tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21960827401430354882024-03-12T16:20:49.025-07:00Kind of BrewBeer reviews and news...Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-64152231711258518902012-07-20T04:21:00.002-07:002012-07-20T04:21:13.481-07:00Video Review of Goose Island Pere Jacques 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yLkvvw3Qusc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-58845524441513462202012-05-27T16:57:00.000-07:002012-05-27T16:57:05.954-07:00Allagash Tripel Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl9vPOv0WbaPB0NvnXAkmOXX5U6pHt7Pqvd3pNLY5DZGgnSiwTmkM4hiGo_VkcnssXORJxa94z3JFd0V-qROPOCAS8GjCgJQZwx8Q5oQKCsiVlkO9ZE3_T0yKp5ZmTdCKUX47Noex_t6A/s1600/Band+Beignets+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl9vPOv0WbaPB0NvnXAkmOXX5U6pHt7Pqvd3pNLY5DZGgnSiwTmkM4hiGo_VkcnssXORJxa94z3JFd0V-qROPOCAS8GjCgJQZwx8Q5oQKCsiVlkO9ZE3_T0yKp5ZmTdCKUX47Noex_t6A/s320/Band+Beignets+018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: A</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm not really a fan of the spring and summer seasons. I have seasonal asthma which kicks off heavy at the beginning of Spring and lingers through early Summer. Allergies, itchy eyes and drippy nose = G.O.M. (Grumpy Old Man). Also, without getting too personal, I sweat. A lot. For a guy who's under 5'5" and about 125lbs., I sweat like an NFL linebacker. So when it gets hot, I'm changing my shirt twice a day and wishing it was October.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So why do you care? I'm not sure but my general unhappiness with the Spring/Summer tends to creep into my beer consciousness. All those summer ales and hefeweizens (German wheat beers) at 5% ABV or below aren't that exciting to me. Don't get me wrong: I'm not trying to drink a 12% ABV barleywine on a hot summer day but, I need a bit more "body" to keep me interested. Thank God for Belgian Tripels!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Belgian Tripels are named because of the amount of malt used in the brewing process. How much? You guessed it! They are light in color due to the use of Belgian candy sugar and look pretty "innocent" on a hot summer day. However, they are notoriously high in alcohol which keeps you from putting them away at a high rate. For me, it's the perfect summer brew. I can sip one (or two if I'm on my deck) and get flavor, body and "punch". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: black;">I pretty much love anything </span><a href="http://www.allagash.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Allagash Brewing</span></a><span style="color: black;"> does and on my latest visit to my local, I stumbled upon its Tripel Ale. Although it's made here in the USA, it's done in a Belgian style. Let's see how this matches up to the real thing...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Hazy, golden orange. When held up to direct light, I get a bright straw color. A fluffy, white two finger head that leaves a significant amount of lacing. As you can see from my picture above, it looks delicious!</span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: It smells like a Belgian (beer, not person). Spicy banana notes with a faint hint of clove. That yeasty Belgian aroma mixed with citrus touches. And, a very slight hint of farmhouse funk.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Oh yes! So image a hot summer day with the grill going and someone hands you liquid nirvana. Citrus alcohol with sweet banana. A very nice spice and orange flavor with just a touch of a bitter hop finish. Each sip encourages another. I'm sipping not because it's 9% ABV but because I want it to last!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: It's extremely light and full of carbonation. My mouth and throat are fighting because both want this beer to stick around longer!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: Like the very attractive woman that has a bipolar personality, this one is dangerous! It looks like a light wheat ale but its high ABV will take you out if you're not careful. A very highly rated beer that easily lives up to its billing. This may be my go to summer ale for 2012. Less expensive than the original Belgian beers and just as tasty? Sounds like a win/win. I've heard this is available on tap in my area. I'm now on a mission...</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-68928732340863675122012-03-12T17:56:00.000-07:002012-03-12T17:56:09.370-07:00The Lost Abbey Deliverance Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouAHoo5-LDjhm355eJb0qs8AtM4dMhgk5v8vVD8KoVYHl_u-FTwdZhaTtO_w29K7DIYSt1020yNLNiUADe4QZ5gXW7FWPxUtNGtCgxaXGrtDIgOB-98RJd0j5NZ7NczhQU__tUM6L1YP8/s1600/More+Beer+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouAHoo5-LDjhm355eJb0qs8AtM4dMhgk5v8vVD8KoVYHl_u-FTwdZhaTtO_w29K7DIYSt1020yNLNiUADe4QZ5gXW7FWPxUtNGtCgxaXGrtDIgOB-98RJd0j5NZ7NczhQU__tUM6L1YP8/s320/More+Beer+2012+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: A</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have heard a lot of hype about this brewery over the past few months. <a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Lost Abbey</span></a> , based in San Marcos, CA, has been producing Belgian-inspired beers since 2006. Part of the reason for the hype is that for the first time ever, their beers are available on the East coast. The other part is that the beer is very highly rated. Either way, I didn't feel particularly compelled to track their beers down as I, personally, have never heard of them before. However, when I saw this on the shelf of my local store, looked up the rating on my phone, I promptly bought two bottles.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This is a blended beer. It blends their bourbon barrel aged <a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/seasonal-beers/serpents-stout/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Serpent's Stout</span></a> and their bourbon barrel aged <a href="http://www.lostabbey.com/lost-abbey-beers/non-denominational-ales/the-angels-share/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Angel's Share</span>.