Blue Moon: Review

In The Bottle or On Tap - Part 2

5.4% abv
12 oz bottle
$8.00 a six pack
Blue Moon Brewing Co. aka – Coors
Golden, Colorado, USA
Bluemoonbrewingco.com
Belgian-Style Wheat Ale

The Bottle

The bottle reads that it is an unfiltered beer.

The appearance is a cloudy burnt yellow. The overall bouquet is light: with light to moderate spice and a touch of orange and some coriander.

The flavors seem muted to me. I get the orange peel taste and a touch of coriander but the flavors don’t seem clean and crisp or maybe I should say, discernable – no maybe it is that they are not distinct. There are also notes of wheat and yeast.

The mouthfeel is crisp because of the carbonation. The overall taste is pretty clean because of the lack of a lingering aftertaste. I just get a short aftertaste of spice.

Of course the marketing says, ‘uniquely complex taste.’ It is pretty simple to me: Orange, Coriander, Wheat, and no Lingering aftertaste. On a zero to ten scale on complexity, 10 being high, I’ll give this beer a 3 for complexity.

Overall I have to say, ‘I enjoyed this beer.’ I think I like Celis Grand Cru more.


Now, I am off to the tavern to sample a little Blue Moon on tap.

I visited the Ironwood Grill in Downtown Plymouth, Michigan. I belly up to the bar and find myself in front of an attractive bartender – damn I miss stopping by a good bar now and then. I order a Blue Moon, first time I ever had one on tap before, and I order it without the orange slice.

I get a typical bartender pour with no head (on the beer). The aroma is hard to pick up with all the food that I can smell around me. The color seems to be the same as the bottle a cloudy burnt yellow. The orange is easy pick out for the taste. The coriander seems a little less but, the wheat and yeast flavors are still present. Not a bad tasting beer.

Continuing with the research mode I order a second one with the orange slice. The orange flavor now is, of course, dominating. I think I like it with the orange slice. I would normally suggest – NO orange slice. With the Blue Moon I recommend the orange slice.


Remember, on the earlier posting, I said it has been at least 8 years since I had this beer. I was at a work party and I had my first Blue Moon then. It was in a bottle and I drank it out of the bottle at that party and I hated it.

Tomorrow’s research – I’ll drink one Blue Moon out of the bottle. This has to be Ron’s issue. He and his wife when at home are drinking Blue Moon from the bottle.

Visit Part I - Blue Moon - The Question
Visit Part III - Blue Moon in the Bottle

Blue Moon – In The Bottle or On Tap

Belgian-Style Wheat Ale

I am writing this posting to a question that I received about Blue Moon. Ron R. asked, “Why does Blue Moon taste, look, and smell different on tap versus in the bottle?”

It has to be at least 8 years since I have had a Blue Moon so, today is research day. I plan to buy a six pack of Blue Moon in the bottle and then venture out to a local tavern and sample a Blue Moon on tap.

Now, here is my beer hypothesis. The bottle beer of Blue Moon will have sediment in it because; I’ll bet it is an unfiltered beer.

#1. If you drink unfiltered beer from the bottle it will probably suck in taste by the time you get to the bottom of the bottle where all the sediment is sitting. It will also start off weak because all the sediment is on the bottom. Drinking good beer out of a bottle is not a good idea.

#2 If you do pour it into a glass:

a) pour it so you get no sediment

b) pour the beer so you do get the sediment mixed in. A proper pour makes all the difference.

If you do a) pour it so you get no sediment I always believe you are not getting the full flavor of the beer (also, vitamin B in that yeast) but, some people like there beer looking ‘clean’ so to say. Then, drink Bud.

If you do b) then you are getting all the flavors you are supposed to taste. In the case of Blue Moon you are getting the orange and coriander flavors. (If you do this and don’t like the flavors – then, Blue Moon is not your beer. Find a wheat beer with no spices or citrus. Plenty of good wheat beers out there to enjoy.

Now, on tap can be an issue. While, this beer has sediment in it - it is sitting at the bottom of the keg. If the keg does not get moved around, well the sediment is just sitting there. When the beer gets poured it can have a cleaner look for it will not have that sediment hazy look. Minus the sediment = minus some of the flavors = less aroma or let’s say a cleaner aroma.

The Answer

Now, Ron did tell me that he and his wife enjoy the Blue Moon on tap better than the bottle. I do not know what they were experiencing in this situation. I’ll have to find that out.

