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

Summer Beer (That Doesn't Taste Like Water)

Ok... I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you're like me (somebody who's standard beer is anything by Stone) you generally steer clear of anything that claims to be a summer beer or a session beer. I personally hate the lack of robust flavor that tends to come with these "refreshing lawn mowing beers".

However, Three Floyds brewery out of Munster, IN went and performed themselves a miracle with their Alpha King Pale Ale. A friend of mine recently (well, not really) bought me some of this beer while on a trip to Illinois and I'm glad he did. Three Floyds successfully brewed a beer thats not only refreshing and light, but also packs some serious flavor.

When I first popped open the beer I noticed a very familiar smell that got me excited; it smells almost exactly like Troegs Nugget Nectar. I then took a sip and was extremely impressed with the balance of flavor and refreshment. The smell proves to be very misleading, but not in a bad way. While the taste has all of the subtle flavors that the smell suggests, it is not nearly as strong as expected. But, if you're looking for a warm weather beer that is a definite plus.

If I could actually find this beer in PA, it would be one of my go-to beers this summer. So if you're ever in an area where this beer is available I suggest picking up a 6 pack.

Three Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale
Munster, IN

ABV% 6.00

American Pale Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown, 1/4in white head

Aromatics: Sweet Hops

Taste: Hops, light malt

Notes: Great Smell, light in taste, but very refreshing

87

Hop City

So, for everyone not in Atlanta Hotlanta, I am sorry for the beautiful things that I am about to say that you, alas, cannot experience.

For everyone that IS in Hotlanta. Enjoy. AND if you haven't yet, haul ass over to the place that I am about to speak of.

There is a special time that comes about once every month for me, and no, its not my man-period... assholes. It involves a pilgrimage to West Midtown (Marietta Street, to be exact) to a place known as HopCity where I stock up a wide variety of beer. Ignoring the fact that they also sell lesser alcohols like wine (beer snobbery here I come!) HopCity is the quintessential beer store. Ever. (Or, at least in my experience)

5 Random Reasons of Awesomeness (and a bonus!):

1.) Beer divided up by style, so I can go an look at every Imperial IPA known to man lined up on one shelf.
2.) One big corner of the store is devoted to Belgian Beers. Fan-fricken-tanstic.
3.) Super-chill, super knowledgeable staff. For instance, I asked about He'brew's Origin Pomegranate Ale and how fruity it was. I got the whole shebang, not only regarding the flavor of that beer, but on different fruits' flavor profiles and how those notes are picked up in different beers. Straight awesome.
4.) Frequent Buyers Card. It makes me feel special; like I'm part of some elite club.
5.) Homebrewing central: they'll teach you to homebrew so you can make delicious beers of your own
BONUS, 6.) Partnerships with Octane and 5 Seasons allow them to hold some exclusive tastings and pairings.

Do yourself a favor and check that shit out!!!!
http://www.hopcitybeer.com/

 Some of my purchases

Good people drink good beer...

Just a little quote for today and for beer lovers everywhere...




There is an ancient Celtic axiom that says 'Good people drink good beer.' Which is true, then as now. Just look around you in any public barroom and you will quickly see: Bad people drink bad beer. Think about it. 


--Hunter S. Thompson


Thanks Kevin A. Doran for the inspiration pic from Flying Dog Brewery!

Thirty Years Young

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Series: Fritz and Ken's Ale

This stout is the first of a 4 beer series and is a collaboration between Anchor Brewing and Sierra Nevada. As the bottle says:

"Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company, is regarded as the godfather of the craft brewing movement. Fritz agreed to guest brew this very special ale with us in honor of our 30 ^th anniversary. As a nod to the robust black ales that seduced both Fritz and Ken in the early years, we bring you this Pioneers Stout, a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of your finest snifter. Enjoy!"

This beer really lives up to its claims. It is one of the best hoppy stouts I have ever tired and it gives my all-time favorite beer, Rogue's 2008 Imperial Stout, a run for its money.

When poured it is a thick, very dark brown with a nice-sized dark tan head. The smell is very bitter, fruity, and a little hoppy. There is a slight coffee scent too, but not too much to make me step back (I hate coffee).

