Day 31: Blue Point Toasted Lager

Name: Toasted Lager

Brewer: Blue Point Brewery - Long Island, NY

Style: Lager

Alcohol Content: 5.3%


Review: Hmm, another lager I find decent. I found it at a Billiard hall on the Upper East Side near 96th and Lexington. Thanks goes out to Deb's friend for recommending this one. I'm still not convinced about lagers in general - too much malt too little hops. I find that you have to do SOMETHING to a lager to make it noteworthy. In this case, Blue Point flame kisses their brew with a direct flame or something like that. It imparts a toasty flavor that is reminiscent of a porter. While drinking it, I was convinced that there were was an addition of chocolate malts. I later learned of the flame kissing. This beer kind of reminds me of clear Pepsi. Remember that stuff? It looked like 7-up but tasted like Pepsi. Kind of a soda mindfuck. The toasted lager is similar in that way; it has the color and texture of a lager, but those toasty malts make you think 'porter'. Novel. Decent. Nothing noteworthy beyond that.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend? YES. Another curious lager worth sampling once.

Day 30: Old Scratch Amber Lager

Name: Old Scratch Amber Lager

Brewer: Flying Dog Brewery

Style: Amber Lager

Alcohol Content: 5.5%


Review: This review comes with a disclaimer. I sampled it after drinking, oh, 5 or 6 other drinks. I keep beer notes on my phone when I sample beers at bars and restaurants, and somehow I managed to write this one down as Flying Dog Amber Ale. There is no FD Amber Ale. I can't blame that one on T9, though there are some other blatant typos as well, so I was probably 6 ways from sober. My night did end with me smoking a random cigar in my friend's 10 degree F sunroom and then sneaking out with a couple of her Augusten Burroughs books... so was I sober? You make the call. What's more is that I ended up buying a 6 pack of the Amber lager for a superbowl party a few days later thinking that I had never tried it before.

From what I can read on my phone, I thought this beer had a good hop malt balance with little to no hoppy bite. I thought it was very drinkable for an amber ale (again I thought it was an ale at the time). Though I also thought it was kind of lame for an ale. My second tasting, at the superbowl party yielded the same results. This time I knew it was a lager, and while it's fuller bodied than most other lagers I still just can't seem to get too enthusiastic about it. I'm just not a big lager guy. Sorry. It's a good lager for the ale-averse, but purists of either style might not fully embrace this beer. Still, if given no other choice, I'd gladly replace every Bud, Miller, and Coors tap with the Flying Dog Lager and never look back.

Rating: 3/5

Recommend? MAYBE. If you like lagers and want to get adventurous, check it out.

Day 29: 60 Minute

Name: 60 Minute

Brewer: Dogfish Head Brewery - Milton, DE

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6%


Review: Continuously hopped for 60 minutes, the 60 minute emits a strong hoppy aroma with some citrusy character. The beer is smooth enough while remaining crisp and ending very hoppy and dry. The hoppy ending lingers well into the next sip making this beer hoppy from first sip to last call. I happen to be a fan of that, making the 60 minute always an ale of choice. While I used to think Dogfish Head's shit doesn't stink, I have to temper my feelings because of the other great beers I have already been trying. Still, the 60 minute is a solid offering, and an IPA you should definitely try at some point in your life.

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 28: #9

Name: #9

Brewer: Magic Hat Brewing Company - Burlington, VT

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.7%


Review: I have a lot of questions. Would someone like to explain to me those "G" commercials? You know, the ones that are filmed in black and white. The camera pans from left to right as busts of sometimes-famous celebrities float across the screen, all the while some wannabe thug tries to explain what "G" means by using a bunch of inane cliches and non sequiturs. Someone told me they're advertising Gatorade. Seriously? Similarly, I'd also like to complain about this commercial I saw while watching Top Chef. This Hearts on fire commercial showed a man and woman obviously wanting to rip each others clothes off (looked more like a praying mantis about to eat her mate). You can see a huge unaffordable rock on the chick's finger as the narrator tells me to "Love intensely", "Live intensely". I'm all about monogamy and and love and stuff, but I don't know how to "live intensely". Can I relax intensely? no. How does one sleep intensely? God knows. The only thing I can promise you is that I will be farting intensely tomorrow. I have a lunch date with the Pizza Hut all you can eat buffet and happy hour at BW3.

