Thursday, April 25, 2013

Russian River Consecration


Russian River  Consecration, Russian River Brewing Co.,
American Wild Ale, Beer Advocate: A    375mL/10% abv
A: Cherry brown with a very slight head that fades fast. Slight lacing as well. 

S: Things starts of acidic with notes of vinegar pairs with cherry, oak and vanilla. Varying levels of fruitiness and acidity come through making for a complex nose.

T: lactic acid and tartness up front, big time puckering, followed by a sweeter and fruitier middle, this is followed up by a considerable amount of oak with a touch of funk, and the tartness returns on the finish. Definitely carries with it a sense of tannic wine pull from the currents as well as the Cabernet barrels.
M: Light to medium body with heavy carbonation. Dry crisp finish that has a tart lingering. very nice.

D: The currents and the Cabernet barrels really give this a tannic lactic acid feel that finishes dry similar to a Brute Champagne. Fantastic Sour, enough said.

Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA


Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA    8.3%ABV
Hops: German Magnum (bittering), Citra & Amarillo (flavor/aroma and double dry-hopped)
A: Dark dark brown, nearly opaque, with a creamy mocha head.
S: Lots of fruity and piney hops, rye spice, roasted chocolate malts, with hints of coffee.
T: Mild rye , rich chocolatey and dark bready malts, citrusy, grassy,  and piney hops with a slightly sweet and hoppy finish..  
M: Medium plus bodied, slightly creamy texture with moderate carbonation.
D: Boozy but very drinkable. 

Duchesse De Bourgogne


Duchesse De Bourgogne-  Flanders Red Ale/6.0%
From Brouwerij Verhaeghe is the traditional Flemish red ale. This refreshing ale is matured in oak casks; smooth with a rich texture and interplay of passion fruit, and chocolate, and a long, dry and acidic finish. The average age of this beer is 12 months.
A- Deep ruby-brown, small amount of head with miniaml lacing.
S- Funky and sour, berries
T- Nice tartness but well balanced, some vanilla from the oak barrels and a little earthiness, nice and complex flavor
M- Effervesent and crisp, light bodied
D- Great summer beer, good to start people on sours and also if someone likes wine

Duchesse De Bourgogne


Duchesse De Bourgogne-  Flanders Red Ale/6.0%
From Brouwerij Verhaeghe is the traditional Flemish red ale. This refreshing ale is matured in oak casks; smooth with a rich texture and interplay of passion fruit, and chocolate, and a long, dry and acidic finish. The average age of this beer is 12 months.
A- Deep ruby-brown, small amount of head with miniaml lacing.
S- Funky and sour, berries
T- Nice tartness but well balanced, some vanilla from the oak barrels and a little earthiness, nice and complex flavor
M- Effervesent and crisp, light bodied
D- Great summer beer, good to start people on sours and also if someone likes wine

New Belgium Lips of Faith Transatlantique Kriek


New Belgium Lips of Faith Transatlantique Kriek     Lambic    8%ABV
A:  Pours a gorgeous clear ruby color with three fingers of pink head.
S:  Bright tart cherries followed by the light oak and a signature lambic funk.
T:  Dark tart cherries, followed by mild oak and mild grainy sweetness.
M:  Light to medium bodied with
Pairing:  Pork Chop, Cassoulet, Chocolate Crème Pie, 

Upslope Brown Ale


Upslope Brown Ale 6.7%ABV
A:  Dark brown color with a thick but shy tan head that recedes to leave a lot of lacing.
S: Smells of caramel malts slightly burnt with mild bitterness.
T: Caramel and toasted malts, light cocoa and mild bitterness on the finish.
M: Medium to full bodied with a creamy texture and mild carbonation.
D: Very drinkable and great food beer.
Pairing:  Tri Tip, Sausages, Brat burger, chicken and waffles, chicken sandwich.

Thomas Brau N/A


Thomas Brau N/A
A: Pours a clear golden color with a white head.
S:  Floral hops and bready malts. 
T:  Sweet bready pale malts herbal hops and mild minerality.
M:  Light bodied, bright carbonation and a clean finish.
D:  Minimal alcohol.

Tilburg Dutch Brown


Tilburg Dutch Brown   Belgian Dark Ale 5.0%ABV
A:  This beer is a gorgeous brilliant ruby red brown with active carbonation with a small fizzy head.
S:  Rich caramel malts, brown sugar, molasses, mild dark fruits and a faint nuttiness.
T:   Slightly nutty and mildly sweet.   Prevalent fruity esters, belgian yeast and rich caramel and toasted malts.
M: Medium bodied but creamy with modest carbonation and smooth finish.
D:  Very drinkable and also food friendly. 
Food Pairings:  Mild sausages, earthy cheeses, pork, stone fruits and nuts.  

