Beer Tasting September 2011

Saturday evening Laura and I hosted our second beer tasting party. Thank you to everyone who came out! We really enjoyed spending time with you, chatting, and sampling brews.

The picture above shows everything that was shared.

Top Row; Left To Right
1) mdvatab - Home Brew - American Pale Wheat
2) Bell's - The Oracle - American Double / Imperial IPA
3) Kuhnhenn Brewing Company - Bourbon Barrel Fourth Dementia - Old Ale
4) Deschutes Brewery - Hop In The Dark Cascadian Dark Ale - American Black Ale
5) Cigar City Brewing - Hunahpu's Imperial Stout - American Double / Imperial Stout
6) Avery Brewing Company - Maharaja - American Double / Imperial IPA
7) mdvatab - Home Brew - American Stout
8) Founders - Backwoods Bastard - Scotch Ale

Bottom Row; Left To Right
1) Great Lakes Brewing Company - Burning River - American Pale Ale
2) Three Floyds - Zombie Dust - American Pale Ale
3) Another Zombie Dust
4) Half Acre Beer Company - Daisy Cutter - American Pale Ale
5) Another Daisy Cutter
6) Maui Brewing Co. - CoCoNut Porter - American Porter
7) Another CoCoNut Porter
8) Founders - Porter - American Porter
9) Great Lakes Brewing Company - Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - American Porter
10) Deschutes Brewery - Black Butte Porter - American Porter
11) Nøgne Ø - Det Kompromissløse Bryggeri A/S - Porter - American Porter
12) Three Floyds - Amon Amarth / Ragnarok - American Porter

Not pictured:
Deschutes Brewery - The Abyss - American Double / Imperial Stout

Pale And Porters
With a general theme of Pales & Porters it was fun to compare a variety of American Pale Ales and Porters to see how they stacked up. For me, Zombie Dust was the clear winner of the APA's but Porters wasn't as cut and dry. While I really liked trying some new Porters alongside some old favorites, the Edmund Fitzgerald continues to be one of my favorites. The CoCoNut and Nogne variations were both very good and I will seek them out again.

Everything Else
We got to sample a couple of great Double IPA's in The Oracle and Maharaja. Mark brought out a couple home brews which were tasty and fun to try. Laura and I both have a special place for all things aged in bourbon barrels and we both loved the Kuhnhenn and Hunahpu's. The final sampling was a bottle of The Abyss which was unfortunately infected, but enjoyable to try nonetheless.

Thank you to everyone who brought beer. Your generosity was much appreciated!

Eis Igian,
Randall and Laura

Jaded

Jaded by Stillwater Artisanal Ales
Style / abv: Belgian Strong Dark Ale / 10%
Source / Temp: 11.2oz bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Medium Sized Snifter

Appearance: Even though I poured fairly gently, the brew still poured with a thick tan head. The body is a medium brown with dark orange tones.

Aroma: I pick up sour plum, grapes and what seems to be dry white wine..

Taste: This starts with a very sweet and smooth red grape and plum front, a fairly spicy middle, and slight dry grain (maybe wheat?) finish. That doesn't really do it justice... this is a pretty complex brew and I'm having a difficult time nailing it down. It is reminiscent of a sweeter Rochefort 8.

Drinkability: This ale is just a little thicker than water with medium carbonation. This is a very enjoyable and at 10% abv, surprisingly drinkable beer.

Notes:
There is a noticeable alcohol warmth but I really don't taste it. After letting the brew warm a bit, the scent of alcohol is much more noticeable.

With the plethora of available Belgian Ales, I haven't felt much draw to try American takes on Belgian classics. After giving this brew a chance, it is apparent that I have been missing out. While I will always enjoy St. Bernardus, Rochefort, Westmalle and the like, Jaded is proof once again that the American brewers can come up with great variations of any style. The only real shame here is that this particular ale was only brewed once with no immediate plan to brew it again.

