Hello everyone!
I have moved to a brand new site over at www.itsperfectlyawesome.com. Exciting, isn't it?
Still working on pulling everything together, but all my posts are now located there. So head on over and check it out!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
New Belgium Brewing & Clutch: A Tasty Collaboration
I've got so many reviews I barely know what to do with them all. Not including this one, I've still got five more. FIVE. And I'm about to go buy even more beer. I can't help myself. So here's a review before I become so swallowed by them that I can no longer leave the house.
It's always pleasant when you discover a new brewing company that makes beer you really like. It's even better when that brewing company has a "Lips of Faith" series because let's be honest, that's a pretty awesome name. Enter New Belgium Brewing, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and a rock band that's called Clutch. I have never heard of them before. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to them as I write this and honestly, I'm not sure what to think. It's different. I'll have to listen to more. It's a little intense, but that's okay, because the beer is too.
Anyway, here's a description of the beer from New Belgium's website:
"It started as chance, a sandwich shop encounter between a band and a fan. It ended as the Clutch Collaboration. This pleasing, two-part potion was brewed with chocolate and black malts for a rich and roasty overtone, then fused with a dry, substratum of sour for a bold and audacious flavor. Black as night, this beer is blended at 80% stout, 20% dark sour wood beer for a collaboration that begins with a sour edge and finishes with a big, dark malt character, lingering, sweet on your palate."
Yes, you read that right. This is a dark sour ale that has chocolate and coffee malts. This is a sour ale on crack. This 9% brew is surprisingly easy to drink, and it will probably go down fast (it did for me). So be careful, or this beer will have you in its clutches... hah hah get it? Okay never mind...
Color: Really, really dark mocha / brown color, with possible hints of a dark red or mahogany. It is very dark, indeed "black as night," but because of the lighting I did see some hints of reddish-brown. This pours with a thick off white head that starts off quite large but disappears rather quickly. As you can see, I've used the Stone glasses again, but I think they go very well with this beer, as it's definitely not fizzy or yellow.
Aroma: Think sour + chocolate. I know that doesn't sound like the best smell in the world, but believe me, it works. The beer smells pretty damn good. There's also a coffee aroma that starts off slight at first, but then once it really gets into your nose, it smells like a strong dark coffee. So really it's sour + chocolate + black coffee. Basically everything you need for a midnight brew with an edge.
First Sip: Interesting. Verryyy interesting. I tasted the coffee flavor first and foremost, with some hints of chocolate in the background. There's also a nice warming sensation (thank you 9% ABV!). There's not too much sour taste at first--it's like your taste buds get hit with the coffee and chocolate and can't pay attention to anything else.
Mouthfeel: However, once I start drinking more of the beer, more sour taste comes through. There's also more of a coffee taste. The chocolatey-ness of the beer is more slight and subtle. As I sift through the flavors, there are more sour notes that come through, and the coffee and chocolate start blending together into a more mocha flavor (rather than separate tastes). It's not a heavy beer, but still full of flavor. There's a little sweetness, but not much.
Aftertaste: I'm left with a mostly coffee taste, and some chocolate. The beer continues to warm my throat even after it's gone.
So if you want a sour beer with bite then go for this one.
Upcoming in the next week (hopefully) I will have a review for Samuel Adams Third Voyage IPA and one for Cisco Brewing's Tripel, from their Island Reserve Series. Then after that, it all becomes a huge muddle of Dogfish Head, Stone, and Jack's Abby. So stay tuned!
It's always pleasant when you discover a new brewing company that makes beer you really like. It's even better when that brewing company has a "Lips of Faith" series because let's be honest, that's a pretty awesome name. Enter New Belgium Brewing, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and a rock band that's called Clutch. I have never heard of them before. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to them as I write this and honestly, I'm not sure what to think. It's different. I'll have to listen to more. It's a little intense, but that's okay, because the beer is too.
Anyway, here's a description of the beer from New Belgium's website:"It started as chance, a sandwich shop encounter between a band and a fan. It ended as the Clutch Collaboration. This pleasing, two-part potion was brewed with chocolate and black malts for a rich and roasty overtone, then fused with a dry, substratum of sour for a bold and audacious flavor. Black as night, this beer is blended at 80% stout, 20% dark sour wood beer for a collaboration that begins with a sour edge and finishes with a big, dark malt character, lingering, sweet on your palate."
Yes, you read that right. This is a dark sour ale that has chocolate and coffee malts. This is a sour ale on crack. This 9% brew is surprisingly easy to drink, and it will probably go down fast (it did for me). So be careful, or this beer will have you in its clutches... hah hah get it? Okay never mind...