The flavor is well balanced; there aren't the overpowering chocolate or coffee notes that plague many stouts. The flavor is a bitter chocolate, but also has a subtle hops flavor and smokiness and it all wraps up with some notes of coffee. The complexity is nice and all of the flavors blend smoothly; like I said, not one of them overwhelms any of the others.

This beer was so nice that I bought a few bottles and put them away to age for a few years.

QUICK TASTE

Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary: Fritz and Ken's Ale
Chico, CA

ABV% 9.20

Imperial Stout

Appearance: Dark brown, dark tan head

Aromatics: Fruity, hoppy and little coffee

Taste: Hoppy, Bitter Chocolate, Smokey and Roasted

Notes: Very Interesting and Complex Stout, saved a few bottles for aging

92

Volun-beer-ing?

So this Saturday I took some time to do some community service and do some volunteering.... at the East Atlanta Beer Festival! Man... that had to be one of the better decisions of my life!

To give a quick history, the EABF (http://www.eastatlantabeerfest.com) is an annual festival (now 7 years old) in the awesome neighborhood of East Atlanta Village. People from all over (seriously, I met people who came from 2 hours away, if not more!) congregate in EAV to enjoy a beautiful day and LOTS of beer - 130+ breweries! There is also music, food, and lots of schwag.

The great thing about it for me was being around so many beer-loving individuals. It was commonplace for me to overhear conversations about hop varietals or comparisons between the finish of one brown ale to the next; it was truly a beer-lover's heaven.

The other great thing, is that as a volunteer, I got in free and could still enjoy all of the delicious beers I wanted (and that I did, no doubt about that!). Moreso, volunteering was quite fun. I worked at the entry gate during the second shift (3-6PM) with a friend of mine, where we counted people entering and also handed out replacement tasting cups. That was great, because we started having people (none of whom were sober) tell us how they broke their cups and some stories were funny as hell. My favorite may have been the girl who had the cup in her cleavage, and was then "forced" to chest bump her best friend, thereby smashing said cleavage cup. The story was not all that amazing, though it helped that she was very, very attractive and the way it was told and her insistence on it not being her fault was just hilarious.

So, that said, to all my fellow EABFers... Thanks for a great time and see y'all next year!

8-4-1 Expedition

A Redhook Limited Release...

As I was about to leave my apartment to trek down to studio about a week ago, I decided to bring a beer or two along with me to drink while I sat at the computer and worked on my final project. One of my most recent purchases was the 8-4-1 Expedition Limited Release from Redhook Brewery (Portsmouth, NH). While at Hop City I was intrigued by the frosted brown bottle and the manly, refined label so I figured I'd pick one up. It cost me about 6 or 7 dollars, so I was crossing my fingers for something decent, but I also knew I could be taking a chance - especially because I've never been overly impressed with Redhook's offerings.  

It poured an deep amber color without any very prominent aromas, both things that I found suspect for something touted as an Imperial Brown.

The taste was, thankfully, much more satisfying than my original judgment. It was suuuuuper smooth and pleasantly malty with a little tiny hoppy zip right in the middle. There was also an undertone of a taste that seemed to be a sweet-ish woody flavor (likely the Cherry that is mentioned on the label). The finish is not strong by any means, but solid nonetheless; its a slightly sticky and roasty taste that sits in the mouth indefinitely, letting you keep swallowing the flavors over and over again.

NOTE!
All of these prior paragraphs were written within 5 minutes of opening the beer. The Expedition is a 9.5% ABV and that was originally quite well hidden (dangerously, sneak-up-behind-you-and-intoxicate-you-more-than-you-planned so). However, as the beer warmed up sitting by my computer (granted, I'll admit that I probably let it warm more than I should have), the alcohol became more and more apparent with an almost medicinal quality that was not all that great.

All in all a decent offering from Redhook... just don't let it get too warm. It could probably benefit from some aging as well, but I rarely have the patience to age anything more than a month.

-Andrew


QUICK TASTE
Redhook Ale Brewery, 8-4-1 Expedition
Portsmouth, NH

ABV 9.5%

According to Redhook: Imperial Brown Ale
According to BeerAdvocate: American Strong Ale

Appearance: Pours with a creamy looking 2 finger head. Good rising bubbles. Rich amber color

Aromatics: Faintly sweet, mellow roasty scents... nothing sticks out in particular though, not all too aromatic

Taste: Smooth and malty with a brief note of hoppiness - possibly some of the cherry-wood flavor(?). The finish is not strong, though its got a solid roasted flavor with a tiny hint of honey... and it sticks around for a while. At 9.5 ABV it generally hides it very well. This is a beer that could (and sorta did) easily sneak up because it is quite drinkable. Starts smooth and enjoyable, though, as it warms the alcohol becomes more apparent at the finish - and not appetizingly so.

