For The Love Of Beer

Cantillon 50 Degrees North-4 Degrees East

2009-10-25T19:45:00.004-05:00

This beer is named after the geographical location of the Cantillon brewery in the central of Brussels, Belgium. Cantillon is arguably the best traditional lambic brewer operating in the world today. Their history, tradition and brewing techniques all work in unison. This particular beer was aged in used cognac barrels from France that Cantillon acquired in 2005. The lambic sat in the barrels for 2 years. I was very excited to try this.....

Been waiting to crack this one. Bottled in 2007, probably the youngest Cantillon I've had. Cork pops and pours into my glass a brilliant sunshine yellow with a hint of orange and a small bubbly white head. Bubbles rise up. Aromas of sun dried grains bathed in a farmhouse funk. Light mixed fruit, lemon juice and oak barrel scents alongside a nice hit of cognac. A touch of acidity. It all comes together brilliantly with an elegance unlike many other lambics.

First sip brings a bright mix of sweet and tart flavors with some fruit and lemon zest. Brett and cheesy barnyard funk take hold alongside woody tannins. Flows down with a mellow kiss of cognac and a lightly puckering sourness on the finish. Dry overall with a great mix of fruit flavors and light vinegar acidity. Well balanced and utterly delicious.

Mouthfeel is light and smooth with great carbonation. It goes down smooth and being that it is not overly puckering or acidic makes it refreshing and easy to drink. I think the cognac sweetness really rounds it out nicely. Overall, I wish I had a case of this beer as it is worth every penny. The lambic masters at Cantillon have done it again.

Overall this earns a rating of Amazing from me. Top notch stuff!

Check out the whole world of Cantillon beers and tradition by surfing over to http://www.cantillon.be/br/3_1

Drie Fonteinen Doesjel

2009-10-14T20:36:00.002-05:00

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen is a small Belgian brewer that has also mastered the art of lambic blending. They have utilized traditional brewing methods from the beginning and produce some of the most amazing lambics in production today. These sour, spontaneously fermented beers may come as a shock to the uninitiated but are extremely nuanced and utterly enjoyable.

This particular beer, per the label, is a blend of one, two and three year old lambic fermented and matured in oak casks by wild yeasts carried through the open air. During re-fermentation the younger yeasts have inexplicably gone dormant, leaving the original flavors of the lambic in their purest form. I'm about to open the bottle and try it from myself:

Bottled Feb 23, 2006

Pours into my glass a deep harvest orange with good clarity and as per the style no discernible head at all. Cork was quite a workout to get out. Aroma is big on the funk with barnyard and old oak all over the place. Mellow sweet crisp malt with sharp acidic tones. Vinegar mingles with light fruit scents. Bright and wild.

First sip brings big wood / oak tannins upfront. Hay and barnyard funk flowing around with lemon juice and puckering citric accents. Mild malt sweetness midway through with an acidic finish and lingering oak. Tartness wins in the end and develops more so as it warms.

Mouthfeel is smooth and crisp with just a mellow tingle of carbonation as it flows down. This "sleepy" lambic is pretty tasty and the only other beer I have to compare this to is the Cantillon Loerik I drank a few years ago. Overall, it's fun to drink a beer like this that shows off another aspect of brewing and the variations that can occur. I wonder what 10 or 20 years in the cellar might do to this!

Overall this garners a rating of Great from me.

Check out more of the world of Drie Fonteinen at http://www.3fonteinen.be/

Haandbryggeriet Norwegian Wood

2009-10-08T20:31:00.003-05:00

Here we have a beer brewed with traditional Norwegian brewing techniques. Hailing from Drammen, Norway this small brewery operates in their spare time and brews some very interesting and unique beers. This particular beer is made with smoked malt, munich malt, crystal and chocolate malt and spiced with juniper twigs and berries. We are lucky enough to be able to try their beers in the U.S. due to Shelton Brothers importers. I cracked a bottle not too long ago:

Batch #70. Brewed March '07

Pours into a Tripel Karmeliet chalice an extremely hazy opaque dark brown with three fingers of khaki foam on top that slowly falls. Aromas of smoked malt upfront reminiscent of a dying campfire. The meaty quality is there along with an underlying yeast and juniper spiciness. Very earthy overall.

First sip is robust smoky malts with toasted caramel and cocoa accents. Earthy yeast tones meet up with spicy juniper berry and pine flavors. Mellow sweetness throughout that ends with a spicy finish. Tastes authentic and has an old world feel to it. Tasty smoked ale.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp. Solid spritzy carbonation. Goes down easy. Overall, I found this to be an interesting, tasty brew that I would have again!

Overall this one gets a rating of Great.

