On a good note, I see that none of my old reviews of Pike beers are on this blog. So, I have an excuse to buy them all again.
I can't remember where I got this one, or how long ago. I'm hoping that they didn't over-do the wood aged aspect, as so many brewers are prone to do in an attempt to be bigger than they really are. Pike always does the bigger beers right though.
This one pours black. Completely opaque with a nice dark tan head. Throws off a big, grainy, roasted smell. Not really scotchy, like some wood aged beers can be, but instead slightly oaky with some vanilla. That's good.
Nice. Big and smooth, not quite an imperial but more than a standard stout. Good roasted flavor that's closer to coffee than chocolate, with the vanilla still slightly present.
Very good beer. Makes me want to make the rounds through the Pike beers even sooner. I'll pick up the seasonals as they appear, but I have too many singles to go out and pick up more right now.
A good problem to have, I guess.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Michigan Brewing Company's Celis White
This post will be proof positive to the one person who ever reads it that I can be objective. Just because I don't like something, doesn't mean it isn't done right.
This one pours a hazy yellow with a fizzy white head that fades fairly quickly. Throws off a ton of floral hops and that weird, chemical smelling yeast that I don't like. But, of course, it's supposed to be like that.
Ooof. Smells the same. Do.Not.Like.
Yeah, tastes to me like a weak form of cleaning solution. It's zippy and light, with a huge amount of the Belgian-type yeast that I just cannot stand.
But for the style, it's very good. It has all of the characteristics that a Belgian wit should have, and is fairly strong for one as well. So if you like for even the lighter beers to have a little more kick than usual, and like Belgians, you'll like this one.
I just don't, though.
This one pours a hazy yellow with a fizzy white head that fades fairly quickly. Throws off a ton of floral hops and that weird, chemical smelling yeast that I don't like. But, of course, it's supposed to be like that.
Ooof. Smells the same. Do.Not.Like.
Yeah, tastes to me like a weak form of cleaning solution. It's zippy and light, with a huge amount of the Belgian-type yeast that I just cannot stand.
But for the style, it's very good. It has all of the characteristics that a Belgian wit should have, and is fairly strong for one as well. So if you like for even the lighter beers to have a little more kick than usual, and like Belgians, you'll like this one.
I just don't, though.
Buzzards Bay Brewing Company's Buzzard's Bay Brown
Man, I remember the last time I looked up this brewery I found that it had been sold and the labels discontinued. And that felt like a year ago. Still, it's sitting in the cellar, so I'm trying it tonight. Besides, I just came back from out of state with about 40 new beers to try, so I'm cleaning house.
Pours a clear, slightly coppery brown with a nice enough tan head. Browns never seem to have much in the way of carbonation or head, and this one follows that trend.
Smells fine. Earthy malt, slightly nutty, low hops that are more floral than bitter.
Nice enough taste as well. It is still a bit raw feeling like a brown should be, but it has lost quite a bit of its zip. This beer is well over a year old, so that's expected. I bet it was really good back then. It's pretty good now.
It's also gone for good.
Pours a clear, slightly coppery brown with a nice enough tan head. Browns never seem to have much in the way of carbonation or head, and this one follows that trend.
Smells fine. Earthy malt, slightly nutty, low hops that are more floral than bitter.
Nice enough taste as well. It is still a bit raw feeling like a brown should be, but it has lost quite a bit of its zip. This beer is well over a year old, so that's expected. I bet it was really good back then. It's pretty good now.
It's also gone for good.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Great Divide Brewing Company's 16th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA
This is one of the first breweries that I remember being different. And although I traditionally don't like wood aged beers because they're overdone with scotch, I'll try everything Great Divide makes.
Pours slow, with a ton of body. That's a good sign. Deep amber with a huge tan head and a great smell. Slight vanilla that comes from the oak, but mostly floral hops and a slightly sweet malt.
Tastes about the same. Solid body and a great bitterness that isn't affected by the oak, which isn't too scotchy like some brewers try to make it. Good stuff, and another reason this brewery has set itself apart from the start for me.
Pours slow, with a ton of body. That's a good sign. Deep amber with a huge tan head and a great smell. Slight vanilla that comes from the oak, but mostly floral hops and a slightly sweet malt.
Tastes about the same. Solid body and a great bitterness that isn't affected by the oak, which isn't too scotchy like some brewers try to make it. Good stuff, and another reason this brewery has set itself apart from the start for me.
Ridgeway Brewing's Bad King John Black Ale
I've started to like all Ridgeway beers, and a black ale as opposed to a black lager is intriguing, so I have high hopes for this one.
Pours like a stout, although not as opaque as some. Nice tan head and a good, roasted grain smell to it.
Excellent taste to it. I'm not sure what the difference between a black ale and a stout, but it feels just a little lighter in the body so maybe the gravity is the distinction. Either way, it's about like a Saint Arnold's stout, which I think is one of the lightest out there. It's even got a little more flavor than St. A's. Good beer, from a brewery that's working its way up my list.
