Two Brothers Cane and Ebel

It's not just the clever name of Two Brothers Cane and Ebel and intrigued me, but I'm starting to become a fan of Ryes, as well. And you might be thinking, "But Chad, it should be Cain and Abel, right?" Right, but the eponymous brothers of the brewery are Ebel. Like I said, clever.

Very attractive deep copper color with a decent, sticky head and tons of hops in the nose. It's not has heavy as you might think. The main flavor is a spicy rye with some subtle vanilla and a big hop punch at the end leading to a dry, tart finish. There's some orange in there, as well. I'm noticing some sweet, toasted bread, too.

The 7% ABV warms a bit, and this is certainly bold, but I really like the rye in here and the well balanced,complex flavors.

This is a good one and makes me want to try more from Two Brothers.

Grade: A

Magic Hat Wacko Summer Seasonal

As much as I love porters, imperial stouts, and the like, when it's hot and you're at a cookout, no one wants to be drinking those all day. That's when it's time for summer seasonals, like Magic Hat's Wacko.

The first thing that stands out is the color. It's pink. It's really the color of pink champagne. Not much head and it goes away pretty quickly. There's something familiar in the smell, but I can't quite place it yet.

The flavor is...odd. It's like sparkling grape juice, and beets. That's where the pink color comes from. Not really any hops. There's a sweet, dry finish. Some cherry in there, too.

As far as summer seasonal goes, it is light and crisp, but it's weird. I finished it, trying to figure it out the whole time. I wouldn't do this again. Sorry, Magic Hat.

Grade: C

Left Hand Stranger Pale Ale

Left Hand makes a lot of tasty brews, and this is the first I have tried the Stranger Pale Ale. Light in color, the nose is full of hops and orange. But the flavor isn't has bold as the smell would lead you to believe. There is a bit of hop bitterness and character, but also a lot of grass and rye. A dry, spicy finish.

It's almost like a mild IPA. It's smooth and drinkable, even if the flavors aren't over powering. And at 5% ABV, it's a good session beer.

I don't think the Stranger is bad, but I'm not in love with it. Doesn't have enough to be an IPA, but maybe a bit more than what a standard Pale Ale should have. At least it's aptly named.

Grade: C

Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

Just looking at the label, I have no idea what to expect from Lagunitas's Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale.

Pours kind of a hazy gold with a fluffy white head. Smells like honey, hops, and wheat. My first taste is about the same. It's kind of like a wheat IPA. There's some grapefruit, some grass, a little bit of malt sweetness, and long, dry, biting finish.

You'd never guess it's 7.5% ABV.

I definitely get more IPA than wheat, which is probably why I like it! Overall, it's different, certainly worth a try. Very drinkable, especially for its ABV. I'd do this again, but I wouldn't go crazy looking for it.

Grade: B

Avery Brewing White Rascal

After a brief tease of summer, I thought it might be nice to try something a little lighter with Avery's White Rascal. A Belgian White Ale, it's hazy, cloudy yellow with a thin white head. Smells of orange and coriander. Little bit of black pepper, too.

The taste is light and crisp. Bitter and a bit sour at first, some citrusy sweetness, then a spicy kick at the end.

I think it's a pretty good example of the style, and would be good in the right setting. Plus, at only 5.6% ABV, it's not going to blow you away.

Bonus points for the sweet label!

Grade: B

Brew Dog Dogma

Brew Dog is a Scottish brewery known for huge, aggressive beers. I'm talking not just beers around 10% ABV, but 30 and 40! This is my first try of theirs, Dogma. It's a spiced beer full of ingredients I've never heard of like guarana and kola nut.

The color is orange and a bit cloudy, like iced tea. The head is huge and fluffy (I may have been a bit overzealous on the pour). Smells floral with honey and hops. Flavor is quite bitter with hops, honey, pepper, and more floral notes in the finish. Maybe the floral is the guarana? Picking up some dried fruit as it warms, I'm assuming that's the kola nut.

I am still trying to figure out what all is going on and if I like it or if I love it. With the 7.8% ABV, and after a 22 oz bomber, you'll know you've had something quite unique.

Grade: B

P.S. Like my awesome Craftsman bottle opener?

Great Divide Yeti

A beer and a brewery I have been wanting to try for a while, Great Divide's Yeti is a multiple award winning Imperial Stout. Black as the abyss with a dark sticky head. The smell is roasty and a lot hoppier than I had anticipated. The taste is huge and complex like an Imperial Stout should be! Bittersweet chocolate, caramel and toffee, then finally a big, musty, dry, woody finish. It doesn't have that currant flavor that a lot of RISs do. Velvety texture and so drinkable you need to be careful that the Yeti's 9.5% ABV doesn't unleash your untamed side. Superior lacing, as well. Every sip is a little different. The hops are more noticeable as it warms.

