Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen: Beer Review

It's Oktoberfest Time

 

Authentic Bavarian Festival Lager

5.8% abv

500ml bottle

$2.69 a bottle

Brauerei Aying

Aying, Germany

Appearance: deep amber colored body with a nice white head that leaves no lacing behind on the glass. 

Aroma: sweet malt, dusty yeast, dirty-funky grains,

Flavors: sweet malts, musty nut shell, funky grain, grassy, over-ripened and bruised apricot fruit.

With each sip of this beer that aroma becomes less attractive.  This bottle must be left over from last year.  No freshness date on the bottle.  I usually really like Ayinger products so, I’ll give this one more try and see how that bottle goes.  If it tastes like this bottle I won’t try it again. 

Warning Will Robinson

Be real careful when buying seasonal beers (the ones that don't age well) from your stores that have 10,000 different beers.  If you frequent the place check to see if seasonal beers stay on the shelf all year.  I know of a couple of stores that have this situation.  If this is the case only buy beers that have a clear freshness date stamped on them otherwise pass. 

Allagash Victoria Ale: Review

Ale Brewed with Grapes

9% abv

1pt 9.4oz

$17.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

Chardonnay grapes were used in the mash to make this tasty ale.

Appearance: hazy orange with dusty golden highlights

Aroma: sweet fruit and malts

Flavors: I can’t tell if it’s grapes but, the sweet fruit style comes through front and center.  Soft earthy yeast mixed in with that nectarine and grape taste.  There is a dusty spice on the finish. 

There is a slight bitterness that builds as the ale warms.  So, the hops are in the mix.  On this hot summer day the ale did get too warm and the sweet fruity notes did disappear and I was left with a nice earth yeast taste.  It was still tasty but, warm. 

Mouthfeel: semi-creamy feel due to the low carbonation that leaves just a hint of fizz on the palate.  Moderate body weight.  Somewhat refreshing. 

My Strength Rating: 4

Click here to read about Allagash Victor Ale

Visit CigarPosting for the cigar pairing with Victoria

Allagash Victor: Review

Ale Brewed with Grapes

9% abv

1pt 9.4oz (750ml) bottle

$17.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

One of my favorite grapes, Cabernet Franc, was used in the brewing process to make this tasty ale.

Appearance: hazy burnt orange if you roll the bottle before opening or a bright semi-transparent burnt orange if you do not roll the bottle.  I like to stir up the sediment.  A ½ finger eggshell colored head.

Aroma: very light yet fruity when chilled.  A little more spice on the nose as the ale warms up. 

Flavors: there is a nice earthy yeast and grain like quality.  Knowing that Cab Franc is used in this ale has thrown me for a loop.  My brain is looking for big blackberries, black raspberries, tobacco and a big earthy style.  I am picking up more white wine and beer like qualities; like a splash of tart apple, plum (okay a red wine note), apricot (back to beer and white wine), a little nectarine to keep things smooth.  The malts are sweet but, not overwhelming.  The hops are in the mix to add some good balance to this brew. 

It is funny reading beeradvocate on this ale for they think it tastes too much like ‘cab franc’ or wine.  I am a big time cab franc slappy and this is not even close to a cab franc wine.  It is more beer like with some white wine qualities.

And, for you beer geeks – white wine and beer have a lot of tasting notes in common.  How about this profile: “ripe citrus and pineapple flavors followed by floral notes and subtle minerality.”  IPA or Chardonnay?

Mouthfeel: fine carbonation that leaves a light fizz on the tongue.  Moderate body weight and a lingering apricot skin (slight bitter/tart note) aftertaste.  Dry on the palate.   

My Strength Rating: 5

Click here to read about Allagash Victoria Ale

Also, visit CigarPostings to read about the Cigar Pairing

Michigan Brewing Wheatland: Review

Wheat Beer

Michigan Brewing Company

Webberville, Michigan, USA

Michiganbrewing.com

5% abv

Appearance: hazy golden wheat

Aroma: fresh wheat, grassy,

Flavors: just like the nose – fresh wheat, grass, and a light grainy taste.  Wheatland is a pretty simple and straight forward wheat beer.  Not all that interesting to review but, I sure like to drink this one on a hot summer day. 

