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!

Drink With the Wench

The Wench is featuring the interview I filled out for her. This is awesome! She has a fantastic site and is great to follow on twitter, too. Thanks, Wench!

North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

Before I get to the review of Old Rasputin, I want to talk about Imperial Stouts as a style. First, they are some of my favorites! They were first brewed in the 1700s by English brewers in an attempt to win over Catherine The Great of Russia. Indeed, a royal beer. Imperial stouts, for lack of a better adjective, are huge in every way. Flavor, color, texture, ABV, all of it.

Old Rasputin pours black as onyx and is completely opaque with a huge, rocky, dark beige head. Jim Koch talks about being able to float a bottle cap on Sam Adams Boston Lager. You might be able to float the entire bottle on this head! The flavor is massive and complex. Lots of roasted and bitter notes with a little bit of expected coffee and chocolate. I also got some dark fruits, like currants. The finish is long, lingering, dry, and woody. Damn, is this beer amazing! Just know what you're getting yourself into.

There is some Cyrillic writing on the label, but I haven't been able to find the translation. I sure am curious, though!

Grade: A+

Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown

The 20 beers in 10 days challenge is complete! I have the shirt to prove it. One of my favorites was Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown. There were notes of hazelnut and smoke, rich caramel. The mouthfeel was think and full. There was a late, light sweet finish and after it warmed even some background cinnamon and clove. I thought it was delicious! However, after reading several other reviews, it turns out I am one of the few who loved this beer. I had this on draft, so maybe that made a difference. And it wasn't my first beer of the evening, so that could have changed things, too. But I loved it. I took notes about it on the back of a receipt, if that tells you anything


Grade: A

20 Beers in 10 Days

I have decided to start Beer Barrel's 20 beers in 10 days challenge. And while a few of the beers are macros, this shouldn't be an issue AND I'll get a t-shirt!

O'Fallon Smoked Porter

I love porters and I like smokiness so I thought I'd give O'Fallon Smoked Porter a try. It certainly pours just like a porter should. It is bitter, smoky, and there is a bit of nuttiness and even oak in there. The finish is a bit different than most porters (however I didn't write down why. Sorry.) But it's late, dry, and there's a hint of bacon! Mmmmm, bacon.

I certainly get the smoke, but it isn't overpowering. I could have gone for a bit more smoke flavor.

Grade: B

Before After Beer

This is Before-After beer. It's Lithuanian. I must admit, I'll go after a beer just because of the label and name. Combine those with the 12% ABV and I had to try this. Yes, 12% ABV. For comparison, Bud Light as 4.2% ABV. So if you're looking for more punch from your beer, here you go.

I knew with a beer like this to expect something different and it certainly is. The color is crisp, clear, and orange. The taste was totally unexpected. Like red hot candies, a little bit of caramel, and oak. The finish even has some chile heat to it. It's incredibly complex, but I was a big fan. Even with that high of an ABV, I didn't think the alcohol was overpowering.

As a side note, it was nearly impossible to find any other reviews on this beer. Guess there aren't a lot of Lithuanian beers here!

Grade: A

Sierra Nevada Tumbler Review

Since Sierra Nevada is following me on twitter now (and you can too), I figure it was time to review one of their beers. Here is one of their fall offerings, Sierra Nevada Tumbler. It pours a dark brown color with hints of orange. Nothing really stands out in the taste. There are some hints of nuts, some roast, and some caramel. But it's full, earthy, easy to drink, and delicious. Perfect for a day of watching football. There are times where I just want a beer to taste good and I don't seek out all the nuances. This is one of them. Get it while you can!

Grade: A

Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale

My appreciation for Sam Adams is growing (though, I will still never go near Cherry Wheat again, thank you). The Harvest Pumpkin Ale is a perfect fall beer. A gorgeous orange and tan color and delicious spices. While I did taste some pumpkin, it was mostly in the background. But those warm, delectable pumpkin pie spices were right up front. Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, they're all there. It was still refreshing and crisp, too. And even though it is heavily spiced, it is fantastically well balanced. I can't think of a better fall beer.

Grade: A+

Bluegrass Bourbon Barrel Stout Review

After trying, and loving, a couple of bourbon barrel styles, I am now picking up all I can find. This is Bluegrass Brewing's Bourbon Barrel Stout. The appearance certainly is what you would expect from a stout. It's black, thick, and smooth with a huge, creamy tan head. It was excessively carbonated and took a couple of pours to get it in the glass. The color had me instantly wondering something that unfortunately was true of this beer. Because of the stout characteristics including the roasted, smokey, nutty flavors, the bourbon was really hard to pick up. There were some late woody and vanilla notes, but the bourbon was not as prominent as I would have liked. I liked this beer, but I would not go for it if I was in the mood for a bourbon ale. It's kinda like a Porsche Boxter. I mean, yeah, it's a Porsche, but you should probably go for the 997.

