Hop Rod Rye: Review

Specialty Ale

Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Healdburg Cloverdale, California, USA

Bearrepublic.com

American IPA Style

Made with 18% rye.

1pt 6oz bottle

8% abv

$5.50 a bottle at Fine Liquor and Wine in Canton Michigan.

I recommend rolling this bottle before opening to pick-up the sediment.

You will get a better head on the ale and some cloudiness in the body color.

Appearance: deep rich mahogany with a fine tan head that leaves a curtain of lacing.

Aroma: nice spicy, hoppy, and grainy nose. Moderate piney note.

Flavors: full throttle spicy, piney hops that just tingle the palate right off the start. Roasted malts and grains; that remind me of toasted rye bread with caraway seed.  Toasted caramel

Mouthfeel: pine needle tingle on the green light (delivery), wool like texture, pine gets the checkered flag (finish – get it ‘checkered flag’) and lingering pine and citrus peel on the palate. Firm bitterness throughout.  

My Strength Rating: 8 – the rye and hop spice along with a piney hoppy note delivers a good bitter quality.  All this makes for a tasty full flavored style IPA.

To the Point: Hop lovers who like the piney style of an IPA this is it.  The good spicy character should not be overlooked because of the big pine style. 

Charity Island India Pale Ale: Review

Tri-City Brewing Co.

Bay City, Michigan, USA

Bottle size: 12 oz

  % abv

IBU

$1.79 a bottle from Lager Mill in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Appearance: deep solid amber body with a two finger fine beige colored head.  A sheeting of lace covers the glass with each sip.

Aroma: very light nose overall with some citrus and a hint of malt

Flavors: nice citrus, floral, spice notes with a grainy, earthy malt quality

Mouthfeel: good bitter notes from the hops and the malts trying to keep things in check.  Low to moderate carbonation that leaves a fine fizzy feel on the palate.  Lingering citrus bitter note on the tongue. 

My Strength Rating: 7

To the Point: Nice medium-full bodied IPA.  If you like citrus this is a nice pick-up. 

Wanderer Session IPA: Review

North Peak Brewing Co.

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

northpeakbeer.com

Bottle size: 12 oz stubby

 4.2% abv

45 IBU’s

$1.89 a bottle from Lager Mill in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Appearance: deep amber or burnt orange – take your pick, very thin head that is light beige in color.  Some lacing with each sip.

Aroma: very light bouquet with a hint of citrus and some earthy yeast

Flavors: floral then a bit of citrus and some good earthy qualities. 

Mouthfeel: nice delivery and then the mid palate and finish is covered with a citrus (grapefruit) profile.  The grapefruit note lingers on the palate. 

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – a nice medium-full bodied IPA. 

To the Point: a nice IPA.  It is not big and bold and in your face.  The Wanderer is an enjoyable IPA to drink. 

Ichabod Pumpkin Ale: Review

New Holland Brewing Co.

Newhollandbrew.com

Kitchen.newhollandbrew.com

Bottle size: 12 oz

5.2% abv

12.5 plato

$11.99 a six pack

From Super Fine Wine & Liquor Store in Canton Michigan.

Appearance: dirty penny with a fluffy tan head that leaves lots of lacing. 

Aroma: Pumpkin spice candle, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, pumpkin bread like.

Flavors: spiced pumpkin bread profile,

Mouthfeel: smooth, low-moderate carbonation, spice on the back of the palate and for a lingering aftertaste. 

My Strength Rating: 5 – a good medium strength ale

To the Point: a tasty spiced pumpkin ale.  Perfect for that cool autumn day.  New Holland recommends to pair this with roasted poultry. 

I am reviewing this beer on October 4 and the Detroit Tigers are playing the Stankies (Yankees) in the 4 game of the playoff series.  I think I’ll pair this beer with a quality La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami.

Great Lakes Oktoberfest: Review

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Greatlakesbrewing.com

6.5% abv

Bottle size: 12 oz

One last oompah tune for this season. 

Appearance: Bright and clear amber body with a fine little off-white head.

Aroma: light sweet malty nose

Flavors: sweet grains, touch of caramel, with some smooth hops to boot. 

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, fairly smooth texture, lingering sweet grains left on the tongue.

My Strength Rating: 4 – a nice mild-medium Oktoberfest

To the Point: Nice is the best I can do for this one.  A good beer to drink though.  It is missing the Oktoberfest spice that I like.  Too much of a focus on the sweet grainy style for me. 

Liefmans Goudenband: Review

Liefmans Brouwerij

Oudenaarde, Belgium

Bottle Size: 75 cl

8 % abv

$10.99 a bottle – Lager Mill in Frankenmuth, Michigan

The cork is vintage dated: 2010 so, it must be good for aging?  On the bale cap it is stamped: 8-2020 – does that mean it could be aged till then?

On the paper packaging it talks about the ale having aging potential.

