Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

Over Christmas break, Cathy and I were able to sneak away to the Winking Lizard and grab a beer in between last minute shopping, eating, and family time. I was able to finally get a chance to drink the Winter seasonal from Dogfish Head, Chicory Stout.

This stout was very strong on the coffee flavor and the addition of the roasted chicory was a very nice touch. I do enjoy chicory brewed in my iced coffee and this very much reminds me of that. It pours a seriously dark chocolate color with a nice tan head. Smells were roasty, if that is even a word, and overwhelmingly like coffee (which is good in my book). The only thing that bothers me about this beer was the black licorice/anise. That is probably one of my least favorite flavors and when I get a taste of it, it takes over my taste buds.

I'm glad I got a chance to finally have a taste of this beer. Dogfish does a great job experimenting with flavors and isn't scared to take a chance. Since stouts aren't really my favorite style to begin with, I'll probably pass the next time I see this one.

Happy Drinking!

Who: Cathy
Where: Winking Lizard
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

21st Amendment Hop Crisis

The Imperial IPA is becoming more and more of a staple in the craft beer world. What once was a style that was kind of "out there" it has become very mainstream in recent time.

Honestly, I chose this beer because of the packaging. Being a designer, when I have trouble picking out a new beer to try, I gravitate towards the best designed package. This can has a fun little cartoonish take on the "hop crisis" of a few years ago when the prices soared, almost crippling the beer industry. Described by the brewery as an:

IPA that breaks all the rules with more malt, more hops and more aroma.

They even age this beer in Oak for good measure.

21st amendment and their "can" only beers, I have had a few IPA's recently in cans, and I just can't seem to get over the "taste" difference. It probably is just in my head that it tastes different, but their is something a bit strange about having a IPA from a can. But for hopheads this is a pretty good option if you have to drink out of a can.

Color is golden with some not quite white head. Floral, fruity and citrus hops. It is a pretty full bodied beer and not overwhelming on the bitterness. You can really taste the oak or grains from the aging process. It was pretty good, but nothing that I will be clamoring to have again.

Happy Drinking!

Who: Me
Where: Home
Price: $$$$
Score: 3 / 5

North Peak Diabolical IPA

I was able to give this IPA a try while on vacation in the Traverse City, Michigan area this past summer. Surprisingly, Traverse City has a lot of craft beer options and I was able to take in a few of them.

North Peak Diabolical IPA was an average beer at best.

Amber colored beer with a medium cream colored head. Floral, citrus and grainy smell. Very hoppy, heavy grapefruit and grainy taste, I didn't feel that it had a nice balance to it though. It left a very fuzzy feeling and taste in the mouth. I don't remember it being a very pleasant experience with this beer.

Honestly I was more drawn to the logo and branding of the North Peak brews. If I ever get a chance to try Diabolical again I will, but it isn't on my list of favorite IPA's.

Happy Drinking!

Who: the Fam
Where: Traverse City, Michigan
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

New Holland - Dragon's Milk

New Holland Brewing brings us Dragon's Milk. An oak barreled beer, I'm not sure if it is a stout or ale or what. Not that I really care in the end, but it's hard to compare it to other brews if I don't know what type of beer it is.

"Dragon’s Milk Ale, is a crown jewel of New Holland Brewing Company. It is the unrivaled result of painstaking processes - both creative and scientific."

Not sure what to think of that other than they really want us to like this beer because it's hard to brew.

Anyways, it pours a deep dark chocolate color with a tan head. Smells of vanilla, caramel and a bit of the oak from the barrel. Tastes mostly of vanilla and alcohol, but some of the oak flavor comes through as well. I have really been into the dark/chocolate/vanilla beers this season but this beer didn't distinguish itself from the others.

I think that if it had been barreled in bourbon instead, like Jefferson's Reserve, I think I would try this one again. I was excited to try this because it was recommended by a stout loving beer friend. Sorry to disappoint, but this won't make it back to the cooler any time soon.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale

Beer number 2 from the holiday beer cooler. The Flying Dog k-9 Winter Ale.

