviews that describe appearance at length - I'm going to drink it, not watch it - but this has a remarkably thick, fluffy head on it. Smells dark and malty, chocolate, a faint metallic smell. Thick but not too thick, roasty with a hint of fruit, and drier than expected. Very clear chocolate aftertaste.

This is, as expected, quite good. It's perhaps a little less remarkable than previous years, but I much prefer this to last year's. And assuming this stays in stores the way 2008 has, I'm likely to pick up a few more of these over the next few months.

New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie Sour Brown Ale

2009-09-22T03:06:00.001-04:00

Smells real sour - a little Brett funky, but mostly sour. And it is; quite puckering. A little musty, but overwhelmingly tart and acidic. Lemon juice and vinegar.

Not sure why I'm bothering to review this - it's simply not up my alley. If you like sours, I suspect you'll like this.

Grand Teton Howling Wolf Weizenbock

2009-09-21T03:17:00.001-04:00

I've never seen anything from Grand Teton that looked interesting to me, other than the doppelbock in the extra-large bottle. If you've homebrewed, when you see a liter size bottle, it gets your attention. That doppelbock was good - let's see about this new (also liter-sized) weizenbock.

Smells like an authentic yeast - banana, clove, bubblegum, but maybe a little more flowery than I'd expect. Sweet malt taste, nice spice from the yeast, but again, a little more flowery hops than I'd expect. Alcohol's well hidden.

This is good, but, yeah, a little overhopped. Not unacceptable, but I'm not sure it's worth the price tag a second time.

Abita Andygator Helles Doppelbock

2009-09-14T03:48:00.001-04:00

Smells like a bock - clean and malty. A little thick, with a pleasant sweetness. I don't notice any off flavors like you sometimes find in American doppelbocks, but there is maybe a hint more hop presence than usual.

This isn't transcendent or anything, but it's good. I'd drink this again, particularly if it were in 12 oz. bottles.

Session #31: Summer Beers

2009-09-04T13:55:00.004-04:00

It's definitely been a minute since I've done a post for the Session, but I happened to see someone else's post this morning and was compelled to chime in. This month's topic is summer beers (which isn't really a style, per se, and so see my previous remarks about non-style Session topics).

I've just moved into a new apartment with no air conditioning. This wouldn't be too much of a problem, but it's been unseasonably warm here, and so the heat just collects all afternoon and hangs around the house. As excited as I am to see festbiers starting to show up in stores, I'm still mainly looking for things that are cold and wet.

I recently found some beers from the English Ales Brewery, based in Marina, CA. From what I can tell, they're bucking a lot of trends in California beer and trying to make British styles. I know I've waxed rhapsodic before about the restrained nuance of German lagers, but I've tended to overlook that some feature of British beers.

And so: I've tried English Ales' brown, and while it's delicious, it's no summer beer. I'd also tried a single bottle each of their pale ale and their wheat, and was emboldened to pick up a six of their Fat Lip amber. The only one of these I don't really recommend is the wheat - it's a pretty dull, American wheat beer, with nothing really special going on. But the pale ale and the amber both have a fantastic balance of character-but-not-too-much-character. You can taste them and enjoy their flavor, but you can also take a big swig off a nice cold bottle to cool down and not be overwhelmed. They're not, by most measures, exciting beers - there's no gimmick, and they're not "extreme" in any way - they're simply well-crafted and refreshing.

Unfortunately, English Ales doesn't seem to be too widely distributed, so you may not be able to track them down. If you happen to live near that part of California, though, pick some up sometime.

(As a footnote, I'll say that I also recently enjoyed a bottle of Samuel Smith's organic ale, which I'd thought I'd had before and didn't remember enjoying, but very much did enjoy on this occasion. And, okay, I'll admit that on the very, very warm days I've had my share of icy-cold Pabst.)

The Bruery Black Orchard

2009-08-28T22:08:00.001-04:00

Billed as a "black wheat ale". Smells stout-like, roasty, with a clear wheat tanginess. Tastes like an american wheat, with more flavor - tangy but without the yeast of a german - and with some roasted malt added. Definitely not like a dunkelweizen: much more like an american wheat crossed with a stout. Not intensely complicated or overly interesting, but tasty and quite drinkable. Worth trying.

English Ales Brewery Monk's Brown Ale

2009-08-28T00:31:00.001-04:00

I just moved, and saw this at my new Whole Foods. Never heard of the brewery before, and the English-Belgian branding is a little weird, so I picked up a bottle.

Smells very bready, hints of fruit. Very smooth mouthfeel - lower carbonation, but appropriate, not unpleasant. Tastes pretty much like a brown ale should: bready, malt, light roastiness. A little sweetness, and no obvious hop flavor.

This is a winner, in my book. I am quite surprised - a lot of the small breweries out here don't impress me much, and based on the label I expected this to be the same. Recommended, and I look forward to trying their other beers.

Port Brewing Old Viscosity Ale

2009-08-20T03:03:00.001-04:00

Lovely smell, roasty chocolate. Not as sweet tasting as it smells - bitter/dark chocolate, satisfying malt, some clear wood. Doesn't taste anywhere near 10%.

I'd like this to be a bit sweeter, but it's still quite good. Recommended.

Brewdog Dogma

2009-08-15T01:40:00.001-04:00

Picked this up since I don't usually see Brewdog stuff around, and they've developed quite a reputation. And this apparently is made with honey, kola nut, poppy seed and guarana, which is intriguing: either it's innovative or gimmicky.