</a> Being a huge fan of barrel aged beer, I was already intrigued. It's billed as fireside sipper which, at 12.5% ABV, makes complete sense. The immediate aesthetic appeal draws me in: a 12 oz. bottle that's corked and caged, amazing artwork with foil accents, a thesis on the back label likening the beer to the battle between good and evil for the souls or mortal men.... You get the picture. Yet how many times have you seen a very attractive person only to meet them and find that they are shallow bores with nothing to talk about? Let's see how the conversation goes...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Dark black color with slight ruby coloring around the edges. It pours with a fluffy, two-finger mocha head. Beautiful lacing (if you're into that) that clings nicely to the glass as it goes down. I like what I see...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: Bourbon soaked figs splashed with vanilla extract. Hints of oaky wood smoke. Caramel syrup toffee. I'm just making stuff up as I smell it (smoked licorice, caramel brandy cake)! My mouth is officially watering!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Wow. Follows the nose like an intuitive dance partner. Bourbon up front, followed by dark fruit, finished with that smoky wood. There's a bit of alcohol burn at the end but it's not too sharp and it gives the taste a nice bite. As I sip, the licorice and toffee "high-five" on my tongue (or is it a fist bump?).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Although the carbonation is low, there's a lively prickliness on the tongue. Not as syrupy as other stouts which make it more interesting.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: This is and incredibly complex beer that is very well blended! One my new favorites. I bought two bottles with the thought of drinking one and aging the other. I drank them both in the course of two weeks. Lucky for me, my local guy takes care of me and I managed to get two more and put them in the far dark recesses of my cellar. Can't wait to forget about it and discover it again next year! Obviously, you need this beer in your life. Find some and enjoy!</span></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-84844266472008215072012-01-31T16:43:00.000-08:002012-01-31T16:43:23.313-08:00Oskar Blues Ten Fidy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3j29Q1svb76i9bQGW6JkdsW8S4ex5trbjosVcm2G0Cx694wOiqZ5d9kegvzjY3EBIw0sNKVhFbCAC1jAhx4mYhaz3ucM3XnxttvL3fRXkwLA4OkJoch_8xHIOOLHVqlwZFLwh0-bzD6M/s1600/Jan+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3j29Q1svb76i9bQGW6JkdsW8S4ex5trbjosVcm2G0Cx694wOiqZ5d9kegvzjY3EBIw0sNKVhFbCAC1jAhx4mYhaz3ucM3XnxttvL3fRXkwLA4OkJoch_8xHIOOLHVqlwZFLwh0-bzD6M/s320/Jan+2012+004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: B</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This brew came up in conversation at our last Brew Council tasting as a solid stout. Canned beer, for me, conjures up images of my very first beer at the ripe old age of 18 years old back in 1985: Budweiser. And, sadly, it was not a good memory. I remember thinking, "I waited all this time to drink a beer and it tastes like THIS?!" But as I looked all around me, everyone else seemed to be enjoying drinking this urine water. And, not wanting to seem even more out of place, I pretended that I was drinking the best beverage money could buy. In fact, I kept this act up until my junior year when I had a Corona with a slice of lime at a local Mexican restaurant: beer actually can taste good!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">After my band played a gig down in New Hope, PA, my wife and I spent the night and did a little antiquing the next day. Before we headed back home, I asked a local shop whether there were any good beer stores nearby. I was directed to a place that I later discovered is a very highly rated store with a pretty incredible selection. The name of the store is <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6885/?view=beerfly&ba=PopeDX" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Candlewyck Beef & Ale</span></a> and it lived up to the hype! Among the other things I found (<a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1093" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Bells Two Hearted Ale</span></a> and <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/21822" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Founders Imperial Stout</span></a> to name a couple), I found this gem. Can beer in a can be any good? Apparently so...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Syrupy think with a mocha/tan two finger head after a fairly hard pour. For some reason, it seems especially blacker than other stouts I've had. It looks like carbonated black coffee.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: I had a really hard time picking out a distinctive aroma for this one. It was at cellar temperature so couldn't be that it was too cold. Even my very nose-sensitive wife had a difficult time for the first 3-4 minutes. As it warmed, I finally began to pick out chocolate, alcohol, bready biscuit and dark fig. But all of it was very subtle and subdued.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Again, very difficult to pick out a dominant flavor but followed the nose. At first, it's licorice and coffee followed by a bitter hop finish. The taste is very balanced. However, drinking this is akin to listening to a good song with the volume too low. The bitter finish tens to linger and I can't say that it's completely pleasant but it does keep you interested.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Very little carbonation. Almost flat. Even with constant agitation, not a lot of lacing or retention. It's smooth and syrupy and coats the tongue nicely.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: There is no denying that this is a good beer. Just like when drive BMW, you know it's a good car by how it feels sitting inside and how it handles on the road. Unfortunately, there's no real excitement in the flavor. I think it may need some time in the cellar to develop some character. I wasn't sure how long cans could age but a little online research revealed that I can keep them for at least a year. A good find but it think I'll have to revisit this one again next year.