Notes: Not a bad beer despite some odd flavor combos, but not loud enough for an IMPERIAL brown ale (other than the ABV).

83/100

Burton Baton: The Bastard of Beer

(Ok, I cant take credit for the name, but its just too perfect. Why mess with perfection? http://beeradvocate.com/articles/626)

The reason the name works is because it is not one "pure" beer. It is actually two beers brewed separately, then blended and aged together (almost like cigar tobacco). In this case, its an English-style old ale and an Imperial IPA (Dogfish 90 min).

I've had this beer a few times before, but its been a while and I've grown as a beer drinker a lot since then, so I was excited to sit down and try this beer again. We had it on tap at Zeno's and I may have drank half the sixtol on my own, I think got it every time I wasn't working.

Each 10 ounce I got was dark brown with a hint of orange, with a finger or so of tan head. The smell was caramel and sweet malts. The taste was oak and vanilla mixed with an sweet Double IPA. The Burton had a very smooth finish, and its the taste of the DFH 90min that lingers and is the last flavor to leave your palate.

For some reason I feel that the beer tasted better from the tap than a bottle. Usually I feel that people who think beer tastes better out of a keg are full of it, but this time, I had to swallow my pride and agree.


QUICK TASTE

Burton Baton
Milton, DE

ABV% 10.00

Imperial IPA aged in oak

Appearance: Dark brown color, less red then a typical IPA

Aromatics: Malty, Oaky

Taste: Sweet malts, vanilla, smooth, and at the back end you can taste the 90 min

Notes: Interesting beer, good name, sweeter then I normally prefer, but very good!

90

Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma'am

Victory Hop Wallop

I just got walloped - Hop Walloped to be exact (it was an obvious pun, but it had to happen) - by Victory's robust, year round Imperial IPA offering. 

Bearing the image of the legendary coal miner Horace "Hop" Wallop (he's fictional, just FYI if you get upset when you don't find his name on wikipedia) this delicious beer pours a golden yellow color with about a finger of head. 

When I went in to smell it I was immediately hit with a strong aroma of grapefruit with some piney undertones, possibly from the use of Cascade hops (?). I'd heard of grapefruit being a taste present in many IPAs but never was it so obvious for me as in the Hop Wallop. 

Not being a huge grapefruit fan, I wondered how that character would carry over to the taste, but upon drinking it was very pleasantly surprised at just how great the flavor was. Its very hoppy while managing to remain well balanced. The finish is especially great; the zingy hop flavor sits on the palate and back of the throat for some time allowing you to really enjoy the complex flavors. As the beer warms the flavor continues to evolve, staying very hoppy, but becoming more and more balanced. 

All in all an great offering from an great Philly brewery.

-Andrew

QUICK TASTE

Victory Hop Wallop

Downingtown, PA 

American Double/Imperial IPA

8.5% ABV

Appearance: golden yellow with low carbonation

Aromatics: stroooong smell of grapefruit with spicy piney undertones

Taste: very crisp on the tongue, bright

nice lingering finish, zingy hop flavor stays on the palate and back of throat for quite some time

Notes: Delicious, one of my more favorite Imperial IPAs due to the fact that its hoppy, but not mind-blowingly so

87/100

Goldilocks and the Three Bastards

The Arrogant Bastard label states that: "This is an aggressive beer, you probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful you have the taste and sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth."

Today's fairytale-like review will focus on the Bastard, the Double Bastard, and the Oaked Bastard... One taster, one Goldilocks. Three beers, three bowls of porridge. Coincidence? I think not.

I, who we can affectionately refer to as Goldilocks, got to choose between these three pours. So follow along as I take you through this storybook tasting... that is, if you have the courage to enter the house of the Arrogant.

