Another Stone Vertical Epic: 08.08.08

Posted on March 28, 2013 by alyssa

Hello fellow beer geeks!

I’ve just moved to a new apartment, and so haven’t had much time to post a new review yet. And since my beer budget is a bit tight now (and my bacon & beer fund isn’t quite full yet), I’ve had to go into the realm of beer notes I took but never got around to writing up. Or started writing up but never finished. I am a horrible procrastinator. Or rather, I’ve been busy drinking beer and not writing about it.

Here is one such beer that didn’t deserve to be waiting in the wings for so long. Hopefully, with this wonderful and sincere review, the beer gods can forgive me.

If you’ve been reading this blog regularly (I’m looking at YOU, everybody who I had to remind to check my blog), then you know I’ve reviewed two Stone Vertical Epics previously, the 11.11.11 and the 10.10.10. I have a 12.12.12 waiting for me to drink and review (honest), but until then, let’s focus on our current Vertical Epic: the 08.08.08.

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Spotting this beer was lucky, really, seeing as there were only 5 of them on the shelf and the store was probably emptying its stock. So huzzah for me, I get to try another year! And the best part was on the label, stating that this beer would be ideally aged by December 2012. Since I bought and drank this at the end of December, it was perfect. It was like providence, or more likely the beer gods guiding me in the right direction at the right time. In any case, this 8.6% beer was delicious.

Appearance: A pale, yellow/golden color with a white creamy head. It’s a little hazy toward the top of the glass, although that might have been from the cold. There’s a good amount of carbonation, but the head disappears fairly quickly.

Aroma: A fruity/yeasty smell, much like a saison or farmhouse ale. It doesn’t have a powerful aroma, but it does smell very nice. Possibly has a hint of spice to it.

First Sip: A surprising but nice hoppy presence, making this beer similar to a Belgian pale ale. There’s a nice fruity flavor with the hop bitterness. I don’t know what this tasted like fresh, but it appears that aging has made this taste awesome. There’s a yeasty and spice flavor in there as well that hits the back of the throat. To be honest, I was quite surprised that a hoppy beer had aged so well, but that’s probably because it’s more Belgian than an IPA.

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Mouthfeel: For a lighter colored beer, it’s quite full bodied. Seems a little creamy, but it has some carbonation that gives it a crispness. It’s possible that aging it has mellowed it out a little.

Aftertaste: A spicy, hop flavor mostly, with a tiny bit of fruitiness. The taste is pervasive and it sticks around.

Posted in Beer Type, Belgian Pale Ale (BPA), High Alcohol, Unique | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Perfect Crime: A Beer Noire

Posted on January 25, 2013 by alyssa

It was raining.

It seemed that was all it ever did in this damn city. As I walked down the street, I pulled my hood closer around my face. It did little to drive the ever present chill away, the chill that had been with me since that morning when I first got the call.

“Al, there’s been another one. Bud’s struck again.”

I had sighed deeply before answering. With my eyes shut, I asked, “How bad is it this time, Sarge?”

“Same as all the others, Al. We found him dead in a pool of fizzy yellow liquid, buried under hundreds of beer cans. Same shitty beer as last time. But there was something new…”

I felt my eyebrows rise in surprise. “Something new? What is it Sarge?”

Sarge’s answered in the same heavy tone of voice, but it was tinged with hope. “A shard of brown glass. We’re not sure where it’s from, but it there’s some writing on it. I need you to meet me at the scene right away.”

I fingered the brown glass in my pocket as I walked into the liquor store, eyes darting around suspiciously. Would ole Bud and his gang dare ambush me here, in such a public place? Natalie, Bud’s girlfriend, seemed to think he wouldn’t.

“Oh, but Al, he wouldn’t ever do something like this! He’s not after you, or anyone else, I promise. All he ever wanted was to help.” Her blonde hair had hung limp and pale against her round face. Her eyes were brimming with tears. She was the very picture of watery grief, but I knew better.

“Sorry Natty, but I aint buying it. Smells like a cheap excuse.”