Complex and curious, this isn't a beer to gulp, it's one to savor and discover. Try it!

Grade: A

Intercourse Brewing Blue Ball Porter

Another beer that is impossible to pass up based on name alone, Intercourse Brewing's Blue Ball Porter. While they'll have you believe the brewing is in Intercourse, PA, it looks like it's actually in Wilkes-Barre. But the fun they have with the name makes that a forgivable act of deception.

Blue Ball Porter starts like you want a porter to. Thick, dark, and a big dark head. More toffee and chocolate in the nose rather than roast, bit of alcohol, too. The first sip sets this porter apart and gives you the reason for the clever name; blueberries. Lots of blueberries at first. It's a little watery for a porter, but a bold finish with lots of roast, even some char.

Just a tad over 5% ABV, so it's not going to destroy you, either.

Not my favorite porter, but I'm kind of liking it. Props for doing something different!

Grade: B

Kronenbourg 1664

There is a single reason I am trying Kronenbourg 1664. Motorhead. Here's the commercial Kronenbourg had Motorhead do with a slowed down, acoustic version of Ace of Spades, one of the greatest metal songs.



The beer itself starts off like you would expect from a French lager. Pale gold color, fluffy white head, just a hint of skunk familiar with green-bottled European lagers that you get here. The taste, however, is a bit surprising. There's still that light sweet grain, but there's some honey and a little bit of spice, too. Just a touch of clove, maybe. The mouth feel is fuller than similar beers. Really good lacing, too. I'm surprised I like this as much as I do. This would work well after mowing the lawn on a hot July day. Worth a try if you want something light, refreshing, and with at least a modicum more character than anything with "light" in the name.

Grade: B

P.S. Here is the full version of the slowed down Ace of Spades. Give me the original every time.

21st Amendment Monk's Blood

How could I resist a beer called Monk's Blood? This offering from 21st Amendment is also canned. More on that later.

Not red like you might imagine, but more of the brown of a Monk's Robe, keeping with the Abbey style. While the nose is nothing but sour, it would be nearly impossible to pick out all the subtleties. Cinnamon, vanilla, wood, caramel sweetness, clove spice, sweet malt. There is some sourness at first and at the very finish, but not as much as the smell would have you expect. A ton going on with this one, and at 8.3% ABV, by the time you figure it all out, you won't be able to figure anything!

The can throws me, though. I took the first couple of drinks in the can and it just didn't feel right! Too much of the metal taste, as well.

Give it a try and hold on!

Grade: A

Dark Horse Reserve Special Black Ale

I know things have been a little slow around here lately, and they're going to be for a while. Along with work being super busy, I have agreed to do a play that a friend of mine is directing. She was in a pinch because someone bailed on her not even 2 weeks before Opening Night, so I have just been studying this part as much as I can. That said, I need a beer!

So here is Dark Horse Brewing's Reserve Special Black Ale. It is indeed black with a creamy dark tan head. Lots of roast and toffee in the nose. Kind of smells like a Heath Bar. Wrapped in bacon.

Big, bold flavors in the first sip. Dark, bitter chocolate, smoked meat, roasted coffee. Late hop bite, too.

I really dig on this one! 7.5% ABV doesn't hurt, either. As they mention on the site, it's not quite a porter, not quite a stout, but golly is it good!

Grade: A

Raging Bitch

Flying Dog is having some issues with Raging Bitch. Again. This time in Michigan. Read it from their perspective here. Personally, I don't see the problem at all. I would think someone old enough to drink beer is mature enough to handle the word "bitch." I don't see how it's more offensive than Michigan's own Founders Dirty Bastard (which is delicious). What say you? Vote in the poll ->
and let me know which is more offensive and which is more delicious!

Sorry about having to sign in. I'm still trying a work around for that one.

Out on the Tiles Scotch Ale, my new homebrew!

I'm a bit of a Zeppelin nut, and have decided all my beers from now own will have Zeppelin songs as the names. Previously, it was the Night Flight Vanilla Porter. Somewhere down the road, Misty Mountain Hops IPA. Today, Out on the Tiles Scotch Ale. So here's a little look at today's process

First: The ingredients. 9 pounds of light malt extract. The specialty grains are 12 oz of 90L Crystal Malt, 2 oz of roasted barley, and 2 oz of smoked cherry malt. I had originally wanted peated malt, but that wasn't available. As far as the hops, 1 oz of Fuggles and 1 oz of East Kent Goldings. Scotch Ales typically don't have much in the way of hop presence since hops don't grow well in Scotland and they didn't want to pay the English for theirs!

Now, steeping all the specialty grains at or close to 150° for 30 minutes. You really need to watch the temps here, because if you get too close to 170° you will get some nasty flavors!







