Sunday, August 28, 2016

North Coast Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XVIII Rye Whiskey Barrels

This is a 11.3% ABV Russian imperial stout aged in rye whiskey barrels from the North Coast Brewing Company of Fort Bragg, California. There is one batch each year, the number indicating the number of years since the first batch was done. For year XVIII they did one aged in rye and one aged in wheat whiskey barrels.

The beer pours deep black in color. There is a half-inch of dark tan head. The aroma is dark roasted malts, char, coffee, anise, creamy, with rye whiskey. The taste melds all the aromas together into a very pleasant whole. There is sweetness, but the finish is mostly dry, with oaky astringency, and mild bitterness. The beer drinks very creamy and smooth, with soft carbonation. There is a pleasant warming from the alcohol, but it is not at all boozy. I like this version much better than that aged in wheat whiskey barrels, but past vintages have been better. Each of the XVIII's suffer from just too much oaky astringency.
 


Friday, August 26, 2016

North Coast Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XVIII Wheat Whiskey Barrels

This is a 11.95% ABV Russian imperial stout aged in wheat whiskey barrels from the North Coast Brewing Company of Fort Bragg, California. There is one batch each year, the number indicating the number of years since the first batch was done.

The beer pours black, even when held up to the light. There is an inch of light brown head. The aroma is dark roasted malt, molasses, light char and star anise, creamy, hints of dark chocolate and coffee, along with soft whiskey on the finish. The taste is a conglomeration of all the aromas, upping the coffee, chocolate and whiskey. The beer is quite sweet, but also has a dry, oaky, astringency. The combination gives it the mouth tang of artificial sweetner. That is the only unpleasant note here. The beer drinks smooth, with soft and fine carbonation, and with a pleasant warming of alchol. I've been lucky enough to try several barrel-aged Rasputins, and I have to say this one is not quite up to the usual standards (which they have set as very high).


Castle Danger Ode IPA

This 7.0% ABV India Pale Ale is from the Castle Danger Brewery of Two Harbors, Minnesota. It uses Citra, Azacca, Amarillo, and Centennial hops.

The beer pours lightly hazed, the color of dried apricots. There is nearly an inch of off-white, foamy head. The aroma is tropical fruit, mango, mango skin, citrus, with a bit of earthy dankness. The taste follows the aromas, hitting the same notes, adding in a dose of oranges. The finish is dry and moderately bitter. There is sweetness in the malt. The beer drinks very smooth and creamy, with soft carbonation. This is very tasty and really, really enjoyable to drink.
 

Castle Danger Summer Crush

This 4.7% ABV summer ale is from the Castle Danger Brewery of Two Harbors, Minnesota. It is made with lemony Sorachi Ace hops.

The beer pours a very hazy lemon yellow. There is a half inch of white head. The aroma is lemony, lemon curd, toasted wheat. The taste follows the aromas, like well toasted wheat bread with a sheen of lemon curd on it. The finish is dry with a light bitterness. The beer drinks super easy, crisp and refreshing, definitely crushable.

Avery The Czar Imperial Stout

The Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, Colorado was established in 1993. This st0ut comes in at 8.5% ABV.

The beer pours black with an inch of thick, foamy, tan to very light brown head. The aroma is mild, dark roasted malts, light star anise, some dark chocolate and milk chocolate. The taste follows the aromas, fairly mild for the style, pleasant flavors of dark roasted malts, but in a relatively light way. The beer drinks very smooth and creamy, with a very soft, velvety and pleasant mouthfeel. There is sweetness, but the finish is mostly dry, with a moderate bitterness. This is very pleasant to drink.



 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Ballast Point Barmy

This is a 12.0% ABV golden ale with apricot and honey from the Ballast Point Brewing Company of San Diego, California.  "Barmy" means full of barm, which is apparently yeasty, frothy, foam.  However, it's British slang term was for being silly or idiotic.  A strong ale can do that!

The beer pours dark golden, light amber, with tints of copper and dried apricot. There is a relatively short head of white to off-white foam. The aroma is sweet and tangy, apricot, honey, with some candied orange peel. The taste is mild, sweet, honey and candi sugar, light apricot, some tangy citrus peels. The finish is dry, with an oaky quality of light bitterness and astringency. The beer drinks quite smooth, with a noticeable warming effect, and somewhat spicy finish. There is not as much flavor going on here as I expected. Some additional apricot comes out as it warms, but this is quite mild.

Dos Equis Ambar

Dos Equis Lager Especial is from the Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma of Monterrey, Mexico. This is a 4.7% ABV amber lager.

The beer pours a clear amber in color. There is nearly an inch of off-white to very light tan head. The aroma is light caramel malt, mineral, with very light plum-like fruit. The taste follows the aromas, hitting the same notes. The finish is very, very dry, with a light bitterness. The beer drinks easy, with moderate carbonation. Drinkable, but not exciting in any way.

 
 

Molson Canadian

Molson Canadian is from Toronto, Canada (say you are from Canada, you get a more interesting website). As Miller-Coors-Molson is all one large entity, it is a bit surprising that this is listed still as "imported" and not just brewed here in the US. This is their 5.0% ABV flagship lager.

