Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 21
I fell in love with Negra Modelo after my first taste many years ago. It is such an improvement over the brewery's companion, Corona. It's labeled as a generic "dark" beer. Let's see.
It pours very nicely with a medium brown with a hint of amber. The head is perfect. The aroma is a very nice sweet malt. I wish it were a bit stronger.
It has a nice malt upfront with some nice sweetness. The middle is dry with a walnut flavor. There is a nice undertone of caramel. The finish is very clean and dry. There is a bit of sweetness again in the back.
This is still one of my favorites. Is it the best beer? No. But, it's a very drinkable beer with some nice malt, caramel, and nut flavors. To me, it is closer in flavor to a brown ale.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Unibroue Maudite: 27
Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 27
Maudite (Damned) is a bottle conditioned red ale. It claims to continue to age up to 5 years in the bottle similar to a wine.
Given its bottle conditioning, it is a very murky red which a large head. The aroma is mild with just a hint of malt and hops.
First sip, mmm, nice. Very nice. There is a nice sweetness upfront. It is smooth up the middle. Just a bit of bite in the back. The finish is oh so smooth. It leaves a trail of honey on the tongue. The aftertaste has a bit of hops but more of spices.
I would say this is a very pleasant tasting, sweet, spiced, and slightly tangy brew. This is a fine dinner type of beer. Subtle enough not to interfere with the food, but complex enough to enjoy on its own. Unibroue does it again.
Total: 27
Maudite (Damned) is a bottle conditioned red ale. It claims to continue to age up to 5 years in the bottle similar to a wine.
Given its bottle conditioning, it is a very murky red which a large head. The aroma is mild with just a hint of malt and hops.
First sip, mmm, nice. Very nice. There is a nice sweetness upfront. It is smooth up the middle. Just a bit of bite in the back. The finish is oh so smooth. It leaves a trail of honey on the tongue. The aftertaste has a bit of hops but more of spices.
I would say this is a very pleasant tasting, sweet, spiced, and slightly tangy brew. This is a fine dinner type of beer. Subtle enough not to interfere with the food, but complex enough to enjoy on its own. Unibroue does it again.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Stoudt's Fat Dog Stoudt: 25
Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 25
This is an oatmeal stout which Stoudt's claims to border on Imperial due to its hopping.
It pours as black as night. Not one ray of light shines through. It has a thin but creamy dark head. It has a slight sweet smell of malt and chocolate. Could use a bit more aroma.
It has a nice acidic upfront with a bit of sweetness. It has a bitter middle and end of dark chocolate. The exhale is strong and of more chocolate and a hint of roasted coffee. It leaves the mouth cleanly with no oily coating. Definitely a medium bitterness at the end. Nothing overpowering.
A great beer. I would say coffee and chocolate flavors could be a bit stronger. Given they wanted the brew to be bitter at the end I would say they achieved it well without clobbering you. This is a quality stout that's very strong in flavor and alcohol (9%).
Total: 25
This is an oatmeal stout which Stoudt's claims to border on Imperial due to its hopping.
It pours as black as night. Not one ray of light shines through. It has a thin but creamy dark head. It has a slight sweet smell of malt and chocolate. Could use a bit more aroma.
It has a nice acidic upfront with a bit of sweetness. It has a bitter middle and end of dark chocolate. The exhale is strong and of more chocolate and a hint of roasted coffee. It leaves the mouth cleanly with no oily coating. Definitely a medium bitterness at the end. Nothing overpowering.
A great beer. I would say coffee and chocolate flavors could be a bit stronger. Given they wanted the brew to be bitter at the end I would say they achieved it well without clobbering you. This is a quality stout that's very strong in flavor and alcohol (9%).
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA: 29
Taste: 9 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 29
Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA is a good beer that I thought could use a bit more to be a great beer. Well, would another 30 minutes help?
The beer is a perfect amber color with a nice creamy head. The aroma is outstanding. A strong inhale of flowers, maybe honeysuckle, citrus, and a undertone of hops. Without drinking the beer, it is totally compelling.
The front of the beer is sweet and tangy. Definitely some nice malt and touch of honey. Then comes the floral notes and citrus. Perhaps a bit of lemon peel. The finish is perfect. It is not overbearing but leaves a very nice sweet/bitter/floral/citrus coating on the tongue. Sip after sip doesn't amplify the flavors. They just stay perfectly balanced.
