Stout fest 4

Ok, we decided to skip the movie and stay at stout fest. This is an Avery Brewing Co. Czar Imperial Stout. The appearance is the same as the previous stouts, but the nose is more fruity, like cider. I don't get a lot of hops but I do taste a cider, but not as much as the aroma. I enjoy this stout a lot.

Stoutfest, take 3

This is a Green Flash Double Stout. I am only familiar with hoppy offerings from Green Flash, so I expected some hops. I didn't taste or smell any. The head was moderate and pretty creamy, but it left a lot of lace on the glass. It has a very grainy nose and a thick black appearance. It's very smooth and, like the other stouts, malty and delicious.

Stout fest, take 2

This is a Half Acre Big Hugs. It's 10% abv and black as night. It has a surprising bitter nose and taste which is balanced by a rich malty finish. It pours with a creamy head which leaves a nice lace on the glass. I'd definitely have one again.

Stout fest

On the left, Allagash Black. On the right, Breckenridge Oatmeal stout.

The Allagash is a smooth rich and slightly chocolatey stout. It finishes more crisply than I expected.

The Breckenridge is a nice oatmeal stout. I don't taste a lot of oatmeal, which I expected, but I think it gives it a full taste.

If you like lagers ...

This is a limited release from Three Floyd's called Jinx Proof Lager. I think it's a very good example of a lager. It pours a nice golden color with a thick creamy head which leaves a ton of lace on the glass. I'm not always a Three Floyd's fan, but I really like this; it's my local go to for a session lager.

Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale

This is a Boulevard Smokestack Series Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. It pours a thin head, which leaves a lot of lace on the side of the glass. The nose is a little fruity and a little spicy, a little more like a witbier? It's a nice golden color with what appear to be plentiful yeast particles floating among the carbonation bubbles. The label says it has a "sweet body of breaded malt." I get the sweet, but not a lot of malt. Overall, I like this farmhouse ale.

Back in black

This is a 21st Amendment black IPA. First, I like the name 21st Amendment for a brewery. Second, I'm intrigued by black IPAs (and black wheats, too). This poured thick and black, although the flash betrays the true color. As you can see from the photo, the head is thick and creamy. It's hoppy and not too citrusy. I would have had another one, but we were on to Scotch. And dinner.

Mikkeller Santa's Little Helper

I have yet to have a Mikkeller's that I did NOT like. This was a Belgian strong ale (about 10.9% abv) that I had after my first two Scotch drinks ever - more about those later.

This did not taste like a high octane beer to me. It also did not taste like an over-spiced Christmas Ale. I liked the mildly spicy and malty taste. Unfortunately, however, this was a couple weeks ago and I can't remember more than that!

Northern hemisphere

This is a Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere wet hopped IPA in a slightly over-sized glass with one of my favorite Ben Franklin quotes.

It pours with a huge rich creamy head that leaves a ton of lace. The nose is bitter, but not overly citrus. There is a slight malty taste with a bitter finish.

I have blogged this beer before and I think I liked it better the first time.

Back in the game

Part of the reason I started this blog was to track what I was drinking so that I could remember what I loved, liked and loathed. In the last few months, I've gotten away from blogging the ales and lagers that I have tasted. Recently, I looked back at the blog to see what I said about a certain beer, only to discover that I had not entered it on the blog. If the title of this post mislead you to believe that I had not continued sampling craft beer throughout the country, I apologize. I am going to try to blog new ales and lagers while they are still fresh in my mind.

Tonight, I had my second Green Flash West Coast IPA. It pours with a moderate head which left a fair amount of lacing. The color is a rich, slightly cloudy, copper. The nose is a strong citrus (orange?) with a slight bitter burn. I didn't think it tasted as bitter as it smelled because I got a malty taste in the middle.

I have seen this on a few "top 10" IPA lists, but I'm not sure I'd go that far. I think it is a good example of a west coast IPA, however.

5 Rabbit 5 Vulture

The label describes it as an Oaxacan-style dark ale brewed with ancho chili. Apparently, in Aztec mythology, 5 vulture is one of the five gods of excess that serve to warn us of our baser instincts. Hmmm. No excess here. I had this on draft at the map room a few months ago and had hoped it had a little more heat. I also remember liking it anyway! So tonight I bought a six pack and I'm not disappointed. I just wish the Chicago brewers had been a little more humble when they entered the market.

Davy Jones Lager

This is an imperial cream ale from Heavy Seas. Tastes a little like the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, but a little stronger in abv.

