That is the list, everyone. More beer reviews and news can be found at Ale Monthly, where I'll be monthly reviewing beers and posting news, events and more.
thanks
Ryan
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Top 25 Beers
Russian River Beatification
Blended Gueze 100% Spontaneously Fermented in very old Oak. Batch #2
Wow. This is as sour and bubbly as they come. Almost no brett flavor, very dry, grapefruit, tart and hints of wood, pear, apple. This is an incredibly one dimensional ale, and I mean that in a very good way! If you like sour, dry and bubbly, this is the way to go.
Green Flash Grand Cru
Belgian Dark Strong Ale. Decadent and rich for a beer on tap, and considering it is a new beer to 2008, pretty amazing at the balance. Cloves, chocolate, smoke and charred wood flavors complement the slightly ester yeast character, with a strong dark fruit, raisin and fig character. Rich, thick, dark and warm. This is what heaven tastes like.
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Really a refreshing, sessionable offering from Firestone Walker that at the same time is over the top in hop aroma and flavor, quite a feat indeed. Light bodied, full aroma of grapefruit and orange, with resinous flavors that are even stronger, lemon,orange and pine, with a lingering but pleasant bitterness. A note of toast and caramel, but the hops dominate this! Great for Speakeasy Big Daddy fans, a light bodied, low ABV and highly hopped IPA.
Deschutes Abyss
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in french oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Brown ale brewed to imperial strength and then aged in 10,000 gallon vessels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay! Supposedly the largest of such vessels since prohibition. Needless to say a very warm beer, with hints of chocolate, licorice, molasses, toffee, hazelnut and vanilla. This has big barrel written all over it. Port like, slightly sweet, slightly vinous, with a dry finish.
Achel Extra Bruin
Wow. Very full, highly carbonated and quite dry in the finish, the esters in this beer dominate the profile: figs, plums, raisins, vanilla, clove, you name it. Lots of chocolate, toffee, tobacco and even slight roast flavors. Only detracts being slightly sweet-syrupy, but this is balanced by the warmth and rather dry finish. Best trappist version of the style I've had, hands down.
Unibroue 16th Anniversary
Wonderfully complex dark strong ale. Raisins, plum and caramel dominate the flavor, with a slight woody hop accent present. Thick, but well carbonated, ale, with a richness throughout that doesn't reach creaminess. Allspice, grapes, , nutmeg, vanilla, cherries. It is hard to describe all the flavors in this beer. Who needs wine.
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga
Belgian Pale Ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?) Complex, well rounded, lightly sour ale. Light and spicy, with notes of coriander, clove, vanilla and some malt depth and complexity, slight toffee. A little musty, and flowery from hops. Has that indescribable "brett" flavor, often called barnyard. A definite farmhouse character to this one.
Malheur Brut Reserve
This may have been the most I paid retail for a beer in 2008 ... was it worth it? A champagne style Saison, brut, bubbly and very dry. Slight earthy,noble hops and biscuit notes in the nose. Biscuit and slight hoppy earthiness up front, then with pear, apple and slight bubblegum esters throughout the middle. The finish ends dry, bitter, and delicious.
Boulevard Saison Brett
A beer more in balance than overpowered by sourness, this Saison has a nice hop and ester spiciness, is slightly creamy, and sour with a bitter finish. Hints of pears, apples, banana, with notes of wheat, grass and a very citrus, noticeably orange, character to it. Very smooth and refreshing.
Russian River Consecration
Pale ale aged in Oak with Pluots. Sour, cherries, figs, raisins, toffee. It has a dry, vinous character, should age superbly, and the barrel character is quite apparent, slight notes of vanilla, oak, earth. Quite acidic and a lingering sour finish. This one sticks with you.
Stone 12th Anniversary
A very warm ale, with incredibly powerful coffee, roast and chocolate notes. Burnt character, incredibly bitter, with slight toffee, oatmeal, vanilla, molasses and bark-earth. This is a much dryer and bitter beer than their usual imperial stout, and has a greater hop presence and bitterness in the finish.
Schnieder Edel-Weisse
This is an organic hefeweizen from Schnieder, and possibly my favorite of their offerings. A rather dry wizen with a hoppier presence than most, and much more restrained phenolic character (clove-bannana). Smells of wheat, toast and slight peppers and bubblegum. The mouthfeel is slightly acidic, dry and tastes of grains, biscuit and grass, with slight clove. Finish is slightly citrus-lemony. Delicious.
Alaskan Smoked Porter 2008
Rich, smoky, robust porter. Nose of wood, earth, smoke, coffee and slight toast. Mouthfeel is slightly acidic, burnt on the toungue. Additional chocolate, espresso, carmel, smokeand slight pepper in the flavor. Finish is lingeringly smoky and bitter.
Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza
Golden Strong ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?) Another spicy, sour and hoppy offering from JP. This offering is quite sour, gold colored and hazy, and has esters to boot: pear, apple, slight banana. Doesn't have the quite the barnyard-farmhouse going, possibly due to other organisms besides Brett? Need to find out more.
Zoetzuur Flemish Reserve
A very sharp, acidic red with a delicious malt backbone. Smells like sour cherries, once again, but has a less musty and muddled aroma, much more tart, and the flavor is cleaner, not musty, but definitely bretty. Hints of oak, raisins, plums and sour fruit. Very dry, almost astringent.
