1006. Real Ale Roggenbier
We drove to Waco from Austin on Saturday morning, and stopped for lunch at Leal's upon arrival in town. The rest of the afternoon was occupied by Win's driving/walking tour of new developments and businesses in Waco. We had dinner at the relatively new Se Cocina, and then headed to The Dancing Bear for beer.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Real Ale Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.90%
Serving: Tap
Style: Roggenbier, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Pours a very nice, hazed, golden color, and is topped by a thin, white head. The aroma is very fruity, with notes of bananas and apricots. There's a bit of grassiness as well as hints of yeast.
Sweet, bready malts upfront move into a fruity center with notes of bananas, as well as other fruits. The finish has bit of citrus and a mild, grassy bitterness. Medium-bodied and vigorously carbonated.
The flavors are nice, but the beer is a bit too sweet overall, and I think that any flavors contributed by the rye malts are overpowered by the fruitiness.
We drove to Waco from Austin on Saturday morning, and stopped for lunch at Leal's upon arrival in town. The rest of the afternoon was occupied by Win's driving/walking tour of new developments and businesses in Waco. We had dinner at the relatively new Se Cocina, and then headed to The Dancing Bear for beer.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Real Ale Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.90%
Serving: Tap
Style: Roggenbier, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Pours a very nice, hazed, golden color, and is topped by a thin, white head. The aroma is very fruity, with notes of bananas and apricots. There's a bit of grassiness as well as hints of yeast.
Sweet, bready malts upfront move into a fruity center with notes of bananas, as well as other fruits. The finish has bit of citrus and a mild, grassy bitterness. Medium-bodied and vigorously carbonated.
The flavors are nice, but the beer is a bit too sweet overall, and I think that any flavors contributed by the rye malts are overpowered by the fruitiness.
Labels: Roggenbier
David was heavily pushing French food for dinner, but was over-ruled; however, the Mexican restaurant that we'd picked out had a two-hour wait. So we ended up having French food for dinner at Chez Nous. We each had the prix fixe option. I had the duck liver mousse as an appetizer, a sirloin steak cooked in a Burgundy-wine sauce topped with herbed butter as an entree, and a crêpe stuffed with apples stewed in Calvados and topped with a caramel sauce and crème fraîche. Dinner was very good.
After dinner we headed to Lovejoy's Taproom, I wouldn't be surprised if we were the only ones that evening who went from Chez Nous to Lovejoy's. Lovejoy's has a wonderfully divey atmosphere: murals on the wall, smokey, beat up tables and chairs, and heavily tatooed employees.
They had a pretty decent beer selection. There were a lot of Texas craft breweries represented: Live Oak, Real Ale, Independence, 512 and St. Arnold's. There were also a other scattered craft beers including Old Rasputin and Magic Hat #9. More notably they had three of their own beers on tap, something I couldn't pass up.
1003. Demon Steam
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: California Common / Steam Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.5
Pours a hazed copper-golden with no head. Bready and grainy malts appear on the nose, along with a nice bit of fruitiness and slight, peppery spice.
Bready and sweet malts are evident upfront with a mild banana(?) fruitiness in the center. There's a good, leafy hop-bitterness in the flavor, but only a mild bitterness. Light-bodied and thin. It could have used a bit more carbonation.
Tasty, but could have used a bit more body.
1004. Sparky's Special Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.3
Pours a lightly cloudy copper color. Topped by a sudsy head that faded to a wispy film. Bready malts and a light diacetyl were present in the aroma.
Reminiscent of a mild. There are light caramel malts upfront and a hint of diacetyl. The finish has a light hop bitterness. Medium-bodied with a nice bite in the carbonation.
A bit light on flavor, but it grows on you. Malty and mild with a nice hop finish.
1005. The Chronic
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
Comes a cloudy copper topped by a thin head. The aroma is toasty and malty with a bit of resiny hops.
A toasty maltiness upfront lends a light sweetness to the beer. The finish has a good amount of leafy hop bitterness. Light-bodied, high carbonation and a tad leafy.
Tasty, a really good sessioner.
After dinner we headed to Lovejoy's Taproom, I wouldn't be surprised if we were the only ones that evening who went from Chez Nous to Lovejoy's. Lovejoy's has a wonderfully divey atmosphere: murals on the wall, smokey, beat up tables and chairs, and heavily tatooed employees.They had a pretty decent beer selection. There were a lot of Texas craft breweries represented: Live Oak, Real Ale, Independence, 512 and St. Arnold's. There were also a other scattered craft beers including Old Rasputin and Magic Hat #9. More notably they had three of their own beers on tap, something I couldn't pass up.
1003. Demon Steam
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: California Common / Steam Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.5
Pours a hazed copper-golden with no head. Bready and grainy malts appear on the nose, along with a nice bit of fruitiness and slight, peppery spice.
Bready and sweet malts are evident upfront with a mild banana(?) fruitiness in the center. There's a good, leafy hop-bitterness in the flavor, but only a mild bitterness. Light-bodied and thin. It could have used a bit more carbonation.
Tasty, but could have used a bit more body.
1004. Sparky's Special Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.3
Pours a lightly cloudy copper color. Topped by a sudsy head that faded to a wispy film. Bready malts and a light diacetyl were present in the aroma.
Reminiscent of a mild. There are light caramel malts upfront and a hint of diacetyl. The finish has a light hop bitterness. Medium-bodied with a nice bite in the carbonation.
A bit light on flavor, but it grows on you. Malty and mild with a nice hop finish.
1005. The Chronic
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Lovejoy's Taproom
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
Comes a cloudy copper topped by a thin head. The aroma is toasty and malty with a bit of resiny hops.
A toasty maltiness upfront lends a light sweetness to the beer. The finish has a good amount of leafy hop bitterness. Light-bodied, high carbonation and a tad leafy.
Tasty, a really good sessioner.
1002. Pine Belt Pale Ale
Win picked David and me up at the Austin airport and we drove to Ward's sister's house where Ward was waiting for us. We discussed dinner options (at length and without much decisiveness) and had beer. Ward brought a four-pack of Pine Belt Pale Ale, a beer from Southern Star Brewing in Conroe, a new Texas brewery.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southern Star Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Can, 16 oz.
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a lightly hazed copper with a stiff, creamy, off-white head that fades slowly leaving patchy lace. The aroma is very malty: caramel, malted barley, and a hint of hoppiness.
Caramel and malty sweetness upfront that mellows in the center where it's met by a mild, leafy hop-bitterness and a mild peppery spice that both hold through to the finish. Smooth, creamy, medium-bodied.
A nice session beer. Malt-forward, but not too sweet.
Win picked David and me up at the Austin airport and we drove to Ward's sister's house where Ward was waiting for us. We discussed dinner options (at length and without much decisiveness) and had beer. Ward brought a four-pack of Pine Belt Pale Ale, a beer from Southern Star Brewing in Conroe, a new Texas brewery.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Southern Star Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Can, 16 oz.
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a lightly hazed copper with a stiff, creamy, off-white head that fades slowly leaving patchy lace. The aroma is very malty: caramel, malted barley, and a hint of hoppiness.
Caramel and malty sweetness upfront that mellows in the center where it's met by a mild, leafy hop-bitterness and a mild peppery spice that both hold through to the finish. Smooth, creamy, medium-bodied.
A nice session beer. Malt-forward, but not too sweet.
Labels: American Pale Ale
1001. Indie Pale Ale
I flew to Texas over Easter weekend this year. David was also flying in, which gave Ward, Win, David and me a chance to hang out, something all four of us haven't been able to do since David's wedding in August 2007. My flight was scheduled to leave Logan at noon, but was delayed by an hour. I used the extra time to have a beer at the Cisco Brew Pub in Terminal B.
Terminal B's food options have improved dramatically since I first moved to Boston, when the only options after security were a Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and a Burger King / Pizza Hut. Now there's an expanded food court, at least one nicer restaurant, and the Cisco Brew Pub, which I'm pretty sure is in the spot formerly occupied by the Burger King.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cisco Brewers Inc.
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
Pours a clear, copper color, and is topped by a sudsy, off-white head that's fed by large bubbles. The head thins to a film leaving nice lace. The aroma is mildly toasty, but any maltiness is overshadowed by a huge hop aroma: grapefruit, apricot and a bit of resin.
Toasty and bready malts are evident upfront, but are well attenuated with only a mild sweetness that mellows towards the center, and is overtaken by hop flavors: apricot, citus and resin, The finish is a nice lingering hop-bitterness. Medium-bodied, a tad oily with restrained carbonation.
A damn tasty IPA. This is only the second beer from Cisco that I've had, which is surprising given how frequently I've seen their beers. I'll definitely have to pick up some of their other beers.
I flew to Texas over Easter weekend this year. David was also flying in, which gave Ward, Win, David and me a chance to hang out, something all four of us haven't been able to do since David's wedding in August 2007. My flight was scheduled to leave Logan at noon, but was delayed by an hour. I used the extra time to have a beer at the Cisco Brew Pub in Terminal B.
Terminal B's food options have improved dramatically since I first moved to Boston, when the only options after security were a Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts and a Burger King / Pizza Hut. Now there's an expanded food court, at least one nicer restaurant, and the Cisco Brew Pub, which I'm pretty sure is in the spot formerly occupied by the Burger King.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cisco Brewers Inc.
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
Pours a clear, copper color, and is topped by a sudsy, off-white head that's fed by large bubbles. The head thins to a film leaving nice lace. The aroma is mildly toasty, but any maltiness is overshadowed by a huge hop aroma: grapefruit, apricot and a bit of resin.
Toasty and bready malts are evident upfront, but are well attenuated with only a mild sweetness that mellows towards the center, and is overtaken by hop flavors: apricot, citus and resin, The finish is a nice lingering hop-bitterness. Medium-bodied, a tad oily with restrained carbonation.
A damn tasty IPA. This is only the second beer from Cisco that I've had, which is surprising given how frequently I've seen their beers. I'll definitely have to pick up some of their other beers.
Labels: American IPA
1000. St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary Edition
Published by Unknown on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 9:30 AM.
I've probably explained what the numbers before each beer mean on the blog before, but I'll mention them again for this post. I started keeping track of the different beers that I'd had my senior year of college. The beer list is yet another example of my obsessive side. Once I started the list I had to continue adding to it. I started keeping notes on most of the new beers that I try in January 2006, when I started this blog at beer number 308. Over the 6 years that I've been keeping a list I've averaged about 165 new beers a year, however the yearly average stands at about 210 new beers since I started the blog. Hopefully 2000 won't be another 5 or 6 years away...
1000. St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary Edition
I originally purchased two bottles of the 60th anniversary edition of St Bernardus Abt 12 at Downtown Wine & Spirits in the last few months of 2006. My intention at the time was to have one beer then, and to cellar the other. For whatever reason I ended up leaving both bottles in the cellar. Having both bottles in the cellar made picking out beer number 1000 for the list very easy. Jadyn and I split this beer on April 8th. I let it warm to around 50º F before splitting it between Westvleteren and Ommegang chalices.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 11.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 5.0 | Taste: 5.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.5 | Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.85
This beer initially pours a mildly hazed, amber color, but becomes much darker and cloudier as the end of the bottle is poured. A half-inch thick, creamy, beige head tops the beer. The head retains well, and leaves generous lace clinging to the side of the glass. Small flecks of yeast on top of the head give the beer a cinnamon-dusted appearance.
The aroma is malty and complex, and gives away the fact that this beer has been aged. An aroma characteristic of aged Belgian Quads and Strong Dark Ales - somewhere at the intersection of boozy, vinous and buttery - greets the nose first. Notes of toffee and candi sugar are present, but have likely faded. Swirling brings out an acidic, cherry aroma as well as hints of chocolate.
This quad is malty and sweet upfront. A mild, bready sweetness is first evident, followed by sweeter flavors of caramel and candi sugar. Raisin and fig flavors appear towards the center and are followed by a lightly tart, cherry flavor. The cherry malts combined with the alcoholic spice give the beer a boozy, vinous quality that moves into a mildly bitter finish. Ageing, at least as compared to regular St Bernardus Abt 12, seems to have mellowed out the fruit in the center, and brought out tart and boozy characters. This beer is medium-bodied and smooth with moderate carbonation. It's not as thick as most quads. Has this relative thinness always been an aspect of the beer, or is it a consequence of cellaring?
Delicious, smooth and complex. I think ageing does a lot for this style as a whole. Deciding whether to have the next bottle sooner or later will be a tough decision.
1000. St. Bernardus Abt 12 60th Anniversary Edition
I originally purchased two bottles of the 60th anniversary edition of St Bernardus Abt 12 at Downtown Wine & Spirits in the last few months of 2006. My intention at the time was to have one beer then, and to cellar the other. For whatever reason I ended up leaving both bottles in the cellar. Having both bottles in the cellar made picking out beer number 1000 for the list very easy. Jadyn and I split this beer on April 8th. I let it warm to around 50º F before splitting it between Westvleteren and Ommegang chalices.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 11.00%
Serving: Bottle, 750 mL
Style: Quadrupel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 5.0 | Taste: 5.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.5 | Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.85
This beer initially pours a mildly hazed, amber color, but becomes much darker and cloudier as the end of the bottle is poured. A half-inch thick, creamy, beige head tops the beer. The head retains well, and leaves generous lace clinging to the side of the glass. Small flecks of yeast on top of the head give the beer a cinnamon-dusted appearance.
The aroma is malty and complex, and gives away the fact that this beer has been aged. An aroma characteristic of aged Belgian Quads and Strong Dark Ales - somewhere at the intersection of boozy, vinous and buttery - greets the nose first. Notes of toffee and candi sugar are present, but have likely faded. Swirling brings out an acidic, cherry aroma as well as hints of chocolate.
This quad is malty and sweet upfront. A mild, bready sweetness is first evident, followed by sweeter flavors of caramel and candi sugar. Raisin and fig flavors appear towards the center and are followed by a lightly tart, cherry flavor. The cherry malts combined with the alcoholic spice give the beer a boozy, vinous quality that moves into a mildly bitter finish. Ageing, at least as compared to regular St Bernardus Abt 12, seems to have mellowed out the fruit in the center, and brought out tart and boozy characters. This beer is medium-bodied and smooth with moderate carbonation. It's not as thick as most quads. Has this relative thinness always been an aspect of the beer, or is it a consequence of cellaring?
Delicious, smooth and complex. I think ageing does a lot for this style as a whole. Deciding whether to have the next bottle sooner or later will be a tough decision.
Labels: Quadrupel
999. Mama's Little Yella Pils
I 'm not sure if this is a new release from Oskar Blues, or one I just haven't seen before. I bought a six-pack at Downtown Wine & Spirits earlier this week, and I had this beer on Saturday (April 4th). I served it in my Cambridge Brewing Company pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery
Alcohol: 5.30%
Serving: Can, 12 oz.
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 3.65
Pours a lightly hazed golden color. Topped by a fluffy, bright white head that fades to a film, leaving patchy lace. The aroma is a bit light overall, but there are notes of graininess and a bit of leafy hops.
Lightly sweet pilsner malts appear upfront and persist through the center of this beer. The finish has a good bit of leafy, hop bitterness, especially as the beer warms. A hint of apple fruitiness also appears towards the finish as the beer warms. Light-bodied and moderately carbonated with a crisp, dry finish.
A bit disappointing, especially from this brewery, but overall a drinkable pilsner with a good amount of bitterness. This beer definitely got better as it warmed.
I 'm not sure if this is a new release from Oskar Blues, or one I just haven't seen before. I bought a six-pack at Downtown Wine & Spirits earlier this week, and I had this beer on Saturday (April 4th). I served it in my Cambridge Brewing Company pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery
Alcohol: 5.30%
Serving: Can, 12 oz.
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 3.65
Pours a lightly hazed golden color. Topped by a fluffy, bright white head that fades to a film, leaving patchy lace. The aroma is a bit light overall, but there are notes of graininess and a bit of leafy hops.
Lightly sweet pilsner malts appear upfront and persist through the center of this beer. The finish has a good bit of leafy, hop bitterness, especially as the beer warms. A hint of apple fruitiness also appears towards the finish as the beer warms. Light-bodied and moderately carbonated with a crisp, dry finish.
A bit disappointing, especially from this brewery, but overall a drinkable pilsner with a good amount of bitterness. This beer definitely got better as it warmed.
Labels: Czech Pilsener
998. Magic Hat Hi.P.A.
Jadyn and I stopped for beers at Christopher's on Friday (April 3rd) after work. I had Magic Hat Hi.P.A. and Jadyn had Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.7
Pours a clear copper in color, and is topped by a creamy, off-white head, which retains well and leaves a solid sheet of lace down the entire glass. The aroma is hoppy with floral, citric and resiny notes. Letting the beer sit undisturbed yields occasional notes of orange blossoms, and a bit of a caramel aroma come out on warming.
Sweet and bready upfront with a bit of toastiness appearing towards the center. The finish has a good dose of resiny hops with citric hints and a good amount of lingering bitterness. Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated.
A pretty easy drinking IPA, nicely balanced with a good hop focus.
Jadyn and I stopped for beers at Christopher's on Friday (April 3rd) after work. I had Magic Hat Hi.P.A. and Jadyn had Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.7
Pours a clear copper in color, and is topped by a creamy, off-white head, which retains well and leaves a solid sheet of lace down the entire glass. The aroma is hoppy with floral, citric and resiny notes. Letting the beer sit undisturbed yields occasional notes of orange blossoms, and a bit of a caramel aroma come out on warming.
Sweet and bready upfront with a bit of toastiness appearing towards the center. The finish has a good dose of resiny hops with citric hints and a good amount of lingering bitterness. Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated.
A pretty easy drinking IPA, nicely balanced with a good hop focus.
Labels: American IPA
997. Pilsner Falscher
Jadyn and I had dinner at John Harvard's on Wednesday April 1st. In general I tend to neglect lagers, especially pilsners, in my beer selection, so in an effort to correct that I've been trying lagers when I see them.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.6
This pils is lightly hazy and pours a particularly nice golden color. The airy, white head fades to a continuous film leaving a clinging "crown" of lace. The aroma is fairly light. There's a faint, apple fruitiness, leafy hops, and a mild minerally character.
Lightly sweet, but otherwise neutral, malts upfront. Followed by an apple-tinged graininess in the center, and a mild, leafy bitterness in the finish. Light-bodied and crisp carbonation, yet it still seems a bit thin in the finish.
This beer has a good amount of flavor with a nice, chalky mineral-character, but could be a bit more crisp.
Jadyn and I had dinner at John Harvard's on Wednesday April 1st. In general I tend to neglect lagers, especially pilsners, in my beer selection, so in an effort to correct that I've been trying lagers when I see them.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: John Harvard's Brew House
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.6
This pils is lightly hazy and pours a particularly nice golden color. The airy, white head fades to a continuous film leaving a clinging "crown" of lace. The aroma is fairly light. There's a faint, apple fruitiness, leafy hops, and a mild minerally character.
Lightly sweet, but otherwise neutral, malts upfront. Followed by an apple-tinged graininess in the center, and a mild, leafy bitterness in the finish. Light-bodied and crisp carbonation, yet it still seems a bit thin in the finish.
This beer has a good amount of flavor with a nice, chalky mineral-character, but could be a bit more crisp.
Labels: Czech Pilsener
996. Anchor Bock Beer
I'm surprised that I didn't know about this beer until now. I like most of Anchor's beer, but I'd never seen their spring seasonal before. So when I saw it at Downtown Wine & Spirits Tuesday night (March 31st) I had to buy a six-pack.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 |Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.65
Pours a clear, reddish brown. It's topped by a thick, fluffy, brown head, which retains well and clings to the side of the glass as it fades. The aroma is malty: roasty hints of chocolate and a light fruitiness.
Well attenuated upfront, the lack of sweetness really accentuates the darker malts used in this beer. There's a mild fruity sweetness in the center and a nice roasted bitterness in the finish that's reminiscent of coffee. There's also a mild buttery off-flavor in the finish. Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a roasted, husky quality in the finish.
Aside from the very light diacetyl flavor in the finish this is a very nice beer.
I'm surprised that I didn't know about this beer until now. I like most of Anchor's beer, but I'd never seen their spring seasonal before. So when I saw it at Downtown Wine & Spirits Tuesday night (March 31st) I had to buy a six-pack.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 |Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.65
Pours a clear, reddish brown. It's topped by a thick, fluffy, brown head, which retains well and clings to the side of the glass as it fades. The aroma is malty: roasty hints of chocolate and a light fruitiness.
Well attenuated upfront, the lack of sweetness really accentuates the darker malts used in this beer. There's a mild fruity sweetness in the center and a nice roasted bitterness in the finish that's reminiscent of coffee. There's also a mild buttery off-flavor in the finish. Medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation and a roasted, husky quality in the finish.
Aside from the very light diacetyl flavor in the finish this is a very nice beer.
Labels: Bock
995. Saint Botolph's Town
This bottle was provided by Nick, Jadyn's labmate, in return for cat-sitting his cat KiKi. Nick had done his research prior to our arrival. There were three bottles of beer in his fridge for us, one bottle of Don de Dieu, labeled "#97", one bottle of Weihenstephaner Korbinian, labeled "#464" and a bottle of Saint Botolph's Town labeled "#997?", which would have been accurate, save for two errors on my part at the BA Extreme Beer Fest. Jadyn and I split the Saint Botolph's town while we were watching KiKi.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 5.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: English Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.0
Pours a mildly cloudy, garnet-tinted, dark brown. It's toped by a light-brown, fluffy head that fades to a film. The aroma is malty with hints of chocolate, dark fruit, caramel, and a nice whiff of coffee on the swirl.
Sweet caramel and bittersweet chocolate malts upfront move through the center becoming fruitier towards the finish with a nice hints of plum. They give way to a slightly astringent character, a roasty coffee bitterness, and a lingering fruity sweetness in the finish. The beer is medium-bodied and smooth with moderate carbonation and a mild, minerally finish.
This brew has a good, malt profile and sweetness. The malts are balanced by a good roasted component that still leaves a nice lingering sweetness in the finish.
This bottle was provided by Nick, Jadyn's labmate, in return for cat-sitting his cat KiKi. Nick had done his research prior to our arrival. There were three bottles of beer in his fridge for us, one bottle of Don de Dieu, labeled "#97", one bottle of Weihenstephaner Korbinian, labeled "#464" and a bottle of Saint Botolph's Town labeled "#997?", which would have been accurate, save for two errors on my part at the BA Extreme Beer Fest. Jadyn and I split the Saint Botolph's town while we were watching KiKi.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 5.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: English Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.0
Pours a mildly cloudy, garnet-tinted, dark brown. It's toped by a light-brown, fluffy head that fades to a film. The aroma is malty with hints of chocolate, dark fruit, caramel, and a nice whiff of coffee on the swirl.
Sweet caramel and bittersweet chocolate malts upfront move through the center becoming fruitier towards the finish with a nice hints of plum. They give way to a slightly astringent character, a roasty coffee bitterness, and a lingering fruity sweetness in the finish. The beer is medium-bodied and smooth with moderate carbonation and a mild, minerally finish.
This brew has a good, malt profile and sweetness. The malts are balanced by a good roasted component that still leaves a nice lingering sweetness in the finish.
Labels: English Brown Ale
Jadyn and I went to Cambridge Brewing Company on Sunday afternoon (March 22nd) for drinks after a quick stop in lab. They had two new beers on tap, both with Beatles themed names. I had to give both a try.
993. Golden Slumbers
From the website:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: German Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.5 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.2
I normally don't seek out pilsners, because it seems like most that I try are substandard, flavorless affairs. They're easy to drink because they're lacking in flavor. I'm rarely disappointed by the CBC so I wanted to give theirs a try.
Golden Slumbers, like its name, pours a lightly cloudy, golden color. It's topped by a compact, bright white head that fades to a persistent film leaving patches of lace. Like most pils, the aroma is fairly subtle with grassy and herbal hop notes, as well as a bit of peppery hops.
Clean, malt flavors upfront, with only a mild sweetness running throughout the beer. Peppery and herbal flavors appear in the center with an accompanying hop bitterness in the finish. Clean, simple, but flavorful. Light-bodied and vigorously carbonated with a crisp, mildly dry finish.
This is what I like in a pils, a nice amount of flavor with a nice hop presence in the finish.
994. Sgt. Pepper
From the website:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a cloudy, golden amber. Topped by a white head that thins to film and leaves a bit of lace. The white pepper is the strongest component of the aroma, but there are also notes of caramel and a hint of Belgian yeast fruitiness.
Sweet malts upfront with a bit of caramel and banana fruitiness in the center. The finish is very peppery with a good amount of accompanying heat. Good but a bit peppery for my taste. Medium-bodied, vigorous carbonation and a lingering, warming spice.
An interesting, flavorful beer, but the spiciness is a bit much.
993. Golden Slumbers
From the website:
Our first lager beer in nearly eight years, our pils was brewed pilsner, Vienna, and Melanoidin malts and a touch of flaked rice to assist in providing dryness to the palate but rich malt flavors up front. Hops were a traditional combination of Czech Saaz and German Hallertauer and Tettnanger. Pure lager yeast from the Augustiner Brewery in Munich was employed, and temperatures were kept cold to accentuate malt and hop character. Lagering (or cold-aging) took place at 32*F for over one month, and this beer is presented to you in its beautiful golden, unfiltered state. Clean in the nose with floral and herbal hop notes, the palate is a hop-forward experience with cereal and malt flavors, a hint of sweetness, and a very crisp, clean finish.Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: German Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.5 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.2
I normally don't seek out pilsners, because it seems like most that I try are substandard, flavorless affairs. They're easy to drink because they're lacking in flavor. I'm rarely disappointed by the CBC so I wanted to give theirs a try.
Golden Slumbers, like its name, pours a lightly cloudy, golden color. It's topped by a compact, bright white head that fades to a persistent film leaving patches of lace. Like most pils, the aroma is fairly subtle with grassy and herbal hop notes, as well as a bit of peppery hops.
Clean, malt flavors upfront, with only a mild sweetness running throughout the beer. Peppery and herbal flavors appear in the center with an accompanying hop bitterness in the finish. Clean, simple, but flavorful. Light-bodied and vigorously carbonated with a crisp, mildly dry finish.
This is what I like in a pils, a nice amount of flavor with a nice hop presence in the finish.
994. Sgt. Pepper
From the website:
Beer Stats:It was twenty years ago today…
Well, almost twenty years ago today, as we present to you the first of three special Anniversary Beers in celebration of our upcoming Twentieth Anniversary!It was April Fool’s Day, 1989, when Phil “Brewdaddy” Bannatyne first opened the doors to what would become one of the preeminent breweries in the country. Of course, true to the spirit of the day, it would be another month before the first house-made beers would be available on draft.
Sgt. Pepper has been brewed with Pilsner, CaraVienne, and Rye malts, plus Magnum and Spalter hops. But the driving force behind this beer is the contribution from whole peppercorns! Black, Green, White, and Pink Peppercorns were added to the brewkettle, and they provide a noticeable fresh, herbal spiciness to the nose and through the palate. Pink pepper provides a high, floral character mostly as an aromatic, and Green pepper offers an herbal freshness with slight heat. White pepper contributes a subtle earthiness, and Black pepper engages the palate in a lingering, tingling warmth. All combine to accentuate the complexities of our Belgian yeast, and are balanced by crisp malt character with a hint of sweetness.
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a cloudy, golden amber. Topped by a white head that thins to film and leaves a bit of lace. The white pepper is the strongest component of the aroma, but there are also notes of caramel and a hint of Belgian yeast fruitiness.
Sweet malts upfront with a bit of caramel and banana fruitiness in the center. The finish is very peppery with a good amount of accompanying heat. Good but a bit peppery for my taste. Medium-bodied, vigorous carbonation and a lingering, warming spice.
An interesting, flavorful beer, but the spiciness is a bit much.
Labels: Cambridge Brewing Company, German Pilsener, Saison
992. Abbey Normal
Jadyn and I had dinner at the CBC in early March. I had this beer with dinner.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.60%
Serving: Tap
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
Pours a cloudy, reddish-tinged brown. Topped by a thin, filmy, beige head that leaves snaking trails of lace. There's a lovely malty aroma with notes of caramel, candi sugar, raisins, dates. There's also a light alcoholic character evident.
This beer is malty and sweet upfront: candi sugar, caramel, chocolate, and dark fruit. A peppery and alcoholic spiciness gives a warming sensation toward the finish, which is rounded out with good amount of bitterness. Medium-bodied and vigorously carbonated. The finish has a strong warming sensation.
Overall a very tasty beer, but with a strong spiciness.
Jadyn and I had dinner at the CBC in early March. I had this beer with dinner.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.60%
Serving: Tap
Style: Dubbel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
Pours a cloudy, reddish-tinged brown. Topped by a thin, filmy, beige head that leaves snaking trails of lace. There's a lovely malty aroma with notes of caramel, candi sugar, raisins, dates. There's also a light alcoholic character evident.
This beer is malty and sweet upfront: candi sugar, caramel, chocolate, and dark fruit. A peppery and alcoholic spiciness gives a warming sensation toward the finish, which is rounded out with good amount of bitterness. Medium-bodied and vigorously carbonated. The finish has a strong warming sensation.
Overall a very tasty beer, but with a strong spiciness.
Labels: Cambridge Brewing Company, Dubbel
991. Harpoon Catamount Maple Wheat (100 Barrel Series #26)
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 at 9:30 AM.
991. Harpoon Catamount Maple Wheat (100 Barrel Series #26)
I bought this bottle at Downtown Wine & Spirits in late February and had it on the 4th of March.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5| Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a clear, dark copper. Topped by a fluffy, cohesive, beige head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel, toffee and maple syrup. A bit of leafy hops appear on the swirl.
A light, bready sweetness upfront builds in sweetness in the center with caramel malts and maple syrup. There's a light spiciness towards the finish, which is lightly bitter. Medium-bodied with a good amount of carbonation.
Malty, but balanced. There's not so much maple syrup so as to make the beer overwhelmingly sweet, but it could have used a bit more to add a bit more maple flavor, which was mild overall.
I bought this bottle at Downtown Wine & Spirits in late February and had it on the 4th of March.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5| Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.7
Pours a clear, dark copper. Topped by a fluffy, cohesive, beige head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel, toffee and maple syrup. A bit of leafy hops appear on the swirl.
A light, bready sweetness upfront builds in sweetness in the center with caramel malts and maple syrup. There's a light spiciness towards the finish, which is lightly bitter. Medium-bodied with a good amount of carbonation.
Malty, but balanced. There's not so much maple syrup so as to make the beer overwhelmingly sweet, but it could have used a bit more to add a bit more maple flavor, which was mild overall.
Labels: American Pale Wheat Ale, Harpoon Brewery
