August 31, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, MI
STYLE: American Stout
ABV: 5.2%
APPEARANCE: Very dark, hazy mahogany
HEAD: Small tan head that disappeared immediately
LACING: Good lacing all over the glass
NOSE: Mostly roasted malt, some toasted oak, and very, very faint whiffs of baker’s chocolate. Despite the name, there’s hardly any cocoa aroma in this sucker. Compare it to something like the Southern Tier Mokah which is practically a cup of chocolate frosting and it’s unclear why they even put the word “Chocolate” in the name.
TASTE: Very one-dimensional. Just dark-roasted malt with a touch of caramel. Not much chocolate, despite the name and virtually no hops. Absolutely no finish. Just a wisp of bitterness and then it was gone.
MOUTHFEEL: A touch thinner than medium-bodied. Much thinner than I’d prefer.
DRINKABILITY: Tortuga seems to be some sort of spin-off of Jolly Pumpkin…but not as good. This beer was perfectly drinkable, but perfectly bland. I don’t mind stouts that play it a little “safe”, but this just wasn’t enough to hold my interest. A one and done for me.
RATING: 2 Hops
Comments Off | 
Tasting Notes | Tagged: Ann Arbor, Chocolate Stout, Jolly Pumpkin, Tortuga | 
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Posted by Barley McHops
August 30, 2010
Quick-hit post courtesy of Magnus Skullsplitter. Sir Magnus sent us a link to this nice little article explaining why canned craft beers are, in fact, superior to their more ubiquitous bottled brethren.
While I agree with everything said in the article (and I am 100% in favor of the canning revolution currently taking place amongst craft brewers), I would like to point out one thing that bottles still have over cans…namely, insulation.
Glass = excellent insulator.
Aluminum = incredibly bad insulator.
Simply put, bottled beer stays chilly quite a bit longer than canned beer. Sit outside on a hot, summer day with a can of beer and it will be steaming after about 5 minutes. A bottled version? You’ve got a lot longer before you’re drinking lukewarm brew.
Of course, if the canned beer is good enough…say an Oskar Blues Gordon…it should be empty before the first particle of sunlight even hits the metal.
2 Comments | Beer Culture | Tagged: Bottles, Cans | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 30, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, MI
STYLE: Witbier
ABV: 4.8%
APPEARANCE: Gorgeous, hazy pink color with flecks of gold
HEAD: Fluffy, bright white head that fades rapidly
LACING: Almost none
NOSE: Funky, sour, and spicy. Smells like a Flanders Red with a dash of clove and coriander. There’s a floral/herbal aroma floating above everything.
TASTE: Very vinous and sour with nice, strong spiciness in the middle. The finish is mouth-puckering and refreshing. No bitterness to speak of and that floral aroma from the nose has little to no presence in the taste.
MOUTHFEEL: Very light with good effervescence.
DRINKABILITY: Light-bodied, sour beers make excellent session brews since they’re generally low in alcohol content and extremely refreshing. The hibiscus in the nose adds a nice layer of complexity to this brew. Technically, the Prof ordered this one, but I enjoyed the few sips he deigned to give me. A nice little experiment from Jolly Pumpkin…they do sour beers very well.
RATING: 3 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Ann Arbor, Calabaza Blanca, Hibiscus, Jolly Pumpkin, Witbier | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 30, 2010
The Professor Tastes Inversion IPA
During my recent trip to the Deschutes Brewery, I had the chance to try a number of great beers. Top of the list was Black Butte XXII, an imperial stout brewed in a limited release batch commemorating the brewery’s 22nd anniversary. Because you can’t get a lot of these beers elsewhere, I thought it might be of interest to Aleheads exactly what Deschutes is serving currently at their brewpub. This list comes from the Bend brewpub, and is from Aug 6th. The only changes were the addition of a cask conditioned Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and a cask conditioned scotch ale (the name of which escapes me). This list is reproduced word for word from the list I got at the pub, so they’re Deschutes’ descriptions, not mine. For the record, the Core Brands are more readily available. The other sections represent more experimental beers, and might give us some insight into the future of Deschutes beers. Let’s hear what you think — has anyone had any of these? Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Ale Factories, Alehouses, Beer Culture | Permalink
Posted by Professor pH Lager
August 29, 2010
NOTES: Bottle @ Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, MI
STYLE: Wild Ale
ABV: 7.2%
APPEARANCE: Hazy and beautiful coloring…somewhere between orange and raspberry red.
