Red Stripe: Review

Jamaican Lager

I saw this in the store and said I have not reviewed this beer yet and it is time to do so.  It has been about two years since I have had one.  It is an easy beer to drink and easy to knock down a few on a nice summer day. 

4.7% abv

11.2 oz bottle

Desnoes & Geddes Limited

Kingston, Jamaica

Redstripebeer.com

Appearance: typical golden lager with a white head.  Plenty of head that leaves some lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: crisp, clean, yeasty white bread

Flavors: delicate sweet malts on the delivery with a grainy profile, minimal hops, light bittering note 

Mouthfeel: light, crisp, clean, plenty of carbonation to refresh the palate, no lingering notes of any kind.

To the Point: a decent yet worthy beer.  Nothing special.  A fine beer to session on a hot summer day.  To me it is a lager that I enjoy for a six pack or two and then get bored with.  Then, it is two years later till I remember I have not had it in a while. 

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Bell’s 25th Anniversary Ale: Review

8.5% abv

12oz bottle

$3.99 a bottle

Bell’s Brewery, Inc.

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

This beer is made with Michigan-grown barley malt.

Appearance: deep amber with a reddish tint, cream colored head, fine lacing on the glass.

Aroma: this ale has a wonderful bouquet.  It seems like the last few beers I have reviewed had little to no aroma.  Sweet malts, toasted grains, nice hop presence with a touch of waxy pine.

Flavors: similar to the nose.  Sweet malts, old fashioned candy cough drop, and there is a strange note like what was on the nose (I called it waxy pine).  Well, let’s stay consistent, waxy pine it is with some grated citrus rinds.  It seems to have a little raisin like character in the mix. Firm salty taste.

I think people either like this or can do without it.  While, it has that strange note on the nose and taste I like it. 

Mouthfeel: smooth on the deliver with a moment of creaminess and then there is a bitter note that takes a bite on the back of the tongue.  Lingering light pine, dry grass, and damn here I go with this strange note again … I am going to have to say it’s a salty licorice. 

My Strength Rating: 7.5

McChouffe: Beer Review

Artisanal Belgian Brown Ale

8% abv

1pt 9.6oz bottle

Achouffe.be

Appearance: Dark brown body with a tan head and plenty of it.

Aroma: light yeasty, bready, touch of spice

Flavors: milk chocolate, dry spice, with a touch of salt, soft white and green peppercorn mix, general nutty note.

Mouthfeel: smooth carbonation

My Strength Rating: 4

La Chouffe: Review

Artisanal Belgian Golden Ale Brewed with Spice

8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$12.00 a bottle

Brasserie D’Achouffe

Belgium

Appearance: I’ll tell you it is hard not to pour a two finger head with a Belgian beer.  A beautiful two finger white shaving cream head and this baby has staying power.  A nice fuzzy golden body color.  When I got to the bottom of the glass there was still a thin layer of head and tons of lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: Belgian yeast, touch of coriander spice, fairly pleasing bouquet.

Flavors: the coriander is soft and pleasing, the English Golding and Saaz hops are rich and mild, the pilsner malts are sweet yet well balanced, sweet herbal likeness.

Halfway through the bottle the sweet spices seem like a touch of cinnamon and a hint of clove.  The nose of coriander is maintained but as the glass is moved away there seems to be some other sweet spices on the palate. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity and bitterness is low, sweet grassy linger note, light, smooth and oily texture.  The ale seems to have a flat champagne carbonation feel.  Come to think of it … it has a flat champagne like taste at times.  Since it is not champagne that is okay. 

My Strength Rating: 4/3.5 – I have never had this ale before but, I find it very pleasing and interesting. 

To the Point: I don’t think I can give it an A but, an A- or B+, let’s call it 90%, right on the edge.  This would be perfect for a hot summer day … if summer ever gets here this year. 

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Ass Kisser Double IPA: Review

9% abv stated on the bottle

9.2% stated on the web site

1pt 6oz bottle

$10.99 a bottle

Rahr and Sons Brewery

Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Asskisserales.com

Made with Warrior Hops

Appearance: dirty orange with orange highlights, ½ finger head with an aggressive pour, some lacing on the glass.  Once I get the sediment into the glass it becomes very cloudy.

