Category: Beer Reviews

Posted on

Raven Beer # 1 – Pendulum Pils

For September, I will be reviewing two new to me beers from RavenBeer.  First up is Pendulum Pils….

For your edification, here is their description, “Pendulum Pilsner is a rich velvet smooth, yet clean, dry and crisp pilsner of a pale gold color. The complex mix of hops and malt creates an elegant floral nose and delightful taste that is very drinkable without overwhelming even the most tepid beer drinker. Not overly bitter but just enough of the hop to enjoy their subtle complexities while still enjoying the smooth, and almost sweet taste of the malt.”

Posted on

Review – Ladyface Pro-Am – Dark Horse Belgian Strong Ale

IMG_5660

Last Sunday, I drove out in the stifling heat to Agoura Hills, parked right next to the Ladyface van (of which I did not try to even peek inside or try the door handle) all so that I could taste their new Pro-Am beer for the Great American Beer Festival.

I am a huge Ladyface fan but what makes their Dark Horse – Belgian Dark Strong even better is that I know the “Am” half of the equation as well.  Pipe Dream Brewery fronted by the great Kingsley and Brian got to take one of their beers to the taps!

It has already won accolades at the Mayfaire Competition (Best in Show) and at the L.A. County Fair this year.  And now I got to taste it!

IMG_5655

Not a big surprise that I really enjoyed it.  It is a big, big beer but the alcohol is effectively masked so that the dark raisin taste and the nice bubbly carbonation can take more of the stage.  There is a bit of sweetness but overall this is more a dry beer with some minor caramel notes that really lets that typical Dark Belgian flavors shine.  It pours a dark brown but when the light catches it, it gets a red glow to it.  The aroma is mostly dried raisin and prune but is not too bold and it doesn’t contradict the flavor either.  My only regret is that it was really too hot to enjoy it fully.

 

 

Posted on

Review – Alphadelic from Hop Valley

alphadelic

A double review! I first had this beer in December of 2012 and had these brief words to say, The canned version. Another strong IPA offering from Oregon. Restrained with a load of hops to work through. Nice and vibrant.

In my latest trip to Portland, I picked up another can of the Alpadelic from Hop Valley at the new Imperial Tap Room (where I also had a pint of Boring Brewing’s Oatmeal Pale ale) on Division Street on da’ Eastside. And this is what I think of the beer now, this IPA pours a light amber. The aroma is citrus with a hint of medicinal notes to it. The taste is pretty bitter but it fades away nicely before the next sip. Much better cold when there is a snap to it. The warmer it gets the more caramel sneaks in. Cool looking can design as well.

can back

And I have just started watching Moone Boy on Hulu. Funny stuff. Very much in the vein of “A Christmas Story” just set in 1989 Ireland.  And it has the very funny Chris O’Dowd in the imaginary friend role.

Posted on

Review – Gilt Edge from Ruhstaller

IMG_5299

I have had a couple Ruhstaller beers now.  They of the distinctive netting on the bottle necks and the detailed information on the provenance of the beer’s ingredients from this Sacramento brewer.  Then I see this hoppy lager (in a can) which I immediately grabbed knowing that I would review it later.  So here goes….

Pours a medium yellow. Foamy head at first. Nice amount of bubbles, very sparkly and festive looking. Cereal aroma hits me first with a spicy hop note on the side. Taste marks this as more of a hopped lager. Initial flavor is that malt crispness that is quickly hidden by the piney hops. Though the grain does make a comeback at the end of a sip which is cool.  Love the stick on label attached to the plain silver can.  And I love even more the listing of the hops and barley.  Makes for a more informed customer!

IMG_5298

And what am I reading now. you ask?  Well it is Double Feature by Owen King.  Yes, another writing son of Stephen and Tabitha.  Must be genetic.  I have just started but I am partial to father-son dynamics so it should be up my alley.

Posted on

Review – Edmund Fitzgerald from Great Lakes Brewing

First off, thanks to Steve at the Glendale Tap for the bottle.  I did not want to open it sooner.  But at a low 5,8% abv, I knew it wouldn’t keep.

IMG_5192

I first had this beer (my one and only purely Great Lakes beer) back in 2010, then I had their uber-smoky collaboration with Deschutes Brewing.  And now, I return to the original.

IMG_5191First is my review from back in 2010, “I have been waiting awhile to taste this porter and I was not let down. Strong malty flavors with hits of coffee and some chocolate. Not heavy though. Light as a feather. Nice carbonation too. Lovely all around. Wish I saw it more in LA.”

Now the re-review, Edmund pours a dark cola brown color.  Not much head to it.  The aroma is smoke but it is only medium and not in the rauchbier territory.  The taste is coffee bean and mile chocolate.  Bitterness coming from not smoke but from those two flavors which throw off that taste.  Light but it does really cover the palate.  A little viscous but not heavy at all.  A classic beer that is well deserving of award.  As it warms that milk chocolate really comes on strong.

I cracked open this beer while watching the free preview of the BBC’s Broadchurch.  I enjoyed it to a point but British murder mysteries seem to be going very dark.  I may watch the remaining episodes but I think I will try Orphan Black first.

Posted on

Review – Aberrant from Bergschrund (Logsdon)

IMG_5183

Love the label in this new series from Logsdon.Farmhouse and good to see another beer offering from the Logsdon folks.  Mostly because I haven’t had even close to a bad beer from these guys.  On to my quick review: Pours a pale straw yellow with a big foamy white head.  A light Belgian yeast note in the aroma that really hits upon the first sip.  I pick up vanilla and spice notes amidst the funk.  My sister in law detected some fruit notes that I didn’t notice but maybe some stone fruit lurks for those that are more supertaster than I am.  Really light tasting and not 8% abv at all.

IMG_5184

I have seen this one at Vendome in Toluca Lake and at a few other beery locales and I highly recommend it.

And what am I reading while drinking this?  A book about wine!  Heresy, I know but I have learned a nice amount of information already from the Inventing Wine by Paul Lukacs.  And that is in just a the first few pages.

Posted on

Review – Unionist from Eagle Rock Brewing

IMG_5174
Now I have had this beer on tap on a number of occasions at the Eagle Rock taproom but this is the first time from the bottle. So it made sense to review it anew to see if my taste had changed and to see if I had any new insights.

To start here is the old review:
“Eagle Rock really hits the mild side and I don’t mean that negatively. They know how to brew a really nice and bright beer. This new one is no different. Light touch of Belgian yeast with a bit of spice and bit of hops. You get a nice hit of all three without one overpowering the other.”

IMG_5175

And now the bottle review, Pours a lovely orange color. Getting slight notes of nutmeg and cinnamon first followed by a dash of hops. Still a pretty bright beer. The spices linger past any other notes. A little bit of banana as well. All light touches. Nothing huge but a nice melange of flavors.

Thieves of Baghdad is the current book that I am working on. I started the Wet and the Dry but was turned off by the writer/narrator/tour guide. So I started this book about the investigation into the loss of antiquities during the Iraq War. The writer/narrator/tour guide of this book and I would have nothing in common but he is engaging and erudite. Plus it is the current Linfield College Common Read selection. And as a loyal Wildcat, I am obliged to read it.

Posted on

Review – Standard from Prairie Artisan Ales

Last month, I posted about Prairie Artisan Ales from Oklahoma, and then surprise, here is a review of their Standard, a hoppy farmhouse ale.

IMG_5154

I love the cool comic label. Little scared by the description of “How to Noodle” but I got past that to the beer which pours a light yellow color with a little bit of bubbles. Lovely Belgian funk going on in the aroma. Barnyard for sure. It really coats the mouth. Nice little fizz at the front of the tongue which fades into a bit of vanilla for me. Simple and classy.

IMG_5155