Monday, January 31, 2011

Summit Imperial Pumpkin Porter



Latest offering in Summit's (St Paul, MN) wildly popular "Unchained Series" this is as the label says a porter brewed with pumpkin and spices. I had originally tried a sample of this a few weeks back at Acadia and was not impressed but decided to give it another try and I was glad I did. Poured an intense black with a hint of chocolate and spice, I was surprised the pumpkin flavour was more of an after note and not very intense, which is fine by me, since I generally do not like pumpkin beers (Southern Tiers "Pumpking" excepted). Very drinkable, perhaps a little light for an "Imperial" at 7.5% ABV but enjoyable if not an exceptional brew (I thought the previous unleashed Belgian was fantastic). I'd have another one, although I think next time I'll let it sit out for a while as the flavours may be discernable at a warmer temp.

B

Southern Tier 2XIPA



I don't normally drink IPA's let alone Double IPA's but I found this very drinkable. To me this did not seem that much stronger than a regular IPA, even weighing in at 8.3% ABV. Not as hoppy as I would have imagined, more complex citrus, floral taste, maybe because they combined 3 types of malts and 4 varities of hops, helped smooth it out. Nice and drinkable. Southern Tier, Lakewood, NY.

B+

Moylan's White Christmas Spiced Winter Lager



First time I've tried this White Christmas Spiced Winter Lager from Moylan's of Novato, CA. It's described as a lager brewed with spices (orange zest,mace, cinnamon, corriander and white pepper). It pours a nice golden yellow with a lovely frothy head. Most impressive thing I thought was the constant bubbling, the taste I thought was a bit subdued and unremarkable, a hint of spiciness maybe but for all the spices used I thought it fairly light and mediocre. 6% ABV.

B-

Deschutes Jubelale



First time I've tried Deschutes (Bend, Oregon) Holiday offering and I was impressed. Pours a mahogany red colour. Malty, robust and warming, with a hint of spice and carmel notes. A nice winter warmer that weighs in at 6.7% ABV and is enjoyable to drink.

B+

Central Waters Satin Solstice Imperial Stout



First time I've tried something from this brewery, located in Amherst, Wisconsin.
I was pleasantly surprised - a fantastic, chocolately stout that was very smooth to drink and not overpowered by the 8.2% ABV alcohol content, which might be a bad thing since I could have easily drank a few more. Alas, I only had the one 12oz bottle. Looking forward to trying other offerings from CW.

A

Fireside Chat 21st Ammendment



This is a winter spiced ale from 21st Ammendment Brewery in San Francisco that comes in a 12oz can. I was intrigued by the cool packaging which features FDR and an elf sitting by a fireplace. Pours a dark mahogany with a definite smell of spice. I prefer my winter beers to be big and malty but this was a very warming, spicy ale that I would say is a great representative of the style. Quite an impressive ABV of 7.9% and a substantial 45 IBU's. Canned in Cold Spring, MN!

B+

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Deschutes Obsidian Stout



As with most offerings I have tried from Deschutes (Bend, Oregon) this is a solid if unspectacular stout. Pitch black with a peaty, roasted malt taste. 6.4% ABV which is perhaps on the higher range for a stout but nonetheless a satisfying offering.

B

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2010 Version



One of the few good things about the arrival of winter is the release of Sierra Nevada's (Chico, CA) Celebration Ale. Truly one of the best winter ales, this years model I find to be not as IPA-ish as previous years but delicately balanced with a wonderful fresh hoppy taste. Sierra Nevada has been brewing this affordable delight since 1981 and rarely disappoints. I always make sure I have a couple of cases saved for later in the year. 6.8% ABV.

A

Left Hand Milk Stout



This is a delicious sweet stout from Left Hand Brewery of Longmont, CO. One of my favourite beers, it has deservedly won countless awards in the "sweet stout" category. 6% ABV makes it a delicious easy drinking treat. The bottle on the right is the old packaging which I prefer to the Ed Hardy-ish revamped version (yes, I do regret buying the Tshirt at ABR but oh well) on the left. Still tastes the same though!

