Some fellow Aleheads and I spent last weekend celebrating the nuptials of our mutual friend Goose in the lovely, NorCal hamlet of of Santa Rosa. I should point out that neither Goose nor his wife are actually from Santa Rosa…or California for that matter. Nor do they have family in the area. As far as I can tell, they selected the site for one reason…to give my fellow travelers and I an opportunity to spend the weekend attempting to drink every ounce of beer at the Russian River Brewing Company. Read the rest of this entry »
TASTE OF THE -ATION
September 30, 2010
5 Comments | 
Ale Factories | Tagged: Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Consecration, Damnation, Perdition, Redemption, Russian River, Sanctification, Supplication, Temptation, Wild Ale | 
Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
PLINY
September 28, 2010
All apologies from the Aleheads for our radio silence over the past few days. Our two most prolific posters, the Good Doctor and myself have been on extended sabbaticals which has limited our ability to enlighten and entertain Alehead Nation. While Doc chose the more altruistic “Family Vacation” approach by venturing to the Magic Kingdom with the Doclings in tow, Wifey McHops, Baby McHops and I sallied forth to Napa to participate in the nuptials of our dear friend, Goose. We also spent the preceding week in San Francisco, partaking in delicious food and even more delicious brews (well…Wifey and I at least…Baby McHops is still developing a taste for craft beer). Read the rest of this entry »
15 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: California, Imperial IPA, Napa, Northern California, Pliny the Elder, Russian River | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
OOOOOOOOH, SHINY
September 24, 2010
First, let me point out that I’m all for innovation in the brewing industry. I enjoyed the Newcastle Brown Ale DraughtKeg, I’ve enjoyed several mashups of styles that I never thought possible, and I always appreciate whatever crazy innovation Dogfish Head is doing to bring their beers to another level (Even if they miss on the actual taste department, it’s still cool). When it’s the “Domestic” internationally owned brewing giants like AB and MillerCoors though, I’m simply dumbfounded by every innovation that they try to pass off as anything more than a marketing gimmick. When MillerCoors puts their light beers in a draught box that keeps carbonation levels consistent for an extended period of time, that’s innovation. When we’re talking about a couple of swirls around the neck of a bottle or a graphic that turns blue when it gets cold, that’s marketing. Now, when we’re talking about an aluminum pint bottle, with the same “Cold Activation” label but now with a resealable cap, I think we’re just testing to see how dumb consumers actually are.
4 Comments | Beer Marketing | Tagged: Coors, Coors Light, Coors Light Aluminum Pint, Marketing | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
ALESMITH YULESMITH (SUMMER)
September 23, 2010
You may be wondering why you’re seeing “Yule” in the title of a post that’s coming out roughly 3 months before Christmas. To be honest, when I came across the AleSmith YuleSmith the other day I just figured I had stumbled upon a leftover from the holiday season that should be perfectly fine to drink. After all, we’re talking about a Double IPA of 9.5% ABV that’s got plenty of staying power from a considerable use of hops. Of course, one quick look at the fireworks on the label and I should have figured out that I’ve got the Summer version in my hands, which is an entirely different brew than the (Winter)YuleSmith of the same name. Why is it called YuleSmith if it comes out in Summer & Winter? I have no idea, but whatever. It’s AleSmith and I’m drinking whatever they’re making whenever they feel like making it. Read the rest of this entry »
3 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: AleSmith, Double IPA, Imperial IPA, YuleSmith | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
NINKASI TRICERAHOPS
September 22, 2010
And thus ends the Summer of Tasting Notes. It’s September 22nd, the Fall Equinox, which means Summer has officially ended. 94 Tasting Notes reviewing 95 beers came your way this summer (plus many dozens of other, much better posts, of course).
Were the Tasting Notes interesting? No. Were they well-written? Not particularly. Were they at least enlightening and entertaining? Probably not. So what were they? They were a thing that happened. And let’s leave it at that. For the final Summer Tasting Note, here’s a lovely Imperial IPA from the beer mecca of Oregon.
