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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

JCC The Official Craft Beer/Microbrew Beer Thread

Discussion in 'Community' started by WookatMe, Feb 26, 2011.

  1. Krusty_the_Clone

    Krusty_the_Clone Jedi Padawan star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Sierra Nevada rules
     
  2. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    Okay let's get caught up.

    Saison Dupont
    [image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2427755287_af84ef4309.jpg]

    This beer was very different. I had never tasted a beer quite like this. I actually described it as almost tasting like Pez. It was alright at first but by about halfway through the glass I was tired of it and ready to move on. Golden yellow color and a very fruity aroma. Very bitter and dry with flavors of citrus, strawberries, grass, coriander and clove. Slightly carbonated. An ABV of 6.5 and an overall rating of 5/10. I am only going that high because it had such a different taste.

    Lost Coast Maibock
    (Could not find image)

    I had this beer after I moved on from the Dupont. It was just what the doctor ordered. I more traditional flavor of malt and notes of honey. An aroma of malt, citrus and caramel. A nice dark gold color. I would like to try this one again on its own without having had the Dupont beforehand to see if I enjoy it as much. An ABV of 7.8 a rating of 7/10.

    Leffe Blond
    [image=http://www.anheuser-busch.com/images/brandScroll/leffe.jpg]

    I was in the mood for a Belgian so I stopped and picked up a six pack of this on the way home one night. It was exactly what I was looking for. Aroma of clove, malt and hay. A nice wheat flavor with coriander and a slight yeast after taste. One is enough though. Not that it is too strong or anything, you just get tired of the flavor after one. An ABV of 6.6 and a score of 6/10.

    North Coast Red Seal Ale
    [image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3420765304_3a7819957c.jpg]

    This is a pretty good beer. It has the perfect blend hops and malts. As I mentioned earlier in the thread I am not a fan of beers that are too hoppy and this beer has just enough. A beautiful red color with a two finger head. A nice malty aroma with a bit of hops and caramel. Slight carbonation with flavors of malt, hops, and overall bready. If you are an ale lover I highly recommend giving this one a go. A very satisfying beer. An ABV of 5.5 and a score of 7/10.

    St. Bernardus Blanche
    [image=http://www.frothyhead.com/var/plain_site/storage/images/beer/belgium/brouwerij-st.-bernardus-nv/st.-bernardus-witbier/2416-1-eng-US/St.-Bernardus-Witbier_beer_medium.jpg]

    I loved drinking this beer. It was probably the most easily drinkable beer I have ever had but in a good way. It went down so easy and all the flavors were so well balanced and smooth. It was so easy to drink I finished my glass in about two minutes. It was great, so light and crisp. Here is the commercial description that my bar had posted "This traditional witbier has been developed under supervision of the father of Hoegaarden and Celis White, master brewer Pierre Celis. This beer has been bottle-refermented, which lent it its specific taste.". You could tell a lot of care and work went into making this beer. It was almost perfect. A creamy yellow color with aromas of cloves, wheat, citrus and yeast. Flavors of coriander, citrus, wheat, yeast and even a little sweet ginger. Carbonated with a very pleasant tangy after taste. I have to try and get back to my bar before this one is gone. An ABV of 5.5 and a ranking of a 9/10.

    Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
    [image=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4455646647_01ef0b51ee_o.jpg]

    Another great beer. If you are stout lover this is an absolute must try. Seriously, go out and find it, no exceptions. I never used to like stouts but I have started to get a taste for them and this helped it along nicely. It was like a meal in a glass, so thick and heavy. Chocolate and coffee dominate the aroma and pretty much lead the way in flavor as well. But it doesn't taste very sweet, a perfect blending of coffee, chocolate and malts with a slight hop aftertaste. A very slight carbonation. Color is dark as night. It packs a decent punch with an ABV of 9.5. I give it a rating of 9/10. Seriously seek this one out. It is well worth it.

     
  3. New_York_Jedi

    New_York_Jedi Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 16, 2002
    The Rogue Hazelnut is really really good.

