Pint Log

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Review

2008-09-29T14:51:00.001-05:00

Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery | Beer: Dogtoberfest
Style: Märzen/Oktoberfest ABV: 5.30%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Continuing in the vein of autumnal beers from brewers with the word dog in their name, this time we turn to Flying Dog's Dogtoberfest. Flying Dog was started as a brewpub in 1990 in Aspen by two ranchers, George Stranahan and Richard McIntyre. The brewery is quite proud of its connections to gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Each of their labels is illustrated by none other than the good doctor's legendary illustrator, Ralph Steadman, and marketing materials prominently feature Thompson quotes. Some of their beers are even dedicated to and inspired by the man. As a huge HST fan, I think I might love this brewery already.

Dogtoberfest is a Märzen, or Oktoberfest, style beer. In the days before refrigeration, beer was not brewed during the summer. The last batch, brewed in March (German for March is Märzen), was allowed to slowly ferment over the summer months until late September. Oktoberfest (calling it Septemberfest would have been too obvious) marks the end of the off-season and is fueled by the now ready Märzen. Typically, these beers are malty, copper in color, and have a medium alcohol content.

Appearance: Light copper body with amazing orange highlights and great clarity. The head pours about one and a half fingers high and is a brilliant creamy off-white. Eventually the head settles into a ring around the edge of the glass that leaves only soapy lacing that quickly recedes back onto the surface.

Aroma: Caramel sweetness with a toasted malt body and a slight hint of hops. Somewhat thinner than I would have imagined.

Taste: Balance of sweet toasted malt and floral hop bitterness with the caramel sweetness and some nuttiness in the back. Like the nose, the taste is a lot thinner than I was anticipating. The flavors themselves are nice, although perhaps a little too bitter at times, but the problem is I'm just not getting enough of them.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat watery body with a good amount of carbonation. The aftertaste is pleasantly dry and bitter and certainly more intense than the rest of the beer would lead you to expect.

Drinkability: With the thin body, this beer is quite drinkable, though perhaps a bit boring.

Verdict: While the fundamentals of this beer seem strong (I got this line from John McCain), it's just too thin to really inspire me. If they really cranked up the malt on this beer, closer to what you'd expect in a Märzen, I think this beer would be a real winner. However, with the body as thin as it is this beer is simply an average Oktoberfest offering.

Grade: C

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale Review

2008-09-28T21:59:00.001-05:00

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery | Beer: Punkin Ale
Style: Pumpkin Ale | ABV: 7.00%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Fall is upon us once again, so I thought it was appropriate to review some seasonal offerings here on PintLog. Instead of starting with one of the cornucopia of Oktoberfest themed beers, I figured I'd start with something a little different. Dogfish Head is one my absolute favorite breweries, they put out some of the most interesting beers on the market. Known for what founder Sam Calagione calls "extreme beer," Dogfish puts out a portfolio of decidedly non-traditional, high alcohol content, high quality brews.

The Fall Dogfish Head seasonal in Punkin Ale, the company's take on (believe it or not) Pumpkin Ale. In true Dogfish Head style, the description/ingredient list on the bottle is nothing if not intriguing: "A full bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg." Based on my experiences with other Dogfish Head offerings, I have some pretty high hopes for this beer. The bottle blurb has me practically drooling, so without further adieu (what exactly is adieu, anyway?) let's pour a bottle.

Appearance: Crystal-clear with a brilliant copper orange hue. A somewhat fizzy finger-width head that fades into decent lacing.

Aroma: Just like a freshly baked pumpkin pie - spicy, lots of pumpkin (obviously), and big doses of sweet brown sugar. It smells exactly how you might imagine while reading over the ingredients. Quite appetizing.

Taste: Brown sugar sweetness and pumpkin up front with a nice spicy nutmeg and cinnamon finish. The beer underneath these flavors is somewhat bitter with sweet and bready malt. You can definitely detect that seven percent booze from time to time, but it's certainly not overpowering. Usually, I'm not a big pumpkin fan, but I really love it in this application. It doesn't really taste like a Brown Ale underneath, more like a malty Pale Ale.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and velvety with a good amount of carbonation. It finishes nicely with the slick feeling you get with higher ABV beers.

Drinkability: Despite the somewhat nontraditional flavor combination and moderately high alcohol content, I'd be more than happy to sit and throw back a four-pack of this over a Fall evening. One of the more sessionable Dogfish Head creations I've tried (for example, it would take quite long night for me to finish a pack of Raison D'Etre).

