1187. Cabin Fever Ale
In late May, Jadyn and I went to a friend's birthday party at Barleycorn's in Natick. Barleycorn's is a Brew on Premises establishment, meaning that they supply the ingredients, equipment, and expertise, and you do the brewing. I only wish Matt and I had steam jacketed kettles to brew in. This beer was a Winter Warmer that was up for grabs in the common beer fridge at Barleycorn's.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.30%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Winter Warmer, BJCP Style Guide
Cabin Fever pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by a fluffy, orange-tinted head. The aroma is malty and sweet with notes of caramel, fruit and spice.
Toasty and caramel malts upfront move into a slight spiciness in the finish, and and a mild bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, and mildly carbonated,
In late May, Jadyn and I went to a friend's birthday party at Barleycorn's in Natick. Barleycorn's is a Brew on Premises establishment, meaning that they supply the ingredients, equipment, and expertise, and you do the brewing. I only wish Matt and I had steam jacketed kettles to brew in. This beer was a Winter Warmer that was up for grabs in the common beer fridge at Barleycorn's.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Berkshire Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.30%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Winter Warmer, BJCP Style Guide
Cabin Fever pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by a fluffy, orange-tinted head. The aroma is malty and sweet with notes of caramel, fruit and spice.
Toasty and caramel malts upfront move into a slight spiciness in the finish, and and a mild bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, and mildly carbonated,
Labels: Winter Warmer
1186. Fluffy White Rabbits
Fluffy White Rabbits is a "Hoppy Triple" from Pretty Things. Jadyn and I split a bottle with friends over dinner.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
This Tripel pours a cloudy, golden-tinged, straw color. It's topped by a sudsy, white, short-lived head that fades to a sudsy, patchy film. The aroma is that of a classic tripel. There are fruity notes of banana and citrus, subtler notes of yeast, and grassy hops. The hop aromas are well within the range of a standard tripel.
There's a mildly sweet grainy maltiness upfront. Banana and citrus appear in the center. The finish has a bit of pepper, and a strong, grassy bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, and moderately carbonated, but it feels a bit thin, which is my only complaint.
Fluffy White Rabbits is a very refreshing beer, and it has a nice interplay between fruity yeast flavors and hops. My only complaint is that it feels a bit thin.
Fluffy White Rabbits is a "Hoppy Triple" from Pretty Things. Jadyn and I split a bottle with friends over dinner.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Tripel, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
This Tripel pours a cloudy, golden-tinged, straw color. It's topped by a sudsy, white, short-lived head that fades to a sudsy, patchy film. The aroma is that of a classic tripel. There are fruity notes of banana and citrus, subtler notes of yeast, and grassy hops. The hop aromas are well within the range of a standard tripel.
There's a mildly sweet grainy maltiness upfront. Banana and citrus appear in the center. The finish has a bit of pepper, and a strong, grassy bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, and moderately carbonated, but it feels a bit thin, which is my only complaint.
Fluffy White Rabbits is a very refreshing beer, and it has a nice interplay between fruity yeast flavors and hops. My only complaint is that it feels a bit thin.
Labels: Tripel
1185. Babayaga
Jadyn had picked this beer up for me awhile ago, but we finally got around to drinking it in May.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance:4.0 | Smell:3.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0| Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
Babayaga pours a deep black, and is topped by a thick, fluffy, creamy brown head that slowly fades to an eighth-inch thick layer. The aroma is reserved, but pleasant. Roasted malts come out on swirling, but on sitting the sweet notes of chocolate and fruit are most evident.
Sweet chocolate flavors upfront serve as a the backbone of this beer, lasting throughout, but are elaborated upon from start to finish. A mild fruitiness appears in the center, and the chocolate morphs into a roasted, dark chocolate flavor in the finish. This beer is full-bodied, smooth, creamy, and nicely carbonated.
I though that this was a very good stout, though perhaps slightly on the sweet side.
