Beer Review: Matt (2010 vintage)

Reviewing Matt from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company out of Portland, Oregon.

Score: 97

2010 vintage bottle served in an Upland snifter glass and enjoyed on 05/10/13.

Appearance: Pours an ink black color with minimal light khaki head that settles to a ring-around-the-glass. Not much head off the pour at all, but the ring-around-the-glass lacing does not dissipate. Below average lacing, but good retention of what little lacing is left behind. 4.25/5

Smell: Molasses/syrup, tobacco and faint smoke. Decadent dark chocolate notes behind the syrup. Some dark fruit and a hint of jammy cherry. There's a similar aroma quality that I liken to the Cigar City Imperial Sweet Stout as well that I cannot quite describe. Vanilla, oak and a hint of soy sauce round out the nose. Incredible complex. 4.75/5

Taste: Syrup, fig, raisin, vanilla and charred chocolate all wildly hit the palate at first sip. There's a ton going on at once, and it's all well integrated. A subtle and complementary smokiness is present, akin to the smokiness present in Hair of the Dog's Adam; it is not at all a "forward" quality on the palate. Tobacco, brown sugar, plum spirit, bourbon and vanilla in the finish. As it warms up and layers, there's a cherry comes out in the finish too. There's a nice alcohol warmth, but this is not a boozy beer. Burnt brown sugar, licorice and tobacco linger in the aftertaste. There's a touch of soy too, but it works well with the flavor profile of the beer. The flavors here are big, bold and balanced; each sip layering in complexity and accentuating different qualities. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, syrupy. Very low carbonation -- almost undercarbonated, but not quite. Slightly sweet overall. 4.25/5

Overall: This is one of the absolute best strong ales that I have ever enjoyed. It is a monster beer that is jam packed with bold, complex flavors. I love the mix of tobacco, smoke, syrup and dark fruit in this brew. I cannot wait for Hair of the Dog to re-release this one; I'll need a case!

Cost: $15 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Noyaux (2011 project)

Reviewing Noyaux from Cascade Brewing out of Portland, Oregon. This is an intentionally soured blonde ale aged in white port barrels with raspberries and apricot pits.

Score: 98

2011 project (2012 release) bottle served in a Goose Island Chicago Flag snifter and enjoyed on 02/23/13. Review is from iPhone notes

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange color with a thin amount of white head that settles to a ring around the glass. Below average lacing, average retention. No floaties; clean in appearance. 4/5

Smell: Apricots, sour raspberries and oak. A touch of vanilla and some peach notes too. A little plasticky funk too, but in a good way akin to how Cascade Strawberry smelled. 4.75/5

Taste: A nice medley of tart raspberries, tart apricot and peach. Lingering tart citrus zest and peach flavor. Nice tartness and growing pucker as it warms up. Faint oak too. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, low-medium carbonated. Super tart, nice pop on the palate. Dry and slightly sticky. Increasingly tart as it warms up. 5/5

Overall: This just might be Cascade's best beer. I enjoyed this more than Sang Royale and Sang Noir, which I absolutely adored. I love how tart and fruity this brew is.

Cost: $25 for a 750 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Peche 'N Brett

Reviewing Peche 'N Brett from Logsdon Farmhouse Ales out of Hood River, Oregon.

Score: 94

2012 vintage bottle served in a Goose Island Flag Snifter and enjoyed on 03/06/13.

Appearance: Dull golden straw color. Less than a coating of clump, off-white head from the pour. Poor lacing, belong average retention. 3.5/5

Smell: Ripe peach bomb! Also some straw and that smell one associates with bretted beers. Almost entirely peach on the nose. Not very complex, but smells delicious! 4.5/5

Taste: The peach flavor is not very tart and is best described as "delicate" -- it is "soft" and coats the tongue, but is not super intense. More straw than in the nose, a little funk and a little bit of grassy hops too. Has an interested finish that is acidic, hoppy and mildly tart at the same time. Tartness mellows out as it warms. A little pepper in finish. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, low carbonation. Juicy mouthfeel with a little dryness on the finish. Acidic, but the acidity mellows out as it warms. 4.25/5

Overall: Not nearly as "sour" as anticipated, but pretty tasty nonetheless. Maybe I am just a sucker for peaches.

Cost: $20 for a 750 ml bottle

Beer Review: Batch 10,000

Reviewing the Batch 10,000 from Bell's Brewery Inc. out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. This brew is billed as a "strong brown ale."

Score: 90

Bottled on 11/16/10 according to Bell's Batch Finder. Served in a Portsmouth Brewery snifter and enjoyed on 02/24/13. I shared this one with my friend Wes. Review is from iPhone notes

Appearance: Barleywine-like in color. Pours a thin layer of bubbly tan head that totally settles. Not much lacing or retention to speak of. 3/5

Smell: Toffee, berry-like oxidation, leather and caramel. Hint of vanilla. Old bookshelf-like smell. Fig and dates too behind the oxidization. 4/5

Taste: Lots of caramel and toffee. Ample dark fruit. Much less berriness than nose; the oxidation is very faint on palate. Bitter hop finish that is not quite stale, but not fresh either. Dates and fig and dark fruit is more prominent on palate 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Malty, sticky. Medium-plus bodied, low carbonation. 4/5

Overall: I had low expectations going into this beer, but I found I enjoyed it more than Batch 9,000 and my very aged bottles of Batch 7,000 and Batch 8,000.