Verdict: While Pumpkin Ales are nothing new, I knew when I saw the neon orange pack adorned with the shark icon sitting on the shelf, I'd be in for something special. Punkin did not disappoint. Without a doubt, this is the best Pumpkin themed beer I've ever tasted. As I've come to expect from Dogfish, this beer is lavish, complex, and above all, unique. These are the kinds of beers that leave such an indelible impression on me that I can almost summon their taste just by thinking about them. Brilliant.

Grade: A

Mississippi Mud Black & Tan Review

2008-09-27T19:48:00.002-05:00

Brewery: Mississippi Brewing Company | Beer: Mississippi Mud Black & Tan
Style: Black & Tan | ABV: 5.00%
Serving Method: 32 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Typically, when one thinks of a Black & Tan, visions of menacing Dry Irish Stout floating atop golden English Pale Ale come to mind. However, according to the bottle, this brew is a mix of "a robust English Porter with a fine Continental Pilsner." Still, the idea of being able to enjoy a good Black & Tan at home without all of the bent spoons and alchemy is attractive to those that either haven't learned the art or just can't be bothered. (Tip: buy one of those "turtles" they sell at good liquor stores, it couldn't be easier . I'm pretty sure even my English Bulldog could make a decent B&T using one, and she's nearly blind in one eye).

The first thing I think most people notice about this beer is it's signature bottle, featuring a particularly wicked looking gator. Designed to look like an old-timey jug (one you could imagine in, say, Mississippi perhaps), it sure stands out on the shelf. I've always been a big fan of traditional Black & Tans, so I approach this beer with healthy skepticism tempered with a good amount of optimism. By the way, Mississippi Mud is brewed by Mississippi Brewing Brewing Company, of... New York. Uh-oh.

Appearance: Mahogany with ruby highlights and a clear body, this beer doesn't really look much like mud. Pours a pleasant off-white creamy head that slowly settles into a creamy skin and then mild lacing.

Aroma: Medium malt with some of the coffee and chocolate notes you'd expect from something that's half Porter combined with hints of sweet, slightly hoppy lager - not much more here.

Taste: Watered down medium roasted malt body with a bit of dark fruit and the tang of cheap hops. It finishes with hints of weird metallic tones (think Shiner Bock). This doesn't resemble the real deal at all, it's closer to a shitty, watery macro attempt at a Stout, Porter or Dark Lager.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is certainly nowhere near mud - fizzy, thin and watery.

Drinkability: Easy enough to drink I suppose, but really, what's the point? I don't even really want to drink the rest of this glass, let alone the two 32 ouncers in the fridge I secured for testing purposes. (Fear not, dear reader, I eventually did finish all 96 oz. for you).

Verdict: Watery and thin, with the lackluster taste to match, the brewery has some stones to call this "Mississippi Mud," it's closer to St. Louis runoff. I'm assuming that the "Continental Lager" mentioned on the bottle is clever code for a typical American macro-lager. And it certainly does taste like a middle-of-the-road, bland, Porter mixed with swill and given a fancy name. While I certainly did not expect this to be as good as a real B&T, I had at least hoped it would be a somewhat decent analog. But alas, this beer lets down it's awesome bottle, name and premise. All marketing, no beer.

Grade: D

Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock Review

2008-08-31T19:40:00.008-05:00

Brewery: Boston Brewing Company | Beer: LongShot Weizenbock
Style: Weizenbock | ABV: 7.20%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Each year the Boston Brewing Company (makers of Sam Adams beers) puts on a homebrew contest and releases the best employee and public entry in a nationally distributed six-pack. Two weeks ago, I reviewed one half of the 2007 Samuel Adams LongShot offerings, LongShot Grape Pale Ale. You can read a bit more about the contest in that review.

This week, we turn to the 2007 winner in the public category, Rodney Kibzey's Weizenbock. Weizenbock is a top-fermenting, unfiltered wheat beer with a strength closer to that of Bock (hence the name). The profile is typically that of dark fruit, spices, bready wheat, and darker malts. According to the bottle, Rodney himself describes this particular beer as "deep amber in color with a full creamy body and a dark fruit and clove aroma." I'm sold, let's try some.

