Monthly Archives: October 2017

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Boon, Lambic - Faro

Boon Faro

Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Boon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Faro)

Brewer Description: (from website) Faro Boon is a beer of spontaneous fermentation for which “meertsbier” and old Lambic are blended together. The light brown colour and sour-sweet taste are attained by adding candy sugar before bottling.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 2.92
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: A 250ml bottle with a best before date of 23rd January 2019. Poured into a Lindemans flute glass.
Appearance: A clear copper colour with a one finger white head that dissipates quickly but settles to a thin but replenishing layer. No lacing.
Aroma: Sweet-ish plum, apple juice, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.
Taste: Sweet sweet apple, apple juice, brown sugar and maybe some herbal notes.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: This was overly sweet for me, even though it was easy to drink.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Against The Grain Brewery, Beer Reviews, Kentucky Common, USA

Against The Grain Kamen Knuddeln

Leave a comment

Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Kentucky Common

Brewer Description: (from can) Oodles & oodles. We came to knuddel, or is it the other way around? Whatever…try this one. It’s a Kentucky Common inspired by our friends at The Nachbar. This dark sour beer is tart and easy, just like we like em’.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.79
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 1 pint can with a best before date of 16th January 2018. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A clear dark dark brown colour with a two finger tanned head that dissipated quickly and left pretty much no lacing.
Aroma: Roasted and toasted malts, brown sugar and smokiness with a hint of tart cherry.
Taste: Lightly tart and sour cherry, plum and apple with a hint of roast, toast, smoke and coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: An interesting dark sour that was more roasty/smoky on the aroma while more fruity on the taste, and certainly easy to drink. Reminds me of Lichtenhainer maybe.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Bellwoods Brewery, Canada, Wild Ale

Bellwoods Jelly King Strawberry Rhubarb

Leave a comment

Brewery: Bellwoods Brewery
Country: Canada
ABV: 5.6%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Dry-Hopped Sour w/ strawberry and rhubarb

Brewer Description: (from website) This limited edition version of Jelly King includes a large dose of strawberry and rhubarb purees, blended on top of a mixed fermentation sour ale. In addition, we added a complimentary dose of Citra-Mosaic-Cascade in the dry hop. The result is juicy, sour, and bursting with jammy aroma and flavour that comes enrobed in a dusty rose hue. A classic combo served on top of a sour beer for your pleasure.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.41
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 500ml bottle with no bottled on or best before date, poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A cloudy guava pink colour with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Sweet jelly fruitiness, strawberry, peach and apricot. Mixed berry instant jello.
Taste: Very juicy, moderate tartness, lightly sour. Strawberry, rhubarb, lemon and peaches.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Really tasty stuff, and I felt that the addition of strawberry, rhubarb and dry hopping improved upon the base beer Jelly King quite a bit. Perfect for a hot summer day.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Evil Twin Brewing, USA

Evil Twin I Always Felt Closer To IPAs Than I Did To People

Leave a comment

Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 9%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Brewed and canned by Overshores Brewing Co., USA. Still a little green, drink tomorrow instead

Brewer Description: (from can) Double dry hopped Imperial India Pale Ale.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.79
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 1 pint can, canned on 11th August 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A very hazy dark orange colour with a one finger white head that had pretty good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Juicy orange peel, grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple and cantaloupe.
Taste: Starts off nice with a good mix of citrus pith and tropical fruits, but the finish was quite boozy and overpowered all that nice juiciness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: The nice juiciness in the aroma and taste is there, but unfortunately the finish had a boozy feel that took over from all the nice juice.

4 - Good (buy), Almanac Beer Co., Beer Reviews, USA, Wild Ale

Almanac Valley Of The Heart’s Delight

Leave a comment

Brewery: Almanac Beer Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 7%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Farm to barrel

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Sour blonde ale aged in wine barrels with apricots & strawberries

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 375ml bottle, released in February 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden yellow orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass that lingers and left some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Oak, strawberry, apricot, peach, tart mixed berries, with some funk, leather, straw and white wine.
Taste: Tart and tangy lemon, apricot and strawberry, followed by a touch of oak, vanilla, funk and leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate prickly carbonation.
Overall: It was very tasty and complex. I’m not usually too fond of wine barrel aging, but the addition of apricots and strawberries matched it well, and probably took it up a notch. Very enjoyable.