Craft Beer Reviews
y2pascoe
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,707
Hey ladies and gents! I know in the general forums there are a couple of beer threads. Thought maybe in the non-cigar related forums we could have a beer reviews thread. Anyone that's experienced an exceptional craft beer they've had and would like to share, bring it up here.
My first is Heavy Seas, Small Craft Warning, from the Clipper City Brewing company in Baltimore, MD.
It's an imperial pilsner. Faint hops to the nose. A creamy head and finish with hints of caramel and honey on the tongue. As far as cigar pairings go...um, don't know. Didn't pair it and don't have any experiences pairing pilsners with cigars. Would love to hear a review if anyones got one.
My first is Heavy Seas, Small Craft Warning, from the Clipper City Brewing company in Baltimore, MD.
It's an imperial pilsner. Faint hops to the nose. A creamy head and finish with hints of caramel and honey on the tongue. As far as cigar pairings go...um, don't know. Didn't pair it and don't have any experiences pairing pilsners with cigars. Would love to hear a review if anyones got one.
Comments
I'm a big fan of Duvel as well. That stuff's just pure, liquid pleasure. Haven't had Chimay yet. If the monks make it, it must be good.
Hennepin Belgian Saison Ale. 7.7% abv.
I've had a chance to try a few Saison ales recently, and while I'm not hooked on the particular style, the Hennepin is one of the better ones I've tried.
It poured well and had a THICK, creamy head to it. The foam left a lace-like residue which clinged to the glass as i drank. Very aromatic, smelling of light hops but strong fruity aromas. While I guess saison's utilize a lot of hops, the bitterness was very light to the taste. Not an over abundance of carbonation either. The finish was quite spicy, and left what I perceived as a dry apricot flavor, most likely from the orange zest mixing with the other spices used.
I was actually quite fond of this ale, and I'd like to try some more. I was drinking it while smoking a Tatuaje RC184, which certainly would have affected my palette, so another tasting without the cigar would probably yield some different results.
Cheers!
Tonight I had Southern Tier Chocolat - what can I say? The name describes it perfectly. Tons of dark chocolate, dark malts, burnt sugar, thick and viscous with a solid but not overbearing hop bitterness that works well with the dark chocolate.
wow never heard of those Sam A before... I'm jealous.
Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
10.20% abv.
I recently discovered Left Hand Brewing Co. offerings this past year, when my future pop-in-law handed me one of their Milk Stouts last winter. I feel pretty darn lucky that their products have distribution in my area, because from what I've experienced, they produce some of the best porters and stouts I've been able to buy around here. The Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout in every way lives up to the high quality I've discovered in Left Hand's offerings.
To me, the best way to describe this beer is to imagine Willy Wonka brewed beer. It's a flippin' treat!
The aroma I caught could best be described as "Milk Dud". As in the candy. Chocolate and caramel odors just waft off of the head.
It poured heavy with a dark chocolate color and minimal head. Very little if almost no foam cling to the glass.
Taste wise, expect dark chocolate, caramel, and raisin.
The finish includes everything you pick up in the taste, but also leaves a carbonated tingle on the tip of your tongue where the flavor of the hops used really stand out.
A beer like this just makes me want to go out and try everything this brewery has to offer. I just think it's that good. If you like this, I also recommend Left Hand's Black Jack Porter, it's a lesser brew in strength, but certainly not in flavor.
Cheers!
Three Floyds Dark Lord (2011 and 2010) - a friend had traded some Kate the Great for these. This was everything I'd hoped it would be and was amazed that it wasn't a barrel aged stout. Huge, sweet fruit notes, roasted, dark malts, vanilla, caramel, sugar and coffee. The 2011 was a bit sweeter while the 2010 was slightly more acidic and the coffee stood out more.
Goose Island Bourbon County Bramble Rye - Huge raspberry and blackberry notes mingled with vanilla, chocolate, bourbon, dark malts. Very balanced but definitely Bourbon County. Another winner from Goose Island.
Evil Twin Soft DK - Very nice chocolate stout. More stout than chocolate and not quite as over the top as Southern Tier's Chocolat.
Cheers!