Sunday, January 31, 2010

Recipe

We are brewing again this coming Saturday. I am working on a partial-mash recipe for Oatmeal Coffee Stout. I am looking for a higher abv, somewhere in the mid 8's. It would be ideal to do this as a full-grain but we don't have a pot big enough just yet. Either way, we may end up calling this one, Breakfast.

Not all that original, so look for the name to change.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

North Coast Brewery - Old Rasputin

What a beer!!!

Sitting at the bar in Yia Yia's - Lincoln, Nebraska. A dark night wet with rain and melting snow. And this place, a holy beacon for a traveler stranded in Lincoln ...

But I digress. The first beer I ordered was Old Rasputin. Not sure why I haven't picked this up yet. I truthfully was unaware it was so easy to find in my hometown, Chicago.

A beautiful pour - dark chocolate with a toasty tan topper. A gorgeous beer, smelling strongly of chocolate with hints of coffee and fruit esters.

The first sip is eye-opening as this is a big beer with great coffee and enormous chocolate notes right up front. It also possesses an amazing hoppy front and a velvety smooth finish. I kid you not, this is so thick and full it tastes like dirt would taste if dirt tasted good.

Drink up my friends, this is a beer to fill your fridge, share with friends, and cherish until it is no longer with us.

Serving type: bottle

Flying Dog - Horn Dog Barleywine

A: Dark, dark amber with a decent one-finger head. Moderate staying power.

S: Plum and raisin with sugar. Almost peachy with melon coming over the top. This is a very fruity beer!

T: Very sugary, malty with a nice hoppy finish.

M: Sugar and bitter hop

D: It' okay - decent for the style. I generally need to be blown away with a barleywine to consider it drinkable. It is so hard to blend the malt and extra sugars with the right amount of hops to make the perfet BW.

Nice work.

B+

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Yia Yia's - Lincoln Nebraska

What a surprise. I went directly from a vacation in NYC to Lincoln for a work conference. What a contrast. On my last night, I took a recommendation and visited Yia Yia's. I don't know where to start.

The beer - over 300 bottles and 10-15 taps. I had:

Old Rasputin
Weyerbach's Simcoe DIPA
Boulevard Single Wide IPA
New Belgium Ranger IPA

Outside of an expired bottle of Single Wide, the selection was fantastic. All over the world, a bit Colorado heavy, but who can complain when you are trying to circumvent Lincoln distribution laws.

The food - no hyperbole here - the best pizza I have ever had. Better than NYC, better than Chicago, better than Naples.

First slice - potato and peperoncini. What a combo!

Second slice - Blue Cheese, Walnuts and Olive Oil. This did it for me. Put it over the top. Best pizza slice ever.

Third slice (gluttony) - Basic cheese - just okay.

They allow you to create custom slices that are under $5.

The only complaint was about my initial service. I came from a conference, so my style of dress didn't mesh well with the hipster bartenders and locals. However, after finally getting it across that I was a true beer geek, all was well. Never judge a book by its cover!

Cigar City Jai Alai IPA

What a beer!

Had this at Blind Tiger in The Village.

Great place.

A: Dark golden copper/amber with a decent head and moderate staying power.

S: Nice hop bouquet.

T: Oh, where do I start. Drool? The hops with a brilliant citrus and floral taste blend so well with the great sweetness this beer brings to the table.

M: I love it! Good hop bruise with a fine sugar stickiness and just the right amount of carbonation.

D: Yes!!!!

Stone - Levitation

Part of a sampler at Rattle n' Hum

A: Clear, dark amber with a good head and good staying power. Great lacing!

S: Nothing bult malt and minimal hops.

T: What? Airy hope bitterness and nothing else. Is something wrong - is this beer old? Weird watered down taste up front with a redeeming hop bitterness on the back of the tongue that is somewhat of a saving grace. Maybe my palate was bruised from an earlier beer but the lack of smell seems to support this.

M: Minimal hop bitterness, seems watered down. Not much in the way of mouthfeel.

D: I will try this again, but for now, it gets an average rating, which hurts as everything else Stone I have had has been great

Blue Point - Old Howling Bastard

Barleywine

Part of a sampler at Rattle n' Hum.

A: Clear amber. Not much head - could be due to pour.

S: Spice front with a nice hop component. HUGE malt - spicy sweetness!

T: Just like smell - sweet and spicy - sugar lips with a nice hop addition.

M: Decent carbonation - spiced hop aftertaste is great.

D: Very good barleywine - the sugar makes it all worthwhile.

Firestone - IPA

The only full pint of the day at Rattle n' Hum.

A: Golden copper - almost a clear, deep amber. Moderate head with no staying power. Good lacing.

S: Grapefruit and orange. Very nice floral hop bouquet.

T: Smooth - good hop balance with malt backbone. Brown sugar sweet.

M: Good bruise from hops with a nice malty, brown sugar sweetness on the lips.

D: Very drinkable sweetness with a bruising hop component make for a wonderful combination! I really like this beer.

A

Moylan's Hopsickle

Imperial IPA

Had this as part of a taster at Rattle n' Hum.

A: Cloudy golden ale with no head and moderate lacing. Looks very inviting.

S: Sweet and yeasty. Hops, obviously.

T: BRUISING! Hope everywhere and nothing else.

M: Um, bitter.

D: Insanity in a glass. Too much for a regular but a great one-time treat. They truly went above and beyond with this one.

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

IPA

Maybe it was the long day and the afternoon at Brooklyn Brewery that put me in the wrong place to rate this beer. I don't think it stacks up the way most seem to think.

A: Cloudy, amber orange with minimal head (from pour) with no staying power.

S: Yeast - fruity esters with some hops and orange citrus.

T: Deep hop bruiser with a good kick. Great orange and grapefruit. Very heavy.

M: Nice lively carbonation with hop pucker.

D: Being honest - this beer is a bit much for me. Maybe, as I mentioned above, the earlier day-trip to BRooklyn Brewery was part of it, but something tells me there were too many hops and not enough malt to back it up.

Brooklyn Backbreaker

English Strong Ale

I understand why they decided to do this. Garrett Oliver went to England, fell in love with traditional four-row malt and is being very authentic. However, I did not enjoy the lack of aroma and it was, frankly, a bit too fruity. Point of interest, this was served at the brewery out of a plastic cup.

A: Amber - no head to speak of with good lacing.

S: None (plastic cup?)

T: Fruity yeast - sweet malt. Some hop with great bitterness coupled with a fruity maltiness. Eh.

M: Good bitterness.

D: Okay - not going to drink another.

Brooklyn Blast - Double IPA

Had this at the brewery prior to a tour. I will post more about the brewery at a later date, but this a very interesting take on a DIPA.

A: Golden golden perfection here with minimal head, no staying power. Great lacing.

S: Fruity esters, hops and citrus with a little malt and yeast. The only weak point on this beer was the bouquet.

T: Grapefruit - amazing floral hop taste with a hint of lavender.

M: Nice bitterness with great carbonation.

S: Very good, very fresh beer.

A-

Sixpoint Otis

Oatmeal Stout I had at Five Points restaurant in NoHo. Good stuff.

A: Pours jet black with a substantial, whipped head similar to Guinness which indicated a nitro-pour.

S: This is weird. An almost soapy smell with hints of chocolate.

T: Chocolate and coffee with Spice. Oatmeal makes for a silky, interesting combo of the two.

M: Great, easy carbonation. Silky mouthfeel from the oats and the whipped head are good.

D: Yes, good. Lower alcohol, I think. Very tasty.

B

Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout

This has always been a standby for me - primarily because it is a cheap, quality coffee stout.

A: Dark Amber/Brown with Ruby Red Hues. A 1-inch off-white head with quick dissipation. Great lacing.

S: Malty with vanilla/coffee accents. Also a bit yeasty with fruity esters.

T: Coffee and alcohol with a little chocolate. Really does taste like a cappuccino.

M: Brilliant!!! Nice, smooth carbonation.

D: A really drinkable beer, particularly for the price.

B+

Thursday, January 14, 2010

So here we go ...

To NYC tomorrow bright and early. Lunch reservations, heading to rattle n' hum, see MOMA tomorrow night, dinner with friends after.

Will be great.

Oh yeah, having a Hopslam right now and SO IS MY WIFE!

Beer Naked

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bell's Hopslam - Redux

I stand corrected. I had this on tap two nights ago and was somewhat disappointed. Don't get me wrong - it was good, but not as good as I was expecting. The bottle, on the other hand, wow!

A: Nice honey amber with a good 2.5 inch white head with great lacing.

S: Hoppy goodness with a fair amount of honey sweetness coming through. Of course there is the appropriate ctirus.

T: Huge and hop heavy - this is what I was expecting! Nice hop bomb cut with honey and a very slight white pepper finish. Grapefruit as well.

M: The label is right - this is a bruiser. Velvety hop assault with a fine honey backbone. Decent carbonation.

D: 100% better than the tap. This is what I was expecting!

Second Chances

I purchased a sixer of Bells Hopslam and tasted last night. I think the bottle is a lot better than the tap. Not that anything is wrong with the taps at Sheffield's. On the contrary, they know what they are doing with beer. Maybe it had to do with the temperature, I am not sure.

I will post my review later today. In the end, the bottled Hopslam was the hop bomb I remember and the taste I expected.

Beer Naked

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Backlog

Okay, the backlog of reviews I had is finished and on the site. Will review a few more this week and a boat load in NYC this weekend. Next week will be in Lincoln, Nebraska and will likely try a local brewery down the street from my hotel.

I should have plenty to add to the site in the coming weeks.

I will also be adding a listing of the beers I have reviewed and then a suggestions box.

Thanks,

Beer Naked

Lagunitas - Brown Shugga

I like this beer.

A: Pours a very dark amber with generous head. Great head retention and tremendous spider web lacing on the glass.

S: Hops, malt, Brown Sugar (of course). Also fruit that I cannot place - but definitely there. A dark fruit - plum, raisin?

T: Malty sweetness aided by the brown sugar make this a real treat. The hop-bitter finish and great residual sugar coupled with the fruit leave a great taste in my mouth after each sip.

M: Sticky sugars and great hop pucker make for a great mouthfeel.

D: A bit high in alcohol. Very nice hop presence and the brown sugar stickiness is a definite asset.

Big Sky - Scape Goat Pale Ale

Note: I am not a pale ale drinker, normally. However, I appreciate the style, want to learn more, and want to have a beer around that my wife will drink. This is it!

A: Clear, golden copper. Good head with poor retention. Very good lacing.

S: Yeasty with a bit of malt. Some slight fruit esters with a touch of hoppiness.

T: Nice rounded malt flavor with the perfect hop complement for the style. A nice, bitter, well-rounded pale ale.

M: The above mentioned balance creates a tremendous mouthfeel. Feels great on the cheeks and tongue.

D: Great session beer at 4.7%. Something I will keep in my fridge for sure.

Big Sky - IPA

12 oz. into pint glass.

A: Pours a cloudy, dark amber - very pretty - with minimal head (too cold into pint glass?). Great lacing on glass.

S: Yeast before hops. Orange peel.

T: Hop bitter up front - very orangey. Astringent, bitter - reminds me of cleanliness. My last batch of IPA was cooked at too high a temperature and it tastes a lot like this.

M: Too astringent. Bittering hops too big, not balanced with flavoring.

D: Just okay. But not horrible.

Bell's Hopslam

Hopslam release party last night at Sheffield's in Chicago. The beer was way to cold, had to warm it in hands for almost 5 minutes before it started to open up. The first sip, while cold, was very tight and very carbonated. I think I will have to buy this in the bottle and try again. I remember it being so much better. still good though.

A: Opaque golden amber with a bright white head. Head has moderate staying power and lacing.

S: Orange, lavender and grapefruit. Not a ton of hops on the nose. Weird, I know, but the truth.

T: American hop forward. After warming, grapefruit, orange peel, honey.

M: Great when warmed.

D: Good - will try again and may change this review. This is still a well made beer, just not entirely what I remember and definitely not what I was expecting.

Bell's - Special Firkin of Expedition Stout

Was at Sheffield's in Chicago for the Hopslam release party and they tapped a firkin of Expedition Stout prior to the Hopslam.

A: Dark brown, casading down the glass - it looked almost like Guiness (bad lighting). Great toasty brown head with tremendous staying power and fantastic lacing. Looked like a glass of chocolate!

S: Malt, sugar - Brown sugar, very big coffee.

T: Bourbon - Heavy Coffee - Brown Sugar. A little maple syrup with a very peaty taste. Also a backing of carmelized brown sugar.

M: Wow!!! All I can say.

D: Only one. I could not have had another. Too much to handle, but what an experience!

Half Acre - Big Hugs

Bought a bomber at the Half Acre facility on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago - what a great looking place. The loading door was open and it smelled divine. Looked cool too - I will be booking a tour soon.

A: Pours jet black, cola with a toasty brown head - marvelous looking beer in the glass. The head has okay staying power and there is great lacing on the glass.

S: HEAVY malt and coffee grounds with a sweet, slightly nutty smell.

T: Bitter at first, sweet, too sweet and fruity. Some coffee, but I have to be honest - way too thin and sweet fruit for a big beer like this. I really think it missed the mark.

M: Just okay - thin body with residual coffee and hop bitterness creating a decent mouth feel.