Mouthfeel: a mild wheat beer that is very refreshing to drink.  If you want to drink a wheat beer without a bunch of spices – this is it. 

My Strength Rating: 4 – perfect body weight for a summer day treat.  

To the Point: people say, ‘nothing special’ but, you know what is special about this wheat beer … it’s simple … it taste like wheat.  A good beer to have with a burger that is hot off the grill. 

Milwaukee’s Best Premium: Review

4.5% abv

40oz. bottle

Miller Brewing Co.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Appearance: clear golden color with a white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin white layer atop the beer.

Aroma: damp musty corn is the best I can think of

Flavors and Mouthfeel: a dry corn and grain experience. Low to moderate carbonation probably could use some more.  Drink this thing ice cold or forget it.  The only reason to drink this is to drink.  Whatever it cost it was not worth it. 

Cheap beer is like a cheap tool; they are expensive. 

Make drinking a beer an experience and find one that is worthy of the moment. 

Damn, I have 35 more ounces to go. 

My Strength Rating: .5 – nothing in flavor and the only dimension to the mouthfeel is dry … Boring!  It is not even refreshing. 

Oh damn, let’s give it a grade.  How about a D-.  F is for never touch it … never, never, never.  This is close. 

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer: Review

4.74 abv – really now

12oz bottle

Pabst Brewing Co.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Freshness date stamped on the bottle: Sep2611

Appearance: very light but bright gold with a white head

Aroma: musty grains

Flavors and Mouthfeel: light, crisp, clean, and refreshing.  Make sure it is nice and cold and then the grainy profile is tasty.  Light maltiness and a twang of hops.  The carbonation is important on this beer.  If this beer warms up and losses some of it zip forget it. 

Solid session beer but, drink it ice cold and fast! 

My Strength Rating: 1 – nice tasting regular beer ice cold.

Czechvar: Review

Czechvar

AKA: Budweiser Budvar

Premium Czech Lager

5% abv

11.2oz bottle

Best before: 10-18-11

The Brewery B.B.N.P.

Brewery Budweiser

Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

Czechvar.com

Appearance: nice rich golden colored body with a white head.  One finger head with a solid pour.

Aroma: faint musty earth, touch of grains

Flavors: Too bad Budweiser does not have half this flavor.  Grassy-herbal mix with earthy grains, dusty malts, and a dirty floral touch.  With that being said, my overall impression is good.  I like this beer.  I had it for two weeks and I was dreading tasting this beer – I was expecting the typical Euro-Metallic taste. 

Mouthfeel: there is a little bitter note the hits the mid-palate and finish once in a while (as the beer warms?).  There is a dryness to the mouthfeel.  The carbonation is low to moderate but, it does have a little zesty style. 

My Strength Rating: 5

I’ll be buying more of this one.

Budweiser: Review

5% abv

12 oz bottle

Born on date May 11

Today is July 6, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Darrin left it behind. So, it was free except for the point that I know him. 

Appearance: yellow fizzy water with a nice looking white head

Aroma: light antibacterial soap

Flavors: so much for the old beech wood aged days.  This is tasteless. Bland grain and all water.  What happened to this beer?  This is sooo bad that I would hate to try Bud Light or did I? 

Mouthfeel: this beer is all about mouthfeel I guess – smooth, clean, crisp, no aftertaste. 

To the Point: perfect for the average American palate that requires very little taste to what they consume.  How did this make it in the book ‘1001 Beer You Must Try Before You Die.’  It will make it to my book, ’50 beers to avoid.’  PBR is better. 

My Strength Rating: .5 – I was disappointed.  I thought it was better than this.

Damn, Darrin left two bottles.  I’ll water the grass with the other. 