Check out the world of Haand Bryggeriet by surfing over to http://www.haandbryggeriet.net/index.html

Weyerbacher Decadance

2009-09-30T20:38:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of cellaring beers and seeing how they change over time. It's nowhere near an exact science and sometimes you get good results and sometimes you wish you would have drank the beer fresh, but it is always fun. There's lots of opportunity to see how age affects the nuances of the beer and age also mellows out beers that might be too hot out of the gate or not well balanced enough. This particular beer was brewed in 2005 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Weyerbacher in Easton, PA. It weighs in at 13% abv and is brewed with honey, cardamom and gentian. I cracked my bottle tongiht.....

12oz bottle that's been lurking in my cellar. Got a 22oz bomber as a trade extra recently so I figured I'd open this one to see how it is doing.

Pours into my glass a deep ruby red with minimal khaki head on top, but I figured as much due to the abv. Quite a few particles in suspension here but it's not uncommon after aging this long. Aromas start with sweet, fruity malts bathed in a deep floral honey that really shines through. Spiciness abounds with hard candy and ginger undertones. A bit medicinal even. Ripe plums and fruit cake. Interesting.

First sip brings big sweet maltiness quickly smacked down by huge spice flavors and caramel. Cardamom becomes evident in the flavor even though I didn't initially realize it before looking at the description on Weyerbacher's website. Lots of dark fruit flavors and floral honey mix in with plum coming to mind most. Flows down with a medicinal, candy like finish. Alcohol heats up the throat as well.

Mouthfeel is dense and slick with a syrupy quality to it. Mellow carbonation. This brew is not messing around and with the abv it's a sipper. Overall, I found this one big but tasty at the same time...a bit too sweet for me so I'll probably need someone to help share the bomber. I always enjoy a new Weyerbacher brew and this is a good sipper.

Overall I gave this beer a rating of Enjoyable. Drink it if you still have any!

Check out the whole line of Weyerbacher beers by surfing over to http://www.weyerbacher.com/

Allagash 11th Anniversary Ale

2009-09-29T19:10:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated this blog and for the most part time has got the better of me! I will try to update more often and share some more insight into the beers I enjoy. This particular one is retired and no longer brewed. Originally released in May of 2006 to celebrate the 11th Anniversary of Allagash, located in Portland, Maine. Allagash has long been one of my favorite American brewers that specialize in Belgian-style beers. I have saved this one in my cellar up until now and finally decided to pop the cork. Here are my thoughts:

Murky red orange pour into my glass with a small ring of eggshell colored bubbles. Aromas of sweet malts with caramel and deep fruits coming through. Brown sugar and plum along with underlying yeast spiciness. Somewhat bready as well with a candy backbone.

First sip brings big, smooth malts upfront with an intertwined mix of caramel and deep fruit flavors. Plum and apple mix in with dates and a mellow earthy breadiness. Spicy yeast kicks in on the way down along with some raisin flavors. The finish brings just a touch of hops and a kiss of bitterness. Alcohol is slightly noticeable with a lingering warming.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and a bit creamy. This is a big, malty BSDA. A touch warming and tasty overall. I ended up cellaring this and while it's held up nicely I would have liked to try it fresh as well. If you have any left it's drinking pretty nice right now.

Overall this one earns a rating of Enjoyable.

Check out the full line of Allagash brews by surfing over to www.allagash.com

McNeill's Warlord Imperial IPA

2009-07-01T21:32:00.003-05:00

This beer comes from a small microbrewery located in Battleboro, VT. They brew a huge variety of styles and often have a big tap list to match. This is one brewpub I would love to visit one of these days. Luckily for me, my buddy was able to toss me one of their bottled offering, the Warlord Imperial IPA. I cracked the bottle and.......

22oz bomber. Pours into my glass a deep ruby red with an inch of creamy khaki foam on top. Orange highlights and good clarity. Aromas bring sweet sugared fruits and caramel malts upfront. Cotton candy? Citric and piney hops with resinous accents in the background. Quite malty and a tad bit earthy.

First sip brings dense sweet malts upfront with caramel and fruits rolling across the tongue. Earthy accents roll in that get caught up by citrus and pine laden hop oils. Bitterness kicks in and provides good balance with the sweet malts. Quite a big malty body for an imperial IPA and not what I was expecting.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a good creaminess. This brew goes down smooth and is easy to drink for a DIPA. The hop punch isn't quite there for me and this end up as a more malt forward brew. Overall though it's a tasty brew and I'm glad to try my first McNeill's, thanks to warriorsoul.

Overall I gave this Imperial IPA a rating of Great.

