Ymm, Beer!

[devildeac]

The Unnamable-Narragansett Beer/Brewing Company

I guess I'd heard of these folks but I'm not really sure. Here's a bit of their history:


"Narragansett Beer is New England’s oldest beer, founded in 1890. It was the #1 beer New England from the 1890’s through the 1970’s and the official beer of the Red Sox for over 30 years. It’s now the 37th largest brewing company in America and the fastest growing in the Northeast."

They've got quite an assortment of brews:

http://www.narragansettbeer.com/beers

Here was last night's 16 ounce nightcap from my February beer club 4 pack:

From their Lovecraft series, this black lager tasted waaaaay more like a black IPA. Pour was a dark brown with a generous, creamy tan head. Smelled like burned wood with tastes of the same (but not in an unpleasant manner ) along with coffee, chocolate and carmelized, dark brown sugar. They list these grains: Chocolate Rye, Cara Red, Carafa Special 1 and Pilsner malts. No hops named but this brew rolls in at 76 IBUs and 7.5% ABV, both sitting on the IPA/IIPA chalkboard. I wouldn't have thought of dropping $2 on this single can but was happy to have it included and would consider selecting some of their other offerings. A beef brisket or some other grilled bovine products would be glad to accompany this dark liquid next to some BBQ mac 'n cheese and some green beans.

[devildeac]

From 7/27/14:

House of Clay-Raleigh Brewing Company

Very nice write-up of this rye IPA from the brewers, including stats, description, naming of the brew and history of the style:

http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/wp-...ouseofClay.pdf

My musings:

Bomber divided over two nights as another beer thought to be too harsh for my wife's cousin's taste buds. Poured a hazy orange-amber with a moderate light tan head. Pretty much all you'd expect from the style with some mango and papaya, a bit of caramel with the rye imparting the usual mustiness. The use of cane sugar in an IPA is an interesting twist, too. IBUs of 68 and ABV at 7.2% usher this properly into the category. The rye makes the tastes a bit unusual but would be another good beverage to share with friends at a grilling session in the fall at Devils' Alley.

From tonight:

House of Clay-Raleigh Brewing

I swear I reviewed this recently but can't find it so I'll keep it simple. Date on can stolen from older son-in-law 6/6/16. Poured into pint glass with 1 ounce of ale and 5 inches of foam. Conclusion: spoiled beer.

[devildeac]

Collaboration Without Representation-Deep River Brewing Company and Bottle Revolution

Well, I'm not sure how much input/labor the bottle shop folks had here, hence the name .

I managed to procure half a 4 pack of 16 ounce cans after the Bottle Rev lottery failed to sell their allotment and promised me 4 but only 2 remained when I went to purchase. I was minimally upset as these suckers were almost $7 for the pint cans, including tax. This might be the 3rd or 4th year of their issue.

Enough jibber-jabber and on with the review.

Pour was a somewhat thin, darn near black hue with a wisp of a head. It's an imperial milk stout aged in bourbon barrels on cocoa nibs, so the expected dark, dark chocolate and molasses aromas were received first. Mouthfeel was very silky/smooth and oily, but not thick and viscous. There's a bit of coffee but semi-sweet chocolate and dark caramel dominate the tastes. There's a very warm, boozy/bourbon-y finish as this high gravity concoction hits the scale at 12.8% ABV. IBU not stated but estimated at 50. I think it took me an hour to sip this monster after the Duke-cheaters game last PM. As I've posted a few times before about beers like this, skip the baked items as this is decadent liquid dessert. Although if someone wanted to leave a small plate of chocolate, chocolate chip/chunk cookies on the table one night, I could probably be convinced to nibble on 1 or 2 as I sipped this bad boy.

[devildeac]

Batch 200-Land Grant Brewing Company

Brewed to celebrate their 2 year anniversary, this imperial stout will warm your winter's night. Pour was a dark brown, somewhat thin-bodied brew into a pint glass. Small, tan head with aromas of coffee and baker's cocoa. Tastes were the same with some dark, roasted coconut and a hint of orange rind, likely from the somewhat surprising use of wheat in the grain bill. IBUs were 60 and the ABV was 8.5%, both in the ball park for the style. I'd have some Oreo or Turtle cheesecake with this for dessert. I've got 3 left from my 4 pack trader with our son last month, so, if anyone's interested...