Cost: $18 for a six pack.

Beer Review: Birth of Tragedy (2012)

Reviewing Birth of Tragedy from Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Greensboro Bend, Vermont.

Score: 95

2012 vintage bottle served in a taster glass and enjoyed on 02/23/13. Review is from iPhone notes. I reviewed this beer blind (and then later assigned the name to the review).

Appearance: Jet black in color. Pours a thin layer of bubbly, dark khaki head that settles to a pencil thin ring around the glass. No lacing or retention to speak of. 4/5

Smell: Maple, vanilla, coffee and chocolate. Brown, sugar hint of raisin and cinnamon. Wow. 4.5/5

Taste: Bourbon and maple galaore. Less coffee than nose with a nice vanilla backbone. A touch of boozy hotness. Brown sugar and a nice "non-malty" sweetness too. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Not quite full bodied. Low carbonation. Nice sweetness, but not "sweet." Syrupy mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: I had this beer at a blind tasting and it was one of my favorite of the night. Reminded me a lot of CBS, though it was apparent that this was not CBS from the bottle size. Barrel aged breakfast in a glass, this beer was very maple, coffee and vanilla forward. The 2012 vintage has a lot of bottle variation, as I have had some nearly undrinkable bottles that were nothing more than flat, sweet syrup. Thank you Fitz for bringing this one!

Cost: $15 for a 500 ml bottle.

Beer Review: Anicca

Reviewing Anicca, a collaboration IPA brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company (Munster, Indiana) and Half Acre Brewing Company (Chicago, Illinois).

Score: 95

Tap pour served in a Half Acre snifter-tulip hybrid glass and enjoyed on 03/01/13. Review is from iPhone notes

Appearance: Bourbon colored body. Served with one finger of cream colored head that settles to a thin foggy coating. Awesome lacing and retention. 5/5

Smell: Dank hops, tangerine, melon, peach and apricot. Nice tropical citrus nose. Pineapple juice and pine too. Perfectly balanced, nice juiciness and hoppiness. A little fruity too. 4.5/5

Taste: Tastes just like it smells but with a heavier malt-orientation and less "bitting hoppiness" than anticipated from nose. Earthy spice too, a little resinous. Nice bitter citrus finish after the swallow. Smoother drinking than anticipated, but I was hoping for more of a in-your-face hop bomb from the nose. Tasty enough to overcome my expectation disappointment. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, low carbonation. Frankly, I think this brew is slightly under-carbonated. Nice zesty citrus which is bitter and juicy. Finishes a little dry. 4/5

Overall: An excellent IPA from two hop masters. Well worth the trip to the Half Acre tap room to try this taproom only release.

Cost: $6 for a 16 oz snifter pour.

Beer Review: Barrel Aged Peche Mortel

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Peche Mortel from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel out of Montreal in Quebec, Canada.

Score: 95

2011 vintage bottle served in a Cigar City snifter and enjoyed on 04/20/13. Review is from iPhone notes

Appearance: Pours a coffee color with a thin layer of pale tan head that settles to a ring around the glass. Poor lacing, slightly below average retention. 4/5

Smell: Coffee grounds, chocolate, vanilla and smooth bourbon with no alcohol bite. Some roast, a little leather too. A really balanced, inviting nose. 4.5/5

Taste: Vanilla, balanced and not overpowering bourbon flavor and roasty coffee. Bitter coffee, roast and vanilla aftertaste for the finish. Not very complex, but boy is this tasty! 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, good carbonation. Bittersweet. 4.5/5

Overall: While not the most complex beer, this one absolutely delivered. Roasty and chocolatey with a nice bourbon complexity that does not smack you in the face with bourbon. I'll need to hunt this down again in the future!

Cost: $8 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Barrel Aged Dark Blend

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Dark Blend from Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery out of Flossmoor, Illinois. This beer is a blend of unidentified dark-style beers aged in Woodford Reserve barrels.

Score: 94

Tap pour served in a sampler glass and enjoyed on 04/07/13 as part of my three breweries in three states Sunday roadtrip with Ilana "B is for Bananas" Feldman. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Deep brown in color. Thin layer of tan head to ring around glass. No lacing or retention to speak of. Very oily on the side of the glass. 3/5

Smell: Vanilla galore plus bourbon and oak. Subtle banana and a little clove in the mix too. Chocolate too. 4.5/5

Taste: Tastes just like it smells, but with the clove character more pronounced. Really nice and interesting bourbon barrel-based favors present here. Cocoa, syrup, and vanilla. Quite delicious! 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, low carbonation. Modestly sweet. 3.25/5

Overall: Too thin bodied to be truly excellent. If this beer had a little more viscocity, it would have been an absolute knock out.

