Blue Point Winter Ale: Review

Blue Point Brewing Company

Rochester, New York, USA

Bluepointbrewing.com

7% abv

25 IBUs

Appearance: clear toffee color to the body with a light tan head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: light toasted bread, not much else

Flavors: light toasted malts with light citrus pepper spice. 

Mouthfeel: light bitterness with some light toasted malts, light-moderate carbonation,

To the Point: a simple winter ale, nice spicy style, easy to drink, should be enjoyable for most palates, worthy to purchase, 

Goose Island Mild Winter: Review

Goose Island Beer Company

Baldwinsville, New York, USA

Gooseisland.com

5.6% abv

28 IBUs

Appearance: dark brown with some dirty copper highlights, thin and fine tan head

Aroma: very light nose, light grains, light toasted bread

Flavors: nice spicy grains, light rye and pumpernickel bread, lightly toasted caramel malts, light hoppy spice that reminds me of pink peppercorn

Mouthfeel: nice balance between the hops and malts, spicy taste on the mid and finish, nice spicy aftertaste, moderate carbonation, rather simple in taste

To the Point: I enjoyed the spicy style of this simple Mild Winter Ale.  I only bought one bottle … I wish I bought a six pack.  

Samuel Adams White Christmas: Review

Limited Release

Ale Brewed with Spices

Cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel

5.8% abv

Appearance: cloudy and slightly burnt orange body with a good snow white head that leaves some nice lacing on the glass.

Aroma: dash of allspice, wheat, and light orange meat

Flavors: dose of wheat with nutmeg on the delivery, orange peel and cinnamon on the mid and finish. 

Mouthfeel: little stiff and dry, yet smooth … might be my palate … low to very low carbonation; mild-medium in weight and medium in flavors.

To the Point: if you like a holiday wheat ale with brown spice … this should be for you.  I might serve this with my allspice apple pork tenderloin on Christmas.  For me I can only handle drinking maybe one of these.  My wife likes these winter ales with brown spice. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – the flavors keep it in the medium range.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale: Review

Brewed and Bottled by: Brewery Du Coco

For: Brewery Corsendonk Ltd.

Turnhout, Belgium

1pt 9.4oz bottle

8.1% abv

$15.00

Appearance: brown dusty mahogany body with a tan head and some lacing

Aroma: light bouquet; toasted malts, yeast,

Flavors: toasted and roasted caramel malts, earthy yeast, toasted nuttiness … a little like candied pecan, roasted vanilla, 70% chocolate like, low carbonation

To the Point: I really liked this Ale.  A tasty dark ale.  Worthy of trying.  Makes a great gift and you don’t have to wrap it … Just put a bow on top.

Look at this packaging:  

  

Gouden Carolus Noel: Review

Het Anker

Mechelen, Belgium

11.2oz bottle

$19.99 four pack

10.5% abv

Appearance: Brown body with a light tan head

Aroma: black licorice, sweet fancy raisin, coffee,

Flavors: the black licorice stands out to me … reminds me of Smith Brothers Licorice Cough Drops, then the coffee hits the palate and then hints of sweet fancy raisin, fig, and a touch of chocolate.  I do not notice the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, very light bitter note hits the mid palate if you are paying attention, black licorice and a light roasted coffee with milk lingers on the aftertaste.  Body weight seems to be medium-full.  That 10.5% abv does not even seem to be a factor so, watch out.   

My Strength Rating: 6 – just making it into the medium-full range. 

To the Point: I have never had this beer before and when I took a quick sniff and a sip … I thought what did I waste my money on … this is just plain old sweet, sweet and sweet … well … it also has some weird flavor.  Then I said, I need to review this … let’s do it and get it over with.  After thinking about what I smelled and what I was actually tasting I then started to like this Ale.  After all … I love black licorice (the good stuff) this is not your cheap sweet Swizzler type licorice.   Not for everybody but, if you think about what you are drinking and understand … then you may like it … if you like licorice. 

This was an interesting tasting for I went from hating it from the first sip to thinking about it and trying to understand it and eventually liking it (maybe really liking it).

On beer advocate it scored a 90 with 419 reviews.  I would have guessed it to be in the 70’s.  I don’t know if I am ready to say it is exceptional nor am I going to say it is average.  