NOTES: Bomber @ McHops Monastery courtesy of Beerford McBrewin’
STYLE: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.8%
APPEARANCE: Hazy, bright orange with golden highlights. The color of a summer sunset.
HEAD: Short, but extremely tight-knit, white, and very long-lasting
LACING: Nothing special, but a few splotches lingered high on the glass
NOSE: Different than other Imperials, but I loved it nonetheless. Instead of the nose-crushing assault of hops that you’d expect, you get the big, bold aroma of citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, and tangerines), a sweet, biscuity, pale malt profile, and a nice undercurrent of pine trees and spice.
TASTE: Fruit up front…the aforementioned grapefruit and orange, but also the sweetness of ripe peaches and pears. The middle is all bread dough and biscuits. The finish is pine resin and enough hop bitterness to leave you thirsting for more. Again, not your prototypical Imperial IPA, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with gentle, smooth carbonation that made the mouthfeel beautifully creamy.
DRINKABILITY: Well…the bomber was gone in less than 5 minutes and this was a solo effort, so I’d say the Tricerahops is pretty damn drinkable. Particularly for an Imperial IPA.
RATING: Normally I try to rate beers by mentally comparing them to other offerings in the same style. The Tricerahops is very different than other Imperial IPAs…much fruitier and sweeter than others in the style. I suppose I should dock points for that, but I really, really liked this beer. What can I say? Subjectivity, thy name is Brother Barley. 3.5 Hops.
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Imperial IPA, Ninkasi, Tricerahops | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
ROOTS ISLAND RED
September 21, 2010
NOTES: Bomber @ McHops Monastery courtesy of Beerford McBrewin’
STYLE: Red Ale
ABV: 5.6%
APPEARANCE: Very murky red with amber highlights along the edge of the glass
HEAD: Excellent. Tight-knit, creamy heady that holds on for a very long time.
LACING: Very good. Nice, steady rings.
NOSE: Inconclusive hops (really, that’s the best word I could come up with) sit atop a caramel malt aroma with muted hints of spice and toffee.
TASTE: Caramel malt up front, but it has an almost rye-like spiciness to it. It’s immediately overtaken by a bitter hop profile that’s neither particularly citric or piney, just…bitter. It’s like the brewer just threw in Alpha Acids without adding any of the other wonderful aromas and flavors that hops provide. The malt backbone fades quickly leaving just prickly, drying bitterness in the finish.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium to light-bodied. It’s a bit drying and astringent.
DRINKABILITY: Alas, the Roots Brewery is no more, so this is the last Island Red I’ll ever have. As Beerford wisely pointed out, in this case, it’s no great loss. The Island Red is an OK brew, but it isn’t particularly impressive. Drinkable? Sure. We polished off the bomber pretty quickly. But it was forgotten almost immediately thereafter. It wasn’t bad, but not the kind of bottle you need to save for posterity.
RATING: 2.5 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Island Red, Red Ale, Roots | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
AND THE WINNER IS…
September 21, 2010
Beer!! The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), held annually in Denver to celebrate all things beer, just announced the winners from this past weekend’s event. I’ll post the link below, but figured I’d save some of our readers the trouble of going through all 80 categories and other various awards and show some highlights. Everyone has a different opinion on the validity of these awards, but in the end it’s a celebration of beer and it’s great to see some of the smaller guys get recognized for their craft among industry giants.
- Mad River Brewing Company wins Small Brewing Company of the Year
- Blue Moon (Owner by Coors of course) takes home Large Brewing Company of the Year and two gold medals. Um, okay
- Deschutes takes gold for their English Pale Ale Mirror Pond (Only mentioning that because I still can’t get their beer, and it makes me sad)
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co. takes Gold and Silver in the American Pale Ale category and places in what seems like every category available
- Pizza Port takes gold in both the IPA and Imperial IPA categories as well as the award for Large Brewpub of the Year – Holy shit!