Pours like a stout, although not as opaque as some. Nice tan head and a good, roasted grain smell to it.
Excellent taste to it. I'm not sure what the difference between a black ale and a stout, but it feels just a little lighter in the body so maybe the gravity is the distinction. Either way, it's about like a Saint Arnold's stout, which I think is one of the lightest out there. It's even got a little more flavor than St. A's. Good beer, from a brewery that's working its way up my list.
Sweet Water Brewing Company's Extra Pale Ale
Pours a slightly hazy light amber with decent carbonation and a decent enough tan head. Nice grassy hops in the smell, with a twangy, sweet malt as well. Almost a bit of citrus--orange, not lemon.
Nice. I've had this one sitting around for a while and was a bit worried about how good it would be. Plus, it's from Georgia. But it's right on type for a pale (I don't know about that "extra" business). Fairly solid bitterness, with a nice body and slight sweetness to round it out.
Nice. I've had this one sitting around for a while and was a bit worried about how good it would be. Plus, it's from Georgia. But it's right on type for a pale (I don't know about that "extra" business). Fairly solid bitterness, with a nice body and slight sweetness to round it out.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Simonds Farsons Cisk's XS Cisk Extra Lage
A Maltese beer? Had to buy it.
Pours a slightly amber yellow with a head that never really forms, despite pretty strong carbonation. Smells like white grape juice.
Huh. Decent body, which must be what the "extra" is about. And I didn't notice before, but it has 9% ABV, but bites like it's higher. Not very subtle. Sickly sweet malt and a cardboard bitterness that only comes out when the rest of the flavors thankfully fade away.
Not a good beer.
Pours a slightly amber yellow with a head that never really forms, despite pretty strong carbonation. Smells like white grape juice.
Huh. Decent body, which must be what the "extra" is about. And I didn't notice before, but it has 9% ABV, but bites like it's higher. Not very subtle. Sickly sweet malt and a cardboard bitterness that only comes out when the rest of the flavors thankfully fade away.
Not a good beer.
Moylan's Brewing Company's Kilt Lifter
Pours a deep orangish amber, and pours very slowly in a way that implies a big body. Big rocky head stays for a long time.
Huge floral hops thrown off as the head dissipates, and if you get closer you can smell a slightly sweet malt.
Big. I'm starting to really like this style, and this is a very good one. Solid in both bitterness and bready malt, it's a big beer that is essentially like a much less hoppy barley wine. I can only remember having two others of this type, and liked them both. So I'll move it right up under stouts as my favorite type.
Huge floral hops thrown off as the head dissipates, and if you get closer you can smell a slightly sweet malt.
Big. I'm starting to really like this style, and this is a very good one. Solid in both bitterness and bready malt, it's a big beer that is essentially like a much less hoppy barley wine. I can only remember having two others of this type, and liked them both. So I'll move it right up under stouts as my favorite type.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Real Ale Brewing Company's Oktoberfest
I'm glad to see the various new beers from Real Ale. I've liked them for years, even back when people were complaining about carbonation issues, or distribution problems, or whatever it was cool to complain about at the time. All that seems to be behind them now, and I haven't heard a complaint about them, legitimate or otherwise, for some time. What they need now is a good stout--but that's not a complaint. I just want someone to give Southern Star and Independence Brewing a run for their money. And I love Saint Arnold's, but their stout is flat-out inferior to the others.
This one pours a nice, clear orangish-amber with a great small celled tan head that stays well. Smells very mildly spicy, and zippy.
Light taste with low bitterness and malt, with a good spiciness for the style. I don't really know Bavarian Style from Marzen, but they taste pretty close to me. Which makes this an excellent beer for an Oktoberfest.
This one pours a nice, clear orangish-amber with a great small celled tan head that stays well. Smells very mildly spicy, and zippy.
Light taste with low bitterness and malt, with a good spiciness for the style. I don't really know Bavarian Style from Marzen, but they taste pretty close to me. Which makes this an excellent beer for an Oktoberfest.
Ridgway Brewing's Foreign Export Stout
I must confess my ignorance as to what make a stout one that is foreign and to be exported. If it's foreign, wouldn't you haves to import it? And aren't all exports to foreign places? I don't know.
What I do know is that it pours a nice, almost completely opaque black with a good tan head that sticks. And that it smells grainy and substantial.
Tastes the same. It's straightforward, with a solid roasted grain that keeps its grainy taste and has a limited amount of the other chocolate or coffee tastes or smoothness that lactose can impart. Simple.
Great beer. Glad I picked up one of every Ridgway beer I saw.
What I do know is that it pours a nice, almost completely opaque black with a good tan head that sticks. And that it smells grainy and substantial.
