10-51

Budweiser American Ale

2008-12-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

Look: bright brick red with a foamy white head

Taste: Light, but not too bitter. Nice roasted flavor with a hint of grape.

Conclusion: I know, I know, all the shite talking we do about Buttwiper on this blog, and here you are reading a review of a Bud beer. I must say, I was duped into trying this beer by the commercial, and my love for brown ales. Well, I wont lie just to save face and say its an awful beer… I liked it. I liked it a lot!

It has a very light and refreshing mouth feel, but had a strong roasted barley flavor that lingers long after drinking. It was a very solid ale that you can compare to most any other ale you find.

I give Bud American Ale a solid 7 out of 10

(I cant believe I wrote that... 7?! Buttwiper?!)

Beckenridge 471 IPA

2008-12-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Look: dark, light brown…. Wrap your head around that one.

Taste: Bitter, skunky initial taste that gives way to a semi-sweet barley flavor

Conclusion: I was expecting a sharp hoppy taste for an IPA from a micro brew, but this dint quite hit the mark. It has a slight skunky aroma when you bring the glass to your mouth, but the initial bitter helps get rid of that skunk. I wish the bitter hung around for a bit longer, but the barley sweetness sooths the taste buds, and sadly washes away the IPA flavor. Once the sweet washes away, you are left with the initial taste you started with… skunky! Oddly, the more I drank of this beer, the more I was able to tolerate it. That’s not to say it started to taste better, but I got a better idea of what the brewer was trying to accomplish. I just wish that brewers were not afraid to make their IPAs sharp and hoppy, the way a good American IPA should be.

The sweetness and skunky flavor cost it big.

A 5 out of 10

Beckenridge Pale Ale

2008-12-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Look: Honey color with light foamy head

Taste: skunky initial, followed by a hoppy bite

Conclusion: This beer was strange. It starts off kind of skunky and yeasty, but hits you with a sharp hoppy bite. It washes clean and leaves a really flavorful after taste to savor. The beer paired well with my fish and chips, as the vinegar complimented the hoppy bite. The floral aftertaste was a welcome taste that off set the strong vinegar taste of the fish.

On its own, I don’t know that I can have too many of these beers, but accompanied by food, this beer was really nice… once you get past the first few skunky drinks.

I give this a 5 out of 10

Blue Frog Hefe Weizen

2008-12-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Look: Very cloudy and thick burnt orange color. So thick, you cant see through it when held up to light.

Taste: Sweet with a strong clove taste. Alas, it washes way all to quick with little to no after taste.

Conclusion: When I saw this beer on the shelf, with the big frog on the label, I had to pick it up. Those crafty brewers at Blue Frog did this bottle right as well. The frog is right side up, but the wording, and everything else is upside-down. This is done to get you to flip the bottle to mix up the unfiltered goodies in the bottle.

Here is the thing, every time I drink a hefe, I always expect a nice thick, some what bitter beer with a hearty feel. 9 out of 10 times, I am disappointed. This is one of those disappointing times.

There is a strong clove flavor throughout, and a semi-sweet citrus sweetness, but its not overly sweet. It was very refreshing, and would go well with a BBQ. As readers of the blog know, we are not big fans of “fruiting the beer”, but I thought this beer needed something to kick up the taste. I quartered a lemon, squeezed in a slice, then dropped it in my pint. Low and behold, it made a world of a difference. The lemon cut through a lot of the clove and sweet flavor.

I give Blue Frog hefe a 7 out of 10

Chimay Ale

2008-12-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Look: Ale Brown with foamy, off white head

Taste: Semi-sweet, but not over the top like your traditional Belgian

Conclusion: This beer was one of the better Belgian beers I’ve had. Once you get past the Belgian sweetness and citrus flavors, it offers a great roasted ale flavor. It is not your typical over the top Belgian sweet brew. Instead of pouring a sweet syrup into your glass, this beer tastes like the natural sweetness you get from roasted malted barley. This time, its a good thing though; the natural sweetness overtakes the citrus flavor just enough to give you a decent balance.

Although its still sweeter than a beer I’d regularly drink, it’s a decent beer.

I give this Belgian a 5 out of 10.

Pump House Igniter Pale Ale

2008-12-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Look: Amber color with minimal head

Taste: kind of bland, slight hopy flavor, but its barely noticeable

Conclusion: This beer was not “pale” enough for me. It has a good initial bite, but the malty finish ruins the beer. This beer won the 1999 G.A.B.F. Gold Medal, but I wonder what it was up against. I wish it had more bite and less sweet wash that always seems to ruin a beer. I guess the hopy and sweet offset to the point of blandness.