Schwelmer "Bernstien" Vienna
A very alt-like Vienna style lager. Very malty and slightly sweet in the nose, hints of toast and toffee, and slight earthy hops. Light on the palate, biscuits, caramel, chocolate, hazelnuts, with slight esters and a dry, hoppy finish featuring spicy, earthy noble hops.
de Dolle Export Stout
Fruity, rich and slightly sour stout. Nose of chocolate, prunes, toffee, roast and caramel. The mouthfeel is quite full, slightly thick, and carbonation is medium. Additional smoke, coffee, raisin and licorice in the flavor. Ends rather smooth and slightly bitter, but mostly roasty and slightly warm. Not your traditional stout, really more of a farmhouse Belgian Black Ale.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
This is a powerhouse, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.
Brugge Diamond Kings
Quadrupel barrel aged in french oak and spiked with Brett and pickled plums.
This beer is a powerhouse. Much more malt complexity and even some residual sweetness than most Brett ales. Figs, raisins, cherries, toffee, vanilla, plums, this beer has much more of the barrel flavor to it left than just the beasties. The sourness is gentle, just a slight tartness, mustiness, and funkiness, maybe because it is just such a big beer at 12%.
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Amazingly chocolately smooth Eisbock, apparently the original. Nose of dried fruits, roast, chocolate and slight smoke. The mouthfeel is faintly slick but thick, a slight warming but well blended for a beer of this strength. Dark chocolate, cherries, raisins, figs, molasses, cloves, banana, toffee, caramel. It is all in there. Finish is warm but rather dry.
Allagash Interlude
A dual fermented beer golden strong ale (a farmhouse ale yeast and Brett for the secondary), the beer is taken from the stainless and aged in French Merlot and Sirah barrels, a very bold move. A very tannic, plum like character is added to an otherwise light and refreshing ale. Nose is of oak, red wine, brett, apples, with additional earthy, pear, toast, grape and berries in the flavor. Mouthfeel is medium, with a very tannic and slight acidic and tart aspect. Very unique ale.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
St. Bernardus Trippel
Hoppy, sweet and slightly fruity, a delicious Trappist Ale. All is in balance, it is rich, yet dry and lingering in the finish. The hops are prominent up front, yet it is not too bitter in the finish. This beer is a conundrum of sorts, has little complexity in any one aspect, but is an enjoyable ale.
The Bruery Saison Rue
A saison amped up to %8 with Bret and Rye, a real cornacopia of styles and ingredients.
Refreshing, bitter and slightly sour and spicy ale. Nose of spices, coriander, apples, pears, slight sour and farmhouse quality. Medium mouthfeel, large carbonation with a slight lactic quality. Additional wheat, biscut, caramel, rye, pepper and bannana in the flavor. Lengthy, slightly tart and bitter finish.
Top 10 American Style Beers
a very open ended category, this is about beer that don't fit a style per say, and are not trying to do anything distinctly Belgian, German, English, ect. They are about the American Spirit of brewing, pushing boundaries and flavor profiles. These beers go beyond style, and are experiences to be dealt with in their own right.
Alaskan Smoked Porter
Founder of the style, and still pushing the boundaries on extremely smoky yet drinkable ales.
Bottle, 2008. Rich, smoky, robust porter. Nose of wood, earth, smoke, coffee and slight toast. Mouthfeel is slightly acidic, burnt on the toungue. Additional chocolate, espresso, carmel, smokeand slight pepper in the flavor. Finish is lingeringly smoky and bitter.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
The zenith of IBUs, this IPA is continuously hopped for the duration of the boil. Try with Randall the Enamel Animal, a Hopback type of device to run your tap beer through a bed of fresh hops.
Amazingly 2008 was my first endeavor into the world of DFH and their legendary IPA. This is a bomber, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.
Deschutes Abyss
If you like Barrels and Strong, Strong Stouts, this is the beer for you.
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in french oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Stumptown Fossil Fuel
want a 45 million old ale that was brewed last year?
This IPA has a very complex flavor profile. It tastes super grassy and resiny, like fresh hops. Apparently, however, much of the spiciness and "fresh" character comes from a 45 million year old strain of yeast that resembles brewers yeast! An experimental ale brewed by Stumptown after being approached by scientists, it is a zesty, light and refreshing ale. Notes of lemon, grass, grapefruit, and even a touch of clove, with a slightly toasty and caramelly background. Soon into production by Fossil Fuels Brewing Co.
The Bruery Saison Rue
A saison amped up to %8 with Bret and Rye, a real cornacopia of styles and ingredients.
Refreshing, bitter and slightly sour and spicy ale. Nose of spices, coriander, apples, pears, slight sour and farmhouse quality. Medium mouthfeel, large carbonation with a slight lactic quality. Additional wheat, biscut, caramel, rye, pepper and bannana in the flavor. Lengthy, slightly tart and bitter finish.
Rogue Imperial X
Pushing the IPA experience to the extreme.
Jet black ceramic bottle with a swing top, just taking a look at this beer makes you shake. I expected a much sweeter, malt oriented ale, but got a hop bomb with the malts playing much more of a background role. Spicy, slightly noble hoppiness, blended with the citrus and grassiness found in northwest varieties. Slight caramel, toast and biscuit come into play, this is a medium bodied ale with a clean, not to bitter finish and unique blend of hop flavors.
Stone 12th Anniversary Ale
Taking robust, bitter, burnt and roasted flavors to the max.
A very warm ale, with incredibly powerful coffee, roast and chocolate notes. Burnt character, incredibly bitter, with slight toffee, oatmeal, vanilla, molasses and bark-earth. This is a much dryer and bitter beer than their usual imperial stout, and has a greater hop presence and bitterness in the finish.