Appearance: dark brown body with a fine one and a half finger light beige head that thins out real quick.  Has medium-light lacing on the glass.

Aroma: faint sour apple mash, sweet cherry cola, fairly simple nose

Flavors: tart apple, sweet/tart cherry, hint of white and red grapes, just a faint oaky note on the finish.  

Mouthfeel: fine fizzy carbonation, cola feel, slight twang on the tongue, not a big time sour ale taste, very elegant mouthfeel

My Strength Rating: 6 – the sour style is not overpowering.

To the Point: This Flanders Oud Bruin Style Ale has a very sexy style on the taste and mouthfeel.  This is a must try for any beer connoisseur.  I am going to mark this one down as one of my sour beer favorites. 

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest: Review

Original Oktoberfest

Amber Marzen

5.8% abv

Bottle size: 330ml

Best before date: 6/12

$10.99 a six pack

I stopped a bar the other day (first time in a long time) and they had this beer on tap.  I have not had it in a few years so I gave it a whirl.  It seemed thin tasting that day at the bar but, that did not stop me from buying a case the next day when I stopped by the party store. 

Appearance: rich amber with a coppery shin in the highlights.  White head that was okay.  Some lacing at first nothing impressive … it washes away pretty quickly. 

Aroma: sweet lightly toasted caramel malts, light breadiness,

Flavors and Mouthfeel: light in body, smooth, easy to drink or to pair with something to eat.  Light grains, soft toasted bready note, soft Oktoberfest type spice, nice balance from this Oktoberfest when the sweetness hits the palate on delivery and then the bitterness (not overwhelming) from the hops come onto the scene to keep things in check. 

This is still a classic Oktoberfest.  A good one to drink to understand the style but, then you can decide which direction to go when drinking other Oktoberfest style beers.  Leinenkugle’s Oktoberfest I think is much lighter than this or do you head to a spicy Samuel Adams.  While I do like the ones with a spicier style I can only drink a few (2 or 3) of this type in one session.   

Oude Gueuze Lambic: Review

Each bottle matured for over three years

6% abv

375ml bottle

$8.99 a bottle

Hanssens Artisanaal

Dworp, Belgium

Appearance: dirty orange with a thin fizzy white … head? Can you call that a head … how about, it is thin and fizzy and white.  When I poured my second glass … I got head!!!

Aroma: sour apple, barnyard animal hair

Flavors and Mouthfeel: an earthy sour apple cider, the sour/tart flavors coat the palate for a long lingering effect; this will leave you licking your choppers, the oak is more noticeable as the Lambic warms, the texture is dry

My Strength Rating: 8 – the sour and snappy tart flavors just linger. 

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel: Review

7% abv

$10.99 from Lager Mill in Frankenmuth

Appearance: chocolate caramel body with a big tan head.  No lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: when I popped that cork it smelled like a fresh cola blast.  Deep rich sweet aromas from the malts and sugars.  Nothing overpowering.

Flavors: the only thing I see that is complex in the taste is the ‘dark fruit tones.’  Otherwise a good balancing act between the rich malty flavors, hops and the earthy Belgian yeast. 


This ale was terrific with my Filet.

Krusovice: Beer Review

Imperial Czech Premium Lager

1pt .9oz bottle

Kralovsky Pivovar

Krusovice, Czech Republic

Krusovice.cz

This could be trouble – it’s three years old.  Born by date: 3-12-2008

Appearance: clear golden-amber with a little white head (personal issues)

Aroma: light earthy malts and hops, simple like a lager

Flavors: nice light sweet malts probably what a sugar-free caramel would taste like.  Slight hop bittering note that is grassy like.  Not bad for being three years old.  I would like to taste this lager fresh one day. 

Mouthfeel: semi-crisp, probably lost some crispness due to age, a grassy lingering note on the palate. 

My Strength Rating: 3

Bear Republic XP Pale Ale: Review

5.5% abv

1pt 6oz bottle

$5.50 a bottle

Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Healdsburg, California, USA

Bearrepublic.com

Appearance: a shiny golden copper tone with nice clarity and an off white foamy head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: faint nose, yeasty yes, otherwise it is uneventful. 

Flavors: flavors seem light and hard to distinguish.  Notes of grains, grassy hops, slight bitterness, good earthy quality and the malts must be doing their job for the ale seems balanced.  A strange one to review.  Let me just enjoy. 

Okay, on that ‘just enjoy’ level, it’s a pleasing pale ale.  Nothing strong, nothing outstanding, to me nothing interesting from this ale.  I was expecting more since I really liked their Racer 5 IPA.  This one does not light my fire.  Well, in a matter of fact it does not even light the match to light the fire. 

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, strange lingering slightly bitter note that reminds me of a citrus rind. 

My Strength Rating: 6 – a pool of non-descript and muted flavors. 

To the Point: I could care less for this ale.  But, on Beer Advocate, 360 reviewers averaged out for a B+ on this ale.  What do you think?