Mikkeller, take 2

This is the second IPA that I bought from the single hop series. This one was made with cascade hops. It is 38 ibus, so it's a little more hoppy / bitter than the Mt. Hood. It is closer to what I expected from an IPA. Another enjoyable Mikkeller.

Mt. Hood

I have tried a number of Mikkellers and liked them all. This is from the single hop series - using only Mt. Hood hops. It has an ibu of 33 and the malts balance out the limited hops. I like this a lot.

Brooklyn Brewmaster's Reserve

This is a Brooklyn Main Engine Reserve - an abbey single. I don't know that I have ever had an abbey single, but even if I have, this blows it away! It's a very smooth Belgian with a little kick.

5 Rabbit 5 Lizard

This is a relatively new Chicago brewery. The beer is the Latin style witbier brewed with Spices and passion fruit. Very interesting. Also love the glass.

Summit Red - on cask

A nice copper color with a slightly bitter finish. Like the beer, love the glass - beer is my life.

LakeFront!

This is the Cream Ale - a pale ale. I think this is a nice crisp pale ale with a good mix of bitterness. And right from the brewery!

Black IPA

This beer is from the southern tier of NY, near where I grew up. The brewery has received praise for a number of it's offerings. This is a relatively new ale from Southern Tier. It is a black IPA. I've had a few, a couple of which I thought were awesome. This one is pretty good. At first it tasted like a half and half of an imperial stout and IPA. The second taste convinced me - pretty good, especially for an imperial. Nice hops. Good malt. And a cheap date.

Tramp Stamp

Yep, a beer named after the tattoo I never got. I had seen this in the store a couple times and loved the label. Now I've had it on tap and it is just as good as the label! Nice copper color and bitter nose. Finishes a little sharp but enjoyable.

Make it a double.

Firestone double jack IPA. Nice hoppy taste, which must mask the alcohol because this is yummy. Try it!

Peace.

This is a Goose Island Fleur. It has a great floral nose, copper color and great finish. Better on tap than in a bottle.

Unibroue

This is from Unibroue, but I can't remember the name. I do, however, remember liking it. It had a nice malty taste and copper color (lighter than in the photo). I'll try to update this post with the actual name.

Back at it

The blogging, not the drinking. Of course I have not taken a break from trying new beer. This is Boulevard Smokestack Series Tank 7 farmhouse ale. It's, well, interesting. I think it's the yeast. It starts a little hoppy and finishes a little bitter - for a farmhouse. But it's crisp and light which is nice for a hot and humid day. And in a mason jar at an almost authentic southern BBQ joint. In Bucktown. Close.

Bar Fly IPA

At the Sox game with a Bar Fly IPA. It's nice and hoppy with a crisp and bitter finish. Perfect for a warm summer evening.

Jockamo!

Sitting outside at the French Quarter Festival and having an Abita Jockamo IPA while listening to some awesome blues. Oh yeah, the IPA is good!

Crescent City Brewery

The sampler! Lightest to darkest - A pilsner (tastes like a light lager), a wheat (pretty good - crisp), seasonal - ambrosia (interesting - finishes kind of malty), Munich style ale (black forest - malty and not very hoppy), red stallion (it's their happiest and not that hoppy, but not bad). Gotta love local beer!

Gnomegang

A Belgian trippel that is a collaboration between Ommegang and La Chueffe. It tastes a little heavy, almost syrupy. I'll give it another chance because, well, I have a full glass.

Smallbar Pale Ale

I like this beer very much. This has a nice copper color and a crisp taste, with a mildly hoppy taste. If you want crazy IBUs, this isn't your beer. If you like a smooth and flavorful beer with Moderate hops - this is it. It is brewed by Two Brothers using hops grown at the Fullerton Smallbar location. Yummy. And, when the bartender saw me attempting to take a picture using the candle as light, he turned on the overhead lights for me. Nice. That random act of kindness may have saved my night.

Go east, young man!

Yuengling lager. I never cared much for it when I lived in Philly, perhaps because of its ubiquitous nature. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. This was the best the 7-11 had to offer and it hit the spot.

The best Oberon ever?

Despite the plastic cup, this just might have been my best Oberon to date -- spring training in Florida, shorts, sun, and my Phillies. Top that.

Yep, it's almost St. Patrick's Day

This is a Great Lakes Irish style ale. Or lager. Not sure. For some reason it has a greenish tinge. Not sure why. It has a copper tone and a little bit of a malty finish. The middle is non-descript. In a good way? I'd definitely have another, but it's early and I'm off tomorrow.

