Samuel Adams Cream Stout: Review

 

Roasty and Toasty

When sitting by the campfire, this fall or winter, get yourself a good chocolate treat – and I am not talking about a s’more – pour yourself a glass a Samuel Adams Cream Stout.

This 4.9% abv stout pours a black body with a fine looking tan head. There are layers of roasted malts on the nose. The taste is a wonderful sensation of roasted caramel coffee and toasted dark chocolate notes. The hops kick in to add a good bitter quality which, help to add to the dark chocolate style.

The texture has a nice creamy style due to the low carbonation. The toasted and roasted notes mingle in for a thick aftertaste that lingers.

And to complete this fireside delight a cigar with its own chocolate and coffee profile: Indian Tabac Maduro. There two were perfect while I sat by my fire here in Grindstone City, Michigan.

Sprecher Black Bavarian

The Black Lager
Yes, it is black and a 2 finger fine tan head that dissipates fairly quick. The head leaves some nice lacing on the glass. As I continue to drink the lager there is little lacing on the glass.
Aroma is roasted and sweet malt.
First sip is caramelized malt for sure. There is a definite dark chocolate taste that swirls around the palate. This is a fine black lager that is complex with the malty notes. To me there are roasted undertones that make me think of roasted coffee beans, there are caramelized malts, up front, giving me that sweetness and the dark chocolate that swirl around the edges that gives me that little bitterness.

Perdomo 2 Robusto Natural and Phat Abbot Dubbel

Phat Abbot trappist-style ale dubbel
By: Arbor Brewing Company

The Cigar
Wrapper: Nicaragua Natural
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 50
My Strength Rating: 4.5
Back in the 90’s when Perdomo cigar hit the market they came in some pretty cool boxes. I really enjoyed their cigars and then late 90’s, 98 or 99, the quality seemed to lack and I stopped smoking them all together. The Store that I frequent even stopped carrying them all together. A couple of months back I got a great deal on a five pack of Perdomo 2 naturals so, I had to buy them to give them a new try. The first two seemed pretty good. So I thought it was time to give a short review with a good malted beverage along the way.

The cigar is not all that complex. It has a nice medium roast coffee profile along with some nice earthy notes and some mild spice. This would be a very good stick to smoke with a coffee – medium roast of course! I have to say, I think it is a pleasant smoke. It is not anything to write home about but, then again you probably never write home. The cigar is serviceable – the cigar is a value cigar.

The Ale
The appearance is ok. The ruddy brown look with the light head did not scream, Drink Me! Probably due to the light-fine carbonation the head was thin even with an aggressive pour. The aroma was pleasant, with light spice and fruit.

I do not remember having the Phat Abbot last session but, the year before I really liked this beer. It had a nice complexity and the tropical fruits and spice with the sweet malts danced on the palate. I bought a couple of bottles at the Ypsilanti Michigan Brewery the other week. I opened the first bottle to establish the taste of the ale since it has been awhile since I have had one. Experiencing the first bottle I have to say was uninspiring. The tropical notes were faint, no banana notes at all, the spice was mild and the sweet malts were just there. That did not stop me from moving forward with this pairing. I had the other bottle ready to go and the cigar was ready to light and maybe some magic well happen.

The Pairing
These two do work together but, they do not make a memorable moment. Neither one detracted from the other and that is good – so, it is a serviceable pairing. The taste of the second bottle of ale was pretty much like the first one I had. I did notice the watery edges a little more while I smoked the cigar. The ale did nothing to change anything in the cigar profile. The medium roast coffee notes of the cigar mingled with the sweet malts nicely. The earthy style of the cigar played well with the light tropical fruit and spice. But, the ale is just lacking character.
But, it is the end of March and they are done making this ale. I’ll try it next September when they start the new batch and see if the flavor is better then. As for the cigar, I’ll have to plan on a coffee or a stout pairing.

Perdomo 2 Natural and Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout

Perdomo 2

The CigarWrapper: Nicaragua Natural

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 5 x 50

My Strength Rating: 4.5

The cigar is not all that complex. It has a nice medium roast coffee profile along with some nice earthy notes and some mild spice. This would be a very good stick to smoke with a coffee – medium roast of course!

I have to say, I think it is a pleasant smoke. It is not anything to write home about but, then again you probably never write home. Let’s see how it serves up some taste with a stout.

