Alaskan Amber Review

Alaskan Brewing Company

Juneau, Alaska, USA

Alaskanbeer.com

5.3% abv

18 IBU

Amber Alt Style Ale

Appearance: semi-clear copper penny body with a half finger head that was gone before I even thought about the color; spot clean glass with each sip

Aroma: sweet biscuit; light caramel

Flavors: sweet biscuit; lightly toasted grains; soft caramel

Mouthfeel: firm carbonation; medium-light body; thin upfront; grainy biscuit lingers on the palate; sweet overall – the 18 IBU’s tell you that

To the Point: just call it an Amber or Red Ale; drop the Altbier – it’s no Altbier; too thin; just a step away from being a Miller or Bud – both of those have to be around 17 IBU’s – add a little toasted grain and a hint of caramel and you turn your Bud into this Amber Ale.  BORING – skip it.  But, Bud and Miller drinkers can handle this ale and they may think this is great.  Grade: C

New Holland Dragon’s Milk Review

New Holland Brewing

Holland, Michigan

Newhollandbrew.com

11% abv

31 IBUs

Vintage 2014

Bourbon Barrel Stout

First Brewed in 2001

Appearance: this defines black is beautiful; perfect black body with a two finger creamy tan head; some spotty lacing; I don’t see any syrupy legs dripping on the glass with each sip

Aroma: the nose even feels creamy; creamy vanilla-honey bourbon; dark roasted malts

Flavors: smooth, smooth, smooth; nothing bold here, not complex, pretty straight forward Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout; dark roasted malts; smooth silky coffee; nice touch of vanilla bourbon and sweet dark caramel; hint of toasted oak on the back; creamy 75% like dark chocolate;

Mouthfeel: this Imperial Stout is all about the mouthfeel; smooth, semi-syrupy feel, creamy, no carbonation; just inside the full bodied range; just a hint of alcohol warmth on the finish; too easy to drink for 11% abv

Say good-bye to the Santa candles from my parents house
they have to be 30 years old
I burnt them up tonight in my cigar lounge

To the Point: for an Imperial Stout I would expect no carbonation and a creamy feel; I would expect a little more syrupy feel and alcohol warmth; I would expect better syrupy legs dripping on the glass; I would expect bolder notes on the flavor; but, I still like this Stout for it is easy to drink; Don’t forget that it is still a sipper with that 11% abv; for the cigar smoker this should pair well with most cigars; I don’t think this will overpower a milder cigar but, still pairs best with a fuller cigar; I'm going with 88% for a B+

Sierra Nevada Celebration 2014 Review

Sierra Nevada

Chico, California & Mills River North Carolina

Sierranevada.com

6.8% abv

65 IBUs

2014 Edition

Winter Seasonal

Appearance: dense deep amber body with a one finger off-white head; sticky lacing on the glass

Aroma: just as it says on the bottle, ‘pine and citrus’ on the nose; mild-moderate

Flavors: hop forward; pine stands out; deep earthy caramel follows; lightly toasted grains; citrus peel bitterness on the mid; everything comes together on the finish with a dry pine and citrus hoppy style with a hint of earthy caramel

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation fizz; medium body; moderate pine/citrus peel bitterness; long dry finish;

To the Point: a tasty medium body IPA; pleasing to the palate; easy to drink; I don’t think the pine note was as bold as past years; didn’t have that pine prickly feel this year; I’m giving this 2014 a B+;

Theakston Old Peculier Review

T&R Theakston Ltd.

Masham, England

Theakstons.co.uk

5.6% abv

Old Ale Style

12 oz bottle

$9.99 a six pack

Appearance: dark brown body with mahogany highlights; nice one finger tan head; spot lacing

Aroma: faint overall; dark tasted malts; dark fruit – raisin like

Flavors: everything seems muddled together but in a good way; roasted malts; medium chicory; toasted toffee with a thin layer of dark chocolate; touch of dark fruit; hops don’t standout but are present and they are doing their job to keep things balanced

Mouthfeel: low carbonation; medium body; reminds me of an iced medium roast coffee; pleasing roasted malts; dry roasted notes linger on the palate; now this is a balanced ale – the sweetness does not standout nor the bitterness – just smack dab in the middle

To the Point: a solid dark ale; very nice for something different; I enjoyed the other five last month with a couple of quality cigars; I’m going with an 86% for a high B just short of a B+; nothing (flavor) really stands out, the flavors seem muddled together like I said before but it works out in a good way for this ale;

This ale should be a perfect fit for almost all types of cigars.

Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale Review

Clementine White Ale

Mercury Brewing Company

Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA

6% abv

12 oz bottle

Appearance: misty dirty tangerine body with a one finger white head; no lacing

Aroma: coriander and citrus up front; wheat

Flavors: clementine juice and citrus meat; coriander spice; nice touch of hoppy bitter citrus spice; firm dusty wheat notes swirl around;

Mouthfeel: low-moderate carbonation; firm citrus notes; solid spice; pleasing bitterness; medium body; lingering coriander and citrus spice; very dry

To the Point: this Clementine White Ale is very tasty; nice mix of citrus and spice; for something different I would buy this again

Leinenkugel’s Hoppin’ Helles Review

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Leinie.com

I have had this in the fridge since the beginning of the year (March?). I even remember buying the six pack out of the Port Austin Market.  Guess it is time to drink the last one.  I believe that this ale is retired and they made Helles Yeah in its place.  It still should be good.

Appearance: crystal clear golden body with a one finger white head that leaves a few sheets of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: light aromatic hops on the nose with lager like notes;

Flavors and mouthfeel: mild hop bitterness that reminds me of dry orange peel spice; a little herbal sour dough biscuit on the mid palate; dry hops on the mid and finish; dry grainy malts swirl around; dry hops linger on the palate; low-moderate carbonation; light maybe light-medium body;

To the Point: I did not write any notes back when I had the other 5 bottles of this six pack but, I do remember that I did like it.  Now that I have had the Helles Yeah Ale I have to say that I like this on better.  Helles Yeah was too shallow – lacked character.  I’ll give the Hoppin’ Helles a solid B grade and the Helles Yeah a C+  

Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy Review

Leinenkugel’s

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Leinie.com

4.2% abv

11 IBU

Seasonal: Nov-Feb

I am not a Shandy fan to start with but, cranberry and ginger sounds good to me.  The only thing worse than a Shandy beer would be wrinkles in your wrinkle free shirt.

Change the label to pre-wrinkled

Appearance: misty dull gold body with a one finger white head; no lacing

Aroma: candied ginger and cranberry; sweet dusty wheat

Flavors: follow the nose; candy sugar up front followed by a light tart cranberry note then a hit of candied ginger; sweet soda water swirls the palate; touch of sweet dusty wheat tries to mix in

Mouthfeel: light yet firm fizzy feel from the carbonation; light to moderate body; sweet! – the 11 IBUs is spot on; there is a light tart note on the mid then washed away by the sweet candied notes and then on the aftertaste there is a hint of a dry tart note,

To the Point: while the main profile is sweet it is not overwhelming; I did grow tired of it though; I can drink about a half a bottle or three quarters of a bottle and then I am done; but then I am not a sweet Shandy fan or a Shandy fan period; For this one to work for me I would like it to be a straight forward spicy ginger with a firm tart cranberry note with a distinct golden wheat taste and bring it up to a 35 IBU;

Another perfect girly beer by Leinenkugel’s

Leinenkugel’s Helles Yeah Review

Leinenkugel’s

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Leinie.com

5.5% abv

27 IBU

American Helles

Helles is German for bright

Appearance: bright crystal clear yellow beer with a white head that leaves no lacing behind

Aroma: lager like with a hint of dry hops

Flavors: sparkling sweet water up front; very light hoppy note in the mid-section; light lemon meat; pale malts dominate throughout; 

Mouthfeel: firm fizzy feel; light dry feel; crisp; sweet malt profile

To the Point: pleasing; simple; easy to drink; a good one for a nice summer day; 

The Bruery Oude Tart Review

The Bruery

Placentia, California, USA

Thebruery.com

1pt 9.4oz bottle

7.5% abv

Flemish-Style Red Ale Aged in Oak Barrels

2013 Edition

I have had three different ales from this brewery and have really enjoyed each one.  The Smoking Wood Rye Porter was fantastic and I would keep this on hand; The White Oak Barrel Aged Ale was very good and I would buy it now and then; Seven Swans A Swimming a Belgian-style Quad was a beautiful representation of this style.  So, I have to admit that I am impressed by The Bruery.  I am looking forward to this Flemish-Style Red sour ale.  I really like sour ales from Belgium so, this Belgian-style coming from California has my interest.

Appearance: dark cherry cola like body with a thin tan head

Aroma: big sour mash hits the nose; dark cherry sour apple hint of oak

Flavors: sour notes dominate; tart cherry, cranberry, black currant, granny smith apple, and red wine vinegar; toasted oak from wine barrels;

Mouthfeel: sour and tart notes dominate the palate; fine fizzy carbonation keeps the palate lively; long lingering tart apple and black currant red wine vinegar;

To the Point: if I was blindfolded and tasted this ale I would guess it was a Belgian Oud Bruin right from the Flanders region; I think the people from Belgium need to come over and take some notes!!!; this is one ‘great’ ale; I don’t use that word often but, I have to say it here – this is a ‘great’ representation of this style; Must buy if you like sour ales; if you don’t start to open your mind and palate to this style; I am placing this Ale on my Top Shelf List. 

