All posts by kitch

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Clan Brewing Company, Scotland, Stout - Imperial

Clan Brewing Imperial Stout

Tuesday, 25 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Clan Brewing Company
Country: Scotland
ABV: 8%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Matured in Lowland whisky casks for up to six months

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A rich, dark and intensely flavourful Imperial Stout, packed with burnt coffee and lemon scents, skilfully balanced by sweet sherry and raisin flavours derived from a short period in Lowland malt whisky casks. A smoky, slightly acrid mouthfeel, and a long burnt finish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.37
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of end of February 2019 and poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: It poured a dark dark brown colour with a less than one finger tanned head which dissipates fast but left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Chocolate, dark malt, hints of raisin, cream, light whisky and maybe a touch of caramel and lemon on the finish.
Taste: Chocolate, molasses, toffee, hints of dark berries, very light whisky, maybe some slight char but not much barrel.
Mouthfeel: Very light for an Imperial Stout, maybe too light in my opinion. Barely medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation and dry.
Overall: If this was a Stout, I think I would have rated it higher, but as an Imperial Stout, it’s just not quite there. Everything just seemed to be too light whereas I was looking for more punches as an Imperial Stout. This was especially true with the barrel aging, which did not seem to impart as much as it could have in both aroma and taste. It is by no means a bad beer, but I had both BCBS and KBS in the last week which is perhaps setting a rather high standard.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Lager - Märzen / Oktoberfest, Sierra Nevada x Mahrs Bräu, USA

Sierra Nevada x Mahrs Bräu Oktoberfest 2016

Tuesday, 25 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. x Mahrs Bräu
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: German Oktoberfest/Märzen
Other Notes: Fall seasonal, one time only

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We’ve partnered with Mahrs Bräu, one of Germany’s most highly regarded brewers, to create a golden-hued festival beer right here in the USA. Using traditional techniques, heritage German barley, and the Record hop varietal – a nearly forgotten German-grown hop – we’ve created the most authentic take on the style this side of the Atlantic.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.27
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle packaged on 14th July 2016 and poured into a Mikkeller pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden colour with a less than one finger white head that dissipated quickly with minimal sparse lacing.
Aroma: Grassy, hay, grain, sweet bready and maybe a touch of honey.
Taste: Grassy, grain, slightly sweet honey, pilsner malt, lightly floral and bready.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light to medium bodied with light to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Slightly sweet for me, and I was expecting more carbonation, but not bad.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), Beer Reviews, Epic Brewing Company, Farmhouse Saison, USA

Epic Utah Sage Saison

Thursday, 20 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Epic Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 7.6%
Style: Belgian Saison
Other Notes: Malts – Pilsner Malt, Maris Otter, 2-Row Brewers Malt, Rye Malt, Wheat Malt and Barley Flakes. Hops – Centennial, Citra and Calypso. Others – Fresh Sage, Thyme and Rosemary

Brewer Description: (from website) Three out of the four ingredients in Simon and Garfunkel’s third album make this Belgian-style farmhouse ale a perfect golden beverage with festive herbal notes.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.57
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.3

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. bottle, Release #26, brewed on 11th March 2015 and packaged on 6th April 2015. Poured into a d’Achouffe tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a bright but hazy golden orange colour with a just under two finger white head that dissipates slowly and leaves lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet orange citrus with touches of tropical apricot, lemon, orange marmalade and a herbal character (although I’m not sure if its sage, maybe thyme).
Taste: Orange honey sweetness, sage, pepper spice, almond biscuit and a bouquet of herbs.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with high carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: It’s quite different to any other beer let alone Saison that I’ve tried. It’s perhaps a touch to sweet for me, but the biscuity, almondy, herbally finish is interesting.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Boulevard Brewing Co., Stout - Imperial, USA

Boulevard Dark Truth Stout (Smokestack Series)

Wednesday, 19 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 9.7%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 60 IBUs. Malts – Pale Malt, Amber 50, Cara 120, Cara 300, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Chocolate Rye, Malted Rye, Malted Wheat, Honey Naked Oats and Flaked Oats. Hops – Magnum, Zeus, Citra and Perle. Other – Brown Sugar and Dark Brown Sugar.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Roasted English malts provide a deep, rich texture, Belgian yeast bestows plum-like fruitiness, and German hops add spicy aromas as Dark Truth Stout mellows to a smooth, dry, smoky finish.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.94
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a best by date of 24th February 2017, and poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: It poured a pitch black colour with a one finger tanned head that dissipated quickly but left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Roasty coffee, chocolate, crème brûlée, caramel, some dark fruits like plum and fig and a touch of smokiness.
Taste: Similar to the aroma except the dark fruits and char smokiness are more prominent whereas the roasty coffee and chocolate notes are more in the background. There is also some bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: This was an interesting Imperial Stout. Body was a lighter than I prefer and carbonation perhaps a tad too high. But still definitely worth a try.

4 - Good (buy), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Pipeworks Brewing Company, USA

Pipeworks Lizard King

Friday, 14 October 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: American Pale Ale

Brewer Description: (from can) Mosaic hopped Pale Ale.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.46
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 1 pint can canned on 16th June 2016 and poured into a d’Achouffe tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy golden colour with a just under two finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly but left wonderful lacing.
Aroma: Strong tropical notes especially pineapple, mango and peach with a touch of citrus grapefruit, orange rind and lemon juice.
Taste: A fruit explosion of tropical and citrus. Mainly pineapple and mango at the beginning, before settling to a lightly bitter orange and lemon peel finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A great and refreshing pale ale. The aroma from the Mosaic was especially nice, and feels like it could be an anytime beer for me. Having said that, I think I still slightly prefer the Citra of pseudoSue and Zombie Dust.

words of another dreamy traveller