Category Archives: 3 – Indifferent (might buy, probably drink)

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Het Anker, Euro Sour Ale

Het Anker Gouden Carolus Indulgence 2016 – Cuvée Sauvage

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Brewery: Brouwerij Het Anker
Country: Belgium
ABV: 9.8%
Style: Euro Sour Ale
Other Notes: Strong blond ale blended with Lambic from the Zenne valley. Limited Edition 2016

Brewer Description: (from the bottle and booklet around the neck) Gouden Carolus Indulgence [Indulgence, noun, \in-’dәl-jәn(t)s\ something that is done or enjoyed as a special pleasure] is a limited series of beers brewed every year with varying content. These ‘Indulgence’ brews are exclusive delights to be savoured at special moments or shared with special people.

Cuvée Sauvage is the 2nd taste to be produced under this label. Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Rood was blended with 2- and 3-year-old Lambic (20%) from the Boon Brewery (Lembeek). This union combines the best of two brewing traditions: full-bodied and subtly flavoured, fruity and refreshingly sour.

The 2-year-old Lambic comes from oak foudre N°21 (9,000L). It offers aromas of apples, citrus fruits and oak.

The 3-year-old Lambic has aged in oak pipes (600L), and contains more volatile acids that give the beer a powerful, full-bodied and vinous taste with a slightly smoked touch.

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

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, released in Summer ’16, with a best before end 2018 date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: A slightly hazy golden orange colour with a big almost three finger off white head that had pretty good retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Sweet champagne-y, sour fruit, peach, pink lemonade, sparkling apple cider, lemon zest, light oak and hints of funk.
Taste: Moderately sweet, champagne, peach, lightly sour, lemonade, lemon zest, apple, pineapple, Belgian yeast and a mix of spices.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation and a dry finish.
Overall: Quite nice overall, but I’m unsure of the necessity to make the ABV so high. With its aroma and flavours, I would have preferred an easy drink rather than one that’s more like a sipper.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Brown Ale, Cigar City Brewing, USA

Cigar City Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale

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Brewery: Cigar City Brewing
Country: USA
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American Brown Ale
Other Notes: 25 IBUs. Ale brewed with raisins, cinnamon and lactose

Brewer Description: (from can) The addition of raisins, cinnamon and milk sugar to our full-bodied and chocolatey Brown Ale base creates a unique beer that tastes exactly like it was pulled out of Grandma’s oven.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.75
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. can, canned on 15th May 2018. Poured into an Epic Brewing pint glass.
Appearance: A clear dark brown colour with a slight red hue and a slightly more than one finger foamy tanned head that dissipated fairly quickly to a lasting thin cap while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Strong cinnamon and raisin followed by caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, cream with light biscuit and toasted oats.
Taste: Cinnamon, raisin, chocolate, brown sugar, cream, vanilla with some light caramel and toasted bread.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Cinnamon was a bit too strong for me and body was probably on the light side, but raisins and chocolate still is a good combination.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Amber / Red Ale, Beer Reviews, Fort Point Beer Company, USA

Fort Point Westfalia

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Brewery: Fort Point Beer Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.6%
Style: American Amber Ale
Other Notes: 16 IBUs. Malts – Bohemian Pilsner, Vienna, Chocolate and Carafoam. Hops – Hallertau. Nuremberg inspired Red Ale

Brewer Description: (from website) Westfalia packs rich, caramel flavors into a rounded, mahogany body through a colorful blend of creamy malts. Traditionally fermented at cooler temperatures, Westfalia’s rotbier style showcases a layered malt profile that creates a smooth, satisfying mouthfeel, perfect for any meal or enjoyed on its own. Inspired by a trip to Nuremberg, Germany, Westfalia imports an exemplary red ale to audiences closer to home.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.45
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.3

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. can, canned on 1st August 2018, ‘westy4life’. Poured into an Epic pint glass.
Appearance: Clear copper reddish brown colour with a just over one finger off white head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: A bit light on the aroma, light roast, caramel, plum, red grapes and toast.
Taste: Sweet malts, roasty, toasted bread, caramel, raisin, plum and maybe a touch of lemon on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Aromas were a little weak, while taste was probably too sweet for my liking. The roasty toasty bits did balance out the sweetness a little, but not enough.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American Pale Ale, Beer Reviews, Fort Point Beer Company, USA

Fort Point Galaxy Park

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Brewery: Fort Point Beer Company
Country: USA
ABV: 4.7%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 19 IBUs. Single hop Pale Ale series. Malts – Bohemian Pilsner, Pale Wheat, Oats and Acidulated. Hops – Galaxy

Brewer Description: (from website) Bold, spirited and intensely aromatic, Galaxy Park is a single hop pale ale that’s full of surprises. Galaxy hops from Australia work with our unique house yeast to create a complex and layered flavor profile, going beyond Galaxy’s initial burst of pineapple, passionfruit and citrus, to wry hints of riesling and fresh cannabis. This is a beer for adventures—great for cooling off after a crosstown bike ride or a meandering hike in the redwoods.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.69
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. can, canned on 31st July 2018, ‘taste like space’. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.
Appearance: Light haze, golden straw yellow colour with an almost two finger soapy white head that dissipated fairly quickly but left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Light sweetness, pineapple, pear, lemon zest, grass and biscuit.
Taste: Light gentle bitterness, pineapple, lemon zest, pine, grass, and lightly floral.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, light bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: Great feel to it, with some nice pineapple and pear aroma and flavours.

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

Sierra Nevada x Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest 2018

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Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. x Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Country: USA
ABV: 6%
Style: German Oktoberfest / Märzen
Other Notes: 20 IBUs. Fall seasonal. Malts – Two-row Pale, Steffi, Pilsner and Munich. Hops – Sterling, Spalter and Record

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We’ve partnered with Bavaria’s Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, for this American take on the classic German Oktoberfest. A malt backbone is balanced by subtle hop character in this crisp, clean, and drinkable crowd-pleaser – nothing captures the spirit of celebration like a beer among friends.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.51
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 12 fl. oz. bottle, packaged on 27th July 2018, and poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear copper colour with a two finger white head that had good retention, while leaving only some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, pear, honey, bread, light floral.
Taste: Sweet, toffee apple, bread, honey, brown sugar, with a light bitterness to the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: The light bitterness helps, but on the whole, it was probably too sweet for me.