tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5053329936266737132024-03-14T03:25:32.941-05:00Mitchell's Beer - A Sip on the Wild Sidestool, friend... the first round is on me.<br>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-90396321240823883902020-04-29T17:18:00.001-05:002020-04-29T17:18:04.719-05:00I ain't dead yet, folks!The topic of beer came up today and it dawned on me that I haven't updated this thing for years. Hmmmm. I'm not drinking as much beer as usual, but I may swing back by to post something soon.<br />
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In the meantime, I hope that (like me) you are healthy and employed!Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-54202400258594779472017-09-23T23:23:00.001-05:002017-09-23T23:24:44.648-05:00My First Growler<p dir="ltr">Hard to believe, but this is my first growler. I don't think they have been legal in Texas for a long time. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This is filled with Three Nations Octoberfest. Pretty good stuff.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUN-uQF0lnwNLq9E7xJ9i3q2oQcjE_I0_N1F6WkTMs5cOSe5YWHG5toPiwJPcnIdc08IGTi3hhjCTTobYyoVmFSWQFNIYTGZvLf6OiW6AzY_7kBx3GA09-77GdMM_DWrYRhBnrfTci4qo/s1600/20170923_230019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUN-uQF0lnwNLq9E7xJ9i3q2oQcjE_I0_N1F6WkTMs5cOSe5YWHG5toPiwJPcnIdc08IGTi3hhjCTTobYyoVmFSWQFNIYTGZvLf6OiW6AzY_7kBx3GA09-77GdMM_DWrYRhBnrfTci4qo/s640/20170923_230019.jpg"> </a> </div>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-4277747017741704322017-01-27T15:00:00.000-06:002017-01-28T01:48:48.189-06:00Quick Sip 020. Dammit Jim! AmberThis one has been in my refrigerator for a while now, and I kept putting off sampling it for a variety of reasons. But tonight, I finally decided to pop the top on New Republic Brewing Co.'s Dammit Jim Amber.<br />
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I'd love to say it was totally worth the wait, but I can't. I can say that it's not a disappointment, though. This seems to bee a very serviceable amber. It's got a pleasant but unremarkable aroma. The color is beautiful -- nice, sparkling brown with hints of golden honey. It would have been nice if the color made it to the taste.<br />
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Again, there's not too much to report about here. It's a solid amber with just a hint of tartness; there may be just a hint of citrus, but I could be wrong. As it warmed, my scanners did detect traces of malt and toffee trying to come to the surface. I think if you were trying to get a young Trekkie to taste a craft beer for the first time, you could definitely do worse than beaming down a tall one of this beer.<br />
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And tall one it is – the bottle I bought (probably at a NW Houston Spec's Liquor) is 1 pint 6 ounces. That's a lot of beer, but with an ABV of only 5.6%, even drinking the whole thing probably won't make you too buzzed to operate a shuttle craft (but not your car).<br />
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Carbonation is medium (and a little more than I normally get in a simple amber). Mouthfeel is good, if not a little on the dry side for my taste. All in all, a solid beer from the nice folks in College Station, Texas.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">My score: 6 out of 10</span></b><br />
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<br />Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-34448545291215026792016-09-19T23:44:00.003-05:002016-09-19T23:59:48.730-05:00Quick Sip 019. Shiner Strawberry BlondeThis beer tickled my nose with such a scent of strawberries that I was almost disappointed that it wasn't pink. But no, as the name declares, this is a blonde -- a strawberry blonde. It poured with a delightful, crisp golden wheat color and a generous head. I was surprised at how quickly it dissipated, leaving almost no lace behind. I was also surprised that, ice cold, it actually didn't have a cloying strawberry sweetness that I was expecting from the strength of the aroma.<br />
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<a href="http://www.shiner.com/beer/strawberry-blonde" target="_blank">Shiner Strawberry Blonde</a> is the seventh experiment to spring from their "Brewer's Pride" collection of small-run beers and ales. I paid about $4 for a 1 pint 8 fl oz (in other words, 24 oz) bottle at my local Randall's in NW Houston. I understand it is also available in 12 oz bottles in Shiner's Family Reunion Pack (their half-case sampler).<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>This strawberry is no cheesecake!</i></b></span></h2>
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It has a 4.3% ABV and is crisp on the tongue with little aftertaste. The predominant notes were malt and strawberry, which coexisted in a sweet (but not too sweet) balance. The one thing I really did like about this was that it was clearly a beer, and not a wine cooler. The beer was forefront with the sweet malt carrying the strawberry flavor, and not the other way around. I'm usually not a big fan of fruit beers, but this one is definitely an exception.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>My Score: 8 out of 10</b></span><br />
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Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-34830963494762348312016-08-26T17:00:00.001-05:002016-08-28T01:28:09.924-05:00Quick Sip 018. Wick for Brains Pumpkin Alehere in Houston, even an unusually mild August doesn't really mean that Autumn is on the breeze. There will still probably be a lot of sweltering days and nights ahead before The Great Pumpkin rises out of his patch. That doesn't stop the brewers and distributors from jumping the gun and getting their October brews on the shelves.<br />
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The first one I tapped this year (and as you may have read, I'm not tapping nearly as many as I used to) is from the Nebraska Brewing Company: <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Wick for Brains. </b></span>I have to admit, most of the reason I picked it up was the cool and fun can design. Something about that wicked Jack peering out at me was just too fun to resist. So I didn't.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How could I resist Jolly Jack on this can?</b></span></td></tr>
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I bought a six-pack at a local Kroger for about $8.50. A bit pricey, but certainly not <i>too</i> pricey. I served it ice cold and, popping the top (it's hard to describe it, but the pop top is actually unusual, in that it doesn't pop a hole, but rather shoves down a flap) I was rewarded with one of the stronger pumpkin and spice smells I've encountered in a long time. It was so strong it almost evoked a sense memory of spice cookies baking in the oven. It was very pleasant.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: orange; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Ichabod's horseman and this ale have a lot in common.</b></td></tr>
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What was not so pleasant was the head -- or lack thereof -- when I poured it. In terms of headlessness, Ichabod Crane's nemesis and this aggressive pour had a lot in common: it was pretty much headless. I had to do a very aggressive pour to get any head at all, and then it faded leaving no lace at all.<br />
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Whereas the head was missing, aroma and taste were not. The first sip was a rewarding mix of malty ale and the expected pumpkin spices (allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon) -- but only more so. I've had a lot of pumpkin ales over the years, and some were quite good, but this is one of the best of its kind. The pumpkin takes front and center stage, but it's not pulling some gimmicky diva act. This is a star and knows how to work with the rest of the ensemble. In other words, the flavors are strong but balanced. And wonderfully so, especially in a beer this strong: It has an ABV of 6.1%.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Wick for Brains is our classic and painstakingly produced Fall Pumpkin Ale. Instead of simply using spice, we use real pumpkin which lends a sweetness and pumpkin flavor not found in many Pumpkin Ales. Wonderful pumpkin pie spice intertwined in an Amber Ale creates a pumpkin sensation which is elegantly crafted. Notes of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Ginger and Allspice blend perfectly in this seasonal Ale. There are many Pumpkin Ales out there crafted by some wonderful breweries – we feel that ours stands among them and in some cases – stands apart.<br /> -- <a href="http://nebraskabrewingco.com/portfolio/wick-for-brains-pumpkin-ale/" target="_blank">From their Website</a></span></blockquote>
This is a seasonal, so if you spot a six-pack, I strongly suggest you grab one and head to the nearest, most-sincere pumpkin patch you can find. Play some haunting tunes by Midnight Syndicate and enjoy the night. You don't actually have to wait for The Great Pumpkin to arrive. He already has -- in this can or bottle.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Score (as a pumpkin ale): 9 out of 10</span></div>
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Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-54111860780163931812016-06-21T10:40:00.000-05:002016-06-21T10:40:00.830-05:00This blog is not entirely dead...This blog isn't exactly dead, but it may continue to be on hold for a while more.<br />
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In the past year, I've gone on a medication that requires I restrict my alcohol consumption. Until we know how it's working with my liver, I am not drinking.<br />
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And yes... that's about as horrible as it sounds.<br />
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If things change, I shall resume this blog. If not... well... it was a fun ride while it lasted.Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-79819298908942025862015-07-06T10:00:00.000-05:002015-07-06T10:00:06.049-05:00Quick Sip 017. Shiner Old Time Alt (limited edition)<div dir="ltr">