Ok, before I lose you, let me now make my point. I have questions about the Magic Hat #9 as well. Magic Hat tries to carry a mystique by failing to reveal some secret ingredient that makes this beer pungently sweet. What is this secret ingredient? Why do they have to try and clevery hide some probably carcinogous agent? I know a lot of fans of this beer, but I just have to say that I've missed the boat on it. I just don't like Magic Hat #9. According to their website the beer contains English Ale Yeast. This might be the start of why I have problems with this beer. From first pour, it has the makings of being a thin, light amber-colored pale ale. That's interesting in itself. There's not much of aroma beyond some questionable sweetness (most likely attributed to the secret ingredient and maybe some apricot). Upon finishing my first sip I think "hmm, this isn't that bad". It does have some elements of it's flavor that make it unique to all other pale ales, but after sip 4 or 5 I'm done with it. The secret sweet ingredient begins to make my cheeks pucker. Is it pungent? Is it spicy? I can't say. I just don't care for it. So, Magic Hat, like those "G" commercials, please just come out and tell use what you're aiming for with this beer. Are you a pale ale? Are you an amber ale? Are you really a sour wine cooler? And like those hearts on fire commercial, don't confuse me with impossible expectations. Just as how I can't live intensely, I can't embrace the intense sweetness of your beer without some balance. Some hops at the finish perhaps? Maybe a toasty chocloate malt somewhere to keep this beer interesting. I hear you have a lot of other delicious beers at your brewery, so I'll be patient and give you another chance before you make it to my do-not-drink-list.

Rating: 2/5

Recommend? Maybe (only because I already know a number of people who enjoy it)

Day 27: Brown Shugga' Ale

Name: Brown Shugga' Ale

Brewer: Lagunitas Brewing Company - Petaluma, CA

Style: Strong Ale

Alcohol Content: 9.5%


Review: A Deep Amber color, solid pour and a couple fingers of head. You know, I didn't give this beer a fair shot at first. It has a sweet biscuity aroma that, along with the flavor, comes to life as it warms up to about 50 degrees or so. It's not highly carbonated but tingles the tongue a little while it's going down. And for an ale, the finish is not at all dry. The brown sugar is strong and maybe a bit too overpowering. The sweetness of the beer overpowers the alcohol, but somewhat clumsily in my opinion, unlike my favorite - the 90 minute IPA. The flavor also contains hints of fruitiness and grass. I applaud this beer for being well-developed, and I found it to be rich and tasty while almost a little difficult to finish. As the beer warmed, I found it to be more drinkable and much more enjoyable. I had certainly not let it set long enough before I started making my opinion.

I made my way to East End Cafe later in the evening to support my friend's new band, (unsolicited shout out) Human Sounds. Give 'em a listen. If for no other reason, to check out the bassist. He's sick. Well, while at East End I sampled the Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA (review to come), and made a 4th quarter decision - the brown shugga' ale is quite excellent. Say what you will about the 60 minute being somewhat of a confounding variable, it helped me better judge the Brown Shugga' for what it is... a solid strong/Imperial ale.