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Brown ale brewed to imperial strength and then aged in 10,000 gallon vessels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay! Supposedly the largest of such vessels since prohibition.
Needless to say a very warm beer, with hints of chocolate, licorice, molasses, toffee, hazelnut and vanilla. This has big barrel written all over it. Port like, slightly sweet, slightly vinous, with a dry finish.
Bear Republic EZ Ryder
like spicy rye? this one is made with 100%
Spicy, doughy and refreshing all rye beer. I'm guessing they used a special variety of rye that has a much less subdued flavor, because although I expected it to be overpowering, it was quite sessionable. Great hop presence, with citrus and grapefruit, with spicy pepper notes. Medium to light bodied, lightly bitter finish, with biscuit and toast highlights.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.
Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinuous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Alaskan Smoked Porter
Founder of the style, and still pushing the boundaries on extremely smoky yet drinkable ales.
Bottle, 2008. Rich, smoky, robust porter. Nose of wood, earth, smoke, coffee and slight toast. Mouthfeel is slightly acidic, burnt on the toungue. Additional chocolate, espresso, carmel, smokeand slight pepper in the flavor. Finish is lingeringly smoky and bitter.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
The zenith of IBUs, this IPA is continuously hopped for the duration of the boil. Try with Randall the Enamel Animal, a Hopback type of device to run your tap beer through a bed of fresh hops.
Amazingly 2008 was my first endeavor into the world of DFH and their legendary IPA. This is a bomber, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.
Deschutes Abyss
If you like Barrels and Strong, Strong Stouts, this is the beer for you.
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in french oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Stumptown Fossil Fuel
want a 45 million old ale that was brewed last year?
This IPA has a very complex flavor profile. It tastes super grassy and resiny, like fresh hops. Apparently, however, much of the spiciness and "fresh" character comes from a 45 million year old strain of yeast that resembles brewers yeast! An experimental ale brewed by Stumptown after being approached by scientists, it is a zesty, light and refreshing ale. Notes of lemon, grass, grapefruit, and even a touch of clove, with a slightly toasty and caramelly background. Soon into production by Fossil Fuels Brewing Co.
The Bruery Saison Rue
A saison amped up to %8 with Bret and Rye, a real cornacopia of styles and ingredients.
Refreshing, bitter and slightly sour and spicy ale. Nose of spices, coriander, apples, pears, slight sour and farmhouse quality. Medium mouthfeel, large carbonation with a slight lactic quality. Additional wheat, biscut, caramel, rye, pepper and bannana in the flavor. Lengthy, slightly tart and bitter finish.
Rogue Imperial X
Pushing the IPA experience to the extreme.
Jet black ceramic bottle with a swing top, just taking a look at this beer makes you shake. I expected a much sweeter, malt oriented ale, but got a hop bomb with the malts playing much more of a background role. Spicy, slightly noble hoppiness, blended with the citrus and grassiness found in northwest varieties. Slight caramel, toast and biscuit come into play, this is a medium bodied ale with a clean, not to bitter finish and unique blend of hop flavors.
Stone 12th Anniversary Ale
Taking robust, bitter, burnt and roasted flavors to the max.
A very warm ale, with incredibly powerful coffee, roast and chocolate notes. Burnt character, incredibly bitter, with slight toffee, oatmeal, vanilla, molasses and bark-earth. This is a much dryer and bitter beer than their usual imperial stout, and has a greater hop presence and bitterness in the finish.
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Brown ale brewed to imperial strength and then aged in 10,000 gallon vessels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay! Supposedly the largest of such vessels since prohibition.
Needless to say a very warm beer, with hints of chocolate, licorice, molasses, toffee, hazelnut and vanilla. This has big barrel written all over it. Port like, slightly sweet, slightly vinous, with a dry finish.
Bear Republic EZ Ryder
like spicy rye? this one is made with 100%
Spicy, doughy and refreshing all rye beer. I'm guessing they used a special variety of rye that has a much less subdued flavor, because although I expected it to be overpowering, it was quite sessionable. Great hop presence, with citrus and grapefruit, with spicy pepper notes. Medium to light bodied, lightly bitter finish, with biscuit and toast highlights.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels.
Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinuous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Top 10 Belgian Beers
lots of overlap here in the sour ale and dark strong categories once again, but top 10 new-to-me beers from Belgium in 2008.
Achel Extra
Belgian Style Dark Strong
Wow. Very full, highly carbonated and quite dry in the finish, the esters in this beer dominate the profile: figs, plums, raisins, vanilla, clove, you name it. Lots of chocolate, toffee, tobacco and even slight roast flavors. Only detracts being slightly sweet-syrupy, but this is balanced by the warmth and rather dry finish. Best Trappist version of the style I've had, hands down
Bink Belgian Blond
Belgian Style Blond Ale
A slightly thicker blond ale with some slight farmhouse characteristics and a very hoppy presence. Nose of citrus, earth and slight pine, with a hint of apple and pear esters, toast and bread. Thick and sweet up front, but the carbonation cuts through some of this. Additional earth, wood and slight lactic character in the flavor. Finishes dry an lingeringly bitter.
de Dolle Export Stout
Belgian Style Black Ale
Fruity, rich and slightly sour stout. Nose of chocolate, prunes, toffee, roast and caramel. The mouthfeel is quite full, slightly thick, and carbonation is medium. Additional smoke, coffee, raisin and licorice in the flavor. Ends rather smooth and slightly bitter, but mostly roasty and slightly warm. Not your traditional stout, really more of a farmhouse Belgian Black Ale.