So here I was, in this little liquor store, looking for a clue that could be our biggest break in the case since we had found the first victim suffocated under a ton of shiny beer cans. I sauntered slowly down the aisles, looking for the right bottle. Then all of a sudden there it was. I held up the piece of glass in front of the bottle, then slowly lowered it. Yes, there it was, as clear as day.

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The Perfect Crime.

A black saison, 6.8% if I wasn’t mistaken, and I wasn’t. I knew my beers like I knew my way around a brewery. It was my job to keep track of these things, and I knew that this was something new. Stone was one of the top breweries, and a direct challenger to “fizzy, yellow beer.” But they hadn’t been alone with the Perfect Crime.

Two others were listed—Stillwater Artisanal Ales and Evil Twin Brewing. They weren’t as well known round these parts, but whispers of their reputation had begun to trickle in. Whispers that frightened lesser men and excited the adventurers. I knew I was meant to be working on the case, but I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed the bottle off the shelf, threw a few dirty ones on the counter, and it took it home, anticipating that this beer would be fucking delicious.

It was.

It had the appearance of a dark night. It was a very dark, brown/black color. The thin, off-white head stood out like a spotlight against injustices. In the glass it was a black as night, but toward the top light trickled in, illuminating the small bubbles of carbonation.

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I bent over the glass and inhaled deeply. A good investigator uses all five senses, and uses them well. It smelled yeasty and fruity—like a regular saison, but I knew it was anything but. Tiny hints of smoky malt wafted through the air like the smoke from an abandoned cigar. The strong, aromatic aroma was akin to that of a lighter beer, but I was on to its deception.

Slowly, I brought the glass to my lips and took my first sip. I held the liquid for a moment, letting the flavors play out. I swallowed. I took another sip. The smokey, malty flavors invaded my mouth, intertwined with a yeasty/fruity flavor, and surprisingly, hop bitterness. The well balanced brew tantalized my taste buds—it was as if a belgian pale ale and a smokey, dark beer had created a love child. The roasty, smokey malts blended with the bitter hops, and the fruity belgian flavor come up from underneath.

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I felt like this beer was offering me a clue, but it was just beyond my grasp. I swirled it around, thinking. A little heavier than a pale ale, a little carbonation…what was it trying to tell me?

I swallowed, noting the aftertaste of of the bitterness and smokey malt. A beer that looked like one thing, but smelled and tasted like another. Deceptive…not everything is as it seems after all. And it was the Perfect Crime…

I sat up, suddenly knowing why a piece of this bottle, of this brew, was found at the latest crime scene. Either it was a set up…or it was revenge.

Suddenly, I decided I didn’t want to know. All I knew was that this…this beer, these breweries…they were our silent protectors, standing guard in the night against mashed corn and rice. For every fizzy yellow beer, another protector would rise up, offering an alternative.

I called Sarge. “Don’t worry about this one. We’re safe now.”

“What are you talking about Al?”

“Revenge, Sarge. I’m talking about revenge.”

Posted in Beer Type, Belgian, Breweries, Saison, Unique | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Homage to the Dark Arts of Brewing: Art of Darkness by Ommegang Brewery

Posted on November 26, 2012 by alyssa

As you may know, I tend to gravitate toward beers with interesting names. I believe I mentioned this in a previous post, but for those of you that didn’t see it or are too lazy to go back and look at it, I really like Stillwater Artisinal Ales for this very reason. I also like Evil Twin Brewing for this reason. (Speaking of both of these breweries, I have a beer collaboration between those two and Stone and I cannot wait to try it.)

So, way, way, WAAY back in maybe, oh, last freakin year, when I saw that Ommegang had a beer called Art of Darkness (a play on the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad), my literary side immediately said, “We must get this beer. Now.” Unfortunately, I didn’t happen upon it (although I looked) until this past August in a store up in Vermont when we were stocking up on an obscene amount of Heady Topper. And I didn’t get to drink it until about a month ago. It was totally and completely worth waiting for.