HEAD: Nice, foamy, off-white head. Fades slowly.
LACING: Sporadic, but VERY sticky. Once it was laid down, it stuck to the glass like concrete.
NOSE: Full disclosure…I actually thought La Roja was a Dubbel for some reason (I’m an idiot). BA has it listed as a Wild Ale, but it smells and tastes, for all the world, like a Flemish Sour. There’s a subtle and sweet aroma of candy apple that serves as the foundation. On top of that is a sharp, sour cherry tang. And punctuating everything like a jazz flute is the bold aroma of funky, musty, wild yeast.
TASTE: The La Roja has a somewhat jarring taste. The nose is bold and upon first sip, it seems like that aggressive aroma will be well-matched by the taste. Instead there’s an initial flavor of sweetness and burnt sugar which is quickly washed away by a muted sourness and a dry, earthy finish. You rarely find a beer with such a disparity between the nose and the taste in terms of “power”. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing…just a bit disconcerting.
MOUTHFEEL: Somewhat thin-bodied with excellent carbonation
DRINKABILITY: I enjoy sour beers so I found the La Roja to be quite drinkable. The Prof and I had no problem crushing the bomber we were served. Still, I doubt we would have rushed to order another. I like Jolly Pumpkin a lot, but this wasn’t my favorite. The Oro de Calabaza is still their most sessiony brew.
RATING: 3 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Ann Arbor, Jolly Pumpkin, La Roja, Wild Ale | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 28, 2010
As many of you know, Deschutes Brewery is a favorite around here. Although I can’t get their beer on the East Coast, I make a point to get some every time I go visit family in the Pacific Northwest. During the family vacation this year, we were out in central Oregon, and were able to make the trip to Bend and visit the Deschutes brewery as well as both brewpubs (one in Bend, one in Portland). The trip was a blast, and we got to meet some of the great people involved with crafting Deschutes’ world class beers, not to mention trying a few beers you can’t get anywhere else. I love going to visit breweries on my vacations, but this was probably the best trip I’ve had. Even my inlaws, who aren’t big beer drinkers, thought it was a great tour and enjoyed the beer. Sadly, I just missed out on a chance to catch up with my old friend Beerford, who resides in the great state of Oregon — hope to see him next time I’m out there! Read the rest of this entry »
5 Comments | Ale Factories, Alehouses, Beer Culture, Best/Worst | Permalink
Posted by Professor pH Lager
August 28, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Leon’s Full Service in Hotlanta
STYLE: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
APPEARANCE: Black with nice chestnut highlights around the edge of the glass
HEAD: Beige, full head that holds on strong for quite awhile
LACING: Spotty but ample
NOSE: A true dessert beer…the Mokah is redolent with milk and dark chocolate aromas floating on top of a sub-current of freshly-brewed latte. I think I gained a pound just by smelling it. You know the guys in those low-carb beer ads that are working out while they drink because they’re afraid of a couple extra calories? Coming within 10 feet of this beer would probably cause their heads to explode.
TASTE: Glorious. Tastes like chocolate frosting mixed with dark roasted malt and espresso beans. Granted, it doesn’t actually taste like beer. But if you shut off the part of your brain searching for traditional beer flavors and just let the sweet, rich chocolate taste wash across your tongue, all will be well. This is as close to a chocolate milkshake as a beer can be. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I have no idea…but it’s damn tasty.
MOUTHFEEL: I wasn’t kidding about the milkshake comparison. This sucker is full, lush, and velvety.
DRINKABILITY: How many cups of chocolate frosting can you drink? More than one? Than you’re a better man than I. Delicious though it may be, one Mokah is enough for me.
