Green Flash Citra Session IPA
Green Flash decided to celebrate National IPA Day with a bang by releasing this sessionable burst of flavor made with Citra hops. The nose is pungent with smells of cat urine, grapefruit, tons of citrus and lemon zest, and a bit of pine. It makes for quite the aroma of hops. The flavor is bitter up front with tons of citrus...Not surprising considering Citra hops were stuffed into this brew. Softer flavors of copper and grass were also present. The finish is bitter and toasty, yet it remains refreshing despite all of that. A wonderfully hoppy beer that won't light you up during these hot Summer days.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
It wouldn't be National IPA Day (well, one day after) without a Three Floyds beer on tap. The Dreadnaught made the cut, and at only 17 days old, it is quite a doozy. The nose is diverse with tons of citrus and pine resin immediately picked up. Softer aromas of cherry and clay with spicy notes were picked up after the strong initial burst. The flavor is quite bitter up front with flavors of pine, lemon, licorice, and burnt toast. The finish smooths out with flavors of lemon juice, rye, and fresh parsley. This beer packs a wallop of flavor and is sure to delight those looking for the hoppiest of beers to enjoy at the end of the work week.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10
Founder's Double Trouble Double IPA
This one was technically on tap at the end of Friday. The previous keg had blown and I didn't want to wait to throw up this fine Imperial IPA. This one is even better than the last one that we tapped. The nose is full of orange zest, armpit, and grass with plenty of earth notes towards the end. The flavor is bitter up front with tons of lemon zest on the front. Softer flavors of oregano and basil round out the initial flavor. The finish continues the bitterness and still has tons of lemon but also continues soft floral hints and touches of cologne. This is another fantastic Imperial IPA to enjoy before the winter brings us more malty beers.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.25/10
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
What is this...Christmas in August? We procured this aged beer at a wonderful price, and it has only served to smooth out this Winter Warmer. The nose has hints of butterscotch, grapes, and woodchips. It certainly reminds you of Winter. The taste is smooth with tons of caramel, butterscotch, and toffee up front. Softer hints of marshmellows, hay, and vanilla are present as the finish comes on. Ridiculously smooth, it definitely brings a warm tinge to the cheeks as you plow through this sweeter beer. However, it almost seems one dimensional with the flavors you do get.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10
Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout
For this one, Anderson Valley took their Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout and aged it in bourbon barrels. Considering I enjoy their Oatmeal Stout immensely, I figured this beer would shock and excite me. Boy, was I mistaken. The nose has sweet hints of bourbon and vanilla at the beginning and finishes with aromas of unsweetened cocoa, smoke, and fennel seed. The flavor, however, is thin and disappointing. Bourbon is very strong on the front with flavors of cream and very light hints of smoke. The finish is even thinner than the start and displays only lights hints of dark chocolate, smoke, oak, and ash. Everyone always says that barrel aged stouts are the best. This one proves that mantra quite wrong.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 6.75/10
Friday, August 2, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
National IPA Day Pint Night Spectacu-nanza '013 !!!
Yo everyone! If you weren't aware, today is National IPA day, and we will be celebrating this sacred holiday with a very special Pint Night, featuring the following:
Such an IPA trinity will help to celebrate our holiest day in the very finest way possible, while the Winter Solstice will please all of you Chilly Willies pining for a cooler season. We will also have Anderson Valley Pint glasses available.
If you are a devout beer enthusiast then you cannot miss this most important and enlightening of occasions! Come, my children!
- Green Flash Citra Session IPA
- Founder's Double Trouble Double IPA
- Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
- Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Winter Warmer
- Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout
Such an IPA trinity will help to celebrate our holiest day in the very finest way possible, while the Winter Solstice will please all of you Chilly Willies pining for a cooler season. We will also have Anderson Valley Pint glasses available.
