In searching my past beers, I see I've already had one from the Philippines, which surprises the hell out of me.
This one pours a very clear yellow with a pretty nice white head. I'm going to call it a pilsner already, because the head is throwing off that pilsner funk. Seems kind of sweet, so I'm going with German.
No, it's too crisp for a German. So I'm switching to Czech. It's not as crisp as a Czechvar or something similar, but it's not nearly malty enough for a German. If not for a fairly strong adjunct grain harshness, it would be a very nice beer. As it is, it's just middle of the road. Better than an American macro, but that's not saying too much.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Diamond Bear Brewing Company's Paradise Porter
Pours an opaque blackish brown. Nice tan head to it. Smells great, but a bit more like a stout than a porter at first, but it does have a few tannins in there if you really try.
Still more of a stout in the taste, and feels a bit like a milk stout. Only in the aftertaste does it taste like a porter. Until then, it seems like a standard stout. A good one, but not really a porter. More heavily carbonated than I like porters to be, too.
Maybe it's because I've had this one sitting around for a while, but it seems just a bit off style.
Still more of a stout in the taste, and feels a bit like a milk stout. Only in the aftertaste does it taste like a porter. Until then, it seems like a standard stout. A good one, but not really a porter. More heavily carbonated than I like porters to be, too.
Maybe it's because I've had this one sitting around for a while, but it seems just a bit off style.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Snake River Brewing Company's Pale Ale
I remember liking this brewery, but I don't remember why. I can't remember where I got this beer or how long ago, but I'm hoping it has held up over however long.
Pours an unfiltered deep amber with a nice light tan head. Holy Hell, I've heard and even described some beers as being floral, but this one is nuts. The head throws off a huge lavender smell. It had me wondering if there was some dish soap in the glass, but I've just been rinsing it out after every use. So it has to be coming from the beer, and I mean it is big. It smells like I'm about to drink a girl with too much perfume. I don't mind that, though. Been a while...
Odd. Smell is so attached to taste, and this smell is so big, that you can't drink this beer without smelling it and that smell is still overpowering. It has fairly strong carbonation and because the taste is so weak compared to the smell, it sort of comes across as a bland soda. Empty.
Disappointing beer, although interesting because of that smell.
Disappointing beer. Interesting though, because of that smell.
Pours an unfiltered deep amber with a nice light tan head. Holy Hell, I've heard and even described some beers as being floral, but this one is nuts. The head throws off a huge lavender smell. It had me wondering if there was some dish soap in the glass, but I've just been rinsing it out after every use. So it has to be coming from the beer, and I mean it is big. It smells like I'm about to drink a girl with too much perfume. I don't mind that, though. Been a while...
Odd. Smell is so attached to taste, and this smell is so big, that you can't drink this beer without smelling it and that smell is still overpowering. It has fairly strong carbonation and because the taste is so weak compared to the smell, it sort of comes across as a bland soda. Empty.
Disappointing beer, although interesting because of that smell.
Disappointing beer. Interesting though, because of that smell.
Sweet Water Brewing Company's IPA
Pours a nice amber, with a decent sized light tan head. Both good, grassy hops and a nice sweet malt. Well balanced and promising so far.
I don;t want to say it's light in the body. It's more that it's more crisp than many IPA's, and it's nice and drinkable. It has a nice bitterness to it that comes out more than the malt, which is surprising based on the smell. Still, if it was weaker in taste I would have hammered it for the lighter than usual feel. But instead, it's an all around nice, even if light, IPA.
I don;t want to say it's light in the body. It's more that it's more crisp than many IPA's, and it's nice and drinkable. It has a nice bitterness to it that comes out more than the malt, which is surprising based on the smell. Still, if it was weaker in taste I would have hammered it for the lighter than usual feel. But instead, it's an all around nice, even if light, IPA.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Primo Brewing and Malting Company's Bombucha
Not so sure about Hawaiian beers.
This one pours a medium amber, but has a great light tan head. Man, the head throws off a great crisp pilsner smell. And I mean, huge. It's crisp and not very sweet, so it must be more of a Czech than a German.
Very nice. Spot on for a Czech, and a very light and drinkable beer. Every time I run across one of these I'm reminded that you don't have to be one of those asshats at Stone or Victory to make great beers. And although this is an unlikely one, it's still very good.
This one pours a medium amber, but has a great light tan head. Man, the head throws off a great crisp pilsner smell. And I mean, huge. It's crisp and not very sweet, so it must be more of a Czech than a German.
Very nice. Spot on for a Czech, and a very light and drinkable beer. Every time I run across one of these I'm reminded that you don't have to be one of those asshats at Stone or Victory to make great beers. And although this is an unlikely one, it's still very good.
Blue Moon Brewing Company's Full Moon Winter Ale
An abbey ale... brewed with Belgian sugar... by a macro brewer. What the Hell, I like Budweiser, we'll see if this is any good.
