The Bruery Rugbrod Review

The Bruery

Placentia, California, USA

Thebruery.com

                  

        

8% abv

30 IBU

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$19.99 a bottle

JuleBryg-Style Dark Rye Ale

Winter ale

2013 Edition / Retired

Bottle dated 9-2013

The date on the bottle is very hard to find

Can be aged two years – well let’s find out if it matured properly.

Appearance: leave the sediment on the bottom of the bottle; very dark cola body with a one finger tan head

Aroma: light rye spice; toasted caramel; sweet rich grains;

Flavors: nice dose of rye; dark toasted malts; little nutty; dusty brown spice; sweet burnt sugar on the back;

Mouthfeel: rich dark malts; rye spice on the front and mid; sweet burnt sugar on the back; a muddled aftertaste of all the flavors; sweetness dominates;

To the Point: I have never had this beer before to see how it has aged but, the beer still tastes very good; I wonder if the spiciness of the rye has settled; I do like this style but for me this is a one glass and done type beer; with some dopplebocks and dubbel ales I am the same way – where I like them but all I can do is drink just one; the rich style and the sweetness gets to be too much for me

The Bruery Mischief Review

The Bruery

Placentia, California, USA

Thebruery.com

8.5% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$9.99 a bottle

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Unfiltered

I wish they dated their bottles

I reviewed a few beers from this brewery in the last couple of months and I really enjoyed them.  I enjoyed them so much I have purchased more of the ones that I have reviewed and while I was there I picked up a couple of new ones to me.  This Brewery is fast becoming my favorite brewery. 

Appearance: a misty golden glow to the body with a one finger white head; not much on the lacing front; the second glass had a cloud appearance

Aroma: moderate note of lemon peel; hint of sweet fruit; fresh yeast

Flavors: summertime ripe and sweet muskmelon; lemon meat; lemon grass; fresh baked buttermilk biscuit;

Mouthfeel: flavors are very bright; the carbonation has a fine lively feel; medium body; medium-light bitterness mixed with a pleasing hint of sweetness; crisp up front; dry on the back; light citrus bitterness lingers giving it a soft pink peppercorn feel

This beer was so crisp and fresh that it made me think
of my new favorite female poker player Lily Kiletto

Pair with shellfish, grilled Italian chicken breast; whitefish; and I did pair it with an Indian Tabac Maduro Cigar and it was pleasing 

To the Point: with 1,150 reviews on Beer Advocate it scored an 89 and that is what I was thinking a solid B+; I would buy this again; one day I will find a beer from this brewery that I don’t like but, it was not today; they are 5 for 5 for the beers that I have reviewed and ‘really’ liked; I am going to buy more of this one and do a dinner pairing review 

Dubble Dragon Ale Review

Dragonmead

Warren, Michigan, USA

Dragonmead.com

7.2% abv

Growler (I hate Growlers)

Just purchased yesterday

Belgian-style Dubble

Appearance: fairly clear shiny copper body with no head and no lacing

Aroma: sweet candied fruit; very light overall

Flavors: the Belgian style candi sugar shows up; canned Delmonte fruit; not much else of interest;

Mouthfeel: flavored sugar water feel; too thin; watery; no carbonation; flat; tin can aftertaste;

To the Point: forget it; not worth the purchase; no body, no substance, no character; flat out D for the grade

Bishop Bob’s Holy Smoke Review

Dragonmead

Warren, Michigan, USA

Dragonmead.com

5.6% abv

Growler

Bamberg-style Rauchbier

Spring Seasonal - ? – I just bought it today at the brewery.  They sure must be positive thinkers brewing a spring seasonal on a 6 degree day.

Appearance: brown body with big dark caramel highlights; not much of a head and no lacing

Aroma: light smoky note and not much of anything else; lager like

Flavors and Mouthfeel: smoky grains with a hint of toasted dark caramel; very lager like in feel maybe a little amber bock like in feel and taste with smoke added of course; good dose of smoked grains but not overpowering

To the Point: pretty good for a smoked beer.  I am not a fan of smoked beers but, I can drink this one. It was good with the BBQ I bought from Bad Brad’s BBQ in Clinton Township (badbradsbbq.net).  Damn that was the best rack of ribs and brisket that I have ever had.   

