Monday, February 27, 2012

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout: Review


Dogfish Head Brewery
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.  

Thursday, February 23, 2012

North Coast Grand Cru: Review


North Coast Brewing Co.
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Arbor Brewing Jackhammer Old Ale: Review

Arbor Brewing Company
Corner Brewery
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
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,


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Arbor Brewing Tree Fort Beer


Arbor Brewing Company
Corner Brewery
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
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


Monday, February 13, 2012

Big Bear Black Stout: Review


Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Healdsburg Cloverdale, California, USA
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. 

Friday, February 10, 2012

Big Dick’s Olde Ale: Review


Arcadia Brewing Company
Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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.    

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Red Snapper: Review

Arbor Brewing Co.
Corner Brewery
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
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  !

Monday, February 6, 2012

Steam Engine Stout Ale: Review


Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA
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. 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

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