I don't know how long this one has been in my upstairs beer fridge. Probably a year, but it could be a little more than that. So, you need to take this review with a bit of caution -- I might be talking about old beer here.</div>
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That being said, I'm very sorry I let this one sit so long. It's really very good and has a lot of depth. If this were not part of their Brewer's Pride collection (and thus a limited edition), I would head out this weekend too but some more to do a proper review. As it is, I'll just share my Quick Sip thoughts with you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d4QlCBSY2D2LSggsTvo02Mf1NqZND9CKASErd7-uzYjJY2YWqP4St8GuVcTlfCVVlxfGg5h3Kv-IruZbBXOTyVUcD-gA8a5H3bhKq7I7NrKJv0zcZBhBYntKQugAZczlJBgM-dXSF2NK/s1600/20150704_020243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d4QlCBSY2D2LSggsTvo02Mf1NqZND9CKASErd7-uzYjJY2YWqP4St8GuVcTlfCVVlxfGg5h3Kv-IruZbBXOTyVUcD-gA8a5H3bhKq7I7NrKJv0zcZBhBYntKQugAZczlJBgM-dXSF2NK/s320/20150704_020243.jpg" width="240" /></a>This has a beautiful color: copper with a sweet red hue. The aroma is a combination of spicy malt and heady yeast (the latter I ascribe to age, not brewer's intent). Both of these carry through into the flavor palette, and provide a refreshing and very broad base flavor. I find this to be a really good winter beer. The sweet malt is dominant over the hops, and the strong spices definitely take precedence over the faintly aromatic hops. All in all, the flavor is a rich pageant of fun flavors that are -- for the most part -- working together in harmony. </div>
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It has a slightly dry mouth feel (especially for a beer with a 4.2% ABV) that I am uncertain as to whether it comes from the age or from the beer. It probably has something to do with the strong yeast flavor.<br />
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I think I got this as part of a family reunion pack, which is their name for a sampler. I'm going to keep my eyes open to see if I can find another sample of this beer. I like it enough that I want to know more about it.<br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><b>My score: </b>7 out of 10.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Quick Comment:</span></b> This beer got quite a few interesting descriptions from the guys over at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/143/64657/" target="_blank">Beer Advocate</a>.</div>
Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-64837160044254607562015-07-04T01:13:00.001-05:002015-07-04T02:38:33.204-05:00Quick Sip 016. Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils<div dir="ltr">
I cannot deny that the name was part of the reason I bought this little beer. I mean, what a cool Rolling Stones reference. But, I have to admit I didn't go into this with very high hopes because I have not really enjoyed a lot of the beers offered from <a href="http://brew.oskarblues.com/ob-beers/year-round/mamas-little-yella-pils/" target="_blank">Oskar Blues Brewery</a>. I mean, I don't hate their stuff, but in general I have not been that impressed. I was hoping to be proven wrong this time, but that was not to be.</div>
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with this beer. It is a nice, refreshing little pilsner, definitely the sort of thing to chill you out more than get you hopped up (especially since it has a very mild hop profile, which is NOT a bad thing for me -- I don't like hops for the sake of hops).<br />
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It's just nothing special. It's a nice pilsner, the sort that is perfect for a hot summer afternoon. But that's all there is. So, let's break it down: Not much of an aroma. There is almost no head (although it does leave a fine lace). The color is a testament to truth in advertising: it is VERY yellow. The carbonation is very light, and it does have a floral mouthfeel.<br />
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This pairs okay with Mexican food and beef. It's low 5.3% ABV doesn't leave any strong alcohol flavors, so I imagine it will pair fairly well with just about any food. So, in closing, I doubt I'll buy this again, but you never know. It's definitely a non-threatening beer, so if I'm faced with a tricky food pairing, I could be tempted to give this one another try.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>From their Website:</i></b></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>Oskar Blues’ Mama’s Little Yella Pils is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic, famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Saaz hops. While its rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.</i></b></span></blockquote>
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<b>My score: </b>6 out of 10Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-41584688320353330842015-05-23T21:43:00.001-05:002015-07-04T01:30:36.611-05:00The Farm Drinkery<div dir="ltr">
Visited a local craft beer bar tonight with friends: <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-farm-drinkery-spring" target="_blank">The Farm Drinkery</a> in NW Houston (aka Spring). Very small venue, but fun. Love that it's not too loud, although that also meant four of us were sitting at the bar where it's hard for the two on the outside of the pack to engage in conversation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small, but cozy. </span></td></tr>
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<b>16646 Champion Forest Dr Spring, TX 77379</b></div>
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<b>(832) 761-7589</b></div>
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<li>First beer was 11 Below OSO Bueno Amber. Not bad. Not great. I will try it again.</li>
<li>8th Wonder Dome Fau'z (foam). This is better. I might get a growler of this to go home.</li>
<li>Guns and <u>Oil</u> Maverick Lager was okay, but I don't remember anything special about it.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A funky menu for a funky place</b></span></td></tr>
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My friends (Lynn & Root) raved about the fried peanut butter & jelly sandwich, but I wasn't in the mood for anything sweet, so I had the fried pickles and they were pretty good. My wife thought they were a little spicy, and she didn't care for their Ranch Dressing (but that's not a surprise, as she hates almost all bottled Ranch Dressing and prefers to make her own). But I liked them, and although they were a little slow to come out of the kitchen, the friendliness of the server and the competency of the waitstaff more than made up for it.</div>
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In all, we had a nice time. My wife hates bars, but I'm planning to visit some afternoon after work and test a beer or two.<br />
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Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-50156728435968931602014-12-02T02:52:00.003-06:002015-07-04T02:38:51.784-05:00Quick Sip 015. Flensburger GoldI picked up a single of this German import from either Spec's Liquor Store in NW Houston, or at World Market. In either case, <a href="http://www.flens.de/unternehmen/index.php?id=15" target="_blank">Flensburger Gold</a> is a decent German lager that falls fairly in the middle of average imports from Deutschland.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a one-note beer with a low ABV of 4.6%. It has almost no aroma, but what is there is faintly malty and yeasty with just a few hints of mountain hops (in other words, it's got a very faint grassy smell). It pours a very clear pale yellow and developed a thin white head that dissipated quickly to a ring that left almost no lace.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The flavor is unremarkable: It's not great and it's not bad. It tastes like the kind of pleasant lager you wouldn't mind drinking on a warm afternoon with your lunch. Since I was drinking it on a cold winter's night, it seemed a little anemic. Still, it had a nice flavor. The malt was balanced with the hops to create a light-tasting beer that was enjoyable, in spite of a slightly bitter hoppy aftertaste that was very refreshing and clean.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The above link is to the German website. <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2854/27945/" target="_blank">BeerAdvocate.com</a> has a few decent mini-reviews in English.</div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>My score: 6.5 out of 10</b></span></div>
Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-52670610202221269372014-11-30T14:00:00.000-06:002015-07-04T02:38:58.598-05:00Quick Sip 014. Left Hand Brewing Company Oktoberfest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIjtKpov6Uwbs1p6Eqa_m2tojlM1E3rsm2aDfFMQUG19FeqYiVeRVJpvVgZOa0mU37G79mDYShrSn4qwVvFDmY0vVs3Swe1DqgvrW5hDmkGyQL1cGURaQOh8C31lN3G0xmv2s2XCJu3W-/s1600/QS_014_oktoberfest1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIjtKpov6Uwbs1p6Eqa_m2tojlM1E3rsm2aDfFMQUG19FeqYiVeRVJpvVgZOa0mU37G79mDYShrSn4qwVvFDmY0vVs3Swe1DqgvrW5hDmkGyQL1cGURaQOh8C31lN3G0xmv2s2XCJu3W-/s1600/QS_014_oktoberfest1.png" width="107" /></a>This is the last of my Octoberfest beers -- I found a single bottle of this hiding in my "review me!" shelf in the beer refrigerator. I remember buying it at World Market for about $8 a six-pack. They had a few good looking beers for sale, but I must admit, it was the label that drew me to this one. It features a blue lion (or some kind of big cat) in front of the blue and white Munich flag, and it just caught my eye.<br />
<br />
I generally like Marzen Lagers, so it wasn't much of a stretch to predict that I would like this one -- and I did. A lot. This is probably my second-favorite Octoberfest beer of the season (the first being <a href="http://mitchellsbeer.blogspot.com/2014/10/063-karbachtoberfest.html" target="_blank">Karbachtoberfest</a>, which I reviewed a while back).<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>OKTOBERFEST MÄRZEN LAGER</b></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>TOASTY MALT FLAVORS DOMINATE UP FRONT AND NOBLE HOPS LEAD TO A SPICY AND SUPERBLY CLEAN LAGER FINISH.</b></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>This is no festivus for the restuvus – on the contrary – we start brewing in the Spring and it takes a full two months to reach lagered perfection. Biscuity, malty goodness dominates upfront while the noble pedigree hops lend a properly spicy, dry finish. Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi. Time to roast your chicken and upend your stein before the air gets crisp, the leaves flame and fall and the skies fade to black. Auf geht's!</b></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>-- From their Website: <a href="http://lefthandbrewing.com/beers/oktoberfest/" target="_blank">http://lefthandbrewing.com/beers/oktoberfest/</a></b></span></blockquote>