Check out the MySpace page for McNeill's (with taplist) by surfing over to: http://www.myspace.com/mcneillsbrewery

New England Brewing - Imperial Stout Trooper

2009-06-16T20:27:00.003-05:00

Here we have a beer brewed by New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge, CT. The Imperial Stout Trooper was originally slated to be a one-time release but the brewer has brewed it again since the original release. Future releases are undecided at this point but I am guessing we will see this brewed again. I was able to get a bottle from a friend and decided to crack it open tonight.

Sludgy, viscous inky black pour into my glass that's as dark as the dead of night with a half inch of creamy dark tan head on top. Sticky patches of lacing ensue. Aromas start with rich malts alongside deep, vinous dark fruits. Cocoa and molasses mingle with licorice undertones. Hints of toffee with a bitter cloak about it.

First sip brings rich, smooth dark malts upfront with lots of dark fruit flavors swirling about. Somewhat vinous as it moves into baker's chocolate and mild coffee accents. Flows down with a nice kick of bitterness to counteract the sweet maltiness. Creamy finish with a hint of marshmallow. Bold and tasty with well hidden alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with good carbonation. Not overly heavy which is nice as it makes it easier to enjoy. This here is a tasty imperial stout that doesn't go overboard on ABV, making it something I can actually drink and enjoy on a weeknight. Thanks to warriorsoul for the hookup.

This beer earned a rating of Amazing. A super tasty RIS.

Check out more from New England Brewing at http://www.newenglandbrewing.com/

Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen

2009-06-14T20:06:00.002-05:00

Congrats to Avery for fifteen years of brewing and counting. This Colorado brewed has concocted some great brews over the years from standard styles, to creative interpretations, barrel aged brews and big, bracing high ABV sippers. This one is one-of-a-kind in its own right.

Pours from the bottle an extremely hazy sunshine yellow with an inch of white head on top of the brew and good retention. Aromas start out with crisp malts and deep floral nuances. Earthy Brett funkiness melds with fruit and fig scents. Spicy yeast in the background with some sour twang as well. Complex and enjoyable.

First sip brings slightly sweet malt upfront with floral flavors and a good meld of fruit and fig. Brett kicks in alongside spicy, earthy yeast tones. Flows down on the dry side with lingering funk, herb and spice aftertastes and a mild tartness.

Mouthfeel is a bit on the lighter side with fast moving carbonation that creates a creamy feel. An interesting brew with a good kick of funkiness. A bomber is enough for me but I look forward to aging the others I have for a bit longer.

Overall I gave this one a rating of Enjoyable and look forward to many more years of Avery brews!

Check out more from Avery by surfing over to www.averybrewing.com

Sam Adams - Longshot Traditional Bock

2009-06-11T21:06:00.003-05:00

The Sam Adams Longshot series is pretty damn cool. They hold a home brew competition of sorts and allow brewers from around the world to send in their home brew's for a chance to win and have Sam Adams produce and bottle their recipes. The one I am holding in my hand was brewed by Alex Drobshoff of California. Here are my thoughts:

Pours into my glass a vibrant brown with great clarity and flashes of ruby red. An inch of creamy eggshell head that stays around for a good while. Aromas start out with clean, toasty malts along with a bit of roasted grain. Mild fruitiness comes through along with a slight creamy aspect.

First sip brings smooth, clean, mildly toasted malts upfront. Dark fruits and cherry flavors meld in as it flows downward. Grainy aspects throughout with great balance. A solid malty treat, it stands up to it's German counterparts for sure. An enjoyable brew.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with carbonation that washes across the palate perfectly. This is a full flavored bock that I found quite enjoyable, as it's a style that is not often brewed in the States. I could enjoy a sixer of this no problem. Cheers to Sam Adams for brewing Alex's creation.

Overall this one earns a rank of Great.

Check out more brews from Sam Adams by clicking your little mouse on over to www.samadams.com

Ale Asylum Mercy Grand Cru

2009-06-09T21:25:00.001-05:00

Snagged this last time I was in Madison. Pours into the glass a deep garnet hue with an inch of off white, almost khaki colored foam that sticks around for awhile. Banana bread is the first thing that comes to mind along with a swirl of spiciness and some caramel/toffee sweetness. Yeast esters entangled with a touch of fruitiness and cherry accents.

First sip brings spicy, bready malts upfront with a melange of fruity flavors and cherry accents. Spicy yeast tones kick in with a hint of cinnamon. Caramel throughout, the brew finishes a touch on the sweet side with a kiss of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and creamy with good carbonation that's more on the mellow side. Overall it's a bit on the sweet side for me and that hampers drinkability. I would probably have to stop after a couple, but it's still a tasty brew.

