Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 27
Apparently, the Beverage Tasting Institute claims this is one of the top 10 breweries in the world. Red Seal Ale has won the Gold Medal seven times in the World Beer Championships. And looking at their other brews, they got a lot of heavyweights in there that are well respected. Got to try it!
The head is a bit too much if your don't pour it carefully. The color is a perfect amber. The aroma is fantastic with a balance of the sweet malt and the bitterness of the hops.
It has a very nice sweet flavor upfront with a bit of sizzle around the edge of the tongue. It washes over nicely. In the back the hops start to kick in. In the first few sips the hops really shine. Lots of bold hop flavor and bitterness. But as the bottle goes down, it mellows a bit. The malt sweetness smooths things over and really creates a nice balanced brew. Also there is a nice floral note to it from the hops.
At first I wanted to knock it a bit. The first few sips make me think big bold IPA. When it mellowed out I was disappointed. But, this isn't an IPA. It's an amber ale. It should be a bit sweet and have some bite. Given that, I think this is near perfection. It's a brew that has lots of flavor but never overpowers. A beer almost anyone can appreciate. North Coast, you've got a new fan.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Het Anker - Gouden Carolus Triple: 28
Taste: 10 Finish: 9 Aroma: 4 Visual: 5
Total: 28
It pours with a huge head that takes a while to subside. It has a beautiful golden color with a hint of red. The aroma is of sweet malt with a floral undertone.
Awesome. It is sweet with malt and honey. A bit of orange peel. There is a bit of bitterness around the edges of the tongue. In the back it blooms with spice, raisins, and floral notes. It ends sweetly and sits nicely in the mouth for a while. After a few sips there is a slight aftertaste of alcohol. But it doesn't get in the way.
Another fantastic brew from Het Anker. Amazingly complex. It would be great at the start or finish of a meal, but not during. Near perfection.
Total: 28
It pours with a huge head that takes a while to subside. It has a beautiful golden color with a hint of red. The aroma is of sweet malt with a floral undertone.
Awesome. It is sweet with malt and honey. A bit of orange peel. There is a bit of bitterness around the edges of the tongue. In the back it blooms with spice, raisins, and floral notes. It ends sweetly and sits nicely in the mouth for a while. After a few sips there is a slight aftertaste of alcohol. But it doesn't get in the way.
Another fantastic brew from Het Anker. Amazingly complex. It would be great at the start or finish of a meal, but not during. Near perfection.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Hoegaarden White Ale: 22
Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3
Total: 22
The new "it" beer is Hoegaarden White. It's an extremely refreshing wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel. It pours well and has a bright pale yellow color which is clouded by the yeast. Visually very nice. The aroma is mild of bread and citrus. Could use a bit more umph.
The flavor is very light. Just a touch of bitterness. The coriander really punches through. Personally, I don't get the orange peel. I get lemon peel and juice. But mild. There is a mild tartness to it as well.
I like the beer. It would be great on a hot summer day (which is what it's made for). But the flavor is light. It could use a bit more to it. I compare it very closely to Blue Moon. Hoegaarden is probably a tad more subtle. A very good beer that is step back from great. But this is probably one of the best beers on tap in many places so enjoy.
Total: 22
The new "it" beer is Hoegaarden White. It's an extremely refreshing wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel. It pours well and has a bright pale yellow color which is clouded by the yeast. Visually very nice. The aroma is mild of bread and citrus. Could use a bit more umph.
The flavor is very light. Just a touch of bitterness. The coriander really punches through. Personally, I don't get the orange peel. I get lemon peel and juice. But mild. There is a mild tartness to it as well.
I like the beer. It would be great on a hot summer day (which is what it's made for). But the flavor is light. It could use a bit more to it. I compare it very closely to Blue Moon. Hoegaarden is probably a tad more subtle. A very good beer that is step back from great. But this is probably one of the best beers on tap in many places so enjoy.
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel - Peche Mortel: 29
Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 29
A Canadian Imperial Stout, infused with coffee, and clocking in at 9.5% alcohol. It is black black black with the darkest head I've seen yet. A good whiff of coffee and malt.
Wow, that's powerful stuff. A moderate bitterness hits in the front. And then the dark unsweetened coffee kicks in the middle of the tongue. Okay, beyond just coffee. It's espresso. It sizzles on the way down and the exhale is all espresso and bitter dark chocolate. Did I mention it's strong? I really want to put some sugar in it! I also get a hint of smoke in the aftertaste. And boy does it stay with you. But this is a perfect example of an imperial stout and then upgraded with coffee.
It certainly isn't an everyday beer. It's a slow sip and savor type. Maybe you need a sweet pils every third sip to cleanse the palate. Otherwise, perfection.
Total: 29
A Canadian Imperial Stout, infused with coffee, and clocking in at 9.5% alcohol. It is black black black with the darkest head I've seen yet. A good whiff of coffee and malt.
Wow, that's powerful stuff. A moderate bitterness hits in the front. And then the dark unsweetened coffee kicks in the middle of the tongue. Okay, beyond just coffee. It's espresso. It sizzles on the way down and the exhale is all espresso and bitter dark chocolate. Did I mention it's strong? I really want to put some sugar in it! I also get a hint of smoke in the aftertaste. And boy does it stay with you. But this is a perfect example of an imperial stout and then upgraded with coffee.