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

Hex Ourtoberfest: Review

Magic Hat Brewing Co.

S. Burlington, Vermont, USA

Magichat.net

5.4% abv

25 IBU’s

Bottle Size: ¾ pint

Best by: Dec312011 – found on neck of bottle

Yeast: German Ale

Hops: Apollo, Hallertaur

Malts: Pale, Vienna, Crystal, Cherry Wood Smoked Malts, Malted Rye

Magic Hat has some real crazy stuff.  I have to do a review on some of their beers one of these months.  Wacko is beer with beet juice.  I have reviewed #9 – and I still don’t care for that beer.  I am looking forward to their interpretation of ‘Ourtoberfest.’

Appearance: copper with a reddish hue, the head not all that inspiring maybe a ½ finger, off-white in color with very little lacing.

Aroma: very light nose, some malty, bready, with a hint of spice on the nose.

Flavors: some Octoberfest type spice, grainy, touch of bitterness, I don’t notice the cherry but, then Northern Peaks Archangel is brewed with cherry juice and that just plain ol’ tasted medicinal.  There is something to the taste that says there is something different added here but, I would not just jump right out and say cherry.  Overall a nice taste.

Mouthfeel: 6.5 – for the bitter note that lingers and turns a tad medicinal on the tongue. 

To the Point: Nice taste, a strange lingering note lies on the tongue; it is worthy to try.

Bear Republic Tribute Ale Brown: Review

American Brown Ale

6.3% abv

1pt 6oz bottle

$5.50 a bottle

Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Healdsburg & Cloverdale, California

Bearrepublic.com

This brown ale is a tribute to their sales manager Pete Brown who passed away back in 2002.  What a great tribute. 

Appearance: deep dark brown with mahogany highlights when held up to the light.  It poured a nice fine one finger head and it leaves some lacing on the glass with each sip. 

Aroma: toasted sugar and malts.

Flavors: rich sweet toasted malts.  On the bottle it says, ‘golden brown sugars and sweet molasses.’  I’ll go for that. 

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, deep roasted notes linger for a long time on the palate.  Medium body on delivery and medium-full overall.

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – nice toasted sweetness in taste and long lingering roasted malts, grain, and sugars kick it up a notch. 

A very decent brown ale that would be good on a beautiful fall day. 

I’ll be pairing this one down the road with a fine cigar and a bowl of chili. 

Cheers Pete!   

Short's Brew Noble Chaos Oktoberfest

Short’s Brewing Co.

Elk Rapids, Michigan, USA

shortsbrewing.com

Bottle size

5.75 % abv

36 IBU

$1.69 a bottle I only bought one

If you ever make it to Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula) Elk Rapids is a fine stop to make. 

Appearance: deep amber body with a fine one finger tan head that leaves some decent lacing on the side of the glass. 

Aroma: very light bouquet, some grainy malts on the nose, light hoppy spice note, yeast

Flavors: toasted caramel washes over the palate, mid and finish spice character, nice bitter quality,

Mouthfeel: typical low-moderate carbonation for an Oktoberfest beer, the toasted caramel on the delivery comes across medium like, the spice and bitterness makes for a medium-full mouthfeel on the finish,

My Strength Rating: 6 – the finish and lingering notes kicks it up to a six

To the Point: a very good Oktoberfest.  I’ll buy a six pack next time. 

The Kaiser - Imperial Oktoberfest Lager: Review

Dictator Series

Avery Brewing, Co.

Boulder, Colorado, USA

1pt 6oz bottle

10.01% abv – really now

I would have guessed 10.00 or 10.02 but, never 10.01%

24 IBU’s

Batch #8; Aug 2011

$8.50 a bottle

Appearance: tarnished copper body with a fine one finger off-white head that leaves some lacing behind on the glass. 

Aroma: a faint nose overall, some sweet malty notes and bready/yeasty notes.  When this beer warms up the alcohol nose picks up. 

Flavors: sweet caramel malts as the main profile, toasted malty notes, toasted grains, spice from the hops or maybe the alcohol, moderate bittering from the hops hit the back of the palate. 

Mouthfeel: smooth on delivery; low-moderate carbonation; moderate bitter note on the finish and dry; toasted malts, spice and bitter notes linger on the aftertaste.  The alcohol is not really part of the taste or mouthfeel – surprisingly.  But, I am feeling the effect of the alcohol. Only because I was drinking it like a regular Oktoberfest beer until I saw that whopping 10% abv. 

My Strength Rating: 5 – because it is so damn smooth on the delivery.    

To the Point: I don’t think Oktoberfest drinking this – maybe Doppelbock. This is one dangerous beer.  The nose seems faint, the flavors are nice, the mouthfeel is medium bodied and that all adds up to let’s slam a few.  No, No, not with this one.  With that abv – it is a true sipper.  Overall thou, it is a tasty beer.