Yes, I know I have been lax getting to this next post. Mainly its because I have been grieving. Last January I had my first Victory beer, it was called Hop Wallop, and I fell in love. It was exactly what I want in an Imperial IPA, and coincidentally, exactly what the label says. It was my favorite overall beer of 2011, a grand discovery, I savored and cherished the 12 I had. Had. Rhymes with sad, and the reason for my melancholy. This review is on the late Hop Wallop the Twelfth.
Review #8
Victory Hop Wallop ABV 8.5%
Victory Brewing Company Downington, PA 12 oz brown bottle poured into tulip
A - Crystal clarity in this golden treasure. Big, fluffy cumulus cloud head with lacing clear down the glass. Good to the last drop indeed
S - Spring is dancing in my nose every time I smell this. Pine, floral hops, spice. Wet grass. Pine and grapefruit citrus with flowers. Yeasty malt essence must be a stalwart to keep up here but it does its job; there, but not hogging the spotlight. That is the hops job, and its doing it beautifully. Mouth watering, nose tingling. This is what my perfect beer smells like.
T - The opening sweetness of orange and grapefruit prep your mouth for the near instantaneous bath of hop (walloping) bitterness in all its glory. Some pineapple flavors sweetening up the brew here and you are immersed in pine cone paradise. Toasted, earthy hops kick in just at the right time to heel the bitter onslaught. The alcohol is greatly masked in this flavor carnival, so be careful, be warned.
M - Unctuous in all its hop wonder, it finishes clean and crisp, with a nice carbonation rinse
D - If you are a hop-head like me, this review should not need to be summed up, but let me try and pin it down. Last rites and all. Although this beer comes at you in wave after wave of hoppy love, it has such a wonderful balance--albeit skewed to the hop side, as a IIPA should be--that any craft beer lover will appreciate this. It may not be a stout drinker's dream, but he'd know what he had on his hands. That's something to be proud of; a beer with 90+ ratings on all respected review sites. I will never pass this by again, shelf, draught, street puddle, whatever. I look forward to meeting Sir XVIII, wherever He may be
Cheers,
Chris
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Holy Friar Tuck!
For this review, I am going blind. I've never had a thing from this brewery, I've never researched them, and have heard little to nothing about them. Leasea picked these up for me on a recent East Coast swing. I'll let my review do the talking for my impressions, but there were absolutely ZERO biases, which was fun.
Review #7
Weyerbacher Merry Monk's Ale 9.3% ABV
Weyerbacher Brewery in Easton, PA 12 oz brown bottle poured into Chimay glass
A - This one pours a cloudy orange, reminiscent of a pumpkin. Small layer of white laced head. There is some sediment floating around but it settled nicely in little time
S - WHOA! Huge aroma here. I am being bombarded by such powerful smells, its tough to place them immediately. I know it sounds strange, but I am getting bananas & nuts, therefore my first thought was banana nut bread. Weird. Getting past that, there are vanilla and grapefruit tones underlying a definite ester blast. There is a also a big, spicy sparkle that hits you in waves amongst all that. Crazy experience.
T - Crisp and bubbly, the carbonation hits immediately. Wheat and berries, pepper and clove. Alcohol for certain, but not a heat per se. No crazy aftertaste lingering like you'd normally have a from a big ABV Belgian either. Okay, 30 minutes in, I have added some more notes. It has a white wine finish; tart, with Granny Smith apples abundant.
M - Despite the shocking carbonation hit, it fades quickly and leaves a smoother feel overall. Finishes a bit sour, but rich.
D - Loads of fruit, spice and natural grains--this has bags of character. Its complex, balanced and wonderful. I couldn't recommend drinking this regularly however, because it isn't an EASY drink, but that doesn't mean its bad. Quite the opposite in fact, it really is fantastic. Great first impression from a complete unknown, I'll definitely be on the lookout in the future.
