1164. Lips Of Faith Biere De Mars
This was another beer that I picked up at Spec's, but I didn't have a chance to drink it until Tuesday at my parent's house.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.35
New Belgium's Biere de Mars pours a cloudy, peach color, and is topped by a thick, off-white head that fades to a film, leaving good lace. The aroma is dominated by Brettanomyces. There's the characteristic "hopsack" aroma along with banana, citrus, and toasty malts. Swirling brings out spicy alcoholic aromas.
The first sip suggests that this is a well attenuated beer. There are toasty and bready malts, but they're only mildly sweet. However, towards the center the sweetness comes out a bit with notes of banana and orange peel. The malts are balanced in the finish by a moderate bitterness, and an earthy Brett contribution. This beer is light-to-medium-bodied, and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
I really liked this beer a lot. It's balanced, and has a nice Brett flavor.
This was another beer that I picked up at Spec's, but I didn't have a chance to drink it until Tuesday at my parent's house.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.20%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Wild Ale
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.35
New Belgium's Biere de Mars pours a cloudy, peach color, and is topped by a thick, off-white head that fades to a film, leaving good lace. The aroma is dominated by Brettanomyces. There's the characteristic "hopsack" aroma along with banana, citrus, and toasty malts. Swirling brings out spicy alcoholic aromas.
The first sip suggests that this is a well attenuated beer. There are toasty and bready malts, but they're only mildly sweet. However, towards the center the sweetness comes out a bit with notes of banana and orange peel. The malts are balanced in the finish by a moderate bitterness, and an earthy Brett contribution. This beer is light-to-medium-bodied, and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
I really liked this beer a lot. It's balanced, and has a nice Brett flavor.
Labels: American Wild Ale
1163. Shiner 100 Commemorator
My mom and grandmother picked me up from the DFW airport on March 24th. We stopped for dinner at Taco Real, an excellent hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, in Ennis and then stopped at a gas station before getting back on the highway. I noticed bottles of Duvel, La Fin du Monde, and Chimay Blue in the cooler so I investigated further. There was a "Texas Beers" shelf, and they still had at least three six-packs of Shiner 100, so I picked one up.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Year: 2009
Alcohol: 6.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Doppelbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.65
Shiner 100 pours a slightly hazed, amber color, and is topped by a thick, orange-brown head that rapidly fades with a soda-like sound to a thin ring. The aroma is rich and malty. There are notes of caramel, toffee, and sharp fruitiness.
Mildly sweet, bready malts upfront move into a richer center with notes of fruit, caramel, and toffee. The finish is mildly bitter with a slight astringency. This beer is medium-bodied, and has prickly carbonation.
I thought that this beer was pretty drinkable for the style. The malts could have been a bit stronger and the finish could have been beefed-up a bit, but pretty decent overall.
My mom and grandmother picked me up from the DFW airport on March 24th. We stopped for dinner at Taco Real, an excellent hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, in Ennis and then stopped at a gas station before getting back on the highway. I noticed bottles of Duvel, La Fin du Monde, and Chimay Blue in the cooler so I investigated further. There was a "Texas Beers" shelf, and they still had at least three six-packs of Shiner 100, so I picked one up.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Year: 2009
Alcohol: 6.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Doppelbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.65
Shiner 100 pours a slightly hazed, amber color, and is topped by a thick, orange-brown head that rapidly fades with a soda-like sound to a thin ring. The aroma is rich and malty. There are notes of caramel, toffee, and sharp fruitiness.
Mildly sweet, bready malts upfront move into a richer center with notes of fruit, caramel, and toffee. The finish is mildly bitter with a slight astringency. This beer is medium-bodied, and has prickly carbonation.
I thought that this beer was pretty drinkable for the style. The malts could have been a bit stronger and the finish could have been beefed-up a bit, but pretty decent overall.
Labels: Doppelbock
I flew to Texas in late March, and Win and I visited Ward in Houston on the weekend of the 26th. I had several new beers while there
1157. Phoenixx Double ESB
After we arrived at Ward's we went to Anvil, a bar that focuses on cocktails, but with a respectable beer list. I started off with a cask beer, but then switched to cocktails.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Real Ale Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.20%
Serving: Cask
Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB), BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.25
This ESB pours a lightly hazed, copper-amber color, and is topped by a thick, creamy, beige head. The aroma is citric and malty, which gives an impression of orange cream. There are caramel and bready notes, grassy hops, and an almost cinnamon-like spice.
Mildly sweet, bready and toasty malts upfront move into a lightly-citric center. The finish has a rough, hoppy bitterness and a slight spiciness. This beer is smooth and creamy upfront, but moves into a rough, coarse finish.
I thought that this was an amazingly balanced beer.
1158. Hop Czar
I split a bottle of this beer with Ward at his apartment after we got back on Friday night.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: BridgePort Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Hop Czar pours a clear copper color, and is topped by a wispy, white head. The aroma is disappointingly mild for a Double IPA. It's toasty with mild, citric, and resiny hop notes.
Toasty malts upfront move into citric and resiny hop flavors and bitterness in the finish. Medium-bodied, and moderately-carbonated.
This beer is decently hoppy, but it pretty mild for a DIPA.
1159. Modus Hoperandi
Ward had a birthday party for a friend at his apartment on Saturday. I'd picked up a six-pack of Modus Hoperandi at Spec's earlier in the day, and had this while I was grilling.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ska Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Can., 12 oz.
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
I didn't take notes on this beer, but it was a pleasing, straightforward IPA. I'd definitely try it again.
1160. Shiner Kosmos Reserve
I had a few ounces of Ward's bottle of this beer later in the evening on Saturday.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Pale Lager, BJCP Style Guide
Kosmos Reserve pours a clear copper color, and is topped by a thin, white head. The aroma is pils-like: mildly sweet malts, grainy, and grassy hops.
Sweet bready and grainy malts upfront move through to a subtle, earthy hop flavor in the finish with a mild bitterness. It's crisp and medium-bodied.
I thought this beer was pretty good, but as with most lagers, I thought it could use a touch more hops.
1161. Transatlantique Kriek
At Spec's they had several of New Belgium's Lips of Faith series so I bought a bottle of each. We split this bottle at the end of the Party on Saturday night.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.30%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 3.75
Transatlantique Kriek pours a clear, ruby-red color with copper tints. It's topped by a thick, pink head that fades to a fluffy, sudsy film, leaving patchy lace. The aroma is mild with notes of cherries, buttery diacetyl, and mild funkiness.
Sweet cherry flavors greet the palate, but are quickly tempered by an acidic sourness that's strong enough to cut the sweetness, but isn't mouth puckering. The finish has a mildly earthy, funkiness. This beer is medium-to-light-bodied, has low carbonation, and a dry finish.
A decent sour. It's blended, so the sourness is attenuated, but it could be stronger.
1162. Le Fleur Misseur
This was purchased at Spec's. We split this beer on Sunday afternoon.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0| Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.3
Le Fleur Misseur pours a cloudy, straw-golden color, and is topped by a very nice, bright white head that fades to a sudsy film. The aroma is mildly malty with notes of grainy and sweet malts. There's a fruity citrus kick that mingles with banana notes. To top it off there's a mild note of Brettanomyces. Overall this smells like an inviting beer.
A neytral graininess upfront gives way to fruity notes of banana and citrus in the center. The finish is dry, mildly bitter, and Brett-tinged. This beer is light-bodied, dry and has a good dose of carbonation.
I thought that this was an excellent beer. The wild yeasts really add to the style.
1157. Phoenixx Double ESB
After we arrived at Ward's we went to Anvil, a bar that focuses on cocktails, but with a respectable beer list. I started off with a cask beer, but then switched to cocktails.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Real Ale Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.20%
Serving: Cask
Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (ESB), BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.25
This ESB pours a lightly hazed, copper-amber color, and is topped by a thick, creamy, beige head. The aroma is citric and malty, which gives an impression of orange cream. There are caramel and bready notes, grassy hops, and an almost cinnamon-like spice.
Mildly sweet, bready and toasty malts upfront move into a lightly-citric center. The finish has a rough, hoppy bitterness and a slight spiciness. This beer is smooth and creamy upfront, but moves into a rough, coarse finish.
I thought that this was an amazingly balanced beer.
1158. Hop Czar
I split a bottle of this beer with Ward at his apartment after we got back on Friday night.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: BridgePort Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.00%
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Hop Czar pours a clear copper color, and is topped by a wispy, white head. The aroma is disappointingly mild for a Double IPA. It's toasty with mild, citric, and resiny hop notes.
Toasty malts upfront move into citric and resiny hop flavors and bitterness in the finish. Medium-bodied, and moderately-carbonated.
This beer is decently hoppy, but it pretty mild for a DIPA.
1159. Modus Hoperandi
Ward had a birthday party for a friend at his apartment on Saturday. I'd picked up a six-pack of Modus Hoperandi at Spec's earlier in the day, and had this while I was grilling.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ska Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.80%
Serving: Can., 12 oz.
Style: American IPA, BJCP Style Guide
I didn't take notes on this beer, but it was a pleasing, straightforward IPA. I'd definitely try it again.
1160. Shiner Kosmos Reserve
I had a few ounces of Ward's bottle of this beer later in the evening on Saturday.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Pale Lager, BJCP Style Guide
Kosmos Reserve pours a clear copper color, and is topped by a thin, white head. The aroma is pils-like: mildly sweet malts, grainy, and grassy hops.
Sweet bready and grainy malts upfront move through to a subtle, earthy hop flavor in the finish with a mild bitterness. It's crisp and medium-bodied.
I thought this beer was pretty good, but as with most lagers, I thought it could use a touch more hops.
1161. Transatlantique Kriek
At Spec's they had several of New Belgium's Lips of Faith series so I bought a bottle of each. We split this bottle at the end of the Party on Saturday night.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.30%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 3.75
Transatlantique Kriek pours a clear, ruby-red color with copper tints. It's topped by a thick, pink head that fades to a fluffy, sudsy film, leaving patchy lace. The aroma is mild with notes of cherries, buttery diacetyl, and mild funkiness.
Sweet cherry flavors greet the palate, but are quickly tempered by an acidic sourness that's strong enough to cut the sweetness, but isn't mouth puckering. The finish has a mildly earthy, funkiness. This beer is medium-to-light-bodied, has low carbonation, and a dry finish.
A decent sour. It's blended, so the sourness is attenuated, but it could be stronger.
1162. Le Fleur Misseur
This was purchased at Spec's. We split this beer on Sunday afternoon.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Belgian Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0| Drinkability: 5.0
Overall: 4.3
Le Fleur Misseur pours a cloudy, straw-golden color, and is topped by a very nice, bright white head that fades to a sudsy film. The aroma is mildly malty with notes of grainy and sweet malts. There's a fruity citrus kick that mingles with banana notes. To top it off there's a mild note of Brettanomyces. Overall this smells like an inviting beer.
A neytral graininess upfront gives way to fruity notes of banana and citrus in the center. The finish is dry, mildly bitter, and Brett-tinged. This beer is light-bodied, dry and has a good dose of carbonation.
I thought that this was an excellent beer. The wild yeasts really add to the style.
Labels: American Double IPA, American IPA, American Pale Lager, Belgian Pale Ale, ESB, Fruit Lambic
1156. Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
On Saturday March 20th David, Win, Bennett, Jadyn and I spent the evening at our place. We picked up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Glissade.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.40%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Maibock/Helles Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.55
Glissade pours a mildly hazy golden, and is topped by a thick, fluffy, egg-shell colored head. The aroma is mild with hints of malt and grassy hops.
Clean, grainy and bready malts upfront give way to a sweetness through the center, and a mild grassy bitterness in the finish. This beer is light-bodied and moderately carbonated.
Pretty straightforward overall. It didn't blow me away
On Saturday March 20th David, Win, Bennett, Jadyn and I spent the evening at our place. We picked up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Glissade.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 6.40%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Maibock/Helles Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.55
Glissade pours a mildly hazy golden, and is topped by a thick, fluffy, egg-shell colored head. The aroma is mild with hints of malt and grassy hops.
Clean, grainy and bready malts upfront give way to a sweetness through the center, and a mild grassy bitterness in the finish. This beer is light-bodied and moderately carbonated.
Pretty straightforward overall. It didn't blow me away
Labels: Maibock/Helles Bock
1152-1155. Bukowski's and Cambridge Common
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 9:30 AM.
After dinner at Lord Hobo we went to Bukowski's and then to Cambridge Common for more drinks.
1152. McNeill's Pullman's Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: McNeill's Brewery
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.55
This porter pours a cloudy brown, and is topped by a fluffy, brown head. The aroma is mild overall. There are roasty notes of coffee and chocolate, as well as notes of herbal hops. What's there is nice, but it could be stronger.
A mild chocolate sweetness first greets the palate, followed by notes of dark fruit. The beer then moves into an herbal, hoppy finish with a good amount of bitterness. This porter is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
1153. Narragansett Lager
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Narragansett Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 5.10%
Serving: Can
Style: American Adjunct Lager, BJCP Style Guide
I've seen Narragansett around in cans for awhile, but I've never actually given it a try. It pours a clear, straw-golden color, and is topped by a fluffy, white head that clings to the glass. It has a clean, malty aroma with some grassy and caramel hints to it.
This beer is mild, grassy, and slightly sweet upfront, and has a grassy finish with only a slight bitterenss. This beer is clean and crisp.
IT was a decent beer, but it could use a little bit more bitterness.
1154. Gordon Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery
Alcohol: 8.70%
Serving: Can
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Gordon pours a clear, amber color, and is topped by an off-white head that leaves very nice lace. The aroma is has strong notes of resiny hops, as well as bready and toasty malt aromas.
Bready and caramel malts upfront move into a center with a slight fruitiness. The finish has a strong citric and resiny hop bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, moderately carbonated, and has a hint of oiliness from the hops.
This is really an intensely hoppy beer, but I felt like something was missing.
1155. Quinn's Amber Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Wachusett Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Quinn's Amber pours a clear amber color, and is topped by a shinny, off-white head. The aroma is malty with toasty, bready, and caramel notes.
A bready sweetness upfront continues through to the center, and is only cut my a mild leafy bitterness in the finish.
1152. McNeill's Pullman's Porter
Beer Stats:
Brewery: McNeill's Brewery
Alcohol: 5.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.55
This porter pours a cloudy brown, and is topped by a fluffy, brown head. The aroma is mild overall. There are roasty notes of coffee and chocolate, as well as notes of herbal hops. What's there is nice, but it could be stronger.
A mild chocolate sweetness first greets the palate, followed by notes of dark fruit. The beer then moves into an herbal, hoppy finish with a good amount of bitterness. This porter is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
1153. Narragansett Lager
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Narragansett Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 5.10%
Serving: Can
Style: American Adjunct Lager, BJCP Style Guide
I've seen Narragansett around in cans for awhile, but I've never actually given it a try. It pours a clear, straw-golden color, and is topped by a fluffy, white head that clings to the glass. It has a clean, malty aroma with some grassy and caramel hints to it.
This beer is mild, grassy, and slightly sweet upfront, and has a grassy finish with only a slight bitterenss. This beer is clean and crisp.
IT was a decent beer, but it could use a little bit more bitterness.
1154. Gordon Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery
Alcohol: 8.70%
Serving: Can
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Gordon pours a clear, amber color, and is topped by an off-white head that leaves very nice lace. The aroma is has strong notes of resiny hops, as well as bready and toasty malt aromas.
Bready and caramel malts upfront move into a center with a slight fruitiness. The finish has a strong citric and resiny hop bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, moderately carbonated, and has a hint of oiliness from the hops.
This is really an intensely hoppy beer, but I felt like something was missing.
1155. Quinn's Amber Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Wachusett Brewing Company
Alcohol: ?
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Red Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Quinn's Amber pours a clear amber color, and is topped by a shinny, off-white head. The aroma is malty with toasty, bready, and caramel notes.
A bready sweetness upfront continues through to the center, and is only cut my a mild leafy bitterness in the finish.
Labels: American Adjunct Lager, American Double IPA, American Porter, Irish Red Ale
I defended my thesis on Monday March 15th. Both Win and David flew into Boston for a surprise celebration on the following Friday. Win, David, Jadyn and I went to Lord Hobo for dinner and drinks, and were joined by Bennett and Hana.
1149. Hesjeøl
Beer Stats:
Brewery: HaandBryggeriet
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Smoked Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5| Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
This beer pours a hazy, amber color, and is topped by a beige ring of a head. The aroma is fruity and malty with notes of banana, caramel, and toffee. There are also notes of grassy hops and smoke.
This beer opens up with sweet, malty notes of molasses and toffee over grassy undertones. Some spiciness appears in the center along with a dry smokiness that builds towards the finish. This beer is full-bodied, moderately carbonated, and had a grassy dryness in the finish.
I liked this beer quite a bit. Normally smoked beers are heavy handed with the smokiness, but the smoke in this one wasn't overpowering at all.
1150. Spezial Rauchbier Lager
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brauerei Spezial
Alcohol: 4.60%
Serving: Tap
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.8
This Rauchbier pours a clear, amber-tinged, copper color. It's topped by a thick, off-white head that fades to a film, leaving a good amount of lace. The aroma is clean and crisp. There are notes of caramel and light fruit, as well as a hint of smoke.
The beer is clean and mild upfront. A mild, bready sweetness mellows into a grassy textured finish with a mild smokiness. This beer is light-bodied, crisp, and has moderate carbonation.
This was another nice smoked beer. The smoke was very subtle and really served to enhance the beer's flavors without overpowering them.
1151. Route Des Épices
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Rye Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.75
This beer pours a hazed, red color, and is topped by a beige head that fades to a ring. The aroma is malty with notes of chocolate and caramel. There's a mild spiciness: pepper and an almost cinnamon character, and some herbal hops.
A chocolate, malty sweetness is first evident, which mellows and thins to a grassy and herbal hop finish with a strong peppery bite. This beer is full-bodied, and strongly carbonated with a hot finish.
This was a very tasty beer, but it's a bit spicy.
1149. Hesjeøl
Beer Stats:
Brewery: HaandBryggeriet
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Smoked Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5| Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
This beer pours a hazy, amber color, and is topped by a beige ring of a head. The aroma is fruity and malty with notes of banana, caramel, and toffee. There are also notes of grassy hops and smoke.
This beer opens up with sweet, malty notes of molasses and toffee over grassy undertones. Some spiciness appears in the center along with a dry smokiness that builds towards the finish. This beer is full-bodied, moderately carbonated, and had a grassy dryness in the finish.
I liked this beer quite a bit. Normally smoked beers are heavy handed with the smokiness, but the smoke in this one wasn't overpowering at all.
1150. Spezial Rauchbier Lager
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brauerei Spezial
Alcohol: 4.60%
Serving: Tap
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.8
This Rauchbier pours a clear, amber-tinged, copper color. It's topped by a thick, off-white head that fades to a film, leaving a good amount of lace. The aroma is clean and crisp. There are notes of caramel and light fruit, as well as a hint of smoke.
The beer is clean and mild upfront. A mild, bready sweetness mellows into a grassy textured finish with a mild smokiness. This beer is light-bodied, crisp, and has moderate carbonation.
This was another nice smoked beer. The smoke was very subtle and really served to enhance the beer's flavors without overpowering them.
1151. Route Des Épices
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Rye Beer, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.75
This beer pours a hazed, red color, and is topped by a beige head that fades to a ring. The aroma is malty with notes of chocolate and caramel. There's a mild spiciness: pepper and an almost cinnamon character, and some herbal hops.
A chocolate, malty sweetness is first evident, which mellows and thins to a grassy and herbal hop finish with a strong peppery bite. This beer is full-bodied, and strongly carbonated with a hot finish.
This was a very tasty beer, but it's a bit spicy.
Labels: Rauchbier, Rye Beer, Smoked Beer
1148. UFO White
I went to a labmate's birthday party on March 13th. I had a couple of these at the party.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
I didn't pay a lot of attention to this beer. It seems to be Harpoon's attempt to make a successful witbier like Blue Moon, and to cash in in that vein. It was a decent wit. It had nice spices, but was overall pretty average.
I went to a labmate's birthday party on March 13th. I had a couple of these at the party.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Witbier, BJCP Style Guide
I didn't pay a lot of attention to this beer. It seems to be Harpoon's attempt to make a successful witbier like Blue Moon, and to cash in in that vein. It was a decent wit. It had nice spices, but was overall pretty average.
Labels: Witbier
1147. Red Barn Espresso Stout
Jadyn and I went to dinner at the CBC on February 27th. This was a new offering so I gladly ordered a glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.85
This stout pours an opaque black color. The head is thin, but sticks around as a beige ring. The aroma has strong notes of coffee, roasty malts, chocolate, and mild acidic hints.
A smooth and mild malt sweetness appears upfront hinting at chocolate, and persists throughout. The roasty flavors build towards the center and finish in a coffee bitterness that's slightly cut by sweetness. The oatmeal gives this stout a smooth mouthfeel that's medium-bodied and creamy.
There's a pretty strong, acidic coffee component to this beer, which knocks down the drinkability a hair.
Jadyn and I went to dinner at the CBC on February 27th. This was a new offering so I gladly ordered a glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.10%
Serving: Tap
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.85
This stout pours an opaque black color. The head is thin, but sticks around as a beige ring. The aroma has strong notes of coffee, roasty malts, chocolate, and mild acidic hints.
A smooth and mild malt sweetness appears upfront hinting at chocolate, and persists throughout. The roasty flavors build towards the center and finish in a coffee bitterness that's slightly cut by sweetness. The oatmeal gives this stout a smooth mouthfeel that's medium-bodied and creamy.
There's a pretty strong, acidic coffee component to this beer, which knocks down the drinkability a hair.
Labels: American Stout
1136-1146. The Extreme Beer Fest: Part III
Published by Unknown on Monday, April 12, 2010 at 9:30 AM.
1136. Sinner's Blend 2009
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Year: 2009
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an almost opaque brown color. The head is a sudsy ring. The aroma is reminiscent of a stout: notes of chocolate and roasted malts. There are also acidic notes in the aroma. The palate is much the same acidic and roasted notes.
1137. Mephistopheles' Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 16.80%
Style: American Double Stout
Pours a dark black color, and is topped by a brown head. The aroma is predominantly roasty malts. Sweet chocolate notes upfront give way to a roasty finish.
1138. Solid Gold Extra Pale Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.60%
Style: English Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear golden color. The aroma is hoppy and resiny. There's a mild fruitiness upfront, and a strong resiny and citric hop finish.
1139. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Blended
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: 10.20%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
This was perhaps my favorite experience of the EBF, though I unfortunately arrive later on in the fest, and was pretty drunk by this time. Schlafly brought their 2008 Oak Aged Barleywine, but they also brought samples of the beers that went into blending of this beer. There were samples of the barleywine from heavily toasted , medium+ toasted, medium toasted, and untoasted barrels. I started with the blended and went from heavily toasted to untoasted afterwards.
The blended barleywine pours a hazy amber color, and is topped by a beige head. The aroma is boozy and malty. There are notes of caramel, molasses, and booze on the palate. A very solid barleywine.
1140. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Heavy Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The heavy toast version was considerably darker. It has more attenuated malts, and increaded boozy aromas and flavors.
1141. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Medium+ Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The medium+ toast barley wine is somewhat lighter, but surprisingly has a very mild aroma. There are light notes of alcohol, and a bit of a bozziness that's reminiscent of dill somehow. The malts are more of s standout in this version, and the boozy notes are somewhat fainter.
1142. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Medium Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
This was by far my favorite of the five. The malts are at the forefront and really pop. There are slightly boozy notes with hints of caramel and molasses. There are also fruity, almost cherry-like flavors.
1143. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Untoasted
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The untoasted barleywine had a mild aroma with slightly boozy notes and very little malt. The predominant flavors were malts and a mild fruitiness.
1144. DuganA IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
This IPA pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is citric and hoppy, and the palate is more of the same.
1145. Wisp of Smoke
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 5.20%
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
This is a Czech pilsner brewed with German smoked malt. Pours a clear golden color. The aroma is slightly smokey, and it tastes like what it is, a smoked pilsener.
1146. Sierra Nevada Hellraiser
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.80%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This RIS is brewed with cocoa and chili peppers. This beer pours a deep black with a brown head. The aroma is predominantly chocolate and coffee. Over this roasty background are notes of spice, and an intense hoppy bitterness.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Year: 2009
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours an almost opaque brown color. The head is a sudsy ring. The aroma is reminiscent of a stout: notes of chocolate and roasted malts. There are also acidic notes in the aroma. The palate is much the same acidic and roasted notes.
1137. Mephistopheles' Stout
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 16.80%
Style: American Double Stout
Pours a dark black color, and is topped by a brown head. The aroma is predominantly roasty malts. Sweet chocolate notes upfront give way to a roasty finish.
1138. Solid Gold Extra Pale Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Founder's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.60%
Style: English Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear golden color. The aroma is hoppy and resiny. There's a mild fruitiness upfront, and a strong resiny and citric hop finish.
1139. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Blended
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: 10.20%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
This was perhaps my favorite experience of the EBF, though I unfortunately arrive later on in the fest, and was pretty drunk by this time. Schlafly brought their 2008 Oak Aged Barleywine, but they also brought samples of the beers that went into blending of this beer. There were samples of the barleywine from heavily toasted , medium+ toasted, medium toasted, and untoasted barrels. I started with the blended and went from heavily toasted to untoasted afterwards.
The blended barleywine pours a hazy amber color, and is topped by a beige head. The aroma is boozy and malty. There are notes of caramel, molasses, and booze on the palate. A very solid barleywine.