Color: Really, really dark mocha / brown color, with possible hints of a dark red or mahogany. It is very dark, indeed "black as night," but because of the lighting I did see some hints of reddish-brown. This pours with a thick off white head that starts off quite large but disappears rather quickly. As you can see, I've used the Stone glasses again, but I think they go very well with this beer, as it's definitely not fizzy or yellow.
Aroma: Think sour + chocolate. I know that doesn't sound like the best smell in the world, but believe me, it works. The beer smells pretty damn good. There's also a coffee aroma that starts off slight at first, but then once it really gets into your nose, it smells like a strong dark coffee. So really it's sour + chocolate + black coffee. Basically everything you need for a midnight brew with an edge.
First Sip: Interesting. Verryyy interesting. I tasted the coffee flavor first and foremost, with some hints of chocolate in the background. There's also a nice warming sensation (thank you 9% ABV!). There's not too much sour taste at first--it's like your taste buds get hit with the coffee and chocolate and can't pay attention to anything else.
Mouthfeel: However, once I start drinking more of the beer, more sour taste comes through. There's also more of a coffee taste. The chocolatey-ness of the beer is more slight and subtle. As I sift through the flavors, there are more sour notes that come through, and the coffee and chocolate start blending together into a more mocha flavor (rather than separate tastes). It's not a heavy beer, but still full of flavor. There's a little sweetness, but not much.
Aftertaste: I'm left with a mostly coffee taste, and some chocolate. The beer continues to warm my throat even after it's gone.
So if you want a sour beer with bite then go for this one.
Upcoming in the next week (hopefully) I will have a review for Samuel Adams Third Voyage IPA and one for Cisco Brewing's Tripel, from their Island Reserve Series. Then after that, it all becomes a huge muddle of Dogfish Head, Stone, and Jack's Abby. So stay tuned!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Beer Geeks, ASSEMBLE!
Let's get something straight here, something I've been meaning to set straight for a long, long time:
It's important for all self proclaimed craft beer lovers to know the difference between these two terms, and to ALWAYS be a geek and NEVER a snob. Here are my definitions (certainly not all encompassing):
Beer Snob (n): One who thinks they are better than everyone because of what they drink, likes to put down anything they don't like. Thinks their own opinions on beer are the last word. Is generally not willing to try new things. Thinks they know more than anyone and will try to demonstrate this.
Beer Geek (n): One who is willing to try anything in the name of good beer, does not put down anyone for what they like even if they themselves are not fond of it. Approaches beer with openness. May not like everything, but discusses opinions in a good natured, open manner. Knows there's always more to learn.
I like to think I'm a beer geek. I concentrate on how the beer tastes, what it's made with, etc, rather than who likes it and who doesn't. If someone likes a beer that I don't, who am I to say "they don't know what they're talking about"? (I barely know what I'm talking about half the time.) I may disagree heartily with them, sure, but I will never insult them, never put them down for their opinions.
And sure, we craft beer geeks like to laugh that others actually drink the weak flavored liquid of the masses, but are we going to deny them the tasty goodness of flavor? Are we going to place it on a pedestal far out of their reach because they dared drink something different? Are we going to go so far as to say we are better than them? No, we are not. (And be honest--you probably drank all of those yellow fizzy beers in college, and you may still reach for one after mowing the lawn, am I right?) Craft brewing is an open community. I like to think we support one another and that we welcome in anyone who wants to try something different. We can argue about...say the merits of hoppy beers vs. dark beers, but I like to think we do so in a jovial manner.
I recently read a rather nasty and insulting comment on a beer blog/website that I follow, and I immediately went, "What a snob." My second thought was that if this person could insult the blog owner, who is very knowledgeable and very involved in the craft beer world, then what is to stop said commenter or someone like him from insulting me when I am just a girl drinking beer and calling it like I taste it? It's a little bit intimidating, especially when I'm trying to push this blog into the open and my brain is going, "Noooo what are you doing everyone will think you're stupid aahhh!!!" But hey, haters gonna hate.
Therefore, here is my personal beer drinking manifesto:
1. I will never turn down a beer I have not yet tried.
2. I will judge beer fairly and honestly based on taste, not brand.
3. I will offer and accept knowledge about beer freely.
4. I will argue my point respectfully.
5. The focus will be on the beer.
To put it simply, you shouldn't feel you have to "be qualified" to discuss craft beer. Yes, you should learn as much as you can about it (and if you're really a geek you should want to) but you don't have to be "certified." Craft brewing is about appreciating the beer. It's about making connections and sharing new finds with others. It shouldn't be an exclusive club. To me, it's an open network of awesomeness.
So be awesome, not an idiot.