Smells interestingly malty - caramel, or something, fruit maybe? - sweet, with a little hop. An odd malt flavor as well. I might taste a hint of the kola nut, but I could just be projecting. More hoppy and bitter in the finish than I'd like, and personal preference aside I just don't think it fits.

Some variation of this could be really good, but this is only fine. Drinkable, but the odd ingredients aren't really doing much here.

Full Sail Slipknot

2009-08-07T01:00:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not, I bought this by accident. Somehow I thought I was getting the very similar looking scotch ale that Full Sail put out recently, but instead I'm stuck with a bomber of imperial IPA.

Long time readers will probably recall that I'm not a fan of very hoppy beers.

Generally speaking, I dislike writing negative reviews - I suppose I prefer to say nothing at all regarding beers I don't like, since there's usually not much productive I can say. That said, I don't care for this beer.

I will say, though, that it has a bit of sweetness up front followed by a lot of very bitter grapefruit. Grapefruit like I'm actually drinking grapefruit juice, almost, which is something I don't recall seeing before.

Deschutes Black Butte XXI

2009-08-04T00:53:00.001-04:00

Smells like what it is - roasty, coffee. Thick, chocolate and coffee, portery. A little sweet up front, light bitterness in the finish.

Pretty pleasant - worth trying.

Dogfish Head Festina Pêche

2009-08-01T21:54:00.000-04:00

An odd, sour, sort of bodyless peach beer from Dogfish Head. Looks like an Izze peach soda, tastes like vaguely peach-flavored carbonated vinegar, or maybe lemon juice concentrate that someone waved a peach near.

A rare miss from Dogfish. Avoid.

AleSmith Anvil ESB

2009-08-01T19:03:00.000-04:00

I like AleSmith. They're making some of the best straight-ahead, no fuss American beer right now. In San Francisco, you can find their beers at the City Beer Store.

Their Anvil ESB pours a lovely rich copper with a light tan head. It's really a great color; I want a leather chair this color. Less creamy than some ESBs, and not malty-sweet in the mouth, as some can be. The finish is slightly dry, with a delicate English hop character, as opposed to the usual Cascade hop bombs that most West Coast breweries throw in everywhere they can. There's a hint of bitter grapefruit in there, too.

The whole thing is considered and utterly balanced. It's not a deliberate copy of an English pub-style ESB, but it's not a radical reinterpretation either. An outstanding, easy-drinking buy for under $6.

Nøgne Ø Sahti

2009-07-31T01:53:00.001-04:00

Sahti, of course, being the weird unhopped Finnish (though, oddly, the bottle claims it's Swedish?) old-time style of beer. I've only ever had one, and it was pretty strange: I remember being glad I tried it, but not eager to have another.

But, well, I have some trust in Nøgne Ø; they've only done me wrong the once. Let's see about this.

Smells yeasty, planty, a little sweet. Thick, like I remember, but with normal carbonation. Sweet, molasses type flavor, followed by heavy herbs and a slightly spicy finish.

A little too thick and sweet to have often, but this is much better than the other I'd had. Of course, I have no idea which one is more style-accurate. Worth trying, even if you've tried a sahti before, but I doubt I'd go out of my way for this again.

The Bruery Black Orchard

2009-07-29T14:25:00.001-04:00

Flying Dog Wild Dog Collaborator Doppelbock

2009-07-29T03:02:00.001-04:00

I have been eager to try this since I heard about the project two years ago. While the "open source beer" claim is probably best considered to be marketing hype, it's nice when breweries publish their recipes. And besides, I like a doppelbock.

Smells rich and malty, caramel and toffee. Very light carbonation. Solid malt flavor, a little fruity, sweet but not cloying. Maybe not as thick as some doppelbocks, but not too bad there.

This is good, but nowhere near enough carbonation. I wonder if the bottle has sit for too long? This was a little pricy, otherwise I'd try to pick up another bottle.

Allagash Victor Ale 2009

2009-07-10T03:06:00.001-04:00

Smells yeasty, sour. Quite sweet up front, fruity malt, and a sour hint at the end. Some spice as well.

Much tastier than I remembered. I think I actually prefer this to the Victoria, as the grape isn't nearly as prominent - there's a better balance here.

Brooklyn Blue Apron Ale

2009-07-08T23:18:00.001-04:00

Interesting nose that I can't quite put my finger on. Lighter in flavor than expected - light fruit, light roastiness. Quite drinkable.

Smuttynose Star Island Single

2009-07-08T23:02:00.001-04:00

Smells yeasty, mostly. Mild fruit, dryness, maybe some spice? Mostly dry and drinkable. Flavor's not remarkable, but this is solid enough. This would be better icy cold at a cookout.

Allagash Victoria Ale 2009

2009-07-07T02:22:00.001-04:00

I got this as a birthday present from Alex. I'd had last year's, and liked it well enough to stick a bottle in the cellar, but I don't remember being blown away by it. Alex also gave me a bottle of this year's Victor Ale, and I'm pretty sure I liked the Victoria better.

Smells Belgian fruity and a fair bit grape fruity. Green grapes, just a little tart, and a thickly yeasty body underneath.

Clearly this tries to satisfy a more wine inclined beer drinker. Honestly, that's hardly me, but this is still a fine beer. Think of a fruity Belgian, and turn the fruit up a little.

Otter Creek Imperial Series Russian Imperial Stout

2009-07-05T01:38:00.001-04:00

Picked this up while back on the east coast. Looks lovely in the glass - dark and thick. Smells a little nutty, with coffee and a bit of chocolate. All that in the taste, without too much thickness and a relatively crisp finish.

Quite tasty, and really drinkable for almost 11%. This is the kind of beer that makes me miss Otter Creek. Recommended.