The beer pours a clear yellow golden. There is an inch of white head, but it fizzes away rapidly. The aroma is full of lager funk and straw, over golden grain, with light apple and cooked vegetable. The taste follows the aromas, mostly pleasant, with just a touch of those apple and vegetable notes in the end. The beer drinks easy, with a refreshing and crisp carbonation. This is a decent adjunct lager.

Zipline Barrel-Aged Barleywine 2015 (Bourbon and Pinot Noir)

This is a 12.3% ABV barleywine that was aged in both bourbon and Pinot Noir barrels. It is from the Zipline Brewing Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, home of "Brave New Brew."

The beer pours deep amber, medium brown, shades of garnet. There is a short head of light tan foam. The aroma is dark fruits; tangy, yet sweet, like candied oranges; caramel, vanilla, oak, dark cherries, red wine. The taste is rich, loads of caramel and dark fruits, with the dry astringency of oak in the finish. The bourbon and pinot barrels add richness without making it boozy. The finish is dry and quite bitter (in an oaky way). The beer drinks smooth and soft, with a warming effect down the throat. This is very nice.

 


Saturday, August 13, 2016

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2016 - Mahrs Brau Collaboration

This 6.0% ABV beer is Sierra Nevada Brewing's take on the Oktoberfest style, brewed this year in collaboration with Germany's Mahrs Brau brewery. 
The beer pours a gleaming deep golden in color. There is a relatively short and short-lived white head. The aroma is rich grain, toasted, bready, touch of sweet, floral, with a bit of lager funk. The taste follows the aromas directly, hitting the same rich, bready, toasted grain notes. There is an element of sweetness in the malt, but the finish is grassy, floral, and bitter. The beer drinks smooth, round, but with refreshing carbonation. This is one really, really good lager! It is the best of the last three years.

Schell's Pilsner (2016)

This pilsner beer is from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. They were established in 1860 and I are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling.

The beer pours a golden yellow in color. There is an inch of white head. The aroma is bready, grassy, sweet with bitter, straw, some floral. The taste is an amalgam of the aromas, bready, grassy, touch of honey sweet, but with a refreshing bitterness on the end. The beer drinks with a very crisp carbonation. This is easy to drink and full of flavor, a very nice American pils.


Sunday, August 7, 2016

Arrogant Bastard Double Bastard in the Rye

This 12.7% ABV ale is from the Arrogant Bastard Brewing Company (think Stone Brewing) of Escondido, San Diego County, California. It takes their double bastard ale and ages it in Templeton Rye whiskey barrels.
The beer pours a cloudy dark amber and medium dark brown. There is a relatively short head of light tan foam. The aroma is rich malt, caramel, toasted, rye whiskey, sweet, tangy, spicy, some dark fruits and oak. The taste follows the aromas, hitting the same notes, rich malts, rye whiskey, fruit and wood, spicy and warm. While sweet, the finish has the dry astringency of oak. There is a moderate bitterness. The beer drinks very smooth, with a spicy and alcohol warming finish. This is a very good, rich, barrel-aged sipper.

Schell's WeissBeer

This Weiss-style beer is from the August Schell Brewery of New Ulm, Minnesota. They are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States (over 150 years and counting).  I think that Yuengeling is the oldest family owned brewery. In reading the label, I am not sure if this is supposed to be their original 1984 recipe? They re-released the 1984 recipe a couple of years ago, and it certainly tastes like it could be.  Just in case, I better post again!

The beer pours a clear golden yellow in color. There is an inch of white, fizzy head, but it disappears quickly. The aroma is lots of bananas, sweet bread, a bit of cloves. The taste follows the aromas, like a big, spiced banana bread. The beer drinks very light and easy, crisp and refreshing. The finish is dry with very light bitterness. This is a great easy drinking take on the weiss style.

 


Alien Amber Ale

This otherworldly 5.2% ABV amber ale is from Sierra Blanca Brewing of Moriarty, New Mexico.

The beer pours a gleaming copper and amber in color. There is a half inch of off-white head, not long lasting. The aroma is toasted malt, caramel, a small touch of dark fruits. The taste follows the aromas, lots of toasted and caramel malt. The finish is dry, lightly bitter. The beer drinks smooth and easy, with a tingle of carbonation. This is basic beer, but solid all around. If you are going to have a gimmicky label, put good beer inside, and they have done so.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Boxing Bear Baltic Bear

This is a 8.0% ABV porter from the Boxing Bear Brewing Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The beer pours a very dark brown to almost entirely black. There is a half-inch head of light tan foam. The aroma is dark roasted malts, pleasant char, light coffee, light dark fruits. The taste follows the aromas, adding in a mineral quality. The finish is dry, fairly bitter. The beer drinks light for its high ABV, with a creamy note, moderately carbonated.

La Cumbre Project Dank IPA

The La Cumbre Brewing Company is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their Project Dank India Pale Ale has a variable recipe that changes over time. This is a 7.5% ABV version.

The beer pours a hazy golden yellow. There is nearly an inch of white foamy head. The aroma is fruity, citrus, dank, mango skin. The taste follows the aromas, but changes their order, dank first, then mango skin, then citrus. It is spicy. The finish is moderately bitter, held down by some big malt, enough to add some sweetness and body, but the hops are the driver here. The beer drinks smooth, round, full, with soft carbonation. This is a nice IPA.