Straffe Hendrik Belgian Quadrupel


Straffe Hendrik Belgian Quadrupel  11%ABV
A:  Pours a slightly cloudy brown with gorgeous red highlights and a lofty beige head.
S:  Aromas of squaw bread, molasses, dark fruits, dark chocolate.
T:  Starts light and floral then succumbs to the rich roasted malts and complexities of the belgian yeast esters.   Notes of apple, raisin, brown sugar, earthy caramel.
M: Med- full in body with modest carbonation and a sincere alcohol warmth. 
D: This is quite the sipper but would also pair incredibly with food.
Food Pairings: :  Try this with cheese offerings with earthy complexities

Ska Modus HoperandI


Ska Modus Hoperandi, 6.8%ABV American IPA
A - Deep bronzed color with a good sized, smooth, creamy, tight, ivory head. Decent retention leaving a great layer of lacing. S - Plenty of C-hops. Sweet citrus hop aroma along with some pine and a sweet sappy resin. Fair amount of sweet caramel malt.
T - Starts with a prickly grassy and pine hop flavor. That gives way to a sweet citrus and caramel/toffee malt flavor. Fairly sweet with touches of bitterness. This bitterness gets stronger on the finish.
M - Light to medium body. Plenty of carbonation and prickly and zesty mouthfeel.
D - Easy to drink beer. Not too sweet nor too bitter. Pretty refreshing and I finished the can no problem.

SAM SMITH OGRANIC CIDER


SAM SMITH OGRANIC CIDER
Brewery: Samuel Smith, UNITED KINGDOM
Style: Hard Cider ABV: 5%
A: Bright and golden with lots of bubbles.
S: Like an apple orchard with hints of lemon and pear
T: Drinks like the best apple juice ever; notes of pear on the finish- sweet and refreshing
M: There is nothing heavy about this beverage; thirst quenching and effervescent
(This is a gluten free beverage)

Reissdorf Kolsch


Reissdorf Kolsch   4.8% ABV         Kolsch
Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf Cologne, Germany
REISSDORF KÖLSCH is the beer speciality from Cologne with a tradition starting 1894. A Kölsch is a beer with a pleasant, light-medium-bodied, and uniquely light and sweet taste.
A:  Pours a brilliant golden hue with a bright white head.
S:  Light bready grains, herbal hops, with delicate citrus notes.
T:  Thick soft malts, minty or piney hops, dry and crisp. 
M:  Light to medium body, crisp, clean, refreshing finish.
D:  SESSION BEER.  This is a great hot weather beer that you can enjoy all day and then enjoy it with dinner.  

Odell Myrcenary


Odell Myrcenary 9.3% DIPA
A - A big pour revealed about two fingers of a light yellow head. Body is very cloudy and a super nice wheat/orange color. Tons of lacing.
S - It's just so smooth on the nose. Wonderfully balanced sweet with bitter hops. Pine, grapefruit, and earth. Pretty simple.
T - Starts with candied oranges and only slight pine. The smooth hops comes on in the middle and finishes with a slight bitterness.
M - Very full. Nice carbonation and overall feel. Just a little pucker in the back of the mouth.
O – Fantastic overall IPA. Great for those who like hops but aren’t ready for their faces to melt off.

New Belgium Blue Paddle Pilsner


New Belgium Blue Paddle Pilsner   4.8%ABV  Czech Style Pilsner
A:  Pours a clear golden straw color with a lofty white head.
S:  Grassy noble hops and light biscuity malts pair for a well balance Czeh pilsner. 
T:  Herbal, grassy and peppery noble hops meld with pale malts in a very subtle yet well made beer.
M:  Medium-light bodied with a smooth texture, lively carbonation and a crisp finish.
D:  Very sessionable. Also great with sharp cheeses and spicy foods, sausages and schnitzels. 

Lost Abbey Red Barn


Beer Advocate: A-
A: Pours a slightly hazy golden orange with a lofty head.
S:  Grassy hops, citrus(lemon, orange), wheat, spice (ginger, corriander) slight funk
T:  Grainy, biscuity malts, Delicate fruits (apple, pear) Spices(clove, ginger), Belgian yeast, lemon, orange, and subtle yet bitter hops finish.
M: Light-Med body, light carbonation with a smooth, dry finish.
D: Real drinkable and at 6.7%ABV this also serves as a great food beer.

Lion Stout


Lion Stout- Foreign/Export Stout/ 8.0% abv.       Ceylon/Lion Brewery Sri Lanka,
"Brewed from British, Czech and Danish malts with Styrian hops and an English yeast strain. All the ingredients are transported along precarious roads to the brewery located 3,500 feet above sea level."
A- Dark brown with a nice full head and nice lacing
S- Roasted malts, rasins, coffee and slight booziness
T- Mocha roastiness, slight alcohol burn, raisins
M- Medium to light body and very smooth, lower carbonation
D- Its easy to drink for a bit higher abv beer, good with food. 

Left Hand Sawtooth ESB


Left Hand Sawtooth ESB    5.3%ABV  
A:  Pours a brilliantly clear copper color with an off white head.
S:   Bready  and caramel malts with significant citrusy and grassy hops.
T: A nice round mellow malt body that adds some needed sweetness, then a nice tangy, citrus hop follow through.
M:  Medium bodied with  creamy texture and mild carbonation.
D:  Very drinkable yet a natural paring for old world comfort food.

Great Divide Collette farmhouse ale


Great Divide Collette farmhouse ale  7.3%ABV
A:  Pours a hazy golden yellow color with a lively off white head.
S:  Smells of tart wheat/pale malts, light lemon peel,
T:  Pale and wheat malts blend with Belgian saison yeast bringing slight peppery spice and a mild lemony tartness.
M:  light to med bodied with bright carbonation and a smooth tart finish.
D:  Soo Soo Good.
Food Pairings: :  Great with seafood.  Mussels, oysters, goat cheese.