N'Ice Chouffee Holiday Ale
Belgian Style Holiday-Dark Strong
A bridge between a dark strong and spiced holiday ale. Nose is of anise, clove, chocolate, toffee and plum, raisin and fig esters. Medium to lighter body, slight warmth but no slickness. Additional coffee, dark chocolate and brown sugar notes in the flavor, with a slight citrus and earthiness from the hops. The overall impression isn't too sweet, more rich and complex and warm.
Urthel Parlus Magnificum
Belgian Dubbel-Abbey Ale
Rich, complex and malty ale. Notes of toffee, chocolate, caramel and prunes and figs in the nose. Rich, thick mouthfeel, but not quite bock level. Still attains bock level melanoidian complexity, and has additional notes of raisin, earth and tobacco in the flavor. Finish is sweet, but slight bitterness and has a noble, earthy and piney hop character
Rochefort 8
Belgian Style Dark Strong
Walks the line with a Dark Strong, which most people consider it, this Abbey ale has a subdued aroma, is slightly sweet up front, rich in the middle, and slightly spicy hoppy in the finish. It has complex, aged and balanced flavor, with dried fruits, vanilla, figs, and even, dare I say it, slight cola.
Zoetzurr Flemish Sour
Flanders Red
A very sharp, acidic red with a delicious malt backbone. Smells like sour cherries, once again, but has a less musty and muddled aroma, much more tart, and the flavor is cleaner, not musty, but definitely bretty. Hints of oak, raisins, plums and sour fruit. Very dry, almost astringent.
Monk's Kettle Flemish Sour
aka, Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne. A Flanders Red
Deep, rich malt with sour power. Almost like a sweet tart. Carmel, raisins, cherries, chocolate, oak. Then the sourness kicks in and goes through the finish. Musty, but lacking the horsey Brett Flavor. Richer, fruiter and more luscious than many of its kind.
Rodenbach Grand Cru
A Flanders Red.
Intensely sour ale with a mild malty background. Nose of dark cherries, berries, plums, currants, wood, and earth. Mouthfeel is very puckering and acidic, rather thin. Additional notes of caramel, oak, plums, chocolate. Has a slight vinous quality, and the tartness lasts past the finish. More puckering and refreshing than the Alexander.
McChouffe Brown Ale
An Abbey Ale with a Scotch Ale Influence
Very malty, roasty and nutty. Not as complex and fruity as many Dubbels-Brown ales, but smooth, like a scotch ale with a Belgian interpretation.
Achel Extra
Belgian Style Dark Strong
Wow. Very full, highly carbonated and quite dry in the finish, the esters in this beer dominate the profile: figs, plums, raisins, vanilla, clove, you name it. Lots of chocolate, toffee, tobacco and even slight roast flavors. Only detracts being slightly sweet-syrupy, but this is balanced by the warmth and rather dry finish. Best Trappist version of the style I've had, hands down
Bink Belgian Blond
Belgian Style Blond Ale
A slightly thicker blond ale with some slight farmhouse characteristics and a very hoppy presence. Nose of citrus, earth and slight pine, with a hint of apple and pear esters, toast and bread. Thick and sweet up front, but the carbonation cuts through some of this. Additional earth, wood and slight lactic character in the flavor. Finishes dry an lingeringly bitter.
de Dolle Export Stout
Belgian Style Black Ale
Fruity, rich and slightly sour stout. Nose of chocolate, prunes, toffee, roast and caramel. The mouthfeel is quite full, slightly thick, and carbonation is medium. Additional smoke, coffee, raisin and licorice in the flavor. Ends rather smooth and slightly bitter, but mostly roasty and slightly warm. Not your traditional stout, really more of a farmhouse Belgian Black Ale.
N'Ice Chouffee Holiday Ale
Belgian Style Holiday-Dark Strong
A bridge between a dark strong and spiced holiday ale. Nose is of anise, clove, chocolate, toffee and plum, raisin and fig esters. Medium to lighter body, slight warmth but no slickness. Additional coffee, dark chocolate and brown sugar notes in the flavor, with a slight citrus and earthiness from the hops. The overall impression isn't too sweet, more rich and complex and warm.
Urthel Parlus Magnificum
Belgian Dubbel-Abbey Ale
Rich, complex and malty ale. Notes of toffee, chocolate, caramel and prunes and figs in the nose. Rich, thick mouthfeel, but not quite bock level. Still attains bock level melanoidian complexity, and has additional notes of raisin, earth and tobacco in the flavor. Finish is sweet, but slight bitterness and has a noble, earthy and piney hop character
Rochefort 8
Belgian Style Dark Strong
Walks the line with a Dark Strong, which most people consider it, this Abbey ale has a subdued aroma, is slightly sweet up front, rich in the middle, and slightly spicy hoppy in the finish. It has complex, aged and balanced flavor, with dried fruits, vanilla, figs, and even, dare I say it, slight cola.
Zoetzurr Flemish Sour
Flanders Red
A very sharp, acidic red with a delicious malt backbone. Smells like sour cherries, once again, but has a less musty and muddled aroma, much more tart, and the flavor is cleaner, not musty, but definitely bretty. Hints of oak, raisins, plums and sour fruit. Very dry, almost astringent.
Monk's Kettle Flemish Sour
aka, Bios Vlaamse Bourgogne. A Flanders Red
Deep, rich malt with sour power. Almost like a sweet tart. Carmel, raisins, cherries, chocolate, oak. Then the sourness kicks in and goes through the finish. Musty, but lacking the horsey Brett Flavor. Richer, fruiter and more luscious than many of its kind.
