Category: Beer Reviews

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Review – Shipwrecked DIPA from Mission Brewery

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Before I get into my brief review of the quart sized “cannon” of a DIPA from Mission Brewery, here is my 2010 review dusty from the archives….

Pretty orange/copper color. Hop aroma is pronounced. Nice and malty with a good amount of hop heat to it. A good representation of the DIPA style without going overboard.

Horrible pun there at the end I know and yes that is a bottle opener in front of a can.  Made for a prettier picture.  32Oz makes this one to share with a friend or two.  It is strong.  Really strong.  It is not a subtle DIPA.  I got some grapefruit notes from it but the predominant taste is a battle between the malts to keep up with the hops are mostly of the dank and pine variety to me.

The cannons are an interesting presentation and one that might make for a cool gift for the beer lover on your Christmas list or to share around the Thanksgiving table.  Of the two that I sampled courtesy of the brewery, I liked the XPA better.  The hops were more punchy and the wheat really let the citrus taste grow on you.

My non-beer side is reading a collection of 6-word memoirs from Smith Magazine. And thinking to myself that it is a lot easier in some respects to fine tune 6 clever words than writing 1700 per day for National Novel Writing Month.

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Review – Pit Stop Porter from Half Moon Bay Brewing

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Mavericks, the sessionable series of beers from Half Moon Bay Brewing arrived at Bevmo when I wasn’t looking and in addition to the porter there are a Pale Ale (Back in the Saddle) and a Wit (Pace Setter) in cans.

The Porter pours a dark brown.  The taste is straight up a mix of chocolate and vanilla and the latter is what comes through to my palate.  Semi-sweet but not cloying.  A tiny fraction of roast notes sneak in there as well.  Quite smooth as well.

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National Novel Writing Month is taking it’s time toll on me, but I have found the time to watch a bit of Almost Human (one of the two Fringe people shows), the other being Sleepy Hollow.  I don’t know where this show is headed but I am intrigued.  Maybe it is the SciFi geek in me but it looks promising.

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Video Review – Double Cross from Crux Fermentation Project

When in Portland recently, I picked up my first (well designed) bottles from Crux Fermentation in Bend, Oregon.  Here, is my review of the Double Cross, a strong Belgian dark….

Here is the description from the Crux website, “Crux’s interpretation of a Strong Dark Belgian Ale is a blend of Belgium malts, Belgium dark candi sugar, Oregon Sterling hops and Yakima Delta hops for flavors that are deceptively sweet and innocent.”

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Review – El Conquistador XPA from Mission Brewing

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A week back a box appeared on the doorstep of BSP Headquarters with two Mission Brewery beers in it.  I had heard tales of their new “cannon” sized cans but it did not mean the initial sight was less surprising.  Since it came in such a big can (1 quart, aka 32oz), I expected the Conquistador to be huge considering it hails from San Diego.  But to my surprise, this was a quaffable and spot on XPA.  Very well balanced.  You get wheat notes, hints of citrus (mostly orange) and a parting shot of bitterness that fades off nicely and doesn’t damage the tongue.  And it is a lovely light orange color as well with a light fruit aroma.

You could be selfish and drink this yourself since the ABV is a low 4.8%.  But I would suggest sharing with a friend or having 1/2 in the first half of whatever game you are watching and then the rest after halftime.  This size makes them good for tasting events too.  You could get a group of 8 together and everyone could have a solid 4ozs.  Wow, just dropped some math on ya’.

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You can ask my wife, but when I love a TV show, I will re-watch it and currently I am re-watching Season 1 of Dexter.  You can make a plausible point that the show has gone on too long and gotten a little trippy at times but re-meeting the characters in earlier times is fun and reminds you where each person was at when this started.

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Video Review – Impasse Saison from Crux Fermentation Project

When in Portland recently, I picked up my first (well designed) bottles from Crux Fermentation in Bend, Oregon.  Here, is my review of the Impasse Saison….

Here is the description from the Crux website, “Saison, French for season, was traditionally brewed during the harvest season for Belgian Farm workers. With the harvest season upon us, we bring to the table our Saison, teasing with hints of citrus and spices. Hops and malt are well-balanced and layered with just a touch of sourness.”

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Review – Crime from Stone Brewing

It had been awhile since a box from Stone Brewing had reached my doorstep, but then I received this….