The ale that I have selected is Bell’s Special Double Cream Stout. This ale is complex. The other day I sampled a bottle to see what this beer is all about. I was not sure what I thought; do I like it, do I not? So, tonight I am going to have one before dinner to establish what these flavors are all about. Then, I’ll do the pairing after dinner.

The ale like I said is complex – a candy like sweetness is quickly interrupted by some really nice roasted, almost burnt quality, malts. Then, just in a blink of the eye there is a sourness that is interrupted by a little bitterness and an earthiness or maybe a grainy coffee. The chocolate is hard to notice in the background because all that other stuff going on inside the mouth. Then, I start to think ‘sour’ – what was that – ‘sour’- was it sour lemon rinds or sour milk, I don’t think it was sour vinegar. After several sips I just came to the conclusion, whatever sour it is, I don’t like it in the ale. And as the ale warmed up I really didn’t like the sour note. But, I really liked those roasted malts and some of the sweetness. I think the hop bitterness was nice but, the hoppy lemon rind was a distraction for me in this ale. I just can’t call it sour milk taste because that sounds really unappealing. Double cream? I don't even know if it was there, too much going on with this beer. I would recommend trying this beer and drinking it slowly to get all the flavors that are going on.

When I paired this ale up with the Perdomo cigar I liked how the earthiness of the cigar managed the malts and the hops of this ale. The sweetness was not as intense and that sour note was managed a bit. I also liked how the bitterness was a little more pronounced and then the roasted malts were still solid. But, this gave me the opportunity to say, where is the cream! The creamy profile is on the front of the taste, right when it passed over my lips. And then, to me it is lost with all the intense flavors going on in the mouth. I would like this more if the creaminess had a chance to play a role in the mouthfeel.

This was the right cigar to pair with this very complex beer. The cigar is not complex and pretty straight forward with its earthy, medium coffee and light spice profile. Come to think of it I never noticed any of the light spice from the cigar, probably because of the complexity of the ale. I wonder what will happen when I pair this ale up with a stronger cigar with some solid coffee, chocolate and solid spice. Will it be taste bud overload or, will it be the matching that will maximize my pleasure?

Cranberry Maple Pecan Encrusted Veal Chops

In a small frying pan melt about three tablespoons of unsalted butter and add Cranberry Maple rub

then toss in the chopped pecans

Once the pecans are glazed well with the rub cover the veal chops with the pecans. Bake in the oven till ready.

International: Four Beer Review

Denmark, Turkey, Belgium, and United States

Moosehead Lager

This is a good lager. I always like to visit this beer a couple of times during the summer months when I get tired of drinking those wheat and Belgian beers. Always crisp and refreshing.  This is a leftover picture I had from summer.

Efes Dark Beer

This 6.1% abv dark beer comes all the way from Turkey. It has an almost black body with a thin light tan head. The smell was malty based with a slight sweetness. The taste is all roasted barley malts. It is a very simple beer and this simple is good! The carbonation was low on the texture. I like this beer. I would buy this again.

Dundee Pale Bock Lager

A slight malty aroma but, nothing special. A pretty yellow golden body with a thin white head. This is a tasty pale bock. Once again nothing complex here. I plan to do a full review of this beer when I buy a Dundee variety pack.

Luppoo

This ale comes from Belgium. It is brewed with barley malts and oats. Did I have problems with this one. I go to open the bottle and the foam came spewing out. I had to set the bottle in the sink and after a minute or two it was still foaming at the mouth. So, I opened it the rest of the way and poured it into a glass. Did this one ever have a head on it. A mountain of white foam. It also had tons of sediment floating around for a very unappealing look. I don’t know if this one is old or what – no expiration date of course. This taste was not bad. A typical Belgian brew: sweet fruits, candied sugar, and a little hops to keep the sweetness undercontrol. At $4.60 for an 11.2 oz bottle and half it lost in opening – I probably will not be buying another one soon.

Allagash interlude 2008: Review

Yes, a beer with a vintage date.

Bottled on: August 2008 – proudly labeled on the front of the bottle because of its aging potential.
Ale aged in oak barrels
9.5% abv
750ml bottle

Appearance: call it amber or since it is fall ‘burnt autumn’ or ‘deep pumpkin.’ The head is a rich off-white color. An easy pour to a two finger head from this ale.

Aroma: wow, nothing. So, I take it to my wife (former bloodhound) and she said the same. I am in trouble with this beer then.