Frankenmuth Brewery Pilsener: Review

5.25% abv

26 IBUs

12 oz. bottle

$1.69 a bottle at Lager Mill

Frankenmuthbrewery.com

Over all the years I have been going to the town of Frankenmuth and all the times I have stopped by this brewery I have never had the Pilsener.  So, I am looking forward to having this beer today. 

Appearance: nice golden crystal clear with a fine white head that leaves some lacing. 

Aroma: nice bready and spicy nose.

Flavors: this pilsener has some substance.  Pink peppercorn spice profile with a stone wheat bread undertone.  The German yeast must add a little earthiness to this pilsener.    

Mouthfeel: crisp on deliver and dry on the finish. The dry and slightly spicy finish lingers for a good while for a pilsener. 

This summer I have been converted to this brewery.  In the past (since they re-opened) their beers always seemed to be lacking something.  This year the Red Sky has been absolutely delicious, to me, and their Dunkel was pretty good the last two times I had it.  I have not tried their Hefeweizen this year.  In past years it always seemed to have a big soapy taste.  But, I think I can man up and try it now. 

I am going to put this on my short list of favorite Pilsners. 

Bell’s Oberon Ale: Review

5.8% abv

12 oz bottle

Bell’s Brewery, Inc.

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

Appearance: a hazy golden orange body with a big white head that has some staying power. 

Aroma: summer wheat with a hint of orange

Flavors: nice soft biscuit with wheat with a dose of orange on the delivery.  On the back there is an orange peel twang. 

Mouthfeel: soft and smooth with a low-moderate carbonation feel. 

My Strength Rating: 4

Cherish Lambic: Review

Belgian Kriek Lambic

Malt Beverage brewed with cherries

5% abv

8.4oz bottle

$3.29

Br. Van Steenberge

Ertvelde, Belgium

Globalbeer.com

Appearance: black cherry soda like with a pinkish (mauve) head.  Plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: sweet maraschino cherries.  Smell the bottle after you pour it into a glass.  The smell is Shirley Temple like.  The drink Shirley Temple. 

Flavors: black cherry soda, I could drink a few of these.  Too bad it has alcohol in it for it would make a great soda drink.  I want to put a big scoop of vanilla ice cream in my glass for some reason. 

Mouthfeel: lingering cherry flavor, sweetness on the palate, fine light carbonation

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – it’s all cherries 

Gulden Draak Vintage 2009: Review

Vintage Ale 2009

7.5% abv

750ml bottle

$13.99 a bottle

Br.Van Steenberge

Belgium

Appearance: rich caramel with a slight reddish tint.  Big bubbly tan head.

Flavors:after the fizz explosion that hits the mouth, there is a rich malt sweetness of caramel, toasted grain, and a hoppy spice and  bitter note.   

Mouthfeel: tons of carbonation, Champagne effervescent like, cola like feel, semi-dry texture that lingers on the palate. 

It is not like the regular Gulden Draak.  See my posting on Nov. 22, 2010.  It does have a few of the tasting notes but, missing some of the others.  It also looks different.  The 2009 vintage is not as rich tasting and lacks that creamy feel of the regular. 

My Strength Rating: 6

Ommegang Witte: Review

“Worth the wheat”

Wheat ale with traditional Spices

5.1% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$6.99

Brewery Ommegang

Cooperstown, New York, USA

Part of the Duvel Family

This helps to understand the Belgian influence.

Remember to roll these big bottles gently on their side to stir-up the sediment.  A lot of the flavors are found in that sediment and your dose of vitamin B.  Now, I know this bottle and some others say, to pour slowly and do not disturb the yeast sediment.  Do whatever you like but, be ready for that last glass to be full of sediment no matter what. 

Appearance: now I know where they got the color from on the bottle label … it’s the same color as the ale.  Dull yellow-gold. Thin white head.

Aroma: If there is any it must be very light wheat.  Let’s see how the nose is when the ale warms up. 

The best the aroma is going to get is a Belgian yeast smell.  Oh, a little nutty yeast.  My God this beer takes it time to open up.  Now, I am picking up that lemon grass on the nose with some herbal notes.  The yeast is funky nutty yeast. 

