At Chris' new lake house. Hanging with 5 of us on our lake golf trip. Three new blog participants! Chris, Dan, and Lonnie. Welcome to the BLAAAWWWWWWGGGGG.
We have some heavy hitters tonight. First up is a 10% barleywine.
Beer Name: Sucaba
Brewer: Firestone Walker
Beer Style: Barleywine
Price: ?
Aroma: Caramel, toffee, maple, pancakes, anything that smells delicious.
Appearance: Light brown, clear,
Mouthfeel: Dan says smooth. thick, syrupy.
Taste: Boozy, toffee, caramel, s=very sweet. This is a heavy hitter for sure.
Overall Rating: Lonnie says a 4, Dan says a 4, John says a 3.75, Chris says a 4, I say 4.5. It is delicious but is super heavy. I'm glad they sold it in a 12 ounce bottle and not a huge bottle.
Beer #2
Beer Name: A Wee Bit Foggy
Brewer: Mark Twain
Beer Style: Scotch Ale
Price: Can't Remember- I bought it in 17.
Aroma: Slight hint of caramel maybe; maybe malt.
Appearance: Very clear, amberish in color (although we are outside in the dark)
Mouthfeel: Very smooth, almost watery.
Taste: Not much, Caramely, malty and then bitter says Dan. He also gets burnt caramel.
Overall rating: I say 3.5, Chris says a 3.25, John says 2.5, Lonnie says 3, and Dan says a 3.25.
Switching gears to a couple IPAS.
Beer #3
Beer Name: Mango Milkshake IPA
Brewer: Bur Oak
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Lonnie says it smells like ass. Dan says an ice cream shop. Very fruity, cirtusy.
Appearance: Very light in color. not quite clear.
Mouthfeel: Very light, crisp, not much there really.
Taste: Sweet creamy mango with bitter bite at the end. Not a huge milkshake taste to it though. I had a six pack of this about a month ago and it was awful. I think it was bad.
Overall rating; Chris says a 3.5, Dan says 3, Lonnie says 3, Lohn says a 3, I'm going to go a 3.5 when you consider the price. This is a drinkable IPA for about $10 a six pack. Not too shabby.
Beer #4
Beer Name: Dino Smores
Brewer: Off Color
Beer Style: Stout
Price: About $12
Aroma: Licorice, Graham Crackers, a hint of chocolate.
Appearance: Dark, rather clear for a stout.
Mouthfeel: Very dry, light and smooth.
Taste: You can taste chocolate, graham crackers, and licorice for starters. This is a delicious beer and a heavy hitter at 10.3%.
Overall Rating: I say a 4.75, Chris says a 4.675, Dan says 4.5, John says a 4, Lonnie says a 4.5.
Beer #5
Beer Name: Madagascar Maple
Brewer: 4 Hands
Beer Style: Stout
Price: $27 a bottle and worth every penny.
Aroma: Maple, maple, maple. Vanilla, bourbon.
Appearance: Looks like stout.
Mouthfeel: Heavy. but smooth.
Taste: Holy crap this is better then it was on opening day. It's delicious. Maple, vanilla, bourbon, stout. This is a great combination.
Overall rating: 5's across the board.
Beer #6
Beer Name:
Friday, September 13, 2019
Friday, July 5, 2019
JUSTIN IS BACK IN TOWN!
Justin is visiting from KC again and we are going to blog it up! Lots of beer to come.
Beer #1
Brewer: Dry Dock
Beer Name: Apricot Blonde
Beer Style: Blonde Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like a beach bum's ballsack on a sandy ocean in North Carolina says Justin. And off we go. For me, it has a slight aroma of apricot.
Appearance: Hazy, golden ale.
Mouthfeel: Rather watery. Not a lot happening here.
Taste: Everyone says it tastes better then it smells. It is good. Very light, crisp, apricot ale.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.75. John says 3.25. I'll split the difference. 3.5 for me.
Beer #2
Brewer: Dry Dock
Beer Name: Sour Apricot
Beer Style: Sour
Price: $
Aroma: Very tart. Lemony.
Appearance: Very hazy golden color. Slightly darker then the blonde.
Mouthfeel: A little tingle on the tongue here.
Taste: Taste is pretty tart. A lot of lemon to me. It's too much.
Overall Rating: A little too tart for me. I say 2.5. John says 3.5. Michelle says 3.75. She likes it.
Beer #3
Brewer: Narrow Gauge
Beer Name: Peach OJ Run
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack of cans.
Aroma: Pineapple, fresh squeezed OJ, peaches, fruit in general.
Appearance: Hazy, juicy, looks like a glass of OJ.
Mouthfeel: Very rough through the drink. A strong, rough feel as it goes down.
Taste: A delicious take on the OJ Run. This one has added peaches which just makes it juicier. If you like the NE IPA's, this one will be right up your alley.
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.0. John says 3.75. I'll go 4 as well. Not my absolute favorite Narrow Gauge but it's still very good.
Beer #4
Brewer: Stone
Beer Name: Revengeful Spirit
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Dank with a slight hint of fruit. Maybe a mango?
Appearance: Pee yellow and not clear. Not a hazy like the Narrow Gauge but you can't see through at all.
Mouthfeel: Slight tingle on the front but not much else. Very light for an 8.1.
Taste: Suprisingly fruity for a Stone. Not bad at all. I could drink this although I would not pick it over a Narrow Gauge for sure. Justin says he tastes the booze.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.5. Justin says 3.5. I'll go 3.25.
Beer #5
Brewer: Grains and Taps
Beer Name: Yuppies in Blazers
Beer Style: Milkshake IPA
Price: $12 for the crowler
Aroma: Tangerine milkshake vanilla goodness.
Appearance: Super hazy. Orangey.
Mouthfeel: Tingly, somewhat heavy.
Taste: Justin nailed it when he said it tastes like a melted orange sherbet. It's fricking fantastic. It's orange sherbet with IPA at the end. Delicious. Justin says a near death experience only topped by a Decadent Tropical Smoothie.
Overall rating: Justin says 4.75. I agree. John says 4.25.
Beer #6
Brewer: Pipeworks
Beer Name: Pineapple Guppy
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: $2 for a can at Beer Sauce
Aroma: Justin says wet pennies soaking in OJ. I say it's more like day old bubble gum- the really cheap stuff that comes in Topps baseball cards.
Appearance: Very light yellow; almost clear. Looks more like lemon juice.
Mouthfeel: Slight tingle on tongue.
Taste: A little let-down after the fantastic ice-cream IPA we just had but not bad overall. This is pretty good for a lighter beer (4.6%). If you want a totally trendy beer to take to the pool, this is the one.
Overall Rating: I say a solid 3.75 for a lighter beer. Justin says a 3. John says 3.0.
Beer #7
Brewer: St. Patrick's Brewery
Beer Name: Tropical Beach IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says it smells like damp (moist) Michelin tires from Costco? I say it smells like rotting trash mixed with dog poo. (John added the dog poo.) Justin says it reminds him of a butt.
Appearance: Looks like diet Coors Lite. It's light, light yellow.
Mouthfeel: Nothing at all.
Taste: Well, we have a loser. This is the worst beer we've blogged since that debacle black and tan Yuengling. Nothing was that bad but this enters the arena for consideration. It tastes like it's been microwaved to boiling and then frozen solid for about 12 weeks straight. I'm saying that it has a gunpowder aftertaste.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 1.75. John says a 1.75. I say a solid 1. This must be a bad batch or can. It has a 3.5 rating on untappd.
Beer #8
Brewer: Boulder Beer Company
Beer Name: Hazed and Infused
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Slight citrus. Justin says tangerine floral.
Appearance: Golden, hazy. Light yellowish pee color.
Mouthfeel: Very light and fruity. Justin gets resin. John says tingly.
Taste: Almost west coast ipaish. Definitely get the dry hopped coming through.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3, John says 3.25. I say 2.5. Not a huge fan overall.
Beer #9
Brewer: Boulder Beer Company
Beer Name: Due East
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Very slight passionfruit maybe? Peaches? Unaromatic for a NE IPA.
Appearance: Very clear for a NE IPA.
Mouthfeel: Very watery for an IPA. Almost no tingle.
Taste: Again, a bubble gummy flavor. Not sure how these hops are working out west but they seem to have a common theme.
Overall Rating: I say a 3.0. Justin says 3.4. John says a 3.5.