Cheers,
Chris
Review #7
Weyerbacher Merry Monk's Ale 9.3% ABV
Weyerbacher Brewery in Easton, PA 12 oz brown bottle poured into Chimay glass
A - This one pours a cloudy orange, reminiscent of a pumpkin. Small layer of white laced head. There is some sediment floating around but it settled nicely in little time
S - WHOA! Huge aroma here. I am being bombarded by such powerful smells, its tough to place them immediately. I know it sounds strange, but I am getting bananas & nuts, therefore my first thought was banana nut bread. Weird. Getting past that, there are vanilla and grapefruit tones underlying a definite ester blast. There is a also a big, spicy sparkle that hits you in waves amongst all that. Crazy experience.
T - Crisp and bubbly, the carbonation hits immediately. Wheat and berries, pepper and clove. Alcohol for certain, but not a heat per se. No crazy aftertaste lingering like you'd normally have a from a big ABV Belgian either. Okay, 30 minutes in, I have added some more notes. It has a white wine finish; tart, with Granny Smith apples abundant.
M - Despite the shocking carbonation hit, it fades quickly and leaves a smoother feel overall. Finishes a bit sour, but rich.
D - Loads of fruit, spice and natural grains--this has bags of character. Its complex, balanced and wonderful. I couldn't recommend drinking this regularly however, because it isn't an EASY drink, but that doesn't mean its bad. Quite the opposite in fact, it really is fantastic. Great first impression from a complete unknown, I'll definitely be on the lookout in the future.
Cheers,
Chris
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Happy February!
Well, the calendar has changed, the weather is still mild, and I am still keeping up with this. All wins in my book. Although this is still from last Friday, its getting the February kick-off write-up. I went for a special release beer this go round, so if you like what you read, snap it up, it won't be around long!
Review #6
Lagunitas Lucky 13 Anniversary Release 8.9% ABV
Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA A 22 oz brown bomber poured into an imperial pint glass
A - A golden, hazy orange. Amberesque, even. (Is that a word? Is now, used it in context.) Frothy white 1 & 1/2" head full of lacing and potential. Liking the look of this straight out of the gate.
S - Vanilla, grapefruit, some citrus rind, and strangely enough, a hint of a berry zing. The malt is there too, right on the hop's heels. Delightful and refreshing smelling, I know I have to be careful with this weighty of a beverage
T - Initial malt whack backed up immediately by a piny bitterness smack. Wasn't expecting that reversal after the aromas. Kinda got okie-doked there. I like it. Its certainly a good surprise as there is a weight to this beer that belies its strength. Its letting you know, I am an 8.9%, respect me...but in a nice way. Like your best friend, who you know has your back, and you're glad he does, because you wouldn't want him to turn on you. (Looking at you, Tim Conway) Its a bit of a rabbit hole there, hope you followed. Anyhow, its good, and I really enjoy the balance here.
M - An unctuous hop feel. Can almost feel that resin. Not awful, but a little off-putting at first taste. Didn't notice much after. Decent carbonation, medium body
D - Easy drinking overall. The magnitude is certainly there, but not oppressively so. Has alcohol heat to it, but it doesn't overpower or diminish the overall flavor. At 8.9%, it would be difficult to have more than one if you are out and about, but could easily drink several on a night in. Drinks like a maltier IPA. I like it and wish I had more than just one left.
Cheers,
Chris
Review #6
Lagunitas Lucky 13 Anniversary Release 8.9% ABV
Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA A 22 oz brown bomber poured into an imperial pint glass
A - A golden, hazy orange. Amberesque, even. (Is that a word? Is now, used it in context.) Frothy white 1 & 1/2" head full of lacing and potential. Liking the look of this straight out of the gate.