Rodenbach Grand Cru
A Flanders Red.
Intensely sour ale with a mild malty background. Nose of dark cherries, berries, plums, currants, wood, and earth. Mouthfeel is very puckering and acidic, rather thin. Additional notes of caramel, oak, plums, chocolate. Has a slight vinous quality, and the tartness lasts past the finish. More puckering and refreshing than the Alexander.
McChouffe Brown Ale
An Abbey Ale with a Scotch Ale Influence
Very malty, roasty and nutty. Not as complex and fruity as many Dubbels-Brown ales, but smooth, like a scotch ale with a Belgian interpretation.
Top 10 Neo-Belgian Beers
an homage to Belgian Style ales made in other areas, notably North America. Much overlap here with the sour beer and dark strong categories.
Russian River Beatification
Blended Gueze 100% Spontaneously Fermented in very old Oak. Batch #2
Wow. This is as sour and bubbly as they come. Almost no brett flavor, very dry, grapefruit, tart and hints of wood, pear, apple. This is an incredibly one dimensional ale, and I mean that in a very good way! If you like sour, dry and bubbly, this is the way to go.
Green Flash Grand Cru
A Belgian Style Dark Strong Ale
Decadent and rich for a beer on tap, and considering it is a new beer to 2008, pretty amazing at the balance. Cloves, chocolate, smoke and charred wood flavors complement the slightly ester yeast character, with a strong dark fruit, raisin and fig character. Rich, thick, dark and warm. This is what heaven tastes like.
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Oro
Golden Strong ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Another spicy, sour and hoppy offering from JP. This offering is quite sour, gold colored and hazy, and has esters to boot: pear, apple, slight banana. Doesn't have the quite the barnyard-farmhouse going, possibly due to other organisms besides Brett? Need to find out more.
Boulevard Saison Sour
Saison spiked with Brett
A beer more in balance than overpowered by sourness, this Saison has a nice hop and ester spiciness, is slightly creamy, and sour with a bitter finish. Hints of pears, apples, banana, with notes of wheat, grass and a very citrus, noticeably orange, character to it. Very smooth and refreshing.
Brugge Diamond Kings
Quadrupel barrel aged in french oak and spiked with Brett and pickled plums.
This beer is a powerhouse. Much more malt complexity and even some residual sweetness than most Brett ales. Figs, raisins, cherries, toffee, vanilla, plums, this beer has much more of the barrel flavor to it left than just the beasties. The sourness is gentle, just a slight tartness, mustiness, and funkiness, maybe because it is just such a big beer at 12%.
Jolly Pumpkin Lucinerga
Belgian Pale Ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Complex, well rounded, lightly sour ale. Light and spicy, with notes of coriander, clove, vanilla and some malt depth and complexity, slight toffee. A little musty, and flowery from hops. Has that indescribable "brett" flavor, often called barnyard. A definite farmhouse character to this one
Russian River Consecration
Pale ale aged in Oak with Pluots.
Sour, cherries, figs, raisins, toffee. It has a dry, vinous character, should age superbly, and the barrel character is quite apparent, slight notes of vanilla, oak, earth. Quite acidic and a lingering sour finish. This one sticks with you.
Port Brewing de Proef Signature Ale 2007
Pale ale spiked with Brett
Pale, refreshing very funky beer. This beer is quite bitter, light on the palatte, and has a grainy undertone. The brett character has nowhere to hide as the malt profile is quite low. The nose and finish are both quite hoppy, grapefruit and orange, but the sour-funkhouse character provides the base for this beer.
Unibroue 16th Anniversary Ale
A Belgian Style Dark Strong Ale
Wonderfully complex dark strong ale. Raisins, plum and caramel dominate the flavor, with a slight woody hop accent present. Thick, but well carbonated, ale, with a richness throughout that doesn't reach creaminess. Allspice, grapes, , nutmeg, vanilla, cherries. It is hard to describe all the flavors in this beer. Who needs wine.
Deschutes, The Dissident
Flanders Style Brown Ale with Cherries aged in Pinot Bottles
Powerful yet smooth sour brown ale. Nose is of dark cherries, raisins, figs, plums, toffee and chocolate. Medium bodied and mouth filling, with a tart and slightly tannic aspect to it. Flavors similar to the nose, but slightly more wood, earth and slight toast and caramel. Not overtly farmhouse or barnyard, the brett flavor is subdued, but the sourness and cherries pervade.
Russian River Beatification
Blended Gueze 100% Spontaneously Fermented in very old Oak. Batch #2
Wow. This is as sour and bubbly as they come. Almost no brett flavor, very dry, grapefruit, tart and hints of wood, pear, apple. This is an incredibly one dimensional ale, and I mean that in a very good way! If you like sour, dry and bubbly, this is the way to go.
Green Flash Grand Cru
A Belgian Style Dark Strong Ale
Decadent and rich for a beer on tap, and considering it is a new beer to 2008, pretty amazing at the balance. Cloves, chocolate, smoke and charred wood flavors complement the slightly ester yeast character, with a strong dark fruit, raisin and fig character. Rich, thick, dark and warm. This is what heaven tastes like.
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Oro
Golden Strong ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Another spicy, sour and hoppy offering from JP. This offering is quite sour, gold colored and hazy, and has esters to boot: pear, apple, slight banana. Doesn't have the quite the barnyard-farmhouse going, possibly due to other organisms besides Brett? Need to find out more.