    Had the Brew Free or Die! IPA last night on tap. Really good; I'm going to have to pick some up from the package store this week to get another taste and give a better review (I was somewhat distracted while drinking it).
     
  4. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    Some time has past since I last posted some reviews. Sadly I don't think I can remember all the beers. But I did my best to remember them and I still came up with a few.

    St. Bernardus Abt. 12
    [image=http://www.sintbernardus.be/images/New/abt12.jpg]

    So far I have had two different offerings from St. Bernardus. Both were spectacular and completely different. While the Wheat was very easy to drink and actually drank more like a cider the Abt. 12 had a ton of complex flavor. Poured a deep deep brown with a thick head. Strong smells of alcohol followed by fruits, cherry, raisins and maybe even banana. Though I could smell the alcohol strongly it was well hidden in the flavor. Slight hops flavor and mild malt. This beer had a lot of sweet flavors but not sugary sweet. It was very pleasant. Cherry, chocolate, raisins, bread and yeast. And nicely carbonated to give it just the right fizz. ABV of 10.5%, it will make you happy. Overall rating a 9/10.


    Summit Maibock
    [image=http://fearofclowns.com/gfx/summit1_maibock.jpg]

    Pours a golden orange color. Medium head. My first taste of this beer was actually straight from the bottle and it was lackluster. For my second try I poured it into my pint glass and that helped though it didn't make it much better. Not a bad beer by any means just nothing special. It felt like it had potential with flavors of bread, grain, citrus and spice but the flavors never got all the way there and fell a little short. ABV 7.1 overall rating 5/10.


    Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
    [image=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WrwiDAG6JMY/TGRczJwCBEI/AAAAAAAABC0/qDBYqyEAOxQ/s1600/Dsc03282.jpg]

    This beer was my kind of stout. velvety smooth and rich. Like most stouts pours very dark with a light brown top next to a small head. Aroma of caramel, malt, chocolate and vanilla. This stout was very easy to drink and had a very soft hop flavor and bitterness right on the back end. This was a nice drink. I will be getting this one again for sure. ABV 5.7 overall rating 8/10.


    Weyerbacher Merry Monks
    [image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3476300382_b1401f6df5.jpg]

    Pours a nice honey gold color with a two finger head. Aroma of yeast, apples, grapes. A lot of sweet flavors, apples, raisins, candi-sugars. Too sweet for my tastes. I could actually only get through about half the glass before I was over it. But I had already had the Abt. 12 mentioned earlier so I was probably just beered out at the moment. Still I think I would avoid this one. But if you are a fan of Tripels then you should give it a go. ABV 9.3 overall rating 4/10.


    Terrapin Sun Ray
    [image=http://forrestbeer.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/p_1600_1200_be10084d-178b-4131-b2e0-50e53bd370db.jpeg]

    I think wheat beers are becoming my favorite style of beer at the moment. I seem to really enjoy each one I try. I thought this beer was delicious, crisp, clean and refreshing. Pours cloudy gold. Minimal head. Aroma of spice, banana, yeast and citrus. Mild yeast and wheat flavors with strong citrus notes and a nice touch of honey on the back end for just the right amount of sweetness. ABV 4.7 overall rating 8/10.


    Rogue Mogul Madness
    [image=http://www.theperfectlyhappyman.com/uploads/rogue-mogul-madness.jpg]

    I was lucky enough to find this one on cask while in Pittsburg. I was expecting a very in your face flavor and was surprised to find it was pleasant and mild, especially compared to some cask beers I have tried in the past. I am not a fan of IPA's but I figured if they have a Rogue in a cask I had better try it. This beer further proves that the folks at Rogue know what they are doing. Pours black but not solid with a small head. Strong hoppy flavor but smooth with some pine and a strong grapefruit flavor. I was amazed I enjoyed an IPA this much. ABV 6.25 overall rating 8/10.