</span></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-44358557526100114512012-01-18T17:07:00.000-08:002012-01-18T17:07:21.392-08:00The Brew Council<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_kR5LO-IZuM7z_B2RPFfQYeu_vtVydbBFvq0wGVZruCazk3hds5s2J9rLdOoPfi_uSUTsxY7404yiR_Qpzh8P0rSDnLGHg8I1FMTRf5aqjou9JQggmvzuvAk7Ax5MrmEnkBYqScaRceH/s1600/Brew+Council+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_kR5LO-IZuM7z_B2RPFfQYeu_vtVydbBFvq0wGVZruCazk3hds5s2J9rLdOoPfi_uSUTsxY7404yiR_Qpzh8P0rSDnLGHg8I1FMTRf5aqjou9JQggmvzuvAk7Ax5MrmEnkBYqScaRceH/s1600/Brew+Council+Logo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE06TlGa3Lo9qRrIqnxrrtfmtz19qTRGR5kcZv-7JR3iiR8qMdKb0Tj9zJ1UkdhzQ3bDHKy5D0JewCM0CsyXIlSXt3tmNyRA105MXOIiOZEA1cq-_UUDplN7gHpiRuP6m4ajMVxzzDIBYr/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE06TlGa3Lo9qRrIqnxrrtfmtz19qTRGR5kcZv-7JR3iiR8qMdKb0Tj9zJ1UkdhzQ3bDHKy5D0JewCM0CsyXIlSXt3tmNyRA105MXOIiOZEA1cq-_UUDplN7gHpiRuP6m4ajMVxzzDIBYr/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Last year, I went to my first beer tasting at a local shop in Montclair called </span><a href="http://www.amantivino.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Amanti Vino</span></a><span style="color: black;">. It was called "Hoppy Belgians" and I was excited not only for the beer on offer but also for the opportunity to "geek out" a bit about my favorite beverage. My brother in-law Dion and I showed up early in the upstairs class room eager not to miss anything. Although it started off very subdued, as the beer started pouring, the volume increased and next thing you know, we are in Beer Heaven! Sitting directly across from us were a couple of younger guys (we're in our 40's) who, I soon found out, were friends who brewed their own beer. Tom and Garrett chatted with Dion and I for the whole tasting. They both were much more knowledgeable that Dion and me but they weren't obnoxious about it. The thing that struck me the most was the shared passion about buying, drinking and critiquing beer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Towards the end of the tasting, I put out this idea: they were brewers and had beers that they wanted others to sample and get feedback about. Why don't I invite 10 or so of my beer loving friends to my place and they could come over with their beer and do a private tasting. They liked the idea immediately and we exchanged email addresses and promised to make it happen. A few days later, I emailed them both to discuss further. They thought that we should meet at </span><a href="http://www.cloverleaftavern.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">The Cloverleaf Tavern</span></a><span style="color: black;"> to chat. Over a few bottles of very good beer, we came cleaned up the vision: not only will it serve as a focus group for their beer, but it could work also serve the purpose of beer education as we both had sets of friends who were very knowledgeable about beer and some who next to nothing but were curious to know more. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">This led to our first tasting last June. It was EPIC! Beers ranged from IPAs to stouts. I also learned a lesson that night: never go to your cellar to bring up beer after you've tasted a few. I have no regrets but as the evening wore on, I started bringing up my gems: Founders' </span><a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/the-lineup/kbs" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">KBS</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and Samual Adams </span><a href="http://www.samueladams.com/enjoy-our-beer/beer-detail.aspx?id=f2f5d102-82aa-4971-ba34-452dc736573c" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Utopias</span></a><span style="color: black;"> to name a couple. I was lucky that I didn't have to drive home! It was a great way to start and we got inspired to do a tasting once a month.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl89KFd2UMUlpPa28yubZGLXK2bD08jAxVQfA3Q-ddPIJY7A-521Q8Ct9P6oCJxqIRRMxkJxvgNkkKiepUeE-S-qFbuZoB5S5EDLsHCaGe0ohYWVMrhYgtCfMyNjftYqzGjgw0DAVWBKE/s1600/Brew+Council+January+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl89KFd2UMUlpPa28yubZGLXK2bD08jAxVQfA3Q-ddPIJY7A-521Q8Ct9P6oCJxqIRRMxkJxvgNkkKiepUeE-S-qFbuZoB5S5EDLsHCaGe0ohYWVMrhYgtCfMyNjftYqzGjgw0DAVWBKE/s320/Brew+Council+January+2012+003.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Since then, we've done about four with various themes: "Fade to Black" (brown ales to stouts), "Belgians and Barleywines" and, most recently, "A Few of Our Favority Things - The Best of 2011". Garrett stared a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebrewcouncil/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">facebook page</span></a><span style="color: black;"> which is has about 40 members. We average about 10-12 people per tasting and I host it at my place. What's made this so much fun is the people we invite and the atmosphere we create. We've got a great mix of beer enthusiasts (like myself) and knowledgeable beer (and wine) people. This combination keeps the conversations from getting to scholarly and it makes it easier for those who have a lot of questions to ask them in a non-threatening environment. We have just started to add an "intermission" in which we break out food (cheese, pâté, etc.) which helps with those who need to drive afterwards. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEezT9WppryUP2edDQ1J24IPxUG_6urcnxHHxh73a8oBoWzKW_M58JraPPmHqUrFTFsqX1BRFMHp3rlpVA4JdzO7uF4N3JgmuKM5Ab2GLU4bxZhoNYoCTous0RdC4xVkhDYgGGZp9HlWn/s1600/Brew+Council+January+2012+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEezT9WppryUP2edDQ1J24IPxUG_6urcnxHHxh73a8oBoWzKW_M58JraPPmHqUrFTFsqX1BRFMHp3rlpVA4JdzO7uF4N3JgmuKM5Ab2GLU4bxZhoNYoCTous0RdC4xVkhDYgGGZp9HlWn/s320/Brew+Council+January+2012+018.