Another fantastic beer that you could drink continuously. Probably not for quenching a summer's thirst. But more for savoring and sipping through the night. At 9% alcohol, two a night would keep you very satisfied. It's a beer that should always be in your fridge.
Total: 29
Dogfish Head's 60 Minute IPA is a good beer that I thought could use a bit more to be a great beer. Well, would another 30 minutes help?
The beer is a perfect amber color with a nice creamy head. The aroma is outstanding. A strong inhale of flowers, maybe honeysuckle, citrus, and a undertone of hops. Without drinking the beer, it is totally compelling.
The front of the beer is sweet and tangy. Definitely some nice malt and touch of honey. Then comes the floral notes and citrus. Perhaps a bit of lemon peel. The finish is perfect. It is not overbearing but leaves a very nice sweet/bitter/floral/citrus coating on the tongue. Sip after sip doesn't amplify the flavors. They just stay perfectly balanced.
Another fantastic beer that you could drink continuously. Probably not for quenching a summer's thirst. But more for savoring and sipping through the night. At 9% alcohol, two a night would keep you very satisfied. It's a beer that should always be in your fridge.
Anchor Steam Beer: 16
Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 16
Anchor Steam is a unique type of beer created from the gold rush days of California. It is a hybrid beer in that it uses a lager yeast but is fermented at ale temperatures. Given the lager yeasts, I'll put this in the "generic" lager category.
Anchor Steam, along with a few others like Sam Adams, started the whole microbrew movement in the 80s. So, there is a lot of respect to be given to them for being so bold as to go against the grain of the big 3 in America. Pioneers back in the day doesn't mean they are still top notch brews. Let's see if Anchor Steam has retained it's magic.
It pours with a nice head. The brew has a great copper color. It has a mild sweet aroma.
The beer is extremely fizzy and bright. Any undertones of malt are overpowered by the fizz. Basically, any flavor the beer has on the tongue is completely lost. The finish is bold and bitter. There is definitely some good hop bitterness, but for me it's more metallic. Similar to the taste of a penny in your mouth. Very strange.
I can see why some really like this beer. It has a very unique flavor. But for me it's a bit off-putting with the overpowering fizz and the metallic finish. Just like Sam Adams, a quality brew in the 80s has been eclipsed by today's microbrewers who are pushing the envelope.
Total: 16
Anchor Steam is a unique type of beer created from the gold rush days of California. It is a hybrid beer in that it uses a lager yeast but is fermented at ale temperatures. Given the lager yeasts, I'll put this in the "generic" lager category.
Anchor Steam, along with a few others like Sam Adams, started the whole microbrew movement in the 80s. So, there is a lot of respect to be given to them for being so bold as to go against the grain of the big 3 in America. Pioneers back in the day doesn't mean they are still top notch brews. Let's see if Anchor Steam has retained it's magic.
It pours with a nice head. The brew has a great copper color. It has a mild sweet aroma.
The beer is extremely fizzy and bright. Any undertones of malt are overpowered by the fizz. Basically, any flavor the beer has on the tongue is completely lost. The finish is bold and bitter. There is definitely some good hop bitterness, but for me it's more metallic. Similar to the taste of a penny in your mouth. Very strange.
I can see why some really like this beer. It has a very unique flavor. But for me it's a bit off-putting with the overpowering fizz and the metallic finish. Just like Sam Adams, a quality brew in the 80s has been eclipsed by today's microbrewers who are pushing the envelope.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Pilsner Urquell: 27
Taste: 10 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 25
The Plzen brewery has been in existence since 1840. It is the originator of the Pilsner style beer. So, if anyone knows how to make it, it should be them. It is highly regarded as one of the best Pilsner's available.
The head is medium and creamy. The color is a dark golden, bordering on amber but not quite. The aroma is of mild hops and some light floral notes.
The first thing you notice is the sweetness of the malt and honey. It's big and delicious. There is a hint of floral tastes as well. The mid it starts to transition to hops. But, in the back you get a nice mix of malt, honey, and hops. The finish is a medium bitterness but again tempered with the sweetness. Overall an extremely tasty beer. It puts to shame everything the mass beer makers in America offer. It is near masterpiece.
But! I will say that I wish I could get it closer to the source. There is a very slight metallic taste in the finish. It adds up over time which really can detract from the taste. I attribute it to a beer that probably hasn't been handled extremely well from brewery to store. Alas, this is a problem of most European Pilsner. A great Pilsner is so delicate and doesn't have a strong hop finish to mask any off colors. I feel that if I had this in the town of Plzen, I would probably never leave.