Tastes the same. It's straightforward, with a solid roasted grain that keeps its grainy taste and has a limited amount of the other chocolate or coffee tastes or smoothness that lactose can impart. Simple.
Great beer. Glad I picked up one of every Ridgway beer I saw.
Dogfish Head's Red and White
Alright, I know ahead of time it's a wit, but I couldn't avoid the hype.
Pours a solid amber with large particulates and a nice light tan head.
Smells sweet, like a white grape juice. The yeast smell that I don't like is barely present, so I'm hoping the taste is better than I expected.
Sure enough, it's like a sweet, grapey, light bodied wit. The taste that I usually don't like in Belgians is almost imperceptible, so I drank it all. I won't buy it again, but it was interesting.
Pours a solid amber with large particulates and a nice light tan head.
Smells sweet, like a white grape juice. The yeast smell that I don't like is barely present, so I'm hoping the taste is better than I expected.
Sure enough, it's like a sweet, grapey, light bodied wit. The taste that I usually don't like in Belgians is almost imperceptible, so I drank it all. I won't buy it again, but it was interesting.
Harpoon Brewery's 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB
Pours a deep amber with a nice tan head that stays very well.
Smells great. A good compromise of hops and malt, without getting too hoppy like an IPA as a few ESB's try to do.
Solid taste. Hops are indistinct but present, the malt is there without being too sweet.
Good beer. I've decided to pick up every beer in this series that I see.
Smells great. A good compromise of hops and malt, without getting too hoppy like an IPA as a few ESB's try to do.
Solid taste. Hops are indistinct but present, the malt is there without being too sweet.
Good beer. I've decided to pick up every beer in this series that I see.
Backus and Johnson's Cusquena
Another single that I couldn't pass up.
Pours a clear yellow with a fizzy white head that quickly thins.
Huh. Great smell. Excellent pilsner funk to it, more hoppy than malty.
This is a good beer. It's right where it needs to be for the style, and damn if that's not surprising fro Peru. I'll have more of this, for sure.
Pours a clear yellow with a fizzy white head that quickly thins.
Huh. Great smell. Excellent pilsner funk to it, more hoppy than malty.
This is a good beer. It's right where it needs to be for the style, and damn if that's not surprising fro Peru. I'll have more of this, for sure.
Sterkens Brewery's Belgian Dubbel Ale
I have several beers, parks, and BBQ joints that I haven't posted in a while, but this one seems like a perfect one to start back with.
Pours a great deep brown, with a smooth tan head that stays. Smells great. I know I bag on Belgians all the time, but this reminds me of when I first started trying different beers and thought Belgians were the best. I had yet to try all of the great American beers out there, so the Belgians were still fairly pure and I didn't taste the various odd plastic and chemical yeast tastes that they often leave me with now. But this one is straight-up bready. Like the type f beers you hear about monks brewing as a bread substitute during fasts.
Nice. Straight-forward, bready, and like a substantive beer that is the way it's supposed to be. It's not as good as Sam Smith's Stingo, but it's getting there and it makes me want to go back and try the Belgian staples again to re-evaluate them.
I don't think they have this at Spec's, so go to D&O on Richmond in Houston, and after you're done step across the street to Chapultepec for some of the best Mexican food in the city.
Pours a great deep brown, with a smooth tan head that stays. Smells great. I know I bag on Belgians all the time, but this reminds me of when I first started trying different beers and thought Belgians were the best. I had yet to try all of the great American beers out there, so the Belgians were still fairly pure and I didn't taste the various odd plastic and chemical yeast tastes that they often leave me with now. But this one is straight-up bready. Like the type f beers you hear about monks brewing as a bread substitute during fasts.
Nice. Straight-forward, bready, and like a substantive beer that is the way it's supposed to be. It's not as good as Sam Smith's Stingo, but it's getting there and it makes me want to go back and try the Belgian staples again to re-evaluate them.
I don't think they have this at Spec's, so go to D&O on Richmond in Houston, and after you're done step across the street to Chapultepec for some of the best Mexican food in the city.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Laguinitas Brewing Company's Gnarleywine
You know how small equipment with four cycle engines use oil that's not black, but it's kind of amber to orange? That's how this pours, almost.
Smells great, too. Big head that thins but stays, and a smell that doesn't quit. Strong, grassy hops with big, sweet malt.
Well, the 10.85% ABV makes it a little sharp, but otherwise it's a nice beer. Not as good as I was hoping early on, but it has a big body and strong bitterness that stays for quite a while. This bomber will probably be the only one I have tonight, so I hope it slows down a bit as it warms.
Smells great, too. Big head that thins but stays, and a smell that doesn't quit. Strong, grassy hops with big, sweet malt.
Well, the 10.85% ABV makes it a little sharp, but otherwise it's a nice beer. Not as good as I was hoping early on, but it has a big body and strong bitterness that stays for quite a while. This bomber will probably be the only one I have tonight, so I hope it slows down a bit as it warms.
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