Appearance: Murky brown body with amber highlights and a healthy and creamy ivory head that settles nicely with good retention

Aroma: Sweet bananas and herbal cloves over a nutty and earthy malt base

Taste: Similar to the aroma, banana, dark fruit, and cloves dominate here. However, the nuttiness and roasty malt come out more in the taste than in the nose. Pleasantly, that 7.2% booze comes through every now and then in the back

Mouthfeel: Creamy with medium to high carbonation for good contrast

Drinkability: Even with a somewhat high ABV and its strong flavors, I could easily throw one or two of these into a session

Verdict: Complex and unique, Rodney has really brewed up something special here. I guess with these contest winning brews, the real test is whether people would actually buy them again. Well, I can confidently say that if this was a regular or seasonal offering, I'd happily pick up a six-pack or two a year. After trying this year's winners, I can't wait for next year's!

Grade: A

Saint Arnold Healthier Than Ever

2008-08-20T13:58:00.012-05:00

My "local" brewery and Texas' oldest craft brewer, Saint Arnold, reached a major milestone in the first half of this year. Through the end of June production exceeded 10,000 barrels, (obviously) putting the company on track to produce over 20,000 barrels this year. It seems that this year, by far, will be the biggest in the company's 14 year history.

The production figures so far this year mark a 29% increase over the same point last year. 29%. In fact, the amount of beer these guys have already cranked out in 2008 is roughly equal to their entire output for 2005. For comparison, the Brewer's Association reports that the craft-brew market as a whole is grew at a steady 6.5% over the first half of the year, 22.5% less the Houston brewer. And all of this in a year of great economic slowdown and increasing prices due to the cost of inputs and transportation.

However, this isn't a sudden jump for Saint Arnold, looking back over the company's growth figures for the past 5 years or so, they consistently grow between 20-30% each year. It's not hard to see why either, Saint Arnold has a wonderful portfolio of beer and brilliant marketing. Next year, Saint Arnold is moving out of their current, somewhat cramped, location to a new (historic) location. This will allow them to double brewing capacity, and hopefully give the devoted masses that make the pilgrimage each Saturday for the "tour" a little more room to stretch out.

Check out the Saint Arnold offerings I've reviewed here on PintLog so far: Winter Stout, Fancy Lawnmower and Spring Bock. Want a different Saint Arnold beer reviewed? Ask for it in the comment section!

Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale Review

2008-08-18T00:19:00.003-05:00

Brewery: Boston Brewing Company | Beer: LongShot Grape Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale | ABV: 5.35%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

The Boston Brewing Company, being one of the biggest success stories in craft brewing, takes the art of brewing pretty seriously. A big part of their brand image is the attitude that the company really cares about everyone out there making great beer, including homebrewers. To back this spirit up, every year the company holds a homebrew contest for their employees and the public, with two winners (one from each group) having their concoctions distributed across the country. Click here to watch a cool video the company put together about The American Homebrew Contest.

This review is about the 2007 winner from the employee category, Lili Hess' Grape Pale Ale. The bottle advertises this as an "ale brewed with natural grape flavor and maple syrup added." Well, you certainly have to give Lili points for originality here. In her own words, "It's like you are drinking a pale ale after biting into a fresh green seedless grape." Sounds fun.

Appearance: Rich amber color with a decent off-white head that leaves quite a good amount of lacing

Aroma: Almost smells like a malty apple cider, there's some real brown sugar sweetness lurking here

Taste: A lot more malty than I had expected, it's sweet with some nice tart crispness to balance it all out. I'm getting some fruit, but I can't decide if it's grapes that are coming through though (is it green apples I'm tasting?)

Mouthfeel: Well balanced carbonation with a decidedly light body

Drinkability: Goes down nice and easy, this is a beer in the middle of the spectrum

Verdict: A well balanced malty Pale Ale with a unique twist of sweet fruit. I really love Boston Brewing for putting on this contest, it's a great public service to the world of homebrewing and beer in general. Quite a unusual little beer, Lili Hess' Grape Pale Ale is a worthy winning recipe, athough I bet not everyone would agree with me...

Grade: B

Shiner Hefeweizen Review

2008-05-12T20:27:00.008-05:00

Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery | Beer: Shiner Hefeweizen
Style: Hefeweizen | ABV: 5.60%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

The first thing I ever noticed about this beer, back when I was first starting to appreciate great beer, was the bizarre graphic of two men sharing the same head (or is it just one man?). Turn the graphic one way and its a wistful chap reminiscent of Phil Collins in a dirty suit after being dumped. Turn it the other way and he’s happy, but looks much less like Phil Collins. The sad chap is pouring a bottle of beer upwards to the happy one. I guess that’s why he’s sad; not because he was dumped but because gravity stopped working right and stole his beer.

