Beer Stats:
Brewery: Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Alcohol: 5.40%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: English Pale Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.5 | Drinkability: 4.5
Overall: 4.2
Hedgerow Bitter pours a cloudy, dark golden. It's topped by an off-white, stiff, meringue-like head that fades leaving good lace. The aroma is mildly malty with sweet fruity esters, and grassy hops.
This beer has mildly bready and toasty malts. The finish has nice grassy, and leafy hop flavors that leave a lingering bitterness. This beer is medium-bodied, and has prickly carbonation and a nice dryness.
A very nice rendition of an English Bitter.
Labels: English Pale Ale
Jadyn and I went to Ireland to visit her sister the week of Thanksgiving 2010. Since Ireland's not a "Beer Country" like Belgium/Germany/England/Czech Republic, I didn't spend a lot of time seeking out Irish beer. Though I probably drank more Guinness in one week than I did in the last three to four years, and we did take a tour of the Guinness Brewery
On Saturday evening Jadyn and I went to a show at Whelan's with her sister. We stopped for a beer at The Dice Bar. I went with Sparta Pils, which I mistakenly thought might be Irish.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear golden, and is topped by a white head that's fed by lots of bubbles. The aroma has notes of cooked grain, and a bit of malty sweetness.
The taste is clean and crisp with a mild sweetness, and a grassy bitterness in the finish. This beer is crisp, light-bodied, and has a good deal of carbonation.
Overall this was a pretty good pils, not the best, but solid.
Jadyn and I spent Monday the 22nd taking her nephews around Dublin. After dropping them off with Jadyn's sister we had dinner and beer at The Porterhouse in Temple Bar after walking around a bit.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
This stout pours an opaque black, and is topped by a thick, creamy, brown head that retains well. The aroma is chocolatey with roasted malt notes. The chocolate gives the aroma an almost fruity aspect.
This stout has a roasted backbone, which moves into a milder center with a bit of bite and roasted bitterness in the finish that's cut by a mild sweetness. Light-bodied and smooth with mild carbonation.
I thought this was a very nice stout.
After dinner I had a three beer sampler, and Jadyn had another beer
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Pours a clear, light golden with a creamy head. The aroma is clean with grassy notes. It's grainy with a mildly sweet finish. Pretty ho-hum.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a dark brown that's clear up to the light. It's topped by a dense, creamy head. The aroma is chocolatey and sweet with roasted notes and not a lot of fruit. There are mild roasted malts throughout with only a very mild sweetness. The finish is lightly bitter.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a clear brow with a creamy brown head. The aroma is roasted malts with a bit of a sharp edge. This stout is very mild with only a mild roasty character. The finish has a mild sweetness and light spiciness.
On Tuesday Jadyn and I took a tour of the Guinness Brewery. The tour was pretty slick and marketing heavy. The brewing process was discussed, but not in depth. The most interesting part of the tour was the video that discussed cooperage. The highlight by far was having beers in the Gravity Bar, which had great views of the city.
A slick waterfall.
I picked this beer up at a grocery store, either Tesco or SuperValu, and had it at Jadyn's sister's house on Thanksgiving.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Comany
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.3
This beer pours a clear golden with a fluffy white head that fades to a thin layer, but leaves clinging lace. The aroma is wheaty and grainy with notes of fruit and spicy hops.
This beer is grainy upfront with a grassy backbone. There are enough spicy, leafy hops in the finish, just enough to prevent it from being bland. This beer is crisp, light-bodied and slightly dry.
Not super flavorful, but refreshing enough.
On Saturday evening Jadyn and I went to a show at Whelan's with her sister. We stopped for a beer at The Dice Bar. I went with Sparta Pils, which I mistakenly thought might be Irish.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Czech Pilsener, BJCP Style Guide
Pours a clear golden, and is topped by a white head that's fed by lots of bubbles. The aroma has notes of cooked grain, and a bit of malty sweetness.
The taste is clean and crisp with a mild sweetness, and a grassy bitterness in the finish. This beer is crisp, light-bodied, and has a good deal of carbonation.
Overall this was a pretty good pils, not the best, but solid.