Jadyn had picked this beer up for me awhile ago, but we finally got around to drinking it in May.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance:4.0 | Smell:3.5 | Taste: 4.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0| Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 4.05
Babayaga pours a deep black, and is topped by a thick, fluffy, creamy brown head that slowly fades to an eighth-inch thick layer. The aroma is reserved, but pleasant. Roasted malts come out on swirling, but on sitting the sweet notes of chocolate and fruit are most evident.
Sweet chocolate flavors upfront serve as a the backbone of this beer, lasting throughout, but are elaborated upon from start to finish. A mild fruitiness appears in the center, and the chocolate morphs into a roasted, dark chocolate flavor in the finish. This beer is full-bodied, smooth, creamy, and nicely carbonated.
I though that this was a very good stout, though perhaps slightly on the sweet side.
Labels: American Stout
1184. Bad Knees
At some point during early May Jadyn and I went to the CBC for some beers. They had a new Old Ale on tap so I gave it a try:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Old Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.85
Bad knees pour a cloudy brown, and is topped by a thick, brown head that fades to continuous film coating the side of the glass with lace. The aroma is very boozy with woody, and vanilla notes. There are sharp notes of fruit, and swirling brings out the malts: caramel, dark fruit, and molasses. Smells very nice.
There's a sweet malt backbone throughout that's reminiscent of a Belgian dubbel. Dark fruit predominates, with some caramel, and molasses. The finish has a bit of booziness, sharp fruit and a bit of warming alcohol. A little sweet overall. Bad Knees is medium to full-bodied, smooth, and moderately carbonated.
I though that this beer was decent. Overall it a little too sweet, though the alcohol was well hidden.
At some point during early May Jadyn and I went to the CBC for some beers. They had a new Old Ale on tap so I gave it a try:
Boasting near barleywine strength, Bad Knees has been crafted of English Maris Otter and Golden Promise malts and Challenger and Fuggles hops. After fermentation it subsequently has spent several months in the CBC Barrel Cellar, biding its time in Buffalo Trace-cum-Utopias barrels. Very rich and malty with big caramel, toffee, and brown sugar notes. Considerable oak and spirit, underscored by raisins, fruity esters, grassy hops and a hint of coconut.Beer Stats:
Brewery: Cambridge Brewing Company
Alcohol: 10.50%
Serving: Tap
Style: Old Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.85
Bad knees pour a cloudy brown, and is topped by a thick, brown head that fades to continuous film coating the side of the glass with lace. The aroma is very boozy with woody, and vanilla notes. There are sharp notes of fruit, and swirling brings out the malts: caramel, dark fruit, and molasses. Smells very nice.
There's a sweet malt backbone throughout that's reminiscent of a Belgian dubbel. Dark fruit predominates, with some caramel, and molasses. The finish has a bit of booziness, sharp fruit and a bit of warming alcohol. A little sweet overall. Bad Knees is medium to full-bodied, smooth, and moderately carbonated.
I though that this beer was decent. Overall it a little too sweet, though the alcohol was well hidden.
Labels: Old Ale
Matt had been pushing the idea of a six=pack swap for awhile, so not long after Jadyn and I returned from Spain we gave it a go. Of the six beers I had, the two that Jadyn and I brought were new to me.
1182. Honker's Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Bottle 12 oz.
Style: English Bitter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5| Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall:3.75
Honker's Ale pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by an off-white head that fades to a sudsy film. The aroma is toasty and bready with notes of caramel, and mild, piney hops.
This beer is toasty and bready upfront with a lightly sweet caramel that builds towards the center. The malts continue on to the finish where they're met by mildly bitter, piney hops. This bitter is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, and a mild husky quality.
True to what an English Bitter should be, this beer is balanced and would make a great session beer.