Aroma: sweet malts, some light citrus notes

Flavors: white grapefruit bitterness, undertone of sweet caramel malts, slight peppery finish.  As the ale warms there seems to be a pineapple note swirling around a golden raisin like note (not dominate) and an earthiness that mixes with a touch of spice and pine. 

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, citrus and pine tingle on the tongue, oily feel, wool like texture. 

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – good citrus with a touch of pine and a good lingering aftertaste.  Let’s give it a B+. 

To the Point: a pretty good Double, not super strong on the bitterness which I was expecting. 

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Bell's Oarsman Ale: Review

4% abv

12 oz bottle

Bell’s Brewery, Inc.

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

“Buoyant, tart and refreshing from using traditional sour mash methods.”

Make sure to roll the bottle on its side before opening.  There is plenty of sediment on the bottom of the bottle.

Appearance: cloudy dirty lemon peel with a white head.  As cloudy as a Hefe.

Aroma: faint citrus and grassy hops.

Flavors: lemon tart, touch of apple cider vinegar, lemon grass.

Mouthfeel: tart on the tongue with a very light tartness that lingers on the palate.  Refreshing on a hot day. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – despite the lemon tartness it seems light in body weight and the ‘feel’ is lemonade like. 

Harpoon Single Hop ESB: Review

ESB – Extra Strong Bitters

100 Barrel Series

Session 31

5.8% abv

38 ibu

$6.99 a bottle

Harpoon Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Appearance: deep amber with some shiny copper highlights when held to the light.  The tan head was plentiful and the lacing on the glass is heavy.

Aroma: sweet malts and grains, with a moderate hoppy note. 

Flavors: a mix of golden and fancy raisins, a soft pine, sweet grains, a hint of nuttiness maybe fresh pecan.  It seems fairly simple overall. 

Mouthfeel: surprisingly smooth, a touch of a water edge, not much on any lingering notes. 

To the Point: Not bad.  I would give it a B-. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – that smooth and light water edge holds it to a four rating. The overall flavor profile seems simple.

BADASS: Review

American Lager

Michigan Brewing Co.

Webberville, Michigan, USA

Appearance: Looks like a very light white wine with bubbles.  Pale straw in color. Plenty of white foam and the head has some staying power.  Some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: very light bouquet.  Grains and white bread on the nose. 

Flavors: Calling this section ‘flavors’ for this beer is an overstatement.  Flavored water!  Grains, sweet malts, white Wonder bread.  BORING

My Strength Rating: 0 – super light

To the Point: Budweiser is better than this beer.  Hell, Bud Light is better.  I call this beer – ‘BARELEY BEER.’  I also think they should get the black color off the label and make it PINK.  Buy: Flat out NO.

Racer 5 India Pale Ale: Review

Bear Republic

Healdsburg, California, USA

Bearrepublic.com

7% abv

Appearance: a hazy golden orange color with a thin white head. Plenty of lacing on the glass.  Looks like sediment floating around in the beer. 

Aroma: very fresh bouquet, oily hops with scents of medium pink grapefruit and light pine.  An undertone of sweet bread.

Flavors: they really follow the nose and come together for one tasty IPA. This IPA has all the hoppy notes going on; pink grapefruit, touch of pine and now and then I pick up a little floral note.  From mid palate to the finish the malts kick in with an olive oil buttered sweet bread undertone.   

Mouthfeel: medium-full in body.  Very wet and oily (sounds porno like) with a citrusy tingle on the tongue.  The lingering note reminds me pine. 

My Strength Rating: 6.5/7

To the Point: Very pleasing bouquet, tasty IPA qualities without being overbearing, and a super mouthfeel for an IPA.  Leaves me licking the chops for more. 

Buy!

I’ll be picking up more of this one.

Dos Equis Ambar: Review

5% abv

12oz bottle

Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

Appearance: rich copper color with a brownish tint, slightly off-white head, some lacing on the glass

Aroma: very mellow toasted cornbread

Flavors/Mouthfeel: slightly toasted grains yet still crisp on the palate, fairly refreshing, watery edge, on the finish there is a light sweetness (sugar) under the lightly toasted grains that linger on the back of the palate. 

