Category: Beer Reviews

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Review – Saint Archer Pale ale

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Here is my thumbnail review of my first ever beer from San Diego’s Saint Archer, their pale ale…..

“Pours a light orange. Has almost a Nelson Sauvin aroma and taste. Some herbal dankness as well. Almost a white wine set of notes. Bitterness is medium. A bit sharp. I am a bit conflicted on how to rate this.”

Here is the description from the brewery, “Balanced toward the hoppy end of the spectrum, this straight-foward, California-style pale is eminently sessionable. Crystal and Munich malts provide a backbone to showcase the bright, citrus, piney notes of Cascade, Chinook, and Simcoe hops.”

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Review – Sculpin (in cans)

My bier buddy Richard aka Cap’n, recently went to San Diego and he brought back the new, canned version of the iconic Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point.

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Here is what I found when I opened the cans….

Pours a lovely orange color.  I am a little dubious about the variety of fruits listed on the label but I am surprised to get quite a bit of apricot balanced out by a charming hit of hops.  The bitterness isn’t super big but it adds a nice punch akin to sea salt too caramel.  Just tastes more frutier than I remember and I like it.

And here is the website info from the brewer, “The Sculpin is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. It showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon. The lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops.”

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Review – Class of ’88

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I will admit it.  I graduated in the Class of ’88 when North Coast, Deschutes and Rogue started their breweries.  So I was drawn to this beer the moment I heard about it.  So, expectations were high from a brewery reputation standpoint and a sentimental viewpoint too.

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’88 pours a bright and clear orange color.  The head is bubbly and then fades.  It is 10% abv after all.  Initial aroma is reminiscent of many a barleywine before.  With some orange notes at the back too.  Good sparkly and carbonation to this that fades into an orange zest and alcohol taste.  The top of the mouth is coated with hops of a medium/high bitterness.  That orange taste could be amped up some to combat the slickness and the alcohol but a damn fine sippin’ beer.

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Review – Rolle Bolle

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Ever since getting the Great American Beer Festival media tour of their brewery, I have been impressed anew by New Belgium.  And they have a new summer beer (Rolle Bolle) that I can’t pronounce but forthwith is my review….

Pours a light yellow with many, many bubbles flowing to the surface.  Tiny white film graces the top of the glass.  Aroma doesn’t reach out and grab you but gives you a gentle nudge in the Belgian yeast direction.  The taste heads that way too but is mostly influenced by the soursop and the Monk fruit.  The hop profile is next to nothing for me because the yeast and weird fruit are battling it out for supremacy.  I get a citrus tea overall note.  It works for me and I can see this as a nice summer sipper with a light salad.
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Here is what the brewery says about Rolle Bolle, “A delightful summer ale for easy sipping and a classic Belgian yard game for easy enjoyment, Rolle Bolle is how we roll. Brewed with monk fruit and soursop, this beer pours a brilliant blonde, with a fluffy, white head. Earthy and tropical tones carry the aroma and the taste follows accordingly. Rolle Bolle’s hint of tartness is backed with the citrus bite of Cascade and Centennial hops. Oats add some creaminess to the mouthfeel, and it finishes dry and clean. Time to get in the yard, crack a bottle and start rolling.”

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Review – Nebra from 32 Via dei Birrai

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Nebra is the last of the 32 beers. Thanks to the fine folks at 32 Via dei Birrai for supplying me with such a generous amount of their beers that show off the Italian way of craft brewing.

Nebra pours a very light orange in color. A sharp astringent aroma greets the nose. Almost a combo of melon and pepper. The taste is a bit harsh with a vegetal bitterness unlike the hop bitterness that I normally encounter. Some medicinal notes to it as well. Maybe it is something in the Fiore di Sambuco (elderberry) that is causing that slight harsh note.
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I guess now to complete the journey, I shall have to head to Whole Foods and pick up the Tre + Due or 3 +2 and compare it to the rest!

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Review – Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel

Straight outta Jersey comes this Abbey Dubbel from Flying Fish.

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It pours dark orange with hints of brown shadows.  The head rises and falls quickly.  Caramel and raisins are the first aromas that greet the nose alongside some plum notes.  The first sip has quite a carbonation kick to it.  The scrubbing bubbles push the fruit and malt notes through the tongue.  A bit like having trail mix to a certain degree.  Quite effervescent along with some vanilla and spice contributions.

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Video Review – Natian Old Grogham

My mother is my Portland beer source and she acquired the two beers from Natian Brewery that I will review in April. We finish with Old Grogham Winter IPA…..

This is the short description from the brewery website, “Palisade hops were added throughout the boil and dry hop schedule, along with high alpha American hops for bittering, Noble hops for aroma and a few other varieties in-between to balance the heavy malt profile. Rum soaked Oregon oak spires added during the final stages of fermentation bring flavor notes of caramel and vanilla to complement the bitterness.”

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Review – Clown Shoes Clementine White Ale

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Three things right off the bat before I review Clown Shoes Beer’s Clementine:

1. I do not like clowns.  Ever since Stephen King’s IT.  So, the name scares me off.

2. Not a fan of some of their beer names.  Tramp Stamp, Muffin Top, Lubrication and Flight of the Pimp seem more attention grabbing than anything.  On the other hand, I like Hoppy Feet.

3. The label art seems to feed into the attention grabbing and talk about me on Facebook good AND bad mode that says to me, that the beer can’t sell itself.

But, with that being said.  I am clearing my mind and pouring this beer with a good name and nice-simple label into a glass.

Lot’s of bubbles here.  Color is tinting towards orange though primarily yellow.  Good amount of foam here.  Aroma gives off a candied orange peel note of medium strength.  The taste is straight up spicy.  Lots of coriander going on here.  But the orange taste sticks.  Almost to the point of creamsicle orange before it pulls back.  Those two competing flavor notes work well together in this effort.  One of the better and punchier white ales that I have had in a while.  I’m glad Sunset Beer Co. had started getting these beers in so that I can take stock of the beer inside.

And here is the info from the Clown Shoes website…..

“Light-bodied and crisp, this is a terrific White Ale with plenty of zest! Hazy in appearance and healthily carbonated, it utilizes Chambly yeast to energetically shape its wheat malt base. Incorporated in the brewing process is Clementine, sweet orange peel, a hint of Coriander, and Summit hops.”

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Review – Ovila Abbey Quad with plums

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Sierra Nevada didn’t have to do the Ovila line of beers.  They continue to hold a stellar reputation, they are building on the east coast and they grow some of their beers ingredients.  But we are blessed (pun intended) with this group of Belgian Abbey style ales.

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This beer comes in a small but heavy bottle that is caged and corked. The aroma is slightly plummy with a sharp medicinal note.  It pours a cola brown with a touch of red to it.  The taste is very dry and those plums really come through.  There is a slight warming to it but it really hits that strong set of Quad notes. I’m glad it is in the size of bottle it is!

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This is how the brewery describes it, “Ovila Abbey Quad is heady with aromas of caramel, rich malt, and dark fruit balanced by the spiciness and delicate fruity notes of a traditional Belgian yeast. This complex beer is a collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and the monks of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. It features sugar plums grown on the grounds of the Abbey and harvested by the monks in Vina. We hope you enjoy this collaboration ale.”