I was expecting a lot more from this gold medal winning micro brew from Denver, CO.

I give it a 4 out of 10

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

2008-12-01T18:41:00.001-08:00

Look: burnt honey color with little to no head

Taste: Great sharp hop flavor followed by a nutty, roasted flavor that sooths the sharp hoppyness.

Conclusion: I really love this ale! My beer reviewing compatriot told me to try it, and since he didn’t review it, here we go…

This beer tastes a lot like Sierra Nevada Ale, but with a semi-sweet nutty finish. It still offers a lot of hopy goodness, but washes malty good. I can drink this beer year round and love it. It’s warming for those cold nights, but cooling for those hot summer days.

The first drink will give you a burst of wonderful hops that you are used to if you’ve drank Sierra Nevada’s Ales before. But this one gives you a little extra roasted flavor. It is one of the most well balanced beers I have ever drank.

I give this wonderful ale a 9 out of 10

Sierra Nevada, Stout

2008-11-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

Look: Smooth black with slight cocoa head

Taste: Very light with a roasted malt/barley finish

Conclusion: I'm usually a "stout" supporter(i kill myself) of Sierra Nevada. I'm a sucker for their monstrous Tornado IPA.

This stout, however, was like drinking a Porter. The mandatory roasted malt flavor was there but the lingering taste is one of, well, roasted malt and not much else. There was way too much carbonation on the front end and not enough flavor on the back.

This one had me scratching my head. It's like they put all their effort into their other brews and didn't care to pay much attention to this one. It's not bad, but nothing special.

5 Brews!

Stone, Cali - Belgie IPA

2008-11-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Look: Golden Brown with minimal white bubbly head

Taste: Sweet, warming fruit flavors followed by hops

Conclusion: My brew reviewing buddy and I both jumped on this special edition brew when we saw it. This beer is essentially a hybrid of a Belgian and an IPA.

I was both intrigued(IPA) and disgusted(Belgian) when I picked it up. The fact it was made by Stone, however, swayed my opinion. I have never liked Belgians so I crossed my fingers and drank.

To my delight....it was GREAT! The first half of the drink you get the IPA bite, but it gets it's throat stomped on by the sweet and lightly fruity traits from the Belgian side of things. The thing I loved about this drink was that the Belgian side never becomes overly sweet as most tend to. Instead it's tempered by the IPA and the hop flavors come in near the end of the taste to mellow things out and prevent the sugary sweet Belgian coup.

This beer surprised me and I'd actually try another. I've never said that about any Belgian beer, so this is progress. Give me that diploma, I'm on my way to Belgian grad school! Well, maybe I'll start by aiming for my GED for now. I am again floored by Stone's genius and cunning.

8 Brews!

Avery Brewing, India Pale Ale

2008-11-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Look: Amber with white clean head

Taste: Slight bitterness followed up with hop and citrus

Conclusion: Back to Avery Brewing. Last time I had their wonderful Hog Heaven Barley Wine. This time it is a bit more subtle offering with their version of the India Pale Ale.

Like a good IPA, it has that initial bitter bite but this edge is dulled by the soothing and delicious hops that follow it up. The finish doesn't linger but is still thick enough to taste like a silky smooth treat.

This is an IPA I'll set on the top of my "regulars" list. This is what an IPA should taste like. Kudos Avery. A supremely solid IPA that doesn't show off.

8 Brews!

Dogfish Head, Palo Santo Marron

2008-11-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Look: Deep black, with heavy bodied pout and minimal tan silk head

Taste: Rich roasted malt with sweet fruit and raisin notes

Conclusion: Dogfish head is a fantastic brewery and this brew is evidence of that. Their 90 Minute IPA is probably one of the best there is and this drink is no different.

It starts with a tart but decadently rich mouthfeel that is choc full of roasted malts. You don't get the harsh, burnt taste, but rather it is followed up with sweet and voluptuous fruit flavors that I could only describe as raisin-like. Possibly fig? The brew itself is created in Palo Santo wood barrels which are derived from an exotic South American wood. Boy, does it make this drink ever tasty.

This beer is very unique but just seems like the hot ticket if you're sitting down on a cold winter day or night by a fire. An unbelievably delicious take on the malt beverage that will have other brewer's jealous and trying to create it's equal. Another welcome superstar from Dogfish Head.

9 Brews!

Maui Brewing, Coconut Porter

2008-10-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Look: Deep dark brown with red tint. Foamy small brown head that smells faintly of coconut

Taste: Bitter initially followed by toasted barley flavor

Conclusion: Porters never seems complicated to me. They really all seem to taste similar with the toasted barley flavor throughout. Sure there are ones better than others and thankfully this was better than average.

