Full Circle by: New Holland Brewing

Kolsch-style beer

4.9% abv

12 oz bottle

New Holland Brewing

Holland, Michigan, USA

Newhollandbrew.com

Here is what they have to say on their web site about this beer.

“The soft, well-rounded malt character, light hop profile and crisp finish bring us back around to the familiar tastes of classic, thirst quenching beer.”

Okay, a little ying and yang going on with the malts and hops but, nothing worth writing home about.  The flavors seem a little muted.  Nothing really standing out here.  The grassy, grainy taste seems dusty.  The hops are not distinct. 

I poured this beer with the bit of sediment on the bottom of the bottle and the body looks hazy (it’s clear if you do not pour the sediment in) gold.  It has a nice white head.  The aroma is light with a grainy nose. 

Drinking this beer by itself was boring at best.  For the second bottle I lit up a Padilla 68 Robusto Cigar and the beer seemed a little better being paired up with something. 

I won’t be looking to put this in my beer fridge again. 

True North Cream Ale

5% abv

11.5 oz bottle

Magnotta Brewery

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

Magnottabrewery.com

My Strength Rating: 2.5

This beer pours a clear golden color with a light white head.  Clean lager like aroma.  Another name for this ale should be – water ale and not cream ale.  It has a big watery edge with an apricot like taste with a hint of floral.  Not Magic Hat #9 like apricot but, just enough for me to say, ‘is that an apricot like taste?’  Okay, I am not a fan of apricot like tastes in my beer. 

For the positive – it is a very easy drinking beer and has a refreshing side to its mouthfeel. 

Other than that it is an easy beer to say, ‘is there something else “better” to drink?’

A Beer Review: Fuller’s London Porter

Rich, Dark & Complex

5.4% abv

11.2 oz bottle

$14.00 a six pack

Fuller Smith and Turner PLC

The Griffin Brewery

Chiswick, London, United Kingdom

Fullers-ales.com

When I first smelled the beer I thought my glass had picked up a musty smell but, it must be part of the aroma.  As I continued to figure out the aroma, it did take a couple of minutes till it opened up, I noticed a wonderful rich chocolaty note followed by sweet pumpernickel, coffee/latte, and rich roasted malts. 

The flavors are top notch.  Chicory has a better roasted coffee flavor than coffee and that is what I’ll have to go with for this porter – Chicory.  The chocolate profile is like a dark chocolate swirled with a rich thick milk chocolate.  The toasted grains are pleasing. 

The mouthfeel is just what a porter should be.  Creamy, smooth, mild carbonation, and a flavorful aftertaste. 

This may be my new personal favorite in the Porter category.

Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout

A Stout Brewed with Chocolate

11% abv

650 ml bottle

$8.00 a bottle

My Strength Rating: 7

Made with: 2-row barley, caramel 60 malt, barley flakes, chocolate malt, and bittersweet Belgian chocolate.  Don’t forget the hops: kettle hops; Chinook and Willamette.   This stout is best served at 48 degrees.

Southern Tier Choklat Stout has a black body and a rich dark tan head.  This 11% abv stout has a rich deep dark chocolate nose that makes you want to bite the rim of the glass while you smell this stout.  The aroma even has a creamy style. 

The flavors are wonderful.  This is a quality chocolate stout.  If you want to compare chocolate stouts for quality this is your template.  They use bittersweet Belgian chocolate in the brewing process and it shows up on the palate.  This is a chocolate lovers dream (if you like beer that is).  The caramel, barley, chocolate malts, and the Belgian Chocolate combine for one tasty treat. 

Chocolate just covers the palate.  As the stout warms there is a better bitter-sweet style coming through.  A touch of burnt sugar and creamy caramel add to this tasty chocolate stout.

The mouthfeel is rich, smooth, and creamy.  There is a lingering bitter chocolate coffee note on the tongue. 

This 650 ml bottle will run you around $8.00 a bottle and it is worth every penny. 

Recommendation:  Run to the store today and pick up two bottles!

Allagash Dubbel Reserve: Review

Belgian Style Ale Batch # 67

7% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$9.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

My Strength Rating: 4.5

Here is an interesting note: The 750 ml bottle is labeled as Dubbel Reserve and the smaller bottles are labeled as Dubbel Ale.

Appearance: a ruddy brown body with a fine light tan head that leaves a little bit of lacing on the chalice. 

Aroma: a light nose of dark dried fruits.

Flavors: Not an overly sweet dubbel.  A nice golden raisin and herbal tea like character is the main profile.  There is a touch of sweet malts and a touch of bitter hops providing some good balance.  I do not see this as a complex ale but, it is tasty all the same. 

Mouthfeel: Smooth and pleasing to the palate. Very drinkable.

Recommendation: I think this could be a good introductory Belgian Dubbel.

Bangers and Mash

Place bangers in a pot or skillet.  Add some liquid -  BEER!  Use an Irish beer.  I used an Irish red lager. 

Then simmer for 8-10 and then continue for another 10 minutes but place a cover over the pot.  The bangers really picked up some good flavors from the beer.

Smithwick’s: Review

4.5% abv

12 oz. bottle

Guinness Ltd.