S - Vanilla, grapefruit, some citrus rind, and strangely enough, a hint of a berry zing. The malt is there too, right on the hop's heels. Delightful and refreshing smelling, I know I have to be careful with this weighty of a beverage
T - Initial malt whack backed up immediately by a piny bitterness smack. Wasn't expecting that reversal after the aromas. Kinda got okie-doked there. I like it. Its certainly a good surprise as there is a weight to this beer that belies its strength. Its letting you know, I am an 8.9%, respect me...but in a nice way. Like your best friend, who you know has your back, and you're glad he does, because you wouldn't want him to turn on you. (Looking at you, Tim Conway) Its a bit of a rabbit hole there, hope you followed. Anyhow, its good, and I really enjoy the balance here.
M - An unctuous hop feel. Can almost feel that resin. Not awful, but a little off-putting at first taste. Didn't notice much after. Decent carbonation, medium body
D - Easy drinking overall. The magnitude is certainly there, but not oppressively so. Has alcohol heat to it, but it doesn't overpower or diminish the overall flavor. At 8.9%, it would be difficult to have more than one if you are out and about, but could easily drink several on a night in. Drinks like a maltier IPA. I like it and wish I had more than just one left.
Cheers,
Chris
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday night
So for me, Friday's mean a couple of things. Its guy night, which for me encompasses poker and some quality beer. Nice thing about Friday's is that I get to sort of "teach" and share the beer I enjoy so much with some who are trying to develop their palates. Its fun, plus I can have an extra beer or two since I am sharing. Win-win.
Review #5
Deschutes (Yes, again. Got a problem with that?) Fresh Hop Mirror Pond 5.00% ABV
Brown bomber poured into goblet
Appearance - Bright and light amber color with a small amount of head. Not a lot of lacing, but what is present is in solid form
Smell - Grapefruit hits me first. Then some pine behind it. There is a hop earthiness undertone which is nice. Definite hop forward aromas, but even the smell leads you to believe it won't just be hop juice. A biscuit-y malt aroma is lingering around somewhere in here too
Taste - Grapefruit and now some peach making a play. A touch of honey and some citrus peel. All these light flavors are doing palate ping-pong and are quite delicious. Those earthy hops add a dryness on the finish. There are flavors of a big APA here, and its packed into a 5% beer with great balance. Pretty awesome
Mouthfeel - Very refreshing acidity here. On the thinner side of medium, but not unpleasant
Drinkability - Extremely drinkable. The acid and citrus flavors play like lemonade on a hot summer day and keep you reaching for another sip. The malt back-up makes it more than just a one dimensional brew and that low ABV certainly allows for more than one to be enjoyed. Overall, one of the more session-able ales I've had in the last year. PLEASE, bring Deschutes to Arkansas!!
Review #5
Deschutes (Yes, again. Got a problem with that?) Fresh Hop Mirror Pond 5.00% ABV
Brown bomber poured into goblet
Appearance - Bright and light amber color with a small amount of head. Not a lot of lacing, but what is present is in solid form
Smell - Grapefruit hits me first. Then some pine behind it. There is a hop earthiness undertone which is nice. Definite hop forward aromas, but even the smell leads you to believe it won't just be hop juice. A biscuit-y malt aroma is lingering around somewhere in here too
Taste - Grapefruit and now some peach making a play. A touch of honey and some citrus peel. All these light flavors are doing palate ping-pong and are quite delicious. Those earthy hops add a dryness on the finish. There are flavors of a big APA here, and its packed into a 5% beer with great balance. Pretty awesome
Mouthfeel - Very refreshing acidity here. On the thinner side of medium, but not unpleasant
Drinkability - Extremely drinkable. The acid and citrus flavors play like lemonade on a hot summer day and keep you reaching for another sip. The malt back-up makes it more than just a one dimensional brew and that low ABV certainly allows for more than one to be enjoyed. Overall, one of the more session-able ales I've had in the last year. PLEASE, bring Deschutes to Arkansas!!
Friday, January 27, 2012
A two-fer!
Yesterday I decided I wanted fish. Then I decided I wanted fried fish. Then I decided I wanted beer-battered fish, and that I would review two similar styles and use one of those in the beer batter. Lots of big decisions. I managed. I used Avery Jubilation for the batter and had one with dinner. After I got the kiddos to bed, I had a Deschutes Jubelale. Both Winter Warmers, Old Ales, Winter Ales, etc. Call them what you will, they are a wonderful style on cold days. So here are my thoughts.