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">I can't say how much fun this is for us to do! Tom and Garrett do a great job preparing notes and giving overviews of the beers we select. Everyone there is enthusiastic and interested in learning. If you're in the tri-state area and want to join us, let me know. Or, join our facebook page. I've added some random pictures below to give you an idea of how we get down. LONG LIVE THE BREW COUNCIL!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFIM1WT8ExOOftzqiG-odTm7ntUMO-lqm1ev4luS9uOoWrVRLdWaF9FS09I1NEJMJ2ZkSb7L1VF7wtgiLxgljm-RCXJ3AzFbhe-yZBnwxWLUmyjlgdFQlGGAYtGXnweNjRbjP8iufZk3L/s1600/Brew+Council+January+2012+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFIM1WT8ExOOftzqiG-odTm7ntUMO-lqm1ev4luS9uOoWrVRLdWaF9FS09I1NEJMJ2ZkSb7L1VF7wtgiLxgljm-RCXJ3AzFbhe-yZBnwxWLUmyjlgdFQlGGAYtGXnweNjRbjP8iufZk3L/s320/Brew+Council+January+2012+006.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">It always starts off serious...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVrvfNlNoGi3I04N5lLhzsFDuseek9mvBXtNKcymkKzzi6-xIloy8cUwYYF-GpYtZTg78rTMCYus_GE9nl6dF0KXPDXuoTXmj1UhagOlMeUbjeny3bqnElhitAqb2R3KXiMvRTbNgozwF/s1600/Brew+Council+January+2012+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVrvfNlNoGi3I04N5lLhzsFDuseek9mvBXtNKcymkKzzi6-xIloy8cUwYYF-GpYtZTg78rTMCYus_GE9nl6dF0KXPDXuoTXmj1UhagOlMeUbjeny3bqnElhitAqb2R3KXiMvRTbNgozwF/s320/Brew+Council+January+2012+012.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, we DO take notes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzzA0OdW4xB6SagLzYzAWlBNAvvpCwiDffOHPKlhqTVIjgZb7scYnPWHOqTtXP46jkISIKxTQ9UZnMvtnPIk0qoLof1x1asrRGhEhg02ZtdbK1JIAg9tiWUKXzfnJ_ImBR3G4sgT-kB1f/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzzA0OdW4xB6SagLzYzAWlBNAvvpCwiDffOHPKlhqTVIjgZb7scYnPWHOqTtXP46jkISIKxTQ9UZnMvtnPIk0qoLof1x1asrRGhEhg02ZtdbK1JIAg9tiWUKXzfnJ_ImBR3G4sgT-kB1f/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Amelia, Tom and Garrett hold forth...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fulOolvKGgVpEOAHzB3QpP4wfYCTk8wXyB0yJmgWnnTk8W-iZj1dqM6-x0zFQJacdIKevGWZ5gtJZvIW9jaZJVjDqOju51MQ2amxCWpKF_RVzdIFTQ5-NxL0wwlSKBvBKSx3TardfQEc/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fulOolvKGgVpEOAHzB3QpP4wfYCTk8wXyB0yJmgWnnTk8W-iZj1dqM6-x0zFQJacdIKevGWZ5gtJZvIW9jaZJVjDqOju51MQ2amxCWpKF_RVzdIFTQ5-NxL0wwlSKBvBKSx3TardfQEc/s320/038.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">My brother in-law Dion savoring that Dogfish 120...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxACiknPaUWr2ikHi8tt7ATe9Za7Jahz6-hg1vaVPz0HvriJClCyf7Volr41JQicXTisy1AE7mxB6eKvO7Cd_nuR1ZBsUHFLQxCPRB5zRvlpPczXJqu5znQTc-OTiPz4Xqb-TayNEaWGT/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxACiknPaUWr2ikHi8tt7ATe9Za7Jahz6-hg1vaVPz0HvriJClCyf7Volr41JQicXTisy1AE7mxB6eKvO7Cd_nuR1ZBsUHFLQxCPRB5zRvlpPczXJqu5znQTc-OTiPz4Xqb-TayNEaWGT/s320/042.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Black Ops makes an appearance...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH4Zz3oMlTz3NWxj9NJU4tXRN6WBgKylx4pgsGdNXolLl077LTfoOgllYowoGXwQPb4iOOb4oWep1nyxgnsCSMcZ9yIEHBsSEqis0sWICirM2HJ-SQYe8qsuxEQgxoUUY3RTQ0G6dq1QW/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH4Zz3oMlTz3NWxj9NJU4tXRN6WBgKylx4pgsGdNXolLl077LTfoOgllYowoGXwQPb4iOOb4oWep1nyxgnsCSMcZ9yIEHBsSEqis0sWICirM2HJ-SQYe8qsuxEQgxoUUY3RTQ0G6dq1QW/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The Brew Council 2011</span></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-38809370088859095702012-01-10T16:41:00.000-08:002012-01-10T16:41:51.462-08:00Firestone Walker XV Anniversary Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGjiAzwFaqG4tQQZ-fJojVrFIapLcLQR3PDpQZc-BtSiYS71pmI8fWguhp3NbJneh-7JtkXtLzFD0MwwFIYJL8dN3dZlOBLh5F4ApsyBmh5wKCHO6RH-S7ncQPDRxjoSjfT3Yh0KXdD_2/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGjiAzwFaqG4tQQZ-fJojVrFIapLcLQR3PDpQZc-BtSiYS71pmI8fWguhp3NbJneh-7JtkXtLzFD0MwwFIYJL8dN3dZlOBLh5F4ApsyBmh5wKCHO6RH-S7ncQPDRxjoSjfT3Yh0KXdD_2/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: A+</strong></span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm not sure how I heard about this beer and it's bothering me! I got familiar with <a href="http://www.firestonewalker.com/" target="_blank">Firestone Walker</a> and their quality brews last year when I picked up bottles of <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/double-jack-winter-2011" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Double Jack</span></a> and <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/parabola" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Parabola</span></a>. I loved the latter so much that I bought 3 more bottles that are sitting in a far corner of my cellar aging gracefully. I am not sure if it was my random web surfing of beer blogs and websites or if it was a tip from a friend. Either way, when I sent an email to my local beer guy asking about it, I was VERY pleased to hear that they will have two bottles waiting for me at the end of the month. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This past weekend, I decided to hit a couple of well respected beer stores a bit off the beaten path for a bit of an adventure before band rehearsal. At the second shop I visited, a guy named Adam asked me if I was a fan of bourbon barrel aged beer. I still wonder what made him ask me that question. Was it my look? The way I spoke? My body language? Regardless, I practically yelped that I loved that style of beer much to the surprise of a couple of customers standing near by ("No, really, I'm NOT an alcoholic..... I just like beer.... A LOT...."). He walked me over right to this beer: Firestone Walker's 15th Anniversary Ale. I literally jumped in front of him, took the last two bottles off the shelf and asked if he had more in the back. Adam looked pleased but swore those were the last ones. I bought a few more bottles on that trip but these two bottles were the pick of the litter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Firestone Walker is known for barrel aging their beers. According to their website, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Our patented union of barrels uniquely incorporates 60-gallon heavy or medium toast American oak barrels into a brewing process that yields beers of extraordinary character and complexity. This system improves the fullness of the palate, enhances hop maturity and lends a clean briskness to the finish. The influence of the toasted oak also imparts unique hints of smokiness and vanilla, as well as a subtle fruitiness to the flavor profile."