<br />
The aroma is mostly of malt with a hint of yeast and the aromatics of Muich hops. Fortunately, it's not too sweet nor grassy smelling. And the same can be said of the crisp, clean taste. Mostly malt, some hint of bready yeast, and just notes of hops. The carbonation is medium, but the head dissipated faster than I expected, as did the lace. The color is a gorgeous copper brown, and when it warms to a chilly room temperature, other flavors come alive, giving it more depth than you would expect.<br />
<br />
I paired this with a pumpkin bread and it was delicious, with no alcohol taste to indicate that this packs an ABV of 6.6%.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">My score: 8 out of 10.</span></b><br />
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<br />
<br />Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-86915683940986879002014-11-26T01:00:00.000-06:002015-07-04T02:39:23.121-05:00Quick Sip 013. Artigianale Italian Red AleThe first time I saw beer in a wine bottle, I was surprised. I grew up in Texas, and even though we're known for liking things big, when I first started drinking beer all those years ago things seldom got bigger than a 40 oz. bottle of malt liquor.<br />
<br />
Nowadays, though, a 750 ml bottle of wine is fairly common. So when I saw this bottle of <a href="http://www.birraamarcord.it/en/" target="_blank">Artigianale Italian Red Ale</a> back at the start of summer, I wasn't surprised, but I do recall noting the low price. It was probably around $3 or $4 at my local Spec's Liquor Store in NW Houston. It's been sitting in my refrigerator ever since, waiting for the night when I would finally pop the top and see what's brewing in Italy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYCYg0943116Djtt7vEiOcbcU1HYPiC7-Ruvvtak6pGfRYuMOS1m_9mVGQ0mQKNjM3Ekbu-not1rACDD1xNd4QzelcEYO-beYMhdpkYhyM3ztdGsjeRf4YzGeHjvqe7GDec6imxEwPpD/s1600/QS_013_Artigianale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KYCYg0943116Djtt7vEiOcbcU1HYPiC7-Ruvvtak6pGfRYuMOS1m_9mVGQ0mQKNjM3Ekbu-not1rACDD1xNd4QzelcEYO-beYMhdpkYhyM3ztdGsjeRf4YzGeHjvqe7GDec6imxEwPpD/s1600/QS_013_Artigianale.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
I think I'll stick to their wine.<br />
<br />
This is not a horrible beer, but it's not that great, either. The aroma has a little fruit and yeast and maybe a hint of aromatic mountain hops. But not much else. It pours a very hazy copper brown and a moderate pour delivered almost no head. An aggressive pour finally got a 2-finger head that dissipated quickly to a thin ring that deposited more lace than I expected.<br />
<br />
My first sips of cold beer were very off-putting. I was not impressed. However, as it warmed up to 48 degrees, the unpleasant bitterness went away (BTW: It is important to note that the bitterness was probably alcohol and not hops -- as I said, this is not a hoppy beer). The warmer it got, the more nuance I detected, so I actually set it aside and took a break to let it warm up over 50 degrees to see if it would come alive and exceed my already low expectations.<br />
<br />
It turns out that 55 degrees is the sweet spot for this beer. And how sweet it is. More nuanced flavors did come to the forefront as the beer warmed up, but it also awoke the sugars and a taste of yeasty caramel. The bitterness retreated and a strong sweetness came forth. It's not bad -- not like some of the overly spiced holiday beers I sometimes encounter -- but it is sweet without relying on malt. So, if you like sweeter beers but don't like malt, this might be something you'll like.<br />
<br />
The sweetness did serve to hide the 7.8% ABV alcohol taste that was present at the lower temperatures, but it really wasn't enough to compensate for what was -- in general -- an unremarkable import.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 5.5 out of 10</span></b>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-9009286444726826312014-11-25T03:14:00.000-06:002015-07-04T02:41:06.578-05:00065. Karbach Krunkin PumpkinThanksgiving is this week, and I'm still trotting out the pumpkin beers from my vault: <a href="http://www.karbachbrewing.com/beers/krunkin-pumpkin" target="_blank">Karbach Krunkin Pumpkin</a>. At least this one mentions turkey day on the label, so I guess i can save my guilt for seconds on Thursday. I picked this ale up a while back -- it came in a 22 oz bottle that is commonly called a "bomber" at my local <a href="http://www.specsonline.com/" target="_blank">Spec's Liquor</a> store. This was the last bottle they had.<br />
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Speaking of which, I do think this would be a decent beer to share with guests at a big meal, as I believe it is better consumed in small glasses, rather than downing the entire bottle, as I'm doing tonight. It's just too sweet and spicy for my taste.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLQP8WM8RsmCPYaqZ4smuVBFxbLF9sOkHGLA8AVN9gc9o5LtPUuatJqaABlj-YdXjdGZhxOh0pa8qfIb6Sg47RmY9_OOh9HmWCXaQxgZrQz9h0esD4mDWkahymqV_Bcfa6hMRz15ZLRGo/s1600/065_Krunkin_Pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLQP8WM8RsmCPYaqZ4smuVBFxbLF9sOkHGLA8AVN9gc9o5LtPUuatJqaABlj-YdXjdGZhxOh0pa8qfIb6Sg47RmY9_OOh9HmWCXaQxgZrQz9h0esD4mDWkahymqV_Bcfa6hMRz15ZLRGo/s1600/065_Krunkin_Pumpkin.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>First Pour</b></span><br />
Popping the top is like breaking the seal on the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark. The moment you do, aromas start swirling out of the bottle, almost spinning around the top seeking release. And they are pleasing. Spice, malt, a hint of hops, an undercurrent of yeast and the promise of pumpkin pie. The pie is definitely a portent of the sweetness to come.<br />
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The pour yielded a respectable one-finger head that was surprising consistent as it sat atop a rich chocolate brown ale that could stand next to a Guinness without being embarrassed -- yup, it's that dark. The first sip was pretty cold, and it was almost cloyingly sweet with a generous amount of pumpkin flowing through. It was good, but I could tell right away that this was not nuanced enough to be from <a href="http://www.karbachbrewing.com/home" target="_blank">Karbach Brewing Co.</a>, so I would need to let it warm up a bit so the other flavors could come alive.<br />
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So wait I did, and was rewarded for my patience. Even a few degrees allowed some of the dormant flavors to awaken and swarm forth, delivering more spice and subtlety as the brew warmed above 50 degrees. I began detecting pepper, pumpkin spice and hops -- in other words, the flavors promised by the pleasing noseful I got when I opened the bottle.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>Directions</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>1. Take pale, Munic and crystal malts and mash for 90 minutes.</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>2. Lauter with sugar pumpkins baked for 60 minutes at 420 degrees and boil wort for 70 minutes.</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>3. Add hops at beginning and end of boil and add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice at very end of the boil.</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>4. Ferment with yeast, cold condition and bottle.</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>*Best served chilled in goblet-style glass to goblins, ghouls or naughty nurses at your favorite Halloween party or uptight in-laws at Thanksgiving dinner.*</i></span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>-- From the label</i></span></blockquote>
If you like more bitter flavors, drink this warm and you will find a nice counterbalance to the sweetness. Well... probably not enough for the true hops whores out there. If you love IPAs, then this is not the beer for you.<br />
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Fortunately, this is a limited release and kind of hard to get, so there is no chance it will become part of your everyday larder. But, as a once-in-a-while fall treat, this is a treasure that even Indy could enjoy.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing Thoughts</span></b><br />
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This is a really good pumpkin ale; in fact, it is probably the best one I've ever had. That being said, I don't love pumpkin ales all that much. But if they were all this good, I would consider trying more of them. This is a dark ale suited for winter. I think it would pair will with turkey or other food, but is probably way too sweet to pair with dessert.<br />
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<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Pumpkin Ale<br />
<b>Color:</b> Rich chocolate brown<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Spices, pumpkin, hops, yeast & sweet malt<br />
<b>Hops:</b> Present, but not as pronounced as expected<br />
<b>Malt:</b> A sweet foundation<br />
<b>Head: </b>One-finger head that shrinks to a thin ring that never quite fades completely<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Almost none.<br />
<b>Bitterness: </b>Not really -- this is a fairly sweet ale<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Medium to light<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>Refreshing, but the yeast does get a little cloying after drinking a lot<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> 50 - 55 degrees<br />
<b>ABV: 8.5</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 7 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