My favorite part of the Flying Dog series has to be the artwork on the labels. The illustrations are fantastic and a bit scary at the same time. Who would want to mess with that dog? Not me.

Not the best brew by Flying Dog, but still pretty good in my book. Pours copper/amber color with a nice white head. Lacing was seen down the glass all through the beer. The beer is way more malty than hoppy, though you can detect a slight earthy hop, but it is very subtle. There is a fruitiness to the beer as well but I couldn't quite put my finger on the taste, not a citrus fruit for sure.

A solid winter warmer, not the best but well worth the try.

Happy Drinking!

Who: the Fam
Where: Rita's House
Price: FREE
Score: 3 / 5

Brooklyn Brewery - Black Chocolate Stout

The Brooklyn Brewery brews 2 winter seasonal's and we start with their Black Chocolate Stout.

A Russian Imperial Stout, poured a very dark black/brown with a nice head on top. This was a very full bodied beer and the smell and taste of dark chocolate and coffee beans is almost overwhelming. The alcohol is at the forefront, giving you a nice warm feeling on what should be a very cold winter day. There was a super strong bitterness in the beer from the dark chocolate and coffee flavors. I feel like it is almost too much though as that is the thing I most remember.

If you are into dark chocolate and coffee then this beer will be for you. It is a beer that is probably only for cold winter days/nights though. I can't imagine having this on a hot summer night. I know that a lot of folks really enjoy this brew and have it as one of the top winter seasonals. I don't think I would vote it to my top 3 but I was glad I gave it a try, and will probably come back to it again.

Happy Drinking!

Who: Joe
Where: BORZONE!
Price: $$$$
Score: 3 / 5

Lagunitas Censored Ale

Lagunitas The Censored Rich Copper Ale

Another beer from the California based brewers. They claim

"This ale contains no actual copper but we're pretty literal... It looked coppery, so we lamely called it a copper ale."

Pretty funny claim, yet true none the less. I picked this one up when I made my own 6 pack at Bruisin' Ales in Asheville.

This wasn't my favorite red/amber/copper ale, but it wasn't the worst. You could smell the sweet and toasty caramel malt and maybe a bit of the hops, but it was tough to smell it over the malt. Has a "gasp" copper color...

The caramel malt hits you hard and their is a slight hop bitterness at the end. I think I got hung up on the metallic aftertaste, which kind of turned me off. I think the best part was how easy it was to drink and that isn't what I look for in a beer.

All in all, not great but not terrible. I'll probably try something else before I get this again.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Cottonwood Endo IPA

From the Carolina Beer Company in Mooresville, NC.

Cottonwood Endo IPA was a pretty good American IPA. I really enjoyed this beer and wish I could get it up here in Ohio. Poured a copper brown ale and smelled of caramel malt and hops. It was a nice blend of the hop and malt flavor, it was less hoppy or bitter than other IPA's, but not bad. Was a medium bodied beer and it could get easy to lose count on this one.

Who: Em
Where: Em and Bill's - Johnson City, TN
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Asheville Brewing Scottish Red

Beer #2 from Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co was the Scottish Red.

Deep amber/red color typical of Scottish Red beers. Smells of malt and toasty caramel. Head was nice and left pretty good lacing as the beer went down. Very smooth taste that was similar to the smell. Toasty caramel with sweet malt and a slightly bitter finish. Cathy really enjoyed this beer because it has both the sweet and bitter combination.

I wasn't overly impressed with the beer but it was a pretty good Scottish Ale. Glad we got to give it a try.

Who: Cathy
Where: Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Tommyknocker Butthead Doppelbock

My parents came to visit us this past weekend and brought down a box full of new beers that I have not had before. This is beer #1 of the bunch.

Tommyknocker Butthead Doppelbock from Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Pours a very dark orange with a slight creamy/tan head. Not much lacing down the side of the glass, but what was left was expected. Not a bad tasting beer, not a great tasting beer. It was right down the middle. This doppelbock was very sweet with caramel, cocoa and maybe some molasses (which is why I will give it a 3, not a big fan of molasses).