Total: 25
The Plzen brewery has been in existence since 1840. It is the originator of the Pilsner style beer. So, if anyone knows how to make it, it should be them. It is highly regarded as one of the best Pilsner's available.
The head is medium and creamy. The color is a dark golden, bordering on amber but not quite. The aroma is of mild hops and some light floral notes.
The first thing you notice is the sweetness of the malt and honey. It's big and delicious. There is a hint of floral tastes as well. The mid it starts to transition to hops. But, in the back you get a nice mix of malt, honey, and hops. The finish is a medium bitterness but again tempered with the sweetness. Overall an extremely tasty beer. It puts to shame everything the mass beer makers in America offer. It is near masterpiece.
But! I will say that I wish I could get it closer to the source. There is a very slight metallic taste in the finish. It adds up over time which really can detract from the taste. I attribute it to a beer that probably hasn't been handled extremely well from brewery to store. Alas, this is a problem of most European Pilsner. A great Pilsner is so delicate and doesn't have a strong hop finish to mask any off colors. I feel that if I had this in the town of Plzen, I would probably never leave.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA: 21
Taste: 8 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21
It pours with a nice head. It has a crystal clear amber color. It has a very light hop aroma.
It has a nice acidic front with just a hint of sweetness. Then hops. Lots of hops. Hops at the end and in the finish. As I heard from an interview from the owner, he puts A LOT of hops in this beer. It has a good bitter aftertaste. I would say that it lingers a bit too long. It's heavy.
I've drank many of these in a sitting (and lying and eventually sleeping). It's a real good beer but it stays with you and definitely wears you down. Some love it. I find it a bit too much for a long session. But for 2 or 3, it's an excellent choice.
Total: 21
It pours with a nice head. It has a crystal clear amber color. It has a very light hop aroma.
It has a nice acidic front with just a hint of sweetness. Then hops. Lots of hops. Hops at the end and in the finish. As I heard from an interview from the owner, he puts A LOT of hops in this beer. It has a good bitter aftertaste. I would say that it lingers a bit too long. It's heavy.
I've drank many of these in a sitting (and lying and eventually sleeping). It's a real good beer but it stays with you and definitely wears you down. Some love it. I find it a bit too much for a long session. But for 2 or 3, it's an excellent choice.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Victory Golden Monkey: 21
Taste: 8 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21
It's an extremely interesting looking beer. It a golden color with a bit of orange to it. It fizzes when poured. Very little head. It has a light floral and spice aroma.
It is very sweet up front. Like honey. I also get citrus, mainly orange. Then a definite floral and spiced undertone. In the end is definitely more sweetness like honey and orange. The finish is a very strange flavor with a kick of alcohol. Oh, and this is 9.5% alcohol so play nicely. Surprisingly, after the kick, the finish is pretty clean. I mean, you can taste it, but it's not weighing down your tongue. So, you keep sipping. Yes, sip it less you find floor quickly.
Everything about this beer is different. The name. The color. The flavors. Given it's sweet and high in alcohol, it is a beer you won't drink often. Even though it's really good, I don't know why I would buy this, well, ever. May be good as a dessert beer after a good meal. It really has narrow appeal. But, try it once. Maybe the Golden Monkey will grab you.
Total: 21
It's an extremely interesting looking beer. It a golden color with a bit of orange to it. It fizzes when poured. Very little head. It has a light floral and spice aroma.
It is very sweet up front. Like honey. I also get citrus, mainly orange. Then a definite floral and spiced undertone. In the end is definitely more sweetness like honey and orange. The finish is a very strange flavor with a kick of alcohol. Oh, and this is 9.5% alcohol so play nicely. Surprisingly, after the kick, the finish is pretty clean. I mean, you can taste it, but it's not weighing down your tongue. So, you keep sipping. Yes, sip it less you find floor quickly.
Everything about this beer is different. The name. The color. The flavors. Given it's sweet and high in alcohol, it is a beer you won't drink often. Even though it's really good, I don't know why I would buy this, well, ever. May be good as a dessert beer after a good meal. It really has narrow appeal. But, try it once. Maybe the Golden Monkey will grab you.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Magic Hat Fat Angel: 16
Taste: 6 Finish: 5 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3
Total: 16
The label states it's "a paler shade of ale". But that's not the color. It's a surprisingly cloudy copper color. A medium head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is sweet. Perhaps a bit of fruit. But very mild.