Boulevard Saison Sour
Saison spiked with Brett
A beer more in balance than overpowered by sourness, this Saison has a nice hop and ester spiciness, is slightly creamy, and sour with a bitter finish. Hints of pears, apples, banana, with notes of wheat, grass and a very citrus, noticeably orange, character to it. Very smooth and refreshing.
Brugge Diamond Kings
Quadrupel barrel aged in french oak and spiked with Brett and pickled plums.
This beer is a powerhouse. Much more malt complexity and even some residual sweetness than most Brett ales. Figs, raisins, cherries, toffee, vanilla, plums, this beer has much more of the barrel flavor to it left than just the beasties. The sourness is gentle, just a slight tartness, mustiness, and funkiness, maybe because it is just such a big beer at 12%.
Jolly Pumpkin Lucinerga
Belgian Pale Ale fermented in Oak (and spiked with Brett?)
Complex, well rounded, lightly sour ale. Light and spicy, with notes of coriander, clove, vanilla and some malt depth and complexity, slight toffee. A little musty, and flowery from hops. Has that indescribable "brett" flavor, often called barnyard. A definite farmhouse character to this one
Russian River Consecration
Pale ale aged in Oak with Pluots.
Sour, cherries, figs, raisins, toffee. It has a dry, vinous character, should age superbly, and the barrel character is quite apparent, slight notes of vanilla, oak, earth. Quite acidic and a lingering sour finish. This one sticks with you.
Port Brewing de Proef Signature Ale 2007
Pale ale spiked with Brett
Pale, refreshing very funky beer. This beer is quite bitter, light on the palatte, and has a grainy undertone. The brett character has nowhere to hide as the malt profile is quite low. The nose and finish are both quite hoppy, grapefruit and orange, but the sour-funkhouse character provides the base for this beer.
Unibroue 16th Anniversary Ale
A Belgian Style Dark Strong Ale
Wonderfully complex dark strong ale. Raisins, plum and caramel dominate the flavor, with a slight woody hop accent present. Thick, but well carbonated, ale, with a richness throughout that doesn't reach creaminess. Allspice, grapes, , nutmeg, vanilla, cherries. It is hard to describe all the flavors in this beer. Who needs wine.
Deschutes, The Dissident
Flanders Style Brown Ale with Cherries aged in Pinot Bottles
Powerful yet smooth sour brown ale. Nose is of dark cherries, raisins, figs, plums, toffee and chocolate. Medium bodied and mouth filling, with a tart and slightly tannic aspect to it. Flavors similar to the nose, but slightly more wood, earth and slight toast and caramel. Not overtly farmhouse or barnyard, the brett flavor is subdued, but the sourness and cherries pervade.
Top 10 German Beers
best samples of new-to-me beers from Germany in 2008. all time favorites include Schneider Aventinus Wizenbock, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Kotsritzer Schwarzbier, Paulaner Hefe-Weisse.
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Amazingly chocolately smooth Eisbock, apparently the original. Nose of dried fruits, roast, chocolate and slight smoke. The mouthfeel is faintly slick but thick, a slight warming but well blended for a beer of this strength. Dark chocolate, cherries, raisins, figs, molasses, cloves, banana, toffee, caramel. It is all in there. Finish is warm but rather dry.
Schnieder Edel-Weisse
This is an organic hefeweizen from Schnieder, and possibly my favorite of their offerings. A rather dry wizen with a hoppier presence than most, and much more restrained phenolic character (clove-bannana). Smells of wheat, toast and slight peppers and bubblegum. The mouthfeel is slightly acidic, dry and tastes of grains, biscuit and grass, with slight clove. Finish is slightly citrus-lemony. Delicious.
Schwelmer "Bernstien" Vienna
A very alt-like Vienna style lager. Very malty and slightly sweet in the nose, hints of toast and toffee, and slight earthy hops. Light on the palate, biscuits, caramel, chocolate, hazelnuts, with slight esters and a dry, hoppy finish featuring spicy, earthy noble hops.
Schnieder Aventinus Eisbock
Funny enough Schneider takes claim for the Eisbock Story as well as Klumbacher! Rich, warm and sweet with some melanoidian like complexity. Hints of chocolate, toffee, raisin, plums and hints of molasses and licorice. Slightly thick and slick mouthfeel, with hints of clove, peppers, dried fruits and chocolate. Powerful warmth pervades this beer, and it finishes pretty full and sweet.
Krusovice Schwartzbier
Slightly on the dunkel side of a Schwarzbier. Smooth dark lager with some roasty highlights. Notes of chocolate, caramel, toast, earth and bread. Medium mouthfeel, slightly slight, and a clean, slightly sweet finish.
Altenmunster Maibock
A very refreshing helles bock. Grains, wheat, toast in the nose, with some slight apple and pear esters and earthy hops. The taste is similar, quite sweet, and a smooth grainy quality, bread, caramel, with a lightly bitter finish featuring spicy hops. Light, refreshing.
Mahrs Wizenbock
Complex and rich ale. Clove, banana, toffee, earthy, spicy hops in the nose. Mouthfeel is medium to rich, smooth, no warmth, and the flavor brings caramel and more banana. The finish is slightly sweet and hoppy.
Allaguer Brahaus Marzen
Toasty, bisciutty and light ale. Nose of toffee and toast, hints of apples and earth. The mouthfeel is thin and a little slick, notes of caramel, earth, toast, honey, corn. The finish is a little grassy, but like old hops rather than fresh ones. Authentic offering, but could use a flavor boost.