Beer #10
Brewer: AC Golden
Beer Name: Colorado Native Apricot
Beer Style: Ale
Price: $20 for a bottle
Aroma: Tarty, tarty, tarty tart tart. Holy sours. Not messing around on the tartness.
Appearance: Golden, hazy, light.
Mouthfeel: Rather puckering as you untwist your face. Think the old Keystone Light commercials.
Taste: Slightly sour. And by slightly, I mean a punch you in the nuts IV drip of sour patch kids. This is seriously sour. After yout take a drink, you feel like you have been drinking nothing but ocean water for the last month. Justin says it makes his ears hurt.
Overall Rating: Michelle says a 3.8; John says 3.75. I say 3 even.
Beer #11
Brewer: Rockyard Brewing
Beer Name: Hopalypto
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: If you snort it, it burns according to Justin. Slightly less sour then the previous entry. If you snorted lemon peels, it would be less sour then the last beer. This one has a fruity, much more even bouquet to it.
Appearance: Clear, pale, very IPAish
Mouthfeel: Very light, slight tingle.
Taste: Blah, blah, blah. Nothing special. Perfectly drinkable but nothing outstanding.
Overall Rating: 2.5 for Justin, same for me; John says 2.75.
Beer #12
Brewer: Decadent
Beer Name: Guava Orange Pacific Punch
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack
Aroma: Citrus, duh.
Appearance: Cloudy, hazy, golden light. As tropical a beer as you could imagine.
Mouthfeel: Slight IPA tingle at the back end but smooth up front. Not a lot happening here. Justin says it's like drinking silky roses.
Taste: Citrus, smooth, fruity. Almost as good as the smoothie beer we had earlier. Delicious.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 4.8. I say a 4.5. John says a 4.5.
Beer #13
Brewer: Decadent
Beer Name: Coconut Citrus Citra
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack
Aroma: Not a whole lot happening here. A little citrus here.
Appearance: Same as the other- light, hazy and clear.
Mouthfeel: Tingly; boozy. A nice, fresh mouthfeel. Almost like a mouthwash.
Taste: This tastes like a beach party in a can. This is my second favorite Decadent. No one agrees.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 3.3; John says a 4. I say 4.75.
Beer #14
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Mississippi Mud Cake Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: $7 a bottle roughy but came as part of a 3pack of milk stout XMas pack.
Aroma: coffee, chocolate, vanilla
Appearance: Quite a bit darker then the others and no, I'm not a racist.
Mouthfeel: Quite a tingle. Not bad at all.
Taste: Chocolate; chocolate, chocolate, followed by the vanilla. Not getting any walnuts. We are all getting coffee/ mocha. It is smooth as could be and worth very penny I paid. This is a curl up under the blanket and take a winter nap beer. I was expecting good things from this one and I am not disappointed.
Overall Rating: John says a 4.75; Justin says a 4.5; I say 4.5 also. Delicious but not Madagascar good.
Beer #15
Brewer: Boulder Brewing Company
Beer Name: Shake
Beer Style: Porter
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like chocolate heaven.
Appearance: Dark, dark, dark.
Mouthfeel: Very light. Not a lot happening.
Taste: Chocolate, mocha, slight hint of coffee. Very heavy on the chocolate. Justin gets vanilla.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 4.3; John says a 4.5; I say a 4.0.
DONE AND DUSTED. 15 beers. And I'm going to bed.
Beer #1
Brewer: Dry Dock
Beer Name: Apricot Blonde
Beer Style: Blonde Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like a beach bum's ballsack on a sandy ocean in North Carolina says Justin. And off we go. For me, it has a slight aroma of apricot.
Appearance: Hazy, golden ale.
Mouthfeel: Rather watery. Not a lot happening here.
Taste: Everyone says it tastes better then it smells. It is good. Very light, crisp, apricot ale.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.75. John says 3.25. I'll split the difference. 3.5 for me.
Beer #2
Brewer: Dry Dock
Beer Name: Sour Apricot
Beer Style: Sour
Price: $
Aroma: Very tart. Lemony.
Appearance: Very hazy golden color. Slightly darker then the blonde.
Mouthfeel: A little tingle on the tongue here.
Taste: Taste is pretty tart. A lot of lemon to me. It's too much.
Overall Rating: A little too tart for me. I say 2.5. John says 3.5. Michelle says 3.75. She likes it.
Beer #3
Brewer: Narrow Gauge
Beer Name: Peach OJ Run
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack of cans.
Aroma: Pineapple, fresh squeezed OJ, peaches, fruit in general.
Appearance: Hazy, juicy, looks like a glass of OJ.
Mouthfeel: Very rough through the drink. A strong, rough feel as it goes down.
Taste: A delicious take on the OJ Run. This one has added peaches which just makes it juicier. If you like the NE IPA's, this one will be right up your alley.
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.0. John says 3.75. I'll go 4 as well. Not my absolute favorite Narrow Gauge but it's still very good.
Beer #4
Brewer: Stone
Beer Name: Revengeful Spirit
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Dank with a slight hint of fruit. Maybe a mango?
Appearance: Pee yellow and not clear. Not a hazy like the Narrow Gauge but you can't see through at all.
Mouthfeel: Slight tingle on the front but not much else. Very light for an 8.1.
Taste: Suprisingly fruity for a Stone. Not bad at all. I could drink this although I would not pick it over a Narrow Gauge for sure. Justin says he tastes the booze.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.5. Justin says 3.5. I'll go 3.25.
Beer #5
Brewer: Grains and Taps
Beer Name: Yuppies in Blazers
Beer Style: Milkshake IPA
Price: $12 for the crowler
Aroma: Tangerine milkshake vanilla goodness.
Appearance: Super hazy. Orangey.
Mouthfeel: Tingly, somewhat heavy.
Taste: Justin nailed it when he said it tastes like a melted orange sherbet. It's fricking fantastic. It's orange sherbet with IPA at the end. Delicious. Justin says a near death experience only topped by a Decadent Tropical Smoothie.
Overall rating: Justin says 4.75. I agree. John says 4.25.
Beer #6
Brewer: Pipeworks
Beer Name: Pineapple Guppy
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: $2 for a can at Beer Sauce
Aroma: Justin says wet pennies soaking in OJ. I say it's more like day old bubble gum- the really cheap stuff that comes in Topps baseball cards.
Appearance: Very light yellow; almost clear. Looks more like lemon juice.
Mouthfeel: Slight tingle on tongue.
Taste: A little let-down after the fantastic ice-cream IPA we just had but not bad overall. This is pretty good for a lighter beer (4.6%). If you want a totally trendy beer to take to the pool, this is the one.
Overall Rating: I say a solid 3.75 for a lighter beer. Justin says a 3. John says 3.0.
Beer #7
Brewer: St. Patrick's Brewery
Beer Name: Tropical Beach IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says it smells like damp (moist) Michelin tires from Costco? I say it smells like rotting trash mixed with dog poo. (John added the dog poo.) Justin says it reminds him of a butt.
Appearance: Looks like diet Coors Lite. It's light, light yellow.
Mouthfeel: Nothing at all.
Taste: Well, we have a loser. This is the worst beer we've blogged since that debacle black and tan Yuengling. Nothing was that bad but this enters the arena for consideration. It tastes like it's been microwaved to boiling and then frozen solid for about 12 weeks straight. I'm saying that it has a gunpowder aftertaste.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 1.75. John says a 1.75. I say a solid 1. This must be a bad batch or can. It has a 3.5 rating on untappd.
Beer #8
Brewer: Boulder Beer Company
Beer Name: Hazed and Infused
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Slight citrus. Justin says tangerine floral.
Appearance: Golden, hazy. Light yellowish pee color.
Mouthfeel: Very light and fruity. Justin gets resin. John says tingly.
Taste: Almost west coast ipaish. Definitely get the dry hopped coming through.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3, John says 3.25. I say 2.5. Not a huge fan overall.
Beer #9
Brewer: Boulder Beer Company
Beer Name: Due East
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Very slight passionfruit maybe? Peaches? Unaromatic for a NE IPA.
Appearance: Very clear for a NE IPA.
Mouthfeel: Very watery for an IPA. Almost no tingle.
Taste: Again, a bubble gummy flavor. Not sure how these hops are working out west but they seem to have a common theme.
Overall Rating: I say a 3.0. Justin says 3.4. John says a 3.5.
Beer #10
Brewer: AC Golden
Beer Name: Colorado Native Apricot
Beer Style: Ale
Price: $20 for a bottle
Aroma: Tarty, tarty, tarty tart tart. Holy sours. Not messing around on the tartness.