Review #1 (#3 overall)
Avery Old Jubilation 2010 Vintage (2011 used in batter) 8.3% ABV
A Boulder, CO based brewery. 12 oz brown bottle poured into pint glass
Appearance - To borrow from Procol Harum, it pours a lighter shade of dark brown, with some ruby colored hues dancing at the edges in the light. A finger of tan head with little to no lacing present
Smell - I get dark fruit up front. Some figs and dark cherries. There is a nuttiness that I am thinking is a hazelnut, but can't quite place.Sweet and malty, with some hops, but the malt wins this contest for sure. A lingering spice in the back. Some nutmeg perhaps?
Taste - Very similar to the smell, no real departure that I can discern. A bit more hops than than the smell, but still not a hop wallop, and its mostly on the finish.Caramel and toffee are present now. This doesn't have the alcohol heat of what I would expect from an 8.3%. As it warms, vanilla shows up, and a little more heat now from the alcohol, too...so it IS strong. Huh.
Mouthfeel - Extremely light mouthfeel for this dark of a beer, but medium overall. Much less sweet tasting than the smells would indicate.
Drinkability - Very nice Winter brew from a brewery that I really like. Malty and warming, it lives up to its name. The alcohol hit definitely showed through in the end. Not a GREAT beer, I wouldn't make a trip for it, but since I can get it locally, I will definitely enjoy it again.
Pairing - There are no real rules for beer/food pairing. Its not wine, you can be more inventive. That said the neutral white fish (Alaskan Pollock) mixed with a seasoned batter and combined with this Old Ale actually played well. The only real complaint, was that the oily fish and gave the beer a bit of an oily aftertaste I didn't get on its own. The front end had flavors that played nicely with the pepper bouncing off the sweetness of the ripe fruit and malts.
Review #2 (#4 overall)
Deschutes Jubelale 2011 6.7% ABV
Bend, Oregon brewery. 12 oz brown bottle with a artsy-cool label poured into a snifter
Appearance - Brown. I thought long and hard about a better color, but if I just say brown, it describes it perfectly. There is some reddish-orange tinting at the edges. Creamy head, with 2 fingers of picturesque lacing.
Smell - Too chilled at first--MY BAD!!--but that is because the kids took longer to get to bed than I expected. Plus the Avery alcohol was still working its way out of me. **10 minutes later** Brown sugar and roasted malts. A chocolate malt? Hints of green fruits behind the currants and plum aroma. Pear and green apple maybe. Just barely there, but there.
Taste - Wow. Luscious and full, everything you'd imagine from reading anything about a Winter Warmer. Fig and Plums announce their presence briefly before disappearing with some alcohol heat. Hits a bit stronger than the ABV would indicate, but not unpleasantly so. Hops in the latter third, but gone by the finish, leaving a pleasant memory. Everything is playing so nicely in harmony. Maybe just a smidge too sweet for me, but only maybe.
Mouthfeel - Again, thicker, stronger feel than the ABV. Decent carbonation. Bitterness and dryness remain just a touch longer than i would've expected with no over-present hop.
Drinkability - A gorgeous representative of this style, one I will certainly seek out & buy yearly. A tremendous brewery with no weak spot in their line-up. (at least that I have had) I expected nothing less, and was even surprised on the positive side. Well done.
Okay, that's four in the books. (blog) My goal is to review 150 unique beers this year. Hold me to it guys!
Cheers,
Chris
Review #1 (#3 overall)
Avery Old Jubilation 2010 Vintage (2011 used in batter) 8.3% ABV
A Boulder, CO based brewery. 12 oz brown bottle poured into pint glass
Appearance - To borrow from Procol Harum, it pours a lighter shade of dark brown, with some ruby colored hues dancing at the edges in the light. A finger of tan head with little to no lacing present
Smell - I get dark fruit up front. Some figs and dark cherries. There is a nuttiness that I am thinking is a hazelnut, but can't quite place.Sweet and malty, with some hops, but the malt wins this contest for sure. A lingering spice in the back. Some nutmeg perhaps?