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: black;">Yeah, what they said! The bottom line: their beers are full of complex flavors that you will enjoy. I have yet to be disappointed with their offerings so far and I was excited to try this brew.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Before I even get to the actual look of the beer itself, I must talk about the packaging. As you can see above, it comes in a beautiful cardboard box designed very elegantly. When you have it in your hand, it looks like one of those Johnny Walker Black scotch boxes. Not only does the bottle inside look good but they included a double-sided one page overview of the beer. I discovered that it is a "blended" beer that is a combination of 8 different beers that were aged in different barrels (?!). They even LIST the beers and the corresponding percentages that make up this brew! Pretty intense!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: black;">Now about the actual look of the beer: dark plum, not black. Deep mahogany yielding very little head.</span> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: Bourbon but not too boozy (surprising for 12.5% ABV). Toffee and oak. As it warms, aniseed, licorice and vanilla. My brother in-law and I could not stop smelling this beer the whole time we were drinking it! Beautiful nose...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Follows the nose. Bourbon up front, dark fruit, licorice and vanilla on the way down. Extremely well balanced for a blended beer. Nothing dominates or overwhelms.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and light. Very low carbonation. This is definitely a "big beer" but it doesn't overpower like most big beers.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: I thought that Founder's <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/the-lineup/backwoods-bastard" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Backwoods Bastard</span></a> was the best barrel aged beer I had ever had. Until now. This is, by far, the best barrel aged beer I have ever tasted! I must add that the "experience" of drinking this beer (the packaging and the one page detailed description of the beer and its brewers) makes it all feel special. I guess it's because it IS a special beer. If you can find it, buy at LEAST two bottles: drink one now and enjoy the other years later. </span></div></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-25601258369295271072011-12-29T08:53:00.000-08:002011-12-29T08:53:55.917-08:00Dogfish Head Burton Baton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8-KoMVfHV8/TvyOE9IiIjI/AAAAAAAAADo/z85tYboFZUk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8-KoMVfHV8/TvyOE9IiIjI/AAAAAAAAADo/z85tYboFZUk/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: A</strong></span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What can you say about <a href="http://www.dogfish.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Dogfish Head Brewery</span></a>? This legendary craft brewery has been around since 1995 producing genre-breaking, quality beer that has received critical acclaim across the country. Led by the charismatic Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head, in my opinion, is the poster child of the craft beer movement. Humble beginnings to craft beer rock stars, doing their way every step of the way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As I was perusing my local beer shop a few weeks ago, I noticed a few 4-pack of this beer, Burton Baton. According to the label, the beer is a blend of two "threads": an English-style old ale and an imperial IPA. That blend is then placed in a large oak tank and sits for about a month. Very intriguing! And to add to that, the label boasts that it "ages with the best of them"! I'm in! I bought two 4-packs to see if was worthy of the hype.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: A hazy, amber/copper color with a lofty 2-3 finger head. As you can see from the picture above, it looks pretty darn SEXY in that tulip! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: VERY hoppy, citrus notes. Some sweetness (caramel? malt?) and a touch of oak. I can definitely smell the alcohol as well (10% ABV) but it is not overwhelming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: The first thing I taste are the hops. That classic IPA hop-forward flavor, piney and citrusy. As is goes down, I catch some malty oaks flavors with a pleasantly bitter aftertaste that cuts the sweetness nicely. As it warms, I get more oak and malt. The flavors transition VERY nicely and no one flavor dominates the other. Perhaps it's the blend of the two "threads" of beer?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: The carbonation is perfect as most IPAs need a bit to give it some life. It is also very creamy, perhaps as a result of the malt and oak. As it warms and the carbonation dissipates a bit, it takes on more of a barleywine feel in that it makes you want to sip it more. I found myself swishing it around my mouth more and more towards the end of my glass.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: Great news! Dogfish will now release this beer YEAR ROUND!! If you find some, buy it IMMEDIATELY. If you have room to store, cellar a 4-pack for next year. This beer makes my wait for their Squall IPA more bearable. A fantastic beer that I will be enjoying many times over the course of the next year. </span></div></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-28712381966763446722011-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:002011-12-28T11:28:57.312-08:00Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hcfMSrU2xEI/TvtnS8vGjGI/AAAAAAAAADc/4zB5Bp40jkA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hcfMSrU2xEI/TvtnS8vGjGI/AAAAAAAAADc/4zB5Bp40jkA/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: B</strong></span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another "beer of the month" selection from <a href="http://www.amantivino.