Going Rogue

This is a Rogue Shakespeare Stout. I liked it a lot. This stout had a nice malty taste with a thick dark head and a chocolately nose.

I'm not worthy

This is an Arrogant Bastard Ale. The bottle warns that I'm not worthy and they are probably right. I've had this before and remembered liking it a little better. I wanted a little more hoppy flavor and a sharper finish. Or maybe I just wanted a different beer.

Another mixed drink

This is an Aviation, also at the Violet Hour. A friend recommended this drink and it was very good. It's made with gin and has a citrus flavor. If we had stayed longer, I would have had another.

Mixed drink detour

This is a Juliette and Romeo at the Violet Hour. Although their drink menu says it's made with Beefeater, I had mine with Hendrick's, which I think was a good choice because the drink - and the gin - have cucumber in them. The drink was great but get there before eight unless you want to wait.

Two for one

On the left is the pilsner and on the right is the iron fist pale ale. I think the pale ale is my favorite Revolution beer. Or maybe i like the Englishman Working Mild. Either way, it's a close call and there are other local brews I like better.

Village Green

This is the Village Green English Bitter. I think it was on the cask. I expected it to be, well, a little more bitter.

Downhill slide

I first had a Leinenkugel a few years ago and I thought it was pretty good. Back then, it was still a relatively small independent brewery with limited distribution. Then one of the big boys bought them and I think things have gone down hill since then. A "friend" brought three over for a banana pancake breakfast. He got the better end of the deal!

Lost Abbey

This is a Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout. It has a caramely head with a chocolate malty body. Sometimes Lost Abbey is a little much for me, but I liked this stout. It was a little heavy to have two, but it was a great choice to start.

With a rebel yell!

Another beer from the Revolution Party. I think this was a pilsner style lager but I cannot remember what they told me when I bought it. It is a nice refreshing beer - crisp lager taste and a smooth finish. This was a pleasant surprise. In addition to fitting the theme.

Anchors Away

I have never been a big Anchor Steam fan but I bought the Liberty ale for a revolution themed party. I like this much better than the Anchor Steam. But that's just about all I remember about this beer. Next time I'm at a Giants game (some time after they dump Pat B.), I'll Drink a Liberty in honor of the Phillies!

Great Lakes Burning River

I went to Cleveland last summer to meet some friend's for fourth of July weekend. We were really excited about going to Great Lakes Brewery. Unfortunately, everything in Cleveland was closed for the weekend, except the house where A Christmas Story was filmed. Back to the beer.

A friend brought this over to the house for us to try. It's a smooth pale ale and very drinkable. It has a nice copper color and a crisp finish. I enjoyed this beer but I shouldn't be surprised because I also like Dortmunder Gold and Edmund Fitzgerald.

Hoppiness found

I have heard a lot of good things about Grand Teton Brewing so I thought I'd buy this imperial red ale for a friend and then try to steal a sample. Success! This was a hoppy red ale - not quite as bitter as an IPA, and not as alcohol-y as some imperials. I recommend picking up one if you can find it.

(root) beer

Ok, this is neither an ale nor a lager, but it is made by a local brewery. This is a very good root beer. I think it's my favorite Goose Island beverage.

Iron City

The local beer store stocked this for the Super Bowl. I've had it before and not been impressed, but it fit the theme. I wasn't impressed with the Steelers' performance in the big game. In fact, the Iron City was just a little better than their team.

Trippel

This is a Piece Superfluous Trippel. It's a Belgian style ale brewed with Belgian yeast and candy sugar. It doesn't have a strong nose, but it's sort of strong at 9% abv. It finishes, well, with an after-finish. I think I'm coining a new phrase here. It finishes really quickly and crisply, not real sweet like a trippel usually finishes. Then it sits on your tongue for a while as the Belgian sweetness gathers up for a second, more traditional, trippel finish. Worth a try. 

Rogue!

Dead Guy Ale. Hmmm.  Hoppy and bitter. Pretty good. I'm sure you've had this. 

Snowtastrophe!

In honor of the snowstorm of the decade, so far, here is an IPA called Yellow Snow. This was fantastic. A nice balanced IPA that is hoppy, but not too hoppy. My favorite Rogue. So far.

Bitter

This is a Piece bellend bitter. It smells super hoppy, but it tastes very smooth. It's a session ale and surprisingly pleasing at 4% abv.