Overall I gave this brew an Enjoyable rating.

Click on over to www.aleasylum.com for more info on the brewery.

Orkney SkullSplitter

2009-06-03T21:04:00.001-05:00

Here we have a Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy from Orkney Brewery in Scotland. It arrives in an 11.2oz bottle and has a rather hefty 8.50% ABV. I cracked this one tonight and this is what I thought:

11.2oz bottle pours into my glass a deep garnet hue without much head, just some bubbles that quickly fade and some chunkers that I accidentally let fall into my glass. Aromas start with big sweet malt tones dominated by caramel, sweetbread, dried fruits, leather, tobacco and a mix of spicy tones. There's a vinous quality in the background as well. Really rich and inviting, it pulls me in for a sip.

First sip brings smooth sweet malts upfront that spiral into a vortex of deep fruits, caramel, sweetbread and spice. Earthy tones of tobacco and leather veer in midway though the sip. Just a touch of alcohol in the finish, this is one malty beast with a great depth of flavor. It does teeter on the line of being too sweet for me, but overall is very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel is lush and satiny smooth as the beer effortlessly flows down. Mellow carbonation adds to the ease of drinkability here. I can see how this would be dangerous as the alcohol is totally hidden. Overall, this is just a damn fine drink right here. Will be revisiting this and maybe getting some to age as well.

SkullSplitter gets a rating of Great from me. Seek it out!

Check out more from Orkney Brewery by surfing over to http://www.sinclairbreweries.co.uk/index.php

Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale

2009-06-01T21:01:00.002-05:00

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Sweetwater is a brewery that I have not sampled much from due to the fact that they do not distribute to Illinois. On a recent trip to Floria I ran across a sixer of 420 Extra Pale Ale and brought a few bottles back with me. This is how it went.....

12oz'er pours into my glass a bright golden orange with an inch of bubbly white head on top that leaves trails of lacing in its wake. Aromas of crisp, slightly toasty / slightly bready malts upfront with a caramelized backbone. Citric and floral hops dance their way into the aroma and bring things together nicely.

First sip brings crisp pale malts upfront with a toasted accent along with some sweet caramel nuances. Floral, herbal and citrus hop accents work there way in halfway through. Bitterness on the way down while remaining well balanced.

Mouthfeel is light and easy to drink while still having enough oomph to make you know it's there. Goes down easy and is quite enjoyable and refreshing. Overall, a solid APA here that I would drink again. Wish it was distributed out here.

This APA gets a rating of Enjoyable from me.

Check out more from Sweetwater by surfing over to their wacky website at www.sweetwaterbrew.com

Photo from Speed-Light on Flickr.

Surly Brewing Coffee Bender

2009-05-05T21:04:00.003-05:00

Thanks to my friend Tip Top from The Beer Spot (www.thebeerspot.com) for hooking me up at Great Taste ticket weekend with the 4pack. Had this on draft a few times but it's my first time from the can.

Pours a deep dark brown pour with auburn hints and a creamy inch of light tan foam on top that stick around and leaves some lacing. Looks quite delectable in the glass.

Massively wonderful coffee nose that's fresh and vibrant with chocolate undertones and caramel swirls. A touch nutty as well but the coffee is the real player here.

First sip kicks in with clean roasted malts that segue into bright coffee flavors along with some chocolate as well. Caramel and nutty undertones meander through. Flows down with great fresh brewed coffee flavors and a touch of bitterness. Sublimely drinkable.

Mouthfeel is creamy and delicious...that's about all I can say. Perfect body that makes it almost too drinkable. One of the cleanest, straight up coffee beers I have had the chance to sample. This one is not playing around!

Overall this tasty brew from a can earns a rating of Amazing.

Check out more from the guys at Surly by heading your browser on over to http://www.surlybrewing.com

New Beer Release! - Iron Hill Brewery - Honey Do Wit

2009-04-28T20:08:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone,

I know it's been awhile since I've done a beer review and I'll have more coming soon, but I wanted to pass along some more new beer release information! This one is Honey Do Wit from Iron Hill Brewery. I recently had a friend out from Pennsylvania and was lucky enough to try their Kriek and Lambic, both of which were fantastic. This new one is an amped up Double Witbier. More info is below:

In late May, the East Coast’s fastest growing group of brewpubs, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, will release their Honey Do Wit, a Belgian-style double witbier. A perfect warm weather thirst quencher and an ideal gift for Dad on Father’s Day, June 21, it will be available for sale at all seven Iron Hill locations in 750 mL bottles for $18.50.