These grains are steeped! (That is meant to be read as a Cabin Boy reference)

Yuri the Yeast here making sure everything is copacetic.



Hard to get a good shot of the aggressive boil here. But I added all the Fuggles and half the Goldings at the beginning of the boil. The rest of the Goldings went in with 5 minutes left.

And here it is! Just need the temp to come down to pitch the yeast. Bottle in two weeks, then I think I'll give it a month before I try it. Very excited about this one!

Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock

From another monastery, and one of the supreme styles of the example, here is Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock. Another substitute for food during lent, and translates to "Savior". It can certainly save me!

Pours a fuzzy copper. More orange than brown with not much head at all. Smells of butterscotch and sweet bread. The taste is big, smooth, and creamy. Lots of butterscotch, but a bit of a sour bite in the finish. Some late alcohol and sweetness, too.

It's quite good. I'd put it in the top tier of doppelbocks, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite.

By the way, the website listed on the label doesn't exist. That has me a little worried.

Grade: B

Rogue John John Dead Guy

My affinity for bourbon barrel aged beers continues with Rouge's John John Dead Guy Ale. This is their standard, and quite good, Dead Guy Ale aged in their own whiskey barrels.

Pours a deep, cloudy honey with a wisp of white head atop. Very floral nose with honey and vanilla in the back. Of all the bourbon barrel aged beers I've had, this is easily one of the most bourbony. A bit of a bitter alcohol punch in front followed by vanilla, smooth butteryness, and wood in the finish. It has quite a bit more of a hop kick than most beers with this much bourbon, and it works as a nice counterpoint. The finish isn't long and smooth like other barrel aged, it's short, bitter, and dry.

Overall, very complex and delicious!

Grade: A

North Peak Vicious Wheat IPA

A brewery new to distributing in Ohio, this is Traverse City, Michigan's North Peak Brewing. Pretty interesting article here on their venture to Ohio. By the way, don't let the searches fool you, the website you want is northpeakbeer.com But this is a brew pub that is now distributing rather than a more traditional brewery.

Their Vicious is an American Wheat IPA. The cloudy pour lets you know it's unfiltered, as well. Lots of citrus in the nose with a bit of banana. There's an interesting sensation I'm trying to figure out how to describe. It's got the aftertaste of a huge IPA, but that giant hop bite wasn't in the initial taste. But lots of hops in the very bitter finish. Quite a bit of orange and banana up front. Very smooth, crisp, and light. Leans more toward an IPA than a wheat.

It's very interesting and definitely worth giving a try. I'm curious to see what else this newly available brewery has to offer.

Grade: B

Sam Adams American Originals Sampler

I picked up the Sam Adams American Originals 12 pack sampler. Included are Revolutionary Rye, Noble Pils, Scotch Ale, Irish Red, White Ale, and the ubiquitous Boston Lager. I'm not going to review every one, but to give a general feeling on this, I probably wouldn't buy a 6-er of any one of those, however I would by this 12 pack again. A nice way to spend a weekend.

Overall, and nice, solid B.

Beginning Homebrew DVD

Along with drinking craft beers, I also do a little bit of a home brewing. I'm rather pleased with my current Night Flight Vanilla Porter. Next will be Out on the Tiles Scotch Ale. (You may notice a theme in the titles...)

Homebrewing is a lot of fun and it's really rewarding. It's not as intimidating as you might think, either. It's a little complex, you need to do your research, there is some cost, but the very basics of homebrewing are quite simple.

I was sent a DVD called Beginning Homebrewing to review. If you have never brewed before, or maybe have only done 1 or 2 batches, I think this DVD would really help. It goes through every step of the process and it is well explained. It does a great job of showing just how easy homebrewing can be! If you're on the fence about if you want to get involved in homebrewing, check this out, and I bet you will be converted.

The word "beginning" in the title is key, though. If you have brewed at least 5 times, you probably wouldn't get much out of this. However, it's not called Intermediate Homebrewing.

There may have been a few places where I thought some explanations could have been more in depth, but it really does give good information and you will be surprised how easy homebrewing really is!

Want your own copy? I have one to give away! Email me mcnealc31@gmail.com or leave a comment with your email address in the comments section by March 31.

Cheers!

Avery Brewing Ellie's Brown Ale

I know I've been giving a ton of high ratings recently, but I guess I've been making some good choices! It's going to continue now, because I am hooked from the first taste of Avery Brewing Ellie's Brown Ale. A gorgeous light mahogany color with a sticky light tan head. Very nutty and roasted, but not much smoke or charring. The finish is dry, woody, and earthy. Lots of bittersweet chocolate and maybe even some brown sugar in there. An average 5.5% ABV, but that's fine, because this is one you'll want to drink all night.