Pairing: Creamy vanilla ice cream. Trust me on this. They go perfectly.

Cost: Unknown.

Beer Review: Capricho Oscuro (Batch 5)

Reviewing the Capricho Oscuro (Batch 5) from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, Florida. According to Cigar City:

This beer is a blend of at least five different beers, including Hot Blooded Foreign Stout, Puppy's Breath Robust Porter, and several vintages of Warmer Winter Winter Warmer. These beers were aged in some cognac and brandy barrels before being blended together. This will be a tasting room exclusive.

Score: 91

2012 vintage bottle served in a Goose Island Chicago flag snifter and enjoyed on 04/23/13.

Appearance: Pours a dark, distinctively brown color with just a whisper of head that quickly and totally dissipates. No lacing or retention; this beer just leaves behind a clear, oily coating on the side of the glass that slowly oozes back into the beer. 3/5

Smell: Huge notes of toffee, raisins, figs and sweet maple. I can smell the dried dark fruit notes at least a foot from the glass. Vanilla, brown sugar, caramel and more raisin. This beer is an absolute raisin bomb. Big, bold and decadent in aroma. This beer smells sweet, but it does not quite get to the point of sugary sweet. The aroma gets sweeter as it warms up and airates; this made me downgrade the aroma score a quarter step. 4.25/5

Taste: Upfront is sweet brown sugar, maple, sugary vanilla and raisin. There's a bit of booziness thereafter, but not in an overly intense cringe-inducing sort of way -- more just in the warming sensation and bold accompanying flavor. Toffee, caramel, leather, brown sugar and maple in the finish. Tons of dried dark fruit throughout. A little oak as it warms up. This tastes a sweeter than the nose and is a bit sugary, though not "Dark Lord sweet." 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium, maybe slightly sub-medium, bodied with low carbonation. Sweet overall. I was expecting a little more fullness and a little less sweetness, but this does not fall so short of the mark to hurt this brew. 3.5/5

Overall: This beer has some awesome qualities going for it. The flavor profile is reminisce of Melange 3 and Fruet. Alas, the sugary-sweetness and lesser bodied restrains this one from true greatness. If you love your sweet raisin-forward beers, this one is calling your name.

Cost: $10 for a 12 oz bottle.

Beer Review: Barrel Aged Hi-Fi Rye (Batch 2)

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Hi-Fi Rye (Batch 2) from Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery out of Flossmoor, Illinois.

Score: 93

Batch 2 bottle served in a plastic taster glass and enjoyed on 07/28/12. Review is from iPhone notes I jotted down at my birthday bottle share.

Appearance: Both Batch 1 and Batch 2 have a near identical appearance. Murky fudge color. Poor lacing/retention. 4/5

Smell: Batch 2 is somewhat of a different beast than Batch 1. Hops, caramel, barley malt, and brown sugar are the dominating elements of the aroma. The bourbon qualities are less defining than they were in Batch 1. There is also more alcohol heat in the nose than Batch 1. Still, quite inviting. 4.5/5

Taste: Much hoppier and “fruity caramel” forward. Some bitterness that was not in Batch 1. Almost exactly reminds me of the 2012 release of Three Floyds’ Barrel Aged Behemoth. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel: Similar mouthfeel to Batch 1. Syrupy, medium-plus bodied. The viscosity was slightly thinner than Batch 1. Not a lot of carbonation. 4/5

Overall: An excellent beer, but different in both flavor and quality than Batch 1. Both vintages look identical (same label, same wax) save for a slight difference in the appearance of the bottles that is only apparent when you put them next to each other. Both releases are worth seeking out, but the first batch is much better. Fans of Barrel Aged Behemoth will likely enjoy this beer.

 

Cost: $15 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Barrel Aged Hi-Fi Rye (Batch 1)

Reviewing the Barrel Aged Hi-Fi Rye (Batch 1) from Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery out of Flossmoor, Illinois.

Score: 96

Batch 1 bottle served in a plastic taster glass and enjoyed on 07/28/12. Review is from iPhone notes I jotted down at my birthday bottle share.

Appearance: Pours a murky, fudge color with ruby highlights. Poor lacing, good retention. 4/5

Smell: Bourbon, caramel and brown sugar. Hint of cherry. Faint fudge. Oak and a hint of “rye bread.” Dates too. 4.75/5

Taste: Smooth bourbon, vanilla and caramel. Bready malt and brown sugar towards the back half. Hint of dark fruit. More fudge and cherry on the palate than in the nose, but both are still complexities rather than prominent elements. Very smooth and easy drinking, with well-integrated flavors. Lightly sweet. The hops have totally faded, but there is still a faint rye flavor and prickle on the tongue. Boozy flavors without much “booziness.” 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, low carbonation. Syrupy, modestly malty mouthfeel. 4.5/5

Overall: It is a shame this one is being retired; the original vintage is one of the best barleywines out there. Seek a bottle out if you can; it very much lived up to its hype.

Cost: $15 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.