Appearance: Golden, hazy, light.
Mouthfeel: Rather puckering as you untwist your face. Think the old Keystone Light commercials.
Taste: Slightly sour. And by slightly, I mean a punch you in the nuts IV drip of sour patch kids. This is seriously sour. After yout take a drink, you feel like you have been drinking nothing but ocean water for the last month. Justin says it makes his ears hurt.
Overall Rating: Michelle says a 3.8; John says 3.75. I say 3 even.
Beer #11
Brewer: Rockyard Brewing
Beer Name: Hopalypto
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: If you snort it, it burns according to Justin. Slightly less sour then the previous entry. If you snorted lemon peels, it would be less sour then the last beer. This one has a fruity, much more even bouquet to it.
Appearance: Clear, pale, very IPAish
Mouthfeel: Very light, slight tingle.
Taste: Blah, blah, blah. Nothing special. Perfectly drinkable but nothing outstanding.
Overall Rating: 2.5 for Justin, same for me; John says 2.75.
Beer #12
Brewer: Decadent
Beer Name: Guava Orange Pacific Punch
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack
Aroma: Citrus, duh.
Appearance: Cloudy, hazy, golden light. As tropical a beer as you could imagine.
Mouthfeel: Slight IPA tingle at the back end but smooth up front. Not a lot happening here. Justin says it's like drinking silky roses.
Taste: Citrus, smooth, fruity. Almost as good as the smoothie beer we had earlier. Delicious.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 4.8. I say a 4.5. John says a 4.5.
Beer #13
Brewer: Decadent
Beer Name: Coconut Citrus Citra
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $20 for a 4 pack
Aroma: Not a whole lot happening here. A little citrus here.
Appearance: Same as the other- light, hazy and clear.
Mouthfeel: Tingly; boozy. A nice, fresh mouthfeel. Almost like a mouthwash.
Taste: This tastes like a beach party in a can. This is my second favorite Decadent. No one agrees.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 3.3; John says a 4. I say 4.75.
Beer #14
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Mississippi Mud Cake Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: $7 a bottle roughy but came as part of a 3pack of milk stout XMas pack.
Aroma: coffee, chocolate, vanilla
Appearance: Quite a bit darker then the others and no, I'm not a racist.
Mouthfeel: Quite a tingle. Not bad at all.
Taste: Chocolate; chocolate, chocolate, followed by the vanilla. Not getting any walnuts. We are all getting coffee/ mocha. It is smooth as could be and worth very penny I paid. This is a curl up under the blanket and take a winter nap beer. I was expecting good things from this one and I am not disappointed.
Overall Rating: John says a 4.75; Justin says a 4.5; I say 4.5 also. Delicious but not Madagascar good.
Beer #15
Brewer: Boulder Brewing Company
Beer Name: Shake
Beer Style: Porter
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like chocolate heaven.
Appearance: Dark, dark, dark.
Mouthfeel: Very light. Not a lot happening.
Taste: Chocolate, mocha, slight hint of coffee. Very heavy on the chocolate. Justin gets vanilla.
Overall Rating: Justin says a 4.3; John says a 4.5; I say a 4.0.
DONE AND DUSTED. 15 beers. And I'm going to bed.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
USA CURACAO GOLD CUP!!!
After the debacle that was qualifying two years ago, the USA is back on the field in competitive play. After not conceding a goal in he group stage, they face a nation with about 5 times as big as Wentzville, this shouldn't be much of a game... But...
We are going to knock out a few beers as we go. Here they are:
Beer #1
Brewer: Yellowstone Brewing
Beer Name: Huckle Weizen
Beer Style: Huckleberry Wheat
Price: ?
Aroma: John says fruity. I'm thinking honey? Sort of a weird natury smell. As I've never smelled a huckleberry, it might be those.
Appearance: Light golden amber, looks like a light ale. Very clear. Filtered for sure.
Mouthfeel: Very light; no tingle, no nothing really. Very watery and light. John says it's very wheat beerish.
Taste: Tastes like a huckleberry- whatever that is. You will either like it or not- no inbetween. I'm saying I'm not a huge fan. Kind of a funky taste. Maybe if I was a little more familiar with huckleberrys. John said they had ice cream and other things so they are more familiar with it.
Overall Rating: Michelle says a 4; John says 3.75; I'm going 3.
Beer #2
Brewer: Fernson Brewing
Beer Name Curio
Beer Style: Tart Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Tart, fruity, smells very light and summery.
Appearance: This looks like sugar free apple juice. Super light, clear, no lacing at all.
Mouthfeel: Again, very light. Not much mouthfeel at all.
Taste: This is very nice. Smooth, tart, fruity. Grapefruit, grapes, maybe a little key lime.
Overall Rating: Michelle says 4.1, John says 3.75, I concur.
Beer #3
Brewer: Station 26 Brewing Company
Beer Name: 303 Lager
Beer Style: Lager
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like barley and hops. A traditional lager aroma.
Appearance: Again, apple juice although this may not be sugar free. Very clear, slight lacing.
Mouthfeel: A little more substance and tingle then the previous two but we are still in the very light, nothing happening category.
Taste: Reminds me of Miller High Life- very sweet for a lager. John says it reminds him of Budweiser.
Overall Rating: John says a 2.25. I don't like lagers but this isn't any worse then others. I'll go 2.5.
Beer #4
Brewer: Grand Teton Brewing
Beer Name: Old Faithful Ale
Beer Style: Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Honey for sure. Slightly fruity tartness as well.
Appearance: Keeping with the apple juice theme, this looks more like Apple-pear juice.
Mouthfeel: Again, very bland here as well.
Taste: Very smooth with a slight hint of hoppiness at the end. I'm going to say it's a honey ale.
Overall rating: John says a 2.75. I say 3.25. It's very crisp. I could definitely drink it by the pool.
Beer #5
Brewer: Bozeman Brewing
Beer Name: Gallatin Pale Ale
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price:?
Aroma: This smells more like a beer. Hoppy, peachy, fruity. We started light on purpose. I know a pale ale isn't usually a heavyweight but relative to what we have been drinking, this smells like Mike Tyson's boxing trunks.
Appearance: Very clear, this might be a farm fresh apple juice as it is definitely darker then the others.
Mouthfeel: Slightly more tingly. We are getting somewhere.
Taste: John gets more hops with this one. He detects a change in hops as he moves through the drink. I get a fairly typical pale ale profile- slightly fruity with slight hops at the end. It is a solid beer- not a Stillwater Citra but it's definitely drinkable.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.25; I agree.
Beer #6
Brewery: Wasatch Brewing Company
Beer Name: Blueberry Hefeweizen
Beer Style: Hefeweizen
Price: ? (This one was left in the fridge of a hotel room that John staid in on his trip. For real.)
Aroma: Very blueberry! If it was a breakfast cereal, it would be the Boo Berries.
Appearance: John says light but a little cloudy. Haven't seen anything but crystal clear so far.
Mouthfeel: Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
Taste: Delicious. Perfect blueberry taste in the light hefeweizen. Not too sweet; not too tart. This is delicious. It's buttery too. I like the whole waffle thing it's got going on.
Overall Rating: Michelle says 3.9, John says 3.5. I'm going 4. I think it's the best yet.
Beer #7
Brewery: Tommyknocker
Beer Name: Blood Orange IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Very Orangey- like the orange cleaning product you see on the infomercials. Or the orange scented handwash you use after you change the oil.
Appearance: A beer with foam!!! Darker amber, slight cloudiness.
Mouthfeel: A little tingle at the end.
Taste: Tastes like an orange drink. Almost no hoppiness- certainly not very IPAish. John says it's orange all the way through with out as much hops as a normal IPA.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.75. I say a 3. Not my favorite.
Beer #8
Brewery: Snake River Brewing
Beer Name: Zonker
Beer Style: Export Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Roasted Malt and Barley for sure; a slight chocolate and black licorice. John says roasty.
Appearance: Ummm, exactly what a stout should look like. Dark caramel lacing around the rim.
Mouthfeel: Buttery, thick, very tingly at the end. John says it has a coffee feel to it but not necessarily a coffee taste.
Taste: Very dry. It reminds me of a Russian stout for sure. Very, very roasty, malty, and smoked. John gets a slight bit of band-aid at the end.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.5. Again, I agree.
We are going to knock out a few beers as we go. Here they are:
Beer #1
Brewer: Yellowstone Brewing
Beer Name: Huckle Weizen
Beer Style: Huckleberry Wheat
Price: ?