Grade: B

Lilja's Sasquatch Stout

I'm a sucker for a cool name and a cool label. Lilja's Sasquatch Stout has both! Thankfully, it tastes as good as it looks! It has all the characteristics I want in a stout. A dark color, great head, strong roasted flavor with a bitter, dry finish. This one also has a taste of currants and rye bread. Very complex, very interesting, and very delicious. Reminds me both of a milk stout and an imperial stout. I'm a bit confused as to who makes it, though. The label will lead you to Pangaea Beers, but beeradvocate.com has it under Sand Creek Brewing. However, Sand Creek's website doesn't have Sasquatch listed. I don't care who makes, it's wonderful!

Grade: A

Boston Beer Company on the Rise?

I found this article about the Boston Beer Company (aka Sam Adams) to be an interesting read

Great Lakes Brewing Company Nosferatu Review

Seeing as how this beer is called Nosferatu, I expected it to be one of two colors. Dark as night, or blood red. It was neither, rather it was amber. Despite the color being not what I expected, this beer certainly has "bite". They call it an Imperial Red Ale, but it tastes and feels much more like an IPA to me. It has all the familiar characteristics like the dry finish, the huge hoppy, almost piney flavor. It's quite good. And, like every Great Lakes beer, the label is awesome. The vampire really does remind me of Max Schreck.

Grade: B

Magic Hat #9

Magic Hat calls #9 a "not quite pale ale". Based on that, I was expecting something similar to Bass. I was quite wrong! Even though it's an ale, the color and taste were light and crisp like a lager with a lot of citrus flavor. It tasted like a peach/apricot iced tea, with less tea flavor. There were some light hop flavors, too. I liked it, but it wasn't what I expected. I would liken it to Sprite or Stairway to Heaven. When I'm in the mood for it, nothing else will satisfy, but I've gotta be in the mood. I would certainly have it again, but it's not something I would buy regularly.

Grade: B

Founders Breakfast Stout

Wow wow wow. This might be my new favorite beer, Founders Breakfast Stout. Pours black and thick. The second I opened it, I was bombarded by the smell of coffee. And not that cheap, free stuff at work. Real strong, bitter, delicious coffee. That's exactly what it tasted like, with a finish of bittersweet chocolate and toasted oatmeal. It's thick, creamy, and quite bitter. It reads more like a coffee with alcohol than it does a beer, but that's fine by me. By the way, why aren't there more coffee-with-alcohol drinks? And at 8.3% ABV, a few of these will put you where you want to be!

If you don't like coffee, don't even try it. Please save it for someone who will truly appreciate it. Delicious.

Grade: A+

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Like I said, I am going through lots of Oktoberfest/Marzen styles now. Here's one from Brooklyn Brewing. It has a nice copper color and tastes of caramel, and maple, but it's not sweet like maple syrup. Compared to the Beck's, this is more complex, more roasted, more interesting, and has more overall flavor. They both have a similar finish. Good, but not great. I'd have it before the Beck's, but not before Great Lakes or Sam Adams (both reviews on the way).

Their website is pretty cool. Especially the recipe section which gives food pairings to their beers.

Grade: C

Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin

I really wanted to like this beer. I really, really did. It's from Wychwood Brewery. A dark English ale with a cool name and cool label. It started out promisingly, pouring a deep ruby color with a nice head. Unfortunately, with the first sip, all I could taste was soap. Yes, soap. I figured I would let it sit and bring the temp up a bit, and it did reveal some more complex flavors like oak and mahogany, but the astringent soapiness was too much. I'm hoping I just got a bad bottle. I would try other beers from there, but I'm not sure I will be revisiting Hobgoblin. Too bad.

Grade: D

Hofbrau Oktoberfest

Continuing with my Oktoberfest theme, I went with the real deal. Hofbrau Oktoberfest. This has been served since the original wedding party that then became Oktoberfest. According to them, what they bottle is the same stuff served at their tent at Oktoberfest. It pours a surprisingly light straw color compared to the ambers and coppers of most Oktoberfests and marzens. That said, it has a very good flavor. It's not at all watery. There are hints of grass, hops, and some fruit. It's light, crisp, and has a late, mildly bitter finish. I can see why Oktoberfest is so popular!

Grade: B

Founders Dirty Bastard

This beer is a Scotch style ale, it is called Dirty Bastard, and it has a tartan on the label. Impossible for me to pass it up, and I was not disappointed! It pours a light brown color, almost like the darkest iced tea you've ever had. The flavor is very complex with a ton of different malt flavors going on. There is roastedness, piney, hoppy, a little bit of not very sweet maple, even a hint of scotch. It's very bold and has a long bitter, but not acrid, finish. I like this a whole bunch and will be looking for more! I feel like about 6 of these would, in fact, make me a Dirty Bastard.