A

Bell's Oarsman Ale



This offering from Bell's (Comstock, MI) is described as "buoyant, tart and refreshing from using traditional sour mash methods". It pours a pale yellow with a lifeless body and almost non-existent carbonization. Weighing in at a measly 4% ABV I wonder what he brewer was trying to achieve? I have read some speculation that it was intended to be a Berliner Weiss style of beer, if that is the case it definetly needs an addition of something sweet (as traditionally used in Berlin) to balance up the overpowering tartness. For a sour beer I would stick to something more substantial and enjoyable such as New Belgium's "La Folie" or Rodenbach Grand Cru or Duchese De Bourgogne. To each their own but I found this to be an almost undrinkable disappointment (I used my last 2 bottles to boil brats)!

D

Summit Imperial Pumpkin Porter



Latest offering in Summit's (St Paul, MN) wildly popular "Unchained Series" this is as the label says a porter brewed with pumpkin and spices. I had originally tried a sample of this a few weeks back at Acadia and was not impressed but decided to give it another try and I was glad I did. Poured an intense black with a hint of chocolate and spice, I was surprised the pumpkin flavour was more of an after note and not very intense, which is fine by me, since I generally do not like pumpkin beers (Southern Tiers "Pumpking" excepted). Very drinkable, perhaps a little light for an "Imperial" at 7.5% ABV but enjoyable if not an exceptional brew (I thought the previous unleashed Belgian was fantastic). I'd have another one, although I think next time I'll let it sit out for a while as the flavours may be discernable at a warmer temp.

B

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout



This is the much ballyhoo-ed release of the "new" Guinness Foreign Extra Stout in the US market, although it has been readily available overseas (apparently making up 45% of all Guinness brand sales worldwide). Poured from an 11.2oz bottle into an Imperial Guinness pint glass what really struck me, apart from the characteristic midnight black colour, was the vigorous mocha head. It has the unmistakable Guinness taste of smoked, burnt, roasted malt with perhaps a woodsy, peaty dryness - I think this tastes very much like the bottled version of regular Guinness Extra Stout with a bit more alcohol warmth (7.5% ABV) and a more lively finish. Much better than the bland, tasteless, too smooth nitrogenerated Guinness that you get on draught, nonetheless I was left a little disappointed. Having grown up in Ireland I know I'm biased but Guinness just doesn't taste the same without the "craic" of a warm Irish country pub. For value and taste I'd go for "Lion Stout", around $10 for a six-pack 12oz bottles as opposed to a 4 pack of 11.2 Guinness FES at around $9, but that's just me.

B

Bell's Expedition Stout



After my rather disparaging review of Bell's "Oarsman" I felt it time to redress some of the balance by reviewing one of their best beers, the rarely surpassed Expedition Stout. This is a wonderful example of a Russian Imperial stout that pours like a thick tar with a medicinal alcohol kick that you really notice (10.5%ABV). This one would age well but my impatience got the best of me. Well worth the price of admittance (about $15.99 for a six pack), along with "Hopslam" one of their truly great big beers, in my opinion. Spectacular.

A

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout



The perfect beer for a frigid Minnesota day, consider me part of the cult following for this amazing award-winning beer. As you would expect pours a pitch black with a definite aroma of chocolate and alcohol. Tastes even better - caramel, mocha, chocolate, toffee all present, with a nice alcohol warmth - well balanced and dangerously drinkable at 9% ABV (compared to Bell's Expedition Stout this is a session beer)! I was surprised that this has an IBU of 75 which is more than many IPA's, it is hard to detect any hoppiness at all. Affordable at about $8.99 a 4 pack of 12oz bottles I try to keep this in my fridge year round. One of the best beers in the world.