Aroma: John says fruity. I'm thinking honey? Sort of a weird natury smell. As I've never smelled a huckleberry, it might be those.
Appearance: Light golden amber, looks like a light ale. Very clear. Filtered for sure.
Mouthfeel: Very light; no tingle, no nothing really. Very watery and light. John says it's very wheat beerish.
Taste: Tastes like a huckleberry- whatever that is. You will either like it or not- no inbetween. I'm saying I'm not a huge fan. Kind of a funky taste. Maybe if I was a little more familiar with huckleberrys. John said they had ice cream and other things so they are more familiar with it.
Overall Rating: Michelle says a 4; John says 3.75; I'm going 3.
Beer #2
Brewer: Fernson Brewing
Beer Name Curio
Beer Style: Tart Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Tart, fruity, smells very light and summery.
Appearance: This looks like sugar free apple juice. Super light, clear, no lacing at all.
Mouthfeel: Again, very light. Not much mouthfeel at all.
Taste: This is very nice. Smooth, tart, fruity. Grapefruit, grapes, maybe a little key lime.
Overall Rating: Michelle says 4.1, John says 3.75, I concur.
Beer #3
Brewer: Station 26 Brewing Company
Beer Name: 303 Lager
Beer Style: Lager
Price: ?
Aroma: Smells like barley and hops. A traditional lager aroma.
Appearance: Again, apple juice although this may not be sugar free. Very clear, slight lacing.
Mouthfeel: A little more substance and tingle then the previous two but we are still in the very light, nothing happening category.
Taste: Reminds me of Miller High Life- very sweet for a lager. John says it reminds him of Budweiser.
Overall Rating: John says a 2.25. I don't like lagers but this isn't any worse then others. I'll go 2.5.
Beer #4
Brewer: Grand Teton Brewing
Beer Name: Old Faithful Ale
Beer Style: Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Honey for sure. Slightly fruity tartness as well.
Appearance: Keeping with the apple juice theme, this looks more like Apple-pear juice.
Mouthfeel: Again, very bland here as well.
Taste: Very smooth with a slight hint of hoppiness at the end. I'm going to say it's a honey ale.
Overall rating: John says a 2.75. I say 3.25. It's very crisp. I could definitely drink it by the pool.
Beer #5
Brewer: Bozeman Brewing
Beer Name: Gallatin Pale Ale
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price:?
Aroma: This smells more like a beer. Hoppy, peachy, fruity. We started light on purpose. I know a pale ale isn't usually a heavyweight but relative to what we have been drinking, this smells like Mike Tyson's boxing trunks.
Appearance: Very clear, this might be a farm fresh apple juice as it is definitely darker then the others.
Mouthfeel: Slightly more tingly. We are getting somewhere.
Taste: John gets more hops with this one. He detects a change in hops as he moves through the drink. I get a fairly typical pale ale profile- slightly fruity with slight hops at the end. It is a solid beer- not a Stillwater Citra but it's definitely drinkable.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.25; I agree.
Beer #6
Brewery: Wasatch Brewing Company
Beer Name: Blueberry Hefeweizen
Beer Style: Hefeweizen
Price: ? (This one was left in the fridge of a hotel room that John staid in on his trip. For real.)
Aroma: Very blueberry! If it was a breakfast cereal, it would be the Boo Berries.
Appearance: John says light but a little cloudy. Haven't seen anything but crystal clear so far.
Mouthfeel: Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
Taste: Delicious. Perfect blueberry taste in the light hefeweizen. Not too sweet; not too tart. This is delicious. It's buttery too. I like the whole waffle thing it's got going on.
Overall Rating: Michelle says 3.9, John says 3.5. I'm going 4. I think it's the best yet.
Beer #7
Brewery: Tommyknocker
Beer Name: Blood Orange IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: ?
Aroma: Very Orangey- like the orange cleaning product you see on the infomercials. Or the orange scented handwash you use after you change the oil.
Appearance: A beer with foam!!! Darker amber, slight cloudiness.
Mouthfeel: A little tingle at the end.
Taste: Tastes like an orange drink. Almost no hoppiness- certainly not very IPAish. John says it's orange all the way through with out as much hops as a normal IPA.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.75. I say a 3. Not my favorite.
Beer #8
Brewery: Snake River Brewing
Beer Name: Zonker
Beer Style: Export Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Roasted Malt and Barley for sure; a slight chocolate and black licorice. John says roasty.
Appearance: Ummm, exactly what a stout should look like. Dark caramel lacing around the rim.
Mouthfeel: Buttery, thick, very tingly at the end. John says it has a coffee feel to it but not necessarily a coffee taste.
Taste: Very dry. It reminds me of a Russian stout for sure. Very, very roasty, malty, and smoked. John gets a slight bit of band-aid at the end.
Overall Rating: John says a 3.5. Again, I agree.
Friday, June 21, 2019
It's Friday night... you know the rest
Waiting to go out with the homies. Gonna have a few brews. Figured I might as well blog the pre-game. Here we go.
Beer #1:
Brewer: Bur Oak
Beer Name: Sacred Sun
Beer Style: Saison
Price: $10 for a six pack at Friar Tucks
Aroma: Delicious belgiun saison. These all smell the same. I think it's the yeast. Kind of funky orangey/ citrusy but not quite. Almost like a fruit that's been in the sun too long. Just slightly rotten but not gross yet.
Appearance: Golden blonde with great lacing on the glass. Not clear at all.
Mouthfeel: Very light. Crisp and tart at the back end. A nice little tingle after it goes down.
Taste: These all taste good. If you like one, you will like them all. It's slightly citrusy, slightly tart, slightly belgiany with the yeast. A saison tastes like nothing else I've ever had. Kind of dank like an IPA (very lightly) but still refreshing and light.
Overall ranking: Going a 4 here. Not much better or worse then any other- a solid entry into the saison category. If you like saisons, you will love this.
Beer #2: Thanks to John for this one. He brought it back from vaca.
Brewer: Remedy
Beer Name: Brown Out
Beer Style: Brown Ale
Price: Doesn't matter unless you drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Aroma: Slightly fruity for a brown ale. Very yeasty. A very pungent brown ale.
Appearance: Very light brown. Almost a dark tan/ light brown. Quite clear- a nice tan lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Very boring- nothing at all. A little tingle on the upper gums.
Taste: Delicious. Quite a decent brown. Rather light and very smooth. John says he tastes malt.
Overall Rating: I'm going 4.0. Another very solid entry. John concurs. We are birds of a feather.
Beer #3 Thanks to John again.
Brewer: Miner Brewing Company
Beer Name: Stamp Mill Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: Doesn't Matter unless you drive to Hill City, South Dakota
Aroma: A hint of black licorice; slightly minty, possibly prunes??? Not a lot here but some slight aromas going on.
Appearance: Very clear for a stout. Dark, obviously. No lacing or anything on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Slightly tingly.
Taste: Very mellow; almost watery. Kevin says tad bit of vinegar sour.
Beer #1:
Brewer: Bur Oak
Beer Name: Sacred Sun
Beer Style: Saison
Price: $10 for a six pack at Friar Tucks
Aroma: Delicious belgiun saison. These all smell the same. I think it's the yeast. Kind of funky orangey/ citrusy but not quite. Almost like a fruit that's been in the sun too long. Just slightly rotten but not gross yet.
Appearance: Golden blonde with great lacing on the glass. Not clear at all.
Mouthfeel: Very light. Crisp and tart at the back end. A nice little tingle after it goes down.
Taste: These all taste good. If you like one, you will like them all. It's slightly citrusy, slightly tart, slightly belgiany with the yeast. A saison tastes like nothing else I've ever had. Kind of dank like an IPA (very lightly) but still refreshing and light.
Overall ranking: Going a 4 here. Not much better or worse then any other- a solid entry into the saison category. If you like saisons, you will love this.
Beer #2: Thanks to John for this one. He brought it back from vaca.
Brewer: Remedy
Beer Name: Brown Out
Beer Style: Brown Ale
Price: Doesn't matter unless you drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Aroma: Slightly fruity for a brown ale. Very yeasty. A very pungent brown ale.
Appearance: Very light brown. Almost a dark tan/ light brown. Quite clear- a nice tan lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Very boring- nothing at all. A little tingle on the upper gums.
Taste: Delicious. Quite a decent brown. Rather light and very smooth. John says he tastes malt.
Overall Rating: I'm going 4.0. Another very solid entry. John concurs. We are birds of a feather.
