Category: