Sunday, October 24, 2010

Greenport Harbor Ale Leaf Pile Ale



I liked the strong pumpkin-spice taste that was creamy like Cappuccino and the first aromas were very inviting. I couldn’t tell what the abv was, but the medium to light bodied ale was very easy to drink. Having tasted a few other pumpkin ales this week, I was impressed with the quality of this one. It has more of the nutmeg and cinnamon spices to it than most other Pumpkin ales.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic





Pours a clear golden with a thin off-white head that retains OK. The aroma is impressively unique with a ton of white grape notes, along with some green apple and chamomile, a little honey and candi sugar, belgian yeast, wheat, a little funk and some alcohol…very unique and intriguing. The flavor has a winey edge upfront with white grape and green apple notes, along with some white pepper and chamomile, honey and candi sugar, funky yeast and a touch of alcohol. The mouthfeel is a bit sharp, and drinkability is very good considering the ABV. A unique twist on a tripel, certainly out of the box but still very tasty. Can’t wait to see how it ages.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Captain Lawrence Pumpkin Ale





Smooth, semi-creamy, easy to drink with a great pumpkin taste that is well-balanced with mild spice and pepper notes. Contains some cinnamon and nutmeg as well to complement the pumpkin sweetness. Nothing that pops but this is a standard pumpkin beer that is a must try at least once. I would love to try the Vanilla Pumpkin Ale they make.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Gulden Draak Ale


This is my (so far) all time favorite drinking beer. I love it for any time of year and I find myself in an uncomfortably dependent relationship with it. It’s an ass-kicker and after about 3 minutes, you know you’re drinking. Alternate with waters if you’re at a bar.

Yes, it is heady and has beautiful Belgian lacing and a strong, rich taste and I suppose there are some fig or plum or fruity overtones, etc. Maybe with some time and effort I’ll be able to refer to these attributes with less flippancy and more accuracy.

What you need to know is fairly simple. If you like dark, strong Belgian triples - this is one of the best. But then - if you already know you like these types of beers, then you’ve probably already tried this one. It’s one of the prominent Belgians in just about every self-respecting alehouse that serves them that I’ve visited.

I find that served cold from the fridge, or right off a tap - as with many strong ales, its flavor is really masked by the temp. My usual trick is to pour, let sit for 7-10 min. and then sip it slowly over the next 15 minutes. This allows the full flavor experience, which is what separates this beer from other similar styles.

To perhaps bring something new to the discussion, I can discuss the difference between the 11oz bottles, the 750 and the on-tap offerings, as I’ve experienced all three.

These conditions may affect many beers similarly, or they may not. Your mileage may vary, obviously. I find that of the three ways I’ve had it - the larger 750 bottle is my favorite. This beer isn’t served by more carbonation, and the big bottle has the least, while the tap version seems to have more. That may be dependent on the bar’s system. The differences are subtle, but the smaller bottle is the lessor of the three.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project Jack D’or




Let me start off with saying, Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project is one of my favorite breweries.
22oz bottle to Blue Point pint glass. Very hazy yellow, with slight orange tinge. Head is a small top covering of pure white bubbles. Not the large fluffy head you expect from a saison.

The nose is dominated by the yeast strain. A bit of grass and biscuit in the background. Banana and clove primarily.

The taste is very similar to the smell, the saison yeast strain is more fruity than peppery and spice. Faint mingling of floral hops and a bit of grass. A bit of graininess in the beginning.

The mouthfeel is very smooth, doesn’t have a strong zip to it like other saisons. Carbonation is also lower than some of the more traditional versions from overseas. Very light on the tongue.

Saisons are a very drinkable style for me. And at just over 6% this one is straightforward and unobstrusive. A bomber is a good size for this beer. Has a thirst quenching property that makes you return for that second pint. Well done.
Even my Turkish Angora Roxie loves it. I got up to text someone while my phone was charging in the other room and come back to her drinking it out of the glass. Now I don’t support getting your pets drunk, and I did shoo her away so she couldn’t have anymore.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Recessionator by Kelso of Brooklyn


As you can see, this is another growler from work since Kelso doesn’t bottle their beer this is my only option. Malt was the expected sniff, yup, as expected. Nice malty brew, notes of whole wheat crusts, caramel, the advertised raisins, with the abv well hidden. Low hopping , but the back end remains dry, and thus highly drinkable. Nothing real special, just a well put together and malty (duh) doppelbock.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale



I know its hard to see(damn camera phone), its Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale

Aroma is mostly pumpkin, with some pumpkin spices and bready malt also noticable. Taste is pretty much like the aroma, with the pumpkin flavor being the strongest. Pumpkin spice, bready malt and hoppy flavors are noticable too. There’s also a slight bitter finish. I don’t think this is as spicy as a lot of the pumpkin brews I’ve tried before. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, with decent carbonation. Drinkability is OK, it’s easy enough to drink. Not a bad brew overall. For the style, it’s a decent enough beer. It’s definitely worth a try.