Taste - Very similar to the smell, no real departure that I can discern. A bit more hops than than the smell, but still not a hop wallop, and its mostly on the finish.Caramel and toffee are present now. This doesn't have the alcohol heat of what I would expect from an 8.3%. As it warms, vanilla shows up, and a little more heat now from the alcohol, too...so it IS strong. Huh.
Mouthfeel - Extremely light mouthfeel for this dark of a beer, but medium overall. Much less sweet tasting than the smells would indicate.
Drinkability - Very nice Winter brew from a brewery that I really like. Malty and warming, it lives up to its name. The alcohol hit definitely showed through in the end. Not a GREAT beer, I wouldn't make a trip for it, but since I can get it locally, I will definitely enjoy it again.
Pairing - There are no real rules for beer/food pairing. Its not wine, you can be more inventive. That said the neutral white fish (Alaskan Pollock) mixed with a seasoned batter and combined with this Old Ale actually played well. The only real complaint, was that the oily fish and gave the beer a bit of an oily aftertaste I didn't get on its own. The front end had flavors that played nicely with the pepper bouncing off the sweetness of the ripe fruit and malts.
Review #2 (#4 overall)
Deschutes Jubelale 2011 6.7% ABV
Bend, Oregon brewery. 12 oz brown bottle with a artsy-cool label poured into a snifter
Appearance - Brown. I thought long and hard about a better color, but if I just say brown, it describes it perfectly. There is some reddish-orange tinting at the edges. Creamy head, with 2 fingers of picturesque lacing.
Smell - Too chilled at first--MY BAD!!--but that is because the kids took longer to get to bed than I expected. Plus the Avery alcohol was still working its way out of me. **10 minutes later** Brown sugar and roasted malts. A chocolate malt? Hints of green fruits behind the currants and plum aroma. Pear and green apple maybe. Just barely there, but there.
Taste - Wow. Luscious and full, everything you'd imagine from reading anything about a Winter Warmer. Fig and Plums announce their presence briefly before disappearing with some alcohol heat. Hits a bit stronger than the ABV would indicate, but not unpleasantly so. Hops in the latter third, but gone by the finish, leaving a pleasant memory. Everything is playing so nicely in harmony. Maybe just a smidge too sweet for me, but only maybe.
Mouthfeel - Again, thicker, stronger feel than the ABV. Decent carbonation. Bitterness and dryness remain just a touch longer than i would've expected with no over-present hop.
Drinkability - A gorgeous representative of this style, one I will certainly seek out & buy yearly. A tremendous brewery with no weak spot in their line-up. (at least that I have had) I expected nothing less, and was even surprised on the positive side. Well done.
Okay, that's four in the books. (blog) My goal is to review 150 unique beers this year. Hold me to it guys!
Cheers,
Chris
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Ding, Ding. Round 2
Back to back days to kick things off. Mental juices are flowing. Beer is flowing. Good combo for a beer review blog. I think.
I chose the next beer to review carefully. Not because I'd heard great things or for its reputation, but for symbolic purposes. For 1, its an Arkansas brewed beer. So I went from England to Arkansas; English beer to Arkansas beer. Still with me? If so, congrats, have another drink. And 2, I sat down with this pint+ on the evening of the State of the Union address by President Obama. Obviously, I needed a beer to get through it.
So here it is, review #2:
Diamond Bear Two Term Double IPA (See, I'm trying to jinx the current POTUS from gaining 2 terms)
Brewed in Little Rock, AR, 8.5% ABV. 2 12oz brown bottles poured into a Thatcher's Arms Beer Festival Imperial Pint glass
Appearance - A golden sunset of a pour, with pumpkin hues. Absolutely gorgeous. About 1/2 inch of off white head with some very nice lacing possibilities. This has potential
Smell - Hmm. Kind of weak aroma for a double IPA. There are scents here, but none strong, none forthcoming. Some citrus, pine, orange, with some good malt tones and a hint of alcohol. I'm now a little less enthused, but I'm a trooper, so I soldier on.