D-light Review

Atwater Brewery

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Atwaterbeer.com

Kolsch Style

Appearance: pale yellow, I’ll call it misty lemon juice; one finger plus white head that stays around and leaves some nice lacing on the glass; plenty of fine bubbles rise to the top

Aroma: sour dough biscuit; dusty grains;

Ribs in the slow cooker

Flavors: light lemon grass; dusty white pepper water cracker; light grains;

Mouthfeel: light carbonation with a very fine fizzy feel; refreshing; crisp; light in body;

To the Point: a very pleasing Kolsch Style; nice light flavors with a crisp mouthfeel; I would buy this again

Strong Bow Review

The Queen Cider Makers H.P. Bulmer Ltd

Hereford, England

I did this review about two years ago while I was at my place in Grindstone City and I wrote the review on paper because I didn't have my laptop with me.  I was just doing some cleaning and just found that piece of paper.  

Appearance: clear golden body

Aroma: light apple; touch of pear

Flavors/Mouthfeel: thin on the delivery; taste like watery apples; dry on the mid and finish; touch of apple on the back 

To the Point: okay; maybe poor; rather boring flavor profile seems artificial to me; I have had this before, a long time ago and didn’t like it then; buy a real hard cider from a local producer

Spear Beer Review

The One and Only Spear Beer

Right Brain Brewery

Traverse City, Michigan

Rightbrainbrewery.com

5.3% abv

$7.99 a bottle

1pt 6oz bottle

Brewed with Real Grilled Asparagus and Lemon Peel

What crazy person came up with this idea?  What crazy person said, ‘yes let’s brew it?’  What crazy person would buy this? 

I see that the beer is retired.

I bought this back in summer and I am finally brave enough to try it.  I love grilled asparagus – I hope this goes well.

Appearance: bright golden body with maybe a one finger head; don’t swirl the bottle to get any yeast sediment off the bottom

Aroma: fairly clean; light funk – I have no idea what that smell is

Flavors: bright lemon biscuit upfront; that note that I smelled that I have no idea what it is … well, it is in the taste, on the backl; I am trying to think grilled asparagus with each sip and it is not helping me to identify that smell or taste; I stay with funk;

Mouthfeel: light carbonation leaving a little fizzy feel on the palate; sweet biscuit; light touch of lemon peel;

To the Point: not all that bad; almost good but that strange taste on the back, it was okay at first but it just clings to the palate and I got tired of it; good thing they retired it; but you could go to the Empire Asparagus Festival in the spring and see if they brew it just for that festival.  

Guinness Blonde American Lager Review

Guinness Brewing Company

Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA

5% abv

The Discovery Series

Appearance: Golden amber body with plenty of bubbles raising to the top; two finger shaving cream head; leaves some lacing on the glass

Aroma: lager like nose; baked biscuit; light grain

Flavor: whole grain toasted biscuit – notice I wrote ‘Flavor’ – the bottle does say it has Mosaic and Willamette American hops – sure – and Miller is triple hopped!

Mouthfeel: very active carbonation; crisp; refreshing; very lager like; sweet

To the Point: just as it is sold – ‘American Lager’ – spot on for an American Adjunct Lager – I’ll give this a 72% for a C-; where are the hops!

Bell’s Expedition Stout 2014 Review

Bell’s Brewery, Inc

Comstock, Michigan, USA

Bellsbeer.com

10.5% abv

Packed on 9-19-2014

Russian Imperial Stout

Winter Seasonal

Here are my picks for tonight's college football games: Florida State in the first game and Alabama in the second game.

Appearance: midnight black body; two finger mocha tan head; nice spotty lacing; light syrupy legs.

Aroma: medium-dark roast coffee; lightly burnt sugar; dark roasted grains

Flavors: dark roasted coffee; black licorice; burnt sugar; bakers chocolate; dark roasted grains; light black peppery feel on the finish

Mouthfeel: no carbonation; semi creamy feel; dark roasted notes; dry bitterness; light alcohol feel on the finish;

To the Point: always a quality Russian Imperial Stout; nice bold dark roasted notes; a great stout to pair up with a maduro wrapped cigar;