- Category 58 is “American-Style India Black Ale”. Just saying
- Allagash White earns bronze in the Belgian Wit category. Hmmm, is bronze the best or third best? I forget
- Category 29, “American Piss-Water”, shows Miller Lite, Old Milwaukee, and MGD. Can you imagine the judging panel for that?
Lots of other interesting beers on the list so check out the Great American Beer Festival Winners List for full results.
2 Comments | Brews in the News, WTF | Tagged: GABF, Great American Beer Festival, Winners List | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
MOYLAN’S OLD BLARNEY
September 20, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ J. Clyde in Birmingham
STYLE: Barleywine
ABV: 10%
APPEARANCE: Dark, hazy mahogany
HEAD: Thick, tightly knit off-white head that fades very slowly
LACING: Minimal…standard operating procedure for a Barleywine
NOSE: It’s amazing how different breweries interpret the same style. I sampled the Old Blarney back-to-back with the Avery Hog Heaven and you really can’t find two more dissimilar Barleywines. While the Hog Heaven was all massive hops and grapefruit, the Old Blarney is pure, sweet malty goodness. The nose is all caramel, molasses and toffee with bursts of fruit (cherries, dates, and figs). Lots of spiciness and a sting of noseburn from the booze hits you at the end.
TASTE: Rich, robust and warming. It’s redolent with the same sweet notes from the nose (mainly caramel) and the middle is chock-full of dark stone fruits and pungent spice. Unlike the Hog Heaven, there aren’t enough hops here to make a dent in the malt and that lack of hops (which I don’t necessarily think is a bad thing) also allows the alcohol to clearly reveal itself with a dry “finishing kick”. What little hops there are show up in the finish with a slightly sticky pine resin flavor.
MOUTHFEEL: Extremely full-bodied, thick, slick, and syrupy. Rolls around on the tongue like red wine.
DRINKABILITY: Low, of course. You won’t be sucking back Old Blarney’s all night long, but drinkability isn’t particularly relevant to Barleywines. Personally, I think the Old Blarney better represents the style than the Hog Heaven, but that’s a highly subjective opinion. To me, it tastes closer to the Platonic ideal of a Barleywine than Avery’s offering. Is that a stupid way to rate beers? Probably. But how seriously are you taking these ratings anyway? It’s not like the Aleheads have any idea what we’re talking about. We’re drunk half the time, for the love of hops!
RATING: 3.5 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Barleywine, J. Clyde, Moylan's, Old Blarney | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
BEST BEER IN AMERICA OVER 12% ABV
September 20, 2010
Yup, you read that title correctly. We here at Aleheads are fairly (Read: Incredibly) pretentious when it comes to our beers so it’s no surprise when the likes of Blue Moon and Miller Lite fail to make our Top 10 lists. When a beer like Sierra Nevada Bigfoot can’t make a list though, that’s saying something. Today we’re looking at beers that clock in at or above a whopping 12% ABV so crazy strong Barleywines like The Bigfoot, Brooklyn’s Monster, and Victory’s Old Horizontal can’t even come into discussion (Sadly “Low” 9.6 %, 10.8% and 11% alcohol respectively). If you like booze, and I know you do, then I’m sure you’ll love these high-octane brews as much as I do.
3 Comments | Best/Worst | Tagged: Barleywine, Belgian Quad, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, high gravity, Imperial IPA, Imperial Stout, Russian Imperial Stout, Top 10 | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
AVERY HOG HEAVEN
September 19, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ J. Clyde in Birmingham
STYLE: Barleywine
ABV: 9.2%
APPEARANCE: Clear, ruby red
HEAD: Short, tan head that fades rapidly
LACING: Very little lacing…not unusual for a Barleywine
NOSE: Whoa…Barleywines traditionally have an aroma of dark, sweet malt and loads of fruit. But the Hog Heaven’s nose is completely hop-forward. Big grapefruit and citrus notes come wafting out and almost drown out the caramel and burnt sugar smell from the malt. Surprisingly little noseburn from the fairly high alcohol content.