Flying Horse Royal Lager Beer: Review

Bombay Breweries

Bangalore, India

1pt 6oz bottle

$3.69

4.7% abv

Appearance: light-bright golden lager body with a very thin white head

Aroma: grainy malts, bread like, crisp and clean

Flavors and Mouthfeel: crisp and clean in feel, sweet grains, bready, mild hops must be doing their job to keep the sweetness in check, light body, mild carbonation

To the Point: an average to slightly above average lager, easy to drink, 

St-Ambroise Pale Ale: Review

Biere Blonde Pale Ale

McAuslan Brewing Inc.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mcauslan.com

11.5 oz bottle

No date on the bottle

Appearance: pours a clear copper colored body with a thin off-white head that leaves a little lacing on the glass.  After I poured the beer out of the bottle I looked at the bottom of the bottle and I can see some sediment that I left behind.  This might affect the taste.  I did get a little sediment into my glass and it did cloud the copper colored body. 

Aroma: light malts, dusting of yeast, and a hint of hops

Flavors: I did get a little of the sediment into my glass; lightly toasted malts, dark bread, a generic light hop note, taste like a lager with a little flavor

To the Point: for a Pale Ale it is below average, for a beer it is okay, easy to drink, not much on the flavor front, the few Canadian Pale Ales that I have had over the years have all been on the weak side of town (as far as Pale Ales go).  I would skip this one.  

At least I got another cap for my shed wall

Wilco Tango Foxtrot Ale: Review

A Malty, Robust, Jobless Recovery Ale

We’re not quite in the Red, or the Black … Does that mean we’re in the Brown?!

Limited Release

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Petaluma, California, USA

7.85% abv

59 IBU’s

1 pint 6 oz bottle

Appearance: brown body with some mahogany; light tan head with some lacing

Aroma: toasted grains, sweet malts; almost toasted sugar like; hops

Flavors: toasted grains, pine like bite, some burnt sugars, dark fruit (fig like), black pepper citrus zest on the finish probably coming from the alcohol and hops

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, toasted grains hit me first and then the piney hops hit me in the mid and late palate, moderate boozy feel, nice bitterness, the hops linger on the palate for a hearty aftertaste; medium-full overall. 

To the Point: a good brown ale, worthy of trying, not a brown ale for the average consumer, actually I don't know if it is really for me either, this would be a tough ale to pair with a good cigar. I had a hard time drinking the whole pint.  

Great Lakes Brewing Blackout Stout: Review

Russian Imperial Stout

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Greatlakesbrewing.com

9%abv

Named after the 2003 blackout that left the northeast United States in the dark and I remember being at my place up north Michigan waiting for my family and friends to show up and could not figure out way they were all running late and I could not get ahold of anybody by phone.  I have no TV at my summer place so; I did not know what was going on.  We had power and the lower part of Michigan did not.  I remember the strange feeling I had when nobodies phone worked. 

Appearance: black as midnight in Grindstone City with a full one finger tan head

Aroma: medium roasted coffee, smoky and not much else.  I even gave it to my bloodhound wife and she came up with the same thing. 

Flavors: roasted barley, medium-full roasted coffee with some 70% dark chocolate, medium roasted coffee beans, and wow … watch out for the 9% abv for I don’t notice any alcohol and this is smooth to drink

Mouthfeel: smooth, semi-creamy, thick oily feel, low carbonation, light-moderate bitterness,

My Strength Rating: 6 – I think that is low for a Russian Stout but, this is just smooth

To the Point: you want a smooth and elegant Russian Stout this is it.  I’ll call it good to very good for an Imperial Russian Stout style.  I would expect a bolder coffee and chocolate with a bite from the alcohol; without going overboard.  Plus points for this stout for its elegant style.

I am looking forward to having a quality cigar with this stout.   

Henry Weinhard’s Redwood Flats Amber: Review

‘Brewed with cascade hops from the 44^th latitude'

Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Co.

Hood River, Oregon, USA

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

5.2% abv

Appearance: copperish-amber body with an off-white head

Aroma: very light, maybe dry toasted white bread, I really don’t get anything else

Flavors: lightly toasted caramel malt, herbal biscuit, hint of a floral note

To the Point: a below average Amber Ale to me; as a beer it’s average and average is not always a bad thing, for one it is easy to drink.  I say below average for an Amber Ale because it is too light on the nose and tastes like a pilsner or lager with a hint of flavor.  Hey Bud and Miller drinkers, try this beer, you should love this stuff.  If I was playing cards and smoking stogies … this could work. 