Beer #3 Thanks to John again.
Brewer: Miner Brewing Company
Beer Name: Stamp Mill Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: Doesn't Matter unless you drive to Hill City, South Dakota
Aroma: A hint of black licorice; slightly minty, possibly prunes??? Not a lot here but some slight aromas going on.
Appearance: Very clear for a stout. Dark, obviously. No lacing or anything on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Slightly tingly.
Taste: Very mellow; almost watery. Kevin says tad bit of vinegar sour.
Overall Rating: John says 4.25. I say 3.5. Solid but not a knockout. I'm impressed by the beers of South Dakota.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Father's Day US Open Blog!
It's Father's Day. Wife is working so I cleaned up the house, did the laundry, and now I'm sitting down to try some new beers for the rest of the day. I have several to add and if John can join me later, he just returned from an upper midwest trip with a whole crapload of beer from breweries we can't get here. So let's hope that happens. On to the beer!!!
First beer (and it's really good)
Brewer: Toppling Goliath
Beer Name: Pompeii
Beer Style: IPA
Price: About $15 a 4 pack anywhere- Friar Tucks, Total Wine, etc.
Song Pairing: "It's the End of the World (As we Know It) by R.E.M.
Appearance: Super hazy- dark for an IPA. It almost looks like a very hearty fruit juice which is very appropriate as it is a fruity IPA.
Aroma: It smells like a pineapple and a guava mated and made a gaupple. It smells fruity and delicious.
Mouthfeel: Very peppy- a lot of tingle and fizz going on. It's very busy for an IPA.
Taste: The smell don't lie. Pineapple and guave, orange, even a hint of lime maybe. All that fruit on top of a very slight bitterness adds up to a delicious IPA. This is fruity and smooth. Right up my alley.
Overall rating: 4.5 from me. It's the best Toppling GoliathI've had yet. It's fantastic.
Beer #2
Brewer: Toppling Goliath
Beer Name: Fire, Skulls,and Money
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $15 or so for a 4 pack at any store.
Song Pairing: "Fuel" by Metalltica
Appearance: Looks the exact same as the last-- dark for an IPA and hazy as could be. Possible a little lighter then the Pompeii.
Aroma: Not nearly as fruity. More of a rotten fruit odor then fresh fruit. Still fruity- just not as up front citrus as the last.
Mouthfeel: Way less happening here. Very smooth and almost boring after the last.
Taste: Quite a bit less fruity. Still good. This is more of the normal Toopling Goliath oat or grain taste then the fruitiness of the Pompeii. As a fan of the fruitier IPA's, this is not quite as good as the Pompeii. That being said, I'm not exactly rushing to dump it down the sink.
Overall rating. I say 3.75. Very solid and nothing wrong with it. I just prefer the Pompeii a little more.
Beer #3
Brewer: Left Hand
Beer Name: Push Pop Party Nitro
Beer Style: Ale
Price: $10 a 4pack at Friar Tucks.
Song pairing: "Suedehead" by Morrisey
Appearance: Substantially lighter in hue then the 2 IPA's I had. This is a much clearer, traditional looking ale. Golden in color; not quite see through. Given that there are no other push pop ales to compare it to, I would say it looks like a Budweiser more then anything.
Aroma: HI-C fruit drink; I mean ORANGE.
Mouthfeel: Notro makes it smooth. Not much happening here.
Taste: I know this is obvious but it tastes like a watered down push pop. I mean really. Some beers advertise a taste but this delivers. It's creepy how close this is and it still comes in at 5.4% ABU. Amazing.
Overall Rating: I'm saying 4. Not my favorite beer overall but this deserves credit just as an art form thing. They nailed it.
First beer (and it's really good)
Brewer: Toppling Goliath
Beer Name: Pompeii
Beer Style: IPA
Price: About $15 a 4 pack anywhere- Friar Tucks, Total Wine, etc.
Song Pairing: "It's the End of the World (As we Know It) by R.E.M.
Appearance: Super hazy- dark for an IPA. It almost looks like a very hearty fruit juice which is very appropriate as it is a fruity IPA.
Aroma: It smells like a pineapple and a guava mated and made a gaupple. It smells fruity and delicious.
Mouthfeel: Very peppy- a lot of tingle and fizz going on. It's very busy for an IPA.
Taste: The smell don't lie. Pineapple and guave, orange, even a hint of lime maybe. All that fruit on top of a very slight bitterness adds up to a delicious IPA. This is fruity and smooth. Right up my alley.
Overall rating: 4.5 from me. It's the best Toppling GoliathI've had yet. It's fantastic.
Beer #2
Brewer: Toppling Goliath
Beer Name: Fire, Skulls,and Money
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $15 or so for a 4 pack at any store.
Song Pairing: "Fuel" by Metalltica
Appearance: Looks the exact same as the last-- dark for an IPA and hazy as could be. Possible a little lighter then the Pompeii.
Aroma: Not nearly as fruity. More of a rotten fruit odor then fresh fruit. Still fruity- just not as up front citrus as the last.
Mouthfeel: Way less happening here. Very smooth and almost boring after the last.
Taste: Quite a bit less fruity. Still good. This is more of the normal Toopling Goliath oat or grain taste then the fruitiness of the Pompeii. As a fan of the fruitier IPA's, this is not quite as good as the Pompeii. That being said, I'm not exactly rushing to dump it down the sink.
Overall rating. I say 3.75. Very solid and nothing wrong with it. I just prefer the Pompeii a little more.
Beer #3
Brewer: Left Hand
Beer Name: Push Pop Party Nitro
Beer Style: Ale
Price: $10 a 4pack at Friar Tucks.
Song pairing: "Suedehead" by Morrisey
Appearance: Substantially lighter in hue then the 2 IPA's I had. This is a much clearer, traditional looking ale. Golden in color; not quite see through. Given that there are no other push pop ales to compare it to, I would say it looks like a Budweiser more then anything.
Aroma: HI-C fruit drink; I mean ORANGE.
Mouthfeel: Notro makes it smooth. Not much happening here.
Taste: I know this is obvious but it tastes like a watered down push pop. I mean really. Some beers advertise a taste but this delivers. It's creepy how close this is and it still comes in at 5.4% ABU. Amazing.
Overall Rating: I'm saying 4. Not my favorite beer overall but this deserves credit just as an art form thing. They nailed it.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Another IPA+ Blog during spring break
So, I can't get enough of these New England IPA's. Hazy, juicy, really easy on the bitterness, I am loving them. So, I figured I would go ahead and blog a few as I drank them tonight. Flying solo so no shenanigans here. Just pure blogging honesty with me, myself, and I.
First Beer:
Brewer: Central State
Beer Name: Snake Skin Boots
Beer Style: IPA
Beer Price: ? John gave me a can of this.
Appearance: This is quite a bit darker than the majority of the other hazy IPA's out there. This one is a dark tan, almost a leather color. The lacing and head is beautiful. This can was very carbonated and it bubbled over when I opened it.
Mouthfeel: Heavy for an IPA- not light or smooth. A really full beer on the front and back of the drink.
Taste: Pretty good actually. This is more IPAish then a lot of the other fruity, hazy beers out there. So, while I'm not a fan of the more traditional IPA's, I can definitely appreciate the balance this brings. The Simcoe hops are fruity yet retain a hint of bitterness. This is a really good middle ground between NE IPA's and the West Coast IPA's.
Overall rating: I'm going 4.0. It won't be something I'll rebuy but it is very well made.
Brewer: Narror Gauge
Beer Name: DDH Fallen Flag
Beer Style: American IPA
Beer Price: $16 for a 4 pack of 16 oz cans at Narrow Gauge
Aroma: Not much here. Slight fruity tinge. A hint of hops but not nearly as much as the last one.
Appearance: Way lighter in color as well. This is more of a yellow than a tan. The color of watered down orange juice.
Mouthfeel: Much lighter then the Central State. At 7%, there is a little booze on the tongue as well. Not overly. Just a little burn after an almost orange juicish tartness.
Taste: Delicious. If you like orange juice and the dank, bitterness of hops in a traditional IPA, then you will love this beer. One of the fruitier ones I've had. This may be my new favorite from Narrow Gauge. It's almost like a screwdriver in taste.
Overall Rating: I put 4.25 on untappd but I'm raising it to a 4.75. Not sure what could make it better. It may be raised to a 5.
Beer #3
Brewer: Firestone Walker
Beer Name: Mind Haze IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $3 for a can at Beer Sauce
Appearance: Very light and hazy. Lighter then the Narrow Gauge.