The Difference Between a "Beer Geek" and a "Beer Snob"
It's important for all self proclaimed craft beer lovers to know the difference between these two terms, and to ALWAYS be a geek and NEVER a snob. Here are my definitions (certainly not all encompassing):
Beer Snob (n): One who thinks they are better than everyone because of what they drink, likes to put down anything they don't like. Thinks their own opinions on beer are the last word. Is generally not willing to try new things. Thinks they know more than anyone and will try to demonstrate this.
Beer Geek (n): One who is willing to try anything in the name of good beer, does not put down anyone for what they like even if they themselves are not fond of it. Approaches beer with openness. May not like everything, but discusses opinions in a good natured, open manner. Knows there's always more to learn.
I like to think I'm a beer geek. I concentrate on how the beer tastes, what it's made with, etc, rather than who likes it and who doesn't. If someone likes a beer that I don't, who am I to say "they don't know what they're talking about"? (I barely know what I'm talking about half the time.) I may disagree heartily with them, sure, but I will never insult them, never put them down for their opinions.
And sure, we craft beer geeks like to laugh that others actually drink the weak flavored liquid of the masses, but are we going to deny them the tasty goodness of flavor? Are we going to place it on a pedestal far out of their reach because they dared drink something different? Are we going to go so far as to say we are better than them? No, we are not. (And be honest--you probably drank all of those yellow fizzy beers in college, and you may still reach for one after mowing the lawn, am I right?) Craft brewing is an open community. I like to think we support one another and that we welcome in anyone who wants to try something different. We can argue about...say the merits of hoppy beers vs. dark beers, but I like to think we do so in a jovial manner.
I recently read a rather nasty and insulting comment on a beer blog/website that I follow, and I immediately went, "What a snob." My second thought was that if this person could insult the blog owner, who is very knowledgeable and very involved in the craft beer world, then what is to stop said commenter or someone like him from insulting me when I am just a girl drinking beer and calling it like I taste it? It's a little bit intimidating, especially when I'm trying to push this blog into the open and my brain is going, "Noooo what are you doing everyone will think you're stupid aahhh!!!" But hey, haters gonna hate.
Therefore, here is my personal beer drinking manifesto:
1. I will never turn down a beer I have not yet tried.
2. I will judge beer fairly and honestly based on taste, not brand.
3. I will offer and accept knowledge about beer freely.
4. I will argue my point respectfully.
5. The focus will be on the beer.
To put it simply, you shouldn't feel you have to "be qualified" to discuss craft beer. Yes, you should learn as much as you can about it (and if you're really a geek you should want to) but you don't have to be "certified." Craft brewing is about appreciating the beer. It's about making connections and sharing new finds with others. It shouldn't be an exclusive club. To me, it's an open network of awesomeness.
So be awesome, not an idiot.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Stone Double Header: Double Bastard and Vertical Epic
"Ye shall know the bastard, and the bastard shall set you free."
Let's be honest: you probably don't have the sophistication or taste required to appreciate this beer. If you're one of those people that enjoys the weak swill of the masses, get out. If you try this, your taste buds will be shocked into submission and you'll run crying back to your sad, blue and white beer cans. And good riddance.
For those of you that do have sophistication and taste, read on.
The Double Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing really isn't for the weak. It's a strong, malty beer, featuring an ABV of 10.5% and a long tirade on the back of the bottle similar to the line above. Here it is in it's full glory:
"This is one lacerati
ve muther of an ale. It is unequivocally certain that your feeble palate is grossly inadequate and thus undeserving of this liquid glory...and those around you would have little desire to listen to your resultant whimpering. Instead, you slackjawed gaping gobemouche, slink away to that pedestrian product that lures agog the great unwashed with the shiny happy imagery of its silly broadcast propaganda. You know, the one that offers no challenge, yet works very, very hard to imbue the foolhardy with the absurd notion that they are exercising ‘independent’ thought, or attempts to convey the perception it is in some way ‘authentic’ or ‘original.’ It’s that one that makes you feel safe and delectates you into basking in the warm, fuzzy, and befuddled glow of your own nescience. Why so many allow themselves to be led by the nose lacks plausible explanation. Perhaps you have been so lulled by the siren song of ignorance that you don’t even notice your white-knuckle grip on it. You feel bold and unique, but alas are nothing but sheep, willingly being herded to and fro. If you think you are being piqued in this text, it is nothing when compared to the insults we are all asked to swallow streaming forth from our televisions and computers. Truth be told, you are being coddled into believing you are special or unique by ethically challenged “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” marketers who layer (upon layer) imagined attributes specifically engineered to lead you by the nose. Should you decide to abdicate your ability to make decisions for yourself, then you are perhaps deserving of the pabulum they serve. Double Bastard Ale calls out the garrulous caitiffs who perpetrate the aforementioned atrocities and demands retribution for their outrageously conniving, intentionally misleading, blatantly masturbatory and fallacious ad campaigns. We demand the unmitigated, transparent truth. We demand forthright honesty. We want justice! Call ‘em out and line ‘em up against the wall... NOW."