If you are a devout beer enthusiast then you cannot miss this most important and enlightening of occasions! Come, my children!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Weekly Beer Reviews
North Coast Blue Star Wheat Ale
The Blue Star Wheat was a last addition when I couldn't acquire a keg of the Old Rasputin in time for the Pint Night. It certainly doesn't fill that hole in your beer lineup like the ever popular Russian Imperial Stout would. This American Pale Wheat Ale is very typical and unexciting, and it shows that right off the bat with the nose. Bits of corn and wheat were detected with lighter hints of citrus and hay. It isn't creamy like most Pale Wheat Ales or spicy like a Hefeweizen. Instead, it was crisp with hints of corn, grapefruit, and ever so light floral notes. You get a bit of that cream on the finish before hints of cornpops and hay take over. This beer has more in common with a Budweiser than great examples of a Pale Wheat Ale like Oberon.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 4.75/10
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsener
Funny enough, I have mentioned this Pilsner over the last few weeks as we have tapped a few very tasty Pilsners. I clung to the memory of this being my favorite. This years version was good, but certainly not as great as I remember. Ah, but each year is different. This years has very faint hints of motor oil and mop water with what Tyler describes as "cafeteria smell". Hints of hay round out a very bizarre nose that I hope has changed since we tapped it. The initial taste is crisp and bubbly and promises that the flavor will at least be an improvement. Flavors of green tea, fried onion, and citrus mix beautifully together. The finish is bitter and almost seems to have a flat-like quality to it. However, light flavors of popcorn, grass, and cornflakes seems to liven the finish up a bit. It is definitely worth a try for all of you Pilsner fans.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10
North Coast Acme IPA
The Acme graced our walls for the first time a little over a month ago. The reception went over well despite the bit of age on it. It returns to our wall today and it is exceptionally fresh this time. No longer as tame, this brew exhibits a strong citrus aroma right off the bat with softer hints of strawberry, bubblegum medicine, orange zest, dish soap, and ashes. After the delightful nose we dove into it and detected hints of dish soap, lemon zest, and bubblegum medicine on the front. The finished took the beer in quite a different direction with bitter flavors of zucchini and pine resin. The bitterness doesn't last long though, dissipating after a couple of seconds. It will definitely appeal to all of you soapy and citrusy hop lovers out there.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
North Coast Brother Thelonious Belgian-Style Abbey Ale
People always tend to get excited when I tap the Brother Thelonious. While I am not the biggest fan, even I can recognize the quality that went into this beer. The nose is intense and sweet with hints of caramel, brown sugar, and marshmellow cream. Oddly enough soft hints of ketchup and worcestershire sauce were also picked up. The taste is sweet as well with a lot of carbonation to it. Dark brown sugar and toffee are the first two flavors to jump off, with softer hints of smoked BBQ and vinegar. The finish is, unsurprisingly, sweet with hints of wood, lime, bran, and mustard seed. The sweet flavors throughout blended well with the more bitter flavors.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
Southern Tier Hop Sun
Now THIS is a better example of an American Pale Wheat Ale. Southern Tier takes their Pale Wheat Ale and hops it with a couple varieties of hop and, let me tell you, it shows. The nose is light, though thick aromas of apples and oranges jump right off at the start. Softer hints of banana nut bread andunflaked flaky pie crust were present as well. The flavor was decently bitter off the bat with strong flavors of grass, lemon zest, and lime juice. The finish is lighter and has the bitterness fade. Flavors of pecans and lemon juice round out a not-so-diverse yet tasty beer.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8/10
Southern Tier Crème Brûlée
The return of the ever popular Imperial Milk Stout brewed with vanilla beans from Southern Tier! Many people have questioned me as to when it would return over the long months in its absence. Well, here you go folks. The nose is just as aromatic as ever. Thick, sweet aromas of vanilla, maple syrup, glazed doughtnuts, brown sugar, and espresso hit the nose immediately. Heck, I could smell it just by pouring it. The taste is deliciously sweet and bitter at the same time with flavors of crème brûlée, vanilla, and butter cream icing making up the front. The finish is more bitter and you get flavors of roasted coffee, coffee cake, cough syrup, and ash. The flavor, however, is too much with all of the sweet additives added, and it makes it difficult to make it through more than a sample of this.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10
The Blue Star Wheat was a last addition when I couldn't acquire a keg of the Old Rasputin in time for the Pint Night. It certainly doesn't fill that hole in your beer lineup like the ever popular Russian Imperial Stout would. This American Pale Wheat Ale is very typical and unexciting, and it shows that right off the bat with the nose. Bits of corn and wheat were detected with lighter hints of citrus and hay. It isn't creamy like most Pale Wheat Ales or spicy like a Hefeweizen. Instead, it was crisp with hints of corn, grapefruit, and ever so light floral notes. You get a bit of that cream on the finish before hints of cornpops and hay take over. This beer has more in common with a Budweiser than great examples of a Pale Wheat Ale like Oberon.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 4.75/10