Mostly positive reviews at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26762/86059/" target="_blank">Beer Advocate</a>. A few didn't get it, but those that did really enjoyed it a lot.</div>
Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-67415470394078856592014-11-22T09:00:00.000-06:002015-07-04T02:41:41.713-05:00Quick Sip 012. Saint Arnold Boiler Room<div class="tr_bq">
Sometimes there's a reason something is on sale. I was at a Spec's Liquor Store in NW Houston and they had a large bottle of Saint Arnold Boiler Room beer that was marked about half off; it was only $4.99 for a 22 oz. bottle.</div>
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I usually like the stuff produced by one of our local breweries, so I grabbed it on the run. I should have spent more time reading the label because this is a wheat beer. As I said a while back, I'm trying to cut out wheat beers because I turn bright red when I drink them. So far I don't have any other symptoms, but why push my luck -- allergies tend to get worse over time with exposure, not better.<br />
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When I first sipped this ice cold beer, I had a MAJOR pucker reaction and was about to give it a scathing review. Fortunately, I let it warm up and was pleasantly surprised at the results.<br />
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But let's back up a bit.<br />
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The color was wheat yellow with a very generous two-finger head. Not as much lace as I would expect, though. When it was cold, I would have described this as a medium to heavy. When it was warm, though, it was almost gone. Still, the sour flavor compensated for the lack of bubbles, so nothing much was lost. The aroma was mildly citrus with hints of aromatic hops.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>COLD - 35-45 degrees</b></span><br />
This was horrible. It tasted like drinking a beer-flavored Sour Patch Kids candy. Honestly, it was just sourness for the sake of sourness. I really don't have much good to say about it at this temperature.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WARM - 60-65 degrees</b></span><br />
It's still sour, but it's actually drinkable. There are actually nuances to the beer that were completely hidden at the lower temperatures. The nose, as you would expect, also came alive, revealing the hint of malt and bringing even more citrus to the forefront. However, and this could be due to the length of time the beer sat out warming, the aroma was much less pronounced.<br />
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The sour aspects were much less annoying because the other flavors emerged in the warmer beer.<br />
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<blockquote>
<span style="color: #f1c232;">"Boiler Room is a light bodied but surprisingly flavorful sour wheat beer. The sourness is created by souring the wort prior to boiling and fermentation (unlike Belgian-style sours which sour during fermentation and have active bacteria in them when packaged). The nose of the beer has a light Hersbrucker hop note and a distinct funkiness. The taste is sweet malt quickly going into a tart body and finish. The sour and malt flavors balance well all the way through creating a very refreshing beverage, akin to drinking a tart lemonade or limeade. For a beer with just over 3.5%, it creates a big experience for the palate.</span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">Traditionally this beer is enjoyed either straight or with raspberry or woodruff syrup to sweeten it (and turn it red or green, respectively).</span><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">Our Boiler Room is pure, with no additives or preservatives. In order to maintain the freshest flavor possible, we do not pasteurize our beer. Many of its subtle flavors are delicate and would not stand up to the heat of pasteurization. We recommend that this product be stored cold to avoid any degradation in flavor. <br />
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--From their <a href="http://www.saintarnold.com/beers/boiler_room.html" target="_blank">Website</a></span></blockquote>
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Even if this were not a wheat beer, it would not make it back into my beer fridge. I'm just not a fan of sours, and even if this is a decent sour, I'm just not the person they brewed this for. Nevertheless, if you ARE a fan of sours, then give this a try. Just make sure you let it warm up a bit before you sip.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #ffd966;">My rating -- Cold: 3 out of 10</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #ffd966;">My rating -- Warm: 6 out of 10</span></b>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-84126422275657247112014-11-16T12:00:00.000-06:002015-07-04T02:42:10.588-05:00Quick Sip 011. Spaten OktoberfestBready malt wafts to those nose when you pop the top on this seasonal classic. It's followed by a delicious taste that perfectly suits the Marzen style beer. It's refreshingly light but strong. That should be an oxymoron, but it really works. I appreciate the lack of hoppiness (not always, but this time I definitely don't miss the overt bitterness that hops bring).<br />
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The <a href="http://www.spatenbeer.com/biers-oktoberfest.html" target="_blank">Spaten website</a> lists this as the first Oktoberfest beer, and while I've no idea if that's true, but I'm in love with it and would happily enjoy it all year round. However, ignore their website's claim that says this is golden -- it's pure brown. A nice chocolate/caramel brown that definitely hints at the richness and nuances of the flavor it holds.<br />
<br />
Bread and yeast are at the forefront, along with a sweet malt. I detect some faint spices and a hint of pepper. I drank it ice cold on an ice cold night, which kept the head to a minimum and pretty much killed the lace. At a warmer temp it reveals more spices, but oddly enough, that's not what I wanted tonight. Tonight, it's time for a cheesy holiday movie and a sweet Marzen.<br />
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The guys at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/142/582/" target="_blank">Beer Advocate</a> really don't like this, but that's not surprising since they seem to be mostly hops whores over there -- drinking beer for the bitterness of hops as though it's some macho rite of passage to find the most bitter fluid on the planet. I like hops, but I'm not standing on a street corner peddling my taste buds to every bitter brew that comes along. You need to bring me some sweet stuff before I invite you back to my room to stay for the weekend.<br />
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<b>My score: 7 out of 10.</b>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-2994488594685570442014-11-11T22:59:00.001-06:002014-11-11T22:59:18.852-06:00Quick Sip 010. Blue Moon Gingerbread Spiced Ale<p dir="ltr">Wow. This actually smells like gingerbread. It is amazing. The spice is so present. I was concerned that this was going to be overpowering, but it wasn't. This has the right balance of beer and flavor: the hops are not overpowering, but actually blended with the malt. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And this paired SO WELL with the key lime pie we had for dessert. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Once again, thanks to Lynn & Root for another great evening with Blue Moon beer.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My rating: 7.5 out of 10</p>
Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-30717281445587851492014-11-01T13:00:00.000-05:002014-11-02T01:12:15.451-05:00064.Fort Bend Brewing Co. Texas Farmhouse AleThe doorbell rang last night to tell me that Halloween was gone and November was already here. Okay, it didn't ring all that much -- I was sitting by the door with the candy, handing out goodies to about 128 trick-or-treaters. But those details don't change a thing; I'm not even finished reviewing all the great Octoberfest beers in my fridge and already it's time to say hello to the great end-of-year seasonals coming out.<br />
<br />
Well, dang it, I ain't ready to go, yet. So I'm going to hold on to the harvest season a little longer by reviewing a new Texas brewery and a new harvest beer: Texas Farmhouse Ale by the <a href="http://www.fortbendbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Fort Bend Brewing Co.</a><br />
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Now, this is the second Farmhouse Ale I've reviewed this year (the first being review number 061 back in June: <a href="http://mitchellsbeer.blogspot.com/2014/06/061-blue-moon-short-straw-farmhouse-red.html" target="_blank">Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale </a>), and although they do compare favorably to one one another, I still prefer the smoothness of the Blue Moon ale. Nevertheless, this is definitely a worthy contender if ever the two were to duke it out in the barnyard to see who is cock of the walk.<br />
<br />
But enough <i>Green Acres</i> homilies.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First (& Second) Pour</span></b><br />
<div>
This ale has a very spicy nose. I detected a lot of spices and citrus. The label lists Pear and Banana, and I might be tempted to agree with the pear notes, but not the banana. The hops are pleasing on the nose and not as strong as I expected.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLqHpsM7AAc1kfVxD3kRRfXI9m9nda2PdTtO4vH7UI9UU38WcIj2jW8jsmPGNEqRt0iKMziCBdpn2BaEfdK7Jx7p9pkGbBOd6BQZFPCK7iaANRiNeOe_Xs8p0RpctwxXrnRQ0Nq9vnhU2/s640/20141101_234448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLqHpsM7AAc1kfVxD3kRRfXI9m9nda2PdTtO4vH7UI9UU38WcIj2jW8jsmPGNEqRt0iKMziCBdpn2BaEfdK7Jx7p9pkGbBOd6BQZFPCK7iaANRiNeOe_Xs8p0RpctwxXrnRQ0Nq9vnhU2/s640/20141101_234448.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>The pour was very disappointing. The first glass had almost no head at all from a conservative pour. A second bottle poured later yielded a decent 1-finger head from a very aggressive pour, but all but a flat beer will give you that. And that's the surprising thing: I was expecting low carbonation, but that's not what I found. It's actually got some tiny bubbles dancing around inside it. They actually helped make the sour aftertaste pleasing, but I'm ahead of myself.<br />
