Category Archives: 4 – Good (buy)

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

AleSmith Speedway Stout – Hammerhead

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Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 12%
Style: American Imperial Stout
Other Notes: Coffee Imperial Stout with Espresso

Brewer Description: (from website) Mirroring the coffee-house espresso-drink of the same name, Hammerhead Speedway Stout is a version of AleSmith’s world-renowned coffee imperial stout dosed with even more select java plus a heaping helping of espresso. This highly caffeinated one-off was first brewed on an experimental basis as part of AleSmith’s popular Speedway Grand Prix event during the 2013 edition of San Diego Beer Week. Introduced along with 11 other special versions of Speedway Stout, it was an instant classic and the all-around favorite of AleSmith fans. As such, we are immensely proud to bottle it for the very first time as the first in a family of future releases that will eventually tackle the beer’s much beloved offspring, Double Hammerhead Speedway Stout and, for the most insatiable Joe enthusiasts, Triple Hammerhead Speedway Stout.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: On tap at Mikkeller & Friends (Stefansgade), Copenhagen, into a Mikkeller tasting glass.
Appearance: It was a nice dark black colour with a one finger beige head with moderate retention and great lacing.
Aroma: Dark chocolate, oak, vanilla, coffee and a touch of alcohol.
Taste: Espresso, chocolate, vanilla, oak and dark fruit.
Mouthfeel: Rich, full bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: A very nice Imperial Stout and a great variant of the Speedway Stout.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Gose, USA, Westbrook Brewing Co.

Westbrook Gose

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Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 4%
Style: German Gose
Other Notes: 5 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) This is our interpretation of Gose (pronounced “Gose-uh”), a traditional German-style sour wheat beer brewed with coriander and salt. Once nearly extinct, this very refreshing style is making a comeback.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.04
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: On tap at Fermentoren, Copenhagen, into a Fermentoren wine glass.
Appearance: It was a clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving only sparse light lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, grape and white wine.
Taste: What you smell is what you taste. Salty, sour, tart, grape and white wine.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It was very refreshing and great to drink outdoors on a hot summer day.

(picture below) Westbrook Gose is obviously the glass on the left. On the right is the Verzet Oud Bruin.

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4 - Good (buy), Barleywine - English, Beer Reviews, USA, Westbrook Brewing Co.

Westbrook Anfernee Whiskey Barrel Aged

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Brewery: Westbrook Brewing Co.
Country: USA
ABV: 8%
Style: English Barleywine

Brewer Description: I could not find much information about this beer.

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

Intro: A 250ml pour on tap at BeerTemple into a BeerTemple mini pint glass.
Appearance: It poured a hazy dark brown colour with a half finger tanned head that dissipated fairly quickly but left nice spotty lacing.
Aroma: Wood, oak, Tennessee whisky, sherry and dried plum.
Taste: Very similar to the aroma with Tennessee whisky, oak, sherry and dried plum along with hints of vanilla, caramel and cocoa bean.
Mouthfeel: Full to medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: This was a very nice sipper that is well balanced.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Lagunitas Brewing Company, USA, Wild Ale

Lagunitas Aunt Sally

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Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.7%
Style: American Wild Ale
Other Notes: 33 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) A unique dry-hopped sweet tart sour mash ale. We soured the wort on the Hot Side with Lactobacillus for a few days and then brewed up this smooth and hoppy sour. It tastes like a big bowl of fruity candy or some chewable flavored vitamins, but what’s the difference? It’s sweet, tart, and sassy, just like the tasty cherry pie that your favorite aunt makes. For all the Aunt Sally’s out there, you know who you are…

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 250ml pour on tap at BeerTemple into a Lagunitas mason jar glass.
Appearance: It was a clear golden colour with a less than half finger white head that had pretty good retention and good lacing.
Aroma: Sour grape followed by lots of tropical mango, peach and apricot with hints of honey and funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, mango, apricot, peach with a hint of citrus orange on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: It was very refreshing and easy to drink. Easily a drink all day and anytime type of beer.

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4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes), Bière de Garde, Switzerland

BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2014

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Brewery: BFM (Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes)
Country: Switzerland
ABV: 11%
Style: Bière de Garde
Other Notes: Ale aged in oak barrels

Brewer Description: (from website) Don’t be afraid of sour beers! Love them! L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is an antique beer, a strong sour ale with 11% abv, aged in old wine oak barrels during one year. After the aging period, the different casks are blended together in order to obtain complexity and lots of flavours. Saint Bon-Chien is one of the world’s flagship’s sour beers coming from a mixed fermentation. It first ferments with wine yeast, then during the cask’s maturation, lots of microorganisms coming from the casks change the beer’s flavour profile.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.39
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 250ml pour on tap of the 2014 vintage at Moeder Lambic Fontainas into a Moeder Lambic snifter glass.
Appearance: It was a slightly hazy dark amber brown colour with a one finger tanned head with good retention and nice lacing.
Aroma: Tart, plum, cherry and oak.
Taste: Sour, tart, balsamic, plum, cherry, oak, lightly medicinal plus hints of grape bubblegum sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: Very nice! A bit boozy and a little sweet but still delicious.

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