First, if you are drinking from the bottle STOP that bad behavior now and make sure to use a wheat beer glass (Not a Pilsner, like it says on the bottle). The little picture diagram on the back of the bottle is a picture of a good wheat beer glass. This may be the answer. Let me know and leave your comment below this posting.

Second, if you are using a glass, use the correct pour and enjoy all the flavors of citrus and spices. Then, go to the tavern and taste it. See what you taste or don’t taste compared to the bottle (write your notes down). Let me know by leaving your comment below this posting.

I am off to the store to buy a six pack – I’ll post my review later today.

Thanks for the question Ron.

If you have a question or comment, please keep it to yourself!  No, really please leave a comment by clicking on the word: 'comment' below each posting. 

Linking you Up!  Click on below
Visit Blue Moon Part 2
Visit Blue Moon Part 3 - Celery Taste from the bottle?

Arbor Brewing Dirty Love: Review

Stout Brewed With Coffee

Barrel-aged Espresso Love with a dash of chocolate, chipotle, and vanilla

?? abv - probably 6.5% like the Espresso Love
No tasting notes to be found on the beer.
Only comes in a 1pt 9.4 oz bottle.  I bought it at the Yspi location.
Arbor Brewing Company-Corner Brewery
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

They used their Espresso Love Stout to make this brew. 
This stout has a blackish body with some brown highlights. A fine tan head sits on top when poured and does not stay around long and leaves no lacing on the glass. With only a few ounces in the glass the beer looks more brownish on the edges – almost cola like.

The aroma is green apple when I popped the cork. When poured into the glass it must be the chipotle spice and touch of oak that gives it that tart aroma. There is a touch of coffee on the nose. The aroma is light but, interesting.

On my first sip, I think I like this stout – let’s see. The chipotle spice comes through on the taste and lingers on the gums for a spicy aftertaste. A sweet-sour, ying-yang, profile is happening here. There is a little vinegar tartness on the front with a sweet note to give it some balance. This is making me think of the chipotle vinegar that I use for cooking. There is a medium coffee profile that is pleasing. They say, ‘a dash of chocolate’ and that would be it ‘a dash’ for it is hard to identify. I like the hint of vanilla and touch of oak that is more of an undertone.

The texture does not make me think of a stout for it seems thin. I don’t get a thick or creamy mouthfeel as I would expect from a stout.

Despite the mouthfeel, I like this brew.

Founders Breakfast Stout: Review

Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout

8.3% abv
60 IBU
$10.99 a four pack
Founders Brewing
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Foundersbrewing.com

This stout has a black body with a creamy thick burnt tan head. The foam is tasty by itself. The nose is pretty clean for this stout. I expected more.

As I drink this stout there is some thick lacing on the glass. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy, and smooth. Solid burnt coffee notes on this stout. Hint of chocolate to me. The bitterness is not that strong and seems to be on the aftertaste. To me it is not complex. It is pretty straight forward – coffee and some chocolate. Roasted grains and some bitter notes pick up as the stout warms up. If you are looking for a coffee stout this is pretty good. The carbonation is low, as stouts usually are.

It is an enjoyable coffee stout, but I don’t see it as a classic as they see it on beeradvocate.com.

Here is the description on the packaging: ‘The coffee lovers consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. This stout has an intense fresh roasted java nose topped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that goes forever.’

I can think of better Breakfast Stouts.

Visit CigarPostings2 for the cigar pairing with this stout.
 
Leave a comment

Founders Porter and Gurkha Avenger G5 Torpedo

Founders Porter

A Roasty-Toasty Pairing

The Beer6.5% abv
45 IBU
12 oz stubby bottle
$10.99 a six pack
Founders Brewing
Foundersbrewing.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
My Strength Rating: 7.5 the bitter notes pick it up – this is not your creamy smooth porter.

This porter pours a black body with a tan head. I had to make an aggressive pour to get a two finger head which, dissipated quickly.

The nose has some hoppy spice, dark chocolate – 90% dark, grainy coffee.

Upfront on the taste are a variety of toasted, roasted, and burnt notes. Roasted coffee, burnt grains, burnt chocolate (yes, 95% dark chocolate bitter) and this is all mixed with some good hoppy spice like citrus rind and black pepper on the tongue. There is a burnt caramel note on the back of my palate. Thinking of malts; think of Black Russian or pumpernickel bread.