Mahrs Weisse
Delicious, reserved hefewizen. Nose of clove, bubblegum and citrus, with traces of biscuit and wheat. The mouthfeel is very rich and thick, flavors similar to the nose but banana is very dominant. The finish is sweeter than most.
Altenmunster Winterbier
Reserved, rich, almost dunkel like doppelbock. Nose of bread, dates, chocolate, toast and even wine. Medium mouthfeel, would be fuller with more carbonation. Additional notes of licorice, dark chocolate and caramel in the taste. Overall, a balanced but slightly musty doppel.
Kulmbacher Eisbock
Amazingly chocolately smooth Eisbock, apparently the original. Nose of dried fruits, roast, chocolate and slight smoke. The mouthfeel is faintly slick but thick, a slight warming but well blended for a beer of this strength. Dark chocolate, cherries, raisins, figs, molasses, cloves, banana, toffee, caramel. It is all in there. Finish is warm but rather dry.
Schnieder Edel-Weisse
This is an organic hefeweizen from Schnieder, and possibly my favorite of their offerings. A rather dry wizen with a hoppier presence than most, and much more restrained phenolic character (clove-bannana). Smells of wheat, toast and slight peppers and bubblegum. The mouthfeel is slightly acidic, dry and tastes of grains, biscuit and grass, with slight clove. Finish is slightly citrus-lemony. Delicious.
Schwelmer "Bernstien" Vienna
A very alt-like Vienna style lager. Very malty and slightly sweet in the nose, hints of toast and toffee, and slight earthy hops. Light on the palate, biscuits, caramel, chocolate, hazelnuts, with slight esters and a dry, hoppy finish featuring spicy, earthy noble hops.
Schnieder Aventinus Eisbock
Funny enough Schneider takes claim for the Eisbock Story as well as Klumbacher! Rich, warm and sweet with some melanoidian like complexity. Hints of chocolate, toffee, raisin, plums and hints of molasses and licorice. Slightly thick and slick mouthfeel, with hints of clove, peppers, dried fruits and chocolate. Powerful warmth pervades this beer, and it finishes pretty full and sweet.
Krusovice Schwartzbier
Slightly on the dunkel side of a Schwarzbier. Smooth dark lager with some roasty highlights. Notes of chocolate, caramel, toast, earth and bread. Medium mouthfeel, slightly slight, and a clean, slightly sweet finish.
Altenmunster Maibock
A very refreshing helles bock. Grains, wheat, toast in the nose, with some slight apple and pear esters and earthy hops. The taste is similar, quite sweet, and a smooth grainy quality, bread, caramel, with a lightly bitter finish featuring spicy hops. Light, refreshing.
Mahrs Wizenbock
Complex and rich ale. Clove, banana, toffee, earthy, spicy hops in the nose. Mouthfeel is medium to rich, smooth, no warmth, and the flavor brings caramel and more banana. The finish is slightly sweet and hoppy.
Allaguer Brahaus Marzen
Toasty, bisciutty and light ale. Nose of toffee and toast, hints of apples and earth. The mouthfeel is thin and a little slick, notes of caramel, earth, toast, honey, corn. The finish is a little grassy, but like old hops rather than fresh ones. Authentic offering, but could use a flavor boost.
Mahrs Weisse
Delicious, reserved hefewizen. Nose of clove, bubblegum and citrus, with traces of biscuit and wheat. The mouthfeel is very rich and thick, flavors similar to the nose but banana is very dominant. The finish is sweeter than most.
Altenmunster Winterbier
Reserved, rich, almost dunkel like doppelbock. Nose of bread, dates, chocolate, toast and even wine. Medium mouthfeel, would be fuller with more carbonation. Additional notes of licorice, dark chocolate and caramel in the taste. Overall, a balanced but slightly musty doppel.
Top 10 Barrel Aged Beers
top new-to-me Barrel Aged beers of 2008. sour barrel aged beers found in the sour beer catergory. All time favorites include Allagash Curieux.
Deschutes Abyss
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in French oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Brown ale brewed to imperial strength and then aged in 10,000 gallon vessels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay! Supposedly the largest of such vessels since prohibition. Needless to say a very warm beer, with hints of chocolate, licorice, molasses, toffee, hazelnut and vanilla. This has big barrel written all over it. Port like, slightly sweet, slightly vinous, with a dry finish.
North Coast Bourbon Barrel Reserve Old Stock Ale
Another great cellar find at the North Coast shop, this is a rich Barleywine aged in oak whiskey barrels. Nose of caramel, dried fruits, cherries, with a upfront flavors of caramel, vanilla, and traces of hazelnut, oak earth and dried fruits in the finish. Very warm and rich throughout, but a dry, bitter and roasty finish.
Allagash Odyssey
Only their second attempt in their barrel series, this is another hit. A dark, dunkel like ale with 10% wheat added to the recipe. A portion of this is then aged in medium toast American oak for 6 months minimum before blending. This is a really well balanced, complex, malt influenced ale. There is a slight bitterness and vanilla from the barrel, notes of cherries, toffee, chocolate, coffee, prunes, earth, pine and roast. This beer is warm and finishes rather rich and creamy.
Firestone Walker Abacus
Barleywine aged in 5 different types of oak barrels for 9 months. Should have asked more questions on this one. Really dark, almost port like beer, strong bourbon, caramel, toffee, oak, chocolate and raisin. Really warm, rich, medium mouthfeel, slightly slick, with more dry but slightly hot finish.