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To give away my review, I am so glad that I did not get Punishment.  This beer is all pepper.  Seriously, it is hot.  My cheeks are warm and my lips are stinging.  Crime is part of the 2013 Series, Quingenti Millilitre.  This was Batch No. 8.  It has red and green Jalapenos.  Cause why not.  Then they added MORE peppers.  Caribbean Red Hots, Black Naga’s, Fatalis and something with Scorpion in the title.

Supposedly it is Lukcy Basartd Ale aged in Bourbon barrels.  But those flavors are gone.  Obliterated.  Nowhere to be found.  To me it is undrinkable when warm and barely good when ice cold.  I am not a pepper fan but I have enjoyed Habanero Sculpin in the past as well as other beers with chile in them when they worked “With” the rest of the beer.  That is not the case here.  This is one note and that note is hot.  More novelty beer than anything else.

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I wish I had gotten No. 7 in the series the Southern Charred.  Oh well.  At least the new book I am reading is good.  It is by L.A. (Echo Park) author Charlie Huston. Skinner is about “asset protection” in general but fast paced action with social commentary on the side.  Another cracking read from Huston whose book The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death is one of my favorites.

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Mid-Western Beer Review – 5 Grass Hoppy Ale from 5 Rabbits

Here is the second review of a Mid-Western beer brought back from Chicago,  5 Grass from 5 Rabbits…

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Was expecting a little more hop to this one, considering the name and all.  Pours a nice clear amber color.  Spices really take the forefront here.  The sage is coming through and I am getting some savory ginger type notes as well.  Some pepper too.  A little metallic note as well.  Tasty, just mis-named for me.  I much prefer the 5 Vulture which was a take on the mole, in beer form.  I am intrigued to try more of the line-up from this brewery though.

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Mid-Western Beer Review – Domain DuPage from Two Brothers

I brought back a few bottles from my recent trip to Chicago and now is the time to review them!  First up is a French Country Ale from Two Brothers, Domaine Du Page…

IMG_6602The Domaine pours an orange/brown color. Nutty aroma at first then perceptibly changes into something like a fruit but granola bar. There is a bit of alcohol heat in here too. This is classic Dubbel realm and quite good.  When I was in Chicago, I also tasted their pale ale, Sidekick.  It was quite enjoyable sitting in the sun, staring at the Cloud Gate sculpture, AKA the Bean, and having a hoppy good time.

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Review – Clown Shoes Galactica

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Yes, I am deeply afraid of clowns.  But I am growing fonder thanks to the beers of Clown Shoes from Massachusetts. The Sci-Fi heroine on the label points to a hoppy concoction from the hop staff she wields.  Galactica pours a bright orange color. Thin head on this one, a quick dissipation of bubbles. A bit of caramel on the nose with some slight citrus behind it. My initial taste is of grape and grape juice. And that taste doesn’t fade as it warms up.  It is almost like a grape barley wine. Good little sparkle to it as well so it doesn’t get too cloying.  I would like to see this in an XPA version to get a little more of the hop character.  As is, it is more an East Coast big malt bill that leads the way.

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The Terrible Real Estate Photos blog is my new favorite site (after mine of course).  Photo after photo of some really bad home shots that shouldn’t have seen the light of day.  Hit the delete button people!  Or better yet, don’t.  I love reading the pithy little comments below each one.

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Review – Evil Dead Red from AleSmith

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What could be more perfect for Halloween?  For a SoCal hop fan, AleSmith’s Evil Dead Red is a perfect Halloween treat.  It pours a reddish brown and has a fragrant hop aroma coming off the glass.  The taste starts off with some chewy maltness that is quickly overcome by some sharp carbonation and a wild melange of hops.  I get a little citrus, some fruit punch and some floral notes.  And they are strong. But the whole thing is well balanced.  You get some more cereal notes at the end to really round the beer off.

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And in keeping with the zombie theme on the label, my favorite Halloween film to watch is Shaun of the Dead (tragically mis-spelled).  Followed by the first Paranormal Activity, The Exorcist, Arachnaphobia and the Blair Witch Project.  I am not a big horror fan.  Don’t like the chain saws and knives and crazed pyscho’s on the loose.  I prefer a little more realism and some humor.  Maybe it is because I watched a Pinhead movie when I was young and was turned off the whole blood and gore thing.  Obviously, Evil Dead should be paired with it’s namesake movie but for Shaun of the Dead, I would go with Fuller’s Black Cab Stout.  Dark but light bodied.