A Russian Beast

Review #15
Old Rasputin XIV Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout  ABV: 11.5%
North Coast Brewing Co.  Ft. Bragg, CA  500ml brown bomber poured into Imperial pint glass

**First note: Although this looks and feels like a 750 ml, it is only 500 ml. I felt slightly ripped off.**

A - An amazing deep brown-black with little to no light transmission. Not any carbonation to speak of, and a creamed coffee, small head. Some moderate lacing, about what you'd expect really.

S - First whiff gives off aged oak and cocoa nibs. There is an underlying sweet vanilla, with a bourbon backbone. The bourbon is not overwhelming, but it is in the air. Wet bark and campfires came to mind; a fall campground perhaps. A rich sweetness sticks with you after the initial sniff.

T - Strong, with a dry finish. Definite alcohol warmth here. Every aroma comes through on flavor with the bourbon being a touch stronger on the palate. Toffee and roasted malts, with a distinct char feeling. Very well balanced, the sweetness plays well off of the dry, bitter chocolate and alcohol burn.

M - A bit thin for this style if I'm being fair. Not really enough flavor lingers after the swallow. My least favorite part. It does have a small amount of chewiness up front, it just fades far too quickly

O - This is borderline outstanding. A wonderful added depth to an already tremendous beer. Not flawless, but very good. A real treat on a cool evening to give you some inner warmth and fond memories of campfires and s'mores.

Cheers,
Chris

Its My Party & I'll Rye if I Want To

I am lazy. I am sorry. Meant to write this weekend, but between a dead hamster, a new cat, Leasea mandolin-ing her thumb, and a Kels ER visit, I sorta ran outta time. My bad. Forgive me?
So, a quick preface, I have not been a big fan of this style of beer before, so I went in a bit wary. I love this brewery and had heard nothing but great things though, so I gave her a run. Boy was I glad I did. Dangit, I just gave away the ending!

Review #14
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA  ABV: 6.6%
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA  12 oz. brown bottle poured into Sam Adams 'Perfect Pint'

A - This poured a deep, rich amber color with some amazing clarity. The head is a good 2 inches that retains well throughout. The lacing is quality, pure and simple. It looked like a 'measuring' wall behind a door in an old house, marking each sip for posterity

S - The pepper and grapefruit flavors smack you in the face with a strong yeast aroma fast on its heels. You can almost taste the rye bread in this, I wanted a Reuben instantly; I settled for drinking some Thousand Island. No, I actually didn't.

T - There is a powerful bitterness at play here which I could see putting some off, but its right up my alley. The slightly roasted malts and the caramel add plenty of balance for me. The rye really stands tall, and now I'm dang near kicking myself for bad planning and having no sandwich pairing. Plenty of citrus at work as well, adding that much more depth to the overall character. The alcohol doesn't come into play while chilled, but pushes to the forefront as it nears room temp.

M - Lively carbonation, keeps this feeling fresh throughout and the sugary residue clings to the lips and tongue, retaining the bitterness

O - Well, I gave it away up top, huh? I really like this. To be more clear though, IPAs are my favorite style hands down, I've just not truly appreciated a rye beer this much in the past. Well done, SN for making a lovely, balanced beer that changed my attitude. That said, if I could find bad note...I want more than 12 oz. Sorry, just can't do it. This was a cracker!

Cheers,
Chris

And in this Corner...

Tonight I thought I would try something different, and drink a beer. No wait, that wasn't it. Shoot, where was I going with this? Oh! I remember, I have two full pints in front of me for a reason. I am going to do a side-by-side review of two similar styled beers, AND Imma do it live! No re-thinking, just first thoughts, on the fly, on the paper...er, screen.

Reviews # 12 & #13
Lagunitas Bavarian Styled Doppel-Weizen  ABV 9%  vs. Left Hand Brewing TNT  ABV 7.9%
Both poured into Chappel Beer Festival imperial pint glasses

A - Right away, there is a big difference here. The TNT is dark brown, bubbly with amber hued edges. Little to no head, what is there is gone in seconds. The Lagunitas has a golden luminescence to it, with a foamy white head that has a decent retention. Interesting start fellas... Oh, you wanted proof Amy Smith?

S - If they weren't divergent before, they certainly are now. The Lagunitas has a light yeast, malt smell with underlying tones of banana, grass, and clove. Faint hops and you know the sweetness is coming. TNT goes WAY in the opposite direction. Granted, it does say that it is brewed with a smoky Souchong tea, but the smoke still catches you. A leathery, roasted aroma with whiff of bacon (just the smoke and my hopes perhaps) wood and a whisper of sweetness that lends itself to molasses.

T - Bananas! No, I don't have shellacked white hair, backwards glasses and a convertible Camaro (well, I do have backwards glasses at times, but its night) but this Lagunitas is uber-ripe bananas. Orange and hops, and perhaps just a bit on the sweet side, even though I was expecting it. The overall flavor is a bit thin, doesn't really coat the mouth and leave you with a wow factor. The TNT is all smoke. And I'm thinking a bit of mirrors, too. Beyond the smoke and roast, there isn't much depth. Slight peat-y Scotch flavors with a tiny sweet blip on the radar after the smoke dissipates; citrus and some caramel? This does coat the mouth and the lingering aftertaste is much better than the initial liquid smoke onslaught.

