651. Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
This is another beer that I snagged from CCR beer hour. I let this warm a bit and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear, dark, ruby brown with a thick, sudsy, brown head that fades slowly leaving thick lace and persisting as a substantial film.
Smell (3.5): Roasty aromas are dominant, there are some nice coffee and chocolate notes. There are also some nice caramel and dark fruit malty notes as well.
Taste (3.5): A nicely balanced porter. Upfront there's sweet malts: bitter chocolate and dark fruit. These move into a roasted bitterness with nice coffee and chocolate notes. There are also some nice hop flavors in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, but smooth.
Drinkability (4.5): Very nicely balanced. Neither the sweetness or the bitterness ever dominates.
Overall (3.75)
This is another beer that I snagged from CCR beer hour. I let this warm a bit and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a clear, dark, ruby brown with a thick, sudsy, brown head that fades slowly leaving thick lace and persisting as a substantial film.
Smell (3.5): Roasty aromas are dominant, there are some nice coffee and chocolate notes. There are also some nice caramel and dark fruit malty notes as well.
Taste (3.5): A nicely balanced porter. Upfront there's sweet malts: bitter chocolate and dark fruit. These move into a roasted bitterness with nice coffee and chocolate notes. There are also some nice hop flavors in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, but smooth.
Drinkability (4.5): Very nicely balanced. Neither the sweetness or the bitterness ever dominates.
Overall (3.75)
Labels: American Porter, Boston Beer Company
650. Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
They had a few beers left from a Sam Adams Holiday pack at beer hour a few weeks ago. I grabbed a bottle of Old Fezziwig Ale and the Holiday Porter. I served this one at around 40º F in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.60%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Winter Warmer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear, reddish brown with a thick, fluffy, beige head that thins to a patchy film.
Smell (4.0): Malty and spicy. There are notes of cinnamon, caramel and strong dark fruit.
Taste (4.0): Malty. Toasty, caramel and dark fruit upfront. Some spiciness emerges in the center with some cinnamon and orange. The finish is lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate to high carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable, not overly spiced and not too sweet.
Overall (3.85): This is a very well balanced and drinkable beer. The spices are noticeable and
add a nice flavor element to the beer, but don't overpower the nice malty notes.
They had a few beers left from a Sam Adams Holiday pack at beer hour a few weeks ago. I grabbed a bottle of Old Fezziwig Ale and the Holiday Porter. I served this one at around 40º F in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.60%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Winter Warmer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear, reddish brown with a thick, fluffy, beige head that thins to a patchy film.
Smell (4.0): Malty and spicy. There are notes of cinnamon, caramel and strong dark fruit.
Taste (4.0): Malty. Toasty, caramel and dark fruit upfront. Some spiciness emerges in the center with some cinnamon and orange. The finish is lightly bitter.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate to high carbonation.
Drinkability (4.0): Very drinkable, not overly spiced and not too sweet.
Overall (3.85): This is a very well balanced and drinkable beer. The spices are noticeable and
add a nice flavor element to the beer, but don't overpower the nice malty notes.
Labels: Boston Beer Company, Winter Warmer
649. Cerise Cassée American Sour Ale
On Friday after CCR Beer Hour I checked the CBC website on a whim and read the description for Cerise Cassée. Since I love sour/wild ales I decided to go over and have a glass. I went upstairs to distract Christian from studying for his quals and got him to come along. The beer was served in a flute-like glass. The website says:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a very cloudy, brownish amber with a thin beige head that fades to a patchy film, but eventually disappears completely.
Smell (4.5): The aroma is sour and tart cherries. There's also a phenolic, medicinal aroma that gives way to some woody aromas. Swirling accentuates the woodiness and light earthy notes. Upon warming, swirling brings out a nice Cantillon-like funkiness.
Taste (4.5): The cherries used in brewing are definitely the dominant element in this beer. Upfront they provide a light sweetness, which is quickly eclipsed by a strong sourness that lasts through to the finish. The sweet, cherry fruitiness emerges again in the finish along with a nice earthy and woody quality.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation. It seems a bit effervescent. The finish has a nice moderate dryness.
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty and incredibly flavorful. The beer is nicely sour, but isn't overpowering.
Overall (4.25): I really liked this beer. The cherries add a nice fruity character and light sweetness that is never too sweet. The medicinal, woody and earthy characters provide a nice balance to the sourness.
On Friday after CCR Beer Hour I checked the CBC website on a whim and read the description for Cerise Cassée. Since I love sour/wild ales I decided to go over and have a glass. I went upstairs to distract Christian from studying for his quals and got him to come along. The beer was served in a flute-like glass. The website says:
A complex beer in both process and palate, Cerise Cassée is brewed from a 3-day sour mash, fermented with 300 pounds of sour cherries, and aged for one year in French oak wine barrels. In the wood it further ferments with multiple strains of wild yeasts, which contribute both mysterious wild flavors and a funky but smooth, oaky finish. This tart, effervescent, amber-red ale is adventurous and challenging, blurring the lines between tradition and innovation. Bonne chance! A la votre!Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a very cloudy, brownish amber with a thin beige head that fades to a patchy film, but eventually disappears completely.