My Strength Rating: 3 – not completely void of flavors, the best one out of the sampler pack. 

Okay, I don’t get it, Mexican food (real – not taco bell stuff) good and tasty, Mexican cigars … strong, their beer … it sucks … at least the crap they sell here in the States. 

Here is an immigration issue: send back this damn Mexican beer. 

Tecate: Review

Cerveza

Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

4.5% abv

12oz bottle

Appearance: clear gold color body with plenty of bubbles and a white foamy head. Look just like the Sol. I have them side by side.

Aroma: aroma – really? – water?

Flavors/Mouthfeel: crisp sweet diluted water, at least this one does not have that grassy bitter note in it like the Sol.  This is refreshing just like water with yellow dye in it.      

To the Point: a good beer to water the house plants with or even the yard.  Can’t they put some damn flavor in their beers down there in Mexico.  I do like it better than the Sol beer.  I think when I pour this beer out on the grass the worms might get upset with me. 

My Strength Rating: 1.5

Dos Equis Lager Especial: Review

5% abv

12oz bottle

Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

Appearance: bright pale yellow, very clear, little white head, no lacing

Aroma: again, nothing, oh, spoke to soon, slight metallic note

Flavors: overcooked yellow corn, yellow dye #43, dusty water

Mouthfeel: crisp on deliver, dry finish, nasty dry mineral aftertaste

My Strength Rating: 2 – should be lower but, the dry mineral aftertaste brought it up .5.

To the Point: I don’t drink beer often but, when I do I don’t drink this rubbish.   The only reason the guy in the commercial drinks this beer is because he doesn’t know any better. 

Sol: Review

Cerveza Importada

Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma

Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

4.5% abv

12oz bottle

Appearance: clear gold color body with plenty of bubbles and a white foamy head

Amora: dusty sweet malts and white bread

Flavors/Mouthfeel: crisp sweet grains, slight grassy hop bitterness in mid palate and finish along with a semi-dry finish and aftertaste.  I wonder if people put a lime in this beer.  It would probably help but, I don’t do beers that require a lime. 

To the Point: might be good if you are doing yard work or playing yard games and you don’t want to waste a good beer or even an okay beer. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – the grassy bite and dry finish brings is up to a 3.5 to me. Lack of complexity and good flavors keeps it down in points.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast: Review

Oatmeal Stout Brewed with Coffee

7.5% abv

1pt 9oz bottle

$10.00 a bottle

Mikkeller

Nogne O Grimstad, Norway

Appearance: black with a tan head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: rich roasted malts and coffee

Flavors: nice roasted coffee flavor but then the other flavors are muted or muddled together.  Roasted malts and toasted grains is the best I can come up with.  There is a bitter finish like black walnuts and a dash of saltiness. 

Mouthfeel: heavy in weight, low in carbonation like a stout, bitter on the finish and a thick lingering nasty sour-bitter taste is left on the palate. 

My Strength Rating: 8.5 – it’s that linger aftertaste that raises my strength rating. 

To the Point: skip this one.  Unless you like a very bitter tasting stout.

To make this more appropriate the date should be 6-6-06.

St. Feuillien Triple Abbey Ale: Review

8.5% abv

1pt 9.4oz

$10.00 a bottle

St. Feuillien Brewery

Le Roeulx, Belgium

St-feuillien.com

Appearance: hazy golden color body and a two finger foamy white head. 

Aroma: Tropical fruit meets sweet passion fruit.  The bouquet is very nice as the ale warms up.

Flavors: sweet candy coated fruits, a touch of mango with a smidge of apricot. Then, throw in a tad of pear and okay a squeeze of green grape and a little golden raisin.  There seems to be a dash of hula skirt grass from the hops! 

Mouthfeel: yeasty up front with a bit of bittness (light) on the finish.  Creamy in delivery and a semi-dry fruity aftertaste. 

My Strength Rating: 6 – the complexities of flavors and lingering aftertaste. 

To the Point:  tasty candied fruits and creamy texture with a semi-dry finish to make a pretty good Triple Abbey.