Grade: A

Trappistes Rochefort 10

An authentic Belgian Abbey Ale, this particular Abbey has been brewing since the 16th Century. Pretty interesting read about it here.

There are three versions of the Rochefort, 6, 8, and 10. I'm lucky enough to have the 10. My beer guy told me it was the best beer in the world. Will it stand up to the claim?

Pours a very sticky mahogany with a creamy tan head. Big, sweet malt with dark fruits in the nose. The taste is very complex. Butterscotch, sweet malt, dark fruits, a peppery and alcohol bite in the very dry finish. It's huge, smooth, and incredibly complex. I do get some of the 11.3% ABV, but not as much as expected.

The first time I had this, it was cloyingly sweet. It's still rather sweet this time, but not nearly as intrusive.

This is not a beer to chug, it's one to savor and try to figure out.

I don't know if I'd go with "best beer ever", but it's quite good and undeniably unique. A must try.

Grade: A+

Troegs Brewing Troegenator Double Bock

You've heard beer referred to as "liquid bread." Doppelbocks are why. During times of fasting, monks would rely on stronger beers, like doppelbocks, for nutrition. I love them because they taste good! Troegs Brewing makes quite a tasty one with Troegenator.

A dark copper with ruby edges flows out of the bottled adorned with an interesting looking character set off with bushy white hair and a nasty set of horns. I assume he is The Troegenator. Smells like bread and spice. Not a lot of hops here, but I do get some sweet, toasty bread, some spice in the finish with a bit of chocolate in the aftertaste. Not really bitter, and the 8.2% ABV is sneaky.

Compared to Celebrator, this is not as creamy and the mouthfeel isn't as full, but the flavors are more assertive.

Troegs Brewing is based in Harrisburg, PA and this is the first I've had from them. But based on this and reading the brews on their website, I'm very interested in trying again.

Could I live on this if I had to? I'd certainly be willing to try!

Grade: A

Brewing Some Fun

I've got some very exciting news. I've been asked to join Brewing Some Fun. It's a beer blogging collaboration and I'm very excited about it! Be sure to follow us on Twitter, be a fan on Facebook, even add us to your RSS Feed.

I'm honored and excited to be a part of this!

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

Part of the fun with Stone is reading the bottles. It's true. The Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale is just that. The messages are always arrogant, sanctimonious, with a bit of a "we love this beer, and if you don't, go screw yourself, but we don't care." I usually don't go for holier-than-thou attitudes, but they always pull it off. Quite deliciously so, too.

As far as the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale goes, I'd put this in the Black IPA category, even though they don't call it one. Pours dark as a stout with a slightly off-white creamy, rocky head. Several different hops in the nose. Lots of hops in the flavor with the charred and roasted flavors finally in the finish. Lemon and grapefruit start, then the roast, followed with a familiar hop pummeling. It's definitely more hoppy than Heavy Seas Black Cannon, but that one has more of the "black" than the "IPA".

Plus, with the 8.7% ABV, you'll likely notice it after a 22 oz bomber.

If you're curious about Black IPAs, a great place to start. If you're not a hop head, something like the Black Cannon is probably more your choice. Can't go wrong with either, though!

Grade: A

The Brew Kettle 4 C's Pale Ale

The Brew Kettle is in not that far away from me Strongsville, Ohio. Certainly overshadowed by Great Lakes here, they do make some fantastic beers. Tunguska is a personal favorite. Along with their house brews, the tap list is phenomenal and the food is amazing. I highly recommend the chili! On top of all that, they also have brew on premise for both beer and wine. It's like homebrewing, but they guide you through everything. Really cool stuff.

However, this is about the beer, and one of their signatures, the 4 C's Pale Ale.

The pine of the chinook hops are present the second you open the bottle. Columbus, cascade, and centennial round out the rest of the C hops. Clever, but is it good? Indeed! Very well balanced IPA. Neither huge in IBUs or ABV, but it has a lot of character. Starts with malt and some fruit. Hops are mainly in the end and finish. Some lemon in there, too, but it's not really sour.

Overall, it's another one of those "tamer" IPAs. If you want more in an IPA than hop numbness, give this one a shot!

If you get the chance to get to The Brew Kettle, you really should. They make great beer, they serve great beer that others make, the food is awesome, the atmosphere is great.

Grade: A

Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA

While retrotagging all my previous reviews (so now when you click on Great Lakes in the tags below, it'll bring up all the beers I have reviewed from Great Lakes), I noticed my IPA reviews were quite thin. Here's an attempt to rectify that with Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA. Hazy orange with hops and fruit in the nose. The first thing I notice in the taste is some malt but the hops certainly make their entrance known with a fruity finish. The aftertaste is lingering bitterness and peach. Pretty dry, too. Hops are pretty big, but not so much as to make it undrinkable. I've had more aggressive and less aggressive IPAs. I like that there is some complexity other than a hop bludgeoning and nothing else. True IPA freaks may not like this as much as I do, but I think it's quite nice. Not a huge ABV at 6%, but it'll get you where you want to be for sure!