M - Light carbonation is overpowered by the sweetness of the Lagunitas. Somehow, it still feels thin, except where the sugar hangs on the lips. The TNT is a surprise actually, being lighter and more carbonated than the appearance and aromas would've indicated.

O - I like both of these. I think that they would be better suited in different areas of the drinking arena, but they have their places. The Lagunitas wins just slightly for me, with the sweet stickiness being slightly more tolerable through half the glass than the smoky barrage of the Left Hand. I have a feeling I am going to wake up feeling like I ate BBQ wood chips. They are both very drinkable though, and I would gladly accept one again...if someone else was buying. That said, give 'em a shot, both breweries are quality and it won't stop me from going back to their wells.

Cheers,
Chris

Just a Demo

Pitchers and catcher reported this week. Spring training starts soon, and the regular season soon after. To me, that means one thing: Cubs baseball. Now I realize there isn't a great deal of high hopes for this season, but that is fine. The future is bright with these off-season moves and the acquisition of young talent. Anyhow, to celebrate, I decided to have a Chicago brew. I visit the brew pub right in front of Wrigley every year I go.
So 'Cheers!' Cubs fans, this one is for you

Review  #11
Goose Island Demolition  ABV 7.2%
Goose Island Brewery Brown bomber poured into a Chimay glass

A - A pale yellow-orange, with a thin, but very bright white head. There is some visible yeast sediment at the bottom, and decent carbonation bounce from pour off the bottom

S - Lots of spice notes. Coriander, clove, pepper easily recognizable. A little yeast-y and earthy; definitely smells like a 'Belgian.' (Beer, not the person) No real flavors jumping out, just hints of lemon, pear, and sugar with some flowery whiffs as well. My least favorite part of this beverage.

T - This hits quickly with a hop burst, that dissipates rather quickly. Extremely floral tasting, and now comes the orange peel and pear flavors. Some caramel maltiness, and the clove and raw sugar are stronger now. A faint hit of the alcohol at the very end, and definitely improving as it gets closer to room temperature.

M - Buttery and smooth with a decent bit of carbonation providing a refreshing tingle. A sweet finish that lingers just long enough to enjoy and not annoy.

O - This is very good. The carbonation does keep it feeling lighter and more refreshing than the ABV would indicate however, so it could get dangerous. I think this would be good on a summer's day in the sun served as cold as when I first opened it, or on a chilly day at room temperature as it was when I finished it. very versatile. Good job Goose!

Cheers,
Chris

A Collabo

I decided to break out one of my aged beers for this tasting, review #10. Its one that I enjoyed upon its release and shared with my father the Spring before moving to England. So here goes.

Review #10
Avery & Russian River Collaboration not Litigation Ale  ABV 8.72%
Avery Brewing, Colorado & Russian River Brewing, California  750 ml brown bottle multiple pours into tulip

**Interesting note: Russian River was founded by the Korbel Champagne Co.**
**Interesting note #2: These two companies had brews by the same name, and instead of a lawsuit, they got together, got drunk & brainstormed. This is the second batch of the series, which is now on Batch #6**

A - A muddled, nutty brown with faint orange hues where the light plays at the edges. 1/2" sturdy head, leaving strong lacing.

S - I was all over the board with the nose on this. I pretty much smelled a grocery store of flavors, but not in a bad way, just seemed crazy to me that every whiff I took, I found different aromas. Apples, raisins, dark cherries were my fruit finds, with some light chocolate, caramel mixed in. Altogether, a very malt forward brew with some definite roasting, but not overdone.

T - Uh. Way sweeter tasting than it smelled. Ouch. Borderline too sweet. Maybe its me, since I prefer the bitterness of beers, and don't have much of a sweet-tooth, but this is like dessert.Still getting dark fruits, but now throw in some figs and plums. Some spice notes hit the back end as it warms up, but not enough to counter the sweetness. Lots of caramel, and definite alcohol heat. Drinking stronger than 8.72%

M - A bit flat, not enough carbonation to carry the sweetness. Lingering taste, but that is the best flavor. Very sugary on the lips

O - Between the sweet and the heat, not the easiest beer to drink, but not overly hard. It would be better enjoyed paired with some food to cut the sweetness. Something salty feels right. I'll pick up subsequent batches for sure. A good, not great beer, but with flavor profiles this strong, its hard to not want to go back for another try.

Cheers,
Chris

Import Time!

After my epic tasting the other night, (see previous blog and drool. May need to highlight to read, since apparently I wrote in invisible ink.) One of my new beer geek buddies left a beer he said I was welcome too. So I thought I should review it publicly, and give credit where credit is due. Thank you Alex.