The roasted notes linger on the palate for a satisfying aftertaste. The brew is on the thick side, not creamy, just thick. With a 45 IBU (international bitter units), there are some hoppy notes in this porter.

I have to say, I enjoyed this porter and I am looking forward to having another one on Christmas day.

The Cigar

Gurkha Avenger G5 Torpedo
Wrapper: Nicaragua Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 52 box press
My Strength Rating: Starts off with a 5 / 7 on the mid-point / 8 on the finish

This Puro hails from Nicaragua and is billed as full-bodied. Puro means that the wrapper, binder, and fillers are all from one country. I picked this stick up in a sampler pack but, I have smoked all of them except this one. I have to admit I do not remember the flavor profile of the G5. Coffee is all I remember.

I am not going to be doing my regular process here where I smoke the cigar to write my review and then I drink the beer to understand the flavors and then later I pair the two. I have this one cigar and this one bottle. I am saving the other bottles for Christmas day.

I am going to establish the taste of the porter first and after a few sips I will light the cigar for the pairing. Oh, now I think I remember this cigar. From memory, it was not complex. Straight forward dark coffee notes, roasted earth, and green peppercorn.

Off the light it is on the medium side with a smooth coffee profile.

As it approaches the mid-point of the cigar the body builds to medium-full strength. Some nice spice, coffee, and hardwood notes make for a tasty smoke.

Paired with this porter I am enjoying this cigar. The simplicity of this cigar matches well with the complexity of the beer. The coffee and woody notes of this cigar of course fits with the word description of the porter. I think these two are meant for each other. The strength ratings of each are similar, as well.

On the final third of the cigar: The body continues to build. The cigar started off with a medium body and the body moved to a medium-full by mid-point. Now, it is on the fuller side of medium-full, if not full. The coffee is more espresso like, while the burnt earthy notes become a little stronger. 7.5 or an 8 on my strength scale for the finish.

If you like coffee, roasted notes of earth and hardwood with a touch of pepper, this cigar is for you.

I like – how about you? Leave a comment.

The Crow’s Nest

If you grew up in a town around Plymouth, Michigan you probably stopped by The Crow’s Nest bar. The Crow’s Nest was located inside the Mayflower Hotel in Downtown Plymouth. Well, if you parked in the back parking lot, like most people did, you came through the back entrance and you had to walk by the Crow’s Nest sign that is above.
I have that sign hanging in my basement now.  I bought it at the auction when they sold everything off. 

Aventinus: Review

8.2% abv
500ml bottle
$5.60 a bottle
G. Schneider & Sohn
Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany

This is an ale you can play the game ‘what am I tasting,’ for there are so many flavors happening.

This wheat-doppelbock ale pours a murky brown body with an off-white head. Nice sweet fruit, caramel, yeast, and touch of clove on the nose. The clove taste picks up on the taste. There are plenty of tasty sweet tropical fruits like banana and pineapple. A touch of milk chocolate, hint of toffee, and a little sweet raisin just adds to this complex beer. I like the nutty, grainy, and yeasty notes which make me think of fruit bread.

There is a little earthy feel and the slight carbonation helps to deliver a smooth finish.

I remember reading a review on this brew back in the spring of this year and they had the note of bubblegum on the nose. I also remember with a little laugh saying no way. Well, today with this bottle I smell bubblegum. Also, on this bottle, the banana note is not as strong as I have had before. Maybe, because of the age on this bottle – it is from the spring time and I drank all others and left this one behind to sample with some age on this ale. Honestly, I was going to age it for one year – but, today I failed with that experiment.

Food and or cigars to pair with this ale – NONE! Drink this wonderful and delicious ale all by itself.

Staropramen Premium Beer

5% abv
11.2 oz bottle
Pivovary Staropramen A. S.
Prague, Czech Republic
$11.00 a six pack/$1.83 btl

This pilsner has a deep golden body with a nice and pleasing nose. The taste is interesting. There are grains, mineral notes, and a slight touch of herbal spice with a little pink peppercorn. The grains seem to have a toasted style to make things interesting. There is kiss of sweet malts and the right touch of hops to make a fairly balanced pilsner. The carbonation level is good and there is a good aftertaste on the palate.

I personally think I could drink this on a year round bases. Pilsner Urquell taste is more suited for a hot summer day. That is my opinion – what say you – please leave a comment below.