Here's the ingredient list:

HOPS: COLUMBUS, HALLERTAU
MALTS: 2 ROW, CARAMEL 120, MUNICH,CARAMEL RYE, CARACRYSTAL WHEAT, CHOCOLATE WHEAT, AROMATIC, SPECIAL ROAST, ROASTED BARLEY

[devildeac]

From Sunday/Monday nights, about a half a snifter each evening:

Bourbon Barrel Quad 2016 (best by 9/8/18 on bottle)-Boulevard Brewing Company

Now available as 4 packs of 12 ounce bottles (maybe $15 after my buck off Total Wine coupon last month), a much more consumer/price friendly way to sell beer.

Same bouquet from my Alewerks snifter with very similar tastes so if doesn't appear they altered the "formula" too much, especially considering the IBUs and the ABV are identical. Truly outstanding product at a much better price than the $16-18 I recall seeing on the 750 ml format. Plus, I don't have to share my small bottles (-kidding-I've got 3 left and intend to save 1 for a year and share/trade the others most likely)

[devildeac]

From 8/29/16:

Dire Wolf (draft)-Wolf's Ridge Brewing

Their "base" imperial stout (you'll read why with reviews 2 and 3 ). Black as night, viscous as Valvoline, dark chocolate-y as Ghiradelli with a splash of espresso. I'll guess 60 IBUs with an ABV of 10.4%

From tonight:

Dire Wolf-Wolf's Ridge Brewing

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle out of a 4 pack into a Founder's snifter. Ahh, wonderful memories. Seductive nose of baker's chocolate, toffee and dark roast coffee. Viscous pour with a smooth and silky, yet chewy mouthfeel. The chocolate is semi-sweet with molasses and dark caramel with a mildly bitter coffee finish. Moderately boozey with the same ABV as the draft from last summer and I'll wager the same IBU range. I might have a slice of Mrs. dd's nearly famous and freshly baked pumpkin bread with pee-cans and dark chocolate morsels with the second half of my snifter...

[devildeac]

Frootwood (draft)-Founders Brewing Company

Nicely done, fuse.

I compared it to Manhattan or Old Fashioned cocktails when I had my $4 half pint at Bottle Revolution Friday afternoon shortly after the office closed. Mild bourbon notes, more cherry soda notes and little maple presence. I guess if I saw a 4 pack at Total Wine for $13-14 with a buck off coupon, I'd buy it and have a bottle or two myself to "compare" with the draft version and gift/trade the others.

Reading what others taste=yet another benefit to this thread.

[devildeac]

From 3/16/16:

Ninjabread Man-Asheville Brewing Company

Second serving tonight from a bomber ricks68 saved for me that I escorted out of town on Saturday for about $12. Poured an opaque brown with a modest tan head and aromas of ginger and chocolate and tantalizing tastes of ginger (d'oh!) and other cookie spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Raisins are listed on their website but I'm not sure I get that taste with all the other flavors bursting from this brew. No chocolate is listed but baker's cocoa sure stands forefront, too. I'm thinking IBUs in the 20s and the ABV is listed at 5.6%. I was going to head to the store tonight for some ice cream but the heck with that idea. This was dessert!

Thanks for saving, ricks68!

From Friday night:

Ninjabread Man (2016)-Asheville Brewing Company

Another year, another Ninjabread Man Porter. I don't think they changed the recipe much, if at all. Label has been changed to protect all the gingerbread men who were harmed in the brewing of this beer. Pretty much same appearance, aromas and tastes. IBUs listed at 26 so my hop-o-meter from last year is reasonably well calibrated . This was a bomber shared with our younger daughter and her husband as a belated birthday celebration after dinner for both of them and to honor 93-83. Next up, another Ninja...

[devildeac]

From 2/14/16:

Love Ninja Part 2-Asheville Brewing Company

The original Love Ninja has competition .

Another bomber from ricks68. Thanks!

Poured a dark ruby-brown with a smallish tan head. Tempting aromas of milk chocolate and berries and a palate full of cocoa, raspberries and maybe a splash of coffee. It's labeled as a milk porter but I didn't think it was that sweet, assuming there was lactose added, as in a milk stout but that ingredient is not listed. IBUs of 26 and ABV of 5.6% so I divided the contents over 2 evenings so I could sip the high gravity ale listed below, too. Drink your dessert!

From Friday night:

From Friday night:

Love Ninja (2016)-Asheville Brewing Company

Part of ricks68's February delivery. Another 93-83/late birthday treat bomber shared with our younger daughter and her husband. She compared it to a New Glarus fruit beer but I had to dial her back a bit . Basically, it's a milk chocolate-covered raspberry jelly/jam candy sipped (chewed?) with a small cup of coffee. Sure, have it with a slice of chocolate layer cake, but we were each happy with our (almost) equal portions for dessert. Plain.