I absolutely loved it, I had to have this beer! True, buying a beer based sheerly on it’s labeling is not a smart move; I’ve learned that the hard way. Luckily for me (and Shiner) this time I was not disappointed, I’ve been a big fan ever since. A few years back, Shiner changed the label design to a different interpretation of the one-headed-men concept, this time more stippled with the happy guy wearing a polo shirt.

While visiting my local supermarket a couple weeks back, I noticed a new Shiner design. Once I reached the six-pack my heart sunk as I realized that it was Hefeweizen and the weird little graphic was gone for good. The new design is very bold and colorful and really fits the flavor profile of the beer. But all of this is about a label, who cares, the important stuff is inside.

Shiner Hefeweizen is brewed in the Bavarian wheat beer style that is Hefeweizen. The beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized and brewed with Texas clover honey, and both lemon and orange peels. This makes the beer very unique, especially when compared to the other offerings I can find at local gas stations. Hefeweizen has earned many awards, including a gold medal at the 2002 World Beer Cup for specialty honey lager or ale.

Appearance: Pleasantly cloudy straw to pale orange body with a decent off-white dimpled head that dissipates rather quickly leaving a decent amount of lacing (Note: The sunset light in the above picture makes the beer appear more yellow that it appears in normal light)

Aroma: Sour citrus dominates, with some faint sweetness on top of a subtlety hoppy and grainy body

Taste: Very crisp and tart with huge citrus notes (that linger well into the aftertaste) with slight hints of the added honey - the hops and wheat are very much in the background here

Mouthfeel: Fizzy and a bit thin, but that’s what you are looking for in a summer’s day thirst quencher like this

Drinkability: This a great beer for Texas summers: goes down easy, refreshes and has a moderate ABV so you can keep drinking all afternoon

Verdict: Sour citrus flavors absolutely dominate this beer, so if you aren’t a fan of those flavors you probably aren’t going to like Shiner Hefeweizen much. If you happen to like sour citrus flavors though, you’re going to find a great refreshing beer that is quite affordable (depending on where you live). I’ve always have a fondness for this beer, and although I will always miss the creepy guy(s) on the label, the beer still doesn’t disappoint me.

Grade: A

Shiner Bock Review

2008-05-12T20:16:00.006-05:00

Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery | Beer: Shiner Bock
Style: Bock | ABV: 4.40%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

The Spoetzl brewery was founded in 1909 in the town of Shiner, Texas by German immigrants looking to recreate the beers they were used to at home. The brewery is named after the second brewmaster and long time owner Kosmos Spoetzl. Today, Shiner brews up a healthy portfolio (reviews of all Shiner beers to follow) with Shiner Bock as the flagship product. We learned about the Bock style a few posts back in the review of Saint Arnold Spring Bock. We also learned that there is some contention as to what classification this beer even belongs to. But while this may in reality be an American Dark Lager, for now we’ll go with the brewer and call it a Bock.

Full disclosure: I drink a lot of this beer. Living in the Houston area, Shiner Bock is my faithful stand-by. I don’t always have the luxury of buying my beer from a specialty shop, or even high-end grocer. In fact, I end up having to buy a lot of beer from *gasp* gas stations. This is where Shiner (people mostly refer to Shiner Bock as simply “Shiner”) comes in. In an endless sea of macro lights, Shiner is the only decent beer to be found in many grocery stores, gas stations and skeezy bars in the area. Funnily enough, at many restaurants in the area, it’s even featured on the “import” list. Oh, Texas.

Appearance: Clear medium brown body with white head that fizzes out quickly, leaving moderate lacing

Aroma: Medium roasted malt body with vague hints of hops in the background

Taste: Roasted malt and caramel notes with a little booze and that famous metallic curve-ball at the end - nice caramel aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Quite dry and clean with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I can personally assure you, Shiner can be drunk in large quantities over the course of a night

Verdict: This is certainly not the greatest beer in the world, nor the greatest Bock. Hell, as we saw in that Saint Arnold Spring Bock review, it might not even be a Bock. But still, I have a very warm place in my heart for Shiner Bock. It rescues me time and time again out in here the outback of American beer culture.

Just last weekend, I was attending a wedding, dreading choosing between choosing either tea or Bud Light after Bud Light. Then, out of nowhere my spirits lift when I hear the golden words: “They have a keg of Shiner.” I’m proud to say at my upcoming wedding, we will be having a keg of Shiner, too. Though, to be fair I’ll also have a secret stash of some higher-end beers. I guess that’s about the most perfect metaphor for this beer I could have come up with.