Pilsner Urquell: Review

Plzen, Czech Republic
4.4% abv
12oz bottle
$10.99 a six pack/$1.83 btl

The beer pours a clear golden color with a nice looking white head. The aroma is grainy but, overall clean. The taste is not what I remember. Okay, it has been years – well – decades since I have had this beer. Right off the bat I notice that the texture is smooth and fairly crisp. Is this being brewed in Canada now

The taste is grainy, like the nose, along with a touch of citrus on the back of the palate. There is a nice touch of pink peppercorn. Wow, fresh tasting – I remember this as a skunky metallic tasting beer.

This is a very easy drinking pilsner that is crisp, fresh, and drinkable on a summer day or to drink when you need to take a break from great tasty beer.

As far as pilsners go this is pretty tasty. I would pick this up before a Miller, Molson or other grocery store pilsner or lager.

Please leave a comment

Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizenbock: Beer Review

7.7% abv
1pt .9oz bottle
$3.60 a bottle
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Freising, Germany

Appearance: Cloudy Golden Color
Aroma: Fruit, banana
Taste: Banana nut bread, fruit, spice, sweet biscuit
Mouthfeel: Crisp in texture with a pleasing aftertaste

I am going back and buying more. This is damn good stuff.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dark

5.3% abv
1pt .9oz bottle
$3.60 a bottle
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Freising, Germany

Appearance: Rusty Brown
Aroma: yeasty malt, light toasted nose
Taste: Toasted malts and grains, fig or raisin like, caramel, banana, nutmeg, my wife called it cinnamon,
Mouthfeel: Crisp in texture with a tasty aftertaste

Damn this is really good beer.

Weihenstephaner Festbier: Beer Review

5.8% abv
1pt .9oz bottle
$3.60 a bottle
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Freising, Germany

I did say that I enjoy the Weihenstephan line-up of beers; well, this is their weakest link, my least favorite. I usually will have a bottle or two around Oktoberfest time. I personally do not think of this beer as an Oktoberfest beer. I view it the way they named the beer – Festbier. If I had to review this beer as an Oktoberfest beer I would then have to give it some low marks then. But, hey I don’t grade beers. Let’s review this baby.

The color is golden with a nice looking head. The aroma is grainy with toasted malts. The taste is sourdough bread, slightly toasted grains, and a little yeasty. There is a little hoppy note left on the tongue and it has a faint lemon-like nip to it.

The texture is crisp and smooth overall.

This is a good beer to mix in with those Oktoberfest beers – to help change the pace.

Tomorrow Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier and Weizenbock Vitus

Weihenstephaner Original: Beer Review

5.1% abv
1pt .9oz bottle
$3.60 a bottle
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Freising, Germany

I do enjoy the Weihenstephaner line-up of beers. I still remember my first one it was back in the 1980’s at the Box Bar in Plymouth, Michigan.

The appearance is a light golden yellow with a light biscuit aroma. The taste is biscuit, yeast, grains, and little hops to boot. As the beer warms for the second half of the glass there is a little more hops happing. Just a light citrus on the back of the palate with a little pink peppercorn mingled in for interest. The texture is crisp and medium-light in body.

Infinium Ale

On the tag: 1,000 years of brewing expertise A collaboration between the brewers of Samuel Adams and Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan.

They worked together for two years to create a bubbly style beer. I think it works.


10.3% abv
750ml Champagne-like bottle
$20 a bottle

The packaging on the beer is wonderful. A foiled top with a caged cork and a hang tag with some elegant looking graphics make this an attractive bottle of beer. This better be good.

Had to use a nut cracker to help pull the cork out and it had the great Champagne pop. Be careful with the pour for this ale has plenty of carbonation.

The aroma is fruity with a little spice and the taste is terrific. There is a soft citrus and floral hoppiness happing here along with a toasted caramel undertone. On my second glass the malty sweetness became more noticeable – no undertone now – it’s in your face. There is also an alcohol warmth going down the esophagus.

I liked this ale better chilled and on the first glass. As this ale warms up the malty notes come through and the alcohol was more noticeable in taste.

For you beer guys who don’t like bubbly – you may want to give this a try. This is not a drinking ale where you are going to sit back and drink this bottle. To me it is like a bubbly – a glass maybe two and I am done.

I recommend using a Champagne glass.

Cheers!

If you try this unique ale let me know what you think. Please leave a comment.

UFO – UnFiltered Offering

Here is another left over from summer - How did I ever miss these tasty beer postings

12 oz bottle
Harpoons Brewery
Boston, Mass , USA
Strength Rating: 3

The dominate flavor profile unfortunately is water. Then there is wheat. If they did not call it ‘hefeweizen,’ I would say it is an ok wheat beer but, it is an extremely boring hefe weizen beer. I would not even recommend this as an introductory beer. Plan old skip this one.

