Review: Unibroue - Trois Pistoles

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 9.00%

Trois Pistoles is an old favorite that I haven't gotten to enjoy for a while now. It continues to be a readily available classic of the style. Pours deep raisin brown, slight tinge of purple, nice frothy head, laces well around the glass. Smells figgy, dark fruit, plums, sweet with a slight port-like booziness in the nose. Tastes a lot of the same - on the sweeter side instead of the yeastier side, like some Belgian Darks. Lots of dark fruit flavors run through it, a bit of licorice, sweet dark sugar, an underlying booziness that does nothing to detract from the drinkability, but helps bring the flavors together. Slightly cloying, but nice and velvety on the tongue. After the initial shock on the palate, the flavor mellows nicely, smooth and subtle. This is just a classic that a lot of people take for granted.

A: 4/5
S: 12.5/15
T: 42/50
M: 13.5/15
D: 13/15

Total: 85%

Review: Victory - Hop Whallop

Style: American Imperial / Double IPA
ABV: 8.50%

This my last halfassed review for the night, I promise. All caught up after this one.

Pours a lot lighter than I was expecting. Like a typical macro light lager, except less fizzy and a little more syrupy. Smells of muted hops, not the flourishing bouquet I would expect. Date is Feb 9 '10, which I assume is 1yr out, so this is at about 6-7 months since bottling, not ideal, but I don't think it's bad or anything. Tastes again, muted hops, it's like they are struggling to come out, but can't quite make it. There's a good deal of malt, but not overpowering by any stretch. Slight pineyness and that's it. Like a regular IPA, not a DIPA. Moderately filling, carbonation just at the appropriate level, i guess it's not bad, but I had expected a lot more from it.

A: 3/5
S: 10/15
T: 34/50
M: 11/15
D: 12/15

Total: 70%

Review: Harpoon - Glacier Harvesr 09 (100 Barrel #28)

Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.70%

The newest offering in the 100 Barrel Series, a release of the Glacier Harvest they did last year. Seems awfully soon to me, I'd love to see some of the older 100 Barrel beers rereleased... Triticus, Barleywine, Imperial Stout, Lambic... at least not something a year old. Oh well.

Nice frothy head, that light-cidery-brown in color. Smells of piney and grapefruity hops, a bit soapy. Tastes more of hops, less of a malt presence. Not a ton of bitterness with the hops, though, nice and just slightly bitter. A bit thin through the mouth, which works against it a bit, it doesn't have the carbonation to carry it through. Easy enough to drink, but just OK overall. Probably won't seek this one out again.

A: 3/5
S: 11/15
T: 38/50
M: 10/15
D: 12/15

Total: 74%

Review: Harpoon - UFO Pale Ale

This one just came in, I gots a free sample to take home. So new, I can't find any of the info for it. Pours standard yellowish-brown and fizzy, decent hop aroma coming off of it. Nothing spectacular though. It seems to have more heft to it than the other UFOs I've tried, some interesting slightly sweeter-than-normal malting. Decent if unmemorable hop flavor, not really biting, a bit grapefruity. Kind of just slides off the palate, without being real creamy, or cloying, or anything. Decently drinkable. Kind of eh in pretty much every way, which exceeded expectation.

A: 3/5
S: 11/15
T: 35/50
M: 10/15
D: 11/15

T: 71%

review: Boulevard - Long Strange Tripel

Style: Tripel
ABV: 9.00%

I've been looking forward to trying something from Boulevard for a long time, and awesome trader BuckeyeNation hooked me up bigtime with a few different bottles. At first I wonder which way this tripel will go, an authentic Belgian way, or the messy American way with a little bit of everything thrown in.

Pours toasty-golden, big poofy head, nice and fluffy, awesome lacing left. Just like a tripel should look like. Smells slightly musty, with some sweetness coming through over it. Little bit of spicing evident. Upon first sip, I know we have a winner. It's slightly sweet, but balanced by a good bit of dryness. Nothing like Golden Monkey (although I do love me some Monkey) and a sweet barrage of everything but the kitchen sink right off the bat. Little bit of spicing, but nothing overpowering. Kind of bready, reminds me of cookies, almost. I'm doing a really bad job doing it justice, save that is very very good. Very ephervescent in mouthfeel, silky smooth texture, can't stop drinking it. Just awesome.

A: 4/5
S: 12.5/15
T: 43/50
M: 12/15
D: 14/15

Total: 85.5%

Review: North Coast - Old Stock Ale

Style: Old Stock Ale
ABV: 12.50%

Oddly enough, this is one of a few North Coast beers we don't get in MA (Cru D'or and the Rasputin anniversary series being the others). I don't get it, but such is life. I'm sampling a 2007 vintage so graciously provided by my Minnesota BA buddy, BDLbrewster.