The nose on my last glass is the best: Lemon grass, dusty wheat, and a soft touch of coriander. 

Flavors and Mouthfeel:  Okay, this is too basic, maybe it has not warmed up.  It is very crisp and refreshing and it seems like it wants to have flavor but, it is holding back on me.  I’ll let it sit for a while to warm up.

Uhm, nice light yeast and lemon grass.  

Right when I started to notice some herbal tones on the nose it started show on the taste.  My burp just tasted like lemon grass.  Dusty earthy wheat, lemon grass, herbal, is that a bad mixture of clove and coriander on the taste? It is not a clear spice – it is a muted mixture that I don’t find appealing.  Now, I want to go back to the yeast and lemon grass taste only. 

Augustijn Ale: Review

8% abv

750ml bottle

$10.00 a bottle

Br. Van Steenberge

Ertvelde, Belgium

Globalbeer.com

I have myself a nice aged bottle here.  It is two years old.  Let’s see how it has aged. 

Appearance: hazy golden body with a fizzy and bubbly white head that dissipates quickly. 

Aroma: Belgian yeast, sweet notes, golden raisin

Flavors:  lightly spiced coriander note swirls between a nice fruit style of blood orange, dried apricot and golden raisin.   Earthy yeast, sweet corn bread, musty nut shell and then, to me, there is a nice spice box finish. 

Yes, it was about two years ago to the day that I sat here at my summer place and had a bottle of Augustijn.  It was the same ‘vintage’ as this – both had an 09 mark of the cap and I have had this in the cellar since.  The bottle with the age on it is much darker in profile.  I think the one I drank two years ago had a brighter display of tropical fruits and peppery spices.  Today, this one has the earthy yeast, dried fruits, and more of a spice box display than peppery. 

Mouthfeel: a fine fizzy carbonation, semi-creamy texture, during the finish there is a slight spicy feel and no … to me it’s not peppery.  

My Strength Rating: 5

Kuhnhenn 4D 2010: Beer Review

4^th D Olde Ale 2010

Fourth Dementia

13.5% abv

12 oz bottle

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

Warren, Michigan, USA

I bought a four pack of this ale and I have had two bottles (about a month ago) before reviewing this ale.  From what I remember is that it is rich, sweet and still has a nice bitter note.  For me I have to be in the mood for this ale.  Tonight I am in the mood.  Let’s review! 

Appearance: deep mahogany, poured a one finger tan head that disappeared quickly.  No lacing. 

Aroma: rich caramel and sweet malts dominate

Flavors: the rich caramel carry over with roasted toffee, rich sweet notes abound, hint of toasted vanilla and oak.   With each sip the rich toasted sweetness on the nose is enjoyable.  Be careful drinking this ale for the alcohol taste is not present and it is 13.5%.  It is a sipper but, it’s easy to forget that.  There are some nice bitter notes from the hops on the back of the palate. 

Mouthfeel: semi-creamy, smooth, hardly any carbonation, full bodied, a bit syrupy.

Three Philosophers: Review

True Belgian-Style Quadrupel 2009

By: Brewery Ommegang

Copperstown, New York, USA

Belgian Style Blend

98% Ale – 2% Ale with Cherries Added

9.8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$8.99

Let’s see how this ale has aged. 

Appearance: brown body with a tan foamy head

Aroma: dusty dried dark fruit and a strange little herbal or floral note and a touch of spice.  I am not a fan of this aroma. 

Flavors: dry tart or sour cherry, raisins, earthy yeast, mineral notes, port wine like quality.  This bottle is two years old so I think the candied fruits, which I have seen in other reviews, have settled down.  With age this ale is a bit earthier in style. 

Mouthfeel: dry yet smooth with a bitter twang on the back of the palate, thick, nice body weight, very fine fizzy carbonation giving it a semi-creamy feel. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – nice bitter twang with a solid earthy quality on the two year old bottle.  This 2 year old ale has a good port wine like quality.