Taste - OK, nice balance. Not too much alcohol heat for an 8.5% beer. That could be good, but more than likely bad. Its very smooth and far too easy a swallow for a double IPA. Much more IPA than its stronger brother.Definite pine flavors now, some yeasty breadiness. Citrus plays a small part in the background; more orange peel potpourri than the punch of a full fruit, however. Finishes dry, slightly bitter. Its good, but carries little complexity
Mouthfeel - Medium to full, decent carbonation. A low-level stickiness on the lips.
Drinkability - I like it. Don't love it. There isn't enough character or depth for me to call this an Imperial IPA. The alcohol bump seems to be the only separation from one to the other. Almost too balanced, with a drinkability of a 5-6% beer. Could be for a younger, "let's get ripped!" crowd, but I'm looking for something more. But no, I won't pour the other four of my sixer down the drain either.
Cheers,
Chris
I chose the next beer to review carefully. Not because I'd heard great things or for its reputation, but for symbolic purposes. For 1, its an Arkansas brewed beer. So I went from England to Arkansas; English beer to Arkansas beer. Still with me? If so, congrats, have another drink. And 2, I sat down with this pint+ on the evening of the State of the Union address by President Obama. Obviously, I needed a beer to get through it.
So here it is, review #2:
Diamond Bear Two Term Double IPA (See, I'm trying to jinx the current POTUS from gaining 2 terms)
Brewed in Little Rock, AR, 8.5% ABV. 2 12oz brown bottles poured into a Thatcher's Arms Beer Festival Imperial Pint glass
Appearance - A golden sunset of a pour, with pumpkin hues. Absolutely gorgeous. About 1/2 inch of off white head with some very nice lacing possibilities. This has potential
Smell - Hmm. Kind of weak aroma for a double IPA. There are scents here, but none strong, none forthcoming. Some citrus, pine, orange, with some good malt tones and a hint of alcohol. I'm now a little less enthused, but I'm a trooper, so I soldier on.
Taste - OK, nice balance. Not too much alcohol heat for an 8.5% beer. That could be good, but more than likely bad. Its very smooth and far too easy a swallow for a double IPA. Much more IPA than its stronger brother.Definite pine flavors now, some yeasty breadiness. Citrus plays a small part in the background; more orange peel potpourri than the punch of a full fruit, however. Finishes dry, slightly bitter. Its good, but carries little complexity
Mouthfeel - Medium to full, decent carbonation. A low-level stickiness on the lips.
Drinkability - I like it. Don't love it. There isn't enough character or depth for me to call this an Imperial IPA. The alcohol bump seems to be the only separation from one to the other. Almost too balanced, with a drinkability of a 5-6% beer. Could be for a younger, "let's get ripped!" crowd, but I'm looking for something more. But no, I won't pour the other four of my sixer down the drain either.
Cheers,
Chris
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
New thoughts, thinking back
Well, just to get things started again, to share my new blog, and new direction, I figured a look back was in order.
We've been home for just over a year now, and we are well settled. Kids are doing well in school, Lace is busy with work, and I am, well,...bored enough to write again. This will be a hobby blog. So, for me, that means, family. Okay, so that's not the new part. No big surprises there. It also means beer & the Cubs. Maybe some golf, music, movies, poker, etc.but those'll be the main three.
For beer, that means reviews, thoughts on tastings, trips, and purchases. For the Cubs, especially this season, it'll mean venting. Maybe some feel-good thoughts, but mostly frustration. Ah, the life of a Cubs fan.