Pours a nice, fairly opaque amber with a very nice head--although I poured it fast, so we'll see if there's any taste left once the head is gone. Blue Moon Brewing Company's Full Moon Winter. Pretty nice smell to it. Fairly malty and slightly peppery, like a winter (warmer?) ale should be.
Meh. Very weak in the feel compared to the appearance. Empty cardboard bitterness that fades almost immediately and leaves you with a feeling like you're missing something. Or maybe that something has even been taken from you. Or like you've been fondled by a stranger, or something.
If it was a movie, I'd want my two hours back. Instead, I'm just going to pour it out and be glad I didn't have to buy more than one of them, and them I'm going to go take a shower. Although I don't know if I'll ever feel clean again.
Pours a nice, fairly opaque amber with a very nice head--although I poured it fast, so we'll see if there's any taste left once the head is gone. Blue Moon Brewing Company's Full Moon Winter. Pretty nice smell to it. Fairly malty and slightly peppery, like a winter (warmer?) ale should be.
Meh. Very weak in the feel compared to the appearance. Empty cardboard bitterness that fades almost immediately and leaves you with a feeling like you're missing something. Or maybe that something has even been taken from you. Or like you've been fondled by a stranger, or something.
If it was a movie, I'd want my two hours back. Instead, I'm just going to pour it out and be glad I didn't have to buy more than one of them, and them I'm going to go take a shower. Although I don't know if I'll ever feel clean again.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Live Oak Brewing Company's Primus Weizenbock
Had to google this to make sure the bartender gave me the correct style, and she was off by a touch. She said it was an eisbock, which probably would have made it a bit stronger. No big deal, and the only thing I''m a little pissed about is the "banana and cloves" description on the website. That is the faggiest beer description ever, and I hate it every time I see it.
Pours a loosely or even unfiltered brownish red, with a nice dark-ish tan head. Nice bready smell with floral hops.
It's a bit yeasty, which is where they get their banana and cloves BS. Seems almost more like a Belgian strong ale than a weisbock, because it has more body and is much smoother in the feel than any type of bock. It has the Belgian flavors in the yeast that I mostly don't like, but Live Oak makes easy to drink by making it subordinate to the malt.
Very nice beer. One of the few that I like that is this yeasty.
Pours a loosely or even unfiltered brownish red, with a nice dark-ish tan head. Nice bready smell with floral hops.
It's a bit yeasty, which is where they get their banana and cloves BS. Seems almost more like a Belgian strong ale than a weisbock, because it has more body and is much smoother in the feel than any type of bock. It has the Belgian flavors in the yeast that I mostly don't like, but Live Oak makes easy to drink by making it subordinate to the malt.
Very nice beer. One of the few that I like that is this yeasty.
Descheutes Brewery's Jubelale Winter Ale
This is another one I had out of the bottle.
Nice slightly peppery zip in addition to a fair amount of bitterness in the smell. The way a warmer should be. It has a bit of an alcohol smell, but it's minor.
Tastes about the same. Not as much alcohol, but it's still there. Right on type for a warmer, but nothing terribly spectacular.
Nice slightly peppery zip in addition to a fair amount of bitterness in the smell. The way a warmer should be. It has a bit of an alcohol smell, but it's minor.
Tastes about the same. Not as much alcohol, but it's still there. Right on type for a warmer, but nothing terribly spectacular.
Harpoon Brewery's Leviathan Barleywine
Had this one out of the bottle, so I'm fairly clueless as to the appearance.
It has a solid, sweet, bready malt-forward smell. Big and smooth in the feel, with a good grassy bitter kick to it, but still feels maltier than most barleywines. Glad to see it, too. Most breweries think they have to hop the style up beyond recognition, so a maltier version is a good find.
It has a solid, sweet, bready malt-forward smell. Big and smooth in the feel, with a good grassy bitter kick to it, but still feels maltier than most barleywines. Glad to see it, too. Most breweries think they have to hop the style up beyond recognition, so a maltier version is a good find.
Rogue Brewing Company's XS Imperial Red
I seriously hate the little bottle.
Pours a fairly deep, loosely filtered reddish brown with a nice tan head. Big, bready smell.
Pretty good punch to it, about like an imperial pale should be, although it has a pretty harsh bitter aftertaste. I don't know, seems kind of meh overall, although that may be because it's a pretty bland style to take imperial. It should be closer to an IPA, but it just, isn't.
Pours a fairly deep, loosely filtered reddish brown with a nice tan head. Big, bready smell.
Pretty good punch to it, about like an imperial pale should be, although it has a pretty harsh bitter aftertaste. I don't know, seems kind of meh overall, although that may be because it's a pretty bland style to take imperial. It should be closer to an IPA, but it just, isn't.
Lake Superior Brewing Company's Sir Duluth Oatmeal Stout
I don't even remember where or when I got this. Which may not be a good sign, but we'll see.
