Category Archives: USA

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Against The Grain Brewery, American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, USA

Against The Grain Citra Ass Down

Saturday, 17 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 8.2%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 68 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from can) Citra Ass Down & crush this beer. This beer is not candy or mother’s milk. It is not brewed by gypsies or aliens, nor does it contain any zombie dirt. This is a Double IPA brewed with Citra Hops. It is sticky, hoppy and delicious. Simply drink it and enjoy it. Don’t hoard this beer. Citra Ass Down and drink it now.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.82
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 1 pint can with no canned on or best before date. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: A clear golden copper orange colour with a just over two finger off white head with great retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy orange juice, orange zest, grapefruit and caramel malt with a touch of mango.
Taste: Citrusy like the aroma with grapefruit and orange zest bitterness, some pine, and caramel malt. The finish has a nice lasting bitterness and its not overly sweet.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and I enjoyed this. For me, the key was that it was not overly sweet like so many DIPAs seem to be these days.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Strong Ale, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia), USA

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale Bourbon Barrel Aged

Thursday, 15 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia)
Country: USA
ABV: 8.1%
Style: American Strong Ale
Other Notes: Aged in Kentucky Bourbon Barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) I didn’t give you permission to pick me up, let alone drink me. Being groped as you mutter to yourself taxes my patience. While I am a master of social complexities and articulate thought, clearly you are not. I embody the pinnacle of intellectual artistic fulfilment, while you bring the baggage of preconceived notions, which only distract. Yet, I’ll give you one chance: Aspire to free your mind. Use a crowbar if you must. Approach me with openness, unsullied by your irrelevant “life experience,” or leave me alone. No, you don’t have to put up with this. Go tweet your precious insights about me. Thrill yourself by imagining your three or 30,000 followers hanging on your every word. OMG, they’re waiting to read the thought you just had. Now close your mouth and either set me down or do your worst. What’s that? You’re going to drink a fizzy yellow beer out of spite? Self-flagellate all you like, tiger. Proclaim your unworthiness to whoever will listen.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.42
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a bottled on date of 26th July 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A clear dark copper amber colour with a one finger tanned head that had decent retention and left nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Amazing aromas of coconut, pineapple, toffee sweetness, vanilla and wood with only subtle bourbon notes.
Taste: Vanilla, woody, coconut and caramel sweetness with a hint of pine and light bourbon notes.
Mouthfeel: Almost creamy, medium bodied with mild carbonation.
Overall: Despite the stunning aromas, this did not quite work for me as I felt the taste was quite muddled. I actually preferred the regular Arrogant Bastard Ale a lot more than this Bourbon Barrel Aged version.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, Stout, USA

Deschutes Obsidian Stout

Friday, 9 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 6.4%
Style: American Stout
Other Notes: 55 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Crystal, Carapils, Munich, Black Barley, Roasted Barley and Wheat. Hops – Nugget, Bravo, Delta and Northern Brewer

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Notes of espresso and dark chocolate with a roasty finish.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.17
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 30th January 2017, poured into a Spiegelau Stout glass.
Appearance: Black in colour with a big frothy three fingered mocha brown head with pretty good retention and great lacing.
Aroma: Light roasty, milk chocolate, coffee and a hint of raspberries.
Taste: Sweet-ish milk chocolate, a touch of dark fruit with a bitter roast coffee bean and espresso finish.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to light bodied with mild carbonation.
Overall: An easy to drink Stout with nice chocolate and coffee notes.

4 - Good (buy), Avery Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

Avery Vanilla Bean Stout

Wednesday, 7 December 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 11.5%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Stout with Vanilla Beans added, Aged in Bourbon Barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) A double dose of vanilla derived from both fresh Bourbon barrels and the trio of Tongan, Ugandan and Mexican whole vanilla beans is complemented by essences of chocolate, caramel and molasses to round out this luxuriously silky stout.

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

Intro: A 22 fl oz foiled bomber, bottled on 29th April 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A dark dark brown to black colour with a less than one finger tanned head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Nice strong sweet vanilla, cocoa, oak, bourbon and perhaps some light char.
Taste: Sweet vanilla, cocoa, molasses and toffee, a good hit of bourbon with a touch of dark fruit and oak.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate to light carbonation.
Overall: Other than its body being lighter than I prefer for an Imperial Stout, this beer has everything else going for it. Great aromas and taste make it a great sipper on a cool night.

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Sagefight Imperial IPA

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: 75 IBUs. Malts – Pale, Crystal and Munich. Hops – Millennium, Bravo, Amarillo and Centennial. Other – Sage and Juniper Berries

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Citrusy hops go head to head with resinous sage and juniper berries in a flavour battle royale.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 2.9

Intro: A 355ml bottle with a best before date of 20th January 2017, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper amber colour with a two finger foamy off white head that had good retention and left nice lacing.
Aroma: Strong herbal sage, pine, orange zest and blueberries with a touch of juniper berry.
Taste: Bitter, medicinal, sage and pine upfront with a juniper, wood and herbal finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I like cooking with sage and juniper berries, but it just doesn’t seem to work for me in the few beers I’ve had including this one.

words of another dreamy traveller