Grade: B-

I’m sure you have your own regional beers, that while not exactly world-class, seem to keep ending up in your hand weekend after weekend. Leave a comment and let me know.

Anchor Steam Review

2008-04-25T13:05:00.007-05:00

Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co. | Beer: Anchor Steam
Style: Steam/California Common | ABV: 4.90%
Serving Method: 22 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

It doesn’t take much digging into the history of the craft-brewing movement to run into Fritz Maytag and his Anchor Brewing Company. In 1965, Maytag rescued the failing sixty-nine year old Steam Beer Brewing Company. While he had no prior experience in the brewing world, through sheer drive and determination Fritz was able to turn the brewery around, in the process renaming it after its most popular beer.

Rather than chase the mega-brewers, Anchor decided to position itself as a traditional brewery using traditional ingredients to court the more discriminating beer drinkers that pined for authenticity. Fritz Maytag was a true pioneer in the craft-brewing world, helping to start a revolution we can all be thankful for.

The flagship Anchor brew is Anchor Steam, which happens to be the quintessential Steam beer. Steam beer dates back to the mid-1800s, when settlers in California improvised a way of brewing beer with lager yeasts at warmer ale temperatures. The style we now know as Steam beer is really California Common beer. Anchor Steam typifies the style and as it evolved from traditional Steam beer the California Common style came into being.

Appearance: Clear orange/amber body with a huge and off-white craggy head that leaves decent lacing

Aroma: Caramel and toasted malt ride atop more subtle hops and lemon notes

Taste: Quite bitter up front with rich toasted malt, caramel, banana, and citrus right behind - this is a full-bodied beer

Mouthfeel: Smooth with a good amount of carbonation, leaves a nice grain-like aftertaste

Drinkability: While you can’t doubt the boldness of this beer, it’s still wonderfully sessionable

Verdict: This beer easily earns its status as an absolute legend by being both crucial to the revival of American beer and downright delicious. We owe this beer a lot, buy some and enjoy a few pints of your history.

Grade: A

Saint Arnold Spring Bock Review

2008-04-10T16:09:00.010-05:00

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Beer: Spring Bock
Style: Bock | ABV: 6.40%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

After a couple of diversions, we return to a beer from the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. My initial plan was to review around five of Saint Arnold's offerings in a row to give a nice (uninterrupted) profile of the brewery. Well, life has a funny way of getting in the way sometimes, but we're back on track (for now).

Next up, we have another of the brewery's seasonal offerings, Spring Bock. Compared to its fellow bottom-fermenters, the bock style of lager is strong and requires a few more weeks of lagering (cold storage). It originated in medieval Germany as a beer to celebrate Spring and mark the end of the brewing season. In German, bock means billy-goat, explaining why so many bock labels (although not this particular one) prominently feature goats.

Saint Arnold introduced Spring Bock in 1998 as the company's second foray into the world of lager. The beer is brewed with five kinds of malt (no adjuncts) and won a silver medal in its class at the 1998 World Beer Cup. In their description of the beer, Saint Arnold delivers a pretty overt dig at their rivals down the road in Shiner:

"By law in Germany, to call a beer a bock it must be brewed to a high starting gravity and thus to a high alcohol content. Our beer follows these guidelines. There are many beers in the United States that use the term "bock" for their beers which aren't really bocks. They may be perfectly good beers, but they're not bocks. They are just dark colored light bodied American lagers."

Ouch. They do have a point though, Shiner Bock weighs in at a paltry 4.4% ABV, while Spring Bock has a decisive advantage at 6.4% ABV. Let's see if the beer lives up to the smack-talk.

Appearance: Clear copper body with a decent creamy head that dissipates quickly

Aroma: Nice balance of malt and hops with just a tinge of booze

Taste: Roasted malt and citrusy hops dominate weaker tones of dark fruit, grains and nuts with the alcohol slipping in right at the end

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth with a good amount of carbonation

Drinkability: Goes down smoothly with a nice bitter aftertaste, I could easily drink a few of these despite the alcohol content

Verdict: Spring Bock is a well-balanced dark lager with rich malt and crisp citrus hiding above-average potency. With this beer Saint Arnold is really forcing me to rethink my standards for a good bock, and I love them for it.

Grade: A-

Redhook ESB Review

2008-04-03T00:02:00.004-05:00

Brewery: Redhook Ale Brewery | Beer: ESB
Style: Extra Strong/Special Bitter | ABV: 5.77%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Redhook Ale Brewery is a 360,000 barrel per year operation with breweries on both coasts. It was founded in 1981 by Paul Shipman and Gordon Bowker and is therefore one of the oldest brands in the American craft-brew scene. Anheuser-Busch (gasp!) now owns a minority share of the company, allowing for a proper distribution network. Let's hope that's all they're contributing to the company.