    Blue Point Toasted Lager
    [image=http://ontap.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/toasted-lager.jpg]

    Pours a clear reddish copper with a one finger head. You can smell toasted malts in the aroma with a light hop scent. Flavor was malty, nutty, buttery wi
     
  5. New_York_Jedi

    New_York_Jedi Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 16, 2002
    Three Philosophers is pretty good.

    Not quite a microbrew, but I had Magic Hat's latest IPA. Its surprisingly good, considering I don't love #9 and I HATE HATE HATE their summer seasonal.
     
  6. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    I have never tried any of the Magic Hat beers. Something about it just doesn't appeal to me. Maybe the packaging. Not sure. Is it worth giving it a try?
     
  7. Krusty_the_Clone

    Krusty_the_Clone Jedi Padawan star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2006
    I drank a Stone Smoked Porter the other day. Good, not too smoky.
     
  8. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    I know they have that Stone at my liquor store. Would you recommend giving it a try? What did it taste like?
     
  9. xblackout

    xblackout Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2008
    That one sounds delicious, I'll definitely have to try it.

    I've got a bottle of Saranac's black & tan and Bell's cherry stout that I haven't tried yet, but I may go ahead and have them tonight. I'm pretty excited to try both, especially the Bell's.
     
  10. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    I have been eying that Bells Cherry for a while. You will have to let me know how it is.
     
  11. Krusty_the_Clone

    Krusty_the_Clone Jedi Padawan star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2006
    I'd recommend it. Tasted like heaven with a lil smoke.
     
  12. mrsvos

    mrsvos Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 18, 2005
    I've been wanting to try the oatmeal stout - thanks for the review.
     
  13. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    Krusty - Thanks for the heads up. I will get one next time I go beer shopping.

    Vos- Let me know what you think of it when you try it.
     
  14. xblackout

    xblackout Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2008
    Iiiiii didn't really care for it. I guess it just didn't match up with my expectations so I was kind of put off by it. I really enjoyed the black & tan, though.
     
  15. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    Ommegang Three Philosophers
    [image=http://s3.amazonaws.com/user-beer-photos/beer_photos/10581/ommegang-three-philosophers.jpg]

    Pours a very dark read with a nice head. Aroma of fruits yeast and alcohol. Very sour flavor of cherries, raisins, and prunes. A nice fizz with the alcohol gives a nice feel on the way down. One of the better beers I have had in a while. ABV 9.8 overall 9/10.
     
  16. Healer_Leona

    Healer_Leona Squirrel Wrangler of Fun & Games star 9 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jul 7, 2000
    That one sounds kinda good.
     
  17. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema

    [image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3773236591_f485f2e2a7.jpg]

    I am becoming a big fan of this brewery. I really enjoyed the Boont Amber and the Oatmeal Stout. Go ahead and add this one the the list of really good beers from Anderson Valley. Amber in color with minimal head. Aroma of sour milk, which I know sounds disgusting but it was satisfying and appealing. When you first taste it is is very bitter and sour and the glides into a smooth and sweet creamy caramel. Very malty. I didn?t even detect any hops flavor. Very delicious beer. I have tried this on tap and bottled, the bottled was still good but on tap was much more enjoyable. ABV 5.6% Overall 8/10.


    Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen

    [image=http://www.bieradventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/20100405-IMG_3961.jpg]

    Aroma of smoke. Very smokey. Dark maple brown color. The flavor tasted like smoked meat. Very bacony. It was very different and very enjoyable. I couldn?t drink more than one though. I highly recommend at least giving this one a taste. ABV 5.2% overall 7/10.


    Gouden Carolus Easter Ale (2010)

    [image=http://quadernodellecosebuone.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/gouden-carolus-easter2.jpg]

    This ale is brewed once a year to commemorate Easter. I thought the taste was very similar to the St. Bernardus ABT 12. Deep dark brown in color. Aroma of hops, dried fruit, licorice and leather. Strong flavors or fruits like prunes or raisins as well as licorice. Medium fizz. ABV 9% Overall 8/10.