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

Scrimshaw: Beer Review

Pilsner Style Beer

12oz bottle

$1.69 a bottle only bought two

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Northcoast Brewing Company

Northcoastbrewing.com

Appearance: a nice white head sits on top of a brassy-golden color body.  Some foamy lacing and there is a thin layer of head floating atop the beer.  A deeper body color than I would expect for a pilsner.

Aroma: not much, slight B.O. note, yes to me a faint body odor but, it is not a bad one.  The second bottle was more yeasty and doughy like on the nose.

Flavors and Mouthfeel: a touch of malty sweetness on deliver, grainy, fruity, mineral water, with a mild-medium bitter note.  A Fairly crisp and somewhat refreshing pilsner.  Brewer’s yeast lingers on the aftertaste.

Not too often I will do a cigar pairing with a pilsner but, this one I think I will.  There is a nice overall character to this pilsner. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

St. Bernardus Prior 8: Review

Belgian Abbey ale

8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$10.49

Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

Watou, Belgium

Appearance: brown body with a wonderful 2 finger beige head (look at that picture).  The head shrinks before you want it too, damn I hate when that happens, but it leaves a thin layer across the body of the ale. 

Aroma: delicate nose, touch of yeast and dried fruit (raisin).

Flavors: first thing that came to mind was, ‘I like this,’ then I said what does it really taste like?  It has some malty sweetness that kind of reminds me of a thick slice of cinnamon raisin bread, the main profile seems to be dried dark fruits, raisins, figs, and dates.  Ok, it is not that complex or exciting but, it is just a pleasure to drink.  This is one nice brown ale. 

Mouthfeel: fine fizzy carbonation, dried dark fruits on the short aftertaste

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

 

Urthel Hop It: Beer Review

Superior Hoppy Blond Ale

Dutch with a Flemish Touch

9.5% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

Bottled conditioned

Hildegard van Ostaden

Ruiselede, Flanders, Belgium

Brewed for Leyerth

Produced in the Netherlands

Okay, I am confused Belgium or Netherlands?

Brewed in the Netherlands for that place there in Belgium.  Got it!  Why? 

Urthel.com

I rolled the bottle before opening to mix up the sediment.  Get that flavor up into that beer.

Appearance: flat golden-yellow with plenty of plankton floating around (remember I rolled the bottle).  Little white foamy head that leaves no lacing on the glass.

Aroma: very faint, maybe a whiff or hops.  Finally, half way through the first glass a whiff of cotton candy.  Maybe as the ale warms the aroma will get better.  

Flavors: kind of strange when it first hits my palate, the flavors are all kind of muddled in some kind of 5^th dimension and then my brain tries to categories the flavors. Time for a nap!  Yes, sitting back and enjoying a beverage is completely different that review the beverage.  The brain is on overload when I do a review.  Actually, reviewing takes a lot of energy and mental preparation.  Yet, I digress; (move on with the flavors) some sweet tasty malts with a lightly toasted almond note along with the typical Belgian yeast.  Let’s see how it is when it warms up and pairs with a cigar.

Down to the bottom third of the bottle and the sediment in the glass is heavy.  It sure does look like a heavy dose of plankton here.  Put a fish in this glass and they could feed all day.  While the malts are non-descript they are sweet and the yeast is full.  The hops seem to be fresh mowed grass, with a touch of lemon grass or is it orange meat? There is a nice mild earthy quality and almond nut likeness that is very pleasing to my palate. While I have to say it seems weird for reviewing; it has an overall taste experience that I like.  This ale is better when it is warmer compared to when I first opened it and it was chilled from the fridge.  Good beer is always better when it gets warm. 

The last glass poured from this big bottle is very cloudy and has a dirty orange color to the body.  The plankton (yeast sediment) is very dense. 

Mouthfeel: smooth and semi-creamy, yes, a hoppy ale semi-creamy, this is not an American IPA,  the bitterness level seems low for a Hoppy ale, but it is from Belgium no the Netherlands.  Whatever.  While Belgian ales usually produce a good head the carbonation level on the mouthfeel seems low as it does on this ale.