Beers of the Year 2011

Over the course of 2011, my first year of being able to drink legally in the United States, I took it upon myself to take full advantage of my new (re)found freedoms and decided to drink a lot of beer. Below is a list of the beers that I drank but did not review over the past year. It should be noted that it is not an exhaustive list, but pretty damn close (give or take five beers I think).

Anyway this is mostly for my own OCD-ness in recording things, but enjoy

USA

(generic)

Miller: High Life

Pabst: Blue Ribbon

(California)

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

(Illinois)
Goose Island: Pepe Nero*

(Michigan)
Bell's: Third Coast Old Ale
Bell's: Oberon Ale

(Massachusetts)

Sam Adams: Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Sam Adams: Bonfire Rauchbier

Sam Adams: Octoberfest

Sam Adams: Cherry Wheat

Sam Adams: Irish Red

(New York)

Brooklyn Brewery: Local 1

Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn Summer Ale

Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn Pilsner

Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn Pennant Ale
Brooklyn Brewery: Brooklyn Lager

(Ohio)

Great Lakes Brewery: Dortmunder Gold

Great Lakes Brewery: Christmas Ale

Great Lakes Brewery: Eliot Ness

(Texas)
Ranger Creek: Oatmeal Pale

Saint Arnold: Brown Ale

Saint Arnold: Centenni-Ale (Blonde)
Southern Star: Buried Hatchet Strong Stout
512: Pecan Porter

(Washington)

Fish Brewing: Leavenworth Black Lager

Rogue: Morimoto Soba Ale

Rogue: Dead Guy Ale

CANADA

Big Rock Brewery: Traditional Ale

Big Rock Brewery: Rock Creek Dry Cider

Labatt Blue

Okanagen Spring Brewery: 1516

Okanagen Spring Brewery: Black Lager

Phillips Beer: Longboat Chocolate Porter

CZECH REPUBLIC

Pilsner Urqiel

GERMANY

Spaten: Premium Lager

IRELAND

Killian's Irish Red

Guinness: Draft (in UK)
Guinness: Draught

Guinness: Foreign Extra

UNITED KINGDOM

Newcastle: Brown Ale

Wells Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Samuel Smith: Oatmeal Stout

Samuel Smith: Imperial Porter

JAPAN

Sapporo Brewery: Sapporo Premium

...and beers I tried, but couldn't bring myself to finish

Dos Equis

Budweiser

Natural (Natty) Ice

Some non-alcoholic beer that I can't remember but I couldn't get past one sip

*This beer was phenomenal and I can't say enough about it. Unfortunately I lost the review that I wrote and it is really difficult beer to get a hold of so, check it out here, and then go out and buy it!

Places to Drink

Over the past year, during my endless quest for craft brews, I came across a few great places either to drink or to buy beer which I though I'd share, in case anyone was feeling especially parched.

Places to DRINK

Beer Revolution, Calgary, CA

This is a brand new bar in Calgary attached to Brewster's (Microbrewery/Restaurant). Much like Brewsters (which actually split in half to birth Beer Revolution), it sells it's own brew, but it is also much more focused on selling a wide range of craft beers (almost all on tap). They have TV screens showing everything available and the selection changes every day. I wouldn't even be surprised if on a busy night, it changed every few hours!

Grizzly Paw, Canmore CA

This is a nice little brew pub conveniently located along the drive from Calgary to Banff, Radium, and (everything else located west of Calgary). The serve only their own beers on tap, but with between 9 and 13 at any time, you are spoiled for choices Additionally, the serve a wide range of palletes in beer drinkers, so even if you are pretty particular, they can probably sort you out.

The Flying Saucer, Houston, TX

Quite possibly the best thing about Houston, TX. With over 200 beers and a literal wall of taps, this place is a craft brew enthusiasts mecca in the South (they also have 14 other locations in six states so I'd check your area if you're interested.

Delerium Cafe, Brussels, BE

The place with the largest selection of commerically available beers IN THE WORLD (over 2000 at any time). Need I say more?

Places to BUY

-- DnQ Mini Mart, Houston, TX

806 Richmond

Houston, Texas, 77006

United States

phone: (713) 526-4451

No website and frankly it looks like a crappy convenience store from the outside, but walk in and you'll see one of Houston's real gems. A huge selection of brews for the size of the store (especially given stupid texas craft brew importing laws) and at decent prices too. Also, the best selection of beer glassware for sale I've ever seen in one place.