TASTE: A little better balance in the taste. While the hop bitterness hits you immediately with massive citrus notes, it’s tempered to some degree by a big, sweet, toffee-like malt backbone. Some chewy dried fruit (prunes and raisins) show up in the middle and the finish is astringent and drying…though it tastes like it’s mostly from the hops, not the booze.
MOUTHFEEL: Full-bodied, warming, and gently carbonated. It’s a pretty heavy brew…
DRINKABILITY: Low, but what do you expect from a Barleywine? Although, I would argue that the Hog Heaven has lower drinkability than many other Barleywines because it’s so damn hop-forward. It drinks like a Barleywine/Double IPA hybrid. Actually, that probably has a tremendous amount of appeal to a lot of Aleheads.
RATING: 3 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Avery, Barleywine, Hog Heaven, J. Clyde | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
EXIT, STAGE LEFFE
September 18, 2010
Every few summers, when fair New England villagers are steeped in oppressive humidity and sweltering heat, the Lord, Lady, and Little-Lady Copperpot retreat to their Saignon villa, perched in the Luberon mountains of southern France, for some much deserved relief and rejuvenation. It is a land of pain au chocolat, wine that flows like water, afternoon naps, and rich, creamy, impossibly inexpensive cheeses. Zanadu, really, except for all the French people. Basking in the arid, rarefied air of the Provencal countryside, I reified my quest to find exquisite brews that might befit this idyllic setting, and that might achieve a true harmony with our other luxurious indulgences.
2 Comments | Ale Factories, Tasting Notes, WTF | Permalink
Posted by Mashtun Copperpot
GOOD PEOPLE COFFEE OATMEAL STOUT
September 18, 2010
NOTES: Draft @ J. Clyde in Birmingham
STYLE: Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 6%
APPEARANCE: Deep, dark, hazy chestnut brown
HEAD: Short tan head that fades away in due time
LACING: Thin, but respectable
NOSE: Good balance of sweetness (caramel and chocolate) and bitterness (dark-roasted espresso beans). There’s a hint of baked bread in the background and very little hop profile (which is to be expected with this style since the coffee bitterness adequately replaces the hops).
TASTE: The sweetness hits your palate first with a bread dough flavor taking over in the middle. The finish is all strong, black coffee with a touch of bitterness left lingering on your palate (just what you’d expect from a good cup of coffee).
MOUTHFEEL: The oats give this baby a silky-smooth mouthfeel. It’s medium-bodied…not too heavy at all and the gentle carbonation helps maintain the creaminess.
DRINKABILITY: This is a very well-crafted and straightforward Coffee Oatmeal Stout (or at least as straightforward as you can get with a fairly rare style). The coffee aroma and taste is the key aspect of the beer, but it doesn’t overwhelm the other flavors. That, plus an excellent mouthfeel make this brew highly drinkable. A perfect cold-weather session beer.
RATING: 3.5 Hops
Comments Off | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Coffee Oatmeal Stout, Good People, J. Clyde | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
TERRAPIN BOOM SHAKALAGER
September 17, 2010
NOTES: Bomber @ McHops Monastery
STYLE: Imperial Pilsner
ABV: 9%
APPEARANCE: Clear copper
HEAD: Thin, white head that fades fast
LACING: Decent…spotty, but tenacious
NOSE: A pilsner aroma with an impressive amount of hops. It’s grassy and earthy with a touch of caramel and a very floral hop profile.
TASTE: The herbal hop profile gives the beer a faint bitterness throughout the sip, but it’s mostly a bready, biscuity malt backbone. The alcohol is present in the crisp, dry finish.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-mouthfeel and good carbonation. Just a bit syrupy.