I give Jaded 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Beer in Dayton, Ohio

I wanted to write a quick post about a few of the great places in the Dayton, Ohio area to pick up amazing beer.  Many people have heard the name Arrow Wine, but few have paid attention my two preferences; Centerville Carry Out at 725 and 48 and Belmont Party Supply off of Smithville and Watervliet Ave.  I like Arrow Wine, I really do, but....they have a more kindred spirit for those 'wine' folks.  I'm not against the wine brethren, but they seem to receive preferential treatment in selection and focus as the name of the store is Arrow 'Wine.'  The name Centerville Carry Out and Belmont Party Supply aren't exactly all encompassing either, but at least they're not purposely picking favorites.

Names and preferences aside, I just love Centerville Carry Out and Belmont Party Supply.  They are small locally owned stores that have amazing selections to keep me browsing for more than what should be 5 minutes when I visit from Houston, TX.

Keep up the great work guys, we'll see you in Dayton, Ohio soon for some great selections we just can't get down here in ol' Texas :)

"Broma Theon"

-charles

Perkulator

Perkulator by Dark Horse Brewing
Style / abv: Dopplebock / 7.5%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Beer Mug

Appearance: Murky brown with some red tones. It poured with a medium sized, thick bubbly brown head.

Aroma: HUGE coffee aroma with a little vanilla.

Taste: Sour coffee with a little bit of roasted malt and slight dry bitter finish.

Drinkability: With a body that is just a little bit thicker than water, you'd think that it would drink very easily. It doesn't.

Notes: The warmer it gets, the more sour it smells and tastes. I definitely think it's worth trying but the aroma is much better than the taste.

 I give Perkulator 5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Founders... Again!

Okay, I have definitely been on a big Founders kick lately. I think this will be the last one I review for a while... until I get my hands on a bottle of Canadian Breakfast Stout that is!

Breakfast Stout by Founders
Style / abv: Imperial Stout / 8.3%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Wine Glass

Appearance: Dark brown, verging on black. Poured with virtually no head, just a small ring of brown bubbles.

Aroma: Fresh coffee, maple and dark chocolate. I'm not sure I pick up on the Kona, but the Sumatra is evident.

Taste: Rich dark chocolate blended with robust coffee and roasted malt. Interestingly, I think the Kona is more evident in the taste. I can't taste the hops but they bite my tongue at the finish.

Drinkability: This beer has creamy, thick mouthfeel making for a good sipping beer.

Notes:
Breakfast Stout is one of my very favorite stouts. I look forward to it when it comes out each season and I buy enough to last a while.

I give Breakfast Stout a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Blushing Monk

Blushing Monk by Founders
Style / abv: Fruit-Vegetable Beer / 9.2%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Dark red brew with a fizzy amber head.

Aroma: An explosion of raspberry with some tart yeast and sour grape candy.

Taste: This beer tastes like fresh raspberries with a little grape and no discernible hops. It is very sweet and very tart with the 9.2% alcohol hidden so well that I couldn't tell it was alcoholic.

Drinkability: Slighty thicker than water with tight caronation. I can't imagine drinking this or any fruit / vegetable beer all the time, but I really enjoyed this brew.

Notes:
While Blushing Monk isn't very complex, it is the oppitome of fresh. I am so glad that Founder's is now bottling some of their specialty brews and I look forward to having this again next year!

I give Blushing Monk a 7 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

An Old Favorite

Imperial Stout by Founders
Style / abv: Russian Imperial Stout / 10.5%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Wine Glass

Appearance: Black with a small chocolate brown head

Aroma: Chocolate liquore with a little bit bit of maple and roasted malt

Taste: Much like the aroma, it tastes like a dark chocolate liquore with and a nice roasted malt finish. The bite from the 90 ibu's does a good job balancing the sweetness.

Drinkability: Smooth creamy body with light carbonation. I can definitely finish off a bottle, but it would be the rare day that I'd drink two.

Notes:
Imperial Stout by Founders has long been been one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts. This is a very nicely crafted ale that is somehow both simple and intense.

I give Imperial Stout 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

The Devil's Got My Tongue!

Devil Dancer by Founders
Style / abv: Tripel IPA / 12%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Snifter

Appearance: This brew pours a translucent dark gold with a reddish cast. It almost looks like a glass of honey topped with a white foamy head.