RATING: 3.5 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, Imperial Stout, Leon's Full Service, Mokah, Southern Tier | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 27, 2010
Not to beat a dead horse, but these Top 10 lists are the shit. We used to make jokes that we write for a blog that no one but our family, friends, and AA sponsors read, but people all over the blogosphere are eating these new posts up. The good Brother Barley finally got to post a Top 10 of his favorite beer style, Imperial Stouts, so now is the time to post the follow-up with the rest of the Stouts in America. You’ll see that not everything in this new world of craft beer has to be Imperial, Double, Extreme, or amped up to the nth degree to be tasty little beverages. Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments | Best/Worst | Tagged: American Stout, Best, Best Stout in America, Milk Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Stout, Top 10 Stouts, Top Ten | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
August 27, 2010
NOTES: Bomber @ Abba’s Brew’s Bungalow
STYLE: Scotch Ale
ABV: 8.5%
APPEARANCE: Cloudy chestnut brown
HEAD: Minimal tan head that is gone before it even arrives
LACING: Very little. Just wisps, really.
NOSE: Definitely a Scotch Ale. Sweet, sugary malt and dark, fresh-baked bread up front. Some banana fruitiness and bubblegum notes as well.
TASTE: It’s mostly a Scotch Ale. A huge malt backbone is redolent with caramel, toffee, and a hint of peatiness. The Belgian yeast adds some fruit esters (bananas, prunes, and raisins) and a little funkiness on the back end. Finish is sticky-sweet and a little cloying.
MOUTHFEEL: Heavier than medium-bodied, but I think that’s mostly due to the lack of carbonation. With better effervescence, this is probably a solidly medium-bodied and smooth brew.
DRINKABILITY: I generally love Terrapin’s beer “mash-ups”, but this wasn’t their best. While Belgian yeasts add a fun wrinkle to most styles, perhaps Scotch Ales simply aren’t an appropriate medium for them. Or maybe this one-off brew just needs a little tweaking to make it perfect. I enjoyed it, but more as a novelty than anything else. Definitely worth seeking out, but not one of Terrapin’s finer efforts. Of course, even their worst efforts are better than what most breweries produce.
RATING: 3 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, Belgian Yeast, Reunion '10, Scotch Ale, Terrapin | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 26, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Leon’s Full Service in Hotlanta
STYLE: Quad
ABV: 10%
APPEARANCE: A dark, murky chestnut color with pretty red highlights.
HEAD: Lush, off-white head with a golden tint. It lasted appropriately for a beer this strong.
LACING: Thin, but complete rings are left every half-inch or so on the glass.
NOTES: Whew…so many aromas that it addled my nose. I’ll just list a bunch of things that were probably in there: toffee, caramel, dates, raisins, cloves, candi sugar, pears, and plums. In all honesty, I probably made up half of those things. Every whiff brought something new to the party and my nose is easily confused. Let’s just leave it at this…it smells wonderful.
TASTE: Four hops, four malts, four sugars, four yeast strains, and fermented four times. Sounds gimmicky, right? That’s what I thought until I tasted it. Holy crap, it’s delicious. Molasses and butterscotch, dates and plums, cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of lemon peel. I love a good Quad. And this is a damn good Quad.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied, fairly creamy, and very well-carbonated. A beautiful beer to roll around your tongue.
DRINKABILITY: About as high as it gets for a Quad. Despite it’s big ABV and complex flavors, this beauty is subtle, cleverly-crafted, and very well-executed. Wifey McHops and our assorted company at Leon’s all loved this brew.
RATING: What can I say? I’m a sucker for Allagash. The best brewery in the Northeast has never let me down. 4 Hops for the Four, of course.
4 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Allagash, Atlanta, Four, Leon's Full Service, Quadruple | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 25, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Brick Store Pub in Hotlanta
STYLE: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 9.5%
APPEARANCE: Cloudy, bright orange
HEAD: Thick, tightly knit, white head that lasted throughout the drink
LACING: Splotchy and slipped back into the glass immediately
NOSE: Less spicy than other BSDAs…mostly sweet, caramel malt and loads of fruit (pineapple, apricots, and some banana). Pleasant, but muted nose probably due to the massive head.
TASTE: The sweet maltiness dominates the taste as well, but the nice, round fruitiness that was present in the nose is readily apparent in the middle. The finish has a little farmhouse funk and some drying bitterness from the alcohol.
MOUTHFEEL: Big carbonation keeps this fairly full-bodied beer closer to the medium-bodied camp. A touch chewy.
DRINKABILITY: Not bad…I love BSDAs, but there are better ones out there. Still, it was quite drinkable for how strong it was. It was also my last beer of a long night of drinking so take this review with a grain of salt.