Mouthfeel: Very light and smooth.
Taste: This is one of the better non-Narrow Gauge IPA's I've had. There is no bitterness to it at all. It is sweet all the way through. I'm not sure it counts as an IPA or what the definition of an IPA is anymore but I do know that I like these a whole lot. I told John I was in a beer rut earlier- IPA's and stouts. I then said that I was happy as a cat in the rut I am in.
Overall Rating: John and I both went 4.0 on this one. At 6.2, it's slightly weaker then the others I drink on the regular but it's well worth a try; especially if you don't like bitter.
Beer #4
Brewer: Stillwater
Beer Name: Action Bronson's 7000 (??????)
Beer Style: Dry Hopped Sour Ale
Price: $3 a 16 oz can at Beer Sauce
Aroma: Tart Fruit for sure. Maybe a lemon? Lime? Can't tell but it's definitely of the citrus family. It smells like spring cleaning should. If they put this stuff in a glade diffuser, I'd buy a case.
Appearance: Very light yellow but very cloudy. Not as clear as a sour usually is but I think that may be the citrus.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky smooth. Like Billy Dee Williams on the Millenium Falcon smooth.
Taste: Damn, this is fantastic. It's one of the better sours I have ever had. It is very citrusy up front; mellow through the back of the tongue but the tart sneaks up on you at the end and provides a perfectly balanced finish. I love the Stillwater Micro Pale Ale but this may be as good. It is definitely going to be drank by the pool this summer.
Overall Rating: John says a 4.0. I'm saying 4.5 with the chance to rise. This is a fantastic beer.
Beer #5
Brewer: Goose Island
Beer Name: Next Coast IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $2 a 12 oz bottle at Beer Sauce
Aroma: More of an orange bubble gum smell. Citrusy but off in some way. Not as clean or fresh as the others. John says it's more piney. Maybe that's what it is. I can't tell.
Appearance: Very light and clear. Almost a pear juice/ apple juice look to it. Maybe a HI-C apple juice box look? No head or lacing at all; not a trace.
Mouthfeel: Very light, almost syrupy like cough syrup that has been watered down. It's not a bad thing; just super light.
Taste: Not bad- just not really good. It's a good beer if you are at Quicktrip at 2:30 am and you don't want Bud Select.
Overall Rating: John says 3.25. I'm going 3.0. Definitely the weakest of the bunch but still drinkable.
Beer #5
Brewer: Avery Brewing
Beer Name: Vanilla Bean Stout
Beer Style: Barrell Aged Stout
Price: $10ish a bottle
Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, stout. BOURBON. The smell is strong.
Appearance: Dark, too dark to be clear. Looks like motor oil with a hint of black food coloring.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth. Not a lot here except smooth and silky. It's very light.
Taste: Vanilla, bourbon, stout. The taste is better than the smell. It tastes very smooth for a bourbon stout. The vanilla really smooths it out.
Overall Rating: I'm saying 4.0. Not as good as Madagascar but pretty good. John says a 4.0 as well. We each like it.
First Beer:
Brewer: Central State
Beer Name: Snake Skin Boots
Beer Style: IPA
Beer Price: ? John gave me a can of this.
Aroma: Bitter with just a hint of fruit. Guava maybe? Not sure. Getting more aromatic as it warms up.
Appearance: This is quite a bit darker than the majority of the other hazy IPA's out there. This one is a dark tan, almost a leather color. The lacing and head is beautiful. This can was very carbonated and it bubbled over when I opened it.
Mouthfeel: Heavy for an IPA- not light or smooth. A really full beer on the front and back of the drink.
Taste: Pretty good actually. This is more IPAish then a lot of the other fruity, hazy beers out there. So, while I'm not a fan of the more traditional IPA's, I can definitely appreciate the balance this brings. The Simcoe hops are fruity yet retain a hint of bitterness. This is a really good middle ground between NE IPA's and the West Coast IPA's.
Overall rating: I'm going 4.0. It won't be something I'll rebuy but it is very well made.
BEER #2
Brewer: Narror Gauge
Beer Name: DDH Fallen Flag
Beer Style: American IPA
Beer Price: $16 for a 4 pack of 16 oz cans at Narrow Gauge
Aroma: Not much here. Slight fruity tinge. A hint of hops but not nearly as much as the last one.
Appearance: Way lighter in color as well. This is more of a yellow than a tan. The color of watered down orange juice.
Mouthfeel: Much lighter then the Central State. At 7%, there is a little booze on the tongue as well. Not overly. Just a little burn after an almost orange juicish tartness.
Taste: Delicious. If you like orange juice and the dank, bitterness of hops in a traditional IPA, then you will love this beer. One of the fruitier ones I've had. This may be my new favorite from Narrow Gauge. It's almost like a screwdriver in taste.
Overall Rating: I put 4.25 on untappd but I'm raising it to a 4.75. Not sure what could make it better. It may be raised to a 5.
Beer #3
Brewer: Firestone Walker
Beer Name: Mind Haze IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $3 for a can at Beer Sauce
Aroma: Citrus. Smells Delicious. I'm digging this.
Appearance: Very light and hazy. Lighter then the Narrow Gauge.
Mouthfeel: Very light and smooth.
Taste: This is one of the better non-Narrow Gauge IPA's I've had. There is no bitterness to it at all. It is sweet all the way through. I'm not sure it counts as an IPA or what the definition of an IPA is anymore but I do know that I like these a whole lot. I told John I was in a beer rut earlier- IPA's and stouts. I then said that I was happy as a cat in the rut I am in.
Overall Rating: John and I both went 4.0 on this one. At 6.2, it's slightly weaker then the others I drink on the regular but it's well worth a try; especially if you don't like bitter.
Beer #4
Brewer: Stillwater
Beer Name: Action Bronson's 7000 (??????)
Beer Style: Dry Hopped Sour Ale
Price: $3 a 16 oz can at Beer Sauce
Aroma: Tart Fruit for sure. Maybe a lemon? Lime? Can't tell but it's definitely of the citrus family. It smells like spring cleaning should. If they put this stuff in a glade diffuser, I'd buy a case.
Appearance: Very light yellow but very cloudy. Not as clear as a sour usually is but I think that may be the citrus.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky smooth. Like Billy Dee Williams on the Millenium Falcon smooth.
Taste: Damn, this is fantastic. It's one of the better sours I have ever had. It is very citrusy up front; mellow through the back of the tongue but the tart sneaks up on you at the end and provides a perfectly balanced finish. I love the Stillwater Micro Pale Ale but this may be as good. It is definitely going to be drank by the pool this summer.
Overall Rating: John says a 4.0. I'm saying 4.5 with the chance to rise. This is a fantastic beer.
Beer #5
Brewer: Goose Island
Beer Name: Next Coast IPA
Beer Style: IPA
Price: $2 a 12 oz bottle at Beer Sauce
Aroma: More of an orange bubble gum smell. Citrusy but off in some way. Not as clean or fresh as the others. John says it's more piney. Maybe that's what it is. I can't tell.
Appearance: Very light and clear. Almost a pear juice/ apple juice look to it. Maybe a HI-C apple juice box look? No head or lacing at all; not a trace.
Mouthfeel: Very light, almost syrupy like cough syrup that has been watered down. It's not a bad thing; just super light.
Taste: Not bad- just not really good. It's a good beer if you are at Quicktrip at 2:30 am and you don't want Bud Select.
Overall Rating: John says 3.25. I'm going 3.0. Definitely the weakest of the bunch but still drinkable.
Beer #5
Brewer: Avery Brewing
Beer Name: Vanilla Bean Stout
Beer Style: Barrell Aged Stout
Price: $10ish a bottle
Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, stout. BOURBON. The smell is strong.
Appearance: Dark, too dark to be clear. Looks like motor oil with a hint of black food coloring.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth. Not a lot here except smooth and silky. It's very light.
Taste: Vanilla, bourbon, stout. The taste is better than the smell. It tastes very smooth for a bourbon stout. The vanilla really smooths it out.
Overall Rating: I'm saying 4.0. Not as good as Madagascar but pretty good. John says a 4.0 as well. We each like it.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
BACK AT IT! As if 14 IPA's over 6% weren't enough last night. We have a cooler full of stout (and one pale ale) to rate tonight. And then we are not drinking until next February to let our livers recover.
Same dream team of tasters; just a new lineup of fantastic beers to rate.