Honey Do Wit is the newest addition to Iron Hill’s Bottled Reserve, a collection of fine beers crafted in small batches. It will be brewed and bottled in limited release; like other Iron Hill limited releases, including last year’s Ring of Fire and Triple Bock, it is likely to sell out quickly. The beer’s crisp, dry finish, distinct fruit character and 9.5% ABV will make a great gift for Dad on his special day.

Honey Do Wit is brewed naturally with the finest malted barley, hops and yeast, a full-bodied version of a Belgian classic. It is brewed with orange peel, coriander and orange blossom honey for a distinct fruit character with a clean, dry finish.

“Honey Do Wit is a play on words, taken from the phrase dads and husbands are so accustomed to hearing: ‘Honey, do it!’,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson. “It’s our way of giving a gift to those hard-working men – a kind of reward for taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, and getting through all those other chores they called on to do all year long. We hope they will enjoy it on Father’s Day or any day as a delicious warm weather treat.”

The beer’s distinctive, fanciful label design comes from gifted local artist and frequent Iron Hill collaborator Jeff Schaller of PinkCow Studio. Schaller also created the signature wall murals at several Iron Hill locations, as well as the eye-catching 3-D label for last year’s Triple Bock bottled reserve beer.

“Part of the fun of crafting these limited-editions beers is making them collectible,” says Iron Hill Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson. “Jeff has created some amazing art for us over the years, and once again he has sketched a memorable label for one of our most special beers.”

Since 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has consistently been recognized for its outstanding beers and cuisine, accruing over 100 “Best of” awards from regional magazines. Their hand-crafted beers have also won acclaim and in total, they have received 39 medals from the two most prestigious beer events, the GABF and World Beer Cup.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has seven locations: Wilmington , DE ; Newark , DE ; West Chester , PA ; Lancaster , PA ; Media , PA ; Phoenixville , PA and North Wales , PA. An eighth location is planned for Maple Shade , NJ in July 2009. For more information about Honey Do Wit or Iron Hill, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com.

Flying Fish Brewery launches www.exitseries.com

2009-04-05T14:11:00.004-05:00

Here's some cool news I ran across and I think this is a fun way to create a new series of beers based on the highway exits on the New Jersey Turnpike. Flying Fish beers are not currently distributed in Illinois, but I have tried a few during my travels that I have enjoyed. Hopefully I will get a chance to sample and review the new trippel sometime!

New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, 856-489-0061), is flaunting its home-state pride with a new Exit Series of Big Bottle Beers. A fanciful tribute to the New Jersey Turnpike and all the Garden State has to offer, these special brews are Flying Fish’s first foray into large bottles. The first in the series, Exit 4 American Trippel, a Belgian-style bottle conditioned ale, was just released.

“At Flying Fish, we’re proud to hail from the great state of New Jersey ,” says Gene Muller, who founded the brewery in 1995. “Our success comes from being focused on our home base, and this is a great opportunity for us to celebrate that in a very public way.”

Exit 4 American Trippel is named for the exit nearest Flying Fish Brewing Company’s headquarters, and is Belgian-inspired to represent their role as one of America ’s first craft breweries to embrace Belgian-style beers. Future Exit Series Big Bottles will be named for other exits, chosen based on videos, photos and testimonials submitted to Flying Fish by fans at www.exitseries.com. This series will continue with three or four beers a year to eventually encompass all turnpike exits.

“We were among the first craft breweries to commit ourselves to using the Internet to build and enhance our business, and this new site allows us to reach out to our fans in a tangible way,” says Muller. “ New Jersey is great because the people here are great, and we want to make sure that they can participate in this special series of beers.”

With a hazy golden hue and aromas of citrus, banana and clove, Exit 4 American Trippel bears heady malt flavors that give way to a subdued, bitter finish. As a bottle conditioned ale, it will develop as it ages. This one-time-only release is now available until it sells out across New Jersey , Pennsylvania and Delaware .

Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995. That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996. Today, Muller and his team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers. Their brews have been featured at the Great British Beer Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival and Canada ’s Biere de Mondial Festival. They have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, Real Ale Festival and the World Beer Championships, and are the only New Jersey brewery featured in Best American Beers. Flying Fish was recently named “Local Hero: Beverage Artisan of 2009” by Edible Jersey magazine.

For more information about Exit 4 or Flying Fish, please visit them online at www.flyingfish.com or call (856) 489-0061.

Firestone 10

2009-04-05T13:56:00.002-05:00

The first in a series of anniversary ales produced by Firestone Walker Brewing out of California, of which an Eleven and Twelve have also been produced. This particular vintage is highly sought after and has been "hyped" quite a bit by beer lovers since it's release. It is nearly impossible to find at this point and I was lucky enough to score a bottle from a generous soul awhile back.