Jadyn and I spent Monday the 22nd taking her nephews around Dublin. After dropping them off with Jadyn's sister we had dinner and beer at The Porterhouse in Temple Bar after walking around a bit.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.5 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 4.1
This stout pours an opaque black, and is topped by a thick, creamy, brown head that retains well. The aroma is chocolatey with roasted malt notes. The chocolate gives the aroma an almost fruity aspect.
This stout has a roasted backbone, which moves into a milder center with a bit of bite and roasted bitterness in the finish that's cut by a mild sweetness. Light-bodied and smooth with mild carbonation.
I thought this was a very nice stout.
After dinner I had a three beer sampler, and Jadyn had another beer
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Pours a clear, light golden with a creamy head. The aroma is clean with grassy notes. It's grainy with a mildly sweet finish. Pretty ho-hum.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a dark brown that's clear up to the light. It's topped by a dense, creamy head. The aroma is chocolatey and sweet with roasted notes and not a lot of fruit. There are mild roasted malts throughout with only a very mild sweetness. The finish is lightly bitter.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: The Porterhouse Brewing Company
Alcohol: 4.80%
Serving: Tap
Style: Irish Dry Stout, BJCP Style Guide
This beer pours a clear brow with a creamy brown head. The aroma is roasted malts with a bit of a sharp edge. This stout is very mild with only a mild roasty character. The finish has a mild sweetness and light spiciness.
On Tuesday Jadyn and I took a tour of the Guinness Brewery. The tour was pretty slick and marketing heavy. The brewing process was discussed, but not in depth. The most interesting part of the tour was the video that discussed cooperage. The highlight by far was having beers in the Gravity Bar, which had great views of the city.
A slick waterfall.
I picked this beer up at a grocery store, either Tesco or SuperValu, and had it at Jadyn's sister's house on Thanksgiving.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Comany
Alcohol: 4.30%
Serving: Bottle
Style: American Pale Wheat Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 3.5 | Smell: 3.0 | Taste: 3.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 4.0
Overall: 3.3
This beer pours a clear golden with a fluffy white head that fades to a thin layer, but leaves clinging lace. The aroma is wheaty and grainy with notes of fruit and spicy hops.
This beer is grainy upfront with a grassy backbone. There are enough spicy, leafy hops in the finish, just enough to prevent it from being bland. This beer is crisp, light-bodied and slightly dry.
Not super flavorful, but refreshing enough.
Labels: Czech Pilsener, Euro Pale Lager, Irish Dry Stout, Travel
I was planning on splitting this post up and providing notes for each beer, but that seems to cause procrastination. I'll just provide a list of the beers that I had, and make note of the highlights instead.
The Belgian Beer Fest is my favorite Beer Advocate fest because Belgian beers remain some of my favorites, especially the sour ones, and the BBF provides the opportunity to taste sours that are otherwise hard or impossible to try.
1249. Allagash Avance - Allagash Brewing Company
1250. Allagash Big Little - Allagash Brewing Compay
1251. Allagash Little Big - Allagash Brewing Compay
This hazed copper beer has a malty aroma with a bit of acidity on the nose. Sweet malts and fruity esters are met with a balancing bite of sourness. The finish has a mild bit of bitterness.
1252. Old Mother Hubbard - Cambridge Brewing Company
1253. Kosmic Mother Funk - Boston Beer Company
1254. Old Lambic - Boston Beer Company
The person working the booth said that this beer was seven years old. It pours a clear copper color. The aroma is funky and acidic. This beer has a nice acidic sourness, medicinal phenols, and a surprisingly smooth finish.
1255. Belgian Pale Ale - Brewery Ommegang
1256. Brooklyn Cuvee Noir - Brooklyn Brewery
1257. Madame Rose - Goose Island Beer Co.
1258. Fleur - Goose Island Beer Co.
1259. Ename Tripel - Brouwerij Roman
1260. Kriek Pale Ale - Harpoon Brewery
I believe that this was Harpoon's IPA Kriek-ified. It poured a hazy copper with an acidic, cherry aroma. It had great sourness, and cherry flavor along with a bit of bitterness in the finish.
1261. Monstre Rouge - De Proefbrouwerij
1262. Super Friends IPA - Ithaca Beer Company
This was a great IPA conditioned with Brett. It had a nice explosion of hops, but had an Orval-like finish.