Smell (4.5): The aroma is sour and tart cherries. There's also a phenolic, medicinal aroma that gives way to some woody aromas. Swirling accentuates the woodiness and light earthy notes. Upon warming, swirling brings out a nice Cantillon-like funkiness.
Taste (4.5): The cherries used in brewing are definitely the dominant element in this beer. Upfront they provide a light sweetness, which is quickly eclipsed by a strong sourness that lasts through to the finish. The sweet, cherry fruitiness emerges again in the finish along with a nice earthy and woody quality.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation. It seems a bit effervescent. The finish has a nice moderate dryness.
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty and incredibly flavorful. The beer is nicely sour, but isn't overpowering.
Overall (4.25): I really liked this beer. The cherries add a nice fruity character and light sweetness that is never too sweet. The medicinal, woody and earthy characters provide a nice balance to the sourness.
David and Dave came up to Boston this past weekend to visit. They arrived at my place after spending 8 hours on a bus from NYC to Boston. Perhaps taking the bus on the day it snowed heavily wasn't such a good idea. Since they got into Boston at 1 AM Friday night was a bust, but we had some beer at my place before turning in.
Saturday morning we had breakfast at Mr. Crepe. After Mr. Crepe we stopped by lab because I had about an hour's worth of work to do. After leaving lab we headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Art, but got off out South Station to have a drink first. We ended up at a depressing hole in the wall called Bernie's Pub where Dave and I had PBRs and David had a Bud.
We then returned to South Station, and took the Silver Line to the ICA. The exhibit was called "Super Vision," which explored how technology has expanded the scope of what we can see in the context of contemporary art. I could definitely see the connection with certain pieces, but others seemed like a bit of a stretch. Overall there were some really cool pieces, and the new ICA building was really nice.
After the ICA we went to Bukowski's for lunch/beer (644-647). We arrived at around three, ordered a round and burgers and stayed on for a few more beers before heading out.
After leaving Bukowski's we were tipsy enough to think it was appropriate enough to pelt each other with snow. At this point David stopped taking notes on what we did for the night, so it just gets hazier. We had planned on going to a few bars that Dave or David had picked out in Allston/Brighton, so we headed in that direction. We got off of the B line where Comm Ave. splits from Beacon, and started walking. Quickly, public urination was agreed upon as a reasonable course of action.
Proceeding down Comm Ave, we were distracted by Sunset Grill and Tap before we could get to one of the chosen bars, however we ended up going next door to play pool. We played several games and had a couple beers (#648 and a DFH 60 Minute). I believe I was $6 up by the time we left.
The next few bars are somewhat fuzzy. I remember David and Dave playing pool in a bar where we had at least one Guinness and a shot of Jameson each. I think this was immediately after pool at the other bar, though there might have been another bar in between. The next bar I remember is where we ended our night. We ordered a round or two of something, which I can't remember. When David tried to get another round he was refused service, so we left (~9:30).
David then laid down in the snow in someones front yard and lost his glasses. We looked for quite awhile before giving up and going to the KFC across the street. Our visit to KFC was brief, shortly after I received our food David puked on the floor, which necessitated a quick departure. After a cab ride back to my place David fell face first over some bushes into the snow in my front yard and laid there for a few seconds before he puked again. We got him upstairs and into bed, and then Dave, Susan (a roommate) and I went to the Sligo. We ordered a round of Stella and then left because it was too crowded. Back at my place we drank some more beer (Ommegang, Hop Devil and Brooklyn East India Pale Ale). Dave challenged me to a wrestling match, so we went out into the back yard and fought in the snow. After that we turned in.
The next morning we had brunch at Rosebud, and then Dave and David caught the bus back to NYC.
644. Sebago Lake Trout Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours an opaque black with brown edges and a small head that quickly fades to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Strong notes of coffee dominate, with lighter notes of coffee and fruit.
Taste (3.5): Light roastiness upfront, with some sweet malts that come through in the center. The finish is roasty with a chocolate sweetness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation, a bit thin.
Drinkability (3.5): The thinness is a little off-putting, but the flavors are nice.
Overall (3.3)
645. Harpoon Refsvinginge Private Stock (100 Barrel Series #18)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 7.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Danish Farmhouse Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear copper with a thin head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Overall the aroma is light, but there are nice malty, caramel notes with a soft fruitiness that reminded me of berries. Swirling enhances the maltiness and brings out some alcoholic aroma.
Taste (4.5): Lightly toasty malts upfront, which is followed closely by some flavors reminiscent of a liquor like brandy or cognac. The finish has a light alcoholic spice, pepper and a light but persistent bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Strong flavors and evident alcohol, but overall very enjoyable.
Overall (4.05)
646. Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very hazy dark-brown with a moderate beige head that persists as a significant film and leaves heavy lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): Overwhelming coffee aromas mask anything else, except for perhaps a very faint aroma of chocolate.
Taste (3.5): Light chocolate sweetness upfront with some dried fruit. The fruitiness becomes more noticeable in the center before it's eclipsed (though not completely) by some roasted coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Flavorful and balanced.