Finally cracked the lone bottle of this I had in my cellar. Pours a deep dark brown with a quarter inch of tan head that leaves spotty lacing. Head quickly falls. Aromas of dense caramel and roasted malts colliding with boozy bourbon and wood tannins. Lots of dark fruits moving around here with some vanilla in the background as well. Alcohol comes through slightly.

First sip brings sweet rich caramel and dark malts upfront moving into roasted flavors with molasses and dark fruits popping through. Bourbon flavors move in along with woody barrel accents and tannins. Flows down with a touch of aged hop bitterness and quite a bit of alcohol bite on the end. Somewhat harsh overall, it doesn't come together as nicely as I was expecting.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slick, but thinner than I expected for this brew. Sharing the bomber with a friend was the right decision as this would have been tough to take on solo. Maybe it was the age on the bottle, but this one really didn't live up to the reputation that was out there for this beer for me personally. Glad I tried it, but also glad I didn't spend / trade an arm and a leg just to do so.

Overall I gave this one a rating of Enjoyable.

Check out more from Firestone Walker by surfing over to http://www.firestonewalker.com/

Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam

2009-03-18T20:52:00.003-05:00

This is the fourth in the series of "Bam" beer's from the always unique Jolly Pumpkin brewery in Dexter, Michigan. The original Bam Biere is one of my favorites, a great easy drinking farmhouse ale well suited for hot days on the beach. The other two predecessors are E.S. Bam which was a hoppy farmhouse ale and Bam Noire which was a dark version of Bam Biere. This particular version called Weizen Bam takes the farmhouse ale and gives it a hefeweizen yeast twist. Here are my thoughts on this harder to find brew in the series. (Thanks to Shelton Brothers the distribution has expanded for Jolly Pumpkin as well.)

Batch 315/316. Pours from the 750 into my glass a slightly hazy straw yellow with an inch of light, airy bubbly white head on top. Carbonation rises up the sides of the glass. Aromas of crisp wheat with a sour funky kick along with earthy, spicy yeast tones. Hints of lemon and citrus zest, banana and clove come through. Very crisp and dry with that trademark farmhouse aroma that I love in the Bam series.

First sip brings crisp sun dried wheat malts upfront met by a wonderful sour funkiness. Citric accents weave in and out along with earthy yeast tones. The spiciness is there but it is much more mellow than a normal hefeweizen. It flows down quite dry with a lingering puckering tart / barnyard accent. Mellow grassy hops accent as well. Overall, an interesting and ultimately quite tasty brew.

Mouthfeel is crisp and light with fast moving carbonation. Although it is quite dry, it still manages to go down easy and be refreshing. A 750ml bottle of this treat goes down almost too easily. I only wish I would have grabbed another when I had the chance, as this is another tasty treat from JP.

Overall this one gets a rating of Great. Quite a tasty brew.

Check out more of what Jolly Pumpkin has brewing at www.jollypumpkin.com

Russian River Salvation - Batch 001

2009-03-15T20:50:00.001-05:00

Batch 001.

Pours into my glass a dark cola brown with ruby accents. An inch of khaki foam on top with great retention. Lots of active carbonation as well. Aromas of chocolate malt upfront with a good blast of spice. Hints of banana and earthy Belgian yeast tones.

First sip brings more crisp chocolate malt upfront moving into a blend of spice and fruit flavors. Earthy yeast kicks in on the way down. Nice sweetness that is not overpowering and great balance overall. Raisin and toffee afterthoughts as it finishes a bit dry. Good, chocolaty stuff.

Smooth body with creaminess and perfect carbonation. A tasty treat that has aged quite beautifully in my opinion. I will have to seek this one out again and would love to try it on tap someday.

Overall I gave this tasty beer a rating of Great.

Check out more of the great beers of Russian River by surfing over to www.russianriverbrewing.com

Guinness Trying to Make St. Patrick's Day a National Holiday?

2009-03-09T14:36:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's true and the title is not deceiving. The makers of Guinness are trying to make St. Patrick's Day a National Holiday. Now, I've never been a huge drinker of Guinness myself, but I do enjoy it if I happen to be at an Irish bar without a huge craft beer selection and I like when I can find it at clubs or concerts as it is usually the best option among the other swill offered, so I found this somewhat interesting:

The makers of Guinness, the world’s most famous Irish stout, are supporting Proposition 3-17, a national effort to make St. Patrick’s Day an officially-recognized holiday in the United States . The period from President’s Day to Memorial Day (98 days) marks the longest stretch in the working calendar without an official holiday break. By contrast there are five official holidays within the 81-day period from Thanksgiving to President’s Day. This year happens to mark the 250th anniversary of Arthur Guinness signing the 9,000 year lease from St. James Gate brewery. To mark this anniversary there will be a year-long global celebration, all the while looking forward to the next 250 years. To support Proposition 3-17, adults (21 and over) can sign a petition by visiting www.proposition317.com.