Arrogant Bastard: Like Mama Bear's porridge, this is the first impression that we have to this family of beers and the flagship beer of the Stone Brewing Company. Its the original, the one and only, the Bastard! It was one of my first craft brews and my first American Strong Ale. The first time I had it I didn't like it (just like they said), but I loved the idea of it so I pretended like I did. However, after 3 or 4 Arrogant Bastards I developed the taste and appreciation of it and it is now one of my go-to beers. It tastes of pine hops with a little citrus and some light caramelized malt flavor. It's the strong hoppy bitterness that is the dominant flavor and the lasting impression of this beer.

Quick Taste

Arrogant Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 7.20

American Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head

Aromatics: Malty Sweet

Taste: Bitter and Malty, Light hops flavor

Notes: One of my first craft brews, great character and awesome bottles

87


Double Bastard: Again, the beer is mostly pine-tasting hops with a little citrus, but this beer is very malty and much stronger on the back end. When beers use a lot of hops, sometimes more malted barely has to be added to balance out the bitterness. I feel that a lot of times this creates an alcohol flavor and sweetness that I don't tend to like, and that starts to happen a little bit with the aftertaste in the Double. Like Papa Bear's bed, this might be a little to hard for most, but then again, you may be more worthy than I.

Quick Taste

Double Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 10.50

American Double Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head

Aromatics: Malty and Alcoholic

Taste: Harshly Sweet and Malty, the flavor lingers and improves as it fades

Notes: The alcoholic flavor is the almost too much

84

Oaked Arrogant Bastard: Just to complement this story even better, this Baby Bastard comes in the smaller 12oz bottles that the other two do not. This beer is strong, yet smooth; just right - like Baby Bear's porridge and bed. The oak barrel aging process works very nicely with this beer. It helps to balance out the strong and overpowering flavors that can mask some of the subtleties of the classic Arrogant Bastard. The Oaked Bastard has a much more complex taste (or it could just be that I actually notice it in this one) than the other two. And, unlike a lot of other barrel-aged beers you don't get an overpowering whiskey taste. In my opinion, it's the best of the three, and it's just how Goldilocks, er... I, like it.

Quick Taste

Arrogant Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 7.20

American Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head, least head of the three

Aromatics: Malty and oak

Taste: Mellowed and more balanced vierion of AB (Bitter and Malty, Light hops flavor)

Notes: By far the most balanced and smooth of the three

89

Don't judge a beer by its color.

Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout

This beer pours an opaque deep, dark brown with very little head. Despite the dark, thick appearance there is good bubble formation, you can actually hear them crackling on the surface like Rice Krispies.

The first smell that I detect is a relatively mild and sweet nutty coffee scent.

However, despite the standard stout appearance and smell, this beer has a surprisingly light mouth feel with an also surprisingly effervescent feeling - very crisp, oddly enough - like a soda. It has nice tastes of roasted coffee malts. There is some other interesting flavor in the finish that is quite sweet (expected from a Milk Stout). I'm not sure if it is the lactose, but it almost tastes like... cola? 

The finish just matches the rest of the beer - nice flavors are present, but there aren't enough of them and they're all too thin. Theres also a weird hint of sourness as the beer warms more… that too, could be a result of the lactose. 

Overall, this beer is quite lacking in flavor and feel - not at all what i saw coming, though I feel like I should have expected something closer to this (due to the style). Like the optical illusion that is the brewery's namesake, this beer is quite the taste illusion. I can't call the beer bad, but when wanting to sit down for a stout this creamy-looking but light-tasting beer is not at all what I'd be looking for. 


-Andrew

QUICK TASTE

Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout

Farmville, NC

Milk/Sweet Stout

5.7% ABV

Appearance: Very deep, dark brown - no light passes through

Aromatics: Nutty coffee, faint though

Taste: Almost like a coffee soda… odd, but not necessarily bad

Notes: Drinkable due to its thinness, sweetness, and average alcohol level. But, while its drinkable, its not anything special. Theres just something… weak… about it.  I'd give it an 78/100: I'd drink it again, but certainly not a go-to brew in the least. 

IT'S LINT, ITS DIRT, ITS UNFILTERED YEAST!!? UFOs???

Harpoon UFO White

First things first, Harpoon's UFO series are their "UnFiltered Offerings", inspired by the cloudy brews (due to the presence of suspended yeast) of Germany. They have 4 of these UFOs: 3 wheats and a Pale Ale.