Taste: Do I have to taste it now? Oh, not bad. Actually, good – if you like oak beers. Sour oak mash. Firm on the sour. Little apple in the background. Over-ripen pineapple mixes it up with a little sweetness. This is tasty for a beer that has aging potential. This aged ale is a good sipper, not just because it is like wine but, for the 9.5% alcohol that can kick your butt. As this ale warms up it gets better.

If this ale is running for office I am voting yes.

Mouthfeel: a nice sour tingle on the tongue that leaves behind a green apple lingering tartness. The carbonation is strong enough to clean the palate – a little bit.

For those of you living in Michigan, I was told that Allagash will not be sold in Michigan. If you find any of their products they are worthy of the price. The price tag fell off this bottle but, it had to be around $10.00 for the bottle. I’ll update that if my beer store has any left for me to check the price. If he has any left I’ll buy the rest any ways. I like this ale. A very sophisticated tasting ale.

Butte Creek Porter

Touted as an “Organic” Porter

6.1%abv
12 oz bottle
Butte Creek Brewing
Ukiah, California, USA
My Strength Rating: 4
organicale.com
Appearance: Dark brown body with a thin tan head.
Taste: Light coffee style, 60% dark chocolate but nothing special, mild roasted malts.
Mouthfeel: mild carbonation, smooth, and a big watery edge that keeps it too clean. There is a nice roasty malt aftertaste left on the tongue.

The watery profile mellows the flavors more than I would like. This is drinkable. Good for an introductory beer to the porter style for those who have not had one before. I’d skip this one.

At $12.00 a six pack – forget it!

Steelhead Porter

6% abv
12 oz bottle
Mad River Brewing Co.
Blue Lake, California, USA
My Strength Rating: 8 due to the slight sour bitter bite

Appearance: Dark brown body and a thin tan head
Aroma: Scotch? Bitter chocolate, dark roasted notes
Taste: Dark chocolate bitter bite (90% style), medium roast coffee
Mouthfeel: low carbonation, rich full flavor

I think I will try this one again.

Monk’s Café: Review

The Ale
Monk’s Café Sour Red Ale

5.5% abv
11.2 oz bottle (comes in a 4 pack)
Van Steenberge Brewery (I seem to like their beers)
Belgium
My Strength Rating: 4

This is an Oud Bruin style, meaning they take a mixture of young beer and old beer and blend them together and in this case they also age it in oak.

Let’s start with the finish – I think it has a clean and refreshing aftertaste. Not clean as in pilsner clean (void in taste). Think of mouthwash clean! You get a mouthful of mouthwash and swish it around and then after you spit out the mouthwash your mouth feels refreshed but still retains some of the mouthwash taste. Well, you get a mouthful of this mild sour ale and yes swish it around to get the full taste of this delicious sour ale. After you have swallowed the ale you are left with a refreshing mouthfeel. Also, think of a Champagne aftertaste – clean and tingly.

Get a big mouthful of foam – uhmm good. Taste that cherry-oaky taste within that foam – very good. While drinking this ale (3 bottle review over three different days) I really enjoy the balance of the mild sweet-sour style. I also have grown to like its complexities. Flavors of: green apple for a little tartness, green grapes for a little freshness, dark cherry for sweetness, with a slight oak background, and a cola like effervescence that just seems to explode when it’s in your mouth. This is delicious! Damn! Another new favorite in the makings.

Here is something I did not expect. Sour beer on a hot day? No way, right! Yes, this is very good on a hot day indeed. It is 91 degrees out with the humidity around 90+% and this Sour Ale is refreshing.

Pumpkin Beer Taste Off

Today my wife and I set up three different Pumpkin Beers to taste and decide which one we liked best.

On the picture going left to right – Screamin’-Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Imperial Pumking, la parcela no. 1 pumpkin ale

Michigan Brewing Screamin’-Pumpkin Spiced Ale
Michiganbrewing.com

The aroma is fresh pumpkin pie and the taste follows right along. The taste is nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, a little pumpkin note. This is pretty tasty for a pumpkin beer. I am ready for some pumpkin pie – Oh, I won’t have to eat one, I just drank one.