Grade : A

My Scale

I figured since I'm rating beers I should give the rubric on my grades

A: Absolutely love it. Will buy it again and again and again
B: Enjoyed it very much. Would buy again
C: Thought it was fine. Not upset I got it, but probably wouldn't get it again
D: Could finish it, but would not buy again. I'd drink it if it was free, though!
F: Had to pour it down the drain

Abita Amber

From the bayou in Louisiana comes Abita Amber. This is the company's first and most popular beer. It has a light copper color, a little bit of a caramel feel and some citrus notes. It is a lot lighter in color, doesn't feel as heavy, and has a less bold flavor than something like Great Lakes' Eliot Ness or Flying Dog's Old Scratch. Think more like Yuengling. It's very good, just don't expect something heavy and aggressive. I liked it quite a bit and would get it again!

Grade : B

Smuttynose Robust Porter

Porter is my favorite style of beer, so I'm always looking to try a new one. Smuttynose's Robust Porter is a very good example of what a porter should be. Very dark with a full deep tan head. It has bite, bitterness, and a late dry piney finish. This lingers quite a bit, too. The classic characteristics of a porter are here with the roasted malt, coffee and chocolate flavors. I wouldn't say there is anything special or atypical about this compared to other porters, but it's very good. And I happen to love porters.

Grade :B

Beck's Oktoberfest

Since it's fall, I think it's time to try some Oktoberfests. I'm starting with Beck's Oktoberfest. Which, by the way, is owned by InBev/Anheuser Busch. This had great head, an inviting deep copper color. As I was trying to figure out the flavors in this, before I knew it, it was gone! It's very smooth, crisp, and clean. There is a subtle caramel flavor to it and a little bit of hoppy bitterness, but nothing really stood out. It didn't have anything really aggressive nor did it have a lot of character. Seemingly everything about it was average in taste and body. There are certainly Oktoberfest styles out there that are bolder and have move flavor. However, it would be easy to polish off quite a few of these!

Grade: C

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

I first had this beer one delightful summer afternoon on the patio at The Wine Merchant in Findlay. The aroma had me hooked before I even took a sip. As much as I love beer, I also really enjoy bourbon. All the familiar characteristics of a good bourbon hit me immediately. That oakey and vanilla scent, the copper color. It drinks like the smoothest bourbon you've ever had with that unctuous buttery feel going down. And a hint of residual warmth. Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is delicious, smooth, and has an aggressive, tricky 8% ABV. If you're wondering where all the bourbon characteristics come from, this ale is aged in barrels that were previously used for bourbon. Brilliant!

While there are beer traits with the color, lacing, and carbonation, the flavor is much closer to bourbon than to any beer I have had.

If you like bourbon, you'll like this. If you don't, then save it for someone who does!

Grade: A

Relaunch

I quit this for a while since the place with the best beer selection in town shut down. But with some new places including Ray's picking up some of the slack, Vino Bellissimo now carrying some beer (which you can buy by the bottle), and a few trips up to The Wine Merchant in Findlay, I feel it's time to get it going again.

I have also started homebrewing. So far I've made a Porter, American style Bock, British PA (not an IPA), and I currently have a Honey Cream Ale fermenting. The Homebrewery has fantastic products and everything you need to get started. It really isn't that difficult, however there is a lot that can go wrong. They have pre-made kits where if you can follow a recipe, you can make the beer. They also have everything you need to come up with your own recipe. I have been very impressed!

Now, onto the beer!

Indian Brown Ale - Dogfish Head

Dogfish Head is in Delaware and it's what I'd call more of an "experimental" brewery. While they do offer a few styles of IPA, that's about the only normal brew you'll find. The Midas Touch is a fascinating story which I'll get to in the future.

Indian Brown Ale is pretty interesting. A deep brown, nearly black color. The head isn't huge, but it's certainly there. The aroma and flavor both have a roasted nuttiness and almost fruitiness to it. There's almost a cooked brown sugar lingering flavor that is a little bitter. It's pretty complex, but the mouth feel is surprisingly light. The alcohol is well hidden, too (read: It'll getcha drunk!) Honestly, this is similar to a porter, but that was not the original intention. There's a video on the page I linked to explain how it was made.

I'm rather enjoying this!

Grade: A

Lunar Lager

Oh, the Lunar Lager from Thirsty Dog Brewing Company in Akron. This beer was made specifically for the Summer Moon Festival in Wapakoneta, Ohio, which is the home of Neil Armstrong. He said the moon is made of jam, or something. Anyway, it was made for the 40th anniversary and was first made available to the public at the Summer Moon Fest. Pretty cool if you ask me. When I asked the people from Thirsty Dog how they came up with it, I got kind of a convoluted answer about taking characteristics from other lagers they like and that it didn't quite meet the original IBUs they had anticipated. But hey, at least they responded, not all craft breweries would do that.

Now, to the beer. To be perfectly honest, if I didn't know it was a lager, I'd think it's an ale. It's a cloudy gold color, similar to a hefeweizen. Nice head, very good lacing, and a little bit of bitterness. It almost tastes like a milder version of Great Lakes' Grassroots Ale. It's got that kind of muddled herby citrusy taste to it. A very dry finish, too.

It's good, but not great. Honestly, the novelty is the most appealing feature. Certainly no problem finishing a sixer, though!

Grade: B-