I decided that since I was going to do this today, I should have more than just a new mission statement. I should have a review. So, last night, I had a beer. On a Monday. Crazy. And for this first of reviews, I chose to have an English beer. See what I did there? Bringing it all together. Because that, friends, is how I roll. (Also, according to Rian, "We listen to loud music in the car...cuz that's also how we roll." Well said.)
So here she is, review #1:
J.W. Lees Moonraker
Brewery in Manchester, brewers since 1828 according to the label.
Bottled 8/13/09 in 500 ml brown bottle, poured into a large tulip glass
ABV 7.5%
Appearance - A deep amber, with edges of mahogany, near brown. Little light passes through. Some sediment in bottom, so, pour carefully. A thin, white head.
Smell - I got a definite caramel/toffee flavor, but the back end had almost a farm fresh grass smell, akin to hay
Taste - Bitter and malty up front with a hop presence, but not strong. Notes of honey, vanilla, and a woody whisper in there too. Maybe some over-ripe, borderline sour cherries near the back. It finishes with some alcohol breathiness, but isn't unpleasant. Think it would pair well with a bold, but not pungent cheese. Block of sharp farmhouse cheddar maybe. Not much stronger.
Mouthfeel - Very full, for an ale, it almost has a chewiness to it.
Drinkability - Very drinkable. I enjoyed this quite a lot. Would be interested in tasting the cask conditioned version, for comparison sake.
Overall thoughts - Flavors took me back to England instantly. Wish I'd had a pint at The Thatcher's Arms after a Golf Society day, clouds & dampness rolling in. It feels English, and I felt closer to my friends across the Atlantic drinking. A beer that brought memories, and a good choice for this blog transition. If you like a darker ale, and can find any of this around, try some, if you don't like it, give me a ring
Chris
We've been home for just over a year now, and we are well settled. Kids are doing well in school, Lace is busy with work, and I am, well,...bored enough to write again. This will be a hobby blog. So, for me, that means, family. Okay, so that's not the new part. No big surprises there. It also means beer & the Cubs. Maybe some golf, music, movies, poker, etc.but those'll be the main three.
For beer, that means reviews, thoughts on tastings, trips, and purchases. For the Cubs, especially this season, it'll mean venting. Maybe some feel-good thoughts, but mostly frustration. Ah, the life of a Cubs fan.
I decided that since I was going to do this today, I should have more than just a new mission statement. I should have a review. So, last night, I had a beer. On a Monday. Crazy. And for this first of reviews, I chose to have an English beer. See what I did there? Bringing it all together. Because that, friends, is how I roll. (Also, according to Rian, "We listen to loud music in the car...cuz that's also how we roll." Well said.)
So here she is, review #1:
J.W. Lees Moonraker
Brewery in Manchester, brewers since 1828 according to the label.
Bottled 8/13/09 in 500 ml brown bottle, poured into a large tulip glass
ABV 7.5%
Appearance - A deep amber, with edges of mahogany, near brown. Little light passes through. Some sediment in bottom, so, pour carefully. A thin, white head.
Smell - I got a definite caramel/toffee flavor, but the back end had almost a farm fresh grass smell, akin to hay
Taste - Bitter and malty up front with a hop presence, but not strong. Notes of honey, vanilla, and a woody whisper in there too. Maybe some over-ripe, borderline sour cherries near the back. It finishes with some alcohol breathiness, but isn't unpleasant. Think it would pair well with a bold, but not pungent cheese. Block of sharp farmhouse cheddar maybe. Not much stronger.
Mouthfeel - Very full, for an ale, it almost has a chewiness to it.
Drinkability - Very drinkable. I enjoyed this quite a lot. Would be interested in tasting the cask conditioned version, for comparison sake.
Overall thoughts - Flavors took me back to England instantly. Wish I'd had a pint at The Thatcher's Arms after a Golf Society day, clouds & dampness rolling in. It feels English, and I felt closer to my friends across the Atlantic drinking. A beer that brought memories, and a good choice for this blog transition. If you like a darker ale, and can find any of this around, try some, if you don't like it, give me a ring
Chris
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