Dublin, Ireland

I have always liked to get this beer on tap when a tavern has it – unless a better beer is available.  This is a good beer.  If I was grading beers I would give this beer a B. 

Appearance: burnt amber

Aroma: light roasted grains, nothing special

Flavors: toasted rye bread, roasted/lightly burnt grains, and dry walnut.  The flavors come together to make a good beer.

Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale: Review

6.5% abv

12 oz bottle

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Greatlakesbrewing.com

Appearance: Amber color with a soft tan head.

Aroma: delicate malty aroma

Flavors: Grainy and barely like.  Good balance between the hops and malts.  Nothing really standing out.  Drinkable

Mouthfeel: medium body, a watery edge, medium carbonation, sweet-bitter aftertaste. 

My Strength Rating: 5

Nothing special but, should go well with a good Irish dish.

A Beer Review: Harp Lager

Genuine Irish Recipe – Green label

Gunness Brewing Co.

New Brunswick, Canada

Appearance: light clear yellow with a thin head that disappeared before I could even take a sip.

Aroma: lager like. Faint biscuit and not much else.

Flavors: really now.  I use to like this beer.  It tastes like … a plain boring lager.  Crisp, clean, and some bready yeast.  I know it has been awhile since I have had this beer but, this is boring.  This must be another beer that has been ‘updated’ to fit the tastes of Bud and Miller drinkers. 

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean, and a touch of dryness on the tongue. 

My Strength Rating: 2.5

I am disappointed.  I was looking forward to this beer.

A Beer Review: Harpoon Celtic Ale

Irish Style Red

5.4% abv

12 oz bottle

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Harpoonbrewery.com

Date Issue: 5-15-2010 Let’s see what happens.

Appearance: Nice reddish amber color with an off-white head

Aroma: Nice aroma of sweet malts, touch of fruit,

Flavors: Here is a nice tasting ‘Irish Style’ red.  A nice touch of caramel and sweet malts that are balanced with a faint floral-herb tea like note.  Those malt grains and yeast notes are tasty. 

I never thought I would give an Irish Style beer an A but, this is good as it comes for and Irish beer. 

Mouthfeel: Good medium body, moderate carbonation, smooth and almost creamy. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 no lingering notes – clean finish.

A must try. Buy a six pack.

O’hara’s Irish Stout: Review

“A full bodied and luxuriously smooth stout with a discernible roast bite.”

Here could be the major problem it has May 09 is on the bottle and this is 2011. 

4.3% abv

11.2 oz bottle

Carlowbrewing.com

Carlow Brewing Co.

Carlow, Ireland

Appearance: black body with a thin tan head that disappeared in a split second.

Aroma: dark roasted grains

Flavors: deep roasted coffee, grainy, earthy, a touch of burnt wood.  This beer is two years old and it tastes pretty damn good.  I want to find a fresh four pack and do a comparison to Gunnisse Stout. 

Mouthfeel: slight carbonation, smooth, and a toasty/roasty grainy aftertaste.

Dundee Irish Red Lager: Review

5.5% abv

12 oz bottle

Dundee Brewing Co.

Rochester, New York, USA

My Strength Rating: 3

Appearance: Amber in color with eggshell colored head.  Nice white lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: yeast and grains

Flavors: crisp lager like taste, bready, a touch of floral hops, and a pecan like nutty note. 

Mouthfeel: crisp, clean, mild, and …  good carbonation to wash away that one flavor that the beer has – okay I gave it three flavors – so, it is an overachieving Irish Beer. 

This might be good with some bangers and mash.  Till then, I’ll give it a C-.  It is drinkable just rather plain.

This is like drinking Killian’s but, without the headache.

Dragonmead Erick the Red: Review

Irish Style Amber Ale

‘Style’ really now.  They wear plaid pants, green hats, and shoes that curl up at the toes.  Do you really want to use the words ‘Irish Style’ on your label?

5% abv

12 oz bottle

Dragonmead Microbrewery

Warren, Michigan, USA

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – because of the piney or spice note other than that I would give it a 3. 

Appearance: reddish-amber color with a fine off-white colored head.  No lacing on the glass and when I was done the glass looked clean.

Aroma: a faint whiff of grains and yeast. 

Flavors: a touch of pine and grassy hoppy notes, decent bitterness, sweet grainy malts to help balance, and water.  Some may call it spice but, I am going with pine for it has a piney texture to it.  The piney note builds as the beer warms up and this is a good thing.

Mouthfeel: crisp, with a touch of that pine lingering on the tongue, big watery edge.

Better than Killian’s.  And, about what I would expect from an Irish Style beer – I’ll give it a C+.  Too bad I bought a six pack.  One or two bottles would have been enough.  As I finished the second half of my glass I started to like this ale a little more.  Maybe I will have a second glass.

Curim Gold

Celtic Wheat Beer

“Fruity, aromatic and refreshingly crisp” – on the bottle

4.3% abv

330ml / 11.2 oz I want my other .8 ounces

Carlow Brewing Company
Carlow, Ireland
Carlowbrewing.com

Aroma: a tad sour like, grainy

Flavors: hoppy bitter note with a yeasty flavor mixed in.  Behind these two flavors comes a sourdough bread like taste.  Throw in a little golden raisin and golden apple.  At times I think it is a ginger like taste blending into the mix. 