Aroma: Pine, sour citrus and marmalade

Taste: Pine and burnt marmalade followed by alcohol and a big bitter aftertaste that fades quickly. The aftertaste reminds me of bay leaves.

Drinkability: A little creamy with a slight grittiness... though the grit just may be my tastebuds retreating from the bitterness... While I typically enjoy Imperial IPA's, this beer is just a bit too harsh for me. After one glass, I'm ready to move on to something else.

Notes:
I posted this same basic review on Beeradvocate, but I will be a little more frank here: I think that Founder's is a great brewery but I haven't loved any of their IPA's. I'm not saying their IPA's are bad, because plenty of people enjoy them. I am saying that they do not suit my tastes... at least not so far.

I give Devil Dancer 5.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Sanctification

Sanctification by Russian River Brewing
Style / abv: American Wild Ale / 6.75%
Source / Temp: 375ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Thanks to Mike for sharing this intersting and complex ale!

Appearance: Light yellow with a very thin white bubly head.

Aroma: This beer has a distinct sour "earthy" smell with lemmon grass and pepper.

Taste: I taste star fruit, lime, and freezer burned ice in this sour ale. Long after the sour aftertaste has faded, there is a slight spiciness. It's almost like an earthy, dry Sour Patch Kid.

Drinkability: Thin and watery with tight carbonation. This is a pretty sour beer and I find that the sourness goes a long way, so I can't imagine drinking more than a glass or two.

Notes:
This is a very interesting ale. While this isn't something that I'd drink on a regular basis, that really has more to do with the tartness of the style than the quality of the brew. Still, this ale has really made me very interested in trying more sours and American Wild Ales. It is exciting to embark on a journey into a "new" style!

I give Sanctification 8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Moloko

Moloko by Three Floyds
Style / abv: Milk Stout / 8%
Source / Temp: 750ml bottle / 55 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Coal black with a thin tan head.

Aroma: Strong coffee and espresso scent with lots of caramel and roasted malt.

Taste: Chocolate milk and espresso with a roasty and light citrus finish. This brew makes me think of a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks with more espresso and a hint of orange.

Drinkability: Rich, medium to thick body with very little carbonation.

Notes:
While I typically enjoy milk stouts, I especially enjoy Moloko. The roasted malt and slight hop finish balance this ale into a very drinkable milk stout.

I give Moloko a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

AIPA

American IPA by Schlafly
Style / abv: American IPA / 7.2%
Source / Temp: 12oz bottle / 50 deg
Glass: Small Snifter

Appearance: Cloudy, dark golden with an orange hue.

Aroma: Very nice sour citrus tones with lemon and orange peel.

Taste: Loads of citrus flavors with a strong dry grapefruit taste. I pick up a light alcohol flavor with some yeast esters in the middle and a medium hop bite in the finish.

Drinkability: Medium creamy body, with light carbonation.

Notes:
To me, this is the perfect single IPA. While having enough aroma and taste to keep me interested, it is simple to enough to remain very very drinkable.

Standing by my "perfect" comment, I give AIPA a 10 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

Parabola

Parabola by Firestone Walker
Style / abv:  Russian Imperial Stout / 13%
Source / Temp:  650ml bottle / 50 deg
Glass:  Medium Snifter

Appearance: Deep, dark brown brew with a thin dark brown head.

Aroma: Sweet bourbon infused with molasses and a slight scent of alcohol.

Taste: Dark chocolate, mild bourbon, some milk chocolate and a surprisingly strong hop bite at the end.

Drinkability: Thick and creamy, this is a sipping beer at it's best. The alcohol is hidden very well.

Notes:
While this isn't my favorite barrel aged stout, this is a very special brew. It makes me think of a milder and slightly less flavorful version of Rare Bourbon County. I will definitely be making the trip to Chicago to pick some up when they release it again next year.