Overall (3.6)
647. Hercules Double IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy copper with dense but thin, off-white head that leaves sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Hops, hops, hops! Citric and resiny and strong. There's also some sweet maltiness, but mostly the hops dominate.
Taste (4.5): Again, lots of hops. Toasty and caramel malts make a brief appearance upfront, but are quickly met by resiny, citric and grassy hops. Not too sweet, which is a fault of many DIPAs.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, a tad oily.
Drinkability (4.0): Great for a DIPA. I actually find the DIPAs that are hoppier to be more drinkable than the overly malty ones.
Overall (4.15)
648. Golden Monkey
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a golden-amber with a sudsy white head that quickly fades to a patchy film.
Smell (3.5): Spicy and peppery with a bit of banana fruitiness and some sweet tropical notes.
Taste (4.0): Bananas upfront, peppery spice in the center, followed by a mildly bitter taste that mingles with lingering fruitiness and alcohol.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Flavorful and nice though the alcohol is noticeable.
Overall (3.75)
Saturday morning we had breakfast at Mr. Crepe. After Mr. Crepe we stopped by lab because I had about an hour's worth of work to do. After leaving lab we headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Art, but got off out South Station to have a drink first. We ended up at a depressing hole in the wall called Bernie's Pub where Dave and I had PBRs and David had a Bud.
We then returned to South Station, and took the Silver Line to the ICA. The exhibit was called "Super Vision," which explored how technology has expanded the scope of what we can see in the context of contemporary art. I could definitely see the connection with certain pieces, but others seemed like a bit of a stretch. Overall there were some really cool pieces, and the new ICA building was really nice.
After the ICA we went to Bukowski's for lunch/beer (644-647). We arrived at around three, ordered a round and burgers and stayed on for a few more beers before heading out.
After leaving Bukowski's we were tipsy enough to think it was appropriate enough to pelt each other with snow. At this point David stopped taking notes on what we did for the night, so it just gets hazier. We had planned on going to a few bars that Dave or David had picked out in Allston/Brighton, so we headed in that direction. We got off of the B line where Comm Ave. splits from Beacon, and started walking. Quickly, public urination was agreed upon as a reasonable course of action.
Proceeding down Comm Ave, we were distracted by Sunset Grill and Tap before we could get to one of the chosen bars, however we ended up going next door to play pool. We played several games and had a couple beers (#648 and a DFH 60 Minute). I believe I was $6 up by the time we left.
The next few bars are somewhat fuzzy. I remember David and Dave playing pool in a bar where we had at least one Guinness and a shot of Jameson each. I think this was immediately after pool at the other bar, though there might have been another bar in between. The next bar I remember is where we ended our night. We ordered a round or two of something, which I can't remember. When David tried to get another round he was refused service, so we left (~9:30).
David then laid down in the snow in someones front yard and lost his glasses. We looked for quite awhile before giving up and going to the KFC across the street. Our visit to KFC was brief, shortly after I received our food David puked on the floor, which necessitated a quick departure. After a cab ride back to my place David fell face first over some bushes into the snow in my front yard and laid there for a few seconds before he puked again. We got him upstairs and into bed, and then Dave, Susan (a roommate) and I went to the Sligo. We ordered a round of Stella and then left because it was too crowded. Back at my place we drank some more beer (Ommegang, Hop Devil and Brooklyn East India Pale Ale). Dave challenged me to a wrestling match, so we went out into the back yard and fought in the snow. After that we turned in.
The next morning we had brunch at Rosebud, and then Dave and David caught the bus back to NYC.
644. Sebago Lake Trout Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sebago Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours an opaque black with brown edges and a small head that quickly fades to a ring.
Smell (3.5): Strong notes of coffee dominate, with lighter notes of coffee and fruit.
Taste (3.5): Light roastiness upfront, with some sweet malts that come through in the center. The finish is roasty with a chocolate sweetness.
Mouthfeel (2.5): Light-bodied, low carbonation, a bit thin.
Drinkability (3.5): The thinness is a little off-putting, but the flavors are nice.
Overall (3.3)
645. Harpoon Refsvinginge Private Stock (100 Barrel Series #18)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 7.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Danish Farmhouse Ale
Appearance (3.5): Pours a clear copper with a thin head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Overall the aroma is light, but there are nice malty, caramel notes with a soft fruitiness that reminded me of berries. Swirling enhances the maltiness and brings out some alcoholic aroma.
Taste (4.5): Lightly toasty malts upfront, which is followed closely by some flavors reminiscent of a liquor like brandy or cognac. The finish has a light alcoholic spice, pepper and a light but persistent bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Strong flavors and evident alcohol, but overall very enjoyable.
Overall (4.05)
646. Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very hazy dark-brown with a moderate beige head that persists as a significant film and leaves heavy lace on the side of the glass.
Smell (3.0): Overwhelming coffee aromas mask anything else, except for perhaps a very faint aroma of chocolate.