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Amanti Vino</span></span></a> that looked intriguing from the start. Why? I see "brewed with hemp seed" on the label! I'm not one for gimmicks but even the most casual beer enthusiast would be curious to taste. And what about the after effects? Will they be "uplifting"? Let's see...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">According to Uinta, it's named after Utah's Centennial star that illuminates the front of the Big Dipper. I think it's more subversive than that since Dubhe (pronounced "doobie") can hint at its hemp seed additive (for those who still don't get it, "doobie" is slang for a marijuana cigarette). Anyway, Uinta puts out solid brews (I'm a huge fan of both their barleywines <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1416/58868" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Cockeyed Cooper</span></a> and <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1416/3840" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Anniversary Barley Wine</span></a>) and would be surprised is this was not decent.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Even held to the brightest light, it's pitch black with a fluffy, tan 3 finger head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: Piney hops with a faint malt aroma. With warming, I pick up a bit of molasses.</span></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Very malty with a dry hop finish. A bitter hop after taste that is just right. The label touts "toasted, chocolaty dark malts" but I'm not getting much chocolate. If anything, I'm getting licorice. Not bad, mind you, but a little misleading.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Not very carbonated and very smooth. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: It is a good beer. Now, I must admit, I am not sure about this whole "black IPA" category. I think it is an experimental style that muddles things up a bit. I like stouts and IPAs but I am not sure if I want them mixed together. However, I'm all for experimentation since that is the driving force of the craft beer movement. Again, it is a good beer but I won't go out of my way to find it.</span></div></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-55567017596349457852011-12-13T15:48:00.000-08:002011-12-13T15:48:57.912-08:00The Bruery 3 French Hens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGeKPD0qj1OlHKz0o4hwZV8b2eWaki8285U6kmYJ0i12lq2-UHn7IL71wTWMHTOZULy8bdjnJfRWrHCNOaeh0DocDBH7SJvAHGhBM4owdwKc4zVPNse7zVYez6BNp-RDybAUtsnY_LfR8/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGeKPD0qj1OlHKz0o4hwZV8b2eWaki8285U6kmYJ0i12lq2-UHn7IL71wTWMHTOZULy8bdjnJfRWrHCNOaeh0DocDBH7SJvAHGhBM4owdwKc4zVPNse7zVYez6BNp-RDybAUtsnY_LfR8/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>GRADE: A</strong></span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thebruery.com/" target="_blank">The Bruery</a> is one of favorite American breweries right now. Based in California, these guys are known for their highly creative beers that, according to their website, push the "limits of what 'beer' is". The results are quality beers that are highly sought after. I also like the fact that they put a lot of attention on the aesthetics of their product with classy labels on their 750ml bottles. Case in point: I brought a bottle of their <a href="http://www.thebruery.com/beers/YearRound/mischief.html" target="_blank">Mischief</a> to backyard barbecue and EVERYONE wanted to have a sip just based on the look of the bottle (especially the ladies). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3 French Hens is a seasonal brew that they do based on the "12 Days of Christmas". This being their fourth year of existence, they have recently put out "4 Calling Birds" and I can't seem to get my hands on it. I got this bottle from a friend last year and almost forgot I had it until I did a reorganization of my cellar and found it in the back corner. I must say, it lived up to the hype:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Dark chocolate with hints of ruby in the light. My wife says "burnt sienna and caramel". I say that sounds good!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: What hits me first is yeasty figs and dates, It's very appealing. I'm did not pick up a lot of oak at first but noticed more as it warmed. Slightly boozy but not overpowering.</span></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: Follows the nose. Dark fruits and figs with a slight alcohol finish. It's got a "sherry-like" quality and goes down a treat. As it warms, I get a bit of caramel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Nicely carbonated. Almost creamy but not too heavy. The alcohol warms the mouth and doesn't burn.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: I had this beer with family after our Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit! A perfect way to finish our meal. It is a great sipper that took us from dinner to dessert without getting in the way. I wish I could have gotten my hands on two but I'm VERY grateful to have had this one. Now if I can get my hands on 4 Calling Birds...</span><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div></div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-56744679263916487232011-12-04T13:11:00.000-08:002011-12-04T13:11:23.181-08:00Tripel Karmeliet 3 Grains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJGpkIQM0lfl8s3jarpvkMxX1w3c6HzpuVfN3R9eMEdykGFJN94NYXBi4v0suhgc0Iqeg1WXeDT0AOEJoQIG4X0fAYTSvB_Adf5uGU74K9NwqZDTRBENz5Ftbdgz9JasjCcaAlWFULv7L/s1600/DSCN0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJGpkIQM0lfl8s3jarpvkMxX1w3c6HzpuVfN3R9eMEdykGFJN94NYXBi4v0suhgc0Iqeg1WXeDT0AOEJoQIG4X0fAYTSvB_Adf5uGU74K9NwqZDTRBENz5Ftbdgz9JasjCcaAlWFULv7L/s320/DSCN0296.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">GRADE: A</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would be lying to you all if I told you that I have heard of this beer before. I was lucky enough to receive this one as part of my "Beer of the Month" selection at </span><a href="http://www.amantivino.