The high ABV of a typical doppelbock gave it a big full sweet flavor. Although, it had a pretty nice hop finish which helped me get over the sweetness. Because of this, I could probably only have 1 or 2 of these.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Summit Oktoberfest

All the way from Minnesota, Summit Brewing brings us a decent Oktoberfest style beer.

Pours a light orange color with a slight off white head that disappears. A caramel, grainy, toasty smell is apparent. A very sweet caramely taste with a mixture of hoppy bitterness. Has a pretty high avb which is surprising from the taste. I would say it was a medium bodied beer as I had 2 at the end of the night (after pizza) and didn't fill me up completely. Easy to drink 2 or 3.

They didn't do anything to distinguish it from the others, but it is a decent Oktoberfest and I would recommend a try to anyone.

Who: Cathy and Dad
Where: Home
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Brooklyn Brewery - Oktoberfest

Brooklyn Brewery - Oktoberfest

This is the 2nd fall beer that we picked up last weekend and also from the Brooklyn Brewing Company. Not bad, not great. A pretty typical Oktoberfest brew, nothing to distinguish itself among the dozens of German marzan's that come out this time of the year. I really enjoy the Brooklyn Brews but both of their fall beers disappointed me this year.

Nice dark amber color. Smells like a lot of malt. A nice caramel flavor and maybe some nutmeg. Cathy thought it was very earthy and grainy in its bitter finish, but not too bitter. The malt and hops combo is pretty smooth here. All in all it is a very drinkable beer.

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Lefthand Jackman's American Pale Ale

Jackman's was another beer that Thad picked up a couple of weeks ago. I preferred it to the Southern Tier Harvest Ale.

Not much smell to the beer, but had a nice malty, citrus, bitter combo. It was a pretty smooth APA and I could've had a few without issue. It doesn't really stand out as a great beer, but there really wasn't anything wrong with it either. In the end it is a pretty basic APA and I might try it again down the road but I'm not going to go out and buy a 6 pack anytime soon.

Who: Thad
Where: Cleveland
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Southern Tier Harvest Ale

Harvest Ale

Southern Tier's Fall Seasonal Ale.

Thad picked this up for a party this weekend since we both hadn't tried it yet. I wasn't all that impressed but I won't complain all that much since I was able to try it for free.

Nice yellow/orange color with an earthy smell. It wasn't a very pleasing fall ale to taste though. The beer is a little on the earthy and citrusy side, which I normally like, but for some reason just wasn't doing it for me this past weekend. I would like to give it another try, but for a fall seasonal not high on my list.

I have liked the other Southern Tier brews that I have tried, so I will most likely try this one again. Compared to the Lefthand I had this weekend, it didn't land on it's feet.

Who: Thad
Where: Cleveland
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Buckeye Brewing - Hippie IPA

Buckeye Brewing - Hippie IPA

Craft Brewer from Cleveland, Ohio.

My brother-in-law to be (3 weeks to go), Joe, took me to the Beer Engine in Lakewood, Ohio (10 mins from downtown Cleveland) to take in a few beers and a sandwich before we went to the Indians game.

I only had a sample of the other Buckeye beers but this one rules the roost of the one's I tried (mostly lagers). None of the others were worth getting a pint of...I always try to get the beer of the city/region that I am in since I can't get them back home in Cincinnati. The Beer Engine is the home of Buckeye Brewing so I had to start with them.

Hippie, pours a nice amber with a slight white head. Very much a beer for hop heads, as the explosion of hops is apparent from start to finish (smell, taste, after taste). There is also a caramel malt flavor. Other people didn't think this was quite as bitter as I did, but that was what truly came through in my tasting. Not the best IPA I have had, but was decent and I would probably get another if I ever went back.

Who: Joe
Where: Beer Engine
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

Last Friday, Bill and I sat on the deck listening to the Reds lose to the Brewers and kicked back with a few beers. I went for the Brooklyn first, since I really enjoyed a few of their other brews.

American style Pale Ale that pours a typical amber/orange color. You could really smell the malt over the hops in this beer. A very sweet carmel flavor with a slight citrus bitterness at the end. It was a pretty smooth drink because the hops were very weak.

I would recommend the East India Pale Ale or the Brown Ale from Brooklyn over this brew. It's not necessarily a bad beer, just not what I enjoy so much. Especially copmared to the Stone IPA and the Hazed and Infuzed we ended up drinking alongside this one.

I wouldn't refuse one next time around, but you probably won't see me buying a 6 pack for myself anytime soon.

Who: Bill
Where: the deck
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Magic Hat - Circus Boy

Circus Boy - Hefeweizen

From the Magic Hat Pandora's Box.

I am normally not into Hefeweizen (or any wheat styled beer), but this one really wasn't all that bad. From what Cathy says, its very close to what you would get in Germany, so in my opinion it can't be all that bad. She did say it wasn't as good as those in Germany, but still not a bad American styled wheat beer.

Pours a nice hazy yellow/orange color without much head. You can very much taste the wheat and a small citrus flavor at the end. That citrus bitterness is probably why I liked this one a little more than other wheat beers I have tried. Still won't get a very high score from me, but
I would recommend trying this to anyone. Especially since you can get 3 of them in a Pandora's box, if you don't care for it, then you won't have to worry about getting rid of 5 more!

Who: Cathy
Where: Home
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Magic Hat - Odd Notion (Spring)

Magic Hat - Odd Notion Spring 2008

The spring brew from Magic Hat. Available in Pandora's Box (4 types of beer 3 of each kind in the box). It was an Irish Ale styled beer (which makes sense with St. Patricks Day in the spring).

The beer pours a very nice amber red color with a very small or almost no head. It has a simple taste and not as bitter as the Great Lakes (Conway's Irish). You can very much smell the cinnamon, ginger and cardamon in the beer. Those flavors also leave a nice spicy feel to the mouth when you are drinking the beer.

It was easy to drink and I am not upset that I gave it a try. Definitely not my favorite beer but very drinkable.

Who: They Guys
Where: My House
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Landshark Lager

Landshark Lager from the Margaritaville Brewing Company.

Jimmy Buffett brings us this Island style lager from the songs he sings about. I would guess that this beer is best enjoyed with a big fat cheeseburger with all of the fixins and sitting on your deck or patio with a nice summer breeze blowing.

My brother brought this over to our parents house for Easter lunch since we hadn't tried it yet. It was as expected for a beer from Jimmy Buffett. Think something in between Corona and Bud Light. Now, I'm not one to put Lime in beer, but it just seemed weird that there was no lime and a hot breeze blowing in the background. This beer really made me want the warm weather and honestly I can't wait to kick back with another 6 pack on the porch this summer. It wasn't my favorite beer but once its hotter and I don't want something so bitter and filling, I'll probably grab this before Corona next time.

Who: the family
Where: Mom and Dad's house
Price: Free
Score: 3 / 5

Happy Drinking!

Carlsberg

Coming to us from Copenhagen, Denmark is Carlsberg Beer.

As I stated in the Stella Artois post, this European Green Bottled Lager is not my favorite type of beer. The first (and last) time before this 6-pack that I had Carlsberg was when I was in San Fransisco my Senior year with Luke (2004). It was St. Patrick's day and the last bar we went into was selling these for around $2 and we really couldn't pass that up as poor college kids visiting a big city.

There is a nice smoothness to the beer which makes it go down pretty easy. My problem is with the smell of these types of beers. I really can't get past the skunky smell and it really hinders my experience with the beer. That is probably why it takes me about 4 years in between buying Carlsberg. The reason I bought it this time was to probably take me back to that trip to SF and remember all of the great times we had that week.

Who: Luke
Where: Some bar in San Fransisco
Price: $$
Score: 3 / 5