Southern Tier Imperial pumking

Southerntierbrewing.com

Nothing to inspiring on the nose – just malty. Right off the taste I notice a peppery spice from the 9% abv alcohol. There is a very slight pumpkin but, nothing to wow you for the fall season. There is a lingering peppery spice on the back of the palate. I just don’t get this brew. Pepper on pumpkin pie – really? I just don’t like this beer. $7.99 for a 650ml bottle.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales – la parcela no.1 pumpkin ale
Jollypumpkin.com

This ale has pumpkin, cocao, spices and then is aged in oak. This 5.9% abv ale has a spicy little nose and I think I notice a little oak and a funky little sour smell. The flavor comes across as an herbal spice. The oak is playing a role in this pumpkin ale. There is an interesting tart-sweet style. I don’t think I have noticed much pumpkin. Call this a ‘Fallfest beer’ – okay I get it. Call it “pumpkin ale’ – I am not inspired. I want a better pumpkin flavor and spices that represent the season and oak and herbal spice don’t make me think pumpkin. $13.99 for a 750ml bottle. I like this ale long as I am not expecting a pumpkin treat.

Overall, my wife and I agreed (wow, that does not happen often) Michigan Brewings Screamin’-Pumpkin is our choice for a pumpkin beer. The pumpkin taste was the best of the bunch by a long shot and the spices make sense to the season - nutmeg and cinnamon – and I liked the nutmeg note.

I just went to beeradvocate to read up on some reviews. Sometimes I find these humors. For example one guy writes about the la parcela that it is not a good interpretation of a pumpkin beer but, gives it an A-. Wow, I wish that guy was my college poetry class instructor. ‘hey that is not a good interpretation of that poem – but, here is an A-.’ Damn, I remember getting a D for a bad interpretation.

On the pumking beer beeradvocate raters give it an A- out of 868 reviewers. That is impressive. What do they taste that I don’t. So, I look on the bottle for an expiration date – none. Is this an old bottle from last year – could be. But, I give this beer a pure F. Pepper and a little pumpkin? I might have to make a trip to Lakewood, New York to try a fresh one – if that is the problem.

From beeradvocate they say, B+ out of 78 reviewers. Once again the humor – one rater says, taste full of pumpkin and has a cinnamon taste – D+. I guess he never had pumpkin pie before – and if you don’t like pumpkin pie why would you buy this beer! I am really glad this guy was not my college instructor. Hey, great job getting the interpretation right – smells right, taste like pumpkin, but that is not what I wanted from a pumpkin ale – D+.

Now, I have to admit – I do not care for Pumpkin Ales. It has to be one of my least favorite seasonal brews. Give me an Oktoberfest for the fall season.

Allagash Curieux

11% abv
750ml bottle
Allagash Brewing
Portland, Maine, USA
My Strength Rating: 6
Allagash.com
$17.99 a bottle

Bottling Date: April 2009 This ale has some good aging potential.
Appearance: Dull golden color with a fine white head that dissipated quickly.
Aroma: Solid oaky notes, sweet bready malt, and tropical notes
Taste: Tropical citrus bitterness (lemon and grapefruit like), I feel like I am licking the bourbon barrel, the bourbon barrels did their job then, green peppercorn notes probably from the 11% abv, grassy hops,
Mouthfeel: a sweet smooth style, the carbonation feels low, and there are some nice lingering notes left on the palate

This is a sipper! I opened the bottle while I started diner at 6:15 and it is now 9:00 and I am taking my last sip from my 12 ounces that I poured.

This ale also pairs well with dark chocolate. After my swordfish diner I want some chocolate so I got the 85% dark chocolate and the 99% out as well. Pairing the dark chocolate with this ale was very good.

This is a must try for the connoisseur.  

Grolsch Lager and Kulmbacher Pils: Quick Review

Grolsch Premium Lager
5% abv
12 oz bottle
Grolsche Bierbrouwerij
Enschede, Holland
Grolsch.com

The aroma is grassy and grainy – typical green bottle smell that you would expect. The taste is grainy, malt based, euro lager spice. Okay for something different. What do you think?

Kulmbacher Premium Pils
4.9% abv
12 oz bottle
Kulmbacher Brauerei
Kulmbach, Germany

Nice biscuit and sweet malty notes. Nice golden pilsner body with a thin white head. The taste is fresh biscuit, sweet malt, and an nice grass like hoppy note. There is a flavorful pink pepper profile that makes this a tasty pilsner. See my postings on pepper notes. (Pink Pepper Posting) The texture is crisp and smooth. Overall I really like this beer. This is a must buy for pilsner fans.

Heavy Seas – Mutiny Fleet – Siren Noire

Boy, the name of beers seems to get longer now-a-days.
This stout is brewed and then is flavored with chocolate – sounds good to me!