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 26: Berry Weiss

Name: Berry Weiss

Brewer: Leinenkugel's - Chippewa Falls Wisconsin

Style: Weiss

Alcohol Content: 4.7%


Review: What the hell do you want to know, it's a damn berry weiss beer. I might as well chop my junk off. If I waste my time giving you a proper review of this beer then I've done you a disservice, and I don't want to disservice my longtime readers (it's been a long month, hasn't it?). This beer is exactly what you'd expect: light, carbonated, tangy, refreshing, and berry berry fruity... and great for masking roofies. Chicks will love this beer, especially the type that are susceptible to being drugged (the underaged beer neophytes). I shared this beer with a couple girls tonight and asked them for their opinions. They squealed, and cooed, and squinted their eyes while rapidly clapping their hands. You know, annoying girl stuff. They loved the beer. For a fruity wheat beer, I'll admit I enjoyed it, and could probably pound a few of them, but the beer certainly has it's place. It's along the lines of Lindeman's lambic beers, but I don't want to offend Lindeman's because the Leinenkugel's don't have as much depth. So, if you're a creepy old grad student who still goes to undergrad parties, then bring a 6-pack of these leinie's and the chicks will forget that neither they, nor you, were born in the '80s. Good luck, and see you in jail.

Rating: 1.5/5

Recommend? Yes, if you 1. want a crisp fruity beer, 2. are a girl, or 3. can get them for free. No, in all other situations.

Day 25: Shelter Pale Ale

Name: Shelter Pale Ale

Brewer: Dogfish Head - Milton, DE

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5%


Review: Well, my butt seems to be healing, and I have another dr appt tomorrow. I watched Off Road to Athens today and got pretty motivated to hop on the bike again and race. That will come in due time. Meanwhile, I dined exquisitely at Caffe Gelato for restaurant week. There I chose the Shelter Pale Ale to go with my Butternut Squash bisque appetizer and seared scallops atop some sort of rabe I believe (hard to believe I'm in grad school, right?). It's no secret that I'm an avid Dogfish Head fan, but I still think there's better stuff out there than the Shelter Pale Ale. As with most Dogfish Head beers, they try to cleverly bastardize their brews with a variety of hops and other random ingredients. The Shelter Pale Ale is pretty straightforward with an obvious array of hops, but it doesn't come across as overly hoppy or bitter. They keep this beer fairly tame to keep it's Pale Ale status. It's a medium-bodied beer that pours cleanly with an appropriate amount of carbonation, and finishes dry. It paired well with my meal, but while drinking it alone I was only mildly impressed. I've been blessed by drinking other good ales, so I can't honestly claim this Dogfish Head to be top dog. That title still goes to the Firestone Walker Double Barrel ale. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not condemning this beer, not even close. It's still quite tasty, and you should certainly give it a try. But if given a choice, go for the Double Barrel.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend? YES

Day 24: Double Barrel Ale

Name: Double Barrel Ale

Brewer: Firestone Walker - Napa, CA

Style: English Bitter Ale

Alcohol Content: 5%


Review: Well, there we go again ruining my English Beer paradigm I had going on. I really liked my last Firestone Walker, which was purely American, but this time around they went and perfected an English-style ale. Remember how I said I did not like the British beers? Well... that hasn't changed. However, Firestone walker managed to remove that characteristically British flavor and replace it with a subtly rugged oak one. Bravo. The beer pours a little thin, carries little head, and has a mildy hoppy, mildy malty, smooth flavor that ends fairly dry - i.e. an ale. I'd go so far as to say that there is a subtle fruity esther quality as well, almost like a summer wheat beer. I paired this beer with some homemade polenta with sweet Italian Sausage. I didn't know what the hell polenta really was, and I had some leftover sausage I needed to cook, so I made what cooks illustrated told me to make: polenta.


It was quite tasty, filling, and it paired very well with this beer. The bitterness of the ale countered the sweetness of the sausage and tomatoes, but the oakey sweetness of the beer allowed it to still complement the polenta's flavors. Both the beer and meal were mild, so neither really overtook the other in terms of flavor. I highly recommend this as the ale of choice if you're looking for a solid basic ale with some deeper qualities to set it apart from all the other run-of-the-mill ales. Ok, enough, I'm going to ensconce myself on the couch, enjoy my beer, and watch American Psycho until I can locate some of the recommended brews. Cheers.