If you're still willing to try it after that, then you've taken the first step to proving your worthiness.
Color: Dark and dense. Has a reddish brown color that's similar to winter woods, although this has a bit more of a red hue to it. Has a thin white looking head that's slightly transparent. When set in the background of the words "Fizzy yellow beer is for wussies" it definitely has a striking effect. Oh, and I'd like to point out that this is an instance where the Stone Brewing glasses were very appropriate. And yes, I bought those for my boyfriend because I'm an awesome girlfriend.
Aroma: Malty is the first word that comes to mind. It's slightly more sweet smelling rather than toasty. Don't let that sweetness fool you though. That's just how it lures you in. Once you're close enough, it slams you in the face with flavor and you either fall over crying or take another sip like a true beer drinker. This smells like a good, dark beer, and that's exactly what it is.
First Sip: Very malty, with some hoppiness in there as well. More sweet malty rather than toasty malty, although I do get a hint of toasty-ness when I swallow. This is a dark, bitter, malty beer. It's full of flavors and they are not subtle. It ranges from sweet to bitter, and plays your taste buds like a drunk guitar playing prodigy. If you're going back for another sip rather than falling over crying, then congratulations. You're one step closer to proving that you are not some pathetic, sniveling worm.
Mouthfeel: Not a weak beer at all--this is very strong. More bitterness comes through now, and the slightly sweet malts stay in the background. Creates a nice warming sensation thanks to the high alcohol content. There's a slightly different taste each time I take a sip and let it sit in my mouth. It goes from malty, to hoppy, to bitter to sweet. It's not subtle, but the way they incorporate all these flavors in a joyous, headbanging harmony is truly masterful. And if you can't appreciate that harmony, then what the hell are you doing here?
Aftertaste: There's mostly bitterness left on my tongue with some malt taste as well. It does not disappear, and no matter what I ate afterward, I could only taste the beer. What a bastard.
Are you worthy of this beer? There's only one way to find out. Taste it, and try not to act like a wuss. The time has come to man up.
-
AND NOW, since I have a good five more reviews lined up, I'll put an extra review in this post. This one is for the Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11.
Stone Brewing has been making a vertical epic every year when the day, month, and year all align. For example, they've made a 10.10.10 (which I currently have a review for!), a 09.09.09, 08.08.08, and so on and so forth. I think it may go all the way back to 2002, but I'm not entirely sure on that. If I can find them, I'll just work my way backwards, although I dont have high hopes of finding a beer from 2002.
The 11.11.11 beer was brewed with anaheim chilies and cinnamon, and has an ABV of 9.4%. (I seem to drink a lot of high alcohol beers. I dont think a single one in the past 5 has been under 8%.)
Anyway, onward, to Vertical Epicness!
Color: A solid dark red with a little hint of brown. Dark and dense, but you can still see that it has some nice carbonation, although nothing too intense. Pours with a nice thick head, but it disappears quickly. Overall it looks like a dark red chili pepper. Very fitting.
Aroma: Smells surprisingly yeasty. It's not overpowering, but the fact that I smell it at all is a little surprising. There's also a distinctive chili aroma that's a little similar to The Vixen. There's a bit of a spicy note. It's also a bit boozy smelling, but the thing you smell most of all is the pepper.
First Sip: I am a drinking a pepper.
No really. That's my first impression. I'm drinking a goddamn chili pepper.
Mouthfeel: This is really, really peppery. There's a whole lot more chili pepper flavor than what The Vixen had by far. There are hints of spicy and sweetness, but it's not too intense. Some malty flavor as well. I can only taste tiny hints of the cinnamon. Overall, the most predominant flavor is slightly spicy pepper. But more pepper flavor than spiciness. This is very different, and very unique. I can honestly say that no other beer will ever come close to tasting like this. If you swish this around a bit, you can taste more of a boozy flavor and you may be able to taste a tad more cinnamon.
Aftertaste: The pepper flavor doesn't stick around, and some warming spices are left in its place.
The thing I remember most about this beer (and I drank and took tasting notes about a month ago) is the strong pepper taste. It is literally like drinking a pepper, but don't let that put you off. It's actually quite good, and it works in this beer. There are other flavors in there too, of course, but the thing you will most likely remember most is that you drank a pepper and it was delicious. Somehow.
Results may vary if you age this longer. Me, being me, and only being in South Carolina (where I found the Vertical Epic), did not age this at all, which now that I think about it may account for the predominant, fresh chili pepper taste. If you age it, it will probably come across different, and wont that be interesting? I may have to go out and grab another bottle just to age it...