[devildeac]

From 6/28/15:

Not Your Father's Root Beer-Small Town Brewery (LaCrosse, WI on the bottle but Wauconda, IL on their website)

Yet another reason why this is a great thread, in-season, off-season, any season. I'd have never given this beer a second look had it not been for fuse's review 6 weeks ago. But, as I wandered about in Total Wine today with my $1 off on up to four 4 or 6 packs of beer, I spotted this and thought, why not?

Poured a root beer color with an initial fizzy head which lasted less than 30 seconds. It smells, well, like root beer with dark caramel, vanilla and earthy/herbal tastes as fuse alluded to above. Tastes like, well, root beer. Very sweet, naturally flavored root beer. Essentially no bitterness. It can't have any hops because it's, well, root beer. ABV listed at 5.9% but tastes non-alcoholic like, well, root beer. Too sweet to drink more than one at a sitting unless you're a, well, root beer fan. There is zero doubt that my next one of these will be with a scoop or two of Breyer's or Edy's vanilla ice cream and served with a spoon and a straw. I'll report back on that one. Not sure what I'll do with the other 4 from the 6er however.



http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/year-round/

This one might even be more interesting:

http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-10-7/

WTH? A root beer with 10.7% ABV?

This one might be even much more interesting:

http://smalltownbrewery.com/our-beers/limited-19-5/

Holy @#$%, are you kidding me? A root beer with 19.5% ABV?

From Friday night:

Not Your Father's Root Beer-Small Town Brewery

This is the more interesting one as linked above.

Purchased at Total Wine last fall, this bomber was about $7 with a buck off coupon. Poured like root beer except essentially no head. Smelled like, well, root beer. I'm not as dumb as I look. Three of us shared the 22 ounce bottle, first, with about 2.5 ounce samples each from my cute, miniature Ommegang pilsner sample glasses. This has noticeable booziness in addition to the strong, sweet flavors of root beer with added vanilla and honey. I'll guess IBUs of 10, maybe less. ABV is a stunning 10.7%. Label suggests serving over ice. I doubt it'd pair nicely with anything and I'm not sure we could have finished the bomber except...

[devildeac]

From 7/8/15:

Not Your Father's Root Beer Float (NYFRB-see below)-Small Town Brewery

Maybe this belongs in the Ymm, Dessert thread.

I wasn't kidding folks. This is now my 3rd career beer float. The first was with Breyer's vanilla ice cream and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and the second was the same brand ice cream but with Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout. This tasted like it was right out of a soda fountain from the corner store 50+ years ago, only with 5.5% ABV root beer this time. Poured about 3 ounces of NYFRB into a tall, wide mouth glass and then added 2 small scoops of ice cream and then filled to the top of the glass with about another 3 ounces of beverage. Nice creamy, foamy, frothy head topping the creation that I sipped with a straw and repeated the creation with another 2 small scoops and the remaining NYFRB. Could have drizzled it with some chocolate syrup and/or topped it with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry. Yummy!

From Friday night:

Not Your Father's Root Beer Float-Small Town Brewery

Scoop of Turkey Hill premium vanilla ice cream into a large glass with about 2-3 ounces of NYFRB 10.7% ABV version poured s-l-o-w-l-y down the side. Lots and lots of foam. Let sit a minute and top off with another 2-3 ounces of NYFRB. Sip and/or scoop with ice tea spoon. Still a bit too sweet so add another scoop of ice cream. Perfect. Forget the chocolate sauce but the whipped cream and a cherry would have been nice touches, too. Three of us divided the remaining ~15 ounces from the bomber in this manner. A nice celebration after the 93-83 finish.

[devildeac]

High West-fied Imperial Coffee Stout-Lagunitas Brewing Company

Everything you might think and more. Think Cappuccino Stout aged in High West rye and bourbon barrels.

Inky black, viscous pour with a wispy head from a 12 ounce bottle into a Founders snifter. Coffee and booze initially, then tasting dark chocolate, lots of dark caramel and coffee with warming, bourbon notes midway through and a bit more booze to finish. IBUs are less than the Cappuccino Stout, measuring 39.6 (really, it's on the bottle) and a quite potent 12.2% ABV. Amazingly, this is in 6ers and was about $15 after a buck off Total Wine coupon last month. Not sure I'll share any of these (kidding). No dessert necessary.

[devildeac]

Mango:

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live ... 6920?snl=1

Oops, not that Mango. This one:

Mango American Kolsch-Clown Shoes Brewing

This was a single 12 ounce bottle in my March beer club 4 pack. Kinda early for the style but we've had some late spring weather last week .