<br />
When I took a sip of the hazy brownish/yellowish brew, I was delighted to find about what I expect in a farmhouse ale: a slightly sour seasonal that has aromatic hops with a hint of refreshing bitterness. A Flemish Sour definitely comes to mind when I drink this. And I admit that's a category I'm not all that familiar with, so more research -- and thus more bottles of beer -- will be required!<br />
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><i>"Our Belgian-style Farmhouse is a full-flavored, golden ale with wonderful aromatic hints of fruit and spice. An initial scent of banana, pepper and herb are blended with flavors of crisp fruit and mild citrus with a sweet, lingering backbone. The full mouthfeel finishes pleasingly tart and ever-so slightly dry."<br />Unfiltered; Banana, Pepper, Citrus, Pear – all from Belgian Yeast</i></span><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #f1c232;">-- From the label</span></i></b></blockquote>
<b>A few notes from their Website: <a href="http://www.fortbendbrewing.com/beers/" target="_blank">www.fortbendbrewing.com/beers/</a> </b><br />
Malt: Pils, Munich, Wheat, Crystal 10<br />
Hops: GR Perle, Hallertauer<br />
Yeast: Belgian Yeast<br />
ABV: 5.4%<br />
IBUs: 24<br />
SRM: 6<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing Thoughts</span></b><br />
<div>
This is a decent farmhouse ale. It has the right hints of citrus, pepper and other notes to make it a pleasant way to kill an evening as the harvest moon rises above in the starry, starry night. As it uses a what malt, I probably won't be buying this again (longtime readers will remember that wheat beer turns my face red, so I've stopped drinking it because I don't want it to contribute to me developing a wheat allergy). However, I'm not worried enough that I'm going to gift the remaining four bottles to family and friends.<br />
<br />
Oh, and that brings up an odd thing about this beer. The packaging. As you'll see in the photo above, this beer does not come in a cardboard six-pack, but rather with a plastic holder that slips around the necks of the bottles. I don't care if this is "green" or cheaper. This is dangerous. Whenever I picked it up from the top, the bottles would clink together VERY LOUDLY. And I had to cradle the bottles by their bottoms because the whole thing felt so precarious. Even the checkout lady at Spec's agreed and said no one in the store likes bottles packaged that way.<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Farmhouse Ale<br />
<b>Color:</b> Hazy Brownish Yellow<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Spices, pepper, hops<br />
<b>Hops:</b> Nicely bitter and not as strong as expected<br />
<b>Malt:</b> Provides a foundation of sweetness for the sour to play off of<br />
<b>Head: </b>Depends on your pour: Aggressive pour gets a 1-finger head, a soft pour gets almost nothing<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Surprisingly strong for such a weak head<br />
<b>Bitterness: </b>Present, but plays well with the sour notes<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Medium, tiny, tiny bubbles that contribute to the haziness<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>Dry with sour finish<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> 55-ish degrees<br />
<b>ABV: 5.4</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 6.5 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30496/89775/" target="_blank">Beer Advocate</a> and <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/fort-bend-texas-farmhouse-ale/195470/" target="_blank">Rate Beer</a> were not overly kind to this beer. Some didn't care for the aroma at all, even describing it as sulfur and rotten eggs. Since this is the most extreme negative review, I'm thinking it's him, not the beer. The aroma has some sour notes, but nothing like that.</div>
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<br />
But, of course, before I start chugging porters and stouts, it's time for the autumnal bacchanal that is OCTOBERFEST. Yup, that time of year when even the casual beer drinker sets aside his Bud Light and tries something with a German name.<br />
<br />
And for me, it's high time to dive into the plethora of seasonal offerings that bridge the seasons.<br />
<br />
The first offering of the year is a definite winner for me. And it's surprising in two ways:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It's lighter than I usually prefer in an autumn beer (5.5% ABV)</li>
<li>It's by the same people who made my summer favorite, <a href="http://mitchellsbeer.blogspot.com/2014/08/quick-sip-009-karbach-love-street.html" target="_blank">Love Street</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4VnQuXmDlAUDVUW8aljTu_2kSO6j4fqBbPBZkjq4Ssg8d6W1zr8oih5CtTo-R5AQ1FIkHGM_CX47XTFtDz6FZwQanitCwSC7qqWkoeEug1dqp9bq8d2vlUZkaFeGtGzv_7Si018ZwV10/s1600/20141017_035718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4VnQuXmDlAUDVUW8aljTu_2kSO6j4fqBbPBZkjq4Ssg8d6W1zr8oih5CtTo-R5AQ1FIkHGM_CX47XTFtDz6FZwQanitCwSC7qqWkoeEug1dqp9bq8d2vlUZkaFeGtGzv_7Si018ZwV10/s1600/20141017_035718.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Yup, I'm talking about the great hometown brewers at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Every%20year%20in%20Munich%20a%20little%20party%20is%20thrown.%20%20If%20you've%20ever%20been,%20there%20are%20some%20things%20you%20may%20or%20may%20not%20remember:%20Lederhosen%20envy,%20oompah%20music,%20dirndls,%20and%20rolling%20down%20the%20hill.%20%20One%20thing%20you%20surely%20haven't%20forgotten%20is%20the%20extremely%20quaffable%20beer.%20%20While%20you%20may%20not%20be%20able%20to%20attend%20Oktoberfest%20this%20year,%20you%20can%20experience%20the%20world's%20biggest%20beer%20fest%20right%20here%20with%20Karbachtoberfest.%20%20An%20authentic,%20Bavarian-style%20Marzen,%20decotion%20mashed%20with%20Vienna%20and%20Munich%20malts,%20cold%20fermented%20and%20aged%20for%20six%20weeks,%20this%20beer%20pairs%20well%20with%20pretzels%20and%20sausage,%20but%20it%20tastes%20mighty%20fine%20on%20its%20own.%20%20Eins,%20Zwei,%20G'suffa!" target="_blank">Karbach Brewing Co.</a>, and the brew of the hour is their seasonal Marzen-style beer, Karbachtoberfest. Okay, they get me with the name right off the bat. Anyone who knows me in person has probably spent serious time developing the mental skills necessary to filter out the almost non-stop string of puns and word play that streams from my mouth while I'm drinking. I make no apologies for it -- I am who I am. And, who I am at the moment loves this beer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm on my second six-pack. Yup. I'm enjoying it that much and this could well be my go-to beer for the season. Of course, I've only tried a handful of other beers lately (some of which don't warrant reviews, a few others that will (one of them being <a href="https://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/octoberfest" target="_blank">Sam Adams Octoberfest</a>, which will make the list soon). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pour me another, please</span></b></div>
<div>
I'm not gonna lie -- I'm on my second Karbachtoberfest tonight. It's light, it's late, and I don't have to get to work until after 10 am tomorrow. So I'm good to relax and enjoy the pleasant tart notes that play around with citrus and hops, but lets the sweet malt take center stage and belt out the high notes in a power ballad of flavor. In most ways, this is an atypical Marzen, which I must admit is a beer I like but am not an expert on.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Marzen is German for the month of March. Here's the lowdown from <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/29/" target="_blank">BeerAdvocate.com</a>:</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Before refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring, and began again in the fall. Most were brewed in March (Märzen). These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity, so theyd keep. Märzenbier is full-bodied, rich, toasty, typically dark copper in color with a medium to high alcohol content. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">The common Munich Oktoberfest beer served at Wies'n (the location at which Munich celebrates its Oktoberfest) contains roughly 5.0-6.0% alcohol by volume, is dark/copper in color, has a mild hop profile and is typically labeled as a Bavarian Märzenbier in style.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div>
Now, this beer is not a standard Marzen. In fact, it reminds me much more of a summer beer -- and considering that it's still very warm here, its not surprising that I'm enjoying this so much. As I mentioned above, this is tart, but not bitter. This reminds me of citrus, but maybe it's spice. No, not that either. One guy at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26762/85078/" target="_blank">BeerAdvocate.com</a> said this had pepper notes, but I'm not getting that. Nor do I see the color they describe: Copper. There is no read in any of the cans I've popped over the past week or so. In fact, the color is just a hazy sort of yellow that really doesn't impress me. It's not bad, but it's certainly no <a href="http://mitchellsbeer.blogspot.com/2010/08/03-oh-danny-boy-your-red-ale-is-calling.html" target="_blank">Moylan's Danny's Irish Style Red Ale</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>From the can:</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Every year in Munich a little party is thrown. If you've ever been, there are some things you may or may not remember: Lederhosen envy, oompah music, dirndls, and rolling down the hill. One thing you surely haven't forgotten is the extremely quaffable beer. While you may not be able to attend Oktoberfest this year, you can experience the world's biggest beer fest right here with Karbachtoberfest. An authentic, Bavarian-style Marzen, decotion mashed with Vienna and Munich malts, cold fermented and aged for six weeks, this beer pairs well with pretzels and sausage, but it tastes mighty fine on its own. Eins, Zwei, G'suffa!</span></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing Thoughts</span></b><br />
<div>