Summit Hefe Weizen: Beer Review

Here is a left over from summer that I found in my files

4.9% abv
12 oz bottle
Summit Brewing
Minnesota, USA
My Strength Rating: 4/4.5

Pours a hazy golden color and don’t forget to swirl the last 1/2 inch to get the sediment off the bottom of the bottle. Nice little head that did not last very long. No lacing on the glass to speak of.

To me this is pretty uninteresting. I love a good hefe on a summer day and this is not it. There is a wheat presence of course along with … an uninteresting clove and grainy taste. I keep on smelling this beer and I cannot figure it out. It is a big lump smell. Very uninspiring.

I have checked the bottle up and down for a freshness date but, I cannot find one. Every bottle in this six pack tasted the same – uninteresting.

Buy: Nope

Sierra Nevada Celebration: Beer Review

12oz
6.8% abv
Sierra Nevada Brewing
Chico, California, USA
My Strength Rating: 6.5

What a good looking ale. There is plenty of off-white head and an attractive amber colored body. The foam just clings to the glass for some solid lacing.

The nose is a hoppy dream of pine, citrus, and a little yeast.

There are hops and malts to delight in while drinking this ale. The notes of pine and citrus rinds are the main taste profile. The pine helps to deliver that prickly tingle on the tongue.

But, don’t judge to quickly – there are some malts in that there beer. I like the undertones of toasted grains and a hint of sweet biscuit if you are paying attention.

The mouthfeel is interesting. There is that prickly pine on the palate but, it is relatively smooth for a hoppy ale.

I give this ale a 6.5 on my strength rating because of the pine and citrus notes. There is a smooth characteristic to the mouthfeel but the prickly pine wins out. There are also some nice flavors to experience with each sip.

A good holiday ale.

Warm Welcome Nut Browned Ale: Beer Review



Yes, that is Santa's butt roasting
on the open fire

1pt .9fl oz
6% abv
Ridgeway Brewing
United Kingdom
$6.00 a bottle

The appearance is a rich amber color, not what I expected for a nut brown. The thin off white head disappeared quickly. The aroma has a malty profile and a touch of fruit but, where are the nuts! The malts are forward on the taste, sweet caramelized malts with a touch of yeast. Maybe a little raisin like character but, where are the nuts!

If you are looking for a nut brown ale keep on looking – for this is not a nut brown in my book. The packaging is all that this beer is worth. Damn I wanted a nut brown to go with my cigar tonight. I was looking forward to some roasted malts, toasted flavors, and a nice nutty taste.

After letting the beer sit for a little (maybe if it warms up it will have a nutty taste) and lighting up my cigar maybe this bad impression of a nut brown will liven up. Nope. This is not what I expect to taste when I read Nut Browned Ale. Honey Brown Ale, Double Ale, maybe Amber Ale. I give up on this one. I want a good beer to go with this cigar and listen to a hockey game.

Cherry Blue Filet Mignon

Oh, this was, sooo delicious!

I coated the filets with olive oil to prepare for cooking them on the grill.

Then, I prepared the dried Michigan Cherries with the Sansonetti Michigan Cherry Barbeque Sauce. You can either put them in a bowl to microwave or to place on the grill and add a little smokiness to them.

Once your filets are cooked to your liking, medium-rare for me, then add the blue cheese or gorgonzola and then cover with the Michigan Cherry Sauce. Now, you are ready to eat.



Arbor Brewing Phat Abbot Dubbel: Beer Review

Trappist-style ale
10% abv
12 oz bottle – bought at the Corner Brewing location in Ypsilanti
IBU: 28
Arbor Brewing Corner Brewing in Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Arborbrewing.com

The aroma is very interesting, in a good way, sweet and fruity but I could not come up with anything specific. The alcohol spice definitely hits the nose.

On their web site they call the color opaque pale yellow. To me it looks like a cola with pale yellow edges. This beer is not very appetizing in appearance. The head is maybe a ½ finger with no lacing left on the glass. The carbonation is zippo.

The flavors speak of spicy and sweet tropical fruits. The sweet mango-pineapple is candy sweet. The spice has to be coming from the high abv content. With that 10% abv it comes across boozy like. There are some dark fruits, raisins, dates and fig, mixing into the flavor profile.