Pour was a slightly cloudy, orange-tinted straw color with a modest, fizzy head, Tropical fruit nose (mango, maybe ). The tongue tells me apple, peach, pear and more tropical or stone fruits. Minimal bitterness, guessing about 10 IBUs. ABV on the bottle was 5.5%. Not a terribly exciting beer but I'd have another if offered on a warm spring/summer afternoon or with some sweet and sour chicken or shrimp.

[devildeac]

From 2/25/16:

From 7/3/14:

Immort Ale (10/26/11 bottle)-Dogfish Head Brewing

This is comparable to the dear old friend that you haven't seen in years that comes back to visit for a couple nights. Your home is always welcome for as long as they'd like to stay. I believe this is one of the earliest high gravity ales that I ever tasted and I'll almost always buy a 4 pack (or two) when I see it available. Still on my top 10 beer list of all time. Maybe top 5. The closest descriptor would be an old English ale. Poured a dark amber with woody scents along with maple and dark caramel. There are hints of vanilla and dark fruits along with a trace of smoke. Made with Massachusetts maple syrup, English and Belgian yeasts and aged on oak, this is an exquisite sipping ale. IBUs noted at 50 and the ABV is 11%. I divided this 12 ounce bottle over 2 nights. Got 2 left from 2011 and 3 from 2012.

From the last 2 nights:

Well, maybe not top 5 any more or even top 10. There's simply too may great beers to be tasted . But, it's still an excellent sipping old ale and a nice one to taste along with Raleigh Wood, in reduced quantities, of course. There was a bit of fine sediment in the last 5 ml which I didn't completely avoid but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Still worth a purchase for about $12 for a 4 pack if/when you see it but not convinced aging it this long made it much better, if at all. I have a 2011 and 2012 left, I think, and they may have to wait until the fall.

From last PM:

Immort Ale (2012)-Dogfish Head Brewing

Found it!

Had half a bottle of this from a snifter. Still as tasty and sippable as ever and everything bolded above is still prominent, plus a mild, warming, alcohol burn. I have more more 2012 version left...

[devildeac]

San Diego Pale Ale .394-Alesmith Brewing Company

The story behind the brew:

"In early 2014, Tony Gwynn’s team approached AleSmith to create a distinctive beer for the baseball legend. A meeting was called at the Gwynn household, which included a sampling of AleSmith beers to identify Tony’s preferences. He wanted the beer to be “light with a kick” which he elaborated further to mean full of hop character and light in body and color. The result of the Gwynn family’s feedback on test batches rendered a golden pale ale full of American hop flavor and aroma, with a subdued bitterness and a malty sweet finish. AleSmith San Diego Pale Ale .394 pays tribute to the city that Tony loved and the career high batting average that he achieved in ‘94. Discover what happens when a Hall of Fame perfectionist crafts a beer with a world-class brewery. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation (TAG)."

The brew:

This sure doesn't smell/taste like a PA. Pour was an orange-tinted yellow with a moderate, creamy head. Citrus aromas from my pint glass with pineapple-grapefruit-Juicyfruit gum tastes to match with a bit of zest and a honey-ish ending. They claim IBUs of 13 but I'll call shenanigans on that stat with my (not always accurate) hop-o-meter thinking 30-40 range. ABV is 6% and that sounds correct. This really drinks like a mild, but not session-type IPA and it's pretty damned good. The single 12 ounce can was included in my March beer club 4 pack and I'd consider a 6er of this (website shows a photo of 12 ounce bottles) for a cookout or for sharing/trading purposes.

[devildeac]

Citra Mantra-Otter Creek Brewing Company

A single 12 ounce bottle included in my March beer club 4 pack. Labeled as an India-style pils lager (ISPL? IPL? IPL? ). Pour was a sunshine yellow with a moderate, foamy head. Citra hops=Juicy Fruit gum with generous additions of pineapple and grapefruit juices, both olfactory and gustatory. IOW, it's a lager that smells/drinks like an IPA. Or a point guard that plays the 3 spot. IBUs check in at 55 and ABV at 5.75%, both in pale ale or IPA territory. Would pair nicely with spicy fare. Certainly worth a single or a 6er to share/trade. Highly tasty.

[devildeac]

From 3/15/16:

The Miller's Toll-Raleigh Brewing Company

Drink local!

A ton of carbs with lots of dark, roasty stuff, flaked oats and cane sugar to accompany Northern Brewer and East Kent Goldings hops, this is a pretty massive but very smooth imperial stout. Poured from a $3.50 12 ounce can into a pint glass, the color was almost black, the head was a modest 1 finger width and tan and the aromas were baker's chocolate and a bit of coffee and the tastes were dark chocolate, dark caramel and alcohol. Mouthfeel was smooth and silky from the oats. IBUs listed at 68 from the website and the ABV was 9.1% but I think their on-line data is old as the can showed an ABV of 10.5% and this was more accurate I believe. Leave dessert in the fridge/freezer as this was liquid bliss. But I could be talked into a sliver of chocolate chess pie or sharing a small portion of a molten lava cake with this, too. Whipped cream or coffee ice cream on the side, please.