The New Beer Distributor's, New York, NY

167 Chrystie Street

New York NY . 10002

phone: 212-473-8757

Hands down my place to buy craft brews in New York City. A phenomenal selection of domestic and international beers, with quantity discounted cases and kegs available for parties. A bit difficult to find initially, but as soon as you go once, you won't be able to stay away!

Blaecorn Unidragon

So I believe the name for this one requires a bit of explanation, so I will transplant it directly from the bottle for you.

"What should we all our Russian Imperial Stout? Black Unicorn? Soul Dragon? Nahhhh Let's combine them and create the ultimate mythical creature: Blaecorn Unidragon!"

So their you have it, the Blaecorn Unidragon Russian Imperial Stout by Clown Shoes beer. This is a brewery I can honestly said that I have never heard of, but a quick perusal of their site shows that their humorous naming schema continues through the rest of their brews.

Year: 2011

ABV: 12.5%

From: Form a 750ml bottle, and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: creamy, brown head, medium size

COLOUR: black, with a dark brown tint, opaque

SMELL: roasted hoppy smell

TASTE:

(initial) slight oak-ey character, roasted hops

(body) medium body

(aftertaste) slightly hoppy aftertaste

Terrible

This self-depreciating name comes from Quebec-based brewery, Unibroue. When in Canada, I tasted another one of Unibroue's creation's, their Maudite, an amber ale, and so when I saw that, especially given it's fantastic name, i just had to try it.

On to the brass tacks, though it's name is Terrible, the beer itself is not. A bit too hoppy for me, but none the less a good beer, especially if you like your beers a bit more complex. Final decision, come for the bottle, return for the beer.

Year: 2011

ABV: 10.5%

From: Form a 750ml bottle, and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: creamy, beige head, medium size

COLOUR: black, with a dark brown tint, opaque

SMELL: dark roasted hops, slight berry smell

TASTE:

(initial) comples, sweet roasted hops

(body) medium body

(aftertaste) slightly sweet taste

Bow Bugger Amber Ale

On my last full day in Canada this year, I ended up heading to this great new craft beer hotspot in Calgary called Beer Revolution. With fantastic specials like $2 bavarian pretzels on Tuesdays, and $4 truffle fries on Wednesday as well as tapping a cask every Friday! In addition their food (though it is a bit pricey and pretty limited) it is really phenomenal and if I live in Calgary, I would definitely be here at least once a week.

I went on a Wednesday, so in addition to getting cheap truffle fries, their home brews were $1 off, and so I grabbed me a 12 oz pour of Beer Revolution Bow Bugger Amber Ale. As a beer, it wasn't anything fantastic but, since I knew that it was made less then 30ft away from me and because I was having such a great time, I would definitely drink it again.

Year: 2011

ABV: 5.4%

From: On Draft, and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: creamy, beige head, medium size

COLOUR: dark amber, translucent

SMELL: hoppy

TASTE:

(initial) initally hoppy

(body) good body, hops mellows out into a sweet rich taste

(aftertaste) slightly bitter

Grizzly Paw sampler (9 beer reviews in one!)

Today I headed back from Kicking Horse in BC, back to Calgary in Alberta. Along the way, we stopped for Lunch at the Grizzly Paw, a great little brewery and restaurant that we have eaten at before on this route. Usually I just get a pint of one of the local brews, but since I was feeling especially adventurous (and I am very conscious of how far under my 52 beer review goal I am at this late stage in the game) I decided to go for the all-inclusive sampler and decided to review 'em all.

Given that these were all draft pours into 3oz glasses, in addition to my standard of skipping how the "foam" section, these reviews are going to pretty short and sweet, ending with a thumbs up, down or middling from me.

Powder Hound Pilsner

Colour: Pale yellow, transparent

Taste: Light Body, tastes like a traditional pilsner, aftertaste of corn

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: Some people like really watery light bodies beers, this is for you, not me.

Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat

Colour: Pale amber, transparent

Taste: Light Body, slightly sweet, slight taste of grains, slightly aftertaste of sour

Verdict: thumbs middling

Beaver Tail Raspberry Ale

Colour: Pale amber, cloudy

Taste: Light Body, bitter, RASPBERRY!, aftertaste of raspberry lingers

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: I dislike raspberry, if you do, you'll love this beer

Rutting Elk Red

Colour: Brown-deep red, transparent

Taste: Medium body, note very hoppy, a good standard red ale

Verdict: thumbs up

Big Head Nut Brown

Colour: Dark brown, transparent

Taste: Medium Body, sweet, but not cloying (slightly dry), slightly sour aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs down

Mooseknuckle Coffee Stout

Colour: Black-deep red,

Taste: Rich medium body, slightly chocolately, coffee with a strong espresso aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs up

Indra Island IPA

Colour: Dark amber, cloudy

Taste: Medium body, bitter, VERY hoppy, bitter aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs down

NOTE: If you like hops, like a lot, a whole lot, you will love this, other wise, you've been warned

Unity Brew

Colour: Light amber, transparent

Taste: Medium Body, hoppy, bitter, dry,

Verdict: thumbs middling

NOTE: Though I wasn't the biggest fan of this brew, others at my table really loved it. Also it is worth noting that the name for this beer came from the fact that it a collaboration from 9 craft brewers in Alberta. This is the third year this special seasonal is being produced, and its proceeds go towards funding a great charities, all reasons enough on their own for you to give it a try

Mocha Porter

Colour: Black-deep brown,

Taste: Full Body, rich, very chocolate-y, sweet coffee, slightly bitter aftertaste

Verdict: thumbs up

NOTE: This beer is definitely not for quaffing down. From anywhere in its vicinity you can smell its intense chocolate-yness. It is a desert beer, clear and simple, and definitely a treat if you can find it.

AfterDark

During winter, for the past few years, I have been wintering with my family in a small ski resort called Kicking Horse. Located in British Columbia in Canada, the powder skiing is phenomenal. The biggest problem is that the alcohol is super expense because of high taxes and then it has to trucked out to the middle of nowhere.

Even so, I did manage to score a couple of beers for relaxing in the evening, and this was one of them AfterDark, by the Nelson Brewing Company. What intrigued me about this beer was that is claimed to be Organic (something I later found out is a defining characteristic of all of Nelson's brews). My big complaint about this beer was that I was tricked by it's name and colour into thinking it was a stout or a lager, when it is actually just a brown ale. Free of that prejudice, it is a decent enough beer, and if you are an organophille, it is definitely worth checking out.

Year: 2011

ABV:5.0%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured into plastic cup

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: thin, light tan, dissipated very quickly

COLOUR: very dark, black, opaque

SMELL: very sweet, slightly hoppy smell; like the foam, the smell also dissipated very quickly

TASTE:

(initial) slightly oak-ey, sweet, chocolate-ly taste

(body) medium body

(aftertaste) very little

Bourbon Barrel Stout

At my university, there is one bar on campus. Even though, the can only sell beer, they have a pretty awesome selection (about 30-40 different bottles) and that is where this week's selection comes from.

It is a Bourbon Barrel Stout from the Clay Street Series by Bluegrass Brewery Company. Try as I might though, I cannot find anything about this beer on the internet, besides the fact it was aged in a barrel formerly used in the bourbon manufacturing process—something immediately evident upon opening the bottle.

Year: 2010

ABV: 8.6%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured into plastic cup

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: brown chocolately colour (very big foam) *pour very slowly it still foams

COLOUR: very dark brown, almost black

SMELL: very roasted, charred wood

TASTE:

(initial) roasted taste, leads into a hoppiness

(body) medium body, hints of coffee, charred taste of the barrel

(aftertaste) very hoppy, hint of bourbon, slightly sour

Real Ale Brewhouse Brown Ale

I noticed beer in the fridge a parent's house when I went to visit after returning from my time abroad in the City (see NYC). The bottles (see here) have a very simple unpretentious, hand drawn pictures on their label, which I think is  definitely reflective of the company and a beer a whole. The Brewhouse Brown isn't the most complex flavour trip you are going to go on, but I don't think it has to be.

verdict: check it out.