1140. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Heavy Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The heavy toast version was considerably darker. It has more attenuated malts, and increaded boozy aromas and flavors.
1141. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Medium+ Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The medium+ toast barley wine is somewhat lighter, but surprisingly has a very mild aroma. There are light notes of alcohol, and a bit of a bozziness that's reminiscent of dill somehow. The malts are more of s standout in this version, and the boozy notes are somewhat fainter.
1142. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Medium Toast
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
This was by far my favorite of the five. The malts are at the forefront and really pop. There are slightly boozy notes with hints of caramel and molasses. There are also fruity, almost cherry-like flavors.
1143. Schlafly Reserve Oak Aged Barleywine: Untoasted
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Saint Louis Brewery
Year: 2008
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
The untoasted barleywine had a mild aroma with slightly boozy notes and very little malt. The predominant flavors were malts and a mild fruitiness.
1144. DuganA IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 8.50%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
This IPA pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is citric and hoppy, and the palate is more of the same.
1145. Wisp of Smoke
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Alcohol: 5.20%
Style: Rauchbier, BJCP Style Guide
This is a Czech pilsner brewed with German smoked malt. Pours a clear golden color. The aroma is slightly smokey, and it tastes like what it is, a smoked pilsener.
1146. Sierra Nevada Hellraiser
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.80%
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This RIS is brewed with cocoa and chili peppers. This beer pours a deep black with a brown head. The aroma is predominantly chocolate and coffee. Over this roasty background are notes of spice, and an intense hoppy bitterness.
Labels: Beer Fests
1125-1135. The Extreme Beer Fest: Part II
Published by Unknown on Friday, April 09, 2010 at 9:30 AM.
1125. Peter Piper
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Wormtown Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a hazy, beige color. It's topped by a fluffy, white head. There's a strong peppery spice in the aroma. A grainy malt backbone is offset by a light sourness, and a moderate peppery spice in the finish.
1126. Idiot's Drool
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
This is Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot aged on American Oak for three years, and refermented with Brett. Pours a hazy brown with no head. The aroma is woody and boozy. Sweet malts upfront give way to woody, nutty flavors in the center, and an acidic finish.
1127. Wrath of Pecan!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"A collaboration between the Alström brothers, Sam Calagione and Bryan Selders, brewed for EBF and named by the BeerAdvocate community. It's a brownish ale brewed w/ malt smoked over pecan wood and fermented w/ plantains and carob." Pours a clear amber color. The aroma is smoky and nutty with clear indications of pecan. Sweet malts upfront give way to notes of sugar, pecans, and smoke.
1128. Re Ale Extra
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birra Del Borgo
Alcohol: 6.50%
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy beige color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is hoppy with a grainy whiff. Sweet and sugary malts upfront move into a medicinal center, and a strong hoppy finish.
1129. Lambdick Framboozin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, reddish-orange color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma has notes of raspberry, and slight funk. There's an intense lambic-like sourness that greets the palate, followed by a mellow raspberry sweetness in the finish. I really liked this one.
1130. LeBleu
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Style: American Wild Ale
This is Ithaca's blueberry sour ale. Pours a light pink, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is earthy and funky with hints of peppery blueberries. An acidic sourness greets the palate followed by a a blueberry fruitiness in the center, and a funky and woody finish.
1131. Cherry Bomb
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Beer Works
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a hazy pink, and is topped by a sudsy pink head. The aroma is funky and earthy with acidic cherry notes. The flavors are mild overall with notes of cherry, medicinal phenols, and a light sourness.
1132. Corkubita's Gourdgeous Troika Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Watch City Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with three types of gourds: blue hubbard, buttercup and butternut." This beer is brown with a foamy head. The aroma is spicy: pepper, and capsicum. Sweet notes from the squash upfront give way to black pepper, and capsicum.
1133. Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very light golden color, and is topped by a white head. The aroma has notes of citric and resiny hops. The palate has notes of raw sugar, mild spice, and resiny hops.
1134. Melange No. Sechs
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Bruery
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Strong Ale
This beer is brewed with beets, cocoa nibs, and rose petals. Pours a hazy, reddish-amber color, and is topped by a beige head. The aroma has notes of rose, chocolate and Belgian yeast. A chocolate sweetness upfront moves into a banana fruitiness with other Belgian yeast characteristics.
1135. Coney Island Human Blockhead
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Amber/Red Lager
Pours a dark, amber color with no head. There are mild caramel notes in the aroma. Caramel and other dark malts move into a slightly bitter finish.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Wormtown Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 5.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a hazy, beige color. It's topped by a fluffy, white head. There's a strong peppery spice in the aroma. A grainy malt backbone is offset by a light sourness, and a moderate peppery spice in the finish.
1126. Idiot's Drool
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
This is Weyerbacher's Blithering Idiot aged on American Oak for three years, and refermented with Brett. Pours a hazy brown with no head. The aroma is woody and boozy. Sweet malts upfront give way to woody, nutty flavors in the center, and an acidic finish.