I give Parabola a 9 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

The Elder

Brew Details and Conditions:
Brewer: Russian River
Brew: Pliny The Elder
Style: American Double IPA
Alcohol: 8%
Source: 1 Pint Bottle
Glass: Medium Snifter
Temp: 50 deg
Appearance: Golden yellow
Aroma: Sour citrus fruit, lime and something sweet... maybe honey. As the Pliny warmed, I noted an scent of what I would describe as alcoholic melon.
Taste: Refreshing and surprisingly complex taste for such a low-intensity Double IPA. Right along with the scent, I taste sour and tropical fruit with some slight tones of honey and melon. Warmth seems to shed a lot taste resulting in what almost seems like a different beer all together.
Drinkability: Smooth watery body with fairly tight carbonation. Very drinkable for a double, but then again... for my tastes (and in my opinion), this beer really doesn't seem like a double IPA. The alcohol content and mouthfeel are more comparable to an IPA than a double.
Notes:
I had very high expectations for this beer. It is so well regarded that I couldn't help but expect this beer to blow my mind. I got two bottles and when I had the first, I was a bit let down. Knowing that I had high expectations, I waited until the second bottle to do my review. While Pliny is definitely better than average, I am just not super impressed with it. Its good enough that if it were easily available I would get it on occasion but its nothing that I'd drink with regularity.

I give this nice rendition of an IPA/ Double IPA  8.5 out of 10.

Eis Igian,
Randall

No Label Brewing Co.

Ah yes, another new American brewery...No Label. I was in Specs the other day and their friendly beer rep recommended that I begin to look for a beer by a new brewery called No Label.

What is No Label? According to their website nolabelbrew.com, "There are many ways of how our name came about. Basically we wanted to name our brewery something that symbolized all four us. ...NO LABEL BREWING means to us is that our beer is for everyone. We don't put a label on our beer...."

Just thought I'd share a potentially new brew that will be tried as soon as I can get my hands on one.

"Broma Theon" (beer of the gods)

-charles

The Family Reunion, Tasting 4

July 6th, 2011

The group this evening was what has become the core group of tasters. We had another good line-up with one repeat from earlier in the week:
1. Three Floyds - Gumballhead - American Pale Wheat
2. Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
3. Three Floyds - Robert The Bruce - Scottish Ale
4. Oskar Blues - Old Chub - Scotch Ale
5. Brouwerij Westmalle - Westmalle Trappist Dubbel - Dubbel
6. Flat Earth Brewing Company - Cygnus X-1 - English Porter
7. Ceylon / Lion Brewery - Lion Stout - Foreign / Export Stout

Westmalle seemed to please most, but it was no surprise that Robert the Bruce was the brew that was enjoyed by everyone.

We had a blast sharing one of our favorite hobbies with the family and really hope that everyone who partook found a couple of new brews to enjoy.

Eis Egian,
Randall

The Family Reunion, Tasting 3

July 5th, 2011

The group tonight was a mix of people who had joined us the previous two nights. It's interesting how the ales of varying intensity have apparently scared off a few but have also attracted many repeat customers. Tonight we sampled a new variety:
1. Madhouse Brewing Company - American Wheat - American Pale Wheat Ale
2. Great Lakes Brewing Company - Burning River Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
3. Sun King - Osiris - American Pale Ale
4. Boulevard Brewing Co. - The Sixth Glass - Quadrupel
5. Avery Brewing Company - The Czar - Russian Imperial Stout
6. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Abacus - American Barleywine
7. Three Floyds - Dreadnaught - Imperial IPA
8. Full Sail Brewery - Reserve Old Boardhead Barley Wine Ale - American Barleywine

While tastes differed as usual, the two clear favorites of the evening were Abacus and Dreadnaught. Both are fantastic brews, but I was surprised that a Double IPA could be such a crowd pleaser.

Eis Egian,
Randall

The Family Reunion, Tasting 2

So tonight we hit an almost entirely different line-up with almost a completely different crowd. Tonight's tasting included the following:
1. Madhouse Brewing Company - Pastime Pale Ale - American Pale Ale
2. Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
3. Anderson Valley Brewing Company - Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal Stout
4. Bell's Brewery, Inc. - Bell's Special Double Cream Stout - American Stout
5. Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) - Oatmeal Stout - Oatmeal Stout
6. Lindemans - Framboise - Lambic
7. Stone Brewing Co. - Arrogant Bastard Ale - American Strong Ale
8. Founders - Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
9. Three Floyds Brewing Co. - Apocalypse Cow - American Double / Imperial IPA
10. Lagunitas Brewing Company - Imperial Stout - Russian Imperial Stout
11. Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout

While KBS was still well received, tonight the big winner was Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout.