This is an 8.9% Belgian dark ale that is a homage to brewing’s “dark arts.” There are no secret ingredients in this beer, just good old malt, hops, yeast, and water. It is, however, a limited release and was only brewed once. Sure, it’s not as rare as Utopias (which I really, really need to find, desperately), but it did take me a while to find it. But, like I said, it was worth it. So if you find one, snap it up.

Appearance: As a homage to brewing’s “dark arts” it certainly lives up to its name. It pours a lighter, amber/brown color, but in the glass this brew is very dark. Like black dark. Like floating down a river in the jungle dark. Darker than dark. You get the idea. There’s a nice mocha head, and bubbly as well, but it fizzes away fairly quickly, leaving behind just a thin head.

Aroma: Smells very Belgian-y. It’s a little difficult to pinpoint the exact smell, but to me it smelled slightly fruity with some malt aromas as well. It was a very nice, rich smell. Upon further examination and getting my nose covered in beer foam, I decided it smelled like dark malt / wheat. It was a little confusing, but it does smell pretty good.

First Sip: Well it is certainly dark and it is certainly strong. A unique blend of Belgian yeast and dark malty flavors. It’s more bitter than sweet, I think, though that’s not to say there isn’t some sweetness to it. I think I tasted some fruit/spice flavors in there as well. There’s not so much of a toasty flavor from the malts. There is a little bit of a boozey taste to it, but that’s okay (it’s always okay, isn’t it?). The overall taste I would describe as slightly fruity or yeasty, Belgian, farmhouse type flavors with a malt backbone.

Mouthfeel: Kind of medium-thick; it doesn’t weigh too heavy on the tongue. There is sharpness from the carbonation that I mostly felt on the underside of my tongue. Maybe a little too much but it wasn’t bad. Overall it is smooth. There’s a good consistency for the mix of falvors present. There’s also a nice warmning sensation from the alcohol.

Aftertaste: A little fruity farmhouse taste with a bit of bittersweetness.

So count yourself lucky if you got to try one of these, or if you find one in the future. I would definitely recommend not passing this up—it’s far, far too good. Have it after dinner, as I think it’s definitely more of a “dessert” or after dinner beer.

Coming Up: I hesitate to say this, because I haven’t been sticking to what’s in the “Upcoming” tab lately, but I will be doing a pumpkin brew from Jack’s Abby next, and then possibly Merry Mischief from Sam Adams, and then who knows. I will be taking my yearly New Years trip to South Carolina and will most likely be doing a shit ton of beer tastings there, so hopefully there will be a whole bunch coming in after that. Stay tuned!

Posted in Beer Type, Belgian, High Alcohol, Unique | Leave a comment

Jack’s Abby Brett Biere de Garde

Posted on October 23, 2012 by alyssa

Every time I go to Jack’s Abby, or drink Jack’s Abby beer, I inevitably run into someone who will find out I have a beer blog. Sometimes it’s me mentioning it, sometimes it’s my boyfriend, and sometimes it’s my dad, who I have no problem with as a personal PR agent. And that person who is told about my blog will always ask me, “Oh, have you reviewed any Jack’s Abby beer?” And I’ll say yes I have, I’ve reviewed Hoponious Union and they’ll go Oh cool and will further say I should review their beer.

WELL HERE IT IS, JACK’S ABBY. HERE’S ANOTHER REVIEW SINCE YOU MISSED THE FIRST ONE. NOTICE THIS!!!

Ahem.

In my post on Hoponious Union, I mentioned that it was an India Pale Lager, not an ale. This is because Jack’s Abby only does lagers. There is not a single ale to be found in their beer lineup, but they’re none the weaker for it. In fact, I went to a tasting at the brewery near my birthday, tasted seven beers, and every single one was delicious, especially the Fire in the Ham. But I digress.

The beer I bring to you today is something you’ve probably never had before, or maybe even heard of. This beer, Brett Biere de Garde (6.2%), is a sour rye lager that was aged in white wine barrels. Go ahead. Tell me you’ve had a beer like this before. You’ll be lying.

