I am truly a slacker

Hey all.

Its been a hella long time since I posted on here, and I actually am working on a review or two, but in the meantime, I just found this sweet graphic and thought I'd share it the the beer-loving community. Enjoy!

The Storm Is Coming! Sharks Beware...

Dogfish Head Squall IPA (bottle conditioned 90min)

So, after fishing for sharks a week or 2 ago, I decided to the best way to celebrate my 50 pound brown shark was to watch Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and drink a Dogfish Head beer. I know that I could have gone with a Land Shark Lager, but nooo thank you, I’ll pass and besides, Dogfish are actually sharks too. Anyways, I happened to have a bottle of Squall so I busted it out and enjoyed watching sharks tear apart some bait and then watched Air Jaws in ‘Ultra Slow Motion’. Good day.

So quick recap, the Dogfish Head IPA Family (as far as I know) consists of 60 min, 75 min, 90 min, 120min, Burton Baton, and Squall. (let me know if I missed any) And I can officially say the Squall so far is my favorite, it definitely replaces my former favorite, Burton Baton, which is also another variation of the 90 min IPA. Makes me wonder what a bottle-conditioned Burton Baton would taste like....?

The aging process of the Squall definitely smooths out and balances the flavors of the 90 min. The overpowering sweetness of the 90 min has been turned into a nice subtle bite in the aftertaste. The sticky, sugary mouth-feel is nice as well and lingers for the perfect amount of time.


QUICK TASTE

Dogfish Head Squall IPA

Milton, DE

ABV%: 9.00

Beer Style: Double IPA

Appearance: A dark golden brown with a slight red tinge, thin white head

Aromatics: Citrus candy and tangerine smell, malty and carmelly

Taste: Sweet and hoppy, citrus hops and you can taste some spices used in brewing

Notes: Another great addition to the DFH IPA Family. Brewed to honor the Rogue Gallery in Portland, Maine, who released a DFH-designed clothing line in the summer of '09.

Score: 94

A Break from Summer with a Beer on a High Horse

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout

The coolest thing about Mikkeller is that it was originally 2 guys who were home-brewing and decided to move to a larger stage . They began to rent out space at breweries to create large batches. Now it is down to one guy, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, who brews alone in breweries around Denmark (his home), Europe, and the U.S. But...

Have you ou ever had that friend that didn’t shut up? Who thought they were the best? The thing about them that everyone quickly realized was that, while they were good enough to get away with the trash talk, they were no where near the best. While I really respect Mikkeller, that’s kind of how this beer is.

Don’t get me wrong, this kid can play in the big leagues; it’s a great beer, with an awesome smell, and balanced flavor. I really enjoyed this beer despite the fact that I was drinking a stout on a day where the temperature was pushing a hundred and the air was more humid than a rain forest.

The reason I compare this beer to the friend that talks too much is ‘cause of the price tag. It’s usually $15+ at the cheapest. While it’s a great beer, 15+ dollars for a 16 oz beer is just a bit on the crazy side. Drop that price, cut the unnecessary hype, and this beer is a thing of beauty.



QUICK TASTE

Mikkeller, Beer Geek Breakfast Stout

Nøgne Ø, Norway.

ABV% 7.50

Beer Style: Imperial Stout

Appearance: Dark Brown, little translucence, think dark brown head

Aromatics: Smelled of coffee and roasted/burnt flavors, malty

Taste: Strong coffee flavor, hint of malty sweetness, and bitter chocolate

Notes: This beer was rough on a day pushing 100 degrees, it was a good beer but I expected more from the hype and the price

Score: 80

Summer In The City

Brooklyn Summer Ale

So, to continue my summer beer theme, I recently picked up a bottle of Brooklyn Summer Ale. I did this partially because I knew I was going to be in Brooklyn a few days later... unfortunately the brewery is only open on the weekends and I was only there on a Tuesday. Such is life.

The first thing I noticed about this beer was a very unique smell. It’s neither good, nor bad; just very unique and strong. The aroma that I’m talking about is very sweet and grainy, but I can’t put my finger on the exact scent, though I did notice the same smell when I walked around the outside of the brewery. If anyone can define it please tell me, because I couldn’t find what I was looking for on BeerAdvocate.

As far as summer beers go this beer is a PAR beer. It’s refreshing and not offensive; nothing special and nothing disappointing. The normal summer beer grainy flavors and fruity notes are present and accounted for. All in all, if you want a cold beer for a hot day (like the day I spent in NYC), then its a good, refreshing way to go.

