Category Archives: USA

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Triple IPA, Beer Reviews, Heretic Brewing Co., USA

Heretic Evil3

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Brewery: Heretic Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 11.5
Style: American Triple IPA
Other Notes: McDole, Steele, Zainasheff

Brewer Description: (from can) This is the story of three friends: Tasty McDole, Mitch Steele, and Jamil Zainasheff. Three bold men with hops in their blood and crazy in their hearts. Once a year these three passionate brewers come together to concoct a beer that represents their lifelong bond. A beer that is bold. A beer that is hoppy. A beer to share with your best friends.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.87
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 1 pint can, canned on 27th January 2020. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A nice clear golden orange colour with a two finger white head that had excellent retention and left some nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malts, grapefruit, dried candied fruit, citrus peel and notes of pine.
Taste: Sweet malts, caramel, candied grapefruit peel, citrus zest, grapefruit, pine, booze and some light bitterness in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Nice candied aroma, but perhaps slightly too sweet and heavy for me. The bitterness in the background does help a bit though.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, The Lost Abbey, USA, Wild Ale

Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa

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Brewery: The Lost Abbey
Country: USA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: Barrel-aged raspberry sour

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Raspberry sour ale aged in French oak barrels. The 10 Commandments and its “Thou Shalt Nots” do not apply to Amorosa. A courtesan, she has no need for the morality of denial. A stunning beauty with depth of spirit and sensuality. Amorosa is ruled by the fruits of her loins and mother earth. Sweet and sour, Amorosa is equal parts lover, liberated soul and the object of every suitor’s affection. She is desire incarnate and sensuality embodied. In choosing to open this bottle, you are now courting this magnificent woman. For some, she will arrive like the siren’s call breathing upon your lips and dancing across your taste buds. Others will be denied. For you see, a wonton woman, Amorosa beckons all and chooses few. Will your prayers be answered?

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.22
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A corked and caged 12.7 fl. oz. bottle, with no bottled on or best before date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A cloudy reddish brown colour with a one finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly and left only sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Tart, raspberry, sour, oak, lemon juice.
Taste: Sour, tart, sweet, raspberry, grape, lightly vinous, oak, light lemon juice and a splash of vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very enjoyable with a good balance between sour and sweet, and good raspberry aroma and flavours.

4 - Good (buy), Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

Against The Grain x De Molen Bo & Luke (Amburana Wood)

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Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen
Country: USA
ABV: 13%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 2017 white wax. Amburana wood

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Beats all you ever saw! We have a reputation for being big, bold, and having the gumption to do things others won’t. In your hands is a barrel aged ale that exemplifies just that. We took Kentucky’s beloved bourbon recipe and flipped it upside down by employing rye, barley, corn, and cherry wood smoked malts. Then we aged it on freshly dumped bourbon barrels for three Kentucky months! The resulting beer is dark and smoky with hints of caramel, vanilla, and spice. Hang on to it while you can. This one’s going fast.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.28
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A white waxed 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date, but should be 2017 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with an one finger tanned head that had decent retention and left nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, cocoa, oak, sweet, vanilla, cinnamon, and light smoke.
Taste: Sweet, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, bourbon, chocolate, cocoa, chocolate cake, caramel, and light smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Nice aroma and flavours with a nice mix of especially vanilla and cinnamon. Smoke was there but a little light compared to the base, while mouthfeel was lighter than expected.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

Against The Grain x De Molen Bo & Luke (Tequila Barrel)

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Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen
Country: USA
ABV: 13%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 2016 gold wax. Tequila barrel aged

Brewer Description: (from bottle) It beats all you ever saw! This barrel-aged ale uses the staple ingredients barley, rye and corn, plus cherry wood smoked malt to create a huge imperial stout. To top it all off, we barrel age the beer for three Kentucky months! The result is a rich and complex Imperial Smoked Stout with hints of caramel, vanilla and spice.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.76
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A gold waxed 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date, but should be 2016 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a one finger tanned head that had decent retention, and left spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, chocolate, oak, soft sweet notes of tequila, and a touch of smoke.
Taste: Light roast, chocolate, cocoa, oak, and subtle notes of tequila and smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Not as good as the other 2106 variants (red wine barrel and Islay scotch barrel) as the smoke and tequila were rather subtle, and the body was for some reason, lighter than I’d hope for.

4 - Good (buy), Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen, Beer Reviews, Stout - Imperial, USA

Against The Grain x De Molen Bo & Luke (Red Wine Barrel)

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Brewery: Against The Grain Brewery x Brouwerij De Molen
Country: USA
ABV: 13%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: 2016 purple wax. Red Wine barrel aged

Brewer Description: (from bottle) It beats all you ever saw! This barrel-aged ale uses the staple ingredients barley, rye and corn, plus cherry wood smoked malt to create a huge imperial stout. To top it all off, we barrel age the beer for three Kentucky months! The result is a rich and complex Imperial Smoked Stout with hints of caramel, vanilla and spice.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.29
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A purple waxed 750ml bottle with no clear bottled on or best before date, but should be 2016 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown to black in colour with a half finger tanned head that had decent retention and left nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, chocolate, vinous, red grapes, kyoho grape jelly, with hints of bourbon sweetness.
Taste: Chocolate, cocoa, roast, sweet bourbon, grape jelly, red grape, red wine, vinous, and light booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: At times it felt a little sweet, but I love the kyoho grape aroma in this. Unfortunately, all the smoked malts from the original seems to have been lost in all the bourbon, grape and vinous characteristics, but this was still an enjoyable sipper on a cool night.