This to me is the definition of a sessionable old ale. My only other experience previous to such a thing was with Founder's Curmudgeon, and I hated it. Far too smokey for me. This one pours almost jet black, not much signs of carbonation or life. This is actually a good thing, however, as too much carbonation would subdue all that's going on. It really doesn't smell as strongly as I would have figured, either. Bit of vinuous acidic fruit lying underneath layers and layers of peaty malt - not too smokey, but tobaccoey, a bit leathery. A good dose of that slightly acrid chewy-spicy taste, also. This is another one that lingers pleasantly on the palate, tasting for an hour or more after like smokey licorice. Very pleasant, and not overwhelming. A great go-to old ale that belies it's very high ABV with superb drinkability. North Coast is just awesome.

A: 3/5
S: 11/15
T: 44/50
M: 13/15
D: 13/15

Total: 84%

Review: Stone - Vertical Epic 09.09.09

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 8.90%

Ever since I heard about this one a few months back, I was intrigued. Heavy on chocolate malts, with vanilla and tangerine peel added. Sounds like an awesome orange and chocolate combination. The final product doesn't quite live up to my lofty expectations, but it is still very good nevertheless.

Very dark, pruney-brown, massive head that emerges makes for a slow pour. Smells almost like coffee, which is strange - almost harsh, but in a pleasing way. Not sure if it's the heavy chocolate malts doing it, interacting with it in a strange way. Taste is very similar - almost harsh, but not quite, in a pleasant way. Heavier hopped than a typical Belgian Dark, which for Stone is far less than normal :) It's far more dense than a typical Belgian Dark, though, doesn't have the ephervescent smoothness or velvety texture in the mouth. For my own sanity, I'm calling this a Belgian Stout, even though it isn't really. But the slightly astringent malt makes me think of that - roasty and chocolatey, with Belgian candied sugars. The orange doesn't come through really, which is a shame, I'd like for it to be balancing a lot better with the chocolate. The vanilla adds a light, lofty sweetness to the endgame. It's very drinkable for what it is, and that is to its credit. It's just not quite at the balance I'd like to see. I'll be buying more of this to drink and squirrel away for sure, and we'll see how it evolves.

A: 3.5/5
S: 11/15
T: 41/50
M: 11.5/15
D: 12/15

Total: 78%

sick :(

Got a bit of a cold the past few days, which is cutting in to valuable beer tasting time. I have a bunch of old reviews from the past week or so to write up, so don't worry, I'm not binging or anything :p

"Bacon's" isn't a bad name...

...it could always be worse.

Review: Stone - Levitation

Style: American Amber / Red Ale
ABV: 4.40%

If I recall correctly, this is basically a baby version of the Stone XI recipe (which later became Sublimely Self-Righteous). All in all, it's pretty mild for a Stone brew. From the appearance, great carbonation, leading to a soupy head. Kind of cloudy on the inside, but looks quite refreshing. Smells unspecifically of hops, sort of a generic IPA smell. Tastes like a mild, sessionable IPA. Earthy and grapefruity hops, just in lesser quantities than you usually get from Stone. The carbonation really helps this one along, low carbonation and it would be quite eh, but since the flavors are more muted, it helps keep things moving along. Pretty easy session IPA/Amber/whathaveyou, nothing earth-shattering.

A: 4/5
S: 11/15
T: 36/50
M: 13/15
D: 12/15

T: 76%

FBS FBS FBS!

Just found out that Founder's Breakfast Stout lands this week, can't wait! Such an awesome and rich coffee bomb, one of my favorites.

Review: Otter Creek - Russian Imperial Stout

Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.60%

I love imperial stouts to death, and after sampling this one at American Craft Beer Fest, I had to pick it up when i saw it. It doesn't disappoint. Pours jet black, pure onyx. Nice inch and a half of coacoey head, soupy and mirky, mysterious and inviting. Smell is a bit harsher than I was expecting, in that it almost is more of a pure-coffee smell. Heavy on the roastiness, seems light on the bitterness, which is always a plus. Tasting confirms my expectation - an imperial stout that is light on hops, rich and roasty, and an easy drinker. Coffee doesn't come out so much as in the nose, more chocolatey notes. The label says they used brown sugar, which I can taste the effects of. Sweeter than a lot of imperial stouts without being cloying, rich all the way through, and a little less viscous. Just the right balance. It isn't the most complex or amazing imperial stout, but it is damn good. The richness just lingered on as I went to bed, I love when I can taste a beer for an hour after I'm done. There is zero evidence of the high ABV, wich could get you in trouble if you aren't careful. I doubt Otter Creek is up to anything else of this quality.