This extra strong (or "special," depending on your location) bitter, titled simply ESB, is their 20+ year old flagship brew. Redhook has been implementing some new marketing tactics, and this beer was not spared the designer's brush. The new label is quite a departure from the thoroughly "80's West-coast craft-brew" number it replaced. What really matters though, is what exactly is inside the snazzy new exterior. (Hint: it's beer)

Appearance: Somewhat cloudy orange/amber body with thin fizzy head and nice effervescence

Aroma: Floral hops over caramel malt with notes of crisp citrus and green apple

Taste: Bitter floral hops dominate over caramel malt, citrus, tea, and spices

Mouthfeel: Coats well with good carbonation

Drinkability: Easily drinkable and refreshing

Verdict: Redhook ESB is a very drinkable and complex bitter ale. Don't be spooked by the new packaging, this beer is still a world-class icon. I can see enjoying a few rounds of this in a beer garden during a sunny Saturday afternoon or in a pub with some mates on a Saturday night. I guess the takeaway here is that this is a great beer for Saturdays.

Grade: B

Breckenridge Avalanche Ale Review

2008-03-19T13:34:00.003-05:00

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery | Beer: Avalanche Ale
Style: American Amber Ale | ABV: 5.41%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Breckenridge Brewery is a small outfit founded in 1990 by Richard Squire in (surprise) Breckenridge, Colorado. A bottling operation followed in 1996 and today churns out 30,000 barrels a year. I picked up a six-pack of their flagship brew based on its slick packaging and Colorado origin expecting another complex amber ale from the Centennial State.

Appearance: Clear amber color (as you would expect) with ruby tones and a thin head that evaporates quickly

Aroma: Grainy light malt with toffee, caramel and citrus undertones

Taste: Very thin and watery, grainy and somewhat malty with a non-hoppy bitterness

Mouthfeel: Flat, thin and watery

Drinkability: I probably wouldn’t be ordering another one of these

Verdict: Pretty weak stuff. It almost seems like a fake craft-brew, I keep looking for a hidden Anheuser-Busch logo somewhere. Bland, flat, and rather soulless, Breckenridge Avalanche is forgettable in every sense.

Grade: D

Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Review

2008-02-29T13:03:00.003-06:00

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Beer: Fancy Lawnmower
Style: Kölsch | ABV: 4.90%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

This is the second Saint Arnold offering in a series featuring my local microbrewery. Buying local beer both greatly reduces the carbon footprint of your pint and puts your dollar in the pocket of a local company. For the next beer I decided to jump to the opposite end of the spectrum. The Lovibond spectrum that is, har har.

Launched in 2000, Fancy Lawnmower quickly became one of Saint Arnold's signature beers. The beer is an award-winning Kölsch, having racked up one gold and two bronze medals in the Great American Beer Festival. The ingredient list reads pale malted barley, pale wheat, German Hallertauer hops and a type of top fermenting ale yeast that happens to ferment at lager temperatures. I have to admit, even though this beer is a Houston icon, I've never tried it. Let's see how it stands up.

Appearance: Golden, cloudy and effervescent with a thin head that dissipates quickly

Aroma: Floral and bitter, almost reminds me of sparkling apple cider

Taste: Crisp and bitter with citrus hints

Mouthfeel: Not as fizzy as its appearance led me to believe, cuts nicely

Drinkability: Somewhat bitter, but would be perfect for a hot Texas afternoon

Verdict: While Kölsch is not one of the styles of beer I usually reach for, this is certainly a beer I can enjoy. If I was outside in the heat at a ballgame, this would be an almost perfect choice.

Grade: B-

Saint Arnold Winter Stout Review

2008-02-28T15:31:00.003-06:00

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Beer: Winter Stout
Style: American Stout | ABV: 5.60%
Serving Method: 12 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

Reading Fermenting Revolution by Christopher O'Brien (book review to follow) really drove home how beneficial to the environment drinking local beer can be. With this in mind I decided to review some beers from my local Houston area.

Unfortunately, there aren't the number of craft-brewed offerings flowing from the Bayou City one would hope for. But fear not fellow Houstonians, I've sourced some great beers from a magnificent craft-brewer located right here in Houston, Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

Founded in 1994, Saint Arnold is the oldest microbrewery in the city. In neat a coincidence with my decision to pick this brewer, the company is run with sustainability in mind and even has a six-pack holder recycling program. Their lineup is made up of five regulars and five seasonal brews. The beer I've chosen to showcase here is one of those seasonal specials, their Winter Stout.