I reviewed their Private Res and this one … and I sampled their IPA at a bar … one sip of that IPA and I said no way I am drinking this ‘crap’.  I really disliked their Private Reserve.  

Fat Tire Amber Ale: Review

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

5.2% abv

Appearance: clear amber body with a little beige head that leaves a touch of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: clean, fresh, hint of biscuit,

Flavors: lightly toasted bread, grassy hops

Mouthfeel: light, clean on the delivery, dry grassy feel on the finish,

To the Point: fairly simple in style, easy to drink, would I buy it again … probably not.   

Magic Hat Ravell: Review

Porter brewed with Vanilla

Magic Hat Brewing Company

S. Burlington, Vermont, USA

5.8% abv

Appearance: black coffee body with a two finger tan head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass

Aroma: light bouquet; roasted coffee, light chocolate and vanilla

Flavors: uhm … taste like a porter with vanilla; light dark chocolate 50% like; wow … fairly simple; when it warmed up the flavors were more distinct

Mouthfeel: smooth, ultra-light carbonation, builds a creamy feel as it warms up, linger roasted notes on the palate

To the Point: an okay to good porter, might be a good one for my wife to try … see says she does not like porters or stouts … I think it is a perception thing; anyways with Magic Hat I always remember Wacko, that ale made with beet juice so I always think they will have something crazy in their beer (perception thing).  Just a regular Porter here with a nice touch of vanilla.  I liked it more as it warmed up.    Drink this around 50 degrees F.  

Cintra Brazilian Beer

Cervejarias Cintra Ind. E com. LTDA.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

12 oz bottle

4.7% abv

Oh NO!  I won’t be drinking this baby.  Tons of plankton floating around … this is old.  I now check for a date on the bottle and it says, Jun/09 … uhm … it’s Dec/12 – it’s old.  And, I know to check these bottles for being expired.  Hopefully the grass enjoyed the old beer. 

Snow Day Winter Ale: Review

I just reviewed two Pilsner beers ... let's get something with some character.

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Newbelgium.com

6.2% abv

55 IBU

On the bottle, “…dark caramel roasted Midnight Wheat braced with a serious load of Styrian Goldings, Centennial and Casade hops?”

Had this beer on tap at The Oven in Caro Michigan and enjoyed it so much I almost stayed the night in the town just so I could drink another one or two.  Looking forward to having it today while, I watch my Detroit Lions.
Can they beat a bad team in the Arizona Cardinals ... I doubt it ... but, I'll watch anyways.  

Appearance: very dark brown body; hold it to the light and you’ll see some mahogany highlights; super 2 finger light tan head that has great staying power; just sheets of lacing hanging on the glass like a big old velvet curtain.

Aroma: toasted grains/malts, hint of dark fruit, touch of spice, light pine. 

Flavors: deep roasted caramel malts, profound toasted grains, and grassy bitter hops.  Not all that complex but, it sure is enjoyable. 

Mouthfeel: nice moderate bitterness from start to finish, fine fizzy carbonation, roasted notes and light-moderate bitterness linger on the aftertaste, firm body, medium-full overall,

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – the hops kick it up notch (50 IBUs); deep roasted notes

To the Point: I really enjoyed this on tap and now I wish I bought the twelve pack instead of the six pack.  I am waiting for my ‘Snow Day.’  

Side note: the Detroit Loins lost ... of course. 

My Black and Tan Hound Dog ... Annie

Rules, the Detroit Loins Suck

And she is a Judge ... see the wig

Labatt Blue: Review

Labatt Blue Imported

Canadian Pilsner

Labatt Brewing Company

Toronto, Canada

5% abv

Appearance: bright yellow gold body with a white head

Aroma: clean, biscuit like, not much else

Flavors and Mouthfeel: crisp, moderate carbonation, semi-sweet grainy malt, little citrus feel on the palate,

To the Point: my wife likes this one; I have never been a big fan; I’ll get it if there is nothing else in some little party store; an okay pilsner, you have to drink it ice cold or forget it.  

American Blonde: Review

I have not reviewed a winter ale yet and that is because I just have not taken the time to get to my beer store that I like to go to.  But, I have a lot of beers in the fridge that need to be reviewed.  So, the next five or eight posts are going to be beers that I need to get out of the fridge. 