Arbor Brewing Mackinac Island Fudge Stout: Beer Review

Brewed and bottled by Arbor Brewing Company Corner Brewery
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA


Barely any head on this stout, just a thin tan layer on top of the dark brown almost black body that has large dark murky brown edges.


The taste is muddy coffee with a ruddy dark chocolate. No carbonation to this stout. The texture is thick, somewhat creamy, and smooth.

For those of you who are not familiar with Michigan there is an Island between the Lower and Upper Peninsula named Mackinaw Island.  They are noted for their fudge and horse apples on the roads.  See there are no cars on the Island so there are horse carriages to take you around. 

Mahr’s Christmas Bock: Beer Review

6% abv
1pt 9fl oz bottle
Mahr’s Brau
Bamberg, Germany
$7.00 in Michigan

The color of the body is harvest gold – an interesting color for a bock beer. It had a nice white head that dissipated quickly and there was no lacing left on the side of the glass.

The aroma is biscuit and a faint touch of sourdough bread. Overall, clean on the nose.

The taste has a grainy wheat style, a touch of sweet biscuit, a dash of salt, some grassy and slight hoppy bitterness. The carbonation level is fine on this bock beer. The aftertaste is clean with no outstanding lingering notes.

Overall, I liked this beer. It is not super special but, a nice tasting beer. But, do you want to pay $7.00 for a nice tasting beer or a super special beer.

Coney Island Freaktoberfest: Beer Review

Let's end November with a little horror.
6.66% abv – creepy
1pt 6oz bottle
Shmaltz Brewing Co.
Saratoga Springs, New York, USA

Plenty of foam starts to well up and it looks – pink? Yes it’s pink. The beer looks reddish. Blood like – creepy! What did they color this with – beet juice?

The hops are at play here. There is a spicy citrus and floral profile here. The malts are at work to keep the balance. There is a strange sweetness that is a little freakish. The aftertaste is lasting. There are notes of pine, citrus, and a strong pink peppercorn finish that lasts on the palate for quite a while.

If you spend some time thinking about the flavors you may not like it. So, just drink it and don’t think about it – why? – it taste better that way.

I cannot decide, do I think it is okay or poor? I just don’t think I can pull out the poor card for there are so many bad examples out there. So, I’ll have to go with the okay label for this strange tasting beer.

I just sure hope that it is beet juice and not blood from a dead black cat that colors this freakish beer.

A must buy for Halloween if you are having a party or going to one. Then forget it.

Stone IPA

6.9% abv
1 pt. 6 oz bottle
Brewed by: Stone Brewing Co.
Escondido, California, USA

This India Pale Ale – IPA – is delicious. Flavorful citrus notes abound. This has the right level of bitterness for my palate. The tasty citrus profile lingers on the palate as well. There are some solid spices here but, not the peppery kind. There is a little floral and grass notes present.

The malts are at work here to keep things in check. There is an undertone of sweet biscuit that is pleasing to the palate.

Must buy.

Piraat Ale and Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend Maduro Toro

{Reposted from CigarPostings2 blog: dated 2-11-10}
Piraat Ale & Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend Maduro

I have had some problems finding a maduro cigar to go with this ale. Some of the big bold smokes that I have in my stash were just kicking up the flavor profile in the ale where I wanted some water to extinguish the overload on the palate.

Remember, this is a sipping ale (10.5 abv). So, I want to take a sip and then enjoy smoking the cigar. This ale is working well with my Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend Maduro Toro (6 x 58).

As I get to the mid-point of the cigar I notice that the ale is giving me a nice complexity of sweet, little sour and bitter notes across the tongue. A nice faint bitter note on the back of the palate from the ale and the earthy quality from the cigar build a fuller mouthfeel experience.

The meaty nut flavor from the cigar reminds me of a mixture of walnut and black walnut. The dark fruit notes in the cigar go well with the tropical notes from the ale. Cocoa is always a good characteristic of a nice maduro, at least to me. This cigar does not give me any sweet notes. It is more of a dry cocoa note that I get. And, the ales sweetness takes care of that so you don’t get a sweetness overload.

The cigar seems to always burn well for me and holds a nice salt and pepper ash.

If you are looking for a fuller mouthfeel, while drinking this ale, this is a good pairing. A little water will help to refresh the palate along the way.

This would be an excellent pairing at the end of a day.