    Hofbräu München Maibock

    [image=http://lh3.ggpht.com/__sIA1t2VCYU/TS1zIBc1qeI/AAAAAAABQvE/87GqQmFn4W0/Piwo51016.JPG]

    By the time I got to this beer I was pretty well lit. So i will do my best to rate it. But I don't remember as much about it as the other ones. Nice amber color with a two finger head. Aromas of caramel and yeast, a very pleasantly sweet aroma. Flavor was bready, spicy, caramel and malty. Very crisp. ABV 7.2% Overall 7/10.



     
  18. Neo-Paladin

    Neo-Paladin Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 10, 2004
    I agree on Three Philosophers. I frequent a place that always has it on tap, and I typically open the night with that when there.

    Last night I had Lake Louie's Coon Rock Cream Ale. It was pretty good. I was expecting (and was in the mood for) something darker than it is, but I found it good despite my expectations. If you're looking for a beer with a lighter body that is crisp with a smooth finish, this is a good one to go for. I imagine its characteristics would be particularly appreciated on a hot summer day outside. 8/10 in cool environments, 9.5/10 in hot humid weather.
     
  19. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    I enjoy cream ales so I will have to keep my eye open for that one. If you liked that one try the Anderson Valley I just rated. It was probably the best cream ale I have had on tap.
     
  20. New_York_Jedi

    New_York_Jedi Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 16, 2002
    Anderson Valley has a kick ass black IPA also, I've had it on tap a couple times.

    Had the Dogfish Head Burton Baton on tap the other night. You can taste the similarities to the 90 minute IPA, but also it has more of a traditional ale feel. I'm not as good at wookatme at these reviews, so I'll leave it at that.
     
  21. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    NYJ, I am certainly not the gold standard of beer reviewers. I am just really getting started in the practice and hope to possibly one day make a career out of it. But any contributions you give to the thread are greatly appreciated.

    That being said May 16-22 is American Craft Beer Week. So be sure to hit your local craft beer vendors and celebrate. And when you are done post some reviews![face_dancing]

    Here is a link with more into on Craft Beer Week
    American Craft Beer Week
     
  22. New_York_Jedi

    New_York_Jedi Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Mar 16, 2002
    Had the Bluehills IPA last night. Its from a microbrewery like maybe an hour south of Boston? maybe less I've only taken the train though it so I have no concept of how long a drive would take.

    Anyways, it was just ok. A little bitterness in the aftertaste but not what you'd expect from an IPA. Kind of what I guess people call a "toasty maltiness" is the dominate flavor. It reminded me of the Farmington River Mahogany Ale, which means nothing to people since that's another tiny brewery in central Connecticut. So it wasn't necessarily bad, just not really my type of beer. I'll finish off the six pack but I can't see myself getting it again.
     
  23. Krusty_the_Clone

    Krusty_the_Clone Jedi Padawan star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2006
    I'm gonna drink a homemade hoppy brown ale tomorrow.
     
  24. WookatMe

    WookatMe Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Aug 22, 2010
    St. Bernardus Pater 6

    [image=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3177764814_309d5f8e58.jpg]

    Dark chestnut color. Small head. The taste reminded me of the ABT 12, but lighter with much less taste of alcohol. Taste dried dark fruits like cherries and prunes and yeast. Subtle hop flavor. A very nice smooth drink. I also bought a St. Bernadus glass just like the one pictured. It should really help the flavor of Belgians. ABV 6.7% Overall 8/10

    Xingu

    [image=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KgIqQvYUs3I/Sf7Yanib_cI/AAAAAAAANLU/BwaGWyBtwjI/s400/Xingu33.jpg]

    Dark color. Aroma of chocolate, malt and hops. I tasted a lot of licorice and chocolate, and maybe some cherries in the after taste. A very sweet beer, I would consider this a desert beer. ABV 4.6 % overall 4/10.
     
  25. Krusty_the_Clone

    Krusty_the_Clone Jedi Padawan star 3

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Homebrewed hoppy brown was excellent.
    I liked xingu also.