Launched in 1997, Winter Stout is the second winter seasonal from Saint Arnold, accompanying their Christmas Ale. The beer has been quite popular amongst SA customers and has even won a silver medal for sweet stout in the 2000 Great American Beer Festival. Using a blend of four kinds of malted barley and two varieties of hop, this beer should have some serious complexity and body.

Appearance: Pours a very dark red-brown (almost black) body with a healthy butterscotch head that settles into a small and almost Guinness-like cream

Aroma: Sweet and malty, almost reminds me of soured Guinness (and not in a bad way)

Taste: Absolutely bursting with flavor! Rich roasted malt body with definite dark chocolate, coffee and caramel notes

Mouthfeel: Feels cold, coats well and is not too fizzy

Drinkability: Initially it seems quite rich, but after a few sips it's a very sessionable beer (providing you like stouts)

Verdict: This a truly a brilliant example of an American Stout with the added bonus of being local. I really wish Saint Arnold would brew this year-round, but they say the demand is not there. What a shame. Looks like I'm going to have to find a case to stash for the summer.

Grade: A

Producers of Samuel Adams to Share Hops With Craft-Brewers in Need

2008-02-25T13:00:00.000-06:00

Over the past few months, the ongoing worldwide hop shortage has affected all brewers, with craft-brewers feeling more of a crunch than the macros. To help ease the pain of its peers in the craft-brew world, Boston Beer Company (makers of Samuel Adams beers) has started a hop sharing program.

Up for grabs are 20,000 pounds of premium hops, half East Kent Goldings grown by Tony Redsell and half German Noble Tettnang Tettnangers from various German growers. This is no quick grab for easy cash from the hard-up brewers without good reserves, BBC will be selling these items at their cost. That's right, they are passing these hops on to those brewers that truly need them just because it's the right thing to do.

I think this program illustrates some of the underlying principles of the craft-brew mindset: brotherhood, sharing for the greater-good and the golden rule. BBC is probably the largest craft-brewer in America and they're showing they still care about great beer and those who brew it, not just their bottom line. Kudos.

Get more details from Boston Brewing Company's site

Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout Review

2008-02-17T18:41:00.003-06:00

Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Co. | Beer: Cappuccino Stout
Style: American Stout | ABV: 7.99%
Serving Method: 1 Pint, 6 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

I picked this bottle up a while ago and it has been languishing in my beer fridge ever since (as you can tell by the discoloration on the label). Coffee, stouts and dogs all rate quite high on my "favorite things" list, so I'm hoping this beer lives up to my expectations.

Appearance: Dark almost impenetrable red-black body with a tall, brown and fizzy head that settles quickly

Aroma: Nutty, hoppy, sweet, tones of roasted malt and a slight hint of coffee at the end

Taste: Surprisingly bitter with roasted malt and hints of coffee, you can certainly detect that 7.99% ABV lurking beneath

Mouthfeel: Velvety and smooth with mild carbonation

Drinkability: The pint goes down slowly and smoothly, but I might just leave it at one (especially with the alcohol content)

Verdict: I didn't pick up the coffee I was hoping to, but this is a fine bitter stout. A good beer to throw into the rotation every now and then, but not something I'd buy regularly.

Grade: C+

Young's Double Chocolate Stout Review

2008-02-15T15:51:00.003-06:00

Brewery: Young & Co's Brewery PLC | Beer: Young's Double Chocolate Stout
Style: Milk/Sweet Stout | ABV: 5.20%
Serving Method: 1 Pint, 0.9 oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

My dad has always been a fan of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, so I’ve been familiar with it for quite a while now. Back when I was in college, I bought a four pack of this beer and promptly drank the first three, keeping the fourth because I'm a notorious beer hoarder (just ask my fiancee) While in my fridge, the can caused quite a stir at parties. I'd say a third of the people found the concept of “chocolate beer” disgusting, but the rest all found it intriguing. I can see why, chocolate and beer are two of the greatest things in this world, so think how great they could be combined!

For Valentine’s Day, my fiancee bought me a few pints of this, some new pint glasses and the tripod used in the picture above. Thanks Jamie!