Taste (3.5): Light chocolate sweetness upfront with some dried fruit. The fruitiness becomes more noticeable in the center before it's eclipsed (though not completely) by some roasted coffee flavors.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, very smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Flavorful and balanced.
Overall (3.6)
647. Hercules Double IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a hazy copper with dense but thin, off-white head that leaves sheets of lace.
Smell (4.0): Hops, hops, hops! Citric and resiny and strong. There's also some sweet maltiness, but mostly the hops dominate.
Taste (4.5): Again, lots of hops. Toasty and caramel malts make a brief appearance upfront, but are quickly met by resiny, citric and grassy hops. Not too sweet, which is a fault of many DIPAs.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, a tad oily.
Drinkability (4.0): Great for a DIPA. I actually find the DIPAs that are hoppier to be more drinkable than the overly malty ones.
Overall (4.15)
648. Golden Monkey
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.5): Pours a golden-amber with a sudsy white head that quickly fades to a patchy film.
Smell (3.5): Spicy and peppery with a bit of banana fruitiness and some sweet tropical notes.
Taste (4.0): Bananas upfront, peppery spice in the center, followed by a mildly bitter taste that mingles with lingering fruitiness and alcohol.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): Flavorful and nice though the alcohol is noticeable.
Overall (3.75)
Labels: American Double IPA, American Porter, American Stout, Danish Farmhouse Ale, Tripel
643. Brooklyn East India Pale Ale
I picked up a six-pack of Brooklyn's East India Pale Ale a few days ago at Downtown Wine & Spirits to have something to drink on nights that I don't feel like reviewing. I let this warm a bit and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: English India Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy copper with a thick, fluffy, beige head that fades to a sudsy layer leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Predominantly grassy, leafy, herbal and resiny hops. There are light pepper and even lighter citrus notes. Toasty and malty aromas come out upon swirling.
Taste (3.5): Upfront there's a toasty maltiness the becomes sweeter as it moves to the center, where peppery and citrus flavors appear. The finish has a mildly bitter, but flavorful resiny hop character, which is nice, but could have been stronger.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Moderate carbonation, medium-bodied, but it somehow still manages to feel a little thin.
Drinkability (3.5): Easy to drink, definitely something you could make a session of.
Overall (3.65)
I picked up a six-pack of Brooklyn's East India Pale Ale a few days ago at Downtown Wine & Spirits to have something to drink on nights that I don't feel like reviewing. I let this warm a bit and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: English India Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy copper with a thick, fluffy, beige head that fades to a sudsy layer leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Predominantly grassy, leafy, herbal and resiny hops. There are light pepper and even lighter citrus notes. Toasty and malty aromas come out upon swirling.
Taste (3.5): Upfront there's a toasty maltiness the becomes sweeter as it moves to the center, where peppery and citrus flavors appear. The finish has a mildly bitter, but flavorful resiny hop character, which is nice, but could have been stronger.
Mouthfeel (3.0): Moderate carbonation, medium-bodied, but it somehow still manages to feel a little thin.
Drinkability (3.5): Easy to drink, definitely something you could make a session of.
Overall (3.65)
Labels: English IPA
I've finally caught up with blogging. As you can see, I've only had two new beers since the Extreme Beer Fest. Lab and other pursuits have kept me from trying new beers the last month or so. David and Dave are coming up to Boston this weekend, so hopefully there will some new beers to blog about after their visit.
642. Samuel Adams White Ale
I tried this last week at CCR Focus/Beer Hour. I drank it out of the bottle, so I don't have proper notes.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.20%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
This smells like a witbier, very strong aromas of citrus and coriander. The taste is a prototypical witbier. There's a strong citric fruitiness upfront, and a nice peppery, coriander spiciness. Overall I thought it was a little sweet, but I'm going to wait until I've properly reviewed it to say anything for sure. I might try to snag a bottle to review this week if they have it again.
I tried this last week at CCR Focus/Beer Hour. I drank it out of the bottle, so I don't have proper notes.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.20%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
This smells like a witbier, very strong aromas of citrus and coriander. The taste is a prototypical witbier. There's a strong citric fruitiness upfront, and a nice peppery, coriander spiciness. Overall I thought it was a little sweet, but I'm going to wait until I've properly reviewed it to say anything for sure. I might try to snag a bottle to review this week if they have it again.
Labels: Witbier
641. Brooklyn Smoked Weissbock
Bennett came up to Boston from New Haven to visit Beth a few weeks ago. I met them for dinner at Cambridge Common, and had a pint of Brooklyn Smoked Weissbock, which David had mentioned to me a week or two before that.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Weizenbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a cloudy, brown-amber with a thin beige head.
Smell (4.0): There are typical weizenbock aromas of bananas and cloves that are strong and immediately evident, there are other fruity hints like light aromas of berries. As the beer warms a nice smoky aroma becomes evident.
Taste (4.5): As with the aroma, there are strong flavors of bananas and cloves, typical of the style, along with some other sharper, fruity flavors. The finish is smoky with some light bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): High carbonation, medium-bodied, with a nice smoothness.
Drinkability (4.0): I really liked the smokiness in this beer, it provided a nice counterpoint to the banana and clove flavors.