Review #9
Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Trippel  ABV 9%
Brasserie d'Achouffe  Achouffe, Belgium  Green bomber poured into Maredsous Tulip

A - First off, green bottle? Little strange, especially given how light in color this beer is & given the breweries reputation. Shame, shame. Okay, nitpicking aside, this beer pours a cloudy blond color with a 1" thick white head on top. Extremely thick lacing. The head never completely disappears, leaving a nice, foamy puddle in the center of your beer, and eventually at the bottom of your glass.

S - Light yeast and citrus are first notes I get, and although this bottle claims no Noble hops are used, it does have that distinct damp, wood smell. Nothing is too powerful, leaving the nose a bit disappointed at this point.

T - Zing! Its full of zest, with spicy finishing notes, fading to a pleasant bitterness. Banana is an odd taste here, but its my mouth, and that is what I am getting. Hoppy up front, followed by peppery clove notes are rinsed clean with a dry finish.

M - Decent body, tingly, but not over carbonated. Dry, flavor, dry. Carbonation tingle makes sure the bitter end doesn't linger.

O - This is pretty good for a style I don't typically enjoy very often anymore. Flavors certainly grew and developed as the beer warm and matured. Nice drinkability factor despite the ABV. All in all, its nice. After reading the Beer Advocate score of 94/98, I was a little let down. Didn't seem overly unique from the other Belgian ales in this vein. Of course that could be me also, not drinking this style very much too. Very glad to have had it, wouldn't seek it out, but would drink it again.

Cheers,
Chris

1st Annual NWA Beer Tasting for BGoA

Last Saturday was pretty great. I got to celebrate Baylie's upcoming 12th birthday a little early, and later I got to meet a couple new friends, hang out with some known friends, & taste some great craft beer. The Facebook group, 'Beer Geeks of Arkansas' has been a great resource for me the past 9 months or so. We even had an impromptu, mini-tasting as the hotel in LR before Kelsie's last facial surgery. So, I hosted several of the guys, some coming from as far away as Beebe, and we got down to business.
Here is an overall list, I won't be doing full reviews on all of them, but several are too noteworthy to pass up.

Allagash Dubbel

De Molen Donder & Bliksem

Bear Republic Pete Brown Tribute Ale

Three Floyd's Alpha King

Terrapin Moo-Hoo Milk Chocolate Stout

Widmer Brothers W'12 Dark Saison

Uinta Crooked Line Labyrinth

Panil Barriqee

Ballast Point Sculpin

Goose Island King Henry

Founders Imperial Stout

Stone Sublimely Self Righteous

Duchesse De Borgogne

Terrapin Wake n Bake

Odell Myrcenary DIPA

It was quite a stunning list, highlighted by the Goose Island King Henry, which I think won the night for all. It was a loose tasting with beer coming from multiple locations, so we just went around the table picking the one we'd like to try next, with the owner sharing a bit about it. Easy conversation flowed, anchored by beer talk, veering in multiple directions, always coming back to center. Though ages and backgrounds were quite varied, the passion and desire to learn about beer, made for a pleasant evening, with no real lull in the conversation; that is till we hit the King Henry and a reverential silence fell across the table.

There was food to pair, to contrast, to experiment with; we all gave our palate insights, our initial findings, reinforced by or backed off of after a bit of warmth, air, and introspection.

So without further adieu, here is the review of GI KH

Review #8

Goose Island King Henry ABV 13.4%

Goose Island Brewery Barleywine, aged in bourbon barrels Bomber poured into highball glasses for tasting

A - Jet black, with virtually no head. Glass instantly coated in brown. Edges allow a dark chocolate hue to pass through

S - Chocolate and bourbon hit me first with a wet, oaky woodiness playing at the back end. Some raisins and fig are underlying here too. A very pleasant aroma, though rich and decadent. You can tell from the nose, this is not a beer to mess around with

T - Definitely a bourbon hit, but there is a balance here that moves quickly past that. My first strong taste thought was brown sugar. Thoughts of baking cookies hit me as a slight breadiness was in the background with it's hand raised, begging for attention. The chocolate flavors, ares till strongly at play, but there is a vanilla note that is blocking it from becoming too powerful.

M - Syrupy, it coats the tongue, and demands to be savored. No big gulps or quick second drinks here. A dessert in a glass

D - This beer was the clear winner on the night, and a glance at Beer Advocate or RateBeer will show you why. Its absolutely gorgeous. All at the table agreed it was the hands down winner. However, with that said, it is not a beer that possesses a great drinkability. I think regardless of the tasting, I would have to split a 650 ml bottle with someone to appreciate it. At 13.4%, the alcohol will hit you, but it is the richness of this beer, bordering on decadence, that will keep you from downing one solo. Even if one bottle was enjoyed solo, I think you would find that the evening's closing ceremonies had been held. As an extremely rare beer, I doubt I will find myself anywhere near another one, but if I do, I hope I have a friend handy to help me enjoy it.

Cheers,

Chris