I am going to sit back and enjoy the rest of this bottle with a fine Cigar

The Bruery 7 Swans-A-Swimming Review

Placentia, California, USA

Thebruery.com

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$11.99 a bottle

11% abv

Belgian-style Quadrupel Ale

Appearance: dark brown body with a tan thin layer of foam

Aroma: big malty nose; lightly toasted raisin bread

Flavors: toasted caramel fancy raisin bread with sugar crystals on the crust; fig on the back with lightly burnt sugars;  

Mouthfeel: low carbonation; rich; smooth; very sweet but, not overwhelming;

To the Point: I love Belgian Ales and this Belgian-style by Bruery is a very good straight forward quad; fairly simple but it beauty is in its simplicity 

White Oak Review

The Bruery White Oak

Placentia, California, USA

Thebruery.com

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$15.99 a bottle

11.5% abv

Oak aged wheat ale

2013 Edition

50% Ale; 50% Aled Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Appearance: golden caramel body with a nice one finger white head that leaves very little if any lacing behind. Solid two finger heads on the second glass and third.

golden caramel pastry

Aroma: sea salt caramel; wheat; touch of oak spice; vanilla honey sweetness; a whiff of coconut comes and goes

Flavors: pretty much follows the nose; just that the order is different and the degrees; sweet vanilla honey upfront and this swirls to the cheeks and gums; touch of oak spice on the mid with a firm caramel note coating the tongue; sweet golden wheat swirls around the palate and brings the flavors together in a tea bag like style; a hint of coconut – and here is how I pick up the coconut: I take a sip and I think, “I don’t notice any coconut.” Then I sniff and maybe coconut; then I sip and I go, “yes, coconut,” and then I sniff again and I say, “Yep, that is coconut.”  Then, in a few minutes I take another sip – and no coconut.  This reminds me of Glenmorangie 18 – I always get a whiff of coconut with that Single Malt Scotch in the same way; (back to the ale) the flavors on the back are pretty interesting: a little ‘sweet-tart’ candy like; I think the sweetness comes from the lingering notes upfront; then there is a dash of white pepper for a little musty feel then there is a light oak mash tart note 

Looks like that pastry color

Mouthfeel: super fine fizzy feel; sweet upfront and the sweetness lingers; fancy tea bag of flavors on the mid; lightly tart on the back; little alcohol feel coming across as white pepper; the sweetness dominates at times – not quit cloying – reminds me of a demi-sec champagne; aroma and flavors open up as the ale warms up; medium body; 

To the Point: I really like this ale; a tad sweet at times but, a fine cigar helps to battle that; because of the sweetness it is a sipper for me; flavors and mouthfeel are complex but, easy to overlook if you drink it too cold and not wanting to pay attention to the details; take it out of the fridge and let it sit for 20 minutes before drinking; this really reminds me of a demi sec bubbly but with better flavors

Sierra Nevada Boomerang IPA Review

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Chico, California, USA

SierraNevada.com

6.7% abv

12oz bottle

$15.00 for a 12 pack sampler

Here is one that I have never had from Sierra Nevada.  Matter of fact I have never heard of it.    

Appearance: bright; lightly misty golden yellow body with a two finger white head with plenty of sticky lacing on the glass. 

Aroma: a big floral note hits the nose

Flavors: flavors seem kind of muddled together; I don’t notice one flavor standing out from the other; dirty lemon meat; maybe an orange blossom for the floral note; light fruity note underneath – nothing specific; there is a sharp bitter note;

Mouthfeel: comes across medium body; sharp bitter note on the mid and late; dry finish; fine carbonation;

To the Point: okay to good; nothing special; I don’t find a note to hang my hat on; I found out why I have never heard of this one – this is the first brewing of this IPA.  I can’t say I would buy a six pack of this ale.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Review

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Chico, California, USA

SierraNevada.com

5.6% abv

12oz bottle
37 IBU

$15.00 for a 12 pack sampler

Personally, I don’t know why they, Sierra Nevada, included this in the winter variety pack.  This Pale Ale has been around for a long time.  Maybe, they needed to remind people that it is still around.  I would have put in the Celebration or brewed a special New Year’s Ale. 

Anyways, this Pale Ale is pretty solid for its style.  It has a semi-transparent amber body with a nice one finger plus white head that leaves some solid lacing on the glass.  Soft white pine needle like nose with a pinch of malt on the back.  Moderate bitterness that carries a muted pine note with a hint of citrus peel.  There is a fizzy prickly carbonation that hit the mid palate and finishes with a light pine needle prickly feel.  To me it leaves a dusty light-moderate bitter aftertaste. 

With 9,400 plus reviews on Beer Advocate it has a 91 rating which means they are giving it an outstanding assessment.  It is pretty good to me but, I am not a big fan of Pale Ales.  They always seem one dimensional to me or they just seem to be lacking something.  I’ll take an IPA before a Pale Ale any day of the week.  With all that said, this Ale has stood the test of time and that is one important element to call something a ‘classic.’