“Sirens are the sea nymphs of legend whose beautiful songs lured sailors off course to their demise. Mere mortals are unable to defy their sweet call.” This is written on the side of the bottle.

8% abv
1pt .6oz bottle
Clipper City Brewing Co.
Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Appearance: Murky dark brown with a dark tan head that is thin and dissipates quickly.
Aroma: Roasted malt and chocolate
Taste: Roasted and slightly burnt malt taste with a 75 to 80% dark chocolate like texture.
Mouthfeel: The burnt malt and dark chocolate bite the tongue for a solid aftertaste. Very low carbonation and syrupy type mouthfeel makes for a full flavored stout.
A must buy

Old No. 38 Stout

5.6% abv
12oz bottle
North Coast Brewing Co.
Fort Bragg, California, USA

Appearance: Black with a tan head.
Aroma: slight toasted and sweet malt – toffee or caramel like.
Taste: Dark roasted malts with a good coffee like style. The coffee bitter type flavor makes this beer good for pairing with some of my favorite cigars. I’ll be visiting this stout again with a big fat stogie.
Mouthfeel: Good lingering stout type flavors – from the taste of the beer.

This is an excellent choice for stout lovers.

Lump of Coal – Stout

8% abv
1pt .9oz bottle
Ridgeway Brewing
Oxfordshire, England

I have never had or heard of this Dark Holiday Stout. Reading the bottle is funny. It starts on the front with the statement, “Much More Than You Deserve for Xmas This Year…” And here is what’s on the back of the bottle, “Yet another bummed-out holiday? Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout is liquid consolation. It’s deep, rich, sweetly rewarding stout to take the edge off of that grim family gathering, that cheerless annual festival of alienation. This brew is as dark as it gets, as black as the lump of coal you’ll be getting for Christmas. Because, let’s face it, you’ve been pretty bad this year.”

Besides the funny stuff, this stout is not all that bad. I did not expect much. It may be a little over priced at $6.00 a bottle because it is just a ‘good’ stout. The body is black and carries a tan head. The aroma seems to be sweet malty like and the taste is slightly sweet with a good thick dark chocolate bite. It leaves a nice bitter note on the tongue and the carbonation is light overall as you would expect a stout to be. This would be a fun one to buy and place is a beer lovers Xmas stocking.

Samuel Smith Raspberry and Cherry Ales: Review

Organic Raspberry Fruit Ale
1pt. 2.7oz bottle
5.1% abv
This ale is blended with raspberry juice and delivers a wonderful raspberry flavored ale. At $7.00 a bottle you have to like fruit ales so I buy this one for my wife. She tells me that she likes this raspberry ale better than all the other raspberry flavored beers that she has tried. I poured myself a 6 oz glass of this ale and it is pure raspberry delight. I might even try to drink a bottle of this one day.

If you enjoy fruit ales and raspberry is your flavor – this is a must buy then.

Organic Cherry Fruit Ale
550ml bottle
5.1% abv

Here is another fruit blended ale from Sam’l Smith. Wow, this has a big cherry taste. Once again I poured myself a 6 oz glass of this ale and my wife can drink the rest but, I think I would like to try a whole bottle one day. This bottle runs around $5.00 here in Michigan. I hate to admit it but, I really liked the flavor from this ale.

Fruit ale drinks – get to the store and buy a bottle it is worth it.
Both of these would make very good dessert beers.

Railbender Ale: Review

The name Railbender Ale comes from honoring the railroads and railroad workers from the Erie, Pennsylvania area.

6.8% abv., 12oz bottle, 26 IBU, Erie Brewing Co., Erie, Pennsylvania, USA

eriebrewingco.com

Appearance: Bright reddish copper
Aroma: Sweet bread
Taste: Caramel nut bread with a slight hoppy bitter note late on the tongue. The flavor does fill the palate. With a 6.8% abv I thought there might be a little peppery bite but, I do not detect any. As I think about that I notice a little herbal or herbal tea like quality. A fairly simple and sweet Scottish Ale. Mouthfeel: Refreshing, crisp, and smooth – with these qualities you will want to down a few but, at 6.8% be careful. A slight sweetness along with a tiny hop bite is left on the palate.
My Strength Rating: 4

Overall I think this is a tasty and smooth ale. I bought one bottle about a month ago and liked it but, was a little leery of the sweetness. So, I bought another bottle and I think it is worthy of a six pack try next time. I am going to have to plan a trip to this brewery. I have had several of their beers and have enjoyed them.