QUICK TASTE

Brooklyn, Summer Ale

Brooklyn, NY

ABV% 5.00

Beer Style: English Pale

Appearance: Clear, golden amber, with a thin to medium size white head

Aromatics: Smells of fruit and bread and something else I cant identify.

Taste: Very grainy, hops are present but only ever so slightly, some apple-like flavors

Notes: Beer is like every other summer beer. Nothing special, slightly refreshing, bland flavor at best, It actually smells like the Brooklyn Brewery which I visited the day after I tasted it.

Score: 73

Local Love Falls Short

Hanger 24 Orange Wheat

Everyone loves his or her local watering hole, no matter how bad it actually is. Local breweries are very much the same way. Two years ago my local brewery, Hangar 24, opened (Happy 2nd Anniversary, btw) in Redlands, CA. Their flagship beer is the Orange Wheat. It appeals to the local history of the area, which was once covered in orange groves, even going so far as to have many of their logos mimic orange crate labels.

There is not a bar in my area where you cannot at least get a pint of Orange Wheat, if not a few of Hanger 24’s other beers. But is it a great beer?

The short answer is: I don’t think so… but, I do think it is the perfect beer for the Inland Empire area. My reasons? Inland Empire is hot as balls all year round (seriously.) and Orange Wheat is a refreshing, low alcohol wheat beer. Second, it appeals to the locals and local history. Finally, what it lacks in innovation and creativity it makes up for with a orange flavor that will certainly please the average beer drinker.

QUICK TASTE

Hanger 24, Orange Wheat

Redlands, CA

ABV: 4.60%

Beer Style: American Wheat Ale

Appearance: Cloudy golden color, ¼ inch thin head

Aromatics: Oranges, a bit of grainy hay smells

Taste: Sweet, not much bitterness, tart and very refreshing

Notes: A well-made beer but nothing exciting or overly unique, Smart advertising placement

Score: 79

Is it still a guilty pleasure if everyone else likes them too?

Koningshoeven Dubbel

i had to… i just HAD to review a Trappist ale one of these days, and why not for my first post in quite a while?  I'm fully aware that Belgian-style beer is the rage and that everyone who has ever drank at a bar is now familiar with the ubiquitous Chimay signs, but then again, there is reason for this love. Belgian beers are wonderfully crafted creations and the Trappist varieties are, by far, the most sought after bunch. However, I did want to mix it up a bit by choosing the odd-ball (though it is the largest) of the Trappists, Brouwerij de Koningshoeven, the only Trappist brewery outside of Belgium (its located in the Netherlands, if you were wondering). 

Upon first pouring the Koningshoeven Dubbel I was met with a deep brown brew with small (and quickly diminishing) head. The aromas were of prunes and other dark fruits with some faint spices mixed in. This is definitely a beer that tastes like it smells, with those dark fruits becoming just a bit more prominent. Upon further "tastesploration" I also picked up some mellow cherry flavors and decided that the spices I were smelling were consistent with banana bread - all in all a flavor that I heartily enjoy. This was all capped off with the light, effervescent mouthfeel that is so familiar with many Belgian-style beers.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a big part of my that has always felt like dubbels are like the baby brother of Belgian Strong Dark Ales (which I absolutely LOVE). They're lower in ABV, they're more mellow in terms of the dark fruit flavors, yet they're still delicious (it is weird to say that, considering the baby brother analogy?). I know the opinion varies on this ale, but all in all… I love it. Koeningshoeven makes some wonderful beer and this is just another shining example of their brewing skill. 

QUICK TASTE

Brouwerij de Koningshoeven, La Trappe Dubbel

Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands

ABV 6.5%

Dubbel

Appearance: Dark amber brown with a 1/2 finger head

Aromatics: Banana bread, dark fruits, sweet yeasts, faint spices like cloves.  

Taste: Sweet and light on the palate, light bubbly carbonation, some cherries. The finish is bubbly, then quickly diminishes to a mild lingering taste. A slight tangy/medicinal note right before the flavor drops off to the "lingering"…. back of tongue likes it quite a bit

Notes: Overall subdued/mild mannered, but a nice beer with great complex flavors. It's also very, very drinkable, especially with the fairly low ABV

90/100

Sparklers, Beer, and Merriment

Just wishing everyone a wonderful 4th of July! Grab some tasty brews, start up the grill, and have a great day!

-Andrew and Nate