Year: 2011

ABV: 5.4%

From: half pint poured from bottle

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: khaki coloured foam – very slight, dissipated very quickly

COLOUR: chocolate brown

SMELL: deep roasted, burnt hops, slightly nutty

TASTE:

(initial) roasted hoppy taste, dry with hints of coffee

(body) medium body

(aftertaste) slightly acidic

Brooklyn Brown Ale

Over the summer, while living in one of (if not my favourite cities: New York) I had to take a trip down to my favourite brewery, the eponymous* Brooklyn Brewery, in Williamsburg. While there I had went on their free tour, which while not really taking you through the brewery is still pretty awesome and I definitely recommend it. The history of the brewery is incredibly fascinating but that is for another post, and another time.

The reason why I bring all this up though, is because while I was there I took it upon myself to sample one their beers (even though it was just after 10:00am). Though they had a huge variety of taps available, including limited release brews only ever sold in the brewery itself such as the brewmaster's reserves, but I decided to go with the relatively conventional Brown Ale. Not much else to say actually, like all of their beers that I've sampled, it's a great brew, and if your a fan of more medium bodied beers, I definitely check it out.

*just go with me, yeah?

Year: 2011

ABV: 5.6%

From: On Draft, and poured into plastic cup

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: very small, light tan bubbles, creamy

COLOUR: warm medium brown, translucent

SMELL: light hoppy taste, hints of fruitness

TASTE:

(initial) hoppy, slightly fruity

(body) medium body

(aftertaste) sweet taste

Pumpkin Ale

I picked up this beer in the late summer at my friend Hammer's 21st birthday party. I had ever had a pumpkin beer before but had seen them around during the fall so I thought I'd give it a try.

The Pumpkin Ale is from Saranac Breweries, in upstate NY, a brewery I unfortunately do not know that much about but like most craft brewers, that seem pretty awesome. A quick glance over their website and I noticed that sponsor a ton of different events every year and even have a blog. Reppin' the web!

Year: 2011

ABV: 5.4%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: very thick white foam, small bubbles

COLOUR: matte brown (close to a dark amber)

SMELL: slight hint of roasted hops

TASTE:

(initial) slightly hoppy

(body) lighter bodied beer

(aftertaste) slight taste of cloves

Highway 78: Scotch Ale

Highway 78 Scotch Ale is a very interesting beer. I picked it up partially because I like the minimalist aesthetic of the bottle and partially because I was bullied into in by this overly knowledgeable east European man in the Beer Stone (not liquor store; it only sells beer).

Turns out though, that this is also an incredibly special beer. It is a collaboration between Stone Brewing Company (who made this), as well as Pizza Port Carlsbad, and Green Flash Brewing Company, two other California brewers. There is tons more information on the site linked above and so I suggest checking it out, but I just think that it is pretty awesome in a world of specialization and (in many ways) isolation; some brewers would get together and produce these one off beers just in the name of the craft. My hats off to them.

Year: 2010

ABV: 8.8%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: light tan, didn't really rise, dissipated very quickly

COLOUR: deep caramel colour with a red tint

SMELL: dark, roasted smell (with hints of dark chocolate) but still hoppy

TASTE:

(initial) dark, rich flavour of roasted hops.

(body) full body, and the hops really grows blossoms but never is overpowering

(aftertaste) very little besides the initial flavour, which lingers

Double Bastard Ale

Double Bastard Ale is a from the line of "Bastard Ales" from Stone Brewing Company out of San Diego, CA. Regardless of how their beers taste (they could be absolute shite–they're not–but they could be) and I would still recommend purchasing a bottle or too because the bottles are hilarious to read. The first one I picked up (during last summer) was the Arrogant Bastard Ale and I couldn't stop showing people the bottle because it was too funny.

Unfortunately Though I remember quite enjoying the Arrogant Bastard Ale, The Double Bastard wasn't one of my favourites, so I probably wouldn't drink it again (too aromatic)—but I would definitely give it as a gift to a friend.

