Brooklyn Local 1

Brooklyn Local 1
Belgian Golden Ale
Brooklyn Brewery
9% ABV
IBUs?
OG: 18.5 Plato
750 ml bottle with no date poured into Duvel tulip.

    Hay colored rather than golden, and quite hazy, Local 1 poured with a huge white colored head. The head took forever to fall to chunks of foam floating on the surface, and left very good lacing.

    The aroma has notes that could be either from Pilsner malt or from Belgian yeast... tough to place for my novice senses. There is sweetness, but I doubt if it's the raw sugar. Some phenols  and esters come by with warmth. A minty freshness, that I believe to be from alcohol. Different, but just beer.

    I am not digging the taste too much either --- very generic to the class of beers this would belong to, if there's such a thing. I have only Duvel for comparison so I am calling this one average. It's not bad by any means, and not bland either, but doesn't have much to offer except the characteristic "Belgique" character (fruit, soft alcohol etc.)

    Mouthfeel is almost as good as any other -- dry and effervescent without being thin, and very very refreshing, with some bitterness at the back to balance the sweetness that high gravity beers invariably have. Warming.

    Overall, this is not a bad beer. Very classy looking and well crafted, but the soul is missing in my opinion. Suffice it to say that I will not drop $10+tax again on something that didn't impress me and hurt my liver. And yet it will be unfair to give it any less than 4/5. Maybe it's not the beer, but me. Probably me.

Scores: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4/5

Kellerweis v. Mothership Wit

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis & New Belgium Mothership Wit

Kellerweis
Hefeweizen
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
4.8% ABV
15 IBU's
OG 12.3 Plato
FG 3.5 Plato

12 oz bottled in the later half of 03/2011 poured into a Schneider-Brooklyn Weizen glass on 04/24/2011.

Hazy golden with a massive white head that took a long time to settle and left great lacing on the glass. Mild notes of orange, banana and yeast in the aroma... faintly tart. Tastes somewhat lemony tart, and slightly bitter towards the end with a banana finish. Clean and dry, but not very dry.

Medium bodied; higher carbonation would be welcome. A very solid beer, especially at its ABV and price.

Scores: Appearance 4.5/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4.5/5

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Mothership Wit

Witbier
New Belgium Brewing
4.8% ABV
12 IBU's
OG 11.2
FG 2

12 oz with a best before of 08.11 poured into a pint glass.

Hay colored, with appropriate haze and a moderately sized white head. Decent lacing and retention. Honey and malt sweetness, with strong notes of coriander in the aroma. Very delicious, if not too complex. Taste feels like a let down -- lightly tart with a spicy finish and that's about it.

Sweetness lingers after the finish but doesn't get cloying... could be called medium dry. Higher carbonation won't hurt. Overall, not bad but nothing to die or kill for.

Scores: Appearance 4/5; Aroma 4/5; Taste 3/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 4/5

Mystery Stout

Mystery Stout
Short's Brewing Company
10% ABV
~55 IBU's

    Oatmeal Imperial Stout with cocoa and molasses. Received as an extra from drDogBeer. Thanks! Poured from a 12 oz. bottle with no freshness date into a big snifter.

    Pours very dark with a dark tan head. Very good retention and lacing. Top of the shelf as far as looks go. Chocolate and caramelized sugar in smell, this one sure has everything it talks about! Hard to say whether they come from actual additions or not, but there are strong notes of coffee too. Starts reeking of molasses with warmth.

    Tastes like it smells: bitter chocolate and milk with a hint of sweetness. There's some coffee like acidity that could be derived from roast, because there's no shortage of roast in this one -- The charred aftertaste lingers after the medium finish and feels very similar to roasted beans.
   
    Mouthfeel is silky and the carbonation medium. Lower carbonation wouldn't have hurt but the way it is, the finish stays relatively clean and prickly. This is a good stout no doubt. It's my second Short's beer and I have to say that adjunct =/= cheap. Good job!

Scores: Appearance 4.5/5, Aroma 4/5, Taste 4/5, Mouthfeel 4.5/5, Overall 4.5/5

Cali-Belgique

Cali-Belgique
Belgian IPA
Stone Brewing Co.
6.9% ABV
77 IBU's

    22 oz. "bomber" poured into a Duvel tulip. The freshness date is either unreadable or absent, but this bottle is most likely fresh.

    Hay-golden hued and hazy, this beer looks solid amber in the glass, underneath the huge off white head. The head retention is very good and the lacing is splattered all over the glass. The aroma is of fresh fruit and flowers - the hops of Stone IPA work so well with the esters from the Belgian strain. Truly remarkable.

    The taste is very similar, fruity and floral, with light flavorful sweetness from a good malt base. The finish is dry (nice!), and long and bittering; and that's where the Cali and Belgique clash in my opinion. I think that the bitter aftertaste is a little too bitter for this taste and the aroma, and although I don't think this way often, I really would like to see what happens with the bitterness dialed down a few notches.

    Mouthfeel is light and clean with good carbonation, although I won't call it crisp. Overall very good, but nowhere in my personal top list.

Scores: Appearance 4.5/5; Aroma 4.5/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 4/5

Reserva

    11.2 oz. bottle, vintage 2008, received as an extra from lurchingbeast. Thanks Frank! Poured into a 25 oz. snifter. Pours clear and dark candy brown with a light brown head. Excellent head retention and medium lacing.

    This is the first non-trappist quad that comes close to the best trappist examples. In case you're wondering, yes, I have had St. Bernardus Abt 12 and no, I don't think it's practically Westvleteren 12. The aroma is mind blowing and delights me more than my favorite Rochefort 10 in terms of it's delicious strength without the alcohol bite. The aroma is very very country... fresh dessert with some spice, dried fruit, butterscotch-vanilla, and comfort. The real bite of spices and alcohol is felt upon more keen investigation, but alcohol hardly interferes. 3 years of age might have to do with taming it though.

    The palate is loaded with dried fruit, chocolate and spice. Whatever oak materializes, it does in the finish. Long and tannic, it's the aroma & parts of the finish more than the taste itself that won me over. I think that the taste is too bitter and aftertaste too sweet; I'd prefer drier and cleaner. The mouthfeel is silky and luxurious but the overly sweet finish spoils a few things in my opinion. Although I don't know if there is any scope of improvement.

    Many beers that call themselves Quadrupels are obscene jokes, really, when compared to  the class of Quads this one belongs to. A tremendous ale, and one of the more surprising ones. Still, not worthy of the $10+ tag it commands given that Rochefort 10 and 8 are easily & relatively cheaply available. But as a beer, this is excellent!

Scores: Appearance 4.5/5; Aroma 4.5/5; Taste 4.5/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 4/5

Peruvian Morning

Peruvian Morning
Bourbon barrel aged coffee imperial stout
Central Waters Brewing Co.
8.5% ABV

12 oz. bottled 01/2011 poured into a New Belgium balloon.

Pours dark brown but not as dark as I'd have liked. Big dark brown head forms and sticks for a while, and leaves fantastic lacing over the glass.

Coffee, malts, and booze in the aroma. Some chocolate notes as well. However, there's really not all that much bourbon. The taste is dark chocolate, coffee and alcohol. Quite bitter, and warming!

Mouthfeel is creamy and the carbonation proper. Overall above average but not even close to the best bourbon barrel aged coffee stouts.

Score: Appearance 4/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4/5

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Lager
Vienna Lager?
Brooklyn Brewery
5.2% ABV
IBUs?
OG: 1.053
12 oz. bottle with a best by date of 09/2011 poured into a Weizen glass.

    Amber hued, and darker than most lagers, Brooklyn Lager pours clear and brilliant with a thick and fluffy light tan head. The head retention and lacing are good, and this sure is an inviting beer.

    There are a couple of things going on in the aroma but none of them overpowering; most prominently Vienna lager like toasted notes and a mild twang of sulfur. I don't smell any hops here.

    Bitter and bready sums up the taste pretty well. I am positive that the hops used are not the usual American varieties, but the European ones. Toast is present in the finish but the aftertaste is largely clean, and refreshingly bitter (in a Euro way!). The mouthfeel is light, but not watery, and the carbonation is perfect, making the finish extra dry.

    Overall, a beer that doesn't have tons to offer in terms of flavor but a well done expression of a simple, easy drinking style.

Scores: Appearance 4.5/4; Aroma 3.5/4; Taste 4/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4/5

Schell's Stag Series #3 Rauchbier

Schell's Stag Series #3 Rauchbier
Rauchbier
August Schell Brewing Company
6-7% ABV
30 IBUs
OG: 15.0 Plato
22 SRM
12 oz. bottle with a freshness date of 07.17.11 poured into a pint glass on 04.14.11.

    Stag # 3 pours clear and dark amber, almost like a lighter brown ale; a good light tan head forms quickly and recedes just as quick to a thin but present sheet of foam on the surface. Not much of lacing either.

    This is a smoked beer alright! With strong but not overwhelming notes of smoke and present malt base, this one smells quite meaty. Tastes even better with the right sweetness and an almost burnt character that I didn't see coming in the aroma or appearance: I am sure it can be attributed to the malt bill.

    Finishes bitter, roasty-astringent, and dry. Carbonation is felt on the higher side given the light body, and the flavors are clean. An easy drinking beer that will compliment many foods nicely.

Scores: Appearance 4/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 4.5/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 4/5

Myrcenary

Myrcenary
Double IPA
Odell Brewing Co.
9.3% ABV
12 oz. bottle with great artwork and a best by of 7.12.2011 poured into a snifter on 04.14.2011.

    Odell's beers are not as hyped as many other breweries' although they make some kickass ones. But there was significant discussion about this one, and one poster on BA went as far as calling it a Pliny killer. I am going to find out for myself now!

    With the thick layer of sediment at the bottom carefully avoided, Myrcenary poured like a quintessential DIPA, golden stream with clarity and depth. Thick, creamy, unwavering head sat atop the amber orange ale for a while. Good job on the lacing too.

    When people say that the aroma saturates the senses within the first few sniffs, there's perhaps some truth to it. When I smelled the bottle before pouring, I sensed lush fruit. Now that this beer lies in the snifter that I know to be an aroma amplifier, it smells of nothing. Odd. Although there are some fruity hop notes, what I get most is malts (delicious though) and sulfur?!! I will wait on it until it's warm to put my score down.

    Tastes good but not exceptional -- bitterness is thankfully high and there's a lot of fruitiness as well. Some onion-garlic notes too but only if you're looking for them. A solid but in-the-background malt character. The bitterness lingers and keeps the finish clean, and yet I can feel my lips getting sticky. Clearly the hops are plenty for those sugars to not interfere with the taste!

    Properly carbonated and able bodied, this one would warm you up eventually. Overall good but one is enough in one sitting. With so many hoppy beers around, I doubt if I would revisit it, but I would recommend it to anyone interested and gladly drink one if it's among the best available options.

Scores: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 2.5/5; Taste 4/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4/5

Harpoon IPA

Harpoon IPA
Harpoon Brewery
American IPA?
5.9% ABV
42 IBU's

12 oz. bottle with a best by of 6/15/11 poured into a Bell's tulip. Courtesy drdogbeer, thanks!

    Copper golden and very clear with a creamy off white head. Good retention and lacing. Looks the part! Aroma is more bready than hoppy, and this is a very "mild" IPA it seems. Some floral notes were present initially but unimpressive overall. There's a gutter like smell too that's off putting.

    Tastes equally mild, with some fruitiness and some pils like hop notes. Quite European actually; not highly hopped as it claims. Bitterness never really kicks in but lingers briefly on the palate. The finish is clean and dry, carbonation medium and the body light, but not thin. Low alcohol is a saving grace, although Masala Mama & Furious are in that ABV range and far far superior. Very very average tasting IPA. Overall an average beer that I could drink on my dime faced with limited options.  I really think that if this was marketed as an APA, it'd have a better chance at ratings.

Scores: Appearance 4.5/5; Aroma 2/5; Taste 3/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 3.5/5

Anchor Bock

Anchor Bock
Traditional Bock
Anchor Brewing
5.5% ABV
12 oz. poured into a pint glass.

    Pours dark and clear copper brown with a thick coffee-cream colored head. The head goes away rather quick and there's hardly any lacing. The aroma fails to impress initially -- more metal than malt and no melanoidins at all; however, warmth does the aroma a lot of good things and toffee, toast, and dark fruit notes appear and delight.

    The taste is heavy on dark malts -- although very clean and lager-y, there are plenty of dry fruit notes and a lot, a little too much, roast. Medium body for the style, and a crisp, astringent finish. High carbonation.

    Overall not bad at all, but excessive roast obliterates the malt complexity and makes the beer one dimensional. I wish the taste was as satisfying as the aroma.

Scores: Appearance 3.5/5; Aroma 4/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4/5; Overall 4/5

Illumination

Illumination
Double IPA
Central Waters Brewing Co.
9% ABV
12 oz. bottled last month poured into a New Belgium balloon.

    Pours liquid gold and with a huge porcelain head. The head recedes eventually and leaves sticky lacing all over. The aroma is very weakly tropical fruity, and metallic? But it does improve with warmth. More C-hop character emerges and makes for a better than average smell.

    Off to drinking... I can see that this beer has potential- the finishing notes on this beer are powerfully rind-y and bitterness is UP there! The finish is dry and the body great, complemented by the just right crispness from carbonation!

    But what's up with fusels? That's the last thing I'd want in a DIPA. Terribly off putting! Wish it had better to offer.

Overall it's good but doesn't belong among the best of the best.

Score: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 3.5/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 3.5/5

Levitation

Stone Levitation Ale
Stone Brewing Co.

Amber Ale?

4.4 % ABV
45 IBU's

12 oz. bottle with no best by date poured into a wine glass.

    Pours dark amber-brown with good clarity and a nice and thick light tan head. Not much of retention here but the lacing makes up for it. Smells spicy with fresh mint like hop character at the back. The specialty malt notes are not weak either. Appetizing.

    Off to taste... Wow, didn't expect it to be this bitter! Firmly bitter presence on a light and crisp biscuity body. Clean finish and solid carbonation. Easy drinking and low in alcohol, truly sessionable!

Score: Appearance 4/5; Aroma 4/5; Taste 4/5; Mouthfeel 4.5/5; Overall 4/5

SSRA

Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Stone Brewing Co.

India Black Ale/Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale/Gimmicky name # 10

8.7 % ABV
90 IBU's

    Received in trade with dvelcich before Stone started distributing to MN. Thanks Dan! 22 oz. bomber with a best by date of 05.04.2011 poured into a New Belgium globe.

    Pours dark brown, looks real black in the glass, with a dark-ish brown head, good retention and great lacing. Smells of nothing initially but then leafy fresh  minty hops come along. I can swear that there's some overlap in the hop profile of this one and AB. Still nowhere close to what I experienced in the doubly dry hopped version of this beast. Take a sip... shall we?

    Yeah baby, this is a black IPA alright! Taste transitions smoothly from an IPA to an incredibly hopped up stout, this is what a "Black & Tan" oughta taste like. It has the fresh, light, and cleansing hop bitterness and the bad-ass, broody-ass depth of roast. This is Robert De Niro playing a trigger happy cowboy. Mouthfeel is sadly a little watery-ier than I'd like. The finish is bitter and roasty, and dry.

 

    I hate that BA has done away with drinkability because this is where I used to voice  my opinion on drinkability, obviously and stuff like ABV. This beer is way higher in alcohol than it should be, in my opinion. Overall good, but nothing earth shattering. Still an achievement considering that this is the first beer of a style everyone wants to brew these days.

Score: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 3.5/5; Taste 4/5; Mouthfeel 3/5; Overall 4/5

Just Outstanding IPA

Just Outstanding IPA
Kern River Brewing
American IPA
6.8% ABV
22 oz. bomber with no date, but with freshness assured, received as an extra from beerific poured into a Surly pint glass. Thanks man!