1263. Belgo IPA - New Belgium Brewing
1264. Belgian Style Blonde Ale - New Belgium Brewing
1265. Framboise de Amorosa - The Lost Abbey
1266. Sinner's Blend 2010 - The Lost Abbey
1267. Cellar Door - Stillwater Artisanal Ales
1268. Autumnal - Stillwater Artisanal Ales
1269. Grisette - Zero Gravity
1270. Emelisse Double IPA - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse
1271. Troubador Magma - Brouwerij De Musketiers
1272. The One - Zero Gravty
1273. Fennel Saison - Sixpoint
1274. Chinookered! - Harpoon Brewery
1275. Ruby Bruin - The Tap
This was pretty late in the fest, but I thought that this was a tasty Oud Bruin
1276. Smuttynose Gravitation - Smuttynose Brewing Company
1277. Smuttynose Winter Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company
1278. Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Company
1279. Bellegems Bruin - Brouwerij Bockor
Another solid Oud Bruin.
1280. Van Twee - De Proefbrouwerij
1281. Lozen Boer - De Proefbrouwerij
1282. Hopus - Brasserie Lefèbvre SA
1283. Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Comany
1284. Malheur 10° - Brouwerij De Landtsheer
1285. Allagash Black - Allagash Brewing Company
The Belgian Beer Fest is my favorite Beer Advocate fest because Belgian beers remain some of my favorites, especially the sour ones, and the BBF provides the opportunity to taste sours that are otherwise hard or impossible to try.
1249. Allagash Avance - Allagash Brewing Company
1250. Allagash Big Little - Allagash Brewing Compay
1251. Allagash Little Big - Allagash Brewing Compay
This hazed copper beer has a malty aroma with a bit of acidity on the nose. Sweet malts and fruity esters are met with a balancing bite of sourness. The finish has a mild bit of bitterness.
1252. Old Mother Hubbard - Cambridge Brewing Company
1253. Kosmic Mother Funk - Boston Beer Company
1254. Old Lambic - Boston Beer Company
The person working the booth said that this beer was seven years old. It pours a clear copper color. The aroma is funky and acidic. This beer has a nice acidic sourness, medicinal phenols, and a surprisingly smooth finish.
1255. Belgian Pale Ale - Brewery Ommegang
1256. Brooklyn Cuvee Noir - Brooklyn Brewery
1257. Madame Rose - Goose Island Beer Co.
1258. Fleur - Goose Island Beer Co.
1259. Ename Tripel - Brouwerij Roman
1260. Kriek Pale Ale - Harpoon Brewery
I believe that this was Harpoon's IPA Kriek-ified. It poured a hazy copper with an acidic, cherry aroma. It had great sourness, and cherry flavor along with a bit of bitterness in the finish.
1261. Monstre Rouge - De Proefbrouwerij
1262. Super Friends IPA - Ithaca Beer Company
This was a great IPA conditioned with Brett. It had a nice explosion of hops, but had an Orval-like finish.
1263. Belgo IPA - New Belgium Brewing
1264. Belgian Style Blonde Ale - New Belgium Brewing
1265. Framboise de Amorosa - The Lost Abbey
1266. Sinner's Blend 2010 - The Lost Abbey
1267. Cellar Door - Stillwater Artisanal Ales
1268. Autumnal - Stillwater Artisanal Ales
1269. Grisette - Zero Gravity
1270. Emelisse Double IPA - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse
1271. Troubador Magma - Brouwerij De Musketiers
1272. The One - Zero Gravty
1273. Fennel Saison - Sixpoint
1274. Chinookered! - Harpoon Brewery
1275. Ruby Bruin - The Tap
This was pretty late in the fest, but I thought that this was a tasty Oud Bruin
1276. Smuttynose Gravitation - Smuttynose Brewing Company
1277. Smuttynose Winter Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company
1278. Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Company
1279. Bellegems Bruin - Brouwerij Bockor
Another solid Oud Bruin.
1280. Van Twee - De Proefbrouwerij
1281. Lozen Boer - De Proefbrouwerij
1282. Hopus - Brasserie Lefèbvre SA
1283. Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Comany
1284. Malheur 10° - Brouwerij De Landtsheer
1285. Allagash Black - Allagash Brewing Company
Labels: Beer Fests