Bornem Double Abbey Ale and Hoyo de Monterrey Sultan Double Maduro Cigar

After a summer of wheat beers, pilsners and others of course, it is time to prepare the palate for some fuller strength beers and the Bornem Double Abbey Ale is just that beer to sweeten the palate and prepare for the fall and winter months ahead.

The Bornem Double greets the nose with its dark fruit, caramel and malty aromas. The taste also has that caramel note along with other malty sweetness. The carbonation from this double ale dances across the tongue. Right off the bat I am thinking of a 5.5 strength rating because of the variety of flavors and the mild tartness on the mouthfeel.

I was thinking what goes good with caramel and sweet malty notes but, coffee and some earthy notes. I go to the humidor and grab my old time favorite the Hoyo de Monterrey Sultan Double Maduro Cigar. This 7.2 x 54 big boy should do the trick. The Hoyo line-up is known as the “espresso of cigars.”

I rate this Sultan a 6.5 on my strength scale and the point system works while only moving one point to the stronger side of the ale. During the pairing the Hoyo with its earthy coffee and slight mocha notes tames the sweetness of the ale while I still enjoy the sweet caramel and slight bitterness. The effervescence still plays on while I finish the 750 ml bottle of Bornem Double Abbey Ale.

The sun sets as I finish my last few sips of this ale and my last few puffs of the Sultan. So, I have to say, softly, as I leave you good ol’ summer of 2010, ‘this bottle of Bornem Double Abbey Ale has me ready for the rest of 2010.’

Manchester Star Ale: Review

The Beer

Manchester Star Ale
1 pint .9fl oz.
7.3% abv
J.W. Lees and Co. Greengate Brewery
Middleton, Manchester, England

Appearance: A dark almost black body with a tan head.
Aroma: Malty all the way – roasty
Taste: A very pleasing English Porter style. Roasted malts, a smoky tobacco like quality, roasted pecan notes, solid medium coffee notes.
Mouthfeel: A good thick creamy style that leaves a roasty, smoky, and lingering coffee aftertaste.
My Strength Rating: 6 – Because of its chewy-thick mouthfeel.

I have enjoyed a couple of these this year. This is a good choice for a beautiful fall day. It is a hearty porter that is full of flavor. Sit back and enjoy this one.

Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark: Review

12 oz bottle
4.9% abv
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA
My Strength Rating: 4

This dark lager sports a fine tan head that sits on a dark cola colored body. The head disappeared quickly. Creamy Dark is an easy drinking beer with a roasted malt quality that is followed with a little creamy style. With the name Creamy Dark, I wish it had a better ‘creamy’ mouthfeel. That roasted malt taste is mingled with a slight tobacco note. Not complex but, a beer that one can sit back a drink a few while sitting by the campfire. There is not an aftertaste that lingers and the mouthfeel is on the light side of medium.

Celis Pale Bock

Visit CELIS.com

It is said on their web site: “ A top-fermented, copper-colored ale, Celis Pale Bock derives its rich red flavor from a blend of malts from the Midwest. Like its companion Celis White, Pale Bock is seasoned with our signature coriander and Curacao orange peel. The malts, balanced with the Willamette hops give it a warm body and aroma as well as a flavor that stays with you. This beer is especially good with heartier fare, such as roast chicken, smoked ham, venison and Southwestern dishes.”

To me there is not a strong coriander or curacao orange peel profile like that of the Celis White. The taste comes across as a dry, grainy, and herbal in character. This is not super interesting but, there is something that is likable about this beer on a fall or winter day. There is a bit of a watery profile to make it drinkable and this should make for a good beverage to drink with a quality cigar.

Buy: purchase one bottle before picking a six pack.

Eisenbahn Escura

12 oz bottle

4.8% abv

Cervejaria Sudbrack

Blumenau, Brazil

My Strength Rating: 3

 By drinking this beer you must remember you are depleting the Amazon Rain Forest of it natural resources – Hey, maybe I’ll when some awards, like Al Gore, for my misinformation.

This Eisenbahn pours a deep mahogany color with an off-white head that does not stay around too long.

The nose has a slight roasted malt and caramel profile. The taste is pretty simple and it follows the aroma along with a watery style that kind of does the beer in at this point. Oh there is a mild coffee note but, the watery style is holding the flavors back. This could be a very tasty beer but, it is not.