Noel des Geants: Beer Review

:

Happy Thanksgiving
8.5% abv
11.2 oz bottle
Brasserie Des Legendes
Irchonwelz, Belgium
My Strength Rating: 6

The aroma of this ale is worth the price. I like the green apple, yeast, and sweet toffee on the nose. The color is a murky brown with a big tan head. The lacing on the glass is thick. The bottle I have is from last year but, don’t worry it is a bottle conditioned ale. There is a tasty muted apple note with a slightly roasted caramelized sugar and a dash of cinnamon with a touch of nutmeg and clove. Nothing really stands out, but that is the beauty here for this delicious winter ale, all the flavors work together. The mouthfeel is pleasing and smooth. There are no lingering notes or heavy texture. Skip the egg nog or pumpkin spice drink this holiday and enjoy this seasonal ale instead.

Gulden Draak Ale: Beer Review

10.5% abv
330ml
Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Belgium

The nose on this Triple Ale makes me think of roasted sweet caramelized malts. There is also a nice aromatic feel to the smell. The taste follows with toasted toffee sweetness and some yummy yeast. Playing off the aromatic nose there seems to be some fancy raisin and fig on the taste. There is a little spice coming from the alcohol and the hoppy intonations. The texture is smooth and creamy while the slight carbonation gives my palate a cleansing effect. The sweetness is never overwhelming. The hops must be doing their job to keep things in check. There is an herbal tea and a rich milk chocolate that blends in with the other yummy notes to create a wonderful taste experience.

Skip that pie dessert after your Holiday dinner and pour yourself a liquid dessert – Gulden Draak is perfect for that Holiday dessert.

See Gulden Draak 9000 Review

Duvel Belgian Golden Ale: Beer Review

 

8.5% abv
1 pint 9.4 oz bottle
Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat
Belgium
My Strength Rating: 5.5 - the pepper and touch of citrus makes this one tasty ale.

On the bottle it says, “The pilsner malts, Bohemian hops, and unique yeast strain combine to create Duvel’s intensity, aroma and oomph.”

This ale pours a pale golden color with plenty of white foam for the head. The lacing on the glass just clings on for dear life.

The aroma is that of a fresh cut Fuji apple and spice – slightly peppery.

The texture is fresh and crisp from start to finish. The mixture of hops and malts make me think of pink peppercorn, slightly sweet with a delicate peppery note. With a hint of fruit, a touch of citrus, and some tasty yeast and malts, it all combines for a delicious golden ale. If you want to experience a well-balanced brew give Duvel Golden Ale a try.

I recommend this as a must buy.

Pink Peppercorn

Pink pepper is not related to black pepper. It is not even a peppercorn. Pink pepper is native to Brazil. The aroma is aromatic compared to black peppers pungent smell or white peppers musky smell. The taste of this berry is sweet and mild. When I tasted the pink peppercorn I remember being surprised with the sweet taste. This is good to grind over your filet mignon or pork tenderloins, according to gourmetsleuth.com. Now the guy at Spice Merchants told me it is not good to leave the pink peppercorns in a grinder (all pink being used) because they have more moisture in them compared to the black pepper family. So, they do not grind up as nice as real peppercorns. That is way we see them mixed in with the other peppercorns and not by themself.

Green Peppercorn

Green pepper is the one most of us probably know nothing about. We may have seen it in the clear pepper grinders mixed in with the other peppercorns. Green peppercorns are black peppercorns, just picked earlier off the plant. So, we could say they are under-ripe peppercorns. They are mild in their flavor and that is one reason to mix them in the grinder with the other stronger ‘hotter’ peppercorns. Green pepper is good to use on vegetables and sauces. When I tasted the different peppercorn I thought it tasted like the black peppercorn without the big bite. I think I’ll be getting a new pepper grinder to have on hand for the green peppercorns.

Tomorrow Pink Peppercorn Posting

White Peppercorn

White pepper is black pepper without the outer crust of the berry. Whitepepper.com has a brief explanation on white pepper. The flavor is usually cleaner. I don’t think it has that citrus bite like the black pepper. When I tested the white peppercorn, I did not get that citrus bite but what I did get was a hotter taste. When I taste the fine grind white pepper in a jar (wet the end of your finger and tap the white pepper) I defiantly get a softer pepper taste. No citrus. Remember that nice pungent smell of black pepper? Well, forget it when you smell white pepper. Whole white peppercorns smell bad. They are musky or like my wife (the bloodhound) said, ‘this smells like shit.’ White pepper does not have a pleasant aroma but, the taste if very good.