It has a sweet malty start. It is very tangy and jabs the tongue in the middle. At the back is a medium hops and bitterness. It has a strong finish with hops that linger. It definitely holds you, perhaps a bit too long.
I don't dislike Fat Angel. And I'm not a fan either. It's a decent quality beer. But it is truly forgettable in a sea of much better brews.
Total: 16
The label states it's "a paler shade of ale". But that's not the color. It's a surprisingly cloudy copper color. A medium head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is sweet. Perhaps a bit of fruit. But very mild.
It has a sweet malty start. It is very tangy and jabs the tongue in the middle. At the back is a medium hops and bitterness. It has a strong finish with hops that linger. It definitely holds you, perhaps a bit too long.
I don't dislike Fat Angel. And I'm not a fan either. It's a decent quality beer. But it is truly forgettable in a sea of much better brews.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Victory Prima Pils: 21
Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 21
Victory Prima Pils is rated very well. It has won many awards. It arguably is the best pilsner. Yeah, that well regarded. Let's see.
It pours well. A nice golden with a decent head. It has a very mild hop aroma.
It has a mild sweetness to it upfront. A bit of malt. The middle is a bit of hops. Finally is a nice hop finish. Actually surprising. So many pislners don't have a hop finish. Pima Pils has a good hoppiness to it without going into the IPA range. Very nice. It finishes with a nice aftertaste of hops. A bit dry. Definitely has flavor. It doesn't overpower you.
Is it that great of a pilsner? Pretty much. Personally, I'd take a good German pils over this as they are a bit sweeter up front. But, Victory definitely scores with a quality brew.
Total: 21
Victory Prima Pils is rated very well. It has won many awards. It arguably is the best pilsner. Yeah, that well regarded. Let's see.
It pours well. A nice golden with a decent head. It has a very mild hop aroma.
It has a mild sweetness to it upfront. A bit of malt. The middle is a bit of hops. Finally is a nice hop finish. Actually surprising. So many pislners don't have a hop finish. Pima Pils has a good hoppiness to it without going into the IPA range. Very nice. It finishes with a nice aftertaste of hops. A bit dry. Definitely has flavor. It doesn't overpower you.
Is it that great of a pilsner? Pretty much. Personally, I'd take a good German pils over this as they are a bit sweeter up front. But, Victory definitely scores with a quality brew.
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde: 28
Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 28
Hailing from Chambly, Canada is Unibroue's La Fin Du Monde. It means "The End of the World." The brew is triple fermented and bottle conditioned. It claims to be a complex brew that can replace white wine at dinner.
The pour is very fizzy with a large head. This is intentional. It has a cloudy, murky golden heading towards amber. It has a nice aroma of yeast, hops, and floral notes. Perhaps a bit of citrus.
It has a bit of a bite at the front of the tongue. It is smooth and a crisp in the middle. At the end is some nice citrus. In fact, the citrus lays on the tongue very nicely in the finish. Oh, and it is so smooth. I also get a bit of sweetness at the end sort of like candied flowers. Strange indeed. Wow, it is a very interesting and complex blending of flavors.
I think I could drink this all night. Well, except it's 9% alcohol. Would be great to start or finish a meal. I can't picture drinking it during. It's too complex on its own. It would really have to be paired with something specific.
Overall, a masterpiece of a beer. Something to savor and appreciate like an expensive wine. Not for mass consumption. If this is the end of the world, let it come!
Total: 28
Hailing from Chambly, Canada is Unibroue's La Fin Du Monde. It means "The End of the World." The brew is triple fermented and bottle conditioned. It claims to be a complex brew that can replace white wine at dinner.
The pour is very fizzy with a large head. This is intentional. It has a cloudy, murky golden heading towards amber. It has a nice aroma of yeast, hops, and floral notes. Perhaps a bit of citrus.
It has a bit of a bite at the front of the tongue. It is smooth and a crisp in the middle. At the end is some nice citrus. In fact, the citrus lays on the tongue very nicely in the finish. Oh, and it is so smooth. I also get a bit of sweetness at the end sort of like candied flowers. Strange indeed. Wow, it is a very interesting and complex blending of flavors.
I think I could drink this all night. Well, except it's 9% alcohol. Would be great to start or finish a meal. I can't picture drinking it during. It's too complex on its own. It would really have to be paired with something specific.
Overall, a masterpiece of a beer. Something to savor and appreciate like an expensive wine. Not for mass consumption. If this is the end of the world, let it come!
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