Category Archives: Beer Reviews

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Pinot Suave

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.8%
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Other Notes: Belgian style ale with pinot noir grapes aged in French oak barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian style ale aged in French Pinot Noir barrels with Pinot Noir grape must. The result, notes of Pinot grape, berries and fruit along with light malt and a hint of caramel.

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

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, bottled on 25th April 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: An amber orange brown colour with a thin tanned head that dissipated quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Sweet malt, caramel, dark fruit, prunes, fig, vinous, grape.
Taste: Sweet, vinous, overripe grape, dark fruit, prunes, raisin, caramel, oak, with red berry notes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A touch sweet, but the Pinot Noir grape must and barrels give this sipper some nice interesting aroma and flavours.

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

Deschutes Black Butte XXIX

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 12.2%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 29th Birthday Reserve. Porter brewed with Dutched cocoa, Saigon cinnamon, and cayenne, 50% aged in Bourbon and Rum barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) In celebration of our 29th anniversary this year’s Imperial Porter delivers notes of dark chocolate and cinnamon spice with hints of coconut, vanilla, and dried fruit finished by a warm dash of cayenne.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.33
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.2

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 29th birthday reserve, bottled on 12th June 2017. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark dark brown in colour with a thin khaki head that had dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass while leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Light roast, dark chocolate, cayenne, vanilla, rum, dark fruit, plum, raisin, with a hint of cinnamon.
Taste: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, rum, dark fruit, plum, raisin, with a very light hint of chili spice.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very enjoyable sipper with adjuncts that work very well together.

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

Deschutes Black Butte XXVIII

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.6%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 28th Birthday Reserve. Imperial Porter brewed with cocoa, vanilla, peated malt and sweet orange peel with 50% aged in bourbon and scotch barrels

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Cocoa, vanilla, peated malt, and sweet orange peel. 50% barrel aged in bourbon and scotch barrels. The result is our 28th Anniversary Imperial Porter with bright orange and vanilla aroma, layers of roasty chocolate and a warm, smokey finish.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.19
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 28th birthday reserve, bottled on 13th June 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown in colour with a thin khaki head that dissipates quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving spotty lacing.
Aroma: Dark fruit, raisin, prunes, orange peel, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, with a hint of peat.
Taste: Lightly sweet, light roast, chocolate, vanilla, orange peel, bourbon, dark fruit, raisins, prunes.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: A very nice sipper with lots of dark fruit, chocolate, orange and bourbon.

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

Deschutes Black Butte XXVII

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Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 11.6%
Style: Porter – Imperial
Other Notes: 27th Birthday Reserve. Ale brewed with rose water with 50% aged in bourbon barrels blended with ale with apricot puree, cocoa nibs, pomegranate molasses and spices

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our 27th Anniversary Imperial Porter was brewed with Theo’s cocoa nibs, pomegranate molasses and select spices, blended with apricot puree, and then aged in bourbon barrels. The result is a truly exquisite ale with bold chocolate character, inspired flavors of fruit, and just a pinch of spice. The perfect way for us to celebrate our golden birthday with you!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.03
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 22 fl. oz. black waxed bomber, 27th birthday reserve, with a best after date of 20th July 2016. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Dark brown with an orange hue, and a thin khaki head that dissipated quickly, while leaving some sparse spotty lacing.
Aroma: Roasty, cocoa nibs, chocolate, fruity, tangy, dried apricot, orange, with soft bourbon notes.
Taste: Moderately roasty, chocolate, cocoa nibs, vanilla, lightly sweet, molasses, fruity, dried apricot, orange marmalade, pomegranate, and a hint of bourbon.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Interesting series of adjuncts that I wouldn’t have put together, but results in an interesting and pretty enjoyable sipper.

4 - Good (buy), AleSmith Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy, USA

AleSmith Wee Heavy

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Brewery: AleSmith Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 10%
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Other Notes: Scotch style ale

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This Scottish-inspired deep mahogany-colored ale showcases a rich, malty flavor profile of caramel and toffee offset by hints of roast and subtle smoke. The complex malty sweetness includes notes of dark fruit balanced by a subdued hop bitterness. Wee Heavy is incredibly nuanced and in a class of its own in terms of balance and sophistication. It ages very well and will keep improving for years to come.

My rating: 4-
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.97
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 1 pint 9.4 fl. oz. foiled and capped bottle, with no clear bottled on or best before date. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A cloudy amber copper orange colour with very thin beige head that dissipated quickly, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Dark fruit, prunes, caramel, toffee, booze, with a light roast and a hint of chocolate.
Taste: Sweet malt, light roast, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, prunes, brown sugar, with light notes of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with light to moderate carbonation.
Overall: A nice sipper with good flavours.