And who is Commodore Perry, you ask? A War of 1812 naval hero who utter the famous phrase "Don't give up the ship!" Or as Great Lakes has tweaked it, "Don't give up the sip!"


Grade: B

Original Sin Hard Cider

I don't go for hard ciders often, but I do get a taste for them every now and then. The very cleverly named Original Sin Hard Cider is extremely light in color. It's closer to a white wine than it is a beer. Smells a bit like a white wine, too, but it is full of apple. After drinking it, this really does feel to me more like an apple wine than most hard ciders. The champagne yeast probably has a lot to do with that. While most ciders are cloyingly sweet or puckeringly (like that?) tart, this isn't. It's crisp and refreshing with a good apple taste. There is enough sour tartness in the finish that you won't be disappointed. This is probably the easiest drinking hard cider I have had. Try this for something different. It's quite good. Nice 6% ABV, too.

Grade: A

Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

Brewed in honor of Hunter S. Thompson, and featuring artwork by Ralph Steadman (as do all Flying Dog brews), Gonzo Imperial Porter is, in a word, unique.

Starts off deep brown with a nice tan head. Huge roasted malt smell in the nose. The taste is where things get a little off the beaten path. It's creamy and a bit more bitter than most porters. Some vanilla sweetness up front. Chocolate and coffee in the finish along with some wood. A hoppy bitterness lingers, too. Flying Dog doesn't mention if this is barrel aged, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Overall, it's more aggressive than most porters, and it certainly works.

The story of Flying Dog and the influence of Thompson and Steadman is really interesting. You should take the time to read through the history on their site.

Grade: A

Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale

If I had to pick out one brewery that really got me into craft beers, and one that I compare all other breweries to, it's Great Lakes. Maybe it's because it's the only craft brewery readily available around here. Maybe it's because their sampler introduced me to both porters and IPAs. I will always have a soft spot in my heart and Great Lakes. Conway's Irish Ale is another winner! Crisp dark orange color with a tight white head. There's nothing overpowering in this, and that's why I like it. It just tastes good! If you really want to search for flavors, you'll get some bread, a little bit of roast, maybe a hint of apple (but not sour) at the end with a dry finish. It's one of those I don't really want to get too technical on in the review other than to say "Try it. You'll like it." Give me a 6 (or 12) of this on March 17th. I'll leave the green stuff alone!

Grade: A

North Coast Brewing Brother Thelonious

Named after jazz master Thelonious Monk, this is North Coast Brewing's take on a Belgian Abbey ale, Brother Thelonious. Nice light mahogany color, but not much in the nose other than malt. Full in the mouth with a hint of sweet malt and spice with a sour finish. The more I drink it, all I am getting is sour fruit.


Two things on the plus side, it's 9.3% ABV, and when you buy it, there's a donation to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

It's pretty good, but a bit too sour for me. Not nearly as impressive as North Coast's Old Rasputin. I'd be willing to try it again because after reading other reviews it does seem like it's supposed to be sour, so perhaps it's a bad bottle. But at what it cost, I'd rather have two of something completely new.

Grade: C

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Considered not only the epitome of a doppelbock, but one of the best beers in the world, it's Ayinger's Celebrator. I'm drawn in even before opening the bottle with the ornate label featuring a glass overflowing with beer surrounded by two goats. And of course the plastic goat hanging from the neck (hey, a toy!).

Celebrator pours an inviting mahogany with a thin tan head. There's a malty must in the smell with some spice in the background. Very similar flavors in the taste. It's full of malt but is subtly sweet, bread, and just a kick of spice at the back. Aftertaste of some chocolate and hazelnut. It's smooth, creamy, and amazingly drinkable.

Just be careful, that 6.7% ABV could catch up quickly!

Grade: A+

Heavy Seas Black Cannon

A couple of firsts for me with Heavy Seas Black Cannon. My first from them, and my first Black IPA. But even from the first sip, I know this won't be the last! Smells like fruit and pine, like you would expect from an IPA, and it's definitely black. I'm noticing some familiar stout characteristics with a dry, smokey mouth feel. Some chocolate and nutiness. It is a bit lighter than most stouts, and while there are some hops in the finish, it isn't a huge, in your face IPA. Really well balanced, and there isn't even a hint of the 7.3% ABV.

This might disappoint hop heads expecting a super bitter IPA, but I think it's a great blend of two dispirate (yes, that's on purpose) styles.