A: 4/5
S: 12/15
T: 45/50
M: 13/15
D: 14/15

Total: 88%

Review: Dieu du Ciel - Equinoxe du Printemps

Starting with this post, I'll graciously rip off pictures from GIS, hooray!

Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV: 9.50%


The first thing you notice is that the label art is awesome. Every beer Dieu du Ciel creates is like this, I would love to have a print or litho of any of them. Dieu du Ciel is best known for Peche Mortel, an Imperial Coffee Stout and favorite of many, myself included. Since then, I've had many quality beers from them, and this one is no exception.

It's billed as a Scotch Ale brewed with maple syrup. A lot of the scotch ales I've had try to be more like the Wee Heavys, less sweet and more peaty. It pours a deep, kind of sludgy deep honeyed color with just the slightest indication of head. Thickness is more like a stout, or a really thick Belgian Pale. The syrup adds a good deal of viscosity to it. Smells sugary, like a candy/molasses bomb. I at least can smell the syrup. The taste is like basically like a stronger Scottish Ale, very malt heavy, little hop balance, sweet and sticky on the palate. A massive malt bomb, that will only get better with age (although it is very drinkable right now, not too boozey at all). Next time I try one, I will lay it down for a while and see how it changes. But this makes for a great dessert beer.

A: 3/5
S: 11.5/5
T: 44/50
M: 13/15
D: 12/15

T: 83.5%

Review: Van Honsebrouck - Bacchus

Style: Fruit / Vegetable Beer
ABV: 4.50%

Sampled last night, going off memory. Pours without much fanfare, rusty brown into the glass without a ton of carbonation or pretty bubbles. Thin head without much retention. Smells slightly vinegaric, slightly fruity. If I had to pin the taste down to any one area, it is like a very very light version of a flanders red, only sweeter. Lightly tart, somewhere between a more vinegaric sour and the sweet backing of the fruitier sours. Light bodied, low in alcohol, it's almost like a cider, except I'd rather drink a cider if I want a cider.

Normally, I don't consider price too extensively, unless I'm recommending something for someone. If memory serves, this was a $6 or $7 bottle, a corked 375. There are quite a few Belgians I'll go to first, for the same price or cheaper. If I want something sour, I'll go toward Duchesse de Bourgeone. For the same price, Roche 10 blows this out of the water, taste and quality-wise (although they are different styles obviously). For the price, it was a bit dissappointing. It's OK, but nothing greater.

A: 2.5/5
S: 10/15
T: 37/50
M: 11/15
D: 13/15

Total: 73.5%

The Corona Conundrum

At work today, I realized something interesting: Sam Adams is only slightly more expensive than Corona. Seventy cents more per six-pack, or a buck more per twelve-pack. This begs the question to me, why do people buy Corona? I just don't get it. It's one thing if you're native, because drinking the water there will either kill you, cause you to grow a new appendage, or something equally unfun.

Here though, it's one of those things where you're paying a lot more money just to say you're drinking an import. People don't drink it for the taste, skunked lime seltzer. And if you do drink it for the taste, you can go for Bud Light Lime for a lot cheaper, all of the blandness with none of the gross. It's the Heinkeken import effect, I guess. One can get a domestic lager that tastes the same or better than Heineken for the same price or cheaper, but it gives people some kind of psychological placebo endorphin rush to drink something that is imported for the sake of drinking something imported.

I also don't get the whole "stick a lime wedge in it so it doesn't smell like crap" thing. Smell affects our perceptions of taste to a great degree. If you don't want to drink something that smells skunked, why don't you just drink something else, something that actually smells appealing? I think a lot of people think that that is just the way import beers are supposed to smell, which isn't the case. When beer is done right, it's like a baby - you just want to keep smelling and smelling it despite everyone around you giving you funny looks.

If you really do like it, there's nothing wrong with that, but please don't drink something just for the sake of drinking it, when there is so much else out there.

Review: De Struise - Pannepot

Style: Quadrupel
ABV: 10.00%

2007 bottle purchased from Bruisin' Ales. Didn't notice the vintage until after I was home. Pours a deep, pruney purple. Even the gentlest pour yields a huge 3 inch head, literally 4 parts head to 1 part beer. When the dust settles after a bit, leaves some neat lacing around the glass. Smells strongly spicy, combined with the typical pale hopped, dark candied sugar of a belgian dark ale. I tried a couple sips at first when it was still pretty cold, and I got a lot of metallic taste - some belgian darks carry this all the way through, it's not my favorite flavor. As it warms, this goes away, and by the end, the prevalent taste is the spicing - I like my quads to have the dark malt and dark fruit (figgy, plumy) backing to hold up without lots of spicing. It adds to the mouthfeel in this case, making it a bit more peppery, and it slides off the palate easier. But I think it's a little overspiced. Nevertheless, it's a pretty good Belgian Strong Dark (I really don't think of it as a quad). Drinking is a little tough, despite the creaminess that has come out in both Struise beers I've had (Black Albert, and this one), so the small 11.2oz bottle is just the right size.