North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsener
Funny enough, I have mentioned this Pilsner over the last few weeks as we have tapped a few very tasty Pilsners. I clung to the memory of this being my favorite. This years version was good, but certainly not as great as I remember. Ah, but each year is different. This years has very faint hints of motor oil and mop water with what Tyler describes as "cafeteria smell". Hints of hay round out a very bizarre nose that I hope has changed since we tapped it. The initial taste is crisp and bubbly and promises that the flavor will at least be an improvement. Flavors of green tea, fried onion, and citrus mix beautifully together. The finish is bitter and almost seems to have a flat-like quality to it. However, light flavors of popcorn, grass, and cornflakes seems to liven the finish up a bit. It is definitely worth a try for all of you Pilsner fans.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10
North Coast Acme IPA
The Acme graced our walls for the first time a little over a month ago. The reception went over well despite the bit of age on it. It returns to our wall today and it is exceptionally fresh this time. No longer as tame, this brew exhibits a strong citrus aroma right off the bat with softer hints of strawberry, bubblegum medicine, orange zest, dish soap, and ashes. After the delightful nose we dove into it and detected hints of dish soap, lemon zest, and bubblegum medicine on the front. The finished took the beer in quite a different direction with bitter flavors of zucchini and pine resin. The bitterness doesn't last long though, dissipating after a couple of seconds. It will definitely appeal to all of you soapy and citrusy hop lovers out there.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
North Coast Brother Thelonious Belgian-Style Abbey Ale
People always tend to get excited when I tap the Brother Thelonious. While I am not the biggest fan, even I can recognize the quality that went into this beer. The nose is intense and sweet with hints of caramel, brown sugar, and marshmellow cream. Oddly enough soft hints of ketchup and worcestershire sauce were also picked up. The taste is sweet as well with a lot of carbonation to it. Dark brown sugar and toffee are the first two flavors to jump off, with softer hints of smoked BBQ and vinegar. The finish is, unsurprisingly, sweet with hints of wood, lime, bran, and mustard seed. The sweet flavors throughout blended well with the more bitter flavors.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9/10
Southern Tier Hop Sun
Now THIS is a better example of an American Pale Wheat Ale. Southern Tier takes their Pale Wheat Ale and hops it with a couple varieties of hop and, let me tell you, it shows. The nose is light, though thick aromas of apples and oranges jump right off at the start. Softer hints of banana nut bread and
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8/10
Southern Tier Crème Brûlée
The return of the ever popular Imperial Milk Stout brewed with vanilla beans from Southern Tier! Many people have questioned me as to when it would return over the long months in its absence. Well, here you go folks. The nose is just as aromatic as ever. Thick, sweet aromas of vanilla, maple syrup, glazed doughtnuts, brown sugar, and espresso hit the nose immediately. Heck, I could smell it just by pouring it. The taste is deliciously sweet and bitter at the same time with flavors of crème brûlée, vanilla, and butter cream icing making up the front. The finish is more bitter and you get flavors of roasted coffee, coffee cake, cough syrup, and ash. The flavor, however, is too much with all of the sweet additives added, and it makes it difficult to make it through more than a sample of this.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.75/10
Thursday, July 25, 2013
North Coast Pint Night
G'day!
This weeks Pint Night will feature the implacable North Coast Brewery, with a host of their fine beers:
The Acme IPA is a delicious, citrusy IPA, while the Blue Star Wheat and Scrimshaw Pilsner are wonderfully quaffable -- perfect for Summertime! The Brother Thelonious is a dark, rich, sweet, and intense burst of Belgian flavor, and those of you who are fans of Belgians will find it irresistible.
We will also have North Coast pint glasses and exquisite tulip snifters available for purchase, to the delight of all of us glassware enthusiasts. So make sure to drop in for a delcious, thirst-quenching beer on a splendid Summer day!
A G'day!
This weeks Pint Night will feature the implacable North Coast Brewery, with a host of their fine beers:
- North Coast Blue Star American Pale Wheat Ale
- North Coast Scrimshaw German-Style Pilsner
- North Coast Acme IPA
- North Coast Brother Thelonious Belgian-Style Abbey Ale
The Acme IPA is a delicious, citrusy IPA, while the Blue Star Wheat and Scrimshaw Pilsner are wonderfully quaffable -- perfect for Summertime! The Brother Thelonious is a dark, rich, sweet, and intense burst of Belgian flavor, and those of you who are fans of Belgians will find it irresistible.
We will also have North Coast pint glasses and exquisite tulip snifters available for purchase, to the delight of all of us glassware enthusiasts. So make sure to drop in for a delcious, thirst-quenching beer on a splendid Summer day!
A G'day!
More Cans For Your Camping Needs!
As Camping Season gets into full swing we welcome another pair of canned craft beers. Flying Dog Brewery has brought out their ever popular Snake Dog IPA in cans. This citrusy and floral IPA is sure to be quite the companion as more and more breweries release cans. If that wasn't enough, they also brought out their UnderDog Atlantic Lager in cans. This American Pale Lager is quite quaffable while displaying light floral and toasty flavors. Come and pick up a 6 pack today for only $8.99!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Widmer/Goose Island Bring Your Own Pint Night Bonanza!