Plus, I'm diggin on the pirate theme.

I haven't heard of many Black IPAs, but I could really see this catching on. Perhaps a future homebrew project of mine!

It's very good, but I don't know if I can quite go to great.

Grade: B

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine

While my experience with Barleywines is rather limited, I think they're great so far. One of the strongest styles of beer, and a style that ages over years, just like wine.

A metallic red hue and the aroma of hops and melon come from Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Barleywine. Fruity, sweet malt, with some aggressive hops at the end. The flavor is full and layered. Quite well balanced, with a finish similar to big IPAs. A bit on the low end as far as ABV goes for a Barleywine. However, that still puts it at 9.6%!

There's a fun scene on the label, too. (By the way, I have a camera on the way, so these pics will get better soon).

A multiple award winner, and it really is good, but I need to have more barelywines before I can declare it a king.

Grade: A

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

If you watched any of Brew Masters, you know some of the extremes Dogfish Head goes to in brewing. The Palo Santo Marron is a perfect example. Read the story in the link detailing how they use a unique Paraguayan wood in the brew. Pours a deep dark brown with a huge rocky tan head. The taste is unlike anything I have had before. Starts with sweet vanilla and caramel followed by wood. Finish is long and dry with a bit of cherry and alcohol warmth. Superior lacing. Dogfish Head continues to prove they are one of the most inventive and experimental breweries out there. You won't find anything like this!

Grade: A

Hoppin' Frog D.O.R.I.S.

A Double Oatmeal Russian Imperial Stout sounds quite inviting, doesn't it? It's Akron's Hoppin' Frog D.O.R.I.S. The Destroyer! Even though Akron isn't that far away, this is the first I can even remember seeing anything from Hoppin' Frog.

The first thing that stands out is the color. Black as tar and exceptionally thick with the darkest brown head I have ever seen. Smells of wood and alcohol. The taste? Well, it's so complex it's going to take a while to get through this! Starts with hops and bittersweet chocolate, a wallop of hop bitterness, hint of sweet, then a burnt finish. It's past roasted into burnt, and normally that wouldn't work, but it really does. A bit of alcohol late in the finish. A lot of RISs I have had feature some sweet currant flavors rather prominently, but this doesn't. The most surprising taste really is the burnt finish, but I'm digging it.

Rather expensive at more than $10 for a 22 oz, but it's great!

Can't forget the 10.5% ABV, either.

Grade: A+

Anchor Steam Beer

There are many who credit Anchor Steam Beer as being one of the most influential beers in the American craft beer renaissance. That comes with a certain amount of respect. But when tasting this and comparing it to all the mass produced pilsners, you can understand why this is so different. First, the color is a cloudy copper with a creamy white head. And there's actually some flavor to it! Maltiness with some bread notes and a hint of sour in the finish. Perhaps not a world-class beer, but it is certainly an American classic and gets bonus points for the history and revolution it helped to spawn. After having something like Budweiser or High Life, then drinking Anchor Steam, there is no surprise that people were begging for "More! More of that!" (not-at-all-veiled-Top-Gear-reference).

When you take everything into account, there's no way this isn't an A.

Thirsty Dog Siberian Night

If the intense, glowing green eyes on the bottle don't entice you, the promise of an Imperial Stout should. And since I'm partial to Ohio breweries, I grab Thirsty Dog's Siberian Night whenever I can. Pours just like you would expect. Black as the abyss with a dark tan head. The complex flavor consists of roasted rye bread, dark fruits, with a bitter finish. It's very good, but perhaps not as full and beat-you-over-the-head aggressive as other RISs. Probably the easiest drinking RIS I have had. The bitterness takes quite a while to saunter off, as well.

I think it's great, even if it doesn't have the power of other RISs.

Grade: A

Fuller's London Porter

As previously noted, I love porters. Fuller's London Porter is one that has been around for a while and won numerous awards. A dark brown color with a thin khaki head. Bittersweet chocolate hits the nose with a bit of roast. Starts off with sweet malt, very full mouthfeel and finishes full of bittersweet chocolate. This has more chocolate and less coffee than most porters, but I don't see anything wrong with that! An outstanding beer that I will be looking out for.

Grade: A

Fort Collins Kidd Black Lager

This is the first I have heard of Fort Collins, but that's exactly why I tried it. The Kidd Black Lager pours very dark brown, but you can see through it when held to light. Smells of some roastiness and coffee. I think the best way to describe this is the flavors of a porter, but with the texture and mouthfeel of a Bud Light. It's lighter and less bitter than a porter, but with very similar flavors. There's some roast, some smoke, subtle coffee and chocolate. I like it, but I feel like something is missing.