A+

Franziskaner Weissbier



After all the heavy hitting RIS I've had lately I thought it was time to calm down a bit with an easy drinking Hefeweizen from Franziskaner (Munich). Incredible amazing foamy head that spilled over the glass, this has a nice citrusy, lemony taste (which I like in a hefe) that is very easy to drink at only 5% ABV. Not my favourite Hefeweissen by any stretch of the imagination (personal favourite is Paulaner), I prefer a bit more of a bite but pleasant enough. No need for a lemon in the glass that's for sure. A pleasant enough satisfying beer, especially for summer!

B

Weyerbacher Winter Ale



Considering Weyerbacher (Easton, PA) have a great reputation and an award winning track record for great beers such as "Tiny", "Merry Monk's" and their "Double Simcoe" I was eagerly anticipating their winter offering. I was very disappointed. Poured from a 12oz bottle from a six pack I found the pour lifeless and almost flat, with no discernable aroma or head. Taste I found bland and dry, not much going on here, a bit too smooth and thin for a winter warmer in my opinion, definetly missing something to liven it up. Perhaps a very slight chocolate finish but I would compare it more to a black lager more than anything. Sadly I can't recommend this one. 5.6% ABV.

C-

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout



This delicious stout is on Bell's year-round schedule. Pours a jet-black with a foamy mocha head. The label reads "stout brewed with brewers licorice" and the licorice is the dominant taste that comes through on tasting, with a medicinal roasted malty bitterness. It might not please everyone's palate but I find it very enjoyable. Weighs in at 6% ABV which is just about perfect. If you are a real geek (and I am) it's fun to look up the batch number printed on the back of the label on Bell's site and it will tell you when it was packaged. Mine (9974) was bottled August 23rd, 2010. Interestingly, this beer was ranked #100 on www.ratebeer.com best 100 beers of 2010.

B+

La Fin Du Monde



This is a Belgian style Tripel by Unibroue brewery of Chambly (a suburb of Montreal), Quebec. Pours a deep golden yellow with cascading champagne like bubbles and a lacy white head. Slightly cloudy, gives off a citrusy yeasty smell. Taste is delicious, fruity, spicy but surprisingly not overpowered by the alcohol taste, which is at 9% ABV, around what you would expect for the style. It reminded me of a saison only with a bit more of kick. This is a dangerously drinkeable and delectable beer! I only wish they had been in existence when I lived in Montreal, of course that was in the days before good beer.

A

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Creek Ale




Part of Rogue's (Newport, Oregon) limited edition "Grow your own" series brewed with their own farmed hops and barley it is described as an ale brewed with cherries using eight different ingredients and brewed with "free range coastal water". Comes in a 22oz bomber and poured into a Rogue pint glass, pours an amber red with a noticeable cherry aroma. Unfortunately with all the apparent care that Rogue devoted to this brew and for which I applaud them for (no chemicals, preservatives or additives) I found this to be a terrible beer. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a dubbel or fruit beer or sour beer but I thought it tasted more like a summer-y cherry-wheat beer with not much body or substance, a noticeable tartness from the cherries and maltiness but that was about it, tasted like a fizzy lemonade that got worse the more you drank.  Reminded me of one of my home brews that went awry! 6% ABV.

D

Founders Porter



I must confess that porter's are normally not my thing, generally I think of them as a watered down stout, the sort of thing you drink because you have already drank too much or you ate too much! I'm a big fan of Founders (Grand Rapids, MI), they brew some great beers - "Breakfast Stout", "Dirty Bastard" and "Kentucky Breakfast Stout" - come to mind (ok maybe the "Cerise" wasn't so awesome but I digress). Pours a smoky black with a discernable smell of chocolate. Taste is as impressive as the pour - rich chocolate, vanilla, coffee, perhaps liquorice or plum? Seems fairly robust for a porter with a very respectable 6.5% ABV. Bonus marks for the cool packaging featuring a Victorian lady with the caption "Dark, Rich and Sexy". I'd have to agree - a fine beer, I can't imagine many porter's surpassing this one.