Tomorrow Green Peppercorn Posting

Black Peppercorn

Most of us are familiar with black pepper. We use ground black pepper in our homes and when we are out to eat. We may even have a pepper grinder to grind the peppercorns. I personally use the grinder. With the grinder I can adjust the coarseness of the grind. I like the chunky coarse grind on my salads. Then, I like a fine grind on my eggs, when they are over easy. Scrambled eggs I prefer a medium-fine grind. Black pepper will have a citrusy overtone and a hardwood note. I think the coarse grind helps to deliver that stronger citrus bite. Think of the times you have bitten into a small chunk of a peppercorn and you get that strong black pepper taste. Then, think of the times you use a fine ground black pepper and there is a slight floral note along with the other qualities. That pungent smell of black pepper is just wonderful.

Tomorrow White Peppercorn Posting

Understanding Pepper as a Tasting Note

When reading tasting notes on wine, beer or cigars you will eventually see the note of pepper. It may have a peppery aroma, slight peppery taste or a spicy peppery flavor. When I read the word pepper, I usually think of black pepper. And, there have been times when I taste a peppery note and I have started to think, ‘what kind of pepper is this,’ because it does not taste like black pepper it seemed softer. The peppery like taste can come from several things; the alcohol content, the ingredients used that make a bitter taste, and citrus notes.

So, thinking about pepper as a profile flavor got me to the Spice Merchant Store and I bought four different peppercorns: black peppercorn, white peppercorn, green peppercorn, and pink peppercorn. In this series of postings we will review the four different peppercorns so we can use them in our description of wine, beer, and cigars.

I bought a half an ounce of each peppercorn and I poured each into a small glass so I could spend some time smelling the peppercorns and then I took a bite of each one to experience its particular flavor.

Tomorrow black peppercorn

Kapittel Tasting Day #2 - Pater Ale

Padilla Achilles Corojo Salomon & Kapittel Pater Ale
{Reposted from CigarPostings2 blog: dated 2-27-10}

The Cigar
Wrapper: Habano-seed Corojo
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican
Size: 7 x 58
Strength rating: 4.5/5
This cigar has a nice spice profile with a sweet cedar and slight almond taste but, nothing overpowering. To me it’s nothing spectacular either. If I gave out grades for cigars it would be a B- and sometimes I think of C+, making it one of my least favorites out of the Padilla line-up.

The Pater Brown Ale
This 6% abv ale sports a reddish-brown color with lots of yeast sediment. Save that last inch of ale to swirl it in the bottle to pickup that sediment and pour it into your glass. This ale was ‘made for the guests of the abbey and for everyday consumption’ according to globalbeer.com.

The nose has a sweet malty character and the taste is the same. It also, has some fruit (pear and raisin?) with a faint hoppy undertone. Nothing overwhelming in its character and the aftertaste is just a slight sweet feel on the mouth. To me it lacks any depth or complexity. My strength rating is a 4.5/5.

The Pairing
I paired these two up before and I was quite pleased with the pairing. The sweet cedar wood notes blend well with the sweet malts from the ale. I enjoyed the cola caramel taste of the ale while smoking the cigar. ‘Sweet’ is not a favorite of mine but, this pairing is enjoyable to me. I think the ale really helps this cigar and this cigar really helps this ale. The slight spice and mild nutty flavor of the cigar balances well with the fruit and fine carbonation of the Pater Ale. Even though these two lack complexity they still work well together. I wonder what would change with the ale if the cigar had a little more complexity.
While drinking the 11.2 oz bottle of ale and smoking this salomon shaped cigar, the two gave me a mouthfeel experience of a 4.5 for each. I did like this pairing and I am surprised.

Raspberry Stuffed Turkey Cutlets

Dinner for two

Four ¾ inch turkey cutlets
Goat Cheese
Fresh raspberries and blackberries
Black Currant Balsamic Vinegar
Raspberry Chipotle Sauce
Olive Oil



Pour some olive oil in a glass dish to coat the turkey cutlets. Then pour some black currant vinaigrette over each of the cutlet.

On two of the cutlets add goat cheese and then place some red raspberries and black berries.

Place the other turkey cutlet on top and pour some raspberry chipotle sauce over the top. Then bake in the oven till ready.

Then pour yourself your favorite raspberry beer and enjoy. I recommend the Samuel Smith’s Organic Raspberry Ale. This was oooh so delish.