I don't think this is a remarkable Marzen for Oktoberfest. But I'm really enjoying it. I will review a few more beers to make sure I'm not passing up on something else that's awesome, but I predict that I'm going to go out and stock up on case of this to get me through to Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Marzen Lager<br />
<b>Color:</b> Hazy Yellow<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Malt & faint hops<br />
<b>Hops:</b> A bit strong for this type of beer, but not too strong<br />
<b>Malt:</b> Key performer -- up front and sweet, but not dominating<br />
<b>Head: </b>Thick, white, and temporary<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Almost none<br />
<b>Bitterness: </b>Faintly in the aftertaste<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Light; vanishes quickly<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>Crisp with dry finish<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> 40-55 degrees (wide range: crisper when colder, more complex hopes when warmer)<br />
<b>ABV: 7</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 8 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
The BeerAdvocate.com guys were all over the map with this one. Most thought it was a bit weak for an Oktoberfest, and I can't argue with that. But those who enjoyed it really sang its praises. <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26762/85078/" target="_blank">www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26762/85078/ </a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-81177910064685354712014-09-26T20:53:00.001-05:002014-10-17T04:22:00.511-05:00062. Abita SOS (Save Our Shores) PilsnerThis is probably the last wheat beer I'll review. I may have mentioned this before, but my face turns beet red when I drink wheat beers. I don't have any other symptoms from it (other than a pleasant buzz if I drink enough), so I don't think I have a wheat allergy. But why push my luck? Now, this is not specifically a WHEAT BEER. It has Wheat Malt, so we'll see if the results are the same.<br />
<br />
SOS (Save Our Shores) was a limited edition beer designed to raise money and awareness. From the bottle (and their Website: <a href="https://abita.com/brews/our_brews/s.o.s" target="_blank">abita.com/brews/our_brews/s.o.s</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Abita S.O.S.® (Save Our Shore) — a charitable pilsner is a message in a bottle...a distress signal for the troubled waters of our Gulf Coast. For every bottle sold Abita donates 75¢ to the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive the disastrous gulf oil spill. This unfiltered Weizen Pils is made with pilsner and wheat malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold color, a sweet malt flavor, and a pleasant bitterness and aroma."</span></blockquote>
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First Pour</span></b><br />
So, let's start by admitting that I don't know how old this beer is. It's been in my refrigerator, chilled, for what seems like forever. It's one of those beers that I kept putting off -- I'll review it next week. Or the next. Or the next... It's a big bottle (1 pt 6 oz) and, since I probably paid about $5 - $10 for it, I feel obligated to give it a proper review. So, it's been sitting there forever, just waiting for me to grab it and add culmination to its existence.<br />
<br />
Well, tonight -- on a whim -- I decided it was time. I grabbed it out of the door of the fridge and gave it a pour.<br />
<br />
My first thought was that it smells like a pilsner. Kind of aromatic, nothing strong or off-putting. I detect hints of grass (reminds me of Saint Arnold's Lawnmower -- which, for me, is not a great thing). Definitely no citrus or spice notes.<br />
<br />
The head was disappointing -- I had to practically slap it around to get a rise out of it. But, considering that it's probably 1-2 years old, that's not surprising and I won't hold that against it. Lace was respectable, once I got it to a head.<br />
<br />
<br />
The flavor was okay on its own, although a bit grassy and bitter for my taste. Not bad, but not remarkable. There were elements of grassy mountain hops, a pleasant but-definitely-in-the-background presence of malt. As I let it warm from 40 to 55 degrees, the aromatics became stronger, but that didn't really affect my enjoyment one way or the other. However, as I drank more I also became more aware of its alcohol content (at 7%, it's not too shabby). This also revealed an alcohol taste that grew stronger the more I drank.<br />
<br />
Then the pizza arrived.<br />
<br />
I had a supreme with jalapenos -- and suddenly the beer came alive. Pared with this classic chow of Friday nights, the beer really stepped forward in my estimation. The bitterness played remarkably well off the spicy ingredients in my pizza, and I found myself enjoying it quite a bit.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing Thoughts</span></b><br />
Okay but not remarkable pilsner. I suspect many people who like IPAs will really appreciate the bitterness in this bottle. It's not too strong, but it is there. Pared with pizza, though, it was a rare treat. I really enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Pilsner<br />
<b>Color:</b> Hazy Gold<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Grass and hay<br />
<b>Hops:</b> Bitter and strong, but not IPA strong<br />
<b>Malt:</b> Present, but definitely dancing in the background<br />
<b>Head: </b>Not sure -- 2 fingers with aggressive pour, but that could be related to the age of the beer<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Respectable at first, but fades as the glass goes dry<br />
<b>Bitterness:</b> Bitter<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Medium, but dissipates quickly (see note above)<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>A little dry for my taste, but okay<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> 45-55 degrees<br />
<b>ABV: 7</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 6 out of 10<br />Paired with Pizza: 8 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
A lot of guys at <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/abita-sos-save-our-shore/125501/" target="_blank">RateBeer.com</a> liked this, but they detected a hint of orange that was completely missing from my experience.<br />
<br />Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-88288925557626982922014-08-30T03:12:00.000-05:002014-10-17T03:46:35.030-05:00Quick Sip 009. Karbach Love StreetI feel like I should write a love letter to this beer. At first, I was not overly impressed with this beer. I drank it, enjoyed it, and thought I'd move on. But as the summer wore on, I became more like Archie Andrews (if he were old enough to drink that is -- unbelievably, the dude is pushing 73 and he's still in high school and can't buy a beer!); even though I was infatuated with darker, more exotic fare like Veronica Lodge, I kept being drawn back to good old reliable Love Street, which was as light and breezy as Betty Cooper, the girl next door.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62LH7TBhCjJwGR1EClb8VQNjpk8L_bHG5ndIWykM-5ereZdLY9mcmrYdMzT0ZBAHaSdYHXqkkTsgDaZTHAwrWiXfwJ-r60w7uCzIVL4Wd-SePxBqpcq1NHBIVrLzR_fBadMQaAn-Qmsf/s1600/Archie_Beer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62LH7TBhCjJwGR1EClb8VQNjpk8L_bHG5ndIWykM-5ereZdLY9mcmrYdMzT0ZBAHaSdYHXqkkTsgDaZTHAwrWiXfwJ-r60w7uCzIVL4Wd-SePxBqpcq1NHBIVrLzR_fBadMQaAn-Qmsf/s1600/Archie_Beer.png" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copyright 2014 Archie Comics<br />All rights reserved. Hey, I'm a subscriber, so please<br />don't make me delete this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I can't say wonderful things about this beer. It's light. Pleasant color, pleasant aroma... nothing remarkable. But there's something <i style="font-weight: bold;">relatable </i>about it that kept drawing me back to it. Over and over again. Over the course of the entire summer, I bought (and consumed) two cases of this stuff. I think I was into my third six-pack before I realized that this was, at least for now, my "go-to" beer when I wanted to drink something light (ABV 4.9%) while chilling at night with my wife and dog,<br />
<br />
So, here's my ode to Love Street, something local that I thought would be a passing fancy, but something that kept me coming back for more.<br />
<br />
This is a light-colored, pleasant Kölsch-Style beer. It has a caramel aroma with hints of the sweet malt to come. It has a nice white head and a pleasing mouthfeel. This beer has more complexity than you first suspect, with citrus undertones and a dash of pleasing aromatic hops.<br />
<br />
From <a href="http://www.karbachbrewing.com/beers/love-street" target="_blank">www.karbach.com</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">In the 1960's on Allen's Landing sat Love Street; a hot spot of music and social impact. The venue hosted eclectic characters ranging from open mic'ers to the Lizard King himself. Love Street was not only a place, but a state of mind. A place to unwind and let the music refresh your soul.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Likewise, Love Street Summer Seasonal is a state of mind. Brewed in the Kolsch-style and hopped delicately with floral German hops, this beer boasts a clean malt proile that refreshes to the core, without sacrificing character. So crack one open and find your own Love Street.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>My Rating: 7 out of 10</b></span><br />
One of my favoritesMike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-28656555396812810872014-07-19T01:21:00.000-05:002014-07-19T01:21:00.753-05:00Quick Sip 008. Unibroue La TerribleWhen you look at the photo for this week's pour, you may wonder why I only went with half a glass. The answer is simple: La Terrible by Unibroue has an Alcohol By Volume (ABV) of 10.5%. Since I still have work to do tonight (for a peak of what I'm up to, take a look at the various projects over at my other blog, <a href="http://mikemitchellonline.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">mikemitchellonline.blogspot.com</a>), I didn't think it wise to consume more than half a glass.<br />