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommend? YES

Day 23: St. Peter's India Pale Ale

Name: St. Peter's India Pale Ale

Brewer: St. Peter's Brewery - Suffolk, UK

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.5%


Review: I take back what I say about 5.5% alcohol being a bit low for an IPA. Sorry about that. After drinking the whole bottle of St. Peter's IPA I'm feeling a bit dizzy. This did not bode well for my house poker game. A golden glow introduces this beer, along with a finger or two of head. The beer has a weak, fruity, zesty aroma, and yet again a flavor that I can't seem to describe other than being characteristically British, almost Heineken-esque. I really need to investigate the different UK hops. It might be the Northdown or Fuggle hops that create this flavor. I'll get back to you on that. I don't really feel like finishing this review, so let's use our imaginations instead. If you want a Heineken with a bit more hoppy bitterness and a slightly higher alcohol content, then congratulations you've found your perfect beer. For me, there are too many other delicious IPAs to drink; I'll spend my money on something other than the St Peter's IPA. P.S. If girls with big boobs work at Hooters, where do girls with one leg work? ...IHOP.

Rating: 2.5/5

Recommend? MAYBE

Day 22: Nils Oscar India Pale Ale

Name: India Pale Ale

Brewer: Nils Oscar Brewery - Nykoping, Sweden

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.3%


Review: I enjoyed the previous Nils Oscar beer, and the brewery is regarded as one of the top breweries in Sweden. This copper-colored beer pours kind of thin with small head and some lacing. The aroma has some fruity characteristics with some stronger caramel and nutty elements. For an IPA I'm surprised how subdued the hops seem. At 5.3%, the alcohol content is also a bit on the low side for an IPA. It's not as bold as a dogfish head 60 minute and the beer feels a little watery, but the flavor is intact. The hops really kick in at the finish, leaving it dry but not too bitter. If you're in Sweden, certainly check this beer out, or if you're in the mood for a lighter tasting beer with lots of simple flavors. Unlike the English beers, I'm becoming a fast fan of the Swedish brews.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend? YES

Day 21: Belhaven Scottish Ale

Name: Belhaven Scottish Ale

Brewer: Belhaven Brewery - Dunbar, UK

Style: Scottish Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.2%


Review: The last of Danny's and my evening of burgers and beer (thanks again, Danny). A subgroup of ales that don't ever really appeal to me. I'm also not familiar with their classification, like committing your life to studying kinetics of cortical osteons as they relate to Wolff's law. Seriously? This beer has a mild aroma, light citrus flavor, smooth frothy texture, and pretty much just too sweet for me to accept it as an ale. I like the ass-kicker ales. If you really like Scottish beers, then just drive south from Belhaven for an hour or two and drink some New Castles. Other reviews seem to like this beer though; as Levar Burton would say "But you don't have to take MY word for it".

Rating: 2/5

Recommend? NO

Day 20: Double Dog Pale Ale

Name: Double Dog Pale Ale

Brewer: Flying Dog Brewery - Frederick, MD

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 11.5%


Review: I have fond memories of drinking the Flying Dog Flaming Dog in Heat Wheat Beer at the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, VA - circa 2002. It might mark my first memorable experience with "Good" Beer. Flying Dog might be a brewery I want to look into some more. The Double Dog certainly lives up to expectations. Expectations are that this will be a mouth-kicking ale. It has a bitter hoppy aroma with detectable alcohol, but remaining to be temptingly sweet. The flavor hints at some citrusy hops without the grassiness of the Bear Republic Ale. It even makes your cheeks pucker if you swish it in your mouth. There's no hint about the alcohol content, you're always made aware that this beer with eff you up... from start to finish. This isn't your grandmother's pale ale, unless of course your grandmother is an alcoholic, or a dude. In either case I feel sorry for you. I don't recommend running out and buying this beer immediately, but if it's been a rough week and you're sitting down to a plate of sausage and cheese then give this beer a shot.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend? MAYBE

Day 19: Red Rocket Ale

Name: Red Rocket Ale

Brewer: Bear Republic Brewery - Cloverdale Ca

Style: Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.8%


Review: Claimed to be the beer for mountain bikers and named after my childhood pet's penis, the Red Rocket Ale might pair well with the former without tasting anything like the latter (I'm just guessing about the latter). It does taste a bit grassy and with some fine sediment due to the bottle aging. I enjoyed the sweet hoppy aroma. It does make me think that drinking this beer after a sweaty x-country bike race would be appropriate. Of course at that point almost any beer would taste amazing. That said, I'm not sure how to classify this beer. An American Red Ale? A Scottish Ale? There was enough caramel sweetness and grassy hops to compete with each other and make this beer very drinkable. The hops win the final sprint to the finish and keep the end of this beer race dry.