Appearance: Impenetrable black body with thick, caramel brown head that lingers

Aroma: Has the creamy, sweet and malty aroma common to stouts with toffee and chocolate tones

Taste: Roasted malty body with coffee, toffee and (of course) chocolate, somewhat bitter hoppy aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Thick, smooth and creamy with a rich finish

Drinkability: If you like stouts, you can easily drink this for a session, even if it is slightly heavy

Verdict: A brilliant and interesting and a great alternative to my usual stout. Out of the bottle it's not as creamy as the nitro-can version, but still great. Take a trip away from the normal, you'll find it's well worth it.

Grade: A

Firestone Walker Releases Union Jack IPA

2008-02-10T13:59:00.001-06:00

Friday, Firestone Walker announced their first India Pale Ale, Union Jack IPA. The beer is available on tap and in bottles in California and Nevada now and clocks in at 7.5% ABV, 72 IBUs and 10 Lovibond units. The brewery describes Union Jack as "citrus, pineapple, and a full chewy malt profile finish clean on your palate."

The India Pale Ale style originated during the 1700s when British brewers learned that adding large amounts of hops helped protect beer on its long journey to far away colonies. Union Jack has been double dry hopped and fermented in the brewery's oak barrel brewing system, imparting a unique character and body.

Visit Firestone Walker

Newcastle Brown Ale Review

2008-02-09T17:11:00.003-06:00

Brewery: Newcastle Breweries Ltd. | Beer: Newcastle Brown Ale
Style: English Brown Ale | ABV: 4.70%
Serving Method: 12oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

One of the world's classic beers and the standard Brown Ale, Newcastle has been brewed in England since 1927. Known in it's home town as "Dog" (as in "I have to see a man about a dog"), this beer is an absolute icon and I've been a huge fan since I started drinking beer.

Appearance: Medium to dark brown, clear with an almost non-existent fizzy head (tips for pouring a proper head with this beer, anyone?)

Aroma: Nutty and malty with a definite sweet hint

Taste: Deep body, medium malt character with no bitterness

Mouthfeel: Fizzy and crisp, nice aftertaste

Drinkability: Easy to drink and a perfect match with the traditional beer pairing: pizza

Verdict: Certainly no where near as good as from a tap, but still a great session beer from the bottle. If you're looking for something a little darker, this is a beer with a real bite you can drink all night long. Good dog.

Grade: A-

Austin Amber Ale Review

2008-02-05T17:31:00.004-06:00

Brewery: Independence Brewing Co. | Beer: Austin Amber Ale
Style: American Amber Ale | ABV: 4.90%
Serving Method: 12oz. Bottle poured into pint glass

This is Independence Brewing Co.'s flagship beer: an amber ale that draws heavily on the company's Austin appeal. The label design is brilliant, basing itself on the city's famous Greetings From Austin mural on South First Street. I've seen Independence's offerings increasingly in my local shops over the last year and I could resist this beer (or is it the label?) no longer.

Or maybe I nicked a six-pack from the brewery owner at my dad's 50th birthday party a few months ago and I'm just getting around to trying it out. It's a mystery. I love both amber ales and Austin, so expectations are somewhat high for this beer.

Appearance: Huge foamy head on top of a thick golden-brown body

Aroma: Citrusy and malty with hints of light hops

Taste: Very much an amber ale with a malty taste with subtle hop undertone

Mouthfeel: Moderately fizzy and sharp with a clean finish

Drinkability: Very easy to drink, I can see drinking this beer outside throughout a long Summer's day

Verdict: Not a bad attempt. It's surely no Fat Tire, but a very tasty and drinkable amber ale none-the-less. I'm delighted that both this company and this beer hold up to the lofty expectations its brilliant design ignited in me.

Grade: B+

Genesis and Blueprint

2008-02-05T16:37:00.001-06:00

It is my opinion that too much can never be written about beer. So, with that in mind, I have set out on this quest to document my journey through the beer world. This blog will serve as a place for me to post reviews of all the beers I try along with any other thoughts I have relating to the world of beer.

The review format will be simple and consistent: an image depicting the beer and its bottle, some basic data about the beer, a blurb about the brewery and beer, comments on the beer's appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and drinkability, and after all of that an overall grade and review. If this sounds familiar, it should. Almost every other website containing beer reviews uses the same elements. And for good reason, they're the best elements to review a beer with.

It's worth noting that I am far from an expert. Sure, I've tried a lot of different beers, I've read a lot of beer books, I light my house with beer neons and I've even bought some brewing equipment. But, when it comes to high-end beer analysis, I'm the first to point out I don't really know what I'm talking about. Yet.

Anyway, enough of all that, on with the beer!