A Biere de Garde is a style of beer that is like a Farmhouse, but it is traditionally made in France. If you read my review of Sam Adams Infinium last year, then you know what a Biere de Champagne is, and you’ll be able to figure out that this is somewhat similar. But, not content to let this be completely traditional, Jack’s Abby added 30% rye malt (locally grown) and Belgian candy sugar. It was also brewed with wild yeast called brettanomyces. The result is…well, just read the damn thing.

Appearance: Slightly hazy, and a fantastic orange-amber color. There’s almost no head, just a thin white line. Some carbonation. I apologize for the fact that I don’t have a clear picture of the glass, but in compensation, here’s a picture of me holding the beer:

Attractive, right? Here’s another. Focus on the color of the beer, not my beautiful face:

There. You get the idea.

Aroma: Yay, it’s sour! A funky, sour smell is the first thing I noticed. I don’t smell anything resembling a peppery, rye, or hoppy smell. Not lingering or overpowering, but it is a fairly strong smell. It’s actually a bit wine-like in the aroma—a result of the wine barrel aging, me thinks.

First Sip: Here is where a slight pepperiness from the rye comes in. It does not taste like a typical sour beer. Of course, there is some sourness, but it blends nicely with the rye flavor. Slightly bitter. As I continued drinking it, I could taste more of that pepperiness, and some yeastiness. The sour flavor is funky and slightly fruity. Overall, I’m surprised that these two flavors blended so nicely. Seriously, it’s awesome.

Mouthfeel: A little sharpness, but really not a whole lot of carbonation. Definitely not thick. The pepperiness and sour taste can stand out really well because it is lighter on the tongue. Think Belgian, but with a rye and sour twist thrown in.

Aftertaste: The pepperiness of the rye is pervasive and is what sticks around after the sour taste is gone.

In closing: drink this beer. It’s delicious. And while you’re at it, try their others as well. They have a Mom & Pop’s Pumpkin Crop Lager that is very tasty, and quite fitting for the season. (And I’ll review that beer too, if Jack’s Abby promises to name a beer after me. Nah, just kidding, I’ll review it anyway.)

Posted in Beer Type, Belgian, Biere de Garde, Rye, Unique | Leave a comment

Throwback’s Maple-Kissed Wheat Porter

Posted on October 9, 2012 by alyssa

Okay, so I know that under the “Upcoming” tab I said that I would be reviewing the Rhubarb Wit from Throwback. Unfortunately, I drank it and didn’t review it. I can’t regret it because it was good, and I needed to drink it fast (it was in a growler).

But that’s okay, because I have something else from Throwback that’s just as good: The Maple Kissed Wheat Porter. This is a nice autumn porter made with maple syrup, and comes in at 5.8% ABV. The setting you should have this in? A quiet evening outside by a fire. It wont knock you on your ass like some other beers on here, but it will help you achieve a quiet, comforting evening, whether alone or with friends.

Appearance: In the glass it looks very dark and thick, perhaps a dark brown to black color. However, you can see when it’s poured that it’s not entirely opaque. However, that’s how it looks in the glass, and you can’t see any carbonation. One of the best parts about this beer is the head, so for God’s sake, don’t pour it off! The head is thick, foamy, bubbly, and mocha colored when first poured, then goes down to a thin line, leaving behind some lace on the glass.

Aroma: It smells like fall—there’s a nice malty-sweet smell, partly from the fact that it’s a porter and partly, I’d guess, from the maple syrup. It also has a little roasted or smoky smell to it. It’s not overpowering or pervasive—it’s definitely subtler than others. Still, it smells pretty good.

First Sip: I’ve had this since July, and my first thought was that it ages nicely. The first thing I tasted was a very nice malt flavor. Then there’s a little bit of a mapley flavor along with some sweetness, partly from the malts and partly from the syrup. It’s not fruity or sugary though. Some of the roasted smell I was getting before comes through in the taste, which is why it would be great outside by a fire. Possibly a hint of smokiness too.

Mouthfeel: Light and not thick at all, no matter how it appears so in the glass. That’s not to say that because this beer lacks the thickness of some winter warmers, that it wont keep you warm in the fall. The lightness emphasizes the subtleness of the flavors, and makes it nicely drinkable. If it was thick or chewy, I don’t think I’d want to drink it.