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommend? YES

Day 18: Ommegang Abbey Ale

Name: Ommegang Abbey Ale

Brewer: Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, NY

Style: Belgian Dubbel

Alcohol Content: 8.5%


Review: Some lacing, some chill haze, some toffee and fruity raisin aromatic characteristics, some ephemeral wafts of alcohol. I'd say that a "little of everything" characterizes this beer, making it a representative Abbey Dubbel. Overall, this is a sweet medium-to-full-bodied beer with a pleasant hopless finish. Oh, and it gives you a nice warm numbing feeling in your limbs. Another fine offering from Ommegang.

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 17: Dominion Baltic Porter

Name: Dominion Baltic Porter

Brewer: Dominion Brewery - Ashburn, VA

Style: Porter

Alcohol Content:


Review: Sorry, Northern Virginia. Dominion Brewery is shutting it's doors and moving to the first state - DE. The Baltic Porter is a worth adversary to the run-of-the-mill porter. This chocolaty, caramel malt brew has a sweet full-bodied flavor to match it's brown-to-black opaque appearance. Some toasty flavors drift in and out as well. The beer manages to stay dry enough to be enjoyed multiple times in succesion thanks to a good balance of hops at the finish. This beer isn't spectacular, but a solid companion to hearty stew or rich dessert.

P.S. Thanks to Danny for sharing this Porter, as well as the following few reviewed beers from his substantial cache of beers. How big a cache? Think right-wing survivalist that hoards guns in a cabin, except replace cabin with garage and guns with beer.

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 16: Green Flash West Coast IPA

Name: Green Flash West Coast IPA

Brewer: Green Flash Brewing Company

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 7%


Review: At 95 IBUs this is not for the faint of heart. I thought that I could endure any quantity and pungency of hops in my beer... I was wrong. Many will disagree, but I found this beer to be nearly undrinkable. The grassy, flowery, piny hops aroma and flavor are never masked. I couldn't tell you anything about the malt because of the overwhelming pungency of this beer. Personally, I think this beer's flavor could have been better devloped. It still maintains a complexity by clevery using a variety of hops to make this award-winning beer. But since my spicy jalapeno chili did nothing to compete with the strength of this beer, I will not be drinking it any time soon.

Rating: 2/5

Recommend? NO

Day 15: Bell's Amber Ale

Name: Bell's Amber Ale

Brewer: Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI

Style: Amber Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.8%


Review: Here's an amber ale that I had higher expectations for. I've heard good things about Bell's Brewery and I was very satisfied with the Brown Ale, but the Amber ale was not memorable. Compared to the brown, there is less of a caramel aroma while maintaining some hints of fruit. At first taste, the beer makes you think "mmm, Bell's", but by the end of the glass I was left feeling the beer was a bit too sweet without enough hops to balance out the experience. A decent Amber ale, but not the type of beer I prefer. I think a majority of beer drinkers might still enjoy this beer, so I'm not entirely condemning it.