RATING: 3 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Brick Store Pub, Caracole, Nostradamus | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 24, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Leon’s Full Service in Hotlanta
STYLE: Belgian IPA
ABV: 6.9%
APPEARANCE: Clear, effervescent gold
HEAD: Short, white, fades appropriately
LACING: Spotty but clingy
NOSE: I’ve now sampled a few Belgian IPAs and I’m always impressed by the way the characteristic “Belgian” aromas of fruit and yeast funk mix with the traditional IPA aromas of citrus and pine. The Cali-Belgique is a great example of this. It smells like ripe bananas rolled in cloves mixed with grapefruit wedges dipped in honey. That actually sounds pretty tasty…
TASTE: And it is! A little more tart, yeast funk in the taste than the nose implied, but that doesn’t bother me at all. It’s got a Saison-like character…very refreshing and slightly sour. The finish is pure West Coast hops with some sticky pine resin and sharply acidic citrus fruits.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied but could use more carbonation
DRINKABILITY: Moderately drinkable…I really enjoy the style, but Belgian IPAs can confuse your palate a bit and I can’t see drinking more than one in an evening. That’s not a knock on this particular brew, by the way. I give Stone a hard time because so many people claim them as THE champion of American craft brewing and I think there many better ale factories out there. But the truth is…they’re a pretty damn solid brewery. This isn’t one of their best, but it’s plenty good.
RATING: 3 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, Belgian IPA, Cali-Belgique, Leon's Full Service, Stone | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 24, 2010
Waahhhh…ooo…wah…ooo…wah…chusett! Anyone that’s spent some time in New England during the winter months knows that annoying little jingle by heart (Sorry for implanting that song in your head so early in the season, my bad). Seriously Wachusett Mountain, you’re going with the slogan “Mountain skiing, minutes away” to lure people away from their vacation destinations in NH and VT? Wait, you have mountain skiing? I love mountain skiing! Sign me up! I think you’d be better off with something like, “Yeah, we know we’re not NH, but at least we don’t jack the prices when we know you’re coming to town” or even a simple statement like “Now New Yorker free!”. That last one would pull New Englanders off VT peaks in a heartbeat (Unless of course you like skiing in jeans, in which case stay right where you are). You may be wondering why I’m talking about skiing in August or even why I’m mentioning a mountain in central MA that most of the country knows nothing about. Call it a bad case of word association. To me, when I hear the word Wachusett, I think of that catchy commercial that plays non-stop for 4 months out of the year. When I see beers from Wachusett Brewery sitting on the shelves, a brewery that has nothing to do with the mountain of the same name, all I can think of is that song and can’t shake the bad imagery that’s associated with it. Today, I think I’ll go a foreign route and actually choose logic while shopping for beer. To hell with the song, it’s time to tear into some Wachusett Larry. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: 3.5 Hop, Double IPA, Imperial IPA, Larry, MA, Wachusett Brewery | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
August 23, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Sweetwater Brewery with Abba’s Brew as my local host
STYLE: Imperial Pilsner
ABV: 9%
APPEARANCE: Dark gold and clear
HEAD: Giant, bright white head that fades moderately fast
LACING: Decent…splotchy, but persistent
NOSE: It’s a pilsner, so lots of bready, biscuity notes up front. It’s cut through by a remarkably bold hops aroma. Although it’s still grassy as you would expect from the style, it’s much more assertive and citric than other pilsners. A faint aroma of apricots and peaches rounds things out.
TASTE: There’s a shocking amount of cognitive dissonance here. The “framework” is a pilsner, so I’m expecting a mild, pale lager taste. But its got huge Imperial IPA notes hitting me from all sides. Every sip begins with a malty, biscuit flavor that is quickly washed away by massive, bitter citric notes. And while the finish has the clean, grassy flavor you would expect, the bitter hop profile never really subsides. It’s like drinking two beers at once.
MOUTHFEEL: It’s medium-bodied, but a touch syrupy. Good, sparkling carbonation keeps it light on the tongue.
DRINKABILITY: A really interesting beer, but a little too overwhelming and off-balance to be truly drinkable. It’s more of a novelty than anything else, but I’m glad I was able to sample it on draft. Bought a bomber as well just to see if it was any mellower in glass. It was not.