Aftertaste: The malt roastiness/smokiness stays around for a while. It’s slight, but it’s still there. It’s also a little warming after the fact, which is a bit surprising, but pleasant.

So if you want a beer with great flavor, but one that wont overwhelm you or knock you over, then you may want to try this one out. Especially if you’re planning a fall bonfire, an evening with friends, or if you just want to try something new. For those of you afraid of dark beers, this could be a good place to start—it’s not bitter or strong, but flavorful and malty-sweet.

One more slightly related note: Throwback Brewery also makes a beer called “Fat Alberta” which is made with peanuts and cocoa nibs. If I recall correctly, it should be available now. So while you’re up there getting your Maple Kissed Wheat Porters, I’d recommend getting this interesting sounding beer while you’re at it.

Posted in Stout/Porter | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Ultimate IPA

Posted on August 29, 2012 by alyssa

You may have to call me a bit biased for this one.

I love IPAs. I think they are awesome and great and the flavors and aromas that you can get with a good IPA are nearly unbeatable. Dont’ get me wrong, I love the wheat beers, the porters, and the stouts. I like the bocks, the doppelbocks, the lambics, and the highly unusual. But the glorious smell of hops is just so… delicious. And in my heart of hearts, I think I will always be a hop head.

So, for those of you that delight in those leafy green buds, you will absolutely, without a doubt, want to try this beer.

heady topper can

This is Heady Topper, from the Alchemist. I first tried this in March, if you will remember, on a trip to Vermont with my boyfriend. The Alchemist used to have a pub in Waterbury, VT, but that got flooded due to Irene (I believe). Now they operate a small (VERY small) brewery up the road (right near Ben & Jerry’s in fact). They make only one beer, and they make it extremely well. Unfortunately, they make it a bit too well and this beer is now in high demand. And it’s only sold in Vermont. So the next time you’re up there, definitely head to their website and find a list of stores/pubs that sell it. Or you can go straight to their brewery, but it’s not always guaranteed that they’ll have it–when I was last up there, they had run out and we had to travel another half an hour to find a store that sold it. And then we promptly bought out most of their selection, so we had to go to a second store to get more. THAT is how good and how highly sought after this beer is. So if you ever have the opportunity to have some, you better LEAP at that opportunity and get as much as you can.

The goal of Heady Topper wasn’t to make the hoppiest, most bitter beer. And it’s not that bitter, but goddamn is it full of hop flavor. At over 100 IBUs and 8% ABV, Heady Topper can pack a punch, but in a flavorful, “wave after wave of hoppy goodness” sort of way.

A word of advice: You’ll want to drink this fresh and straight from the can.

Color: With that being said, however, it’s pretty impossible to see the appearance of this beer if it’s inside the can. So I poured just a bit into a glass. It’s a wonderful dark golden color, a bit hazy, with a thin white head that dissipates fairly quickly. There’s also a good amount of carbonation. The picture below makes it look a bit darker, but still. Looks absolutely mouthwatering, am I right?

Aroma: It’s tough to stick your nose in the can, but I got a nice concentrated hop smell that’s very fresh. It’s a little fruity, but mostly grassy/piney, and there’s none of that “tinny” (absolutely dreadful word) smell from the can. It is exactly as if you opened a packet of hops while brewing and stuck your nose in, but the fact that this beer is in a can just concentrates that aroma even further. And guess what? When you taste this beer straight from the can, those intense hop aromas enhance the flavor.

Heady Topper in a glass

First Sip: Incredibly hoppy. Tremendously, awesomely, hoppy. Tasty. Flavorful. Lovely. I could go on. I may be considering proposing to this beer. I feel like I might be hyping it up here, but I find it akin to the holy grail of IPAs. I just really like this beer. It is a little bit bitter, since it does have hops in it, but it is not the bitterest. It has a great hop flavor–indeed, I do get continuous hoppy goodness. The hops taste piney/earthy, and they kind of sneak up on you. This beer doesn’t slam you with hops, it introduces you nicely and then gives you an intense flavor of awesome. It makes this beer very drinkable. That said, it is hard to taste anything else after a while (e.g., other beers).

