Category: Beer Reviews

Posted on

Review – Double Bastard

Double Bastard from Stone Brewing is next for review…..

This is the word from Stone on Double Bastard….
“This is one lacerative muther of an ale,” the braggadocious bottle warns. “It is unequivocally certain that your feeble palate is grossly inadequate and thus undeserving of this liquid glory… and those around you would have little desire to listen to your resultant whimpering.”

In a world full of glittery pageants and overproduced Hallmark holidays, it has become difficult to isolate what is worth celebrating, while eschewing the insipid propaganda that is spoon-fed to the masses. But rest assured, Double Bastard Ale’s annual unleashing is no such hornswaggle. Nay, it is a moment of gustatory excellence to be met with fervorous revelry and tintinnabulation.

Double Bastard Ale first graced our little blue oblate spheroid in 1998, sanctifying the one-year anniversary of Arrogant Bastard Ale. Nothing less than creating an embiggened version of the already elephantine Arrogant Bastard Ale would befit such an epochal occasion.

Double Bastard Ale is strictly for those with an unfettered predilection for bold unapologetic flavor, and it is for this enlightened minority that this annual tradition carries on today. However, for those who may have been at all frightened by this obstreperous and bombastic admonition, then please, close the dictionary you took out and hit delete now. Forget all you’ve read here of the Double Bastard Ale, and acquiesce into an insufferable purgatory of fizzy yellow nonsense. Remain one of the blissfully nescient, one of the mindless, barefoot sheeple, aimlessly wallowing in a cromulent cesspool of mediocrity. Sleep. Sleeeeeeeeeep…”

Posted on

Review – La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado

La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado from Stone Brewing is first up for review of the three Escondidian ales that I will tackle this month.

Here is the full spiel from Stone….
“All of us are kind of known for big, imperial beers, and the fact that we came together to make this mellower pumpkin beer… I think it was very restrained and dignified of us,” jokes Rue. “And I think we brought some really interesting spice additions to the table.”

The eclectic mix of ingredients was selected to introduce a decidedly different spin on traditional pumpkin beers. “The taste starts with citrus and herbal notes, but then a very smooth roasted malt character comes into play,” Steele explains. “The yam and pumpkin make their appearance on the finish, with some Eastern-influenced spiciness and trace maple notes from the toasted fenugreek, combining with hints of birch. This is no pumpkin pie beer. No cloves. No nutmeg. No cinnamon.”

Stone Brewing Co. President Steve Wagner had been tossing the idea around for a pumpkin beer with Elysian Brewing Company for over a year. Elysian, well known for conjuring up an impressive variety of pumpkin beers as well as hosting the annual Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest, was quick to come on-board and loved the idea of working with The Bruery, which is highly respected for its innovative beers including Autumn Maple (made with “a lot of yams”).

“That’s the great thing about collaboration beers,” explains Cantwell. “Everyone brings their own strengths and awareness to the project.”

“This is one of the more unique beers I have ever been involved with,” says Steele. “A very cool beer, and I toast the creative minds of Patrick Rue and Dick Cantwell for their willingness to put this recipe together with us.”

Posted on

Golden Road – the first batches

I had the good fortune to sample the inaugural beers from the new Golden Road Brewing last night at 38 Degrees Alehouse and I am pleased to report that I thoroughly enjoyed both.

I started with the Point the Way IPA. I have to admit that I was concerned due to the brewer’s Dogfish past and the fact that I am not a big Dogfish IPA fan. (I know it’s heresy) But this was a solid effort. Especially considering it’s new equipment and the first batch. It poured a dark orange with a big head on it and the aroma was pure pine. The flavor stayed that way too and for a 5% abv, I got some heat off of it too. Once it warmed up a little some citrus kicked in as well to really round the flavors off.

The hefeweizen also was helped by warming up. And again it was citrus that crept onto the palate. But this citrus had a candied quality to it. And again it really balanced out the big banana flavors and the clove spiciness. This is a great example of the hefe style with a little twist that adds to it instead of overwhelming.

Overall this was a great start for Golden Road. I was expecting some work to be done but these are really good on their own right out of the gate.

Posted on

(2) Stone Collaborations

I had the great fortune to sample both the current and future Stone Collaborative brews recently. I had the Green Tea IPA while watching the Women’s World Cup Final on Sunday and thought it was a little too tannic and a little too alcohol forward. The hops and the tea just fought each other in my opinion. The appearance and aroma are the strengths of this beer.

The Cherry Chocolate Stout was shared a day later with my beer buddy Richard and it was less alcoholic by 2%! There was an interesting sour, tart cherry taste of this dark brown brew. But the chocolate was non-existent. I would take this over this Green Tea. But I would have liked to get at least a touch of chocolate to bridge the gap of cherry to stout.

Both were interesting experiments that were just a touch off to my palate though I am sure there are people who are going to love these offerings.

Posted on

Surly Goat + Dogfish Head + The Bruery =

…the kick-off to the latest announced collaboration between Dogfish Head and The Bruery.

I started off my Surly Goat night with The Wanderer from The Bruery. This is another semi-rare Bruery offering. This one was brewed for the excellent City Beer Store of San Francisco (that if you haven’t visited, shame on you).

The Wanderer

It was tart but not puckery with great raspberry/cherry notes. I could see this paired with ice cream.

After a somewhat desultory tasting of Red & White. (just didn’t work for me), the night was concluded with 90 Minute put through a “randall” with Intelligentsia coffee. Wow! The aromatics were amazing. And it carried through into the flavor. Tasted like a coffee amber. Delicious.

Posted on

50 from 50 – Kentucky

Thanks to a generous gift from the good people at the Lexington/Alltech Brewery in Kentucky, I was able to sample my first ever beer from that that fine state.
I tasted the Light (aka Kolsch), their flagship ale and their bourbon barrel aged ale. My favorite was the light but here is the review for the ale.

as always, click on the image to make it more readable.

…and follow this link to the full list of 43 beers Sean’s 43 of 50

Posted on

Review – Black Star lager

Thank goodness industrial water lager beers are done with. I can put that away for a few years. What better way to cleanse the palate then with a well-made lager.

This beer came to me from the efficient marketing folks at Black Star along with a nifty package of goodies. So let’s see how Black Star tastes (in can and bottle)