Let's be honest: you probably don't have the sophistication or taste required to appreciate this beer. If you're one of those people that enjoys the weak swill of the masses, get out. If you try this, your taste buds will be shocked into submission and you'll run crying back to your sad, blue and white beer cans. And good riddance.
For those of you that do have sophistication and taste, read on.
The Double Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing really isn't for the weak. It's a strong, malty beer, featuring an ABV of 10.5% and a long tirade on the back of the bottle similar to the line above. Here it is in it's full glory:
"This is one lacerati
ve muther of an ale. It is unequivocally certain that your feeble palate is grossly inadequate and thus undeserving of this liquid glory...and those around you would have little desire to listen to your resultant whimpering. Instead, you slackjawed gaping gobemouche, slink away to that pedestrian product that lures agog the great unwashed with the shiny happy imagery of its silly broadcast propaganda. You know, the one that offers no challenge, yet works very, very hard to imbue the foolhardy with the absurd notion that they are exercising ‘independent’ thought, or attempts to convey the perception it is in some way ‘authentic’ or ‘original.’ It’s that one that makes you feel safe and delectates you into basking in the warm, fuzzy, and befuddled glow of your own nescience. Why so many allow themselves to be led by the nose lacks plausible explanation. Perhaps you have been so lulled by the siren song of ignorance that you don’t even notice your white-knuckle grip on it. You feel bold and unique, but alas are nothing but sheep, willingly being herded to and fro. If you think you are being piqued in this text, it is nothing when compared to the insults we are all asked to swallow streaming forth from our televisions and computers. Truth be told, you are being coddled into believing you are special or unique by ethically challenged “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” marketers who layer (upon layer) imagined attributes specifically engineered to lead you by the nose. Should you decide to abdicate your ability to make decisions for yourself, then you are perhaps deserving of the pabulum they serve. Double Bastard Ale calls out the garrulous caitiffs who perpetrate the aforementioned atrocities and demands retribution for their outrageously conniving, intentionally misleading, blatantly masturbatory and fallacious ad campaigns. We demand the unmitigated, transparent truth. We demand forthright honesty. We want justice! Call ‘em out and line ‘em up against the wall... NOW."If you're still willing to try it after that, then you've taken the first step to proving your worthiness.
Color: Dark and dense. Has a reddish brown color that's similar to winter woods, although this has a bit more of a red hue to it. Has a thin white looking head that's slightly transparent. When set in the background of the words "Fizzy yellow beer is for wussies" it definitely has a striking effect. Oh, and I'd like to point out that this is an instance where the Stone Brewing glasses were very appropriate. And yes, I bought those for my boyfriend because I'm an awesome girlfriend.
Aroma: Malty is the first word that comes to mind. It's slightly more sweet smelling rather than toasty. Don't let that sweetness fool you though. That's just how it lures you in. Once you're close enough, it slams you in the face with flavor and you either fall over crying or take another sip like a true beer drinker. This smells like a good, dark beer, and that's exactly what it is.
First Sip: Very malty, with some hoppiness in there as well. More sweet malty rather than toasty malty, although I do get a hint of toasty-ness when I swallow. This is a dark, bitter, malty beer. It's full of flavors and they are not subtle. It ranges from sweet to bitter, and plays your taste buds like a drunk guitar playing prodigy. If you're going back for another sip rather than falling over crying, then congratulations. You're one step closer to proving that you are not some pathetic, sniveling worm.
Mouthfeel: Not a weak beer at all--this is very strong. More bitterness comes through now, and the slightly sweet malts stay in the background. Creates a nice warming sensation thanks to the high alcohol content. There's a slightly different taste each time I take a sip and let it sit in my mouth. It goes from malty, to hoppy, to bitter to sweet. It's not subtle, but the way they incorporate all these flavors in a joyous, headbanging harmony is truly masterful. And if you can't appreciate that harmony, then what the hell are you doing here?
Aftertaste: There's mostly bitterness left on my tongue with some malt taste as well. It does not disappear, and no matter what I ate afterward, I could only taste the beer. What a bastard.
Are you worthy of this beer? There's only one way to find out. Taste it, and try not to act like a wuss. The time has come to man up.
-
AND NOW, since I have a good five more reviews lined up, I'll put an extra review in this post. This one is for the Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11.
Stone Brewing has been making a vertical epic every year when the day, month, and year all align. For example, they've made a 10.10.10 (which I currently have a review for!), a 09.09.09, 08.08.08, and so on and so forth. I think it may go all the way back to 2002, but I'm not entirely sure on that. If I can find them, I'll just work my way backwards, although I dont have high hopes of finding a beer from 2002.The 11.11.11 beer was brewed with anaheim chilies and cinnamon, and has an ABV of 9.4%. (I seem to drink a lot of high alcohol beers. I dont think a single one in the past 5 has been under 8%.)