Buy: skip this one

Eisenbahn South America's Craft Beer

Franziskaner Weissbier Hefe-Weissbier

Not the boldest or biggest hefer out there on the market but, it is seen as a classic hefe-weissbier. If you are looking for the big banana, clove, and spice type forget it. To me the banana is almost non-existent in this beer. There is a mixture of clove, spice, slight lemon citrus and other earthy-grainy notes.

This hefe was great to sit back and enjoy after stacking 5 cords of firewood.

Acme California IPA

12 oz bottle
6.5% abv
North Coast Brewing Co.
Fort Bragg, California, USA
My Strength Rating: 6

This IPA pours a hazy golden orange color with a one finger head from an aggressive pour. The lacing on the glass is heavy.

The taste to me is very pleasing for an IPA. I have to admit I am not a BIG IPA fan. The idea of grapefruit rinds and pine needles dragging across my tongue is not my idea of enjoyment. I have not had this beer before so I do not know what to expect. So, it is to my pleasure that I like my first few sips.

There is a nice little grapefruit citrus note that seems to be blended with a little fresh orange taste. The slight malty sweetness that peeks through helps to balance things out. There is a hoppy floral note and some tasty grains mixing it up in this delicately spiced complex IPA. I like the variety of flavors in this ale.

I wonder if the hop heads love it, like it or dislike this ale. Let’s see what they say on beeradvocate.com.

Out of 411 reviews they give it a B and the Bros give it a B+. If it tasted like pine needles dragging across your mouth they would give it an A.

I personally find this to be very tasty and enjoyable to drink. I think I’ll plan to buy some more.

Buy: Yes

Ommegang Abbey Ale

8.5% abv
12 oz bottle
Brewery Ommegang
Cooperstown, New York, USA
My Strength Rating: 6

This Belgian style Dubble Abbey pours a dark caramel like color with a fine tan head. It was easy to pour a two finger head. The nose has some dark fruits and good sweet malts. The taste is surprising Dubble Abbey Ale like. I have not seen this one before so, I do not know what to expect. The malty notes have a sugar like sweetness that is very pleasing and mix well with the rich roasted caramel malts. I like the dark fruit like character that adds some body to the ale. There is a fancy raisin and dark cherry profile. I notice a little bit of a 50% dark chocolate like note. There is some good complexity going on here – at times I want to chew on this beer. The carbonation level is just right and helps to clean the palate from the malts and leaves my mouth with a dry winy feel.

I was thinking, how an American brewery can get this sooo close to a Belgian Dubbel – well – the answer is on the bottle! “Part of the Duvel family of fine ales.” It was a ‘ringer’.

This Abbey Ale would be very good with a New York Strip Steak. I think I’ll make dinner plans.

Buy: yes

Spaten Oktoberfest UR-Marzen and Beck’s Oktoberfest Faceoff

Spaten Oktoberfest
12 oz. bottle
5.9 abv
Spaten-brau
Munich, Germany
My Strength Rating: 4

Beck’s Oktoberfest
12 oz. bottle
5% abv
Brauerei Beck & Co.
Bremen, Germany
My Strength Rating: 4

These two look alike when poured into the glass and I am talking about the color. Both are of a bright bronze color and you could not tell the difference when riding by on a galloping horse. When held to the light there is a slight difference. So one is copper and the other is bronze – who cares. The head on the Spaten was poured on the thin side and the color was off-white. The head on the Beck beer was thick and foamy with a tan looking color and it stayed around for the party.

I thought this was going to be easy on this faceoff. I have had these before and I buy both of them every year at this time. But, I have always liked the Spaten over the Beck’s. Doing a quick sip of each to compare them it is hard to tell the difference. Both have that sweet malty grainy style with a touch of caramel and some herbal hoppy spice. Now, let me take my time to break each one down.

Spaten: A nice rich and sweet malty presence. It is light and lively on the mouthfeel. There is a slight herbal spice Oktoberfest style taste. This beer is not to complex or super special but, it is a good classic Oktoberfest beer.

Beck’s: A good caramel malty profile with a light and lively mouthfeel as well. The spice is similar to the Spaten but, I think it is slightly different. Another good classic Oktoberfest style beer.

Okay, I like both of these. That is probably why I buy both every year. I don’t think I can no longer say that I like one better than the other.

Both are very drinkable and do not leave a metallic or astringent taste.

Buy both! Let me know what you think.