Night two was just as fun as night one, but one thing that was noticeable was that with a much larger crowd to share the beer, the overall inebriation was lower :)

Eis Egian,
Randall

The Family Reunion, Tasting 1

Mike, Laura and I are attending a family reunion so we decided to bring a ton of great beer and try to create some converts. Tonight we went through:
1. Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV - Duvel - Belgian Strong Pale Ale
2. Brasserie de Rochefort - Trappistes Rochefort 8 - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
3. St. Bernardus - Abt 12 - Belgian Quad
4. Deschutes Brewery - Hop In The Dark - American Black Ale
5. Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
6. Boulevard Brewing Co. - Imperial Stout - American Double / Imperial Stout

KBS was the big winner followed by St. Bernardus 12. For my taste, Hop In The Dark was an excellent brew that was reminiscent of one of my favorites: Three Floyds Black Sun Stout.

The reunion has just begun and we've got plenty more to share!

Eis Egian,
Randall

Dark Lord Day 2011

Well, it took me a little longer than I thought to get this video completed...life is moving at break neck speeds right now.  Dark Lord Day 2011 was a great adventure and here's the quick video of a few moments during that day at Three Floyd's brewery:

Part One

Part Two

"broma theon" the food of the gods


-Charles

Our First Ever Beer Tasting Party

Saturday evening Laura and I hosted our first ever Beer Tasting Party. The picture above shows everything that we enjoyed that night.

Top Row; Left To Right
1) St. Bernardus - Abt 12 - Belgian Quad
2) Three Floyds - Black Sun Stout - Irish Dry Stout
3) Unibroue - La Fin Du Monde - Belgian Tripel
4) Three Floyds - 2011 Dark Lord - Russian Imperial Stout
5) Three Floyds - Dreadnaught - Imperial IPA
6) Another bottle pf St. Bernardus
7) Three Floyds - Rabid Rabbit - Belgian Saison
8) Three Floyds - Robert The Bruce - Scottish Ale
9) Bell's - Oberon - American Pale Wheat Ale
10) Guinness - Extra Stout - Irish Dry Stout
11) Birra Peroni Industriale - Peroni Nastro Azzurro - Euro Pale Lager

Middle Row; Left To Right
1) Sun King - Osiris - American Pale Ale
2) Oskar Blues - Old Chub - Scotch Ale
3) More Old Chub
4) Three Floyds - Pride and Joy - American Pale Ale
5) Brasserie de Rochefort - Trappistes Rochefort 8 - Belgian Strong Dark Ale
6) Lindemans - Framboise - Lambic
7) More Peroni
8) Left Hand - Milk Stout - Milk Stout
9) New Glarus - Spotted Cow - Cream Ale
10) More Pride and Joy
11) More Guiness
12) Sun King - Sunlight - Cream Ale

Bottom Row; Left To Right
1) Founders - Kentucky Breakfast Stout - American Double Imperial Stout
2) More Guinness
3) Founders - Backwoods Bastard - Scotch Ale
4) Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau - Hefe-Weisse - Hefeweizen
5) Founders - Red's Rye PA - Rye Beer
6) Aonther Osiris
7) Oskar Blues - Gordon / G'Knight - American Double / Imperial IPA
8) A second Rochefort 8
9) Some more Backwoods
10) Another KBS
11) Bell's - Two Hearted Ale - American IPA
12) Another Robert The Bruce
13) And finally... a Guinness

Not pictured:

Peoples Brewing - Mound Builder IPA - American IPA

Peoples Brewing - Aberrant Amber - American Amber / Red Ale

We had a great time sharing a food and brews with friends and we look forward to doing this again!

Eis Igian,
Randall and Laura