D: Eh. I would like to try it again to be certain of this review, but not at $10.99 per bomber. I drink a lot of stouts and this one missed the mark for me.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Last night

I split a bomber of Black Sun with Dana (now a follower of this site!) and had a few Big Sky IPAs. Black Sun was outstanding. I am glad I followed up by reading Three Floyd's site description as I thought it was supposed to be a RIS. It is listed as a medium bodied stout carrying coffee and piney hops. I was VERY pleased with this. Fantastic smell, great taste with outstanding drinkability.

The Big Sky had a very unique, pleasant smell - a little different than the Ska/Victory IPAs I have been drinking of late. The taste left something lacking. Technically, this is a brilliant IPA with a lot of character and a great balance of Hop/Malt, I just don't love it.

No review for either of these (maybe a Big Sky as I have one left) as I was at a function and thought pen to paper would seem a little odd.

There will be a review for Half Acre Big Hugs later, though - and it won't be a good one.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Victory - Yakima Twilight

A: Pours a dark amber with a light tan, very substantial head.

S: Hop upfront (of course) but almost fruity with grapefruit on the nose and something else, apples? Sugary, malty smell but well balanced with the fruit and hop.

T: Again, hops. Goes without saying. Very upfront, but something different, unique - probably the focus on the Yakima Valley hops. Either way, comes with a bitter dry finish that leaves you wanting your next sip.

M: Brilliant and smooth - with a great bitter, dry finish.

D: Great and mellow for such a hop bomb. I read a review here that mentioned the malts balancing out the hops in a brilliant way and I agree. A smooth, mellow double. Enjoying another right when I finish typing this ...

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Last thought of the day...

Two things:

1) I won't generally make a habit of waiting a week and rating the beers I drink all at once. The holidays and a friend's tragedy necessitated the postponement. Either way, great beer all the way around.

2) I think I know why I gave Hercules such a low rating (B). First of all, it isn't the right kind of bold for my palate. It is very good, don't get me wrong, but it is missing something - I can't put my finger on it quite yet. Secondly, Stout/Porter is new to me. Not new as in I have never consumed them. No. My introduction into craft beer was via Lagunitas IPA. Up until six months ago, I would have billed myself as a Hop Enthusiast. But now, things have changed. I still love hops, but I can appreciate Belgians, RIS, Amber Ale, etc., without first comparing them to a monster IPA. To put it simply, my taste is growing.

So there, the reason I am initially harsher to IPAs lies in my proclivity for them, not my disdain. I have tried more of them. The others, there turn is coming.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

12 oz into tulip.

A: Pours black - looks a bit like cola. Great head with good staying power.

S: Sweet and nutty, malt and chocolate. I am getting excited about this one.

T: Same as the smell, spot on. The name says it all - this tasted like Black Chocolate. Oh yeah, also coffee. This is fantastic brew and is deserving of any and all accolades.

M: Eh, a little to be desired, but not bad. I'll just say the moth feel is true to style.

D: If you like stout and you don't like this beer, you don't like stout. This stuff is amazing.

I am sure to have a review soon where I don't love the beer, I promise.

Left Hand - Fade to Black

12 oz to Tulip

A: Small, toasty brown head with limited staying power. Pours ink black.

S: Toasty Malt at first. Warm spices second. Dark fruits as it settles into the nose.

T: Smokey and Bitter malt. Peat. Coffee hits a few seconds after first stip. Coffee Liqueur is there as well. Finally, I think it combines to a chocolate covered espresso bean. This is fantastic.

M: Surprisingly, the mouthfeel is lacking a bit. The coffee stays around which is neat but this is the only weak point of this for me.

D: I was a bit surprised at first, what with the smoke/peat. But after one, I couldn't wait to have another. This is great stuff.

Great Divide - Hercules Double IPA

22 oz. into tulip-like glass.

A: Very clear - a light amber color. Thick head with staying power, even with the 2-pour.

S: Grain and Grass (as my brother-in-law says, "these beers taste like weeds"). Obvious Citrus and Apricot, with significant alcohol on the nose.

T: Bitter (in a good way) from start to finish. Vanilla (weird, I know). Bitter orange and grapefruit as you would expect, but the grapefruit almost takes a backseat to the apricot/vanilla, almost. This is, as you like to say, a Hop Bomb, but not in the traditional sense. The vanilla/apricot seems to curb the intensity a bit, but it is still there. The hoppininess seems to mask the alcohol as well, which may be where this comes from.

M: A nice and easy pucker... Sorry, but it is bitter on the cheeks and tongue for quite awhile after the first sip and that, to me, is fabulous.

D: This is a very drinkable beer - not quite what I was expecting with a name like Hercules tied to it, but what do I know. I think the masked alcohol could be dangerous, so buy the 4-pack and not the bomber.

Grade: B+