Dogfish Head Chicory Stout: Review

Dogfish Head Brewery

Dogfish.com

Milton, Delaware, USA

5.2% abv

Here is what they say on the bottle: “A rich, dark brew smoothed out with a touch of roasted chicory and organic Mexican coffee.  Goodness beneath a bone white head.”

I have never brewed up some chicory before but, last year I did look for some so I could give it a try and I could not find it anywhere.  It is suppose too have a good coffee like flavor.  I have always thought it was ‘a poor-man’s coffee.’   I am still interested in find it and brewing some.  And, if it is cheaper than coffee, then great!  

Appearance: I am going with a two finger tan head.  It is as tan as tan can be.  Black as midnight body.  There is no sediment on the bottom of the bottle to worry about. 

Aroma: roasted grains and coffee.  As the beer warmed up I noticed a touch of chocolate on the nose. 

Flavors: smooth black coffee like tones.  Might be a hint of roasted grains and a touch of pumpernickel bread like quality. 

Mouthfeel: smooth and mild.  The carbonation is fine.  A bit thin with a watery edge; not what I expected out of a stout. It reminds me more of a brown ale.  

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – medium body at best to me.

To the Point: Not what I expected from a Dogfish brew.  The thin and watery mouthfeel just makes it uninteresting for a stout.  I do like the coffee flavor from this beer.  

North Coast Grand Cru: Review

North Coast Brewing Co.

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Northcoastbrewing.com

12.9% abv

500 ml bottle

Free from my beer guys

This ale has a smooth and sweet style.  The carbonation is fine and sweet.  It is white wine sweet, it tastes like sweet nectar, I think the touch of oak is even sweet.  I hope you get the idea that this Grand Cru is sweet because it is SWEET. 

Okay, I can’t take anymore sweetness.  I hope the grass likes the sweet watering I am going to give it. 

There is more glass in this bottle than a 30 pack of Bud Light.

Arbor Brewing Jackhammer Old Ale: Review

Arbor Brewing Company

Corner Brewery

Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

Arborbrewing.com

9.3% abv

50 IBU’s

Appearance: dark brown with cola like highlights.  Just a thin layer for the head.  No lacing. 

Aroma: sweet, light roasted caramel malts, light smoky note, very light spice

Flavors: dark fruit that reminds me of a raisin and fig like quality, a nice hoppy spice to balance out the malts, I can’t come up with a specific spice – maybe a hint of clove – so I’ll call it a spice box note, a hint of a low percentage dark chocolate. 

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, smooth feel, the alcohol is present but not an issue to me, a bit thin on the aftertaste

My Strength Rating: 6 – just on the other side of medium.

To the Point: a nice English Style Old Ale, tasty and enjoyable, watch out for the abv,

Arbor Brewing Tree Fort Beer

Arbor Brewing Company

Corner Brewery

Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

Arborbrewing.com

4.5% abv

31 IBU’s

Mild Pale Ale

Appearance: hazy slightly dirty orange with a thin white head

Aroma: light, very light, white bread like

Flavors: lightly sweet malts, mild earthy hops and yeast.

Mouthfeel: not complex, pretty straight forward Mild Pale Ale, refreshing, smooth, kind of a buttery feel, low-moderate carbonation, little watery edge, a short and light bready aftertaste

My Strength Rating: 2 – mild

To the Point: nothing special here, maybe a good transition beer for the adjunct beer drinker

Big Bear Black Stout: Review

Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Healdsburg Cloverdale, California, USA

bearrupblic.com

1pt 6oz bottle

8.1% abv

$5.50 a bottle

Appearance: 2 finger tan head, black body, good lacing

Aroma: roasted caramel malts

Flavors: sweet toasted caramel malts with a big roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate likeness.  There is a piney like bite on the back.

Mouthfeel: low carbonation, bitter on the mid and a lingering hoppy bitterness. 

Big Dick’s Olde Ale: Review

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Arcadiaales.com

9% abv

51 IBU’s

2010 Vintage

I reviewed this beer back on June 6, 2010 and since I just reviewed Red Snapper from Arbor Brewing – I think it is a perfect time to visit Big Dick’s Olde Ale again. 

Appearance: a heavy dark caramel body with a very thin tan head from an aggressive pour.  Some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: light nose overall, some sweet malts in there, a little wheat bread

Flavors: semi-sweet malty tones, some tasty hops adding a light bitterness. I am having a hard time coming up with some specific flavors but, it is still tasty to me.  As the ale warms there is a better spicy (light) hops which I like.  It does not come across boozy at first but as it warms there is a hint of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: smooth, almost a buttery feel, low carbonation,

To the Point: be careful with the 9% abv, this is smooth and easy to drink, I think I liked the one I had back in 2010 (whatever vintage that was) a little better.    

Red Snapper: Review

Arbor Brewing Co.

Corner Brewery

Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

Arborbrewing.com

12 oz bottle

5.2% abv

41 IBU

Appearance: murky amber with a fine two finger light tan head that has plenty of lacing on the side of the glass.

Aroma: notes of pine from the hops when I first opened the bottle and changed to an earthy-dusty hop, nice malty backbone,

Flavors: roasted grains, earthy dry hop bitterness,

Mouthfeel: wool like feel, dry finish, bitter note on mid and back palate, lingering pale ale like bitterness on aftertaste (little pine like and/or citrus rind).

Tomorrow: Big Dick's Olde Ale; after all what goes better with Red Snapper  !

Steam Engine Stout Ale: Review

Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA

Mtpleasantbrew.com

12 oz bottle

6.4% abv

$8.99 BP Gas Station in Bad Axe, Michigan

Visit their web site to learn about this brewery.  They started in 1996 doing … well … visit their site and learn how it all started. 

Make sure to swirl the last two inches to pick up the sediment on the bottom of the bottle.

Appearance: almost black so; let’s call it burnt chestnut or how about Steam Engine Axle Grease.  Just a one finger tan head that disappeared quickly.  Little bit of legs on the glass so, it’s not too syrupy.   

Aroma: roasted malts, toasted grains and coffee; light overall to me.

Flavors: dark roast coffee, roasted sweet malts, dark chocolate like, little watery edge but, not too watery,

Mouthfeel: smooth, slight bitter note, more of a watery feel than a syrupy or creamy feel, low carbonation,  it drinks like a coffee porter.

My Strength Rating: 5.5/6 – Medium/Medium-Full

To the Point: I like the flavors; just could be a little more syrupy or oily in texture.  It is an easy drinking stout. 

Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout 2011: Review

“Dark and complex with 11 malts and grains balanced by three different and distinct hops.”

Jacob Leinenkugle Brewing Co.

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

9.5% abv

Appearance: black as night body with a fine one finger dark tan head. Thick lacing left on the glass and it look syrupy running down the glass with each sip.   

Aroma: dark roasted grains and a little anise, the overall bouquet is soft though. 

Flavors: dark roasted grains, salty, espresso like taste, bitter dark chocolate (95% dark chocolate), roasted molasses, 

Mouthfeel: the bitter notes dominate, little syrupy and creamy feel, low carbonation,

My Strength Rating: 8 – a good full bodied Russian Stout