Brewer: Dogfish Head
Beer Name: American Beauty Pale Ale
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Not much here. Slight metallic odor maybe.
Appearance: Clear, amber, not much head or lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Very tame really. Not much here either. Light, slightly tingly.
Taste: Tastes like a pale ale. It says it has graham crackers and honey but none of us are tasting it. It's pretty cold so that may be why.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.0, John says 2.5. I agree. 2.5 it is. AND NOW THE STOUTFEST BEGINS!!!!!!
Brewer: Ballast Point
Beer Name: Red Velvet Nitro
Beer Style: Oatmeal Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says berry cheescake. John says it smells like a red velvet cake. I am not getting anything on this one.
Appearance: Relatively clear, orangish, reddish. It is listed as a golden oatmeal stout. I'm not sure this is really a stout.
Mouthfeel: Nothing. Waterish.
Taste: Metallic cherrys. Light, bitter, basically no stout flavors at all. None of the three of us get anything stouty at all.
Overall Rating: John says a 2.0, Justin 2.5. I'm goint 2.0 also. I'm not even sure this even fits into the category it claims to be in. Maybe the non-nitro is better. This one is not really good.
Brewer: Martin City
Beer Name: Brooo
Beer Style: Milk Chocolate Stout
Price?
Aroma: Coffee, Chocolate, Licorice, smells like a stout. We have mentioned sweetness, roast, smoke, creme brulee, vanilla, and more. This beer is not lacking aroma.
Appearance: Dark, caramel lacing, very stoutish. Looks like a serious stout here. Thanks goodness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little heavier.
Taste: Very coffeeish, some chocolate. Roasted, smoky black licorice as well.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.7; John goes 2.75, I go a 3.5. This isn't bad.
Brewer: Martin City
Beer Name: Donut Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says it smells like Saturday morning breakfast at his parents house. This is advertsied as having maple and that it not accurate. This smells like you took a bath in Aunt Jemima.
Appearance: Very clear; dark but not motor oily at all. More like a grape kool aid but black instead of purple.
Mouthfeel: Very light and smooth for a stout.
Taste: This is like drinking a pancake smoothie with extra syrup. It has a coofeeish backround as well. Justin says pancakes doused on syrup. John adds that it has brown sugar as well. Pretty much think of the best non-egg related breakfasts you have ever had and then can it.
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.5, John says 4.5. What the hell? I'll stick with the 4.5 as well. This one is a definite keeper.
Brewer: Boulevard:
Beer Name: Dark Truth
Beer Style: Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: VANILLA, chocloate as well. Some sweet brown sugar, maybe prunes or dates.
Appearance: Looks like used oil from a Boeing 747.
Mouthfeel: Smooth for a 10% stout. Makes your mouth a little puckery from the tartness.
Taste: Justin says vanilla and roasted chocolate with a hint of dates at the end. John is getting a date/ raisin/ fig taste as well. I say it is really pruney. Chocolate covered prunes. Not so stoutish as you would think with a big 9.7%er.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.8. I think a 3.25. John says 4.0.
Brewer: Rockbridge
Beer Name: Option #2
Beer Style: Imperial Milk Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: COFFEE... Hints of vanilla. Cinnamon as well.
Appearance: Obviously, dark. Clear though.
Mouthfeel: Tingly. Light, Jumps off the tongue.
Taste: This is delicious. Coffee, vanilla, well-balanced, not over coffeeish, not overroasted. In short, a very fine beverage.
Overall rating: Justin says a 4.3, John says a 4; I say a 4.25. I would buy this one by the case.
Brewer: New Holland
Beer Name: Dragon's Milk Orange
Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: An orange starburst. For real. Supertangy orange. Delicious.
Appearance: Dark. Very light lacing. Looks like a stout.
Mouthfeel: Very heavy. Delightfully complex.
Taste: This is delicious. The bourbon is only a hint. Chocolate and orange are the overwhelming tastes here. Holy cow, if you like orange stouts, this is fantastic. I could have this for breakfast-Donut stout for the main course and this as a drink. John says the orange is too much as does Justin.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.5, John says 3.75, I say 4.5.
Switching to an ale!!!
Brewer: Founder's
Beer Name: Curmudgeon's Better Half
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Old Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says bread, raisins, cinnamon toast, maple, bourbon. I think he covered it.
Appearance: Cloudy amberish red. Light lacing.
Mouthfeel: Very boozy. Heavy on the tongue but a smooth finish.
Taste: 13% so you can taste the bourbon. This is a complex beer. We have mentioned maple, bourbon, vanilla, bread, dates, figs, prunes, raisins, orange, citrus at the front. Maybe founders could smash a few more flavors in their beer.
Overall rating: Justin says 4.3, john says 3.75; I say 4.0. It's very complex.
Brewer: Samuel Adams
Beer Name: Chocolate Bock (2017)
Beer Style: Bock
Price: ?
Aroma: Slight hint of cocoa.
Appearance: Medium brown, clear as a bell.
Mouthfeel: Light. Almost like a bud light. For a dark beer, this is paperweight territory.
Taste: Tastes like cocoa puffs. This is a chocolate lovers chocolate dream. This is well balanced, cocoa heaven.
Overall Rating: I say a 4.5. Next winter, I'm buying chocolate bock and letting it sit on my shelves for 2 years. Justin says 3.5, John says 4.
Brewer: Friendship
Beer Name: Barrell Aged Series: Belgiun Dark Strong Aged in Seagram's Rye Barrels
Beer Style: Belgiun Strong
Price: $12 for a 375ML bottle
Aroma: Justin says smell it and get crunked. John says whiskey tango whiskey. I saw raisins.
Appearance: Hazy mediumish dark brown; rhino poop (that was Justin)
Mouthfeel: Nothing here. NOTHING.
Taste: Not a typical Belgiun; the yeast either is drowned out by the booze or the yeast is not the typical weird Belgiun yeast. This is a VERYSTRONGBEER. Holy crap. It's like drinking traight rye whiskey.
Overall rating: Justin says 2.5; John says a 3.75; I say a 3.0. I'm going to let my bottle age for a couple of years before drinking it.
Brewer: Perennial
Beer Name: Prodigal
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Price: $5.49 for a 16 oz can
Aroma: Cinnamon. Vanilla, sweet.
Appearance: Looks like motor oil from a 68 John Deere tractor that hasn't had an oil change since WW2.
Mouthfeel: Tingly. That's a super stouty stout mouthfeel.
Taste: Vanilla, dark roated chocolate, boozy at the end. This is ridiculously good. Buy this one. NOW
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.5. I say 4.5; John goes 4.25.
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Madagascar
Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout (GOD THIS SHIT IS DELICIOUS)
Price: $20 a pint 6 bottle- not cheap but totally worth it
Aroma: Bourbony bourbon bourbonesque bourbonstasia bourbon. Justin gets banana with chocolate.
Appearance: This is exactly how a beer should look. My God, I love this beer. The best bourbon barrel aged stout out there.
Mouthfeel: Velvety smoothness on top of silky smooth freshness.
Taste: Toffee, sweet, stout, deliciousness, vanilla, bourbon-barrel aged heaven. Best beer ever.
Overall rating: I'm upping mine to a straight 5. I want to marry this beer and give it many beer babies. I want to buy it a lakehouse and take it to the ocean for vacation. Maybe Aruba. Whatever she wants. Justin says 4.7. John says a 4.5. Did I mention this is fantastic.
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Madagascar (Maple)
Beer Style: Bourbon Barell Aged Stout
Price: $25ish at 4hands on release day
Aroma: Maply maple syrup suurounded by maple syrupy maple with a dash if maple. With a hint of bourbon. God, I'm excited.
Appearance: Stoutish with a brown lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Perfection.
Taste: Perfection. Jesus Christ, this is beer nirvana. May I die and go to heaven. Justin says this is the donut stout's big brother.
Overall Rating: Justin says a regular 5. I say this a 5 with a gigantic hard on of titanium steel doused in maple stoutish goodness. This is extraterrestrial. Not of this earth. I wanted to marry the regular Madagascar; this one is my mistress. Like my one in a million Vegas hooker quality mistress. This is the one you sell the family's house to buy her a diamond studded bra for. Justin says if you almost die, have an out of body experience, and come back, this is the beer you would drink while in heaven. John says 4.75. He's crazy.
Same dream team of tasters; just a new lineup of fantastic beers to rate.
Brewer: Dogfish Head
Beer Name: American Beauty Pale Ale
Beer Style: Pale Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Not much here. Slight metallic odor maybe.