The Miller's Toll (bourbon barrel aged)

Take the above, throw in a couple aliquots of bourbon, 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla, some toasted coconut flakes and a drop or two of dark caramel and fudge sauces and you have an even more enormous brew. This was about a $16 bomber that I divided (not evenly) over 3 nights, finishing with a nearly full snifter of a very warming, boozy, port-like concoction that I'm sipping over an hour or so as I post. Heavenly. I may return to the brewer tomorrow to pick up a couple more bottles of this for myself and mattman if they have any left.

From Thursday and Friday nights:

The Miller's Toll BBA (2016)-Raleigh Brewing Company

Ricks68 delivered this a couple months ago from his over-filled beer fridge and it was cool enough this week to polish the bomber off over a couple nights from my usual snifter. Darn near onyx pour with a small rim of a head. Dark chocolate, over-cooked caramel and bourbon immediately upon decanting. Fudge, booze, a drop of coffee, black strap molasses, coconut and more booze throughout each 11 ounce serving. Don't ruin this one with a scoop of ice cream but do pair with a chocolate/chocolate chip brownie or sliver of plain cheesecake. With an Oreo crust, of course.

[devildeac]

From 5/28/15:

Hopslam-Bell's Brewery

This is a fabulous, hard to find beer and I'm honored/humbled that fuse would relinquish two of his 4 pack (or 6er) that he bought a couple months ago. I've long forgotten about those Sam Adams stale ones.

Poured a golden-yellow with a mildly foamy head. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with a bit of zest stimulate the olfactory lobe and the gustatory sensation is at first the same, followed by other tropical fruits including papaya and mango with a moderate honey finish. This isn't a hop monster at 70 IBUs, though I'd have guessed it a bit higher. The malty balance is superb with the ABV at a dangerous 10%. This is so smooth and sippable by itself, I don't think I'd pair this with any foods. I know I've had this before but couldn't find any prior reviews. I'm certain I could easily consume two of these in an evening and curl up on the floor with a couple cushions, pillows and blankets and never even dare/consider climbing the stairs for my night's sleep. I'd be in complete beer-vana if given the opportunity to taste test this with Heady Topper, my other new favorite IIPA. Sorry, 90 Minute, you're still delicious but...

From tonight:

Hopslam-Bell's Brewery

Fuse delivers again, this time 4 cans (WTH?) from his two 6ers. Many thanks for saving!

Same pour, same appearance. A delicious blend of tropical and citrus aromas and flavors with the honey (added) finish providing a very smooth mouthfeel. This disappeared quickly but happily, I have 3 more in the fridge.

[devildeac]

Battle O Shirts (draft)-The Unknown Brewing Company

Beer is always better with friends.

This was a pint from Tyler's Taproom in Apex from their March featured brewery. Pour was a dark amber in a pint glass with a small head. Nose was a bit earthy with an abundance of caramels and toffee. It was too cold at first, but, after about 30-45 minutes of warming, nibbling fish tacos and garlic fries and chatting with the wonderful fuse family, the sweet caramel candy, toasted wheat bread and a hint of smoke began to take over. Hop bitterness is minimal, guessing about 20 and the ABV was 7.7%, representative of the Scotch ale style and a fine one at that. This would have paired even better with a Cuban or pulled pork sammich. I'd buy a small litter of these if I saw them in a beer store.

[devildeac]

Christmas Jam-Sierra Nevada Brewing and Asheville Brewing Company collabeeration

Better late than never .

Strangely formatted 24 ounce bottle delivered by ricks68 about 6 weeks ago and divided during dinner and game-watching Sunday evening. Pour was a light apricot color with a moderately foamy, eggshell white head. It's a session IPA, with the ABV at 5.3% and a guesstimated 50 IBUs. Light aromas of pine and a citrus fruit blend. Tastes of lemon, pineapple, grapefruit and resin. The dinner portion was with Mrs. dd's (almost) famous chicken parm, pasta and a Caesar salad. Not a bad combo but I've found very few, if any beers, that pair well with Italian entrees. Good offering. Happy to have tried. Consumer friendly pricing ($5 or 6, I think) and free delivery! Still why this style isn't simple marketed as a pale ale. Ideal amount to share with 4-6 folks at Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner as part of a tasting as we did with a New Belgium 12 pack last year.