Allagash Interlude
This could have easily gone in the sour beer category, or neo-belgian, but placed it here due to the really distinct use and profile of the barrel in this ale. A dual fermented beer golden strong ale (a farmhouse ale yeast and Brett for the secondary), the beer is taken from the stainless and aged in French Merlot and Sirah barrels, a very bold move. A very tannic, plum like character is added to an otherwise light and refreshing ale. Nose is of oak, red wine, brett, apples, with additional earthy, pear, toast, grape and berries in the flavor. Mouthfeel is medium, with a very tannic and slight acidic and tart aspect. Very unique ale.
Firestone Walker Parabola
Imperial Version of their Velvet Mirkin and also an extension of their Quercus Alba Program, so maybe we'll see this soon in bottles. Laid on bourbon barrels for a two year maturation. Very boozy, bourbon quality, this beer is warm and almost more barleywine like. At %14, this is a bomb, and the alcohol overcomes. Notes of chocolate, coffee, but really sweet, caramelly, and estery from the heat. Traces of vanilla, toast and dried fruits underneath all of this somewhere. Lay these in a cellar for a few years.
Green Flash Bourbon Barrel Double Stout
One of my favorite imperial stouts of the year laid on Bourbon Barrels. In the non barrel aged version, the luscious chocolate flavor dominated, but now, there is a much more chewy, earthy, bourbon and vanilla presences. Took a pretty straightforward Imperial and turned it on end. Hints of oat, caramel and toffee notes. There is a more of a warming in this beer, and more complexity and dryness in the finish.
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout
Imperial Stout aged in oak Bourbon Barrels. Dark chocolate and a slight spicy rye and vanilla character dominates this beer. Notes of coffee, roast, caramel, oak, and earth. Quaffable, rich and warm.
Deschutes Abyss
Wow. I didn't know you could make a beer this intense and delicious. A jet black imperial stout with one third of it barrel aged in French oak and bourbon barrel oak. Chocolate, roast, coffee, licorice, molasses, this is a velvety warm beer to be sipped and cherished. There is no overt bourbon barrel presence, you find more of the trace elements (vanilla, tobacco, toffee, smoke) from it in the highlights. At 11% ABV, its is amazing how good this beer is young.
Firestone Walker Velvet Mirkin
This is an Oatmeal Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. Deep licorice, dried fruit, smoke and chocolate flavors. This whole beer has a slight vinous quality, but is well rounded and smooth around the edges.
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Brown ale brewed to imperial strength and then aged in 10,000 gallon vessels made of Palo Santo wood from Paraguay! Supposedly the largest of such vessels since prohibition. Needless to say a very warm beer, with hints of chocolate, licorice, molasses, toffee, hazelnut and vanilla. This has big barrel written all over it. Port like, slightly sweet, slightly vinous, with a dry finish.
North Coast Bourbon Barrel Reserve Old Stock Ale
Another great cellar find at the North Coast shop, this is a rich Barleywine aged in oak whiskey barrels. Nose of caramel, dried fruits, cherries, with a upfront flavors of caramel, vanilla, and traces of hazelnut, oak earth and dried fruits in the finish. Very warm and rich throughout, but a dry, bitter and roasty finish.
Allagash Odyssey
Only their second attempt in their barrel series, this is another hit. A dark, dunkel like ale with 10% wheat added to the recipe. A portion of this is then aged in medium toast American oak for 6 months minimum before blending. This is a really well balanced, complex, malt influenced ale. There is a slight bitterness and vanilla from the barrel, notes of cherries, toffee, chocolate, coffee, prunes, earth, pine and roast. This beer is warm and finishes rather rich and creamy.
Firestone Walker Abacus
Barleywine aged in 5 different types of oak barrels for 9 months. Should have asked more questions on this one. Really dark, almost port like beer, strong bourbon, caramel, toffee, oak, chocolate and raisin. Really warm, rich, medium mouthfeel, slightly slick, with more dry but slightly hot finish.
Allagash Interlude
This could have easily gone in the sour beer category, or neo-belgian, but placed it here due to the really distinct use and profile of the barrel in this ale. A dual fermented beer golden strong ale (a farmhouse ale yeast and Brett for the secondary), the beer is taken from the stainless and aged in French Merlot and Sirah barrels, a very bold move. A very tannic, plum like character is added to an otherwise light and refreshing ale. Nose is of oak, red wine, brett, apples, with additional earthy, pear, toast, grape and berries in the flavor. Mouthfeel is medium, with a very tannic and slight acidic and tart aspect. Very unique ale.
Firestone Walker Parabola
Imperial Version of their Velvet Mirkin and also an extension of their Quercus Alba Program, so maybe we'll see this soon in bottles. Laid on bourbon barrels for a two year maturation. Very boozy, bourbon quality, this beer is warm and almost more barleywine like. At %14, this is a bomb, and the alcohol overcomes. Notes of chocolate, coffee, but really sweet, caramelly, and estery from the heat. Traces of vanilla, toast and dried fruits underneath all of this somewhere. Lay these in a cellar for a few years.
Green Flash Bourbon Barrel Double Stout
One of my favorite imperial stouts of the year laid on Bourbon Barrels. In the non barrel aged version, the luscious chocolate flavor dominated, but now, there is a much more chewy, earthy, bourbon and vanilla presences. Took a pretty straightforward Imperial and turned it on end. Hints of oat, caramel and toffee notes. There is a more of a warming in this beer, and more complexity and dryness in the finish.
Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Stout
Imperial Stout aged in oak Bourbon Barrels. Dark chocolate and a slight spicy rye and vanilla character dominates this beer. Notes of coffee, roast, caramel, oak, and earth. Quaffable, rich and warm.
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