4 - Good (buy), American Strong Ale, Beer Reviews, Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia), USA

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Monday, 5 October 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. (Arrogant Consortia)
Country: USA
ABV: 7.2%
Style: American Strong Ale
Other Notes: IBU – classified. Hops – classified.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This is an aggressive ale. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory–maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beverage will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

At Stone Brewing, we believe that pandering to the lowest common denominator represents the height of tyranny–a virtual form of keeping the consumer barefoot and stupid. Brought forth upon an unsuspecting public in 1997, Arrogant Bastard Ale openly challenged the tyrannical overlords who were brazenly attempting to keep Americans chained in the shackles of poor taste. As the progenitor of its style, Arrogant Bastard Ale has reveled in its unprecedented and uncompromising celebration of intensity. There have been many nods to Arrogant Bastard Ale…even outright attempts to copy it… but only one can ever embody the true nature of Liquid Arrogance!

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.15
My ratebeer.com rating: 4

Intro: A 22 oz bomber with an enjoy by date of 9th October 2015 and poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: Poured a very nice clear dark copper amber colour with a one finger tanned head with low retention but leaves spotty lacing.
Aroma: Strong caramel malt aromas followed by maple syrup, toffee, almond and pineapple. There were also hints of minerals and also piney hops towards the finish.
Taste: Sweet-ish roasted caramel malts mixed with grapefruit and pine hop bitterness. The finish is a very nice long lasting bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Mid to full bodied with medium carbonation and nice light alcohol warmth.
Overall: I haven’t had the chance to try many American Strong Ales, but this one was really good. Great balance and the lasting bitterness at the end along with the light alcohol warmth make it really enjoyable.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Belgian IPA, Clown Shoes Beer, USA

Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp

Friday, 2 October 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Clown Shoes Beer
Country: USA
ABV: 7%
Style: Belgian IPA
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled by Mercury Brewing Co., Ipswich, MA.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Like a stamp on a tramp, this beer is about not so subtle seduction. Soft but complex malts, Chambly yeast, sweet orange peel, Columbus, Amarillo and Centennial hops have merged to create a bodacious Belgian IPA.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.6
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a bottled on date of 23rd March 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy dark amber orange colour with a thick almost two finger off white head that has great retention and leaves thick foamy lacing.
Aroma: First thing that comes to mind is Tropicana orange juice. It is strong orange juice with hints of caramel malts, citrus orange zest, grapefruit and lemon.
Taste: Citrus orange peel hits you upfront followed by grapefruit, pine, caramel malts and some kind of funk (in a good way).
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with high tingly carbonation.
Overall: Admittedly, this is my first Belgian IPA, and its interesting and decent, but there is just way too much orange in this for me.

4 - Good (buy), Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Beer Reviews, German Doppelbock, Germany

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Country: Germany
ABV: 7.4%
Style: German Doppelbock
Other Notes: 32 IBUs

Brewer Description: (from website) Our Korbinian, the full-bodied, dark Doppelbock with light brown foam, wins beer-lovers over with a balance of fruity hints of plums and figs, a dark malt aroma – reminiscent of toffee, nuts and chocolate. Its roasted flavour goes well with smoked meat and fish as well as venison and poultry. Brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition of the Weihenstephan hill.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 500ml bottle with a best before date of 3rd October 2015 and poured into a Riedel weizen glass.
Appearance: Poured a clear very dark brown colour with hints of ruby and a one finger chestnut coloured head that dissipated quite quickly with only light spotty lacing.
Aroma: Malty, treacle, brown sugar, milk chocolate and hints of vanilla.
Taste: Similar to its aromas, there’s malt, burnt sugar, brown sugar, caramel, chocolate and a hint of dark fruit like prune.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, velvety, mid to full bodied with low carbonation.
Overall: A very nice doppelbock from a great brewer. Just falls behind Celebrator in my book, but definitely something I’d drink again.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V., Flanders Red Ale

Rodenbach

Tuesday, 29 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5.2%
Style: Flanders Red Ale
Other Notes: Aged in oak vats with 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak.

Brewer Description: (from website) Rodenbach is the unique “Flanders Red-Brown Beer”, recognised as a traditional local product. Mixed main fermentation and maturation in oak casks (“foeders”) give it the same sweet-sour flavour and complex fruitiness as wine. Rodenbach consists of 3/4 young beer and 1/4 beer matured two years in oak. Rodenbach is highly refreshing and appetising: the perfect aperitif!

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

Intro: A 330ml bottle with a best before date of 3rd October 2015 and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: Poured a dark reddish brown colour with a thin tanned head (although on my second bottle, an extremely aggressive pour gave me a one finger head) that leaves plenty of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Nice strong tart cherry and grape aromas with hints of vinegar and oak.
Taste: Tart cherry with hints of vinegar and grape bubblegum.
Mouthfeel: Dry, light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: The most basic of the Rodenbach line, this was very good. It was very refreshing, nice on the palate and easy to drink.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Deschutes Brewery, USA

Deschutes Inversion IPA

Monday, 28 September 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Country: USA
ABV: 6.8%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: 80 IBUs. Malt – Pale, Munich and Caramel. Hops – Millennium, Bravo, Centennial, Northern Brewer, Cascade and Delta.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We worship the flower, the hop flower, that is. We know you do too. Inversion is our tribute to that flower, with plenty of balance, finesse and personality to feed the hop lover in us all.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.59
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.4

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a best by date of 11th November 2015 and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: The beer poured a clear copper amber colour. There was a huge three finger light tan head that had good retention and left plenty of stringy lacing.
Aroma: Strong piney and grassy aromas with hints of citrus lemon zest. There is also some light caramel malts and apple juice there.
Taste: Bready and caramel malts upfront followed by plenty of pine and hop bitterness. There are hints of apple juice and grapefruit in between and a long lasting bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: This was a good IPA if not stunning although I prefer more carbonation. But Fresh Squeezed is still my go to IPA from Deschutes.

words of another dreamy traveller