Anyway, onward, to Vertical Epicness!
Color: A solid dark red with a little hint of brown. Dark and dense, but you can still see that it has some nice carbonation, although nothing too intense. Pours with a nice thick head, but it disappears quickly. Overall it looks like a dark red chili pepper. Very fitting.
Aroma: Smells surprisingly yeasty. It's not overpowering, but the fact that I smell it at all is a little surprising. There's also a distinctive chili aroma that's a little similar to The Vixen. There's a bit of a spicy note. It's also a bit boozy smelling, but the thing you smell most of all is the pepper.
First Sip: I am a drinking a pepper.
No really. That's my first impression. I'm drinking a goddamn chili pepper.
Mouthfeel: This is really, really peppery. There's a whole lot more chili pepper flavor than what The Vixen had by far. There are hints of spicy and sweetness, but it's not too intense. Some malty flavor as well. I can only taste tiny hints of the cinnamon. Overall, the most predominant flavor is slightly spicy pepper. But more pepper flavor than spiciness. This is very different, and very unique. I can honestly say that no other beer will ever come close to tasting like this. If you swish this around a bit, you can taste more of a boozy flavor and you may be able to taste a tad more cinnamon.
Aftertaste: The pepper flavor doesn't stick around, and some warming spices are left in its place.
The thing I remember most about this beer (and I drank and took tasting notes about a month ago) is the strong pepper taste. It is literally like drinking a pepper, but don't let that put you off. It's actually quite good, and it works in this beer. There are other flavors in there too, of course, but the thing you will most likely remember most is that you drank a pepper and it was delicious. Somehow.
Results may vary if you age this longer. Me, being me, and only being in South Carolina (where I found the Vertical Epic), did not age this at all, which now that I think about it may account for the predominant, fresh chili pepper taste. If you age it, it will probably come across different, and wont that be interesting? I may have to go out and grab another bottle just to age it...
Friday, February 3, 2012
Whoah, Black Betty: Ale Aged in Whiskey Barrels
You know what's a great drinking game? Listen to the song Black Betty by Ram Jam and every time they say "bam a lam" take a sip of whatever drink you're holding. Except that's a really bad idea with anything higher than 5%, and unless you're still in college, it's no longer appropriate. In public at least.
What is appropriate is Nebraska Brewing's Black Betty Ale, which is aged in whiskey barrels and brewed with chocolate and coffee beans. [EDIT: This beer isn't actually made with actual chocolate and actual coffee beans--it tastes like chocolate/coffee due to the malts that were used.] It has an ABV of 9% and 83 IBUs (International Bitterness Units) so you really don't want to play any sort of drinking game with this brew, mostly because it tastes damn good and you're not allowed to waste good beer that way.
If you really want to, you can put Ram Jam on, but that's your choice.
Color: Pours a thick, dark brown with a large, persistent, mocha colored head. The head is very bubbly and foamy--it actually looks really cool. The beer itself looks malty, it looks thick, and it looks strong. It lives up to its name and looks almost black once it's in the glass.
Aroma: Smells a bit like whiskey, and a little sweet. Also seems like there's hints of chocolate and some coffee. It's a little toasty, but mostly it smells like the inside of a whiskey barrel. This is no bad thing, and it interacts well with the other aromas sifting around behind it.
Mouthfeel: A little sharp, has some carbonation going. There's more coffee and chocolate taste present. There's also a bitterness, but the hops are somewhat restrained, or balanced, if you prefer that term. The bitterness just makes the coffee / chocolate taste more pronounced, I think. It does have a rating of 83 IBU, so of course it's bitter (and that's actually quite up there when you consider Dogfish Head's 60 minute IPA has 60 IBUs and the 90 minute has 90 IBUs), but the coffee taste comes through more. Since it's a high ABV, an alcohol-like taste comes through as well, but it's not overpowering. Very tasty.
Aftertaste: The coffee and the chocolate stick around, while the sweetness and bitterness slowly fade.
So take my advice here: pour the beer, sit down, and enjoy it slowly. Savor it. It may not taste like a whiskey, but you should appreciate it like one.
What is appropriate is Nebraska Brewing's Black Betty Ale, which is aged in whiskey barrels and brewed with chocolate and coffee beans. [EDIT: This beer isn't actually made with actual chocolate and actual coffee beans--it tastes like chocolate/coffee due to the malts that were used.] It has an ABV of 9% and 83 IBUs (International Bitterness Units) so you really don't want to play any sort of drinking game with this brew, mostly because it tastes damn good and you're not allowed to waste good beer that way.If you really want to, you can put Ram Jam on, but that's your choice.