It certainly isn't an everyday beer. It's a slow sip and savor type. Maybe you need a sweet pils every third sip to cleanse the palate. Otherwise, perfection.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Molson XXX: 9
Taste: 2 Finish: 2 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 9
Molson labels this as Super Premium. And it clocks in at 7.3% alcohol. What to god did they do to this thing? First you notice how sweet this thing is. And I don't mean malt. I mean sugary syrupy sweet. In the mid the alcohol kicks in. It's raw and numbs the mouth a bit. And then it finishes with more sweet. As you drink more the sweetness keeps rising and the mouth goes a bit number. It's really a bad brew.
Total: 9
Molson labels this as Super Premium. And it clocks in at 7.3% alcohol. What to god did they do to this thing? First you notice how sweet this thing is. And I don't mean malt. I mean sugary syrupy sweet. In the mid the alcohol kicks in. It's raw and numbs the mouth a bit. And then it finishes with more sweet. As you drink more the sweetness keeps rising and the mouth goes a bit number. It's really a bad brew.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Michelob Lager: 12
Taste: 4 Finish: 3 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 12
It pours with a thick head that holds on for a bit. I'm really surprised about the color. It's a dark yellow with a tinge of orange to it. There is a faint malt aroma to it.
Surprisingly it has has good sweet flavor. Decent malt. There is a bit too much fizz to it though. In the back just a hint of hops. It then leaves behind the aftertaste of "American beer" which is not all that appealing.
I expecting this to be pretty bland. While it certainly isn't a German pils, it has a few characteristics that were good. I like the sweetness and the color. But, the fizz keeps building after multiple sips which effectively masks any flavor to it. So, what could have been a decent American pils turns into substandard quickly.
Total: 12
It pours with a thick head that holds on for a bit. I'm really surprised about the color. It's a dark yellow with a tinge of orange to it. There is a faint malt aroma to it.
Surprisingly it has has good sweet flavor. Decent malt. There is a bit too much fizz to it though. In the back just a hint of hops. It then leaves behind the aftertaste of "American beer" which is not all that appealing.
I expecting this to be pretty bland. While it certainly isn't a German pils, it has a few characteristics that were good. I like the sweetness and the color. But, the fizz keeps building after multiple sips which effectively masks any flavor to it. So, what could have been a decent American pils turns into substandard quickly.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Victory Baltic Thunder - 22
Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 22
Baltic Thunder is a very deep brown, going on black. The head is thin but a dark cream color. The aroma is very mild of malt.
It glides over the tongue smoothly. There's a mild sweetness up front but the flavor really kicks in at the middle and back of the tongue. There the chocolate ramps up nicely. The exhale is chocolately as well. Then to wrap it up is a flavor of dry hops and mild bitterness. It's not a heavy beer and you could easily drink a few without feeling bloated.
It's a good brew. It's solid. But it's not great. Definitely worth trying if you want a good porter that isn't too thick.
Total: 22
Baltic Thunder is a very deep brown, going on black. The head is thin but a dark cream color. The aroma is very mild of malt.
It glides over the tongue smoothly. There's a mild sweetness up front but the flavor really kicks in at the middle and back of the tongue. There the chocolate ramps up nicely. The exhale is chocolately as well. Then to wrap it up is a flavor of dry hops and mild bitterness. It's not a heavy beer and you could easily drink a few without feeling bloated.
It's a good brew. It's solid. But it's not great. Definitely worth trying if you want a good porter that isn't too thick.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Dogfish Head Burton Baton: 26
Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 26
Burton Baton is a hybrid brew called an Imperial IPA. I assume it will be bold and very hoppy.
The hops hit the nose pretty good. A whiff of malt sweetness is also present. Visually it's a very cloudy deep red.
A great sweetness first hits the tongue. Like raisins and plums and fruit juice. It starts to change over the mid of the tongue as the hops start to kick in. But nothing bold, just a quality mixture of hops and the fruit. It dries out at the end with the hops, again not heavy, just enough to clean up the pallet. Again, the ripe fruit flavor lingers on the tongue. Throughout is a bit of sharpness at the edge of the tongue. It's nice.
It's a very unique beer. It reminds me of a dark Belgian. Also surprising is that it's 10% alcohol. You'd never know it. Another score for Dogfish Head. Keep'em coming.
Total: 26
Burton Baton is a hybrid brew called an Imperial IPA. I assume it will be bold and very hoppy.
The hops hit the nose pretty good. A whiff of malt sweetness is also present. Visually it's a very cloudy deep red.
A great sweetness first hits the tongue. Like raisins and plums and fruit juice. It starts to change over the mid of the tongue as the hops start to kick in. But nothing bold, just a quality mixture of hops and the fruit. It dries out at the end with the hops, again not heavy, just enough to clean up the pallet. Again, the ripe fruit flavor lingers on the tongue. Throughout is a bit of sharpness at the edge of the tongue. It's nice.
It's a very unique beer. It reminds me of a dark Belgian. Also surprising is that it's 10% alcohol. You'd never know it. Another score for Dogfish Head. Keep'em coming.
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