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Amanti Vino</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> a couple of months ago. Needless to say, if you have a local beer store next to you that offers such a club, PLEASE join! It doesn't cost very much and you get to taste brews that you would not necessarily seek out on your own. Now, about this little gem:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Appearance: Golden, hazy and transparent. It looks delicious in a tulip (as you can see) and has a beautiful, three finger white and fluffy head. A classic Belgian profile.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Smell: I wrote in my notes "typical tripel" (and that is good!). Citrus and pear with sweet, faint hops. I also catch some spices and yeast and it all is in accord. No one scent dominates. The odor reminds me that I really do love Belgian beer! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Taste: I consider Chimay and Westmalle to be the kings of this style. However, I consider this beer to be on the same level! Fruity with some banana spices. Sweet but not cloying. Very carbonated and lively. The 8.4% ABV is not noticeable and it took all of my willpower not to drink this down quickly. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Again, very carbonated (as is expected with this style) and refreshing. I wish I had another bottle.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall: Definitely one of the best tripels I have ever had! It is now on my radar and I will seek this out and buy a good amount if I find it. I also wrote in my notes that it passes the "Wife Test". My lovely wife, who does not really drink beer and prefers wine and cocktails, loved the taste of this beer. She may have to find her own bottle next time...</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-57612578026567362522011-11-10T16:49:00.000-08:002011-11-10T16:55:46.013-08:00Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF1B5tObRc3LKwCV_xQ-05D1LfF-FXDxiMoxdYRkuzaQDuHklW4WGeybapuc7_ZTe9YL2qs054hKG0GFmcN92-ikopISzkOS_xtikQr_ly8xgWoL45X3mPNXHzdx1cuDWT3hDbYuIJ_Gk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF1B5tObRc3LKwCV_xQ-05D1LfF-FXDxiMoxdYRkuzaQDuHklW4WGeybapuc7_ZTe9YL2qs054hKG0GFmcN92-ikopISzkOS_xtikQr_ly8xgWoL45X3mPNXHzdx1cuDWT3hDbYuIJ_Gk/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Grade: C</span></strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">A couple of weeks ago, my town was one of many who lost power due to the snowstorm here in the Northeast. Five plus inches of snow in October? Unreal. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I was feeling like we got cheated. After spending the first evening with my family having breakfast for dinner and playing board games by candlelight, we realised that our power wasn't coming on for a while. Lucky for us, we had friends and family who were not affected by storm and lived close by.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why the long intro? Well, because before we left the house for our first night (of two) at a friend's place in Summit, I decided to go to my cellar </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and pull something out that I had yet to try. After rooting around for a few minutes, I decided on the Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale that I've had down there for about 4 months. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">After a dinner, I got it out and shared it with my hosts. It had great online reviews and we all were looking forward to a nice after dinner drink by the fireplace. Unfortunately, we were all a bit dissatisfied. Full disclosure: on the drive over, the bottle tipped over (unknowingly) and spent about 15 minutes on its side. That may or may not have disturbed the sediment and impacted the taste. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Appearance: Dark amber with a great deal of suspended sediment. It was so carbonated that upon opening, the beer came spilling out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Smell: Fermented fruitcake (a group description), prunes, alcohol and rum. As it warmed, I could detect spices and malt.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Taste: Probably the most disappointing aspect. Sour prunes, yeast and dates. A very medicinal aftertaste with only the taste of dates saving it from total disaster. Even after warming, the sour flavors seem to dominate.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Mouthfeel: Very carbonated and medium-bodied. The texture is probably the best thing about this beer and kept me sipping. My hosts, however, were not as determined.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Overall: One of my hosts kept mentioning that maybe it was a bad bottle and possibly skunked. It wasn't until later on that I realized that the bottle was on its side on the ride over. Perhaps a combination of both? Either way, this was a beer that did not live up to expectations. The sour, medicinal taste really turned me off. Nonetheless, it didn't dissuade me from getting another bottle to test out our theory. It will be a while before I try it again...</span></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-89809974069642758782011-11-02T17:33:00.000-07:002011-11-10T16:57:06.347-08:00Brooklyn Brewery Event at Amanti Vino<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWsJ3CGisNqXCfajtBmkAhKChCJgiCLLjE1AtJF3tRINX81EVf1pvGeQDAYK-UcPkR-kk4K3FhLs7hvlV7HoPCzT7LlYprDqf2IPhHjehY5mFb_hWn3A9MXWIIOBHu0-B4Wc8vdHVxl8p/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWsJ3CGisNqXCfajtBmkAhKChCJgiCLLjE1AtJF3tRINX81EVf1pvGeQDAYK-UcPkR-kk4K3FhLs7hvlV7HoPCzT7LlYprDqf2IPhHjehY5mFb_hWn3A9MXWIIOBHu0-B4Wc8vdHVxl8p/s320/IMG_1749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Enjoying the evening with brewmaster Garrett Oliver</div><div align="center"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I can honestly say that I have never been to a book signing at a wine shop. But, the more I thought about it, it makes complete sense! Especially when the book is about BEER! Needless to say, I had an amazing time last night at <a href="http://www.amantivino.