RATING: 2.5 Hops
3 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, Imperial Pilsner, Magnum IP, Sweetwater | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 23, 2010
We at Aleheads have, in the past, gushed rather effusively in favor of the outstanding Tröegs Brewing Company. Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, Tröegs is the brainchild of Chris and John Trogner – two brothers with a will, a way, and dreams of craft-brewed goodness. Since 1997 that dream has been realized by way of nine tremendous libations. Their Nugget Nectar amounts to nothing less than a groin-grabbingly bitter romp to hophead nirvana. It was, therefore, with considerable mirth that your Baron tucked into a 22 oz. Tröegs Flying Mouflan barleywine, described by John Trogner as “[P]ushing Nugget Nectar off the side of a cliff.” The consequence of such reckless abandon? Pure Alehead bliss. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Ale Factories, Tasting Notes | Tagged: Barleywine, Flying Mouflan, Harrisburg, Nugget Nectar, Troegs | Permalink
Posted by Sudsy von Brüe
August 22, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Sweetwater Brewery with Abba’s Brew as my local host
STYLE: ESB
ABV: 5.6%
APPEARANCE: Cloudy amber with orange highlights
HEAD: Aggressive, off-white head that fades away respectably
LACING: Thin rings of lace that slowly drip back into the beer
NOSE: Subtle and muddled. A clean, pale malt biscuity aroma and a slightly citric, slightly piney hop profile. Everything is thoroughly blended so it’s hard to detect individual notes.
TASTE: As maddeningly balanced as the nose. I hate to say this…but it tastes like “beer”. Sweet caramel and the slightly acidic, bitter tang of citrus hops in the finish. Clean, smooth, and thoroughly unremarkable.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied. Medium-carbonation.
DRINKABILITY: Just writing about this beer is making me bored. I suspect reading about it is even worse. Look, it’s a drinkable, tasty beer. There’s just nothing particularly distinguishable or interesting about it. Would I drink it again? Sure. Would I care if I didn’t? Probably not. I can see why the Motor Boat was originally Sweetwater’s flagship, then was discontinued, and then was resuscitated. Even the brewery doesn’t know how it feels about the beer.
RATING: 2.5 Hops
2 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, ESB, Motor Boat, Sweetwater | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 21, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ Sweetwater Brewery with Abba’s Brew as my local host
STYLE: IPA
ABV: 6.7%
APPEARANCE: Hazy apricot/orange
HEAD: Fluffy and white and lasts appropriately
LACING: Decent…not too thick, but holds high on the glass
NOSE: Grapefruit, lemon, and some pleasant floral notes sit on top of a gentle aroma of fresh-baked biscuit dough.
TASTE: There’s certainly more than a hint of sweet, caramel holding the brew together, but the hops dominate as they should. This is an all-citrus hop profile…grapefruit, orange, lemon, and pineapple. Refreshing throughout with a slightly mouth-puckering bitterness in the finish.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with lovely effervescence
DRINKABILITY: Abba’s Brew and I were standing outside in the summer heat in Atlanta at the Sweetwater Brewery when we ordered up a couple pints of the IPA. It drank about as smooth and refreshing as lemonade. Granted, it’s not the most interesting IPA in the world, but it knows what it is and it does what it’s supposed to do.
RATING: 3 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Atlanta, IPA, Sweetwater | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
August 20, 2010
I’m a huge Top 10 guy. If I see a header with “10 Manliest Ways to Die” or “Top 10 Grossest Things in Your House“, chances are I’m clicking over in a heartbeat (Go ahead, click those links, I’ll be here when you get back). Apparently I’m not the only one obsessed with Top 10′s as our last two posts, Best IPA in America and Best Imperial IPA in America, generated more traffic than we’ve ever seen on Aleheads. Always one to strike while the iron’s hot, and because I can’t think of anything else to write, I figure I’ll take the IPA discussions back a notch and focus on American Pale Ale (APA). As always, if you don’t like my list, post your own in the comments section. This category is by far the most subjective we’ve had yet. Read the rest of this entry »
11 Comments | Best/Worst | Tagged: Best, Best American Pale Ale, Pale Ale, Top 10 | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
NOTES: Draft @ Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, MI