Color: Pours a thick, dark brown with a large, persistent, mocha colored head. The head is very bubbly and foamy--it actually looks really cool. The beer itself looks malty, it looks thick, and it looks strong. It lives up to its name and looks almost black once it's in the glass.
Aroma: Smells a bit like whiskey, and a little sweet. Also seems like there's hints of chocolate and some coffee. It's a little toasty, but mostly it smells like the inside of a whiskey barrel. This is no bad thing, and it interacts well with the other aromas sifting around behind it.
First Sip: A definite, definite sipping beer. This is dark and malty, with hints of coffee and chocolate. There's some sweetness present as well, but not too much. There is no whiskey taste--the damn beer fooled me, as I was totally expecting something that tasted a bit like whiskey. At least for me, the whiskey nature of this beer only comes through in the aroma. Again, you want to sip this beer, because 1) the flavors are somewhat intense, and 2) you want to enjoy those flavors.
Mouthfeel: A little sharp, has some carbonation going. There's more coffee and chocolate taste present. There's also a bitterness, but the hops are somewhat restrained, or balanced, if you prefer that term. The bitterness just makes the coffee / chocolate taste more pronounced, I think. It does have a rating of 83 IBU, so of course it's bitter (and that's actually quite up there when you consider Dogfish Head's 60 minute IPA has 60 IBUs and the 90 minute has 90 IBUs), but the coffee taste comes through more. Since it's a high ABV, an alcohol-like taste comes through as well, but it's not overpowering. Very tasty.Aftertaste: The coffee and the chocolate stick around, while the sweetness and bitterness slowly fade.
So take my advice here: pour the beer, sit down, and enjoy it slowly. Savor it. It may not taste like a whiskey, but you should appreciate it like one.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Cisco Brewers' Winter Woods
In the summer of 2010, I worked for a tall ship company in Boston. I didn't actually work on the ship, just in the office, but I'd often have to go out when the ship was about to sail and throw the lines so the ship didn't take the dock with it (actually, the ship probably would have fallen apart instead, but that's another story). A couple of the crew (my now boyfriend included) thought for some crazy reason that I looked like an elf, and so I gained the nickname Alyssa of the Woods. It was odd and I didn't understand it, so I just went with it.
So, when I spied a beer fro
m Cisco Brewing called "The Woods," I went "a-ha!" and bought it. The Woods is the name given to this particular series of beer, and the specific one I got is called Winter Woods. This was ale aged in french oak wine barrels and has an ABV of 9%, and yes, you could very much tell both of these things from how the beer tasted. This beer may not be for everyone as it has a very different taste. But if you're adventurous and love trying weird things, then you'll want to check this one out.
Color: A deep, dark, reddish brown. Think really dense wine, which is not something you'd probably picture very often. Pours lighter and clearer with a thin white head. Once the bubbles from the carbonation settle, the beer becomes denser. Could probably have this in a wine glass or some sort of open mouth glass, but once again went with regular old beer glasses (you can really tell I'm an expert on presentation here).
Aroma: Inescapable aroma right from when you open the bottle. The cork comes off and bam, you're hit with a bit of a sour smell with some of that typical wine, grape-like smell. Also seems just a tad oaky, like you're smelling the inside of a barrel. It's odd, because it does smell like a wine, but you also have some of that beer-y malt smell coming through.
First Sip: Definitely sour. The wine taste comes through a little bit too, and even though it smells like a wine, the taste is still unexpected. This is very, very different, and good. I think the sour taste comes through more as a beer-like flavor rather than a wine-like one. It's like I'm drinking a sour beer, but someone has splashed a little bit of red wine in.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, little to no carbonation. The sour taste hits the sides of my mouth--you know how you can kind of feel it when a beer is sour? It's like that. I can't really taste hops or malts, although I can smell hints of the malt (no hops though). The most prominent flavor is that sour taste, which has a bit of a fruitiness to it. It's not a typical sour fruit taste, like a lambic. The fruit part tastes more like a wine, like grapes or something similar. It also tastes a tad oaky, an there's a little bit of bitterness on the finish, but not much.
Aftertaste: Left with the sour / fruity / wine taste. Fades away slowly.
All in all, I like this beer. It's not something I would drink all the time, and I'd have to be in the mood for something unique. Like I said, this probably isn't for everyone, but I also say that you should try everything once. It's probably a good after dinner drink, and best shared with others.