Classic American Blonde Ale

Frankenmuth Brewery

Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA

4.75% abv

17 IBU

Frankenmuthbrewery.com

Appearance: Oh yeah, golden blonde body with a thin white head

Aroma: dry yeast, biscuit, very pilsner like

Flavors and Mouthfeel: crisp, light grains, light earthy yeast, hint of grassy hops,

To the Point: a refreshing ale, an excellent session ale at 4.75 abv, I would buy this again and I have to admit that I was not looking forward to trying this Blonde.  

Sloeber Ale: Review

Br. Roman

Oudenaarde, Belgium

Globalbeer.com

7.5% abv

11.2 oz bottle

$16.99 a four pack

Appearance: thick foggy golden orange body with a big fluffy pure white head.

Aroma: sweet pear and tart apple; muted spice, grainy malts and light grassy hops.  The overall bouquet is light.

Flavors: flavors follow the nose; light summer fruit, touch of tart apple, Belgian spice and yeast are very light yet tasty, I can’t put my finger on any particular hoppy note but it must be doing its job in keeping this ale in balance, nothing overwhelming and no particular note stands out but in its simplicity it is tasty.    

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, semi-creamy feel, light-medium body, light bitterness and nice sweetness, the alcohol does not stand out, velvety feel on the finish, not complex,

To the Point: to me it’s just as good as Duvel but, not as tasty or complex as Piraat.  I do like this Ale. I think it is the simplicity of this Belgian that I enjoy.  Beware of the 7.5% alcohol and the drinkability of this ale.

My Strength Rating: 4 – clean aftertaste, velvety feel  

Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve: Review

Northwest-style Lager

Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Co.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

4.8% abv

Okay, Weinhards is from Oregon but Milwaukee Wisconsin is on the label.  It also says the company has been around since 1856. 

Appearance: clear, bright golden body with a little white head that turns into … nothing real fast.

Aroma: fresh water, white bread and nothing much after that … sounds like a plate of food you might get in prison. 

Flavors: reminds me boiled corn, boring grainy malts, grassy-straw like hops, nasty … just good ol’ nasty beer. 

Mouthfeel: watery on the deliver, mid and late palate is abused by some bitter note … that bitter note reminds me of an old tin can,

To the Point: skip it, look the other direction, maybe buy a bottle of Wild Irish Rose, hell go on the wagon.  Reminds me of some cheap adjunct beer dressed up in a label to make you think you are buying a craft beer.  

Shorts Brew Spruce Pilsner: Review

Short’s Brewing Company

Shortsbrewing.com

Elk Rapids, Michigan, USA

7.15% abv

‘Imperial Pilsner Brewed with Northern Michigan Spring Blue Spruce Tips & Healthy Dose of High Alpha Hops’

I believe this is a summer beer.  I have several bottles still in the fridge and this seems like the perfect time to review this baby. 

Appearance: hazy yellow-gold body with a fine white head.

Aroma: the spruce tips stand out, lemon peel

Flavors: spruce flavor is front and center with of course a pine notes coming from the hops for a firm and dry mouthfeel; tasty bitterness and the malts must be doing their job to keep the bitterness under control; herbal/floral, lemongrass

To the Point: if you like specialty beers … this is a must try. 

I paired this Pilsner with a Macanudo Gold Label Gold Bar Cigar.  While the beer has the light-moderate body of an Imperial Pilsner it has a bold bitter style from the Alpha Hops and the Blue Spruce Tips.  A cigar with a spicy profile or strong coffee tone can be disinterest – making it too bitter of a pairing.  So, a mild Macanudo should do the trick. 

The Pairing: the light dusty white pepper and white mushroom earthy tone of the cigar made it feel like I was eating a Pine Tree Salad while I was drinking this Pilsner.  The cigar did not make the beer anymore bitter and likewise the beer did not change the cigar.     

Click Here to read the full review on the cigar.

Leinenkugel's Snowdrift Vanilla Porter: Review

Leinie.com

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA

6% abv

“Complex Malt Character Reveals Layers of Coffee and Cocoa” – on the bottle

Appearance: a nice tan head sits on top of an almost coffee like colored body with some cola edges.  Note much on the lacing.  The head was gone before I noticed it was gone.  When I poured my second glass I had a nice two finger head that took about three minutes to dissipate and it left a thin tan layer sitting on top.   