Pours an opaque black that is amber to clear at the edges. Looks a little light in the body. Very small tan head that is pretty small for a stout, much less one with oatmeal. Nice smell to it though. Lots of tannins, like a porter, and some very subtle coffee, but mostly alcohol.
Smooth, like an oatmeal stout should be, but still a lot of alcohol. And that's weird, for a standard stout. It diminishes fairly quickly though, and gives way to a nice roasted coffee flavor.
Good beer that I bet is really good on tap. The alcohol bite bothers me, but I'm chalking it up tot he age of the beer, which is my fault. I need to drink more.
Pours an opaque black that is amber to clear at the edges. Looks a little light in the body. Very small tan head that is pretty small for a stout, much less one with oatmeal. Nice smell to it though. Lots of tannins, like a porter, and some very subtle coffee, but mostly alcohol.
Smooth, like an oatmeal stout should be, but still a lot of alcohol. And that's weird, for a standard stout. It diminishes fairly quickly though, and gives way to a nice roasted coffee flavor.
Good beer that I bet is really good on tap. The alcohol bite bothers me, but I'm chalking it up tot he age of the beer, which is my fault. I need to drink more.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Dogfish head's Burton Baton
A blend of Old Ale and Imperial IPA? Where in the Hell did they decide to come up with that? I could have sworn I had this before, but maybe I swore off Dogfish before it became widely available in Texas. Didn't know it was an IPA, at least in part, or I might not have ignored it. Then again, who knows what it will actually be, based on their penchant for mislabeling styles.
Pours a loosely filtered deep reddish amber with a nice tan head. Sweet and floral, like a decent IPA should smell--I guess the Old Ale tones it down a bit from the Imperial IPA. The 10% ABV comes out in the smell the more it warms. And in the taste. Otherwise it has a decent feel to it, with plenty of malt that translates into the taste well. It has a fair amount of hops as well, but it's well-balanced and well thought out. Probably the best Dogfish beer I've had.
Pours a loosely filtered deep reddish amber with a nice tan head. Sweet and floral, like a decent IPA should smell--I guess the Old Ale tones it down a bit from the Imperial IPA. The 10% ABV comes out in the smell the more it warms. And in the taste. Otherwise it has a decent feel to it, with plenty of malt that translates into the taste well. It has a fair amount of hops as well, but it's well-balanced and well thought out. Probably the best Dogfish beer I've had.
Descheutes Brewery's The Abyss 2010 Reserve
Alright--brewer's licorice (is there such a thing?), black strap molasses, cherry bark and vanilla beans aged in oak barrels has all the hallmarks of trying too hard. But I've liked everything this brewery has ever done, so I'm keeping an open mind.
Pours an inky brownish black with a solid dark tan head. Smells deep and grainy, with oak.
Good body, although I expected bigger. Maybe it's all the hype. Very good beer though. The oak is there, but I like that only a third of it is aged in oak because it keeps it in check. The licorice is there, and the molasses in the aftertaste. 11% ABV? Not a hint of that. Very well hidden, which is something a lot more beers need to do. Says best after 11/15/11, so I'll have to go get some more and hold it for a while.
Pours an inky brownish black with a solid dark tan head. Smells deep and grainy, with oak.
Good body, although I expected bigger. Maybe it's all the hype. Very good beer though. The oak is there, but I like that only a third of it is aged in oak because it keeps it in check. The licorice is there, and the molasses in the aftertaste. 11% ABV? Not a hint of that. Very well hidden, which is something a lot more beers need to do. Says best after 11/15/11, so I'll have to go get some more and hold it for a while.
Magic Hat Brewing Company's Roxie Rollie's Autumn Seasonal
Pours a deep brown with a big tan head. Smells sort of spicy. There are some grassy hops in there, but more peppery than hoppy.
Says it's an amber. Weird, although in the light it is more like a deep amber than a brown. Nice amber taste to it though. The hops and spice trade places in the taste. Nice enough winter warmer.
Says it's an amber. Weird, although in the light it is more like a deep amber than a brown. Nice amber taste to it though. The hops and spice trade places in the taste. Nice enough winter warmer.
Snake River Brewing Company's Zonker Stout
I've had this beer for at least a year and a half, which has to be past its date. I'm betting it's big enough to age well though.
Pours an inky brownish black with a nice dark tan head. No sign of aging poorly there. Still smells pretty grainy and robust, too.
Feels a little light compared to the appearance and smell though. It still has plenty of taste, and it hasn't lost any zip because it still has a fair amount of carbonation for a stout, but it just tastes lighter than everything else would indicate. It's a good straight up stout, that looks like a much heavier beer.
Pours an inky brownish black with a nice dark tan head. No sign of aging poorly there. Still smells pretty grainy and robust, too.
Feels a little light compared to the appearance and smell though. It still has plenty of taste, and it hasn't lost any zip because it still has a fair amount of carbonation for a stout, but it just tastes lighter than everything else would indicate. It's a good straight up stout, that looks like a much heavier beer.
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