So, when I spied a beer fro
m Cisco Brewing called "The Woods," I went "a-ha!" and bought it. The Woods is the name given to this particular series of beer, and the specific one I got is called Winter Woods. This was ale aged in french oak wine barrels and has an ABV of 9%, and yes, you could very much tell both of these things from how the beer tasted. This beer may not be for everyone as it has a very different taste. But if you're adventurous and love trying weird things, then you'll want to check this one out.Color: A deep, dark, reddish brown. Think really dense wine, which is not something you'd probably picture very often. Pours lighter and clearer with a thin white head. Once the bubbles from the carbonation settle, the beer becomes denser. Could probably have this in a wine glass or some sort of open mouth glass, but once again went with regular old beer glasses (you can really tell I'm an expert on presentation here).
Aroma: Inescapable aroma right from when you open the bottle. The cork comes off and bam, you're hit with a bit of a sour smell with some of that typical wine, grape-like smell. Also seems just a tad oaky, like you're smelling the inside of a barrel. It's odd, because it does smell like a wine, but you also have some of that beer-y malt smell coming through.
First Sip: Definitely sour. The wine taste comes through a little bit too, and even though it smells like a wine, the taste is still unexpected. This is very, very different, and good. I think the sour taste comes through more as a beer-like flavor rather than a wine-like one. It's like I'm drinking a sour beer, but someone has splashed a little bit of red wine in.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, little to no carbonation. The sour taste hits the sides of my mouth--you know how you can kind of feel it when a beer is sour? It's like that. I can't really taste hops or malts, although I can smell hints of the malt (no hops though). The most prominent flavor is that sour taste, which has a bit of a fruitiness to it. It's not a typical sour fruit taste, like a lambic. The fruit part tastes more like a wine, like grapes or something similar. It also tastes a tad oaky, an there's a little bit of bitterness on the finish, but not much.Aftertaste: Left with the sour / fruity / wine taste. Fades away slowly.
All in all, I like this beer. It's not something I would drink all the time, and I'd have to be in the mood for something unique. Like I said, this probably isn't for everyone, but I also say that you should try everything once. It's probably a good after dinner drink, and best shared with others.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Bringing in the New Year with Infinium
Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, let me present to you a fizzy, celebratory collaboration between Sam Adams and Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, known as Infinium. Infinium is an example of a Biere de Champagne, a sort of cross over between beer and champagne. These usually undergo a long maturation process, and are sometimes even cave-aged in the Champagne region of France, and as we all know, Champagne is only Champagne if it's made there. (Otherwise it's sparkling wine.) They also have a special method for removing the yeast, which is called remuage and dégorgement. Remuage (riddling) involves rotating the bottles so that the yeast moves into the neck of the bottle. Degorgement (or disgorgement) is when the neck is flash frozen and the yeast sediment removed. (For more information on this style of beer, click here or here.)For the 2011 release of Infinium, riddling and disgorgement were not used. Instead, they used a process called Charmat, "in which the re-fermentation takes place in steel tanks and the beer is gently drained off without stirring up the yeast sediment on the bottom." (From the Washington Post, see above link for more info.)
Now that you have some background on the style, lets move into the review, shall we?
Color: Dark blonde colored, with a white, foamy head. Slightly cloudy. Pours really bubbly with a huge head--there is literally no helping it. There are lighter/darker hues in the glass, depending on how the light hits it. It's like a darker champagne, and not as clear. Think a light caramel colored Champagne. Nice carbonation.
Aroma: Doesn't smell like too much to be honest. Perhaps a little yeasty and fruity, but everything is really rather subtle. I did stir it up a bit to release any aromas, and it's still very subtle. There are hints of fruit and spices, and maybe a little sourness, but nothing is over powering.
First Sip: The first thing I notice is that there is a little bit of a sour taste. It's slightly bitter, but also a little sweet at the same time. There's also hints of spices. The yeasty flavor that I thought I smelled isn't present in the flavor, which is probably as it should be considering the process they used to remove the yeast sediment. It's bubbly, but not overly so, and not as bubbly as champagne. This might have been because I traveled with it at 35,000 feet, but I dont know how much that would affect something like carbonation.Interesting fact: Infinium is made only with the original ingredients for beer--water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. There are no other flavors added in, which makes for an interesting taste. It probably also makes for an interesting brew process.
Mouthfeel: A little more fruit taste comes through, which may come from the Noble hops, and the sweet taste is most likely coming from the malts. The sweetness isn't cloying, it's definitely subtle. It's a bit citrusy and floraly (I know these are not real words) with some bitterness tied in. Warms my throat, as it it's 10.3%, but that's the only way you'd know it was that high of an ABV. My boyfriend described it as tasting like a sour caramel, which I didn't taste as much as he did, but the flavor is there.
Aftertaste: Sweet, malt-like taste leftover afterward. I really feel it in the back of my throat.
Overall, a great drink to start off New Years Eve. I then proceeded to go out to a bar and drink a couple more beers and a glass of actual champagne, but the Infinium was the best, and a great way to start off the night.
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