Appearance: Clear, amber, not much head or lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Very tame really. Not much here either. Light, slightly tingly.
Taste: Tastes like a pale ale. It says it has graham crackers and honey but none of us are tasting it. It's pretty cold so that may be why.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.0, John says 2.5. I agree. 2.5 it is. AND NOW THE STOUTFEST BEGINS!!!!!!
Brewer: Ballast Point
Beer Name: Red Velvet Nitro
Beer Style: Oatmeal Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says berry cheescake. John says it smells like a red velvet cake. I am not getting anything on this one.
Appearance: Relatively clear, orangish, reddish. It is listed as a golden oatmeal stout. I'm not sure this is really a stout.
Mouthfeel: Nothing. Waterish.
Taste: Metallic cherrys. Light, bitter, basically no stout flavors at all. None of the three of us get anything stouty at all.
Overall Rating: John says a 2.0, Justin 2.5. I'm goint 2.0 also. I'm not even sure this even fits into the category it claims to be in. Maybe the non-nitro is better. This one is not really good.
Brewer: Martin City
Beer Name: Brooo
Beer Style: Milk Chocolate Stout
Price?
Aroma: Coffee, Chocolate, Licorice, smells like a stout. We have mentioned sweetness, roast, smoke, creme brulee, vanilla, and more. This beer is not lacking aroma.
Appearance: Dark, caramel lacing, very stoutish. Looks like a serious stout here. Thanks goodness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little heavier.
Taste: Very coffeeish, some chocolate. Roasted, smoky black licorice as well.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.7; John goes 2.75, I go a 3.5. This isn't bad.
Brewer: Martin City
Beer Name: Donut Stout
Beer Style: Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says it smells like Saturday morning breakfast at his parents house. This is advertsied as having maple and that it not accurate. This smells like you took a bath in Aunt Jemima.
Appearance: Very clear; dark but not motor oily at all. More like a grape kool aid but black instead of purple.
Mouthfeel: Very light and smooth for a stout.
Taste: This is like drinking a pancake smoothie with extra syrup. It has a coofeeish backround as well. Justin says pancakes doused on syrup. John adds that it has brown sugar as well. Pretty much think of the best non-egg related breakfasts you have ever had and then can it.
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.5, John says 4.5. What the hell? I'll stick with the 4.5 as well. This one is a definite keeper.
Brewer: Boulevard:
Beer Name: Dark Truth
Beer Style: Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: VANILLA, chocloate as well. Some sweet brown sugar, maybe prunes or dates.
Appearance: Looks like used oil from a Boeing 747.
Mouthfeel: Smooth for a 10% stout. Makes your mouth a little puckery from the tartness.
Taste: Justin says vanilla and roasted chocolate with a hint of dates at the end. John is getting a date/ raisin/ fig taste as well. I say it is really pruney. Chocolate covered prunes. Not so stoutish as you would think with a big 9.7%er.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.8. I think a 3.25. John says 4.0.
Brewer: Rockbridge
Beer Name: Option #2
Beer Style: Imperial Milk Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: COFFEE... Hints of vanilla. Cinnamon as well.
Appearance: Obviously, dark. Clear though.
Mouthfeel: Tingly. Light, Jumps off the tongue.
Taste: This is delicious. Coffee, vanilla, well-balanced, not over coffeeish, not overroasted. In short, a very fine beverage.
Overall rating: Justin says a 4.3, John says a 4; I say a 4.25. I would buy this one by the case.
Brewer: New Holland
Beer Name: Dragon's Milk Orange
Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
Price: ?
Aroma: An orange starburst. For real. Supertangy orange. Delicious.
Appearance: Dark. Very light lacing. Looks like a stout.
Mouthfeel: Very heavy. Delightfully complex.
Taste: This is delicious. The bourbon is only a hint. Chocolate and orange are the overwhelming tastes here. Holy cow, if you like orange stouts, this is fantastic. I could have this for breakfast-Donut stout for the main course and this as a drink. John says the orange is too much as does Justin.
Overall Rating: Justin says 3.5, John says 3.75, I say 4.5.
Switching to an ale!!!
Brewer: Founder's
Beer Name: Curmudgeon's Better Half
Beer Style: Barrel Aged Old Ale
Price: ?
Aroma: Justin says bread, raisins, cinnamon toast, maple, bourbon. I think he covered it.
Appearance: Cloudy amberish red. Light lacing.
Mouthfeel: Very boozy. Heavy on the tongue but a smooth finish.
Taste: 13% so you can taste the bourbon. This is a complex beer. We have mentioned maple, bourbon, vanilla, bread, dates, figs, prunes, raisins, orange, citrus at the front. Maybe founders could smash a few more flavors in their beer.
Overall rating: Justin says 4.3, john says 3.75; I say 4.0. It's very complex.
Brewer: Samuel Adams
Beer Name: Chocolate Bock (2017)
Beer Style: Bock
Price: ?
Aroma: Slight hint of cocoa.
Appearance: Medium brown, clear as a bell.
Mouthfeel: Light. Almost like a bud light. For a dark beer, this is paperweight territory.
Taste: Tastes like cocoa puffs. This is a chocolate lovers chocolate dream. This is well balanced, cocoa heaven.
Overall Rating: I say a 4.5. Next winter, I'm buying chocolate bock and letting it sit on my shelves for 2 years. Justin says 3.5, John says 4.
Brewer: Friendship
Beer Name: Barrell Aged Series: Belgiun Dark Strong Aged in Seagram's Rye Barrels
Beer Style: Belgiun Strong
Price: $12 for a 375ML bottle
Aroma: Justin says smell it and get crunked. John says whiskey tango whiskey. I saw raisins.
Appearance: Hazy mediumish dark brown; rhino poop (that was Justin)
Mouthfeel: Nothing here. NOTHING.
Taste: Not a typical Belgiun; the yeast either is drowned out by the booze or the yeast is not the typical weird Belgiun yeast. This is a VERYSTRONGBEER. Holy crap. It's like drinking traight rye whiskey.
Overall rating: Justin says 2.5; John says a 3.75; I say a 3.0. I'm going to let my bottle age for a couple of years before drinking it.
Brewer: Perennial
Beer Name: Prodigal
Beer Style: Imperial Stout
Price: $5.49 for a 16 oz can
Aroma: Cinnamon. Vanilla, sweet.
Appearance: Looks like motor oil from a 68 John Deere tractor that hasn't had an oil change since WW2.
Mouthfeel: Tingly. That's a super stouty stout mouthfeel.
Taste: Vanilla, dark roated chocolate, boozy at the end. This is ridiculously good. Buy this one. NOW
Overall Rating: Justin says 4.5. I say 4.5; John goes 4.25.
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Madagascar
Beer Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout (GOD THIS SHIT IS DELICIOUS)
Price: $20 a pint 6 bottle- not cheap but totally worth it
Aroma: Bourbony bourbon bourbonesque bourbonstasia bourbon. Justin gets banana with chocolate.
Appearance: This is exactly how a beer should look. My God, I love this beer. The best bourbon barrel aged stout out there.
Mouthfeel: Velvety smoothness on top of silky smooth freshness.
Taste: Toffee, sweet, stout, deliciousness, vanilla, bourbon-barrel aged heaven. Best beer ever.
Overall rating: I'm upping mine to a straight 5. I want to marry this beer and give it many beer babies. I want to buy it a lakehouse and take it to the ocean for vacation. Maybe Aruba. Whatever she wants. Justin says 4.7. John says a 4.5. Did I mention this is fantastic.
Brewer: 4Hands
Beer Name: Madagascar (Maple)
Beer Style: Bourbon Barell Aged Stout
Price: $25ish at 4hands on release day
Aroma: Maply maple syrup suurounded by maple syrupy maple with a dash if maple. With a hint of bourbon. God, I'm excited.
Appearance: Stoutish with a brown lacing on the glass.
Mouthfeel: Perfection.
Taste: Perfection. Jesus Christ, this is beer nirvana. May I die and go to heaven. Justin says this is the donut stout's big brother.
Overall Rating: Justin says a regular 5. I say this a 5 with a gigantic hard on of titanium steel doused in maple stoutish goodness. This is extraterrestrial. Not of this earth. I wanted to marry the regular Madagascar; this one is my mistress. Like my one in a million Vegas hooker quality mistress. This is the one you sell the family's house to buy her a diamond studded bra for. Justin says if you almost die, have an out of body experience, and come back, this is the beer you would drink while in heaven. John says 4.75. He's crazy.
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