Here is a link for a special message from Guinness Master Brewer Fergal Murray regarding Proposition 317: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGja76tzch8.

You can also check out their official website at www.guinness.com

So, anyone out there have any thoughts or comments on this?? I don't see it ever really taking off, but it's a fun marketing concept and does tie in well with the brand. Feel free to post your thoughts and I'll be back with another beer review soon!

Portsmouth Brewing - Kate the Great - Vintage 2008

2009-02-23T19:22:00.002-06:00

This big 9.5% ABV Russian Imperial Stout goes on sale once a year at the Portsmouth Brewery for those lucky enough to live within driving distance. It ranks up there as one of the most sought after bottles of beer. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle and I selfishly indulged the entire thing to myself:

2008 vintage bomber. Pours into my glass a deep charcoal black with an inch of dark tan foam on top that leaves spotty lacing on the side of the glass. Rather viscous. Aromas start off with rich dark malts and big bittersweet chocolate. Molasses, dark fruits and somewhat of a spicy aroma as well. Hints of anise and vanilla bean with a touch of alcohol as well. Big, dense and layered.

First sip is big and rich bringing lots of dark roasty malts along with bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder. It melds in with a mix of molasses, dark fruits, licorice and light coffee flavors. Flows down with a bit of a spicy sweet accent and a bit of vanilla flavor as well. Rich chocolate malt aftertaste with a touch of alcohol on the finish as well. This one is big on all accounts and flavor packed. Yum.

Mouthfeel is rich and chewy with a big malt body. Really smooth with a good, more mellow carbonation. Goes down smooth given the ABV. Overall, a tasty, rich imperial stout the brings a great depth of flavor as well. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to try this many time on tap and now finally in the bottle. I'll look forward to having it again sometime too!

Overall I gave this one a rating of Amazing and I find it worthy of the hype!

Check out the entire range of Portsmouth brews by surfing on over to http://www.portsmouthbrewery.com/

Short's Publican Porter (Imperial London Porter)

2009-02-16T20:22:00.004-06:00

This is #1 of 13 different Imperial Series beers released by Short's Brewing in 2007. They were all made available at the brewery in 750ml bottles with a trading card explaining the beer and signed by brewmaster Joe Short attached to each one. I was lucky enough to lay my hands on these and my thoughts are below:

750ml bottle. #155 of 672.
Brewed 6/1/06
Bottled 2/5/07

Pours into my glass a thick deep dark black that is impervious to light. An inch of creamy tan foam on top that leaves lacing all over the glass as it falls. Aromas start with dark malts along with a big blast of cocoa. Caramel accents meld with licorice notes. Somewhat sweet with bold molasses undertones.

First sip brings dark roasted malt upfront that carries some residual sweetness with it as well. Big cocoa flavors along with licorice and molasses flavors. A touch of coffee melds into the flavor. Flows down with some bitterness and a mellow hop tone. Baker's chocolate and a bit of alcohol on the finish. A big, robust porter.

Mouthfeel is smooth and had a good viscosity. Carbonation is on the more mellow side which works nice. Goes down almost too easily. Overall, a good imperial porter and it is holding up extremely well after two years in the bottle now. Very glad I had the chance to try this and I hope Short's brews it again.

Overall this beer gets a rating of Great.

Check out all the new brews and news from Short's by surfing over to www.shortsbrewing.com

Three Floyds / Mikkeller Oatgoop (Havregoop)

2009-02-10T13:54:00.005-06:00

The second collaboration from Mikkeller and Three Floyds, following up on the Hvedegoop that was released during 2008 Dark Lord Day at the brewery. Instead of a wheat wine, this round they produced an "oat wine" with the malt bill being predominantly comprised of oats and clocking in at 10.4% ABV.
Onto the review:

22oz bomber. The second collaboration with Mikkeller pours into my glass a deep, vibrant red/orange with a creamy inch of off white foam on top leaving trails of sticky lace. Aromas start with big resinous citric hops. Pine moves in as well with a touch of tropical fruit and herbal swirls. Caramel and toffee dominates the big malt background with an almost candy like sweetness to it as well.