1127. Wrath of Pecan!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Brown Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"A collaboration between the Alström brothers, Sam Calagione and Bryan Selders, brewed for EBF and named by the BeerAdvocate community. It's a brownish ale brewed w/ malt smoked over pecan wood and fermented w/ plantains and carob." Pours a clear amber color. The aroma is smoky and nutty with clear indications of pecan. Sweet malts upfront give way to notes of sugar, pecans, and smoke.
1128. Re Ale Extra
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birra Del Borgo
Alcohol: 6.50%
Style: American Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a cloudy beige color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is hoppy with a grainy whiff. Sweet and sugary malts upfront move into a medicinal center, and a strong hoppy finish.
1129. Lambdick Framboozin
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Dark Horse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear, reddish-orange color, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma has notes of raspberry, and slight funk. There's an intense lambic-like sourness that greets the palate, followed by a mellow raspberry sweetness in the finish. I really liked this one.
1130. LeBleu
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Ithaca Beer Company
Alcohol: 5.50%
Style: American Wild Ale
This is Ithaca's blueberry sour ale. Pours a light pink, and is topped by a sudsy head. The aroma is earthy and funky with hints of peppery blueberries. An acidic sourness greets the palate followed by a a blueberry fruitiness in the center, and a funky and woody finish.
1131. Cherry Bomb
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Beer Works
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a hazy pink, and is topped by a sudsy pink head. The aroma is funky and earthy with acidic cherry notes. The flavors are mild overall with notes of cherry, medicinal phenols, and a light sourness.
1132. Corkubita's Gourdgeous Troika Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Watch City Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.20%
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
"Brewed with three types of gourds: blue hubbard, buttercup and butternut." This beer is brown with a foamy head. The aroma is spicy: pepper, and capsicum. Sweet notes from the squash upfront give way to black pepper, and capsicum.
1133. Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a very light golden color, and is topped by a white head. The aroma has notes of citric and resiny hops. The palate has notes of raw sugar, mild spice, and resiny hops.
1134. Melange No. Sechs
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Bruery
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: American Strong Ale
This beer is brewed with beets, cocoa nibs, and rose petals. Pours a hazy, reddish-amber color, and is topped by a beige head. The aroma has notes of rose, chocolate and Belgian yeast. A chocolate sweetness upfront moves into a banana fruitiness with other Belgian yeast characteristics.
1135. Coney Island Human Blockhead
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Amber/Red Lager
Pours a dark, amber color with no head. There are mild caramel notes in the aroma. Caramel and other dark malts move into a slightly bitter finish.
Labels: Beer Fests
1114-1124. The Extreme Beer Fest: Part I
Published by Unknown on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 at 9:30 AM.
Another February, another Extreme Beer Fest. Jadyn and I went to the Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest with some friends. All in all it was a good fest. The format hadn't changed much since last year, and as usual there were excellent breweries from around the country.
1114. Pliny the Younger
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pliny the Younger pours a hazed copper color with a frothy head. The aroma is intensely hoppy. There are piney, citric., and apricot aromas. A mild malty sweetness upfront moves into a strong hop bitterness with nice citric and grassy hop flavors. There's a strong lingering bitterness.
1115. Allagash Bourbon Black
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Foreign / Export Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This is Allagash's Black aged in bourbon barrels, I'm assuming the Beer Advocate entry is the one I had. It pours an opaque black with a brown head. The aroma has notes of roasted grains, chocolate, and bourbon. The flavors are much the same. Notes of sweet chocolate move into a bourbon infused center, and then into a roasty finish.
1116. Rum Barrel Aged Black Tot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Double Stout
This is Avery's Black Tot aged in Gossling's "old rum" barrels. It pours a dark black, and has a sudsy brown ring for a head. The aroma is mild with hints of oatmeal and booze. Sweet notes upfront give way to a roasty, rum-infused finish.
1117. Baladin Nora Sour Edition 2005
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birrificio Le Baladin
Year: 2005
Alcohol: 6.80%
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a cloudy, wheat color. It's topped by a fluffy head. The aroma is acidic with slightly earthy hints. There's a graininess upfront that's cut by an emerging sweetness in the center. A mild sourness comes through towards the finish.
1118. Baladin Xyauyù Fume 2006
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birrificio Le Baladin
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: English Barley Wine, BJCP Style Guide
This beer is brewed with lapsang souchong tea leaves and is oxidized through the use of a membrane and oxygen hat. It pours a reddish-amber color, and is completely devoid of a head. The aroma is earthy and slightly boozy as in a sherry or port. The beer tastes very sweet with a smoky finish. There's a lot going on in this beer, which isn't done justice by a two ounce pour.
1119. Rubus Lamboni
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birra Del Borgo
Alcohol: 5.10%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a reddish amber with a ring of bubbles. There's an earthy, raspberry aroma. A pleasing carbonation greets the tongue, followed by a mildly grassy maltiness. The raspberries appear in the center where they contribute both sweet and tart flavors.
1120. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (1994)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Year: 1994
Alcohol: 9.60%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
I was excited to give this beer a try, as it's not often that one gets to try a 16 year old beer. It pours an amber color with a sudsy head. The aroma is malty with mild notes of resiny hops. Malty flavors of caramel, and raw sugar are noticeable upfront, but give way to a mild resiny hop bitterness. Surprisingly, I haven't had Bigfoot before, but I can only imagine the hops are much milder than when fresh. I think the hops have mellowed out a little too much leaving the malts to really come through in an unbalanced way.