Grade: B

Grolsch

In the past year, I have had at least ten times more Grolsch than any other beer. By far. Is that because it's amazingly good? Smooth, big flavored, nice ABV, and cheap? No. Not at all. They use the perfect bottles for homebrewing. They're 16 oz and have the flip tops (even though you can't see it in my pic), so I don't need to use a separate capper. While I could by similar bottles empty, I figure if I'm going to buy bottles, I might as well get some beer in it!

Grolsch pours a clear gold color with a thin, quickly dissipating white head. Tastes of grass and straw, with a little bit of a dry hop finish. Some skunkiness, as well. Not a ton of character. Very one note. I'd go for this before a macrobrew, but that's about it.

Let me put it this way. I have had no trouble drinking more than 50 of these in the past year. However, since I now have all the bottles I need, I doubt I'll be getting it again

Grade: C

Lagunitas Censored Copper Ale

This is the first beer I have tried from Lagunitas, the Censored Copper Ale. True to its name, it pours a copper color with a thin white head. Smells of malt, some warm spice, maybe even a hint of vinegar. The vinegar, thankfully, isn't in the taste. Malt and spice, bitter hops, a hint of orange, some sweet grain, then bitter hops again. A lot going on in just one taste!

The more I'm having of this, the more I like it. It's complex, yet balanced. Full and aggressive, but not overpowering.

If you're wondering about the censored, it's actually called Kronik. Apparently that isn't OK, but hemp beers are.

I'd do this again

Grade: B

Thirsty Dog Twisted Kilt Scotch Ale

Thirsty Dog is a brewery in the not-too-far-away Akron. Still kind of small, but big enough to distribute a bit. Hadn't been able to find anything of theirs around here in a while, but I did come across their Twisted Kilt.

Twisted Kilt had a lot of promise. I do really enjoy everything I've had from them, and Scotch Ales are rising on my list of favorite styles. The color was like iced tea, maybe a bit more orange. Some moderate malty flavors with some light hop bitterness and some fruit notes. There's an unexpected sour finish, but once I knew to expect it, I liked it.

Overall, I thought it was alright. I might get it again, but there are other Scotch Ales I much prefer

Grade: C

Shiner Smokehaus

The first thing that surprised me about Shiner Smokehaus was the color. Every smoked beer I've had before this was dark brown or black, but this is as light as crisp as any macrobrew. Perhaps a shade more orange than yellow. But the smoke aroma is certainly there. The taste is pretty good, too. Starts out sweet, a little bit of hops, then that mesquite smokey flavor. Almost like liquid BBQ chips. This isn't one I'd go for often, but at just under 5% ABV, the crisp texture, and easy drinkability, it's perfect for a day of grilling!

Unfortunately, I found the website to be way to busy and complex. Couldn't even find this listed anywhere. Though, I did pour myself a virtual Shiner Bock.

Grade: B

Bell's Hopslam

I have a confession. I don't consider myself a "hop head". I mean, I do love craft beer. And I do like IPAs, but I kinda have to be in the mood for them. That said, with all the buzz around Bell's Hopslam, there was no way I couldn't try this beer.

Bell's Hopslam has a huge, white head, but the color was paler than I had expected. The hop aromas hit me as soon as I opened the bottle. The aroma is chock full of the familiar hoppy flavors of grapefruit and pine. The flavor is very interesting. The hops are definitely there, and huge, but the addition to honey adds a sweet finish. It's dry, the hops linger longer than the honey, and you won't find better lacing.

Bell's Hopslam does have a ton of hops, but I wouldn't say it's as overpowering as I expected. Despite the 10% ABV, that isn't overpowering, either. Considering how much is going on, it's amazingly well balanced.

I get the hype. This is awesome!

Grade: A+

Rogue Mocha Porter

Rogue's Mocha Porter certainly has a lot of promise. I love porters, I love mocha, and while my experience with Rogue is limited, I have really enjoyed everything so far.

I feel like the name is a little misleading, though. I think it would be better classified as a mocha stout. It has more of the roasted and bitter flavors that I associate with a stout rather than a porter. And while the mocha flavors and creamy texture are there, it's all in the finish.

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this, but I don't feel like it lives up to the title. Honestly, I would like it a lot more if it had a different name that didn't mention mocha or porter.

Grade : B

P.S. I do appreciate the irony of drinking a beer like this from a Budweiser glass

Left Hand Fade to Black

This is a beer I have been looking forward to for a while. Left Hand's Fade to Black. I have been impressed with everything from Left Hand, especially their Black Jack Porter and Milk Stout. Hopefully I will get to try Wake Up Dead soon.