I was fairly excited to taste this beer, mainly because it was a nice day; perfect for the type of beer. Witbier or White Beer was made popular by Pierre Celis, the original brewer of Hoegaarden (named after his home town). Eventually Celis moved to the states and opened the Celis Brewery in Michigan. Celis White was born. After Hoegaarden and Celis came more whites, like Blue Moon, Allagash White, and this beer: the UFO White.

I poured it into the pint glass and the first thing that I noticed was that the smell was not what I was hoping for or expecting. I was expecting a fruity and clean smell. Instead, it smelled kinda like frat-party-warm Natty Light. Ok, maybe not thaaat, bad but not what I expected.

The flavor was much less offensive. It had the expected wheaty flavor and very slight banana notes, but not as much of either as I would have liked. It did, however, have a very clean finish and taste from the ale yeast.

Maybe this just isn't my type of beer, but I would much rather have a Celis White over this one any day.

- Nathan

QUICK TASTE

Harpoon UFO
Boston, MA


ABV% ~5%

American Pale Wheat Ale

Appearance: Cloudy yellow, orange

Aromatics: "Beer Smell" (like Bud, Miller, or Coors), slight sweet and orange smell

Taste: Wheaty, orange, Very watered down taste

Notes: To be honest it just seems like a weak attempt at a witbier style (Celis White, Hoegaarden) i gave it a 77

Need a Nice Session Beer After a Controlled Fall Down A Moutain?

Sierra Nevada Glissade


Session beer? I hate the term... really, really hate it... but this qualifies. It's easy to drink; not a lot of flavor, and you don't really want it to have much more either.


If mowing the lawn is your first association with the spring, then this beer is a great spring beer for you. It smells like freshly cut grass and wet hay... unfortunately, I feel that it doesn't taste much different.


The beer doesn't finish like most of the Sierra Nevada Beers; they all have a very distinct finishing flavor that I am normally not a fan of - its not a taste I enjoy. The only other Sierra Nevada I've had that lacked that distinctive taste was the Kellerweiss. It was a good for that beer, but the Glissade needs that extra kick. It lacks a lot of taste and finish, and what it does have of those is not that great.
-Nathan

QUICK TASTE

Sierra Nevada Glissade
Chico, CA

ABV% 6.4

Golden Bock

Appearance: Clear Golden Yellow, Thick foamy head

Aromatics: Fresh cut grass, hay

Taste: Slightly bitter, skunky, light hops flavor, bitter finish

Notes: No typical Sierra Nevada after taste, Grass Smell is so unusual

I gave this beer a 77

Founders Nemesis

There is absolutely nothing that i can really say that describes this beer better then HOLY @#$!@$%!!!!!!????? It blew my mind as well as the minds of the four other experienced beer drinkers that I was with. We were all blown away by the taste. The maple flavor almost made me want to start singing "Oh Canada." That was, until I remembered that Sidney Crosby goal for Canada put the dagger in USA's heart in the gold medal game of the Olympics. Being a Pittsburgh Penguins fan (of which Crosby is the captain), I don't know which was more confusing the game or the beer.

OK, sorry, back to the beer:


The beer was a yellow, orangey color and very translucent. There was a nice two-finger head and decent lace. (Lace is the head that sticks to the sides of the glass after a few sips or the pour.)

The smell was mostly of sugar and bourbon; not surprising from a wheat beer made from maple and aged in bourbon barrels.

The taste... wow! The taste was sweet and very alcoholic, like a straight shot of Kentucky bourbon. Its strong initial flavor quickly begins to blend with a very strong taste of maple syrup that almost seems to roll around the alcohol flavor and consume it, leaving a smooth (but strong and sweet) finish. The combo of maple and alcohol almost creates a wheaty butterscotch flavor that I'm not a huge fan of.


- Nathan

QUICK TASTE

Founders Nemesis
Grand Rapids, MI


ABV% 12.0


Wheatwine

Appearance: Cloudy yellowish brown


Aromatics: Sweet, Bourbon


Taste: Overly Sweet, Bourbon, Maple Syrup, Butter Scotch

Notes: Much too sweet for me but worth the taste and time to locate. One of the most unique and strongest flavored beers I have ever tasted.

Even though the actual flavor of the beer was not my favorite I still have to give this beer a fairly high score based on uniqueness and quality. 85