Beer Review: Louisville

Reviewing the Louisville from Goose Island Brewing Company. No picture is available for this beer and I forgot to snap a pic with my camera.
Score: 82

Generous-sized draft pour served in an over-sized goblet (because they ran out of snifters) at Goose Island's Black Friday release of King Henry.

Appearance: Pours a dark hazy red-orange sunset color. Served without any head. Very similar in appearance to the Lucky Leiah, but a little darker red in color. 3/5

Smell: Very similar aroma to the Lucky Leiah, but heavier in flavor with more pronounced vanilla aromas. Has a sweet brown sugary whiskey aroma, but little, if any, booziness in the nose. Some faint floral notes, and hints of hop bitterness. 3.5/5

Taste: Oaky vanilla. Sweet whiskey and grapes. Some raspberries. A little caramel. Light, mapley bourbon and butterscotch finish. A little more complex and heavy than the Lucky Leiah, but the Louisville lacks all characteristics you would expect in an IPA. No bitterness. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Surprisingly sweet. 3/5

Overall: I was expecting a more IPA-styled beer, given the beer's labeling on the menu, and thus was kind of disappointed. The pricing is even more disappointing. Decently balanced for how bourbon-flavored this one was. Can't say I would order this one again.

Recommendation: Nothing worth seeking out. This one is more forward with the vanilla/bourbon flavors than the Lucky Leiah.

Pairings: Grilled chicken sandwich.

Cost: $10 for a "10 oz snifter" (actually served in a larger-sized goblet) at the bar.

Beer Review: Lucky Leiah

Reviewing the Lucky Leiah from Goose Island Brewing Company. No picture is available for this one, sorry.
Score: 82

Generous-sized draft pour served in an oversized goblet (because they ran out of snifters) at Goose Island's Black Friday release of King Henry.

Appearance: Pours a hazy red-orange sunset color. Served without any head. 3/5

Smell: Light oaky vanilla up front. Sweet brown sugar bourbon/whiskey aroma. 3.5/5

Taste: Mellow whiskey flavors upfront. Red grape sweetness. A little butterscotch. Some caramel. Light, sweetened bourbon dominates the finish, which lingers awhile. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Surprisingly sweet. 3/5

Overall: A balanced bourbon-flavored brew that lacks complexity. This is a solid oak-aged beer for people who do not like overpowering oak/vanilla/bourbon/whiskey flavors in their beer.

Recommendation: Not worth seeking out.

Pairings: Grilled chicken sandwich.

Cost: $10 for a "10 oz snifter" (actually served in a larger-sized goblet) at the bar.

Beer Review: Darkness (2011 vintage)

Reviewing Darkness from Surly Brewing Company. I have been looking to try this one for quite some time.
Score: 97

Fresh and on tap at Kuma's Corner in Chicago, home of the best burgers in the universe, in 16 oz pint glass servings! Thank you Oddball Ilana for acting as my notetaker on this one.

Appearance: Pours pitch black. Completely opaque, like a vacuum for light. Thin brown head that mostly settles after pour. Excellent lacing. 4.5/5

Aroma: Molasses sweetness. Raisins and caramel. Creamy malts. Sweet figs, raw coffee beans, and maple. A little dark rum. 4.5/5

Taste: Incredibly complex. Sweet caramel and raisins. Dark fruit and maple syrupy sweetness. A little coffee and dark fruits on the mid-palate. Roasted malty sweetness. A little citrus becomes apparent as the beer layers on the mid-palate, as does some faint cocoa. Burnt chocolate flavors come through a few sips into the beer. A little cherry halfway through the glass too. Finishes with sweet raisin, very dark unsweetened chocolate and a little charcoal. Absolutely delicious! 4.75/5

Mouthfeel:Full-bodied and viscous. A little oily and chewy. Has a very sweet and slightly sticky finish. Despite all the sugary-sweet descriptors, the beer does not overwhelm the palate with sweetness. 10.3% ABV is absolutely hidden. 4.75/5

Overall: An instant classic! Delicious, well rounded and delivering on the hype. It's a little sweet, but nowhere near Dark Lord sweet.

Recommendation: An absolutely great beer that must be tried by everyone.

Pairings: My Neurosis burger at Kuma's Corner went GREAT with this one. Hamburgers, steak and caramelized onions are the food pairing to beat.