Rating: 3/5

Recommend? MAYBE

Day 14: Bell's Best Brown Ale

Name: Bell's Best Brown Ale

Brewer: Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.8%


Review: A nice dark caramel head with some soft fruit notes. It smells richer than my recent 1888 Bock with a taste to match. The richer flavor lends itself to being a bit sweeter than a typical ale, but with the right amount of hops to balance it out. There's a mild toastiness as well. The beer finishes with a slight bitterness, but fortunately very smooth with a sense that there is some richness. This is a great representative Brown Ale

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 13: 1888 Bock

Name: 1888 Bock

Brewer: Leinenkugel's - Chippewa Falls, WI

Style: Bock

Alcohol Content: 5.1%


Review: Beer drinkers come in two forms: those who prefer lagers, and those who prefer ales. I am of the latter. I'm learning though that good beers don't have to be fermented at the top of the barrel. The 1888 is my proof. Thanks goes to my friend Paul who provided my first beer recommendation of the year. This beer has a maroon glow that pours cleanly like a typical lager. It has a very appealing caramel aroma with a semblance of berries and citrus. I enjoy smelling this beer almost as much as I enjoy drinking it. It goes down lagerishly smooth (yes, lagerishly). Because of this, the flavor and texture are not surprising: sweet, smooth, and well developed. The hops add a crispness that prevent the beer from being too cloying (ales rarely cloy, which is why I typically choose them over lagers). It still finishes like a lager, leaving a thick sweet feeling on the tongue. Regardless, I think the flavor is deep and well-balanced enough to make this an excellent winter brew. I don't consider my palate sophisticated enough to confidently proclaim any lager as the best of it's kind, but for now, the 1888 is the top Bock on my list. I recommend pairing this Wisconsin beer the American way - with a Cheeseburger and fries.

Rating: 4/5

Recommend? YES

Day 12: St Peter's Cream Stout

Name: St Peter's Cream Stout

Brewer: St Peter's Brewery - Suffollk, UK

Style: Cream Stout

Alcohol Content: 6.5%


Review: My Achilles heel: Stouts. Heed the words of this review lightly; stouts are not my forte. This smooth beer has an initial flavor suggesting it will have a bit of a bite, but the creamy, chocolaty malt overpowers any potential bitter notes. It has a smooth mouthy feel and some occasional tingly carbonation. The flavors are well developed, and what I would expect from a good cream stout, I'm just not so sure it's the beer for me. This might pair well with a hearty beef stew or a rich dessert. Give it a shot.

Recommend? Yes

Day 11: St Peter's Winter Ale

Name: St. Peter's Winter Ale

Brewer: St. Peter's Brewery

Style: Specialty Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.3%


Review: Pours smooth with about 1/2 finger of head. The aroma is soft, flat, and toasty, like punchy stout or soft ale. Has a hoppy bite, but the toasty malt notes overtake the hoppiness of the ale. Toasted malts fade into a semi-dry finish that leave a bitter hoppy aftertaste. It's not particularly special, but also not bad. I don't think I've ever really latched on to English Ales, this one being no different. Others might find this one to be pretty good.

Recommend? Maybe/Yes

Day 10: Twisted Thistle IPA

Name: Twisted Thistle IPA

Brewer: Belhaven - Dunbar, Scotland

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.1%






Review: A golden-to-amber IPA that pours with a good head and emits a soft aroma with some fruity notes that fade quickly. The hops bite a little less than expected, and with some tartness, ending with a dry finish. I paired it with a spicy homemade pizza. This beer can shine if used to subdue a spicy dish, but as a standalone it's only decent, leaving me with the feeling that something is missing.

Recommend? Maybe (eat it with spicy food)

Day 9: Kalasol

Name: Kalasol

Brewer: Nils Oscar Bryggeri - Nykoping, Sweden

Style: Swedish Fest Beer

Alcohol Content: 5.2%






Review: Aroma is sweet and hoppy almost like a dark ale. Flavor lacks the hoppy bite that the aroma suggests. Instead, flavor is crisp with hints of toasted malt. Complex hops help add a small bite to the barley and rye. Finishes medium-dry with the signature bitterness of a hoppy ale.

Recommend? YES

Day 8: The Raven Special Lager

Name: The Raven Special Lager

Brewer: Baltimore-Washington Beer Works

Style: Lager

Alcohol Content: ??