Food and/or fruit flavored beers really seem to bit hit or miss with me and nowhere in between. This one has the classical porter roast flavor...almost coffee-like, but there is an ever-so-soft coconut undertone throughout the tasting. This interesting little concoction won a gold medal at the international beer awards so show it some respect. Bow to your master! My beer reviewing friend and I spotted this during a lunch time beer run at the local liqour mart and I pulled the trigger the next time I saw it. Sure glad I did. This is easily one of the best Porters I've had.

8 Brews!

Oskar Blues Brewing, Old Chub

2008-10-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Look: Translucent black/red with no head. Only a ring of light tan bubbles around the edge.

Taste: Sweet tang, followed by oak/wood flavors with sweet undertone throughout

Conclusion: Besides the name sounding like an erection that's worn out its welcome(who knows what Old Chub is), this beer is absolutely phenomenal. The last brew of Oskar Blues I tasted, "Gordon", was in a can too but was simply one of the greatest beers I've ever run across. Apparently craft brewing companies are starting to use aluminum, even for these masterful beers because it holds the flavor better, doesn't let any light in(preventing skunkiness) and is made of the most easily recyclable material on the planet. Sweet! Sounds like a great idea to me.

There is an initial tang as you sip this Scottish Style Ale. Then the sweetness gives way to a tingly amount of carbonation. The body has a medium thickness that allows it to stick to the sides of the glass. The end of the drink is oak-like and almost tastes like a stout but the noticeable sweet overtone lingers through the end. At 8% it certainly has a nice set of legs but it doesn't flaunt it and the entire drink is considerably mellow and relaxing.

8 Brews!

Sierra Nevada, Harvest Wet Hop Ale (12th Release)

2008-10-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Look: Burnt orange with a good medium sized white foam head.

Taste: Bitter hop bite followed by spice and citrus flavor that finishes with a lingering hop note

Conclusion: Sierra Nevada tends to do quite a few cycling events. My favorite is the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA. I didn't even know Sierra Nevada made an IPA as we only see their porter and pale ale here in southern cali.

The mouthfeel is deceivingly thick. The tremendous hop smell and flavors fill your mouth and make the body feel as if you're drinking a light hop syrup. At the end of the drink a weight lifts off your tongue and your left with the spice and citrus/fruit flavors that taste mature but light enough not to overpower the hop backbone.

Although this is their 12th release I've never been lucky enough to run into this wonderful brew. Apparently Sierra Nevada rushes their hops down the night they pick them so they can be throw in the vats while their still fresh. They should give raises to all their drivers. This ale just tastes alive and packs an astonishing amount of bite and taste into a 6.7% alcohol mark. I love Sierra Nevada's Tornado IPA(think that's the name...it was so good I had one to many) and am sold after tasting their Harvest Wet Hop Ale. "I didn't know you liked to get wet". Well, yes. Now I do.

9 Brews!

Anchor Small Beer

2008-10-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

Look: Dark, golden color with foamy white head

Taste: Initially bland with a skunky, bitter after taste that lingers a bit

Conclusion: This is the fourth beer in the Anchor line that I’ve tasted, and I was less than impressed… initially. The initial drink was light and tasted really bland, almost like drinking a bud light. And, it had a skunky taste to boot! Ugh… I was so disappointed at the brewery!

The skunky taste lingers, and leaves the slight aroma of a burnt firework. Its faint, but it reminded me of the 4th of July. The initial bitter, skunky taste washes way really quick, as the beer is very light. You can imagine my disappointment at Anchor Brewing… then, I started reading the label on the neck of the bottle. Apparently Anchor Brewing is steeped very deep in American brewing traditions. Small beer was traditionally made of the left over mash of a stronger, better flavored beer, so as to not waste the mash. Imagine my surprise when I read that Anchor Small Beer is made of the mash used to make Old Foggy! (Old Foghorn) Man, from such a great beer, you get this light, bitter, skunky beer?! How is this possible? Thats when I thought, so this is what beer tastes like when it’s reprocessed. Kind of like when you make coffee in a coffee pot with the coffee grounds you used to make the previous pot. It’s lighter, bitterer (yes, it’s a real word), less strong, and kind of bland… same theory applies here.

Well, I continued to drink the tall boy of beer, and, a strange thing happened, the beer started to grow on me. Maybe the initial shock of rubbish washed off my tongue, maybe I got used to the skunkyness; but I started to appreciate the history and style of this beer. While I would not classify it as a light beer, technically it’s an ale, the light mouth feel was perfect for the bitter, skunkyness of the beer. If the flavors were allowed to linger any longer, it might have ruined the experience for me.

My eyes were opened… History was understood and appreciated… Small Beer’s score was bumped up a point… Cheers for Anchor Brewing for reviving this brewing tradition, but if you think about it, some traditions were meant to die.

I give Small Beer a 5 out of 10

Moylan's, Dragoons Dry Irish Stout

2008-09-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Look: Pitch black with light oak colored foam head

Taste: Roasted malt and barley. Dry finish

Conclusion: Wow. This is another small California craft brewery that pumps out the hits. This is the first dark beer of theirs I've tried and loved it.

Just a very non-offensive stout that has strong roasted malt flavor but doesn't shove it down your throat. It's very gentle, probably due to the "Irish stout" tag, and the finish is clean but still has flavor, even after the dryness sets in.

If you see any Moylan's brews anywhere do yourself a favor and grab one of them. You really can't go wrong. A very solid stout from a more than reputable brewing company, in this man's opinion.

7 Brews!

Bear Republic, Hop Rod Rye

2008-09-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Look: Medium hue of brown with a dirty white foam head

Taste: First hops then plenty of rye

Conclusion: The first thing you get when you taste this 8% hoppy drink is, well, hops. But immediately after you get a tongue-numbing rye flavor that's bitter and dry. This dissipates at the end of the drink and your left with a mild hop and rye aftertaste.

This is the second time I've tried this amazing brew. The first was after a 12 mile cross country mountain bike race. It was hot, dusty and I was absolutely spent. I suppose it has a soft spot in my heart for coming through after a painful race. A very unique and strong brew but oh so satisfying in the heat or after strenuous activities. Today took me on a 38 mile bike ride in the San Bernardino Mountains and man did this thing hit the spot. Damn, this brew is good. Highly recommended!

8 Brews!

Waimea Bay Pale Ale

2008-09-15T19:31:00.001-07:00

Look: Dark golden brown, slight foamy white head

Taste: sharp, but sweet with smokey after taste

Conc: This beer was given to me by a co-worker. She didn’t know what to do with it as she does not drink pale ales. She donated it to 10-51, and I humbly accepted.

This beer is proudly brewed in Kauai, Hawaii. If you’re in the area, or planning a vacation, check them out. Its my first Hawaiian beer, and I’m tempted to see what else they have to offer.

This beer is a really good refreshing BBQ beer. It has a slight sweet aroma when poured into a glass, and the slight sweetness transfers over into the drink. On first taste, the beer is not too sharp, but has an initial kick. The hops and barley flavor come through nicely with a layered effect. You get sweet tones initially, then a nice pale kick, but it washes down with a crisp, clean finish. Them islanders sure know how to brew a good summer time brew!

I give it 7 out of 10

Pig Skin IPA

2008-09-15T18:36:00.001-07:00

Look: lighter than honey color, with nice white foamy head

Taste: your typical IPA, without the blitz

Conclusion: With a name like Pig Skin IPA, I was expecting my taste buds to be sacked, or something. They were not. This is a good IPA, full flavor, and a nice balance, but it was nothing spectacular. I guess its good to have a few if the boys are coming over to watch the game and you don’t want to torture them with Buttwiper and light garbage. I guess it’s an IPA a domestic beer drinker could get into, but Im no Buttwiper drinker, so I expected a bit more.
Its still and IPA, but not one of the best. I picked it up because it is football season, and I liked the art on the label. I guess it’s a good starter IPA, if you are not accustomed to the sharp, supper bitterness of most IPAs, as its not as sharp as most.

I give it a 6 out of 10

Hoptown, IPA

2008-09-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

Look: Hazy golden brown with frothy sudsy head

Taste: Mild hops with dry subtle finish

Conclusion: This is another hop filled IPA but it comes across as an amiable friend instead bitch-slapping you with it's bitterness and power.

At around 6% it remains a secure enough with its muscles that it doesn't have to flex them the entire drink. This IPA certainly has the refreshing citrus hops included but the dry-hopping keeps the finish clean and crisp. There's no lingering sweetness. Like a welcome house guest this brew will keep a smile on your face, clean up its own mess, and leave you in a state of tranquility. What's more, you'll want to invite it over again!

This wasn't the flashiest IPA I've had but it was solid and non-offending. A fantastic selection on a hot or warm day. Hit's the spot and doesn't have the heavy sweetness like some of the more powerful IPAs out there.

7 Brews!

Midas Touch

2008-09-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Look: Golden honey color with no head

Taste: Strong honey and melon tones, with grape coming through if gulped.

Conclusion: I have been looking for this beer for over 2 years, and had all but given up my search. Then, one glorious day, I received a phone call from my fellow beer compatriot excitedly telling me he had found THE MIDAS TOUCH! I could not hold in my excitement. I not asked, but politely demanded he get me at lease one bottle. No worries, he had picked up a four pack; and believe me when I tell you that the contents of the worlds oldest recipe for a “brewed beverage” was well worth the wait.

My initial reaction when I poured the beer was not as thrilling as one might think, given my excitement to finally have this fabled beer in my hands. It has a very Belgian aroma to it, save for the over the top citrus aroma. It had a sweet aroma, for sure, but the sweet mixed with a slight yeasty smell. Curious, but not thrilled with the aroma… then my first taste. JOY!!

It is very subtle, and smooth as silk. It is an easy to drink beer… dangerously easy to drink, if you catch my drift. At 9%, you can kick back a few of these, and next thing you know, you cant walk ten paces without leaning on the bar or a person to maintain your balance. It is very refreshing, which I thought strange for a barley wine, which usually are a bit more heavy and not as refreshing, but offer greater depth in flavor. This beer has both depth in flavor and is refreshing. At first drink, the strong honey tones come through, with a melon and papaya accompaniment that cools the tongue. If you want to get a taste of the grape flavor, I recommend you take a nice gulp, as opposed to a sip or drink, and the grape aroma will rise up to your nose. Such a nice trick; like two beers in one.

I am familiar with DogFish brewery, and some of their offerings, but this one is probably my favorite of their brews to date.

I give this golden beer a 9 out of 10.

(for more information on the history of the Midas Touch brew, visit DogFish’s site)

Rogue, Imperial IPA

2008-08-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

Look: Cloudy Orange brown with silky cream head

Taste: Calmly bitter with thick hop notes and citrus edge

Conclusion: Okay, I was expecting the world from this bottle. Yes, it looks cool and has a resealable top but it was $15. That's an investment in brew, if you ask me!

Considering the price this was an above average IPA but certainly not worth $15. The hops are certainly there but they stay considerably mild in flavor and are complimented by spice and citrus flavors that are pretty tasty.

All things considered I would expect my socks to be blown off by a brew with this kind of price tag on it...and my socks stayed on my feet. Hey, at least I get a kickass souvenir. Cool bottle, but wish the IPA inside was as cool as the pricepoint.

7 Brews!

Golden Pheasant

2008-08-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

Look: Nice golden color with light foamy head

Taste: Great barley taste with a slight hop bite during the finish

Conclusion: While my search for the perfect blond continues, I feel I’m getting closer; this is a very solid pilsner. This is an import beer from the Slovak Republic, and my experience with European pilsners is a good one. They know their beers, that’s for sure.

This is an ideal summer beer, as the semi-sweet barley flavor is oh so refreshing, while the slight hop finish gives it a slight change of character and adds boldness. And, at 5% ABV, you can put down a few of these refreshing brews with little hesitation. If this is the result of the pheasant that laid the golden egg, he who kills this bird deserves to burn in hell! This beer is a gift to be enjoyed by all. My only gripe is that, like most pilsners, the flavor washes away a bit too quick for my liking. I don’t know if its by design, or a result of the lightness of the beer, but its noticeable. That is the only thing that cost this beer a few points.

I give it an 8 out of 10

Big Sky Brewing, Moose Drool

2008-08-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

Look: Mud brown with almost no head

Taste: Almost like a pale ale. Roasted barley with a dry finish

Conclusion: Except for the roasted barley edge this is a light ale that's taking a dip in the mud. I closed my eyes and through half of the drink it starts tasting like a light lager with a dry barley finish.

I actually bought a large 22oz bottle at Yellowstone National Park for my father-in-law but it had a Moose Drool bread mix in it instead. I figured I'd give the actual brew a try but I wasn't blown away. It's a small ale that makes the palate really dry. I'd imagine real moose drool would be a bit more wet and slimy....come on guys, we need better texture. Overall, a normal and unexciting taste.

4 Brews!

Hoppy Brewing, Stony Face Red Ale

2008-08-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

Look: Dark translucent brown with a milky tan head

Taste: Sweet, malty, with a mild finish

Conclusion: Is it any surprise this beer was brewed in the California Bay area(San Jose)? No, it isn't. Is this a great drink? Ya, I'd say that. It has a dark complexion but a light body and has the sweet but deep tasting traits that are common in Red Ales.

Not much else to say. Solid tasting Red Ale and you can use the label to roll a joint.

6 Brews!