    Pale-amber hued with good clarity and a big, creamy, "pillow" head. Good lacing and retention. Smell reminded a lot of mangoes at the beginning, but later gave away to pine, and some sweet notes with no particular character.

    I don't have the most discriminating of palates and yet I think that this is one of those IPAs that are hoppy, but not good. Is this a case of discordant kitchen sink hopping? Tastes empty with a massively bitter finish and entirely crushed malt backbone, and with no particular hop flavor of the aroma. Not impressed.

    Mouthfeel is crisp and the finish dry. But the lack of backbone doesn't work to this ale's favor. Overall, average.

Scores: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 3/5; Taste 2/5; Mouthfeel 3/5; Overall 3/5

Drake's IPA

IPA
Drake's Brewing Company
American IPA
7% ABV
65 IBUs

12 oz. bottle with no date, received as an extra from beerific, poured into a Surly pint glass. Thanks man!

    Slightly hazy, honey amber hued with a depth to its appearance; the head on this ale was par excellence. Creamy, light tan colored finger thick foam stood atop this rather dark IPA for the longest time, and laced the pint real good.

    The kind of aroma I would expect from a more balanced style, with generous dosage of caramelizing sugars and light fruitiness, and very faint hops. Not bad but not good for an IPA.

    I might be splitting hair here, but the more I drink it, the more I think that this is a stronger APA or a milder American Strong Ale. Of course the beer is named IPA, but it doesn't exactly deliver what it promises on the label. But I like it, a lot. A solid backbone, and present malt flavor well overshadowed by the intense hoppiness -- as if the zest from citrus rind was dumped in this beer in massive amounts; and then it finishes long, bitter and dry with a light kiss of caramel. Warmth brings out the subtleties and I swear I can taste pineapples now!

    Smooth drinking in spite of the strong bitterness with the right touch of bubbly crispness and, did I already mention, good body? Reminds me of Arrogant Bastard for some reason. Overall, very good, if not exactly an American IPA.

Scores: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 2.5/5; Taste 4.5/5; Mouthfeel 5/5; Overall 4/5

PS: I don't believe that it's only 65 IBUs.

Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder
Double IPA
Russian River Brewing Company
8% ABV
100 IBU's

500 ml bottle, bottled 03.21.2011, poured chilled into a snifter on 04.01.2011. Thanks beerific/ineedbeer.

    The Elder pours straw golden, bright and clear, and appears a deep shade of orange in the glass. The crown is big, like three fingers big, and creamy off white. The head retention is very good -- good to the extent that I had to sip on the foam to finally get down to business, and the lacing is great. Belgian ales have trouble lacing this snifter of mine and PtE  does an excellent job of it. As noted, this is a clear beer, but not brilliantly so and that's welcome given its hop content.

    Maybe my sense of smell is off today but I don't get the intensity I was hoping for. Smooth, orange candy like notes, and some pine/resin/yada yada yada but not the pungent hop aroma I wanted to get out of it. Is it too young? Maybe. Vinnie Ciluzro has said that Elder peaks in 2-3 weeks and it might still need time. Fortunately, I have more of it! Thanks again beerific.

    Taste, a pure hop assault, but well lubricated. Pliny is bitter but deliciously so. Full of flavor but not fruit, this is how I like my IPA's. I am having a hard time not finishing it. Dank, bitter, sharp, cleansing, resiny, this one has all I want out of a D/IPA. Add to it the fact that it's not creamy-smooth but crisply carbonated and deeply, did I already say bittering? Doesn't coat the mouth in any way but leaves its bitterness right down to the throat after its amazingly dry finish.

    What a beer! I could drink it all day. There are times when I crave a hop assault and none of the locally available beers is able to satisfy me; well Furious and Masala Mama do the job but I drink them too often. I wish I had access to this silent killer every day of my lifetime.

Mr. Ciluzro, nicely done!

Scores: Appearance 5/5; Aroma 4/5; Taste 5/5; Mouthfeel 5/5; Overall 4.5/5

PS: Anyone paying attention to my not-perfect-on-all-counts scores, don't. Just buy it and if you don't like it, ship it to me. I'll make it worth your while.