A

Left Hand Imperial Stout



Described as a "black beer to brighten your day" this is an imposing unfiltered Russian Imperial Stout from Left Hand Brewing (Longmont, CO) that really packs a wallop at 10.20% ABV. Not as pitch black as other RIS, this has a definite sweet smell that carries over into the taste. Licorice, molasses, chocolate all present and a surprising unusual sweetness that I found hard to place (perhaps from the alcohol or flaked oats?). Their description is spot-on -"A variety of intensely roasted malts and the aggressive use of hops temper the pleasant sweetness of the beer". This is a nice full bodied sipping beer that I highly recommend. Pick-up the "Mountain Mixer" Sampler 12 pack, it's a bit pricier (around $17.99) than some but well worth it (and hard to find), comes with 3 bottles each of Milk Stout, Sawtooth Ale, Imperial Stout and 400 Pound Monkey.

B

Left Hand Fade to Black Volume 2



Continuing with my tour of Left Hand brews this is their winter seasonal offering, a smoked baltic porter, "Fade to Black", Volume 2. Pours a tar black with little carbonization or head, fairly medium bodied with a smoked coffee aroma. Not overly smoky (which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned as I'm not too keen on smoked beers), tastes like a strong dark coffee that is easy to drink at 7.8% ABV (a little weaker than I expected). Not wowed by this but it is a decent representation of the style. I think I would have enjoyed the previous installment more, last year's Volume 1 which was a Foreign Stout.

B

Victory Golden Monkey



Discovered this bottle lurking in the depths of my beer fridge. It's a bottle conditioned Belgian inspired tripel from Victory Brewing (Downington, PA). I've enjoyed other great beers from this brewery (notably "Storm King" Imperial stout - one of my all-time favourites - and "Hop Wallop") but this was my first experience with "Golden Monkey". Poured a delightful pale golden yellow with a frothy white head with a light delicate body and lots of carbonization, which should be a characteristic of this style, in my opinion. Delicious and refreshing citrusy taste with candy notes and other spices, I thought this was a very satisfying beer that disguised the 9.5% ABV alcohol well. This would be a nice summer beer, although I think I would have no more than a couple before mowing the lawn! Not in the same class perhaps as Unibroue's "La Fin Du Monde" but so what? Kudos to Victory for putting a best-before date on the bottle (mine was June 2013), I wish more breweries would do that. I'll close with a description from the brewery :

"Strong and sensual, this golden Belgian style ale glows. The richness of German malts and Belgian yeast are tempered by a sparkling approach and overall light body. Abundant herbal, fruity notes make this one to savour".

B/B+

Oasis Tall Grass



Had this on tap at Longfellow Grill, Minneapolis (great happy hour by the way, 30 taps $3 3-6pm M-F and half off appetizers). Described as an Imperial IPA on the beer menu, given the description I was expecting this to be bursting with hops but was surprised at the mahogany colour and lack of hoppiness, this was definitely more malty than hoppy with a weird bitter aftertaste. Some slight notes of pine, grapefruit and citrus but not much of a bite for the 93 IBU's and 7.2% ABV it claimed. A very forgettable beer from this brewery based in Manhattan, Kansas (known for their signature 16oz cans, much like Surly). On further research from the Tall Grass site I see they have this described as a Double ESB/IPA-ish hybrid but for me it seems like it is suffering from an identity crisis that hits neither style and is not very appetizing, at least to my palate. I have heard that their IPA is pretty decent so I will have to try that. Otherwise I was very disappointed with this beer and would not recommend it.

C

Widmer W'11 KGB Russian Imperial Stout



I can't think of any RIS that I don't like, but unfortunately this is one. I was initially excited to use one of the hundreds of pint glasses (sad I know) in my collection that survived the "Widmer Wednesdays" at the Uptown Bar in the late 90's (I think it was $3.50 first pint of Widmer - mine was normally a hefeweizen - and then $2.95 refills and keep the glass). I thought for a 9.3% ABV beer it was a rather thin, medicinal and light bodied beer that lacked the complexity and "chewiness" and bite of other RIS. I'm thinking this beer might be better cellared but on my tasting it's less than mediocre, even for the bargain price of $7.99 a six pack I'd pass in the future. This is a seasonal offering from Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR.

C-