The American Craft Beer Scene Goes Global!
Check out this awesome article about Stone Brewery venturing out overseas!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Bellegems Bruin
Ok, think "how now brown cow" meets "sour patch kids" and the cow eats the candy and births this beer.. Ok, what I mean to say is that Bellegems Bruin is a Brown sour, yum!
The rich, translucent mahogany color threw me off a little when it came to taste. But as I have learned, you can't judge a beer by it's color. It has a really airy/light mouth feel with just the perfect amount of subtle carbonation.
The flavors and the olfactory sensations are practically one in the same. There is a slightly funky/sour element at the start, complimentary to the fruity notes, including: currant, fig, plum, cranberry, blackberry, and dark cherry (giving this beer a nice sweet/tart balance). There is also some subtle vinegar and nutty maltiness going on with a hint of cocoa.
9.4/10
The rich, translucent mahogany color threw me off a little when it came to taste. But as I have learned, you can't judge a beer by it's color. It has a really airy/light mouth feel with just the perfect amount of subtle carbonation.
The flavors and the olfactory sensations are practically one in the same. There is a slightly funky/sour element at the start, complimentary to the fruity notes, including: currant, fig, plum, cranberry, blackberry, and dark cherry (giving this beer a nice sweet/tart balance). There is also some subtle vinegar and nutty maltiness going on with a hint of cocoa.
9.4/10
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Mikkeller & Brewdog - I Harcore You
Two breweries that never disappoint in quality came together to make a premium pour. Mikkeller's I Beat You and Brewdog's Hardcore IPA got together, added more dry hops into the magic, and out popped I Hardcore you, a 9.5% Imperial India Pale Ale.
The slightly cloudy deep amber body compliments the large tannish head. Strikingly heavy on the nose are notes of pine (duh, from all of the dry hopping), citrus and a light honey sweetness. The flavors open from the nose into grapefruit, orange marmalade, pine needles, warm caramel, rich toffee, sticky honey, and even some tropical fruit sweetness (think mango and pineapple). All of these think flavors give this beer a creamy, carbonated, even somewhat sticky mouth feel.
P.S. The attitude/emotion of the label art is reminiscent of the feel this beer gives. Relationships.. who needs them, when I can get my hands on this beer (don't tell my boyfriend I said this). haha. OR, what better way to spend time sharing in something wonderful with your significant other, eh?
9.8/10 - high for me considering the hoppiness of it!
The slightly cloudy deep amber body compliments the large tannish head. Strikingly heavy on the nose are notes of pine (duh, from all of the dry hopping), citrus and a light honey sweetness. The flavors open from the nose into grapefruit, orange marmalade, pine needles, warm caramel, rich toffee, sticky honey, and even some tropical fruit sweetness (think mango and pineapple). All of these think flavors give this beer a creamy, carbonated, even somewhat sticky mouth feel.
P.S. The attitude/emotion of the label art is reminiscent of the feel this beer gives. Relationships.. who needs them, when I can get my hands on this beer (don't tell my boyfriend I said this). haha. OR, what better way to spend time sharing in something wonderful with your significant other, eh?
9.8/10 - high for me considering the hoppiness of it!
Midnight Sun T.R.E.A.T.
The name is self explanatory - treat treat treat - what a delight! This eye candy pours a deep brownish orange. The mouth feel is light and bubbly, unexpected for a porter, but quite pleasant all the same. (An Imperial Chocolate pumpkin Porter to be exact).
The heavier notes on this beer, both in scent and taste are pumpkin and dark, creamy cocoa. There are strong flavors of holiday spice as well, including cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. T.R.E.A.T. is reminiscent of a spicy pumpkin pie with a dark chocolate swirl.
Would pair well with holiday spice flavors, whether savory or sweet.
10/10 - keep in mind that some of my personal favorite flavors are pumpkin and chocolate
9.2/10 (non-biased)
The heavier notes on this beer, both in scent and taste are pumpkin and dark, creamy cocoa. There are strong flavors of holiday spice as well, including cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves. T.R.E.A.T. is reminiscent of a spicy pumpkin pie with a dark chocolate swirl.
Would pair well with holiday spice flavors, whether savory or sweet.
10/10 - keep in mind that some of my personal favorite flavors are pumpkin and chocolate
9.2/10 (non-biased)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Mikkeller Geek Breakfast
Hey honey, what do you want for breakfast?
I don't know dear, how about some geek?!
Oooohhh, my favorite! Especially with a side of breakfast burrito.
Mikkeller Geek Breakfast - a dark, creamy, slippery smooth stout with some smoky qualities. It smells of freshly roasted espresso beans and tastes even better. There is a undertone of malty, bitter hops, sort of like black coffee. Other flavors coming to the plate (or glass in this case) are cocoa, molasses and dark caramel.
I know this beer sounds intense, but the flavors are all well balanced and not overwhelming. Instead, they are quite mild, comparable to any breakfast food in relation to bolder dinner food flavors. Pair it with a rich, dark chocolate cake or chili.
8.2/10
I don't know dear, how about some geek?!
Oooohhh, my favorite! Especially with a side of breakfast burrito.
Mikkeller Geek Breakfast - a dark, creamy, slippery smooth stout with some smoky qualities. It smells of freshly roasted espresso beans and tastes even better. There is a undertone of malty, bitter hops, sort of like black coffee. Other flavors coming to the plate (or glass in this case) are cocoa, molasses and dark caramel.
I know this beer sounds intense, but the flavors are all well balanced and not overwhelming. Instead, they are quite mild, comparable to any breakfast food in relation to bolder dinner food flavors. Pair it with a rich, dark chocolate cake or chili.
8.2/10
Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela no. 1 Pumpkin Ale
The pumpkin brewery finally releases a pumpkin beer and it doesn't really taste like pumpkin?! Strange. However, I would say it is still one of Jolly Pumpkin's best. As a sour/pumpkin beer, this is selling to a niche beer drinking audience, though it need not. The sourness is super subtle and the pumpkin flavors are virtually absent. To be fair, it does have a sour barnyard type smell and some Autumn spice notes in both taste and smell.
One thing that keeps bringing me back to Jolly Pumpkin is that I would have no idea all of their beers are sours if I had never been told - their funk is subtle and unique (in a good way, even for a sour lover). It is the the pumpkin pie without the pumpkin, or the apple crisp minus the apple. It is tart and citrusy. It is caramely and malty. To be plain, it is a damn good beer. And, the artwork on the bottle is quite attractive!
8.7/10
One thing that keeps bringing me back to Jolly Pumpkin is that I would have no idea all of their beers are sours if I had never been told - their funk is subtle and unique (in a good way, even for a sour lover). It is the the pumpkin pie without the pumpkin, or the apple crisp minus the apple. It is tart and citrusy. It is caramely and malty. To be plain, it is a damn good beer. And, the artwork on the bottle is quite attractive!
8.7/10
Monday, November 29, 2010
Rouge Santa's Reserve
If Santa met with the bunny rabbit of Easter, this beer may be the result. Not only does it have the flavors of Christmas, but it is super hoppy (hence the ribbity rabbity meeting, yes?) - a double red IPA I believe. Aside from the intense piney hoppy flavor, there is rich notes of butter, toffee and scotch as well as warm notes of powdery cocoa, nutmeg and vanilla.
Santa meets the Easter bunny, meets nut brittle, meets winter spice, meets cacao. Fin.
7/10
Santa meets the Easter bunny, meets nut brittle, meets winter spice, meets cacao. Fin.
7/10
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