Review: Smooth lager aroma but with sweeter notes. Flavor is slightly sweet, crisp, and slightly tangy. Tang helps cut the sweetness of typical lagers, and finishes somewhat dry. Lingering flavors taste almost ale-ish. My kind of lager.

Recommend? YES

Day 7: Ara Bier

Name: Ara Bier

Brewer: De Dolle Brouwers - Belgium

Style: Belgian Ale

Alcohol Content: 8% (est)


Review: This ale has a cloudy amber color with evidence of sediment. Very heady! Gentle and compelling fruity aroma without being too sweet. Mildly tangy with detectable bitterness. The alcohol isn't apparent until the finish, which leaves a bitter orange flavor on the back of the tongue.

Recommend? NO

Day 6: Three Philosophers

Name: Three Philosophers Quraduple

Brewer: Brewery Omegang - Cooperstown, NY

Style: Belgian Ale

Alcohol Content: 9.8




Review: A dark Belgian style ale with alcoholic malty aroma, this beer is formed by combining a Belgian Trippel with Lindeman's Kriek Lambic. The beer pours smooth with good head, and contains a sweet, well-developed flavor. They make good use of the Kriek Lambic by adding well-thought complexity to the flavor rather than attempting to mask any imperfections. If there are any imperfections they're tough to spot, as none of the flavors seem overpowering. A sweet finish eventually finishes fairly dry. This is one of the best domestic Belgian Ales I have ever tried.

Recommend? YES

Day 5: Smuttynose Winter Ale

Name: Winter Ale

Brewer: Smuttynose - Portsmouth, NH

Style: Specialty Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.8 %





Review: This really reminds me of a Belgian style ale, but more bitter than typical Belgian and with a dryer finish. It's mild, but weak in flavor. Maybe I don't have a sophisticated palate, but I don't sense a complex flavor or any notable characteristics. I am a fan of the Smuttynose beers, but the Winter ale leaves something to be desired.

Recommend? NO

Day 4: Pale 31

Name: Pale 31

Brewer: Firestone Walker - Napa, CA

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.8%





Review: This golden pale ale has a sweet hoppy nose, mildly hoppy flavor, and a finish that isn't dry. It certainly does not bite like an IPA, but that's completely expected. It's a good ale if you like less pronounced 'bite'. Despite being a de facto pale ale, it is certainly not one to overlook for it's simplicity. It's perfectly balanced, and a great way to introduce a hop-neophyte into the delicious world of ales. I highly recommend it.

Recommend? YES

Day 3: Kerberos Tripel

Name: Kerberos Tripel

Brewer: Flying Dog - Frederick, MD

Style: Belgian-Style Tripel

Alcohol Content: 8.5%




Review: This beer has a sweet nose that correctly prefaces the sweet Belgian ale flavor. Flavor hints of some fruitiness, but remains somewhat subdued by not being too sweet and keeping an alcoholic bite. I expected more developed flavors and bite from the combination of hops used, but that might be a result of my own impatience: aging the beer in-bottle might help create a more developed ale. In any case, for the price this is a solid Belgian Ale.

Recommend? YES

Day 2: Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale

Name: Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale

Brewer: Bruce Williams

Style: Black Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.5%




Review: A dark ale with a toasty aroma, sweet flavor with hints of caramelized sugars, and toasted malt. Mildly bitter aftertaste. Flavor has an initial sweetness with a toasty finish. Flavor from the Elderberry fermentation is overpowered by the other roasted flavors leaving something to be desired. Flavors are too imbalanced to really allow this beer to shine.

Recommend? NO

Day 1: Brothers Thelonius

Name: Brothers Thelonius

Brewer: North Coast Brewing Company - Fort Bragg, CA

Style: Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Alcohol Content: 9.4%




Review: Smooth Belgian aroma with good masking of high alcohol content. Flavor is slightly sweet and bitter, but not overpowering; it maintains good Belgian ale flavor. Sugars are well-developed without being overpowering. I like that it doesn't finish strong yet it is not completely dry. Very good Belgian ale if looking for something with less punch to it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Recommend? YES