A: 4.5/5
S: 11/15
T: 41/50
M: 13/15
D: 10/15

T: 79.5%

Review: Three Floyds - Alpha King

Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.00%

Pours a pale wheatish color, thin and unremarkable head - nothing memorable visually. Smell is that of fresh citrusy hops, and some biscuity malt. Excellent balance between the two sides, even though I think this bottle is a few months old, grapefruity hops come through boldly, with no soapiness or bitterness. Clean hoppiness, no off-bitterness or any unwanted flavors. Hoppiness is subdued in a good way, controlled yet still assertive. Biscuity malt comes in to balance it out, doesn't get too bready or sharp along the way. Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing, just like a pale ale should be. Interesting hop character balanced out by strong malt. Fairly low in alcohol, combined with strong drinkability makes this a nice treat.

A: 3/5
S: 12/15
T: 42/50
M: 11/15
D: 13/15

T: 81%

Review: Newport Storm - Luke

Style: American Amber / Red Ale
ABV: 8.6%

The first thing you notice is the billowing head - even a modest pour leads to a rush of bubbles just barely contained in my glass. Biscuity head, a rich filtered amber in color. Smells sort of like an IPA, maybe a bit maltier, but grapefruity and earthy hops rise to the forefront. Basically, it tastes like an imperial amber ale that's shorter on hops. It begins like a standard sessionable IPA, clean, earthy hops, a bit of malt that carries into the back palate, where it takes on a life of its own. It tastes crisp, I think being unfiltered, with some yeast floaties would inject a bit of life into it. It isn't bad as it stands now, though, and definitely carries its alcohol well. Mild, pleasant hop aromas linger on the tongue.

If I were Newport Storm, I would have considered switching this release with Kim - put the refreshing IPA-style up in the summer, and save the Imperial Marzen as a complement to Oktoberfest. Like the other Cyclone Series beers I've had, this one is pretty good, but nothing to wow me.

A: 4/5
S: 11/15
T: 39/50
M: 12/15
D: 13/15

T: 79%
BA: 3.95/5, B+

Scoring Metric

When I do reviews on the blog, I'm also going to include a numerical breakdown of scores. I base mine off of the categories Beer Advocate uses, but with the weightings changed around some, to more accurately reflect my opinions. That total gives a percentage, which can be translated into the BA number and letter marks. I break it down as follows:

Appearance: 5%
Smell: 15%
Taste: 50%
Mouthfeel: 15%
Drinkability (which is more like overall feelings): 15%

The Return

It's been suggested to me that it might be a good idea to start a beer blog to share my thoughts on different things, so here we go. I'll try to do the best I can to keep ideas flowing, be it tasting notes, current events, new releases or festivals, or debates/controversies (I do love me some controversy).

I just got back from six days in North Carolina, and it was truly glorious. We rented a cabin up in the mountains, so the weekend was full of breathtaking scenery, as well as just a bit of peace and quiet. On the way down, we stopped at Bruisin' Ales in Asheville. For those of you not in the know, Bruisin' Ales is a boutique store right at downtown Asheville, that crams more awesome beer into such a small space than you would see at one of the giant supermarket-style liquor stores. It's owned by a husband and wife team (Jason and Julie Atallah) who just do a great job at supporting craft beer.

We rolled into town about 5:30 Friday night on the way out to the cabin, and ended up staying for about forty-five minutes (most of which was my fault... but nobody here is laying blame). The two guys working there (I want to say Jon and Tim) were awesome, grabbing some limited releases for me from the back, and helping my friends who are learning about beer pick out some things they might like.

I found more than my fair share of local and interesting beers. My friend and I split a case of Highland Black Mocha to session over the weekend, and I was fortunate to grab a couple bottles of the Imperial Black Mocha, which has been a big want of mine for quite a while. Also, I was lucky enough to head down the same week Terrapin Gamma Ray was re-released as a summer seasonal. Just the most drinkable wheatwine I've had, fantastic. Other beers from Highland, Terrapin, Big Boss, New Belgium (had to bring back some Fat Tire or I wouldn't hear the end of it!), New Holland, Duck-Rabbit, Bell's, all solid breweries we can't get up here. The only thing I would have liked to come home with was some bottles from Pisgah, they only had growlers. Alas, next year.

Now, the hard part is drinking it all to make room for more beer. Funny how it seems to accumulate faster than it can be consumed. I also have a ton of reviews to put up from the weeks before I left, so methinks some of them will make it on here. Until next time, internets.