Greetings folks! Tyler and I had a minor miscommunication and so the Pint Night post never made it up. I felt better late than never, right? This week will be all about Widmer Brothers Brewing Company and Goose Island Brewing Company. We will feature the Rum Barrel-Aged Brown Ale brewed with molasses known merely as Widmer Kill Devil '13. We will also have Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout. These two heavy and flavor-filled beers are sure to entice. If that wasn't enough, we also threw on Goose Island's 25th Anniversary Ale, which is essentially an Imperial version of Honker's Ale. No glassware was available, so bring your favorite or buy one you missed and come out and enjoy these wonderful brews. On a side note, Souther Tier Creme Brulee has just been tapped. Come and try it with us!
Edit: Check below for this weeks ratings and the last part of last weeks ratings.
Edit: Check below for this weeks ratings and the last part of last weeks ratings.
Weekly Beer Reviews
Victor joined us this week to become a special guest taster. He happened to be passing through and we couldn't help but offer him a chance to sample these fine brews.
Goose Island 25th Anniversary Ale
Goose Island released their 25th Anniversary Ale, and no one was sure what to expect. After a talk with an Anheuser-Busch represenative, I have been informed that it is an Imperial version of Goose Island's best selling beer, their Honker's Ale. The nose was incredibly diverse for a lighter style with hints of orange zest, cracked pepper, shampoo, oak, caramel, and acorns with soft floral hints. It certainly made for a beautiful nose. The flavor was just as diverse with flavors of citrus, minerlas, nutmeg, lavender, lemon peel, and a touch of lime. The finish was slightly bitter and display flavors of wood, pine, oatmeal, and grass. This beer drinks exceptionally well and provides a solid flavor profile.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 8.5/10
Widmer Bros. Kill Devil '13
I was excited to try this Brown Ale aged in Rum Barrels and brewed with molasses. I was reminded of Dogfish Head's Barrel Aged Brown Ale, Palo Santo. Yet this one is nothing like that spectacular brew. The nose is interesting with hints of bourbon sweetness, rum, egg nog, caramel, and brown sugar. The taste has an overpowering flavor of rum with strong flavors of brown sugar, butterscotch, port wine, cream, and vinegar. These flavors threw each other off and made for an almost painful entry into this beer. The finish was creamy and had flavors of pine sap, and ashes, and more of that vinegar flavor. It couldn't save this brew. Tyler and Victor enjoyed it more than I did.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 5.75/10
Widmer Bros. Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout
After Widmer's last beer that we tried, I was a little reluctant to give this one a go. However, this one was far better than the last. The nose is interesting with aroma's of raspberry, citrus, coffee, dark chocolate, cough syrup, and broccoli. The flavor had lots of raspberry up front with hints of citrus, crushed grapeseeds, cough syrup, and what Tyler describes as "Cod Liver Oil". The finish lightly bitter with flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, espresso, hibiscus, and cough syrup. It made for an intense but fairly smooth Russian Imperial Stout.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 8/10
Goose Island 25th Anniversary Ale
Goose Island released their 25th Anniversary Ale, and no one was sure what to expect. After a talk with an Anheuser-Busch represenative, I have been informed that it is an Imperial version of Goose Island's best selling beer, their Honker's Ale. The nose was incredibly diverse for a lighter style with hints of orange zest, cracked pepper, shampoo, oak, caramel, and acorns with soft floral hints. It certainly made for a beautiful nose. The flavor was just as diverse with flavors of citrus, minerlas, nutmeg, lavender, lemon peel, and a touch of lime. The finish was slightly bitter and display flavors of wood, pine, oatmeal, and grass. This beer drinks exceptionally well and provides a solid flavor profile.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 8.5/10
Widmer Bros. Kill Devil '13
I was excited to try this Brown Ale aged in Rum Barrels and brewed with molasses. I was reminded of Dogfish Head's Barrel Aged Brown Ale, Palo Santo. Yet this one is nothing like that spectacular brew. The nose is interesting with hints of bourbon sweetness, rum, egg nog, caramel, and brown sugar. The taste has an overpowering flavor of rum with strong flavors of brown sugar, butterscotch, port wine, cream, and vinegar. These flavors threw each other off and made for an almost painful entry into this beer. The finish was creamy and had flavors of pine sap, and ashes, and more of that vinegar flavor. It couldn't save this brew. Tyler and Victor enjoyed it more than I did.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 5.75/10
Widmer Bros. Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout
After Widmer's last beer that we tried, I was a little reluctant to give this one a go. However, this one was far better than the last. The nose is interesting with aroma's of raspberry, citrus, coffee, dark chocolate, cough syrup, and broccoli. The flavor had lots of raspberry up front with hints of citrus, crushed grapeseeds, cough syrup, and what Tyler describes as "Cod Liver Oil". The finish lightly bitter with flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, espresso, hibiscus, and cough syrup. It made for an intense but fairly smooth Russian Imperial Stout.
Mike, Tyler, and Victor's Rating - 8/10
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