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I have heard of this beer before. And, truthfully, it's been sitting in the beer fridge for a long time. Since it's such a big bottle, I was reluctant to open it. But, I've recently decided I need to drink some of my back-shelf stock before it sours, so I'm going through things I normally would drink in the winter, not the summer. That is to say, heavier fare, like this midnight-black concoction. Honestly, when I poured this into the glass, I wondered if I shouldn't call NASA and tell them that I've isolated dark matter right here on earth.<br />
<br />
Yup, it's black.<br />
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I mean really black. It is as dark as Guinness from the bottom of the keg. I've only seen one or two other beers this dark, and one of those would include <a href="http://mitchellsbeer.blogspot.com/search/label/09%20-%2010%20ABV" target="_blank">Storm King</a>, which might be darker than this. I would have to put them side-by-side to be sure.<br />
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Anyway, the aroma didn't thrill me. It was malty and fruity... sweet notes dominated the nose. The head was a generous, but slow-to-rise tan that left decent lacing. I drank it at about 50-55 degrees F, and found it to be much more pleasant than I had expected. In the past, most beers of that strength kick like a mule and taste like mule hooves that have been prancing in the field. In other words, they taste like rotgut that someone has cut with beer.<br />
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This wasn't bad, though. I actually enjoyed the fruitiness and it came off lighter than I expected (of course, my expectations were just this side of molasses, based as they were on its appearance). Not sure of the fruit: Cherries or plums? Slight hint of chocolate, and more than an aftertaste of yeast. But not in an entirely bad way.<br />
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If I'd been drinking this in the winter, I would be curled up under a blanket and marathon re-watching the last season of <i>Community.</i> As it is, I've had half a glass tonight and put a wine stopper in it for another night. I know someone who I think would like this, so I'll save it for the next time I see Josh B. I'll let you know what he thinks of it.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><i>La Terrible is a dark brown beer on lees and is part of a collection of exotic and refined Unibroue beers brewed using 100% natural raw materials. It may be drunk as an aperitif or as an after dinner digestive. It is equally a perfect accompaniment to the above-mentioned dishes or a pleasant alternative to coffee.<br />-- From their Website: <a href="http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/22/product" target="_blank">www.unibroue.com</a> </i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>ABV: 10.5%</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>My Rating: 7 out of 10</b></span>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-90947321322804397602014-07-06T03:09:00.000-05:002014-07-06T03:09:19.204-05:00Quick Sip 007. Goose Island Sofie - Belgian Style Farmhouse AleWith this Quick Sip having the number 007, I was tempted to find something with a spy theme, or perhaps to try to force some heavy-handed metaphor about something hiding beneath the surface. But after taking one sip of Goose Island Sofie Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale, I decided that wasn't going to work. You see, this is a good, nicely spiced farmhouse ale, but I don't think it has a lot of lurking nuance to report back to the home office.<br />
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This bottle was actually made in 2013 and has been sitting in my beer fridge -- nice and cold, only occasionally agitated by the opening and closing of the door -- since I bought it some time last year. When that was, I cannot say. I do know this is a large bottle (750 ml) and I don't buy them often, but I seldom pay more than $15 for a bottle this size ($10 being far more common).<br />
<br />
This is a good farmhouse ale -- appropriately light and spiced for the summer. Opening it, I actually had to do an emergency suck at the mouth to catch the ample head as it foamed over. I didn't really agitate it much carrying it to my desk, so perhaps it was the extra time spent aging? Unless I find another (more recent) bottle, then there's no way for me to no. But as i was sucking suds from the neck, I was greeted by pleasant citrus notes with hints of pepper and perhaps some coriander. Pleasing, to say the least.<br />
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The pour was a light yellow color with a huge head (as to be expected). lacing was lighter than expected from such a glorious 3-finger head. Carbonation was medium but persistent. It's still got bubble after 10 minutes. Again, as to be expected, it's very cloudy.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"80% Belgian Style Ale Blended with 20% Belgian Style Ale Aged in wine barrels with orange peel."<br />-- From the label</span></blockquote>
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I think fans of farmhouse ales (also known as Saisons) will like this, but it was a little too sour for me. In fact, this borders on a shandy and the sour notes give me the impression of drinking a tart lemonade, but without the lemon flavor. I will say this, though, it has a relatively dry mouthfeel that I expected to increase the bitterness, but that didn't happen. It didn't get more sour the longer I drank it (and since it was such a big bottle, there was a lot to drink). Another thing I expected was a strong presence of hops, but they were nicely in balance with the understated malt and managed to play nicely with the spices and aromatics.<br />
<br />
This is a good summer beer and I might actually like to try a more recent vintage so I can decide whether the faint yeast taste and persistent carbonation are intended, or just by-products of staying on the shelf too long. The next time I try it, I would like to try it with some pork barbeque and a good, vinegary cole slaw to see how it pairs. If I get the chance, I'll post an update.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>ABV: 6.5</b>%</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 6.5 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Summer fun in the sun rating: 8</span></strong><br />
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<br />Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-5519354784656316552014-06-30T05:00:00.000-05:002014-07-01T14:24:02.748-05:00061. Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red AleI first tried this beer about two weeks ago and very quickly drank 5 out of 6 bottles, saving the last one for my review. I also spent that time looking for another six pack -- and failed. For whatever reason (out of stock, out of season, just don't care enough brands), I couldn't find another six pack of Blue Moon Short Straw Farmhouse Red Ale.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErBtTPb2PlEgCZ3LjyQdIQD8KhZgLoXnVcrqMTgZIQPRaWqFCSgZTtEd2vAPjyRmKhRVff20PXgBj0t6F9NAh1u4xZahRaiV5wL2cLxTq-fWHYZGr5T__xo7vvpO9fIGHf_dvH3RL5K14/s1600/061_Short_Straw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErBtTPb2PlEgCZ3LjyQdIQD8KhZgLoXnVcrqMTgZIQPRaWqFCSgZTtEd2vAPjyRmKhRVff20PXgBj0t6F9NAh1u4xZahRaiV5wL2cLxTq-fWHYZGr5T__xo7vvpO9fIGHf_dvH3RL5K14/s1600/061_Short_Straw.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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Which is odd, considering their Website reports that this is available year round: <a href="http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/OurBeers/product/Short-Straw-Farmhouse-Red-Ale">http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/OurBeers/product/Short-Straw-Farmhouse-Red-Ale </a> I don't care what their site says, though, I'm pretty darned sure this is a summer seasonal.<br />
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Nevertheless, the reason I checked out about six stores for it was not because it's a super amazing beer, but it just a really solid red ale with a hint of citrus and just a few nice notes of hops to make it a very pleasing summer beer that won't weigh you down.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>"Farmhouse Ales were brewed for the diligent farmhands who drew the short straw and had to work the arduous harvest. Our brewmaster’s expression blends the spiciness of a Farmhouse Ale with the tartness of a Flanders Red for a remarkably refreshing finish."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>-- From the label (and their <a href="http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com/OurBeers/product/Short-Straw-Farmhouse-Red-Ale">Website</a>)</i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pour & Nose</b></span><br />
The pour was, honestly, unremarkable. Two fingers of white head that was washed away by a quick rise of bubbles. I thought this was going to be an aggressively carbonated beer, but that's not the case. The bubbles came and went quickly, leaving almost no trace of lace. The color was nice, though: a crisp, clear copper with just the right color for something daring to call itself a "red ale."<br />
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The nose was even better. Spices, citrus (I'd say pepper and hibiscus) with subtle hops notes. Pleasing, but not attention grabbing. Still, it has a nice, earthy honesty that I found refreshing.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Savor the Flavor</b></span><br />
I'm not a big fan of Flemish sours, but this one has just enough bitterness from the hops and just a hint of sweet from the spices, citrus and malt to make this a very pleasing drink for these dragon's breath days of summer. I think what appeals to me is the crispness. There's something about it that reminds me of biting into a crisp, really bitter Granny Smith apple. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that this has any sort of apple flavor or any underlying apple sweetness. It's just that this combo reminds me of the <i>experience</i> of biting into a really bitter apple.<br />
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And I like it.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Closing Thoughts</span></b><br />