1183. Goose Island India Pale Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: English India Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
Goose Island IPA pours a clear, golden-copper color, and is topped by a light, fluffy, off-white head that fades slowly, leaving good lace. The aroma is nice and hoppy. There are notes of pine, resiny hops, and a light, sugary maltiness.
Toasty malts upfront build into a raw sugary sweetness towards the finish. The finish itself has a piney, resiny hop bitterness. This IPA is light-bodied, and moderatley carbonated, though it could be a bit bulkier.
As and English IPA it does the trick, though I tend to prefer the hoppier American varieties, but I can't criticize them for doing what they set out to do.
1182. Honker's Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Bottle 12 oz.
Style: English Bitter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5| Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.5 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall:3.75
Honker's Ale pours a hazy copper color, and is topped by an off-white head that fades to a sudsy film. The aroma is toasty and bready with notes of caramel, and mild, piney hops.
This beer is toasty and bready upfront with a lightly sweet caramel that builds towards the center. The malts continue on to the finish where they're met by mildly bitter, piney hops. This bitter is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, and a mild husky quality.
True to what an English Bitter should be, this beer is balanced and would make a great session beer.
1183. Goose Island India Pale Ale
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Goose Island
Alcohol: 5.90%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: English India Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 3.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.9
Goose Island IPA pours a clear, golden-copper color, and is topped by a light, fluffy, off-white head that fades slowly, leaving good lace. The aroma is nice and hoppy. There are notes of pine, resiny hops, and a light, sugary maltiness.
Toasty malts upfront build into a raw sugary sweetness towards the finish. The finish itself has a piney, resiny hop bitterness. This IPA is light-bodied, and moderatley carbonated, though it could be a bit bulkier.
As and English IPA it does the trick, though I tend to prefer the hoppier American varieties, but I can't criticize them for doing what they set out to do.
Labels: English Bitter, English IPA
1181. Brawler Pugilist Style Ale
After flying back from Spain, Jadyn and I had a scheduled layover in Philadelphia of over five hours, that was made longer by a two hour delay. We occupied ourselves by having a few beers at a couple different places in the airport. At the first bar I stuck to Hop Devil, but decided to try something new at the second. After a week of beer in Spain, American beer in the Philadelphia airport was a breath of fresh air. Actual hops, and actual flavor!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Yard's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: English Dark Mild Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.0
Brawler pours a clear, reddish brown, and is topped by an off-white head that fades to a film. The aroma was nice and malty. There were notes of toffee, caramel, and dark fruit. The aroma is very inviting.
There's a moderately sweet malt backbone throughout this beer. Caramel upfront quickly moves into notes of toffee and dark fruit in the center. The finish is mildly hoppy. Despite the mildly bitter finish, this beer sees very balanced. This mild is medium-bodied, and moderately carbonated with a mild dryness in the finish.
I really liked this beer. It's sweet, but seems to magically pull balance from somewhere.
After flying back from Spain, Jadyn and I had a scheduled layover in Philadelphia of over five hours, that was made longer by a two hour delay. We occupied ourselves by having a few beers at a couple different places in the airport. At the first bar I stuck to Hop Devil, but decided to try something new at the second. After a week of beer in Spain, American beer in the Philadelphia airport was a breath of fresh air. Actual hops, and actual flavor!
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Yard's Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.20%
Serving: Tap
Style: English Dark Mild Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 4.5 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.0
Brawler pours a clear, reddish brown, and is topped by an off-white head that fades to a film. The aroma was nice and malty. There were notes of toffee, caramel, and dark fruit. The aroma is very inviting.
There's a moderately sweet malt backbone throughout this beer. Caramel upfront quickly moves into notes of toffee and dark fruit in the center. The finish is mildly hoppy. Despite the mildly bitter finish, this beer sees very balanced. This mild is medium-bodied, and moderately carbonated with a mild dryness in the finish.
I really liked this beer. It's sweet, but seems to magically pull balance from somewhere.
Labels: English Dark Mild Ale