1121. Berkshire Stuck Mash Wheat Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This beer was brewed with 100% wheat malts. Pours a cloudy golden color, and is topped by a foamy white head. There are light hops in the aroma with notes of citrus, and grainy malts. There's a grainy, slightly sweet, wheat flavor upfront that moves into a citric center, and a mild hop bitterness.
1122. Xtreme Blend 2010
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Year: 2010
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a dark brown with a sudsy ring for a head. The aroma is woody and acidic with an earthy funkiness on swirling. There's an earthy woody character throughout the beer an acidic sourness that's good, but not too puckering.
1123. Supplication
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a clear amber color, and is topped by a thin, white film. The aroma is earthy and funky with acidic notes and tannic fruit skins. A brief glimmer of sweet fruitiness upfront moves into an acidic center with a dry, tannic finish.
1124. Triskelion Barleywine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 10.30%
Style: English Barley Wine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, amber-copper color, and has no head. The aroma is intensely malty with notes of caramel and toffee. Sweet caramel malts upfront move through to a mildly hoppy finish. I thought that this beer felt too thin.
1114. Pliny the Younger
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Alcohol: 11.00%
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Pliny the Younger pours a hazed copper color with a frothy head. The aroma is intensely hoppy. There are piney, citric., and apricot aromas. A mild malty sweetness upfront moves into a strong hop bitterness with nice citric and grassy hop flavors. There's a strong lingering bitterness.
1115. Allagash Bourbon Black
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Allagash Brewing Company
Alcohol: 9.00%
Style: Foreign / Export Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This is Allagash's Black aged in bourbon barrels, I'm assuming the Beer Advocate entry is the one I had. It pours an opaque black with a brown head. The aroma has notes of roasted grains, chocolate, and bourbon. The flavors are much the same. Notes of sweet chocolate move into a bourbon infused center, and then into a roasty finish.
1116. Rum Barrel Aged Black Tot
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.00%
Style: American Double Stout
This is Avery's Black Tot aged in Gossling's "old rum" barrels. It pours a dark black, and has a sudsy brown ring for a head. The aroma is mild with hints of oatmeal and booze. Sweet notes upfront give way to a roasty, rum-infused finish.
1117. Baladin Nora Sour Edition 2005
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birrificio Le Baladin
Year: 2005
Alcohol: 6.80%
Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a cloudy, wheat color. It's topped by a fluffy head. The aroma is acidic with slightly earthy hints. There's a graininess upfront that's cut by an emerging sweetness in the center. A mild sourness comes through towards the finish.
1118. Baladin Xyauyù Fume 2006
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birrificio Le Baladin
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 14.50%
Style: English Barley Wine, BJCP Style Guide
This beer is brewed with lapsang souchong tea leaves and is oxidized through the use of a membrane and oxygen hat. It pours a reddish-amber color, and is completely devoid of a head. The aroma is earthy and slightly boozy as in a sherry or port. The beer tastes very sweet with a smoky finish. There's a lot going on in this beer, which isn't done justice by a two ounce pour.
1119. Rubus Lamboni
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Birra Del Borgo
Alcohol: 5.10%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a reddish amber with a ring of bubbles. There's an earthy, raspberry aroma. A pleasing carbonation greets the tongue, followed by a mildly grassy maltiness. The raspberries appear in the center where they contribute both sweet and tart flavors.
1120. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (1994)
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Year: 1994
Alcohol: 9.60%
Style: American Barleywine, BJCP Style Guide
I was excited to give this beer a try, as it's not often that one gets to try a 16 year old beer. It pours an amber color with a sudsy head. The aroma is malty with mild notes of resiny hops. Malty flavors of caramel, and raw sugar are noticeable upfront, but give way to a mild resiny hop bitterness. Surprisingly, I haven't had Bigfoot before, but I can only imagine the hops are much milder than when fresh. I think the hops have mellowed out a little too much leaving the malts to really come through in an unbalanced way.
1121. Berkshire Stuck Mash Wheat Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.
Alcohol: 6.00%
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
This beer was brewed with 100% wheat malts. Pours a cloudy golden color, and is topped by a foamy white head. There are light hops in the aroma with notes of citrus, and grainy malts. There's a grainy, slightly sweet, wheat flavor upfront that moves into a citric center, and a mild hop bitterness.
1122. Xtreme Blend 2010
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Year: 2010
Alcohol: ?
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a dark brown with a sudsy ring for a head. The aroma is woody and acidic with an earthy funkiness on swirling. There's an earthy woody character throughout the beer an acidic sourness that's good, but not too puckering.
1123. Supplication
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.00%
Style: American Wild Ale
Pours a clear amber color, and is topped by a thin, white film. The aroma is earthy and funky with acidic notes and tannic fruit skins. A brief glimmer of sweet fruitiness upfront moves into an acidic center with a dry, tannic finish.
1124. Triskelion Barleywine
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Tap / Haverhill Brewery, Inc
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 10.30%
Style: English Barley Wine, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a hazy, amber-copper color, and has no head. The aroma is intensely malty with notes of caramel and toffee. Sweet caramel malts upfront move through to a mildly hoppy finish. I thought that this beer felt too thin.
Labels: Beer Fests