Overall (4.15)
Bennett came up to Boston from New Haven to visit Beth a few weeks ago. I met them for dinner at Cambridge Common, and had a pint of Brooklyn Smoked Weissbock, which David had mentioned to me a week or two before that.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Weizenbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a cloudy, brown-amber with a thin beige head.
Smell (4.0): There are typical weizenbock aromas of bananas and cloves that are strong and immediately evident, there are other fruity hints like light aromas of berries. As the beer warms a nice smoky aroma becomes evident.
Taste (4.5): As with the aroma, there are strong flavors of bananas and cloves, typical of the style, along with some other sharper, fruity flavors. The finish is smoky with some light bitterness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): High carbonation, medium-bodied, with a nice smoothness.
Drinkability (4.0): I really liked the smokiness in this beer, it provided a nice counterpoint to the banana and clove flavors.
Overall (4.15)
Labels: Weizenbock
631-640. The Extreme Beer Fest Part III
Published by Unknown on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 9:24 PM.
This is the last of my posts on the Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Feast 2007. The tasting notes are from the last 10 new beers of 30 new that I sampled. The notes get very general and short towards the end, and the handwriting gets pretty terrible, a good indicator of how drunk I was by the time the fest was over.
631. Kuhnhenn Wheat Wine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: Wheat Wine
Pours a hazy amber with an off-white head. The aroma is predominantly resiny hops with a bit of fruitiness. The flavor is fruity and malty.
632. Magic Hat Belgian Sour Red Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
According to the program: "1 BBL batch, brewed exclusively for EBF. Malty, fruity, sharp and acidic, with slight oak characters." Pours a hazy copper. The aroma is yeasty and fruity with a light acidic hint. The flavor is mildly sour, though not too sweet. The finish is lightly medicinal. It's good, but it could have been more sour.
633. Stone Coast 840 Imperial India Pale Ale Bourbon Aged 2005
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Coast Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber. There's a light bourbon aroma with notes of vanilla. The beer is sweet and malty upfront with vanilla evident, the aftertaste is strong and hoppy.
634. Hairy Eyeball Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.80%
Style: American Strong Ale
Pours a clear, dark amber. The aroma is light, but dark fruit is evident. The flavors are predominantly malty and sweet, with little bitterness.
635. Redbridge
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Alcohol: 4.80%
Style: American Amber/Red Lager
This is A-B's gluten free, sorghum beer. I was curious to try it. Pours a clear, golden-amber. The aroma is light, and predominantly fruity. The flavor is much the same.
636. Weyerbacher Extreme Dark American Wild Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
There was a sign up at Weyerbacher saying to come by at 9 for a new "Extreme Dark Wild Ale". Being a sucker for Wild Ales I showed up around 8:55, and got the first pour at 9:00. Pours a lightly hazy amber. The aroma is sour and acidic with hints of Brett. The flavor is mostly sour and acidic with some malts and sweet fruitiness as well.
637. Founders Blushing Monk
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Style: Fruit/Vegatable Beer, BJCP Style Guide
This has to be the most minimal set of notes I have from the fest. Appearance, smell and taste are all sweet raspberry, with a light tartness.
638. Founders Backwoods Bastard
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, dark amber. The aroma is very much like a Scotch Ale, heavy malts. The flavors are the same with a nice peatiness.
639. Kuhnhenn Braggot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 13.00%
Style: Braggot
Pours a hazy amber. The taste and aroma are both sweet and fruity.
640. Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, red color. The aromas are fruity and malty. The taste is the same with some bourbon notes, as well as some light spiciness and bitterness.
Like I mentioned in my first post, I really like the unlimited tastings format. It's easier to sample more beers, but it also increases the chances that you'll drink too much, which I certainly did. Perhaps the best strategy is to sample new beers early in the session, and save the last hour or so for getting sloshed. The food was pretty good, I had a sausage and pepper sandwich from Sunset, which was tasty, and later in the evening I had a Waffle Haus waffle, that was, as always, excellent.
I only have four beers marked as favorites, and three of those are from early in the evening: Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Weyerbacher Simcoe, Iron Hill Framboise and Weyerbacher Extreme Dark American Wild Ale. I neglected to keep track later in the evening, so I'm probably giving short shrift to some of the other beers.
631. Kuhnhenn Wheat Wine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: Wheat Wine
Pours a hazy amber with an off-white head. The aroma is predominantly resiny hops with a bit of fruitiness. The flavor is fruity and malty.
632. Magic Hat Belgian Sour Red Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Flanders Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
According to the program: "1 BBL batch, brewed exclusively for EBF. Malty, fruity, sharp and acidic, with slight oak characters." Pours a hazy copper. The aroma is yeasty and fruity with a light acidic hint. The flavor is mildly sour, though not too sweet. The finish is lightly medicinal. It's good, but it could have been more sour.
633. Stone Coast 840 Imperial India Pale Ale Bourbon Aged 2005
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Stone Coast Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 8.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy amber. There's a light bourbon aroma with notes of vanilla. The beer is sweet and malty upfront with vanilla evident, the aftertaste is strong and hoppy.