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Amanti Vino</span></a> in Montclair, NJ. Major props to the craft beer manager Thad for putting this together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Brooklyn Brewery</span></a> brewmaster Garrett Oliver was there to promote his new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Beer-Garrett-Oliver/dp/0195367138" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">The Oxford Companion To Beer</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">,</span> a mammoth 900-page encyclopedia of all things beer. When I say all things, I REALLY mean all things (beer terminology, well-known brewers and breweries, styles of beer, etc.). According to Oliver, it was 4 years in the making with collaboration of over 150 writers. I have only just cracked the cover this evening and found myself lost in the information (but in a very good way). After he signed my copy, I was able to get a few moments with the him to discuss a couple of things. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS5QLwzktiPHGi8x6Jc6SBL8f4Gmm_UxN-PEB38PNiULza3vw2mdzlrCp2y1UutueqS4lJyPmuv4RnN94ybBQ-N-mXvGftC0ct0-thlX1OVicZCI9kGsArpg6v2nWET8YMMzgY26sqeup/s1600/IMG_1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqS5QLwzktiPHGi8x6Jc6SBL8f4Gmm_UxN-PEB38PNiULza3vw2mdzlrCp2y1UutueqS4lJyPmuv4RnN94ybBQ-N-mXvGftC0ct0-thlX1OVicZCI9kGsArpg6v2nWET8YMMzgY26sqeup/s320/IMG_1751.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was (hate to sound corny) very inspiring talking to someone who not only has a vast knowledge but an incredible passion about beer. As he talked about his career (going to film school, living in England and tasting his "first real beer"), I could see from his expression that he completely enjoys what he does. My "million dollar" question for him had to do with what I have been experiencing at the craft beer tastings and events that I have been to recently. I started with, "It seems like when I go to tastings and events that I seem to be the...", and he quickly jumped in with, "the only African-American there?" This prompted at 10 minute mini-discussion about possible reasons why this is the case (class, possible fear of the unknown, the slow pace of cultural shifts). The one thing that he said that stuck with me was, "No matter what happens, people will remember you!" </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oliver did not come empty handed and brought along 3 beers for our tasting pleasure. A very piny and aromatic IPA, a yet to be released "Companion Ale" and, my favorite, a experimental bottle from his own private stock called "Cuvée Elijah". The "Cuvée" is a blend, based on their <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/40149" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Black Ops</span></a> recipe, aged in bourbon barrels. Reminded me of Founders <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/the-lineup/backwoods-bastard" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Backwoods Bastard</span></a> (which was just released yesterday, FYI) with loads of bourbon in the nose and smooth finish. I tried, in vain, to get Oliver to give me a bottle (a bit pushy, I know) as that would be an jewel in my cellar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the night, my brother in-law felt like not only did we meet a great brewmaster in his prime but also a great collection of fellow beer aficionados. Next up, a "Fade to Black" tasting hosted by my club, The Beer Council. Stay tuned!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Roger</div><div align="center"></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2196082740143035488.post-78858065999083422082011-10-25T16:47:00.000-07:002011-11-10T16:56:08.726-08:00Founders Breakfast Stout (2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0jaHCu26EUYLkRMYguf7EnQCGPXJc9X0qzvafeU1Y5_Tyco-43j6u4fclE3k5TLQ3uLIAImeLn2p-E_gLfhrTKxDtp3yK8CWsK9_lZKjRgR46E3EgjY8H_U-AAf2gTn0diWWJlK2Hirw/s1600/Picture+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0jaHCu26EUYLkRMYguf7EnQCGPXJc9X0qzvafeU1Y5_Tyco-43j6u4fclE3k5TLQ3uLIAImeLn2p-E_gLfhrTKxDtp3yK8CWsK9_lZKjRgR46E3EgjY8H_U-AAf2gTn0diWWJlK2Hirw/s320/Picture+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Grade: A+</strong></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first review and I have to start off with a classic from one of my favorite breweries! <a href="http://www.foundersbrewing.com/">Founders</a> holds a special place in my heart as their beers have really gotten me interested in drinking and collecting craft beer. I've had this stout many, many times before and will (at some point) review last year's batch for a comparison. Enough of the small talk, let's get down to it:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Appearance: pitch black with a good two finger mocha head. Moderate lacing as you go on. Lovely to look at!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Smell: Smokey coffee and chocolate. As it warms and with a bit of agitation, I pick up more chocolate (mocha?). Faintly boozy. Can't wait to sip...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Taste: Follows the nose. Chocolate and coffee up front with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Very smooth. The finish is dry. The lingering taste of chocolate and coffee is extremely pleasant and forces you to take small sips and savor.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">Mouthfeel: Again, very smooth and silky. The light carbonation adds to the smoothness. It's a beer than you'll find yourself rolling around your mouth before swallowing as it coats the tongue nicely with that smokey chocolate flavor.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Overall: Probably my in top five of all-time favorite beers. It's a very balanced beer. The flavors are very distinct and present but the overall effect is very subtle. At 8.3% ABV, it goes down surprisingly well. If you're lucky enough to find some, buy multiples and try to age a few. Look forward to my review of last year's batch. Enjoy!</span></div>Roger Apollonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896411625946632290noreply@blogger.com0