Year: 2010

ABV: 11.2%

From: 22oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

FOAM: very light tan colour almost creamy

COLOUR: deep red (like red oak) opaque, but you can still see the glint of light from the bottom of the glass

SMELL: slightly sweet scent of hops with a slight floral bouquet

TASTE:

(initial) floral notes mixed with the bitterness of the hops plant and a hints of chocolate

(body) it has a full body and the flavour really blossoms in the mouth

(aftertaste) the floral notes linger mixed with slight acidic bitterness that grows over time

Delerium Tremens

I first had this beer years ago during my senior year in High School when I went on a trip with a few of friends to Brussels. I was living in the Netherlands at the time, so it really wasn't that far out of the way (or that expensive) a proposition, especially since the entire point of the trip was going to be drinking copious amount of alcohol. Rather than bar hop around the town, we pretty much only drank at two bars, Delerium Cafe, and their sister store across the street Floris Bar (unfortunately the site is offline). This however, was not a problem as Delerium holds the Guinness world record for most available beers and Floris sells 30+ types of Absinthe.

Anyway, not really going to talk much about that night, besides the fact that I enjoyed myself and between the six of us, we tried over 30 different types of beer. One of those beers, was Delerium Tremens, one of the cafe's  own brews. At the time that tried it, I had not seen it anywhere before and it really was a "local" secret if you will, but in the interim, it has exploded and you can know find it everywhere. This change, is not unwarranted though.

This is one of my favourite beers and I recommend it to everyone, regardless of what type of beers you like to drink, (I haven't met a person who I've introduced it too, who hasn't liked it). It may be a bit pricey in your location, but regardless this is a beer to splurge. Highly recommended.

YEAR: 2011
ABV: 8.5%
POUR: from 33cl bottle into Guiness Glass

COLOUR: light golden (transparent), little bubbles continued rising through out the drink

HEAD: white, big bubbles, fairly large 1.5” (mostly dissipated quickly, ring around the edge never goes)

SMELL: sweet, fermented apple (cider)

TASTE:

(initial taste) fermented apple taste

medium body, not very fruity

(aftertaste) sweet, lesser version of the same flavour

White Ale

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: reddish brown

HEAD: cream coloured (very small head, dissipated almost immediately)

SMELL: light oaky smell

TASTE:

crisp hoppy taste, quite smooth

nice body, not to light, not to heavy

aftertaste: slightly bitter

Long Trail Centennial Red

Long Trail Centennial Red
(unfortunately the website is in flash, so you will have to click on beers, then brewmaster reserves)

This was actually the first beer that I picked pour from draft into a 32oz growler; this is something I have never seen before but apparently has become trendy. Basically, it means that a store (in New York try Whole Foods, Brew York City, and the New Beer Distributors will have 32oz or 64oz bottles available for purchase which can be filled from a rotating selection of taps. I didn't particularly like this brew specifically (which seems to be the case with most "Brewmaster's Selections" I try, but c'est la vie, the growler concept is definitely something I will look more into.

ABV: 7.9%
Available: Nov.-Jan. (why I got it in June, I have no idea)

SERVED:

(pint glass from 32oz growler)

COLOUR: dark red, slightly translucent, orange tint when there is little beer

FOAM: small white, almost creamy

SMELL: hoppy, bouquet of herbs

TASTE: smooth slightly herby (spicy) taste

blossoms into a medium bodied beer

aftertaste; bitter herby taste

Holiday Porter

Sam Adam's Holiday Porter

colour: deep brown

head: almost creamy (0.5inch) head, that stuck around for a while

TASTING

smell: slightly sweet grain smell

slightly acidic hoppy taste

smooth, not very heavy, medium body

aftertaste: a bit acidic on the end

Sam Adams White Ale

INFO:

Sam Adam's White Ale is another seasonal brew from the Sam Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack. Like the Fezziwig Ale I blogged about previously, I also ended up picking this over the summer in NY, however, this beer can be purchasd by itself from Sam Adams, during November to January, if you so desired. One fun fact I learned from reading the about the beer on the Sam Adam's site was that is was first produced in the year of my birth; who knew?

Year: 2010

ABV: 5.6%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: light golden colour

FOAM: light of white foam (poured about 1/2 an inch) quickly dissipated

SMELL: slightly hoppy smell hint of earthy/floral notes

TASTE:

(initial) mild slightly floral taste

(body) light and smooth (but also lacks body)

(aftertaste) slightly bitter after taste

Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

INFO:

Sam Adam's Old Fezziwig Ale is a seasonal brew now found only in the Sam Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack. I ended up picking up a bottle from the Winter 2010 run (I presume) over the summer while buying beer in cases to circumnavigate the high alcohol prices of New York City

Year: 2010

ABV: 5.8%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: deep brown colour, with a dark coppery tint

FOAM: nice thick head of foam (poured with little finesse easily an inch or two)

off white, not very lasting

SMELL: sweet yet hoppy

TASTE:

(initial) sweet slighty roasted hoppy flavour

(body) nice, smooth

(aftertaste) slightly bitter

Lindemans Kriek

INFO:

Lindemans Kriek (or Kriek Lindemans) is a lambic from Belgium. If you don't know what that means, bascially it is a wheat beer that has fruit added and is naturally fermented - often giving it a more wine or champagne style taste than a specific beer (it also doesn't taste like crap, as many 'flavoured' beers in the USofA taste like because of the low quality esters used to impart taste). Lindemans Kriek was introduced to me by one of my friends when I was at this crazy awesome bar in Belgium, and so when I moved I was ecstatic t find that a lot of stores in the United States stock it.

Though it is pretty pricey as a niche import, I still probably count it as one of those beers I am always recommending to people; especially if they are not beer drinkers.

Year: 2010

ABV: 4.0%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: full, deep red

FOAM: light pink

SMELL: sweet cherry, red wine

TASTE:

(initial) slightly sweet, cherry flavour

(body) continuation of previous taste, slight taste/heavyness of hops

(aftertaste) slightly sour

Chocolate Bock

Sam Adam's Chocolate Bock

Info:

Seasonal: Winter (Nov.-Jan.)

Exclusive to the Sam Adam's 'Winter Classics' variety pack

Bottle Description: Cocoa with Natural Flavours

5.8% alcohol

COLOUR

dark, black colour

deep red tint

¼ inch head, creamy colour like guinness, but not the same consistency

TASTING

smoky, chocolaty odour

sweet taste, burnt carmelly initial taste

smooth, but tasteless midde

acidicy, bitter after taste

verdict: pass

kinda nice to mix things up a bit, but it wasn't really full bodied enough for me to really want again. If they have it, try it out, but I wouldn't buy a six pack

Formatting Change

After these first few months, in which I have been drinking a lot but not reviewing enough, I have decided to change my strategy. Based on the fact that the style of reviews I was doing before required a lot of research and writing (two things that I scamper from when I get busy) I will be changing to a more information-bulletin-point-style format.

This, I hope will mean that I am able to review more beers than I have thus far.

Here it goes again!

Guinness Extra Stout

INFO:

Guinness Extra Stout is (surprise) a stout that comes from Dublin City in the Republic of Ireland. I have actually visited the brewery/museum, Saint James Gate, (alas I was but a few months too young to sample the draft) nevertheless I highly recommend it as it is a very interesting place.

Guinness itself, though is an interesting beer though; as in it is more than a beer. Apparently it's sales were declining and so it was marketed as a "cult" beer which has definitely worked in the United States where it (for better or for worse) is synonymous with all things Hibernia and WASP-ey by extension.

In addition, you can get it around the world, but it is alway slightly different, depending on where you are (so don't think if you like it in the USofA you will necessarily like it in France). For example, this is the British version of the American site linked above. For a full list of the crazy, check this out.

Finally, I just one last thing before writing up some tasting notes. I really love the way guinness foams. Basically what happens is a small head appears on the top and then you see the bubbles cascade down in the glass rather than up; it is all very odd. The reason for this is that there are a few salient differences between guinness and your average lager. If you don't know what that is, it is actually quite interesting (hint: it involves nitrogen) click here to find out.

Year: 2010

ABV: 5.0%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: opaque black

FOAM: thick creamy, light tan

SMELL: bitter smell of roasted grains with a hint strong coffee

TASTE:

(initial) initial bitter taste of hops (hard to tell the nuances because I drank it very cold as it is really hot out and thats not the best way to drink guinness

(body) the beer has a nice body though that really expands the flavour of the roasted grains giving it both less bitter and even some sweet notes, very much a full palate taste

(aftertaste) slightly bitter but not unpleasantly so

Smithwick's Irish Ale (2010)

Recently (due to a certain marathon of Guy Ritchie films I was hosting) I found myself with an overwhelming desire for a beer from the British Isles, and so I picked up a six-pack of Smithwick's Irish Ale (an import that claimed to be Ireland's favourite beer). Now, not to be only to put too much stock into what labels say about their product, I did some quick research, and apparently, Smithwick's is Ireland's local favourite draft, at according to the Internet. It also is listed as one of the top beers in Ireland according to the McHale beer rating club of Ireland and has won a number of awards.

With all this knowledge going in, I had some pretty high expectations for the beer, but they unfortunately didn't pan out. It poured a very clear dark amber-brown colour with a very tall head of off white foam that was fairly thick and long-lasting (it nicely coated the entire inside of the glass as I polished it off). The aroma was also faintly hoppy and not unpleasantly beer-y. As for the taste, it was incredibly smooth, even within the categories of red ales, with only had a trace of bitterness to it. The alcohol precentage was nominal (4.5%) but there was no real wateriness to the beer, it drank like a beer with a solid body.

Unfortunately, that is pretty much all there is about this beer. Everything is not bad, it is an average beer in all respects and as such I found it underwhelming. Sure nothing is necessarily bad (though I did feel the taste was a bit thin) but there was also nothing special about it either, nothing really stood out.

If I was to hazard a guess as to why this beer is so popular, I would probably place the blame it on nostalgia. This is the beer that is served in the pubs of Ireland so for many, it is what the first started drinking, which for better or for worse, holds some weight. For me that first beer Heineken and even though I don't really drink it anymore, it will always have a special place in my heart for this reason.

Verdict: If you're Irish, you care about it regardless of what I say, but for everyone else, a decent, drinkable beer.

Seasonal Ale: Snow Cap Winter Warmer (2010)

The Snow Cap Winter Warmer is another seasonal brew, this time from Pyramid Breweries of Portland, OR. As the name suggests, it is a winter beer and therefore only available from October to December, the bottle that I had was from 2010.

When poured the beer had a hoppy nose and was very dark amber in colour with a light brown, almost yellow foam. Unfortunately, though the foam didn’t rise very high and dissipated quickly. As for the taste it initially was very bitter and had the roasted feel of a stout. The actual drink maintained that roasted flavour but added notes of a high cocoa percentage chocolate and dropped in bitterness to level much smoother and more in keeping with an ale. Each sip ends with sweeter feel, but unfortunately leaves a slightly unpleasant bitter aftertaste in you mouth that lingers.

All in all, at 7% it is a decent beer and tastes as full bodied as its bottle claims, but regrettably the bitter initial and aftertastes come on so strong that they make the ale feel week by comparison. Still at 1.99 a bottle, it is hard to fault a decent non-massive-corporate beer that still manages to be drinkable.

Verdict: Don’t pass it up if people are giving it out, but try it before you invest

URL: http://www.pyramidbrew.com/our-brews/snowcap

Black Chocolate Stout (2010)

I picked up this beer at the suggestion of an acquaintance Sam, who highly recommended it. Since I am much more a fan of darker, heartier beers and this was a at least called itself a stout, I decided to give it a try.

The Black Chocolate Stout is a winter beer from the Brooklyn Brewery available from October to March, the particular limited run that I drank was the '10-'11 edition.

The beer poured an opaque black, with a dark tan foam, of less than average height. It had a very bitter, complex taste with notes of a very dark chocolate (hence the name) and coffee and at around 10% alcohol per volume, this is not a drink to trifle with. Yet even with all that said, everything was subdued enough that it was surprisingly drinkable while maintaining the flavour. The one downside though is a bit on the expensive side (expect to pay around 6 or 7 dollars a bottle online) but I would definitely say it is well worth it. Just be careful because you will definitely be wanting more but the higher alcohol percentage means that like many hearty Belgian beers, you just want to watch your drinks and make sure you don't drink too much.

Verdict: Stock Up

Birth of a Blog

So this is it. I'm starting a beer blog.

Basically the reason is that I have spent so much time trying to defend the right of the beer connoisseur to be as snobby as a wine drinker, in theory, but I feel the next logical step is for me to then actually do it.

So here it begins. With some experience "drinking" wine as an "enthusiast" (thank you, living in Europe) but none at all drinking beer than way, I will attempt to review one beer a week (that is 52 beers total) over the next 365 days and post their reviews here.

Well, wish me luck, and here goes nothing...