Not bad, not good. A bit above average, which is why I didn't give it a 5 rating. The color and light taste seem perfect for summer by the pool or chilling with friends. It's not something I can imagine taking up permanent residence in my beer fridge, but it wouldn't be unwelcome if I found it in a cooler at a barbecue. Of course, I would let it warm up significantly before drinking it.<br />
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<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Red Ale<br />
<b>Color:</b> Clearly Copper<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Citrus, hibiscus, pepper, hint of hops<br />
<b>Hops:</b> Mild, but aromatic<br />
<b>Malt:</b> Subtle, but it does its job in the chorus supporting the main performers<br />
<b>Head: </b>White but leaves the party early<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Almost none<br />
<b>Bitterness:</b> Nicely sour<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Heavy, but dissipates quickly<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>Crisp, but with an odd bready quality as you near the bottom of the bottle<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> N/A (I liked it cold and warmer, so 36-56 degrees)<br />
<b>ABV: 5.8</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 7 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Summer fun in the sun rating: 9</span></strong><br />
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</span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
Most of the guys over at <a href="http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/blue-moon-short-straw-farmhouse-red-ale/134051/" target="_blank">RateBeer.com</a> hated this. They were really bitchy about the sourness and just seemed pissed that it wasn't a stronger version of some other type of beer. This is one of the only times I've found their reviews to be so out of synch with mine that they are utterly useless to me.<br />
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For more about Farmhouse Ales in general, check out this page over at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/129/" target="_blank">BeerAdvocate.com</a>.<br />
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<br />Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-35052934571233497192014-06-13T10:30:00.000-05:002014-06-13T10:30:00.853-05:00060. Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Ale<center style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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Summer is here -- at least in temperature and humidity, if not in date. Dog walking is now and after midnight activity. And even then the humidity can be oppressive. To shake off these early summertime blues, sometimes I like to come home and pop the top on a nice cold one. And the beer in this bottle is a lot lighter in color than what I prefer in the dark nights of winter. <br />
Tonight's lucky bottle is from the <a href="http://www.gooseisland.com/" target="_blank">Goose Island Beer Company</a>. <br />
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I'll be honest, I am not be a fan of the politics that have seeped out of Chicago, but I am a fan of this brewery. I've had a couple of their beers that I have enjoyed quite a bit. This one is no different, in that regard: <a href="http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/312_urban_pale_ale/377.php" target="_blank"><b>312 Urban Pale Ale</b></a> is a solid beer that has the right mix of flavor and crispness that I look for in a summer beer.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>From Popped Top to Glass</b></span><br />
The beer has almost no aroma when cold, but when allowed to warm up a bit, floral notes and citrus become apparent. There's a hint of sweetness hiding under the mountain hops aroma... but that sweetness doesn't make it into the glass itself.<br />
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Colorwise, this is an unusual beer. In one light, it looked rather dull and almost yellow. But, when photographed against a dark cloth, suddenly it turned into a pleasing golden color with hints of copper. The Goose Island web site lists the color as "Marigold," but I don't agree with that. It's really just a pleasing golden color.<br />
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Poured with a gentle slope and care into the glass, it generated a heady two-finger layer of foam that was a bright white. Just judging this beer by its looks, this brew looked like it had a lot to offer. That did not immediately translate into the glass. My first taste left me with the impression that this is a nice beer -- but almost completely unremarkable. In fact, if this review were based on a 2-3 ounce sample, I would have given it a 5 out of 10.<br />
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But, being mindful of my responsibility to you, the reader, I didn't stop at just a few sips. I kept on drinking the bottle, just to make sure I was being thorough. After all, I do need to maintain some levels of journalistic integrity, don't I? So, braving on, I began to detect more subtle notes in the beer that I found both surprising and pleasing.<br />
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As I said, there are floral and citrus notes in the nose and the body. The light carbonation is pleasing, but it and the head seemed to fade faster than I expected. It did leave a lot of lace in the glass, however. And who doesn't like lace-lined beer glasses?<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"We are from the city that invented the skyscraper. We constructed our Urban Pale Ale on a balanced malt backbone, so the citrus hop aroma and crisp flavor can stand tall."</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">--From their Website, <a href="http://www.gooseisland.com/">www.gooseisland.com</a></span></i></span></blockquote>
The mouthfeel is good -- not overly dry or sweet. As the beer warmed, the malt did seem to release more sweetness, but on the whole, this beer was a little bitter... but in a good, citrus way, not in an overly hopped or way.<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some Like it Hot -- Or at least warm...</b></span><br />
I found the bitterness to be very strong when I tasted it cold. Under 40 degrees, this is an almost disagreeable beer. But when allowed to thaw out a bit, it gets downright pleasant around 57-60 degrees. This is a good beer, but I don't think it's going to come home again this summer... or next. Oh, I wouldn't snub it at a party, and I might actually recommend it to good ole Cousin Josh as something he might like. He tends to like beers with strong hops or more bitter flavors. I think this might be the sort of thing he'll enjoy, so I'll save a few bottles for him and see what he thinks of it. I'll let you know what he thinks.<br />
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<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Thoughts from the bottom of the glass:</span></b><br />
<b>Type:</b> Pale Ale<br />
<b>Color:</b> Gold with whispers of copper<br />
<b>Aroma:</b> Citrus and mountain hops<br />
<b>Hops:</b> Aromatic mountain hops with hints of floral<br />
<b>Malt:</b> Solid and dependable, but it's working in the chorus, not taking the lead<br />
<b>Head: </b>Super white and fluffy -- two fingers thick<br />
<b>Lace:</b> Heavy -- more impressive than I was expecting<br />
<b>Carbonation:</b> Light<br />
<b>Mouthfeel: </b>Crisp, hints of citrus, not too much alcohol<br />
<b>Temeprature Sweet Spot:</b> 57-60 degrees<br />
<b>ABV: 5.4</b>%<br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">My Rating: 6.5 out of 10</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Worth a sip when the heat is on</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br />
</span></strong><b style="color: #f1c232; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Other Reviews Worth A Sip:</b><br />
Most of the guys over at <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/114532/">BeerAdvocate.com</a> did not, for the most part, like this beer. Most of the comments focused on the bitterness and more than one guy mentioned that it looked thin and had a poor head. I'm betting these guys tried to drink it cold. At<br />
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Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505332993626673713.post-66282395218928982282014-05-26T18:53:00.001-05:002014-07-06T02:58:53.897-05:00Quick Sip 006. Smithwick's Premium Irish Ale<br />
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Even the rain cannot dance in my spirit this Memorial Day. I've got burgers on the grill and a cold beer in my hand. And yes, I am thinking about those who died to make this possible for me and everyone else. One of the men I am thinking of most today is my uncle Harry.
He passed away this past week after a very long and painful illness.<br />
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He had served in the US Air Force and had been stationed in Greenland in the late 1960s. So, even though he didn't fall in battle, I'm still remembering him today.
I have many wonderful memories and stories about my uncle Hoppy, as we called him. But to be honest, must of them are not really suitable for mixed company. Yup. He was that kind of guy -- funny as hell... especially when he was with "just us guys." So, I'm going to keep the stories to myself.<br />
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My first beer of the day is poured in his honor. Other beers shall honor others. This beer is a pleasant malty Irish brew from those fine folks at Guinness. It's <a href="http://www.smithwicks.ie/">Smithwick's Premium Irish Ale</a>.
This is a very malty beer with a sweet taste of a wonderful, clear color. It has a hint of caramel sweetness and a thick head. I find this to be a very refreshing beer with a wonderful mouthfeel and very little bitter aftertaste (perhaps stemming from the fact that it only has 4.5% ABV?).<br />
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I first had this back at St Patrick's Day end of this loan bottle has been hiding in my refrigerator ever since. I have yet to find a food that I really think pairs well with it, but on its own it is a real refreshing treat.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232;"> My rating: 8 out of 10</span></b>Mike Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03668344135138054617noreply@blogger.com0