634. Hairy Eyeball Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.80%
Style: American Strong Ale
Pours a clear, dark amber. The aroma is light, but dark fruit is evident. The flavors are predominantly malty and sweet, with little bitterness.
635. Redbridge
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Alcohol: 4.80%
Style: American Amber/Red Lager
This is A-B's gluten free, sorghum beer. I was curious to try it. Pours a clear, golden-amber. The aroma is light, and predominantly fruity. The flavor is much the same.
636. Weyerbacher Extreme Dark American Wild Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
There was a sign up at Weyerbacher saying to come by at 9 for a new "Extreme Dark Wild Ale". Being a sucker for Wild Ales I showed up around 8:55, and got the first pour at 9:00. Pours a lightly hazy amber. The aroma is sour and acidic with hints of Brett. The flavor is mostly sour and acidic with some malts and sweet fruitiness as well.
637. Founders Blushing Monk
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.50%
Style: Fruit/Vegatable Beer, BJCP Style Guide
This has to be the most minimal set of notes I have from the fest. Appearance, smell and taste are all sweet raspberry, with a light tartness.
638. Founders Backwoods Bastard
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, dark amber. The aroma is very much like a Scotch Ale, heavy malts. The flavors are the same with a nice peatiness.
639. Kuhnhenn Braggot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 13.00%
Style: Braggot
Pours a hazy amber. The taste and aroma are both sweet and fruity.
640. Kuhnhenn Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, red color. The aromas are fruity and malty. The taste is the same with some bourbon notes, as well as some light spiciness and bitterness.
Like I mentioned in my first post, I really like the unlimited tastings format. It's easier to sample more beers, but it also increases the chances that you'll drink too much, which I certainly did. Perhaps the best strategy is to sample new beers early in the session, and save the last hour or so for getting sloshed. The food was pretty good, I had a sausage and pepper sandwich from Sunset, which was tasty, and later in the evening I had a Waffle Haus waffle, that was, as always, excellent.
I only have four beers marked as favorites, and three of those are from early in the evening: Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Weyerbacher Simcoe, Iron Hill Framboise and Weyerbacher Extreme Dark American Wild Ale. I neglected to keep track later in the evening, so I'm probably giving short shrift to some of the other beers.
Labels: American Amber/Red Lager, American Double IPA, American Strong Ale, American Wild Ale, Beer Fests, Flanders Red Ale, Wheat Wine
There's not much to say in this post. These are my tasting notes for the middle 10 beers that I had at the Extreme Beer Fest. My handwriting remains legible for all 10 of these beers, but does start to deteriorate a little towards the last few. There are no beers that I have marked down as standouts from these 10, though it was nice to finally get to try a Berlinerweiss.
621. Allagash Bacchus Tripel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden. The aroma is sour apples, vinous and a little buttery. There are tart apple flavors, as well as some wine like qualities. An interesting tripel. I'd like to have it again and take proper notes.
622. Iron Hill Hopzilla
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Alcohol: ?
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear copper. The aroma has some berry fruitiness, malts and citric hops. The flavor is toasty malts, citric fruitiness and a hoppy bitterness in the finish.
623. The Tap Erebus
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Eisbock, BJCP Style Guide
The style I'm not sure of here, it's listed as an Eisbock on ratebeer, but the Tap's website only describes it as a "very strong lager," which may or may not be an Eisbock. It xertainly didn't look like an Eisbock. Pours a clear golden. There's a strange, savory aroma, with a bit of a medicinal tinge. Upfront there's a mix of sour and sweet apple flavors, and a mild bitterness in the finish.
624. The Tap Berlinerweiss
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 2.80%
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
This was my first Berlinerweiss, I drank this without the available syrups. It pours a hazy, pale, straw color. The aroma is grainy with a definite lactic, bacterial edge. The beer was lightly grainy, with a pronounced lactic sourness.
625. Captain Swain's "Big Woody" Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cisco Brewers Inc.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black. The aroma is very light, some fruitiness and roasted malts. The flavor is fruity and sweet with a strong roasted bitterness in the finish.
626. Weekapaug Gruit Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
I've never been to the CBC when they have this on tap, so I decided to give it a shot. This was a tall pour, maybe a sample and a half. It pours a hazy brown. Notes for this one were tough since I haven't had any other Gruits. The aroma, like the flavor, was predominantly herbal/floral.
627. Tröegs Nugget Nectar
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.50%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear amber/copper. The aroma is fruity with some floral, citric and resiny hops. The flavor is fruity and peppery with a citric hop bitterness in the finish.
628. Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 4.50%
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
According to the fest program: "A Neo-Berliner Weiss brewed with fresh peaches. The beer is comprised of half wheat malt and half Pilsner malt, with an addition of lactic acid." This one pours a pale, hazy, straw color with a thick white head. I didn't catch peaches specifically, but I did notice fruitiness in both the aroma and flavors, which were predomiantly lactic acid sourness.
629. Samuel Adams Baltic Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Baltic Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black with a fizzy brown head. The aroma is mostly fruity with some roasty chocolate notes. The flavor is much the same with more prominent chocolate flavors and a light roasted bitterness.