Aroma: coffee with a roasted vanilla bean

Flavors: pretty much what they have on the label. This is what I say, ‘sweetened coffee and semi-sweet chocolate with a dose of vanilla bean. 

Mouthfeel: light-moderate bitterness, toasted sweet malts, good body weight for a porter, a lingering semi-sweet chocolate note on the finish

To the Point: I have to admit that I did not have much hope for this one.  But, I like it.  I enjoyed a couple sitting by the campfire the other week.  And two is about all I can take of this Porter because I start to grow tired of the sweetness.    

Thinking of that sweetness … I know what could help battle it … the right cigar.  Click here to read the cigar pairing. 

MOA Breakfast: Review

Ale brewed with natural flavors

Super Premium Belgian Style

Bottle Fermented and Conditioned

MOA Brewing Company

MOAbeer.com

New Zealand

5.5% abv

12.7 oz bottle

4 pack $22.99

Appearance: dirty lemon-aid with a fine white head and no lacing

Aroma: cherry bubble gum, fruity,

Flavors: medicinal, cough drop like cherry flavor with a little white fruit in the mix, a little dusty wheat

Mouthfeel: light carbonation, light fruitiness, light sweetness on the front along with that medicinal note, dry and a slight hoppiness on the finish,

To the Point: the jury is still out on this one; I still can’t get over that this is a wheat type ale; with the word ‘breakfast’ on the label I was thinking when I opened this that it would be a stout type ale.  An interesting ale … ‘interesting’ being a euphemism for I am not really sure about this one.  Final thought – the medicinal cough drop flavor is too much of a negative. 

Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale: Review

Reel Ales

Fish Brewing Company

Olympia, Washington, USA

Reelales.com

7.5% abv

64 IBUs

1pt 6oz bottle

The store I go to gave me this bottle.

Appearance: black body with a two finger tan and creamy looking head that leave some massive lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: nice hoppy presence that reminds me of soft pine; roasted grains in the mix, a touch of semi-sweet chocolate

Flavors: the hoppy notes come through with a tasty mix of pine and citrus rind; the toasted malts are present with roasted grains, bitter chocolate bite, toasted … slightly burnt caramel, I think you can even throw in coffee … medium roast coffee

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, nice bitter style (it does have a 65 IBU), the malts are doing their job for some balance, lingering roasted notes on the aftertaste, a touch of 99% dark chocolate bitterness, not heavy like a stout – closer to a porter in mouthfeel 

To the Point: to me it is a tasty dark ale and perfect on this cold fall day here in Michigan.  

Spaten Optimator Doppelbock: Review

Spaten-Brau

Munich, Germany

7.6% abv

25 IBU

Spatenusa.com

Appearance: dark brown with a ½ finger head that leaves some lacing on the glass

Aroma: bock like with toasted caramel, roasted grain, and fig

Flavors: dark roasted malts, sweet dark chocolate caramel, fig, dark bread, hops must be doing their job for the balancing act – very light grassy feel

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation, sweet, very light bitterness, smooth, lingering roasted notes, medium body

To the Point: a nice Doppelbock; I really like Celebrator Dopplebock; Spaten Optimator is a worthy purchase if you like a good dark beer 

Red Hoptober Ale: Review

Fall Seasonal

New Belgium Brewing

newbelgium.com

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

6% abv

22 oz bottle

$3.99

Appearance: plain and simple to me … it looks like root beer soda – a dark caramelized body in color with a tan two finger head.  Holding it up to the light the mahogany shines through. 

Aroma: light citrusy hoppy nose with some toasted grains in the mix

Flavors: white grapefruit meat (it’s under control), toasted light rye, lightly roasted caramel, herbal? Or sea grass? From the hops on the back, 

Mouthfeel: decent carbonation; light hoppy notes tantalize the tongue; toasted grains and a light roasted caramel help to balance things out; a moderate aftertaste;

To the Point: I have only had one bottle so far but, I am willing to buy more.  It is tasty.  Exceptional … I am not ready to go there yet … “very good” sure.  Not harsh or heavy on the palate.  Worthy of a try.  Understand that it is a red amber ale with some Cetennial, Cascade and Eldorado hops.  The light-moderate bitterness with a touch of sweetness should satisfy most specialty beer drinkers palate.