They describe Fade to Black as a smoked Baltic porter. Pours black with a thin, dark tan head. The smoke is definitely there, along with some meat notes. This really does taste a bit like bacon, but with more smoke. The mouthfeel is somewhere between heavy medium and light heavy. It certainly has some body, but it's not really heavy. There's a bit of malt sweetness in the finish as this is more malty than hoppy.

This style is right up my alley, and it's exceptionally well done. A pretty interesting story on the history of the beer on their website, too

Grade: A

Rogue Buckwheat Ale

A lot on complex things going on here with Rogue's Buckwheat Ale. First, it's not on their website. However, it appears to be the same at Morimoto Soba Ale. Yes, Iron Chef fans, that Morimoto. The bottle for me was interesting, too, as it's in Japanese. I couldn't find the translation anywhere.

Onto the beer. It pours a hazy orange with flecks of buckwheat floating in it. It's extremely light without being watery. Tastes of buckwheat, and a little bit of citrus sweetness. I don't get much hops, but there is almost a chemical taste to it. Kind of like a club soda. It's very interesting, but I wouldn't call it a favorite. However, I would certainly reach for this the next time I cook with soba noodles.

Grade: B

Yuengling Lager Review

Before I get to the taste and such of Yuengling, perhaps I should tell a story. When I was in college, one of my roommates from was from Pennsylvania. He would always bring Yuengling back with him whenever he went home. And since we couldn't buy it where we were in Ohio, it became like a rare delicacy for me and my roommates. Of course, that was the only reason we ever wanted him to go home for a weekend*.

Now, if you compared Yuengling in a blind taste test to other amber lagers, it might not hold up and win huge awards. It's light amber, there is some hop bittnerness and a little bit of sweetness to it. But it's light, it's crisp, it has good taste if not a ton of it, and it's supremely drinkable. If I were rating this blindly, it's probably a low B. But because of the memories I associate with it and that it's still special and rare to me, it's an A in my book. Or blog, as it were.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Happy New Year! Of course, I do realize it's been a long time since I've posted. But fighting two bouts of bronchitis in a month, numerous holiday get togethers, and work, I haven't had much time.

Even though the season has past, I want to write about Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Here in Ohio, and especially in Cleveland, Christmas Ale is a seasonal delicacy. It's something people stock up on the moment they see it because they know it won't last. I posted an article recently that even showed in November, Christmas Ale outsold a 24 pack of Bud Light by more than 3 times!

This is the beer that first turned me on to holiday spiced ales, which is what my current batch of home brew is. It's elusive, you've got to pick it up when you see it because it likely won't be back. Even in a craft-beer-fearing-town such as this. Of course, it is with good reason. It smells of honey and spice and pours a deep orange, almost copper. It tastes of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, with a subtle honey finish. And at 7.5% ABV, it's holiday cheer in a bottle! Without a doubt, one of my favorite beers and I can't wait until next holiday season for it.

And thanks to my friend Liz for both the last 6 pack of the season and the gorgeous glass!

Grade: A+

I wish I had a clever title

But I don't. The holidays have been quite busy, but enjoyable for me this year. Thanks to some shopping and gifts, I have 25 different beers in the fridge right now, including my own spiced holiday ale that I'm rather proud of, and the ever-elusive Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Some interesting things I've found recently: this article from Crain's Cleveland Business about the demand and sales of Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Good stuff there!

I also have some Yuengling in the fridge thanks to my sister's drive through Pennsylvania to get to Ohio. With Yuengling picking up a new brewery, there's a chance it could be coming to Ohio! This would make me a happy boy! Though, I wondering if having it readily available would ruin a bit of the mystique. I'm open to finding out.

I've also recently subscribed (I love RSS) to the Brookston Beer Bulletin. It's a pretty cool site. Check out the beer in art, beer in ads, and especially Guinness ads sections.

With that said, reviews of the copious amounts of beer I have will be coming soon. For now, I'm off to play some Assassin's Creed while wearing my new Ninja Turtle snuggie.

La Fin Du Monde

Just from the look of La Fin Du Monde, the experience had me thinking of champagne with the foil top and the cork. It even smells a bit like champagne and sweet grapes. The color is a delightful, hazy yellow. The taste starts citrusy, then on to grapes, and finishes a bit dry with a spicy, peppery bite. The 9% ABV is present, but not overpowering. This is complex, smooth, and quite enjoyable.

Grade: A

An Ode to Christmas Ale

If you haven't had Great Lakes Christmas Ale, this song is all you need to know! My review will be coming soon, after I pick some more up! Truly one of my favorite beers.

There is one NSFW word, but it's not a big deal. We're all grown ups here.

Evolution of the Beer Geek

Found this infographic at Beer and Whiskey Brothers. Clever stuff! I'd like to think of myself somewhere between Craftus Erectus and Geeko Sapien. Check out the rest of their infographics, too. I've been poking around their site a bit and I like it so far!