I wish it had a better wheat profile. 

This beer is strange.  When it is cold out of the fridge and in a chilled glass it is tasty.  Soon as that chill disappears the taste sours.  There is a strange sour or tart taste that develops as the beer warms.  Maybe, I could describe it like an old expired bottle of lemon juice that should have been thrown out 2 years ago.

Mouthfeel: good carbonaton and it does have a crisp like feel.  “Refreshingly” – I can’t describe it that way.

McSorley’s Irish Black Lager: Quick Comment

5.5% abv

McSorley’s Brewery

Utica, New York, USA

Looks like this is owned by Pabst Brewing

Quick Comment: Aroma is lager like – uneventful.  This is just an okay Black Lager.  There are much better on the market than this. This one is thin and watery like a cheap lager.  Has a little grainy taste.

An Ale Review: Wexford Irish Style Crème Ale

Draught – the widget in a can beer

5% abv

440ml can

Greene King Brewing Co

Edmunds, Suffolk, England

My Strength Rating: 3

They say you are to drink right from the can when there is a widget in the can.  So, I am going to drink this first one from the can and then have the second one in a glass.  Will there be a difference? 

Drinking from the can:

Appearance: Creamy yellow and green with some gold highlights on the CAN.

Aroma: Beer smell.  Bready.

Flavors: this is like drinking liquid bread.  Wonder Bread in the can.  And, I hate Wonder bread.  But, it is white bread, some grains, and some uneventful hoppiness. 

Mouthfeel: Some may call it creamy and smooth and I agree but, I also think it could be described as flat.  Boring and flat. 

This beer needs a good sandwich.

Poured into a glass:

A good looking pour.  It is fun to just watch this beer after it is poured into the glass.  After the cascading is finished there is a nice looking bronzy color to the body with an off-white foamy head that sticks around. 



There is the widget



The aroma is still hard to find.  Light bread.  Not even worth trying to smell. 

The flavors, well, it is still bread and grains. Wait! A floral or herbal hoppy note just hit the tongue.    There is no carbonation to this beer. Remember, that is why they put the ball in the can or it would taste flat.  Oh, it does taste flat.  I really think it is all about the mouthfeel on this beer and not the actual flavor.  It is a crème ale and yes you can say the mouthfeel is creamy. 

I did not notice a big difference whether it was in the glass or I drank it from the can.  The hops came through a little better when I drank the beer from the glass.  Other than that, Flat – No, Creamy – No, Uneventful – No, Smooth.  Whatever!  It is called Irish Style after all. 

They should have called this Sheep’s Milk.  Every Irish man would have been nursing on this can of ale. 

Creamy and Smooth?

Or

Boring and Flat?

What say you?

Leave a comment below

A Beer Review: McSorley’s Irish Pale Ale

5.5% abv

McSorley’s Brewery

Utica, New York, USA

Looks like this is owned by Pabst Brewing

Quick Comment: Nice copper color with an off-white head.  The aroma a little grainy and boring is a good word as well.  Does not remind me of a Pale Ale.

The flavors are grainy, malty, and remind way I am drinking this ale.   Thought maybe it was an old bottle but, I found the freshness date and it is good.  Don’t waste your time with this ale.

Irish Beers for St. Paddy’s

Andy wanted to know about what beer she and her friends Mary and Jeanice should drink on St. Paddy’s day.  Damn, I sure wish I was going.

Number one: stay away from green colored beer and bald old guys named Bruce on St. Paddy’s day or any day for that fact.

Two, drink your favorite beer – it does not have to be Irish.

Three, the Irish should stick to sheep – they make bad beer overall – they are pretty good with sheep I hear.  They make nice sweaters.

But, here are a few to think about.

I’ll be posting a review or a few comments about each one over the next few days.

Curim Gold Celtci Wheat Beer

McSorley’s Irish Black Lager

McSorley’s Irish Pale Ale

Guinness Foreign Extra

Smithwick’s Irish Ale

Harpoon Celtic Ale

Harp Lager

Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale

O'hara's Irish Stout

Wexford Irish Style Crème Ale

No, I will not touch Killian’s Irish Red – on my list of top 25 bad beers – if I had such a list.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager: Review

Malt Beverage Brewed With Spices

4.5% abv

Boston Beer Company

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

$8.50 a six pack

My Strength Rating: 3.5 due to the watery edge.

Let me give my opinion first: I think this Winter Lager is just okay.

A good looking lager with a clear deep copper color for the body and a bubbly off-white head.  Solid lacing on the glass.  The nose has an herbal spicy aroma mixed in with some malts.

The flavors are sweet grains with a caramel back drop and the hops must be doing their job to keep things in balance.  The spice reminds me of cinnamon.  At times I notice a watery edge to this lager.  I think I have lost my taste for this beer.  Maybe it is just me but, I think this beer is boring nowadays.  Does anybody know if they changed the recipe?

The overall taste seems diluted and boring.

Save your money and buy a good winter lager.