Dogfish Head Burton Baton

GRADE: A

What can you say about Dogfish Head Brewery?  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.

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.

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! 

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.

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?

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.

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. 

Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA

GRADE: B

Another "beer of the month" selection from Amanti Vino 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...

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 Cockeyed Cooper and Anniversary Barley Wine) and would be surprised is this was not decent.

Appearance: Even held to the brightest light, it's pitch black with a fluffy, tan 3 finger head. 

Smell: Piney hops with a faint malt aroma.  With warming, I pick up a bit of molasses.

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.

Mouthfeel: Not very carbonated and very smooth. 

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.



The Bruery 3 French Hens

GRADE: A

The Bruery 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 Mischief to backyard barbecue and EVERYONE wanted to have a sip just based on the look of the bottle (especially the ladies). 

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:

Appearance: Dark chocolate with hints of ruby in the light.  My wife says "burnt sienna and caramel".  I say that sounds good!

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.

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. 

Mouthfeel: Nicely carbonated.  Almost creamy but not too heavy.  The alcohol warms the mouth and doesn't burn.

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...

Tripel Karmeliet 3 Grains

GRADE: A

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 Amanti Vino 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:

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.

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!

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. 

Mouthfeel: Again, very carbonated (as is expected with this style) and refreshing.  I wish I had another bottle.

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...