Mouthfeel: As stated, this beer is quite drinkable. It’s light on the tongue, but there is quite a bit of carbonation and intense hop flavors. Picture your mouth like the beach, and this beer is ocean. Waves of hops will crash down upon your tongue, the spray of carbonation will enliven the flavor, and I’m kind of running out of analogies here. Basically, the consistency and carbonation in this beer enhance the hop flavor and contribute to the beer’s overall tastiness and your drinking experience.

Aftertaste: A great concentrated hop taste is left that slowly pervades all of your taste buds and leaves you wanting more. You still get a great piney taste and it doesn’t leave you.

Seriously. Try this beer. At worst, you’ll think I’m crazy for loving it so much. At best, I’ll have converted you and together we can demand that The Alchemist increase their production of Heady Topper.

Posted in Beer Type, High Alcohol, Pale Ale/India Pale Ale, PALETTE WRECKER, Unique | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stillwater Artisanal Ales presents: A Saison Darkly

Posted on August 6, 2012 by alyssa

One of my favorite things about a beer is what breweries choose to name theirs. The more interesting, out there, and even slightly poetic a beer is, the better. Simple is good, yes, but sometimes you get these really interesting long names, such as Evil Twin Xmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room. I really can’t get over that one.

Stillwater Artisanal Ales have consistently had really interesting names. There was Stillwater Ale of Love and Regret. There was Folklore, Mythic Tradition Ale. And now I present to you A Saison Darkly. This is a dark ale brewed with spices, and when I say dark, I mean it is black. It does not look like a saison. Not at all. But, as you should know, you can’t always judge a beer by its color.

Color: Very dark. If it’s not black, then it’s very close to it. But for the purposes of this review, we will say that it is black colored. It looks thick. It has a HUGE thick, foamy head that is off beige to mocha in color. It’s very bubbly and has great retention. There’s also quite a bit of persistent carbonation. Overall think dark, thick, foamy, and bubbly.

Aroma: Smells very aromatic, but it’s hard to put my finger on exactly what I am smelling. In general terms, it smells like spices, but what those spices are I couldn’t tell you. It’s quite invasive as well. Not intense, but pervasive. It invades your nose and your throat slowly until at last you have this inescapable smell and a little taste of what this beer is like.

First Sip: Whelp, know your ABVs, kids! This is 12% and you can taste it. The first taste I noticed was the malt laced with the taste of spices, enhanced by the aromas I smelled earlier. There are hints of a more traditional saison taste underneath, but the malts and a sort of roasted taste comes out on top of this. There is also a little bit of a yeasty taste. Overall quite interesting–it definitely has saison qualities (yeasty, a little fruity) but there’s also that malt/roasted taste. It’s an interesting blend of two flavors.

Mouthfeel: A little bit sharp with some carbonation, then smoothes out into all the different flavors. Not “thick” necessarily, but definitely flavorful. Also, this is definitely a sipper. Not only is it a high ABV, but you’ll want to slowly savor all the flavors that this beer has to offer. The carbonation and subsequent “smoothing” helps the malts come to the surface and then allows the saison tastes through. I hope that makes sense to all you readers, I’m kind of just going on instinct here.

Aftertaste: A very nice warming sensation. Quite nice. There’s also some spices and toasted malt taste left, but it’s not overwhelming. The aftertaste is very subtle to me, and doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds.

So if you’re tired of the IPAs and the traditional stouts and porters, then I would recommend this. It’s different enough that it will give you a pleasing new taste, but not so out there that you’ll be totally weirded out. A drink for someone who wants something different, but doesn’t want to go quite so far out of their comfort zone yet.

So that’s A Saison Darkly. Coming up next, I promise it will be Heady Topper. I went to Vermont last weekend and now have 26 cans of Heady Topper. It’s not nearly enough, but I suppose we shall have to make due.

Posted in Beer Type, Belgian, High Alcohol, Saison, Unique | Leave a comment