630. Avery Samael's (2006)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Breweing Company
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a copper orange. The aroma is fruity and malty, with a light citric hop hint. The beer is very sweet and fruity with a bit of pepper and vanilla.
I have one more Extreme Beer Fest post to get done, hopefully I'll get that done in the next few days and get caught up with the blog.
621. Allagash Bacchus Tripel
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a lightly hazy golden. The aroma is sour apples, vinous and a little buttery. There are tart apple flavors, as well as some wine like qualities. An interesting tripel. I'd like to have it again and take proper notes.
622. Iron Hill Hopzilla
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Alcohol: ?
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear copper. The aroma has some berry fruitiness, malts and citric hops. The flavor is toasty malts, citric fruitiness and a hoppy bitterness in the finish.
623. The Tap Erebus
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Eisbock, BJCP Style Guide
The style I'm not sure of here, it's listed as an Eisbock on ratebeer, but the Tap's website only describes it as a "very strong lager," which may or may not be an Eisbock. It xertainly didn't look like an Eisbock. Pours a clear golden. There's a strange, savory aroma, with a bit of a medicinal tinge. Upfront there's a mix of sour and sweet apple flavors, and a mild bitterness in the finish.
624. The Tap Berlinerweiss
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 2.80%
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
This was my first Berlinerweiss, I drank this without the available syrups. It pours a hazy, pale, straw color. The aroma is grainy with a definite lactic, bacterial edge. The beer was lightly grainy, with a pronounced lactic sourness.
625. Captain Swain's "Big Woody" Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cisco Brewers Inc.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black. The aroma is very light, some fruitiness and roasted malts. The flavor is fruity and sweet with a strong roasted bitterness in the finish.
626. Weekapaug Gruit Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
I've never been to the CBC when they have this on tap, so I decided to give it a shot. This was a tall pour, maybe a sample and a half. It pours a hazy brown. Notes for this one were tough since I haven't had any other Gruits. The aroma, like the flavor, was predominantly herbal/floral.
627. Tröegs Nugget Nectar
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.50%
Style: American Amber/Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear amber/copper. The aroma is fruity with some floral, citric and resiny hops. The flavor is fruity and peppery with a citric hop bitterness in the finish.
628. Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 4.50%
Style: Berliner Weissbier, BJCP Style Guide
According to the fest program: "A Neo-Berliner Weiss brewed with fresh peaches. The beer is comprised of half wheat malt and half Pilsner malt, with an addition of lactic acid." This one pours a pale, hazy, straw color with a thick white head. I didn't catch peaches specifically, but I did notice fruitiness in both the aroma and flavors, which were predomiantly lactic acid sourness.
629. Samuel Adams Baltic Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Alcohol: ?
Style: Baltic Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black with a fizzy brown head. The aroma is mostly fruity with some roasty chocolate notes. The flavor is much the same with more prominent chocolate flavors and a light roasted bitterness.
630. Avery Samael's (2006)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Breweing Company
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a copper orange. The aroma is fruity and malty, with a light citric hop hint. The beer is very sweet and fruity with a bit of pepper and vanilla.
I have one more Extreme Beer Fest post to get done, hopefully I'll get that done in the next few days and get caught up with the blog.
Labels: American Barleywine, American IPA, Baltic Porter, Beer Fests, Berliner Weissbier, EisAmerican Amber/Red Alebock, Russian Imperial Stout, Scottish Gruit, Tripel
Last Saturday I went to the Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest. I also went last year. The format was similar to the Belgian Beer Fest, unlimited 2 oz. pours, rather than 10 tickets for 4 oz pours. I went alone this time, so I was pretty efficient at having new stuff. I ended up having 30 new beers, plus a few others that I'd had previously. Needless to say I was pretty drunk by the end of the fest, and was hungover the next day. Word to the wise, being hungover on a brunch date the morning after a beer fest isn't fun.
The notes are shorter and really only concern appearance, smell and taste. The descriptions are also more general because it's harder to get a full picture of the beer with small samples. I'm splitting this into three posts, because I've been too busy to blog regularly.
611. Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 13.50%
Style: Eisbock, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy brown red. The aroma is woody, raspberry and vinous. The taste is a bit like sherry with sharp alcohol and a light raspberry sweetness.
612. Sixpoint Gemini
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 10.60%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
The aroma was mostly citric hops, with a bit of malt. However the taste was overly sweet and not hoppy enough. I was disappointed with this one, though a larger sample might help.
613. Stone Old Guardian Barleywine (2007)
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 11.26%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear copper, with a wonderfully fruity aroma, with hints of bananas and berries. The flavor is more malty fruitiness with a mild hop bitterness that strengthens in the aftertaste. This is surprisingly drinkable.
614. Goose Island Special Ed
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 10.50%
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
According to the fest guide: "Imperial "Smoke-ED" Brown Goose, brewed with 60 percent Weyerman beechwood-smoked malt, and aged in Heaven Hill barrels for four months."
My Notes: Hazy brown. Bourbon, wood, vanilla and a hint of smoke in the aroma. The flavor is much the same, but with a stronger smokiness.
615. Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pils
Brewery: Rogue Ales Brewery
Alcohol: 8.80%%
Style: American Double Pilsner
Pours a hazy, straw color. The aroma is fruity with notes of apples, berry and pepper. The taste is the same, but the spiciness dominates, with a lingering hop bitterness in the finish as well.
616. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Double Stout
It's hard to get your hands on this beer in Boston, so I jumped at the chance to sample it. It pours a dark black. The aroma is strong coffee and a bit of woodiness. This actually smelled like a cup of coffee on the first sniff. The flavors are very nice, sweet chocolate, vanilla, coffee and some woodiness.
617. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Double Stout
Pours a dark black, with a brown head. The aroma is bourbon and dark fruit. There are roasted malt flavors, coffee, dark fruit and a light tartness in the finish. The mouthfeel is creamy and full-bodied.
618. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy copper. The smell is wonderfully hoppy and fruity. There are fruity and malty sweet flavors upfront followed by a strong citric hop bitterness in the finish. Very nice.
619. Iron Hill Framboise
Brewery: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Alcohol: 4.80%
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
This was recommended to me by someone standing near the Iron Hill booth, with the warning that it was "sour." Since I love sour beer I tried it. Pours a cloudy orange-pink. The smell is spot on fruit-lambic, with raspberries, funk and acidity. The flavors are sweet raspberries, sourness through the center, and a medicinal/funky finish. This is a great attempt at the style.
620. Imperial Death March Stout
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: 8.80%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black with a dark brown head. Light fruit, phenols and coffee in the aroma. Dark fruit sweetness, chocolate and a roasted coffee bitterness.
I'm almost a month late in getting this posted. I'm going to try to work on part two tonight, and hopefully I'll get caught up on blogging soon, though there isn't much to blog about.
The notes are shorter and really only concern appearance, smell and taste. The descriptions are also more general because it's harder to get a full picture of the beer with small samples. I'm splitting this into three posts, because I've been too busy to blog regularly.
611. Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
Alcohol: 13.50%
Style: Eisbock, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy brown red. The aroma is woody, raspberry and vinous. The taste is a bit like sherry with sharp alcohol and a light raspberry sweetness.
612. Sixpoint Gemini
Brewery: Sixpoint Craft Ales
Alcohol: 10.60%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
The aroma was mostly citric hops, with a bit of malt. However the taste was overly sweet and not hoppy enough. I was disappointed with this one, though a larger sample might help.
613. Stone Old Guardian Barleywine (2007)
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 11.26%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear copper, with a wonderfully fruity aroma, with hints of bananas and berries. The flavor is more malty fruitiness with a mild hop bitterness that strengthens in the aftertaste. This is surprisingly drinkable.
614. Goose Island Special Ed
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 10.50%
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
According to the fest guide: "Imperial "Smoke-ED" Brown Goose, brewed with 60 percent Weyerman beechwood-smoked malt, and aged in Heaven Hill barrels for four months."
My Notes: Hazy brown. Bourbon, wood, vanilla and a hint of smoke in the aroma. The flavor is much the same, but with a stronger smokiness.
615. Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pils
Brewery: Rogue Ales Brewery
Alcohol: 8.80%%
Style: American Double Pilsner
Pours a hazy, straw color. The aroma is fruity with notes of apples, berry and pepper. The taste is the same, but the spiciness dominates, with a lingering hop bitterness in the finish as well.
616. Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Double Stout
It's hard to get your hands on this beer in Boston, so I jumped at the chance to sample it. It pours a dark black. The aroma is strong coffee and a bit of woodiness. This actually smelled like a cup of coffee on the first sniff. The flavors are very nice, sweet chocolate, vanilla, coffee and some woodiness.
617. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Double Stout
Pours a dark black, with a brown head. The aroma is bourbon and dark fruit. There are roasted malt flavors, coffee, dark fruit and a light tartness in the finish. The mouthfeel is creamy and full-bodied.
618. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy copper. The smell is wonderfully hoppy and fruity. There are fruity and malty sweet flavors upfront followed by a strong citric hop bitterness in the finish. Very nice.
619. Iron Hill Framboise
Brewery: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Alcohol: 4.80%
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
This was recommended to me by someone standing near the Iron Hill booth, with the warning that it was "sour." Since I love sour beer I tried it. Pours a cloudy orange-pink. The smell is spot on fruit-lambic, with raspberries, funk and acidity. The flavors are sweet raspberries, sourness through the center, and a medicinal/funky finish. This is a great attempt at the style.
620. Imperial Death March Stout
Brewery: Milly's Tavern
Alcohol: 8.80%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a dark black with a dark brown head. Light fruit, phenols and coffee in the aroma. Dark fruit sweetness, chocolate and a roasted coffee bitterness.
I'm almost a month late in getting this posted. I'm going to try to work on part two tonight, and hopefully I'll get caught up on blogging soon, though there isn't much to blog about.
Labels: American Barleywine, American Double IPA, American Double Pilsner, American Double Stout, Beer Fests, Eisbock, Rauchbier