Cost: $10 for a pint, $20 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Satin Solstice Imperial Stout

Reviewing the Satin Solstice Imperial Stout from Central Waters Brewing Company.
Score: 88

2011 vintage bottle from a make your own six pack at Steve's Wine. Poured in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Pours dark as night with a thin tan head that quickly disappears. When you swirl, a thin tan head with interesting shapes and patterns reforms. Very inviting. 3.5/5

Smell: The aroma on the beer is not very pronounced until swirled, and then you're in flavor country. Prominently features roasted malts, dark chocolate, and toffee along with hints of figs/raisin and dark fruit/cherry. Post-swirl there are still faint, but inviting, alcohol notes in the nose along with some sweet milk chocolate aromas. Smells a lot like a smooth porter would. 4/5

Taste: A dark roasted burnt cocoa bean flavor leads the charge, while a delicious coffee bean flavor dominates a long-lingering finish. Very little flavor on the mid-palate, however, save for some dark fruit/raisin. The finish sticks around for quite some time. The front and finish are excellent, despite the lack of mid-palate flavor. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Smooth and bubbly. The mild carbonation complements the lighter-than-most stout body, without leaving the beer too "crisp." Warming alcohol grows as the beer gets warmer. Finish is not very sweet, slightly sticky. I was expecting something much heavier, but the mouthfeel is not bad. 3/5

Overall: Central Waters is my favorite Wisconsin Brewery, and this beer certainly impresses. The lighter body makes Satin Solstice more drinkable than most other imperial stouts (one beer will not fill you up), and the relatively moderate 7% ABV ensures that you will be able to enjoy more than just one. I would certainly try this one again, and in fact I purchased a full six pack of this stuff.

Recommendation: A great imperial stout for people who generally do not like "heavier" beers and the casual beer drinker. Beer lovers should sufficiently enjoy this one as well, though the lack of mid-palate flavor does not render the Satin Solstice a "first-choice" stout. Still, the front and finish of the beer are more than flavorful enough to make up for the lack of a brief "middle" to this beer.

Pairings: Chocolate cake.

Cost: $8.99 for a six pack.

Beer Review: Dragon's Milk Ale

Reviewing the Dragon's Milk Ale from New Holland Brewing Company. This is one of the few year-round, always available, easy-to-get-a-hold-of beers that is aged in oak barrels.
Score: 88

2011 vintage 12 oz bottle served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Dark brown color, a faint hint of light slices through the beer to reveal small patches of translucent dark red/brown. Pours a thin tan lacing that dissipates into nothing. 4/5

Smell: Very bourbon-forward. An oak/vanilla-mocha aroma dominates the nose, with faint cherry/maple and black licorice notes. Lots of sweet bourbon and chocolate too. 4/5

Taste: Very sweet dark fruit and maple front that subsides into vanilla and chocolate flavors. Lingering finish of dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, maple and bourbon. Some fusel/alcohol flavor. When chilled, this beer is decently balanced for a beer that has such a pronounced bourbon and vanilla flavor, but it gets real hot when it warms. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, light carbonation. Interestingly oily, slightly sticky finish. A little alcohol warmth. 4/5

Overall: This beer is surprisingly delicious. I tend to stray from most heavier oak aged beers because I do not love the "brown liquor" flavors of oak and vanilla, but this beer is very balanced. For a 10% ABV beer, this one is surprisingly drinkable. Definitely a sipper, though.

Recommendation: If you are looking to try your first oak aged beers, this is a great starting point. Dragon's Milk is very accessible and not too costly for what it is. More seasoned beer drinkers should enjoy this one's complex flavors as well.

Pairings: BBQ meats. Would go well with dinner at the Brickhouse or Famous Daves.

Cost: $15.99 for a four pack, $8.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Old Clybourn Porter (Cask Conditioned)

Reviewing a cask-conditioned Old Clybourn Porter from Goose Island Brewing Company.
Score: 79

Fresh pint served in an imperial nonic tumbler glass (the British version of the tall pint glass).

Appearance: A thin quarter finger of creamy cream-colored head. Dark black colored body that is mostly opaque with ruby highlights around the perimeter of the beer. 3/5

Smell: Subtly creamy coffee aromas. Unsweetened cocoa powder. 3/5

Taste: Very creamy, subdued-flavor beer (most British-style porters are). Faint coffee with a roasted malts. Hints of smokiness. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium carbonation. Creamy-smooth mouthfeel. Finishes very dry. 3/5

Overall: A very average, disappointing Guinness-like brew.

Recommendation: If you like Guinness, then you will probably like this beer. I personally would not recommend it, however, and I would not order it again. It is not a bad beer, but it is not very good either.

Pairings: Oreo cookies.

Cost: $6.50 for a pint.

2011 Cubs Outlook Article Is Out

Check out my latest article for The Hardball Times -- a several thousand word manifesto about the state of the Chicago Cubs. Enjoy!