DRINKABILITY: Pilsners certainly aren’t my beers of choice, but Terrapin does the style proud. Considering that this is theoretically the same style as a Bud, Miller, or Coors is just amazing. The big hop profile adds a ton to the brew, but the delicate Pilsner taste and aroma manages to hold its own. I don’t think Pilsners are ever going to win me over, but for the style, this is about as good as it gets.
RATING: 3 Hops
2 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Bavarian Lager, Boom Shakalager, Imperial Pilsner, Terrapin | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
WORLD CLASS IMPERIAL STOUT……FROM CANADA?
September 17, 2010
In case you haven’t heard, Canada makes shitty beer. Yes, most of us enjoy a few stellar offerings from Unibroue and some smaller outfits, but overall would you really put your stamp of approval on Canada’s brewing prowess? It’s probably not fair to associate “All” of Canadian brewing with Sleeman’s, Molson, LaBatt, and Alexander Keith’s. Oh well, this is a blog and fairness is the last thing on my mind. What is on my mind though is the latest Imperial Stout I had from our neighbors to the North. It’s on my mind, because my mind has been blown. If you find yourself tipping back a bottle of the Péché Mortel from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel, your perception of Canadian brewing might just be changed forever. Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel, Canada, Peche Mortel, Russian Imperial Stout | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
AVERY KARMA
September 16, 2010
NOTES: Bottle @ McHops Monastery
STYLE: Belgian Pale Ale
ABV: 5.2%
APPEARANCE: Crystal clear, pale amber
HEAD: Very thin, bright white head that dissipates immediately
LACING: None
NOSE: Very muted aroma. The malt sweetness smells more like honey or light maple syrup and it’s punctuated with the aroma of lemons, coriander, clove, and yeast.
TASTE: Well-balanced, but very bland. A sweet, biscuity pale malt backbone perfectly wed with a fruity, spicy, very mildly bitter hop profile. Nothing dominates and nothing stands out. The finish is crisp, dry, clean, and thoroughly underwhelming.
MOUTHFEEL: Good effervescence and a lighter than medium body.
DRINKABILITY: It’s actually very drinkable. Light, refreshing, and not overpowering at all. But considering Avery’s awesome track record, it’s a pretty boring brew. I finished the sixer, but I won’t be buying another.
RATING: 2.5 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Avery, Belgian Pale Ale, Karma | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
YES, I AM INDEED READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL
September 16, 2010
Roll Tide!
I love the fall. The leaves are just begining to think about turning in New England, the weather in the Northwest is as perfect as it gets, the pears and apples are ripening in the orchards, blah blah blah, who am I kidding? The fall means two things to Aleheads: football and beer. The fall seasonals are some of my favorite brews (mmm, pumpkin beer), Oktoberfest gatherings everywhere celebrate the fermented wonders of the world, and to top it off what better excuse is there to knock back a few brews than a football game? Not that we’ve ever needed an excuse…
Football and beer. Whether in a bar or in your own living room, watching 22 giant guys guys rumble over the fate of a bladder of air wrapped in a pigskin* just doesn’t feel right without a beer in hand. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | Beerford's Conundra | Tagged: Caldera, Dale's Pale Ale, Goose Island, Long Trail, Oskar Blues, Otter Creek, Tailgate, Victory | Permalink
Posted by Beerford McBrewin'
BELL’S KALAMAZOO STOUT
September 15, 2010
NOTES: Bottle @ McHops Monastery
STYLE: Stout
ABV: 6%
APPEARANCE: Black with just the barest chestnut highlights
HEAD: Thick, creamy, khaki-colored head that stays forever
LACING: Clumpy, frothy, and tenacious
NOSE: A classic Stout aroma with very little hops getting in the way of the roasted, earthy malt profile. Loads of milk chocolate, coffee beans, caramel, molasses, and a whiff of licorice (though the latter isn’t nearly as powerful as you’ll find in the Bell’s Expedition).
TASTE: At first, the taste mimics the nose quite well with a barrel of dark-roasted, almost charred malt and whopping doses of chocolate and coffee. But the hop profile, noticeably absent from the nose, makes its presence known in the taste where the finish has a good bit of hop bitterness playing off the aforementioned licorice flavor.
MOUTHFEEL: Somewhere between medium and full-bodied with excellent carbonation and a slightly drying, astringent finish.
DRINKABILITY: This is an extremely drinkable stout. While not as complex or bold as its big brother, the Expedition, the Kalamazoo is a dangerously drinkable, smooth, delicious brew.
RATING: 3 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Bell's, Kalamazoo Stout, Stout | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
BELL’S EXPEDITION STOUT
September 14, 2010
NOTES: Bottle @ McHops Monastery
STYLE: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.5%
APPEARANCE: Uber-black
HEAD: Large, extremely dark, tan head that fades appropriately into a small, eternal crown
LACING:Beautifully thick and steadfast
NOSE: While not as powerful as the taste, the nose reveals the deep complexity of the Expedition. Whiffs of dark chocolate, espresso beans, molasses, vanilla, and roasted malt are punctuated by the strong scent of pine resin from the hops and the unmistakable aroma of black licorice.
TASTE: Bell’s does stouts remarkably well and the Expedition is probably the best dark beer amongst their “standard” offerings. There are a ton of flavors in this brew and none of them take a back seat. The chocolate flavor is rich, dark and sweet. The coffee is strong and bitter. The hops are pungent, citric, and piney. The malt flavor is powerfully roasted and robust. It’s a challenging beer but a rewarding one. Not as drinkable as the Kalamazoo, but with a lot more depth and character.
MOUTHFEEL: Very full. Very unctuous. Very heavy. Just enough carbonation to keep it from drinking like syrup, but not enough to get in the way of the splendid creaminess.
DRINKABILITY: Huge flavors and a thick, heavy mouthfeel limit the drinkability on the Expedition. It’s a sipping beer, to be sure. One to pour into a snifter and swirl while contemplating the mysteries of the universe.
RATING: 3.5 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Bell's, Expedition, Russian Imperial Stout, Stout | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
WEIHENSTEPHANER FESTBIER
September 14, 2010
It’s mid-September, the temps are dropping (If only slightly), and it’s time to start rotating your beer fridge with the Fall seasonals. As much as I love pumpkin beers and the darker brews that late-Fall will bring, I’m not quite there yet. To brace myself with some middle ground I’ll look no further than the delicious Oktoberfest – Slightly sweet, biscuity dry in the finish, perfect for a crisp evening with an early setting sun. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Festbier, Marzen, Oktoberfest, Weihenstephaner | Permalink
Posted by Ripped Van Drinkale
BELL’S SPECIAL DOUBLE CREAM STOUT
September 13, 2010
NOTES: Bottle @ McHops Monastery
STYLE: Milk Stout
ABV: 6.1%
APPEARANCE: Black with black highlights beflecked with black.
HEAD: Thin, tan, and fast-fading
LACING: Not much…just hints of lace around the rim
NOSE: Espresso beans, milk chocolate, dark-roasted malt, and a hint of smoke.
TASTE: Mostly sweet, well-toasted, caramel malt up front with plenty of chocolate and coffee in the middle. Some sourness and smokiness in the finish.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium bodied with decent carbonation
DRINKABILITY: I drank this very shortly after sampling the Left Hand Milk Stout. While the Double Cream Stout is a little more aggressive, I’d say it’s just about as drinkable. Milk Stouts are nice session brews….haven’t really met one I couldn’t drink a half-dozen of.
RATING: 3 Hops
1 Comment | Tasting Notes | Tagged: Bell's, Milk Stout, Special Double Cream Stout, Stout | Permalink
Posted by Barley McHops