First sip brings an upfront blast of bold citric hops cavorting with a slick, smooth caramel malt that has accents of toffee as well. The oats come through quite prominently as it rolls down along with a mix of pine and tropical fruit flavors. Big bitterness hits on the way down. Floral, grassy and herbal on the finish with a mild lingering sweetness and really no hint of the alcohol. Oats really smooth this out. Good show.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and creamy. The quality I call slickness from the oats really shines here making this an incredibly easy drinking beer given the abv. Spot on carbonation as well. I will enjoy the rest of this bottle and I wouldn't mind seeing more examples of oatwine's in the future. Cheers to Three Floyds and Mikkeller. Dial down the alcohol a bit and this would be sessionable!

Overall I gave this brew a rating of Great.
The price point is the real downfall here though at $16.99 a bottle retail.

I was at Three Floyds on 2-7-09 and bottles are still available at the brewpub!

Check out more from Mikkeller at http://www.mikkeller.dk
(Click the U.S. flag for the English version of the page.)

Check out more from Three Floyds at http://www.threefloyds.com

Photo by DR000: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drooo/

Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 16 Reserve

2008-12-14T10:13:00.002-06:00

Pours into my glass a deep black with dark brown accents and a small dark tan head that quickly fades. Not as viscous as I was expecting. Aromas start out with dark roasted malt mixing with some licorice, bitter chocolate and coffee. Dark fruits move in and meet up with a smokey peat aroma. Hints of wood, tobacco and molasses on the back end. Maybe even leather? Quite deep and complex overall.

First sip brings roasted malt quickly moving into chocolate and dark fruit flavors. Licorice, raisin and molasses roll across. The peaty scotch smokiness comes through rather strong with a slightly salty accent. It flows down with notes of wood and tobacco. Not as smoky as the 12 was, quite complex and a good sipper overall.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly more viscous than the pour lead onto. Still, this is not overly heavy and about on par for the viscosity of your standard stout. Well placed, fine carbonation, this one goes down rather easily. Makes a good after dinner treat. Overall, I've enjoyed this one and I'm glad I made the purchase.

Overall I gave this beer a rating of Great. Check it out, especially if you enjoy scotch.

Check out more from Harviestoun by surfing to http://www.harviestoun.com/

Short's Bourbon Barrel Sustenance Black Beer

2008-11-20T20:56:00.002-06:00

Short's is an amazing microbrewery located way up in Bellaire, Michigan. I have yet to venture to the brewery, but it is high on my list of things I want to do. They put out an amazing Imperial Beer series in 2007 consisting of 13 different beers in 750ml bottles. The one that still sticks in my mind is the Imperial Spruce India Pilsner. Now, onto the Bourbon Barrel Sustenance!

22oz bomber with awesome label art. The cap comes off with quite a pop as the brew flows out of the bottle...a quick catch into my glass leaves me a dark brown body with a two finger light tan head on top. Initial aromas of lightly roasted dark malts and hints of caramel. There's a wild yeast character here that brings some sour bretty funk to the table as well with fruity accents. Woody oak tones and a mellow bourbon character that just barely shines through.

First sip brings a nice roasty dark malt upfront with hints of caramel and fruitiness. There's a hint of chocolate that moves into a woody oak flavor. Sour tinge is still there with the wild yeast accent. Only a touch of bourbon flavor hints through on the way down. My bottle at least comes off as a funky, oaky schwarzbier and even if this was not the intention I enjoyed it.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with swift moving carbonation and plenty of it. This goes down rather easily, but the bubbles are a little much. Overall, the wild yeast twist to this beer made it taste a lot different that I was expecting...this reminds me of a Jolly Pumpkin brew expect aged in bourbon. I did end up enjoying the bomber.

Overall my rating of this beer ended up being Enjoyable.

Check out more from Short's by heading over to http://www.shortsbrewing.com/

Three Floyds Moloko Plus

2008-10-26T11:05:00.002-05:00

Finally getting to try this one after missing it every time its on at the brewpub. Pours into my glass a charcoal black color with dark brown edges. A half inch of light tan foam forms and falls to a ring quickly. Aromas start out with a mix of milk chocolate and lactose with a sweet tinge to it. Mild coffee meets dark malt and oats with only a touch of roast. Creamy chocolate malt comes to mind.

First sip brings a sweet dark malt upfront that brings milk chocolate and lactose with it. Hints of coffee and milk sugars midway through. There's only a mild roast here with no astringency. The oats bring a slickness on the way down. This one finishes with a chocolate malt aftertaste. Pretty solid.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and rather smooth. For a stout this has solid drinkability as it is not too heavy. Overall, it's an enjoyable milk stout, maybe just a touch too sweet for me though. A bomber would be more than enough and I shared this one with the girlfriend. Worth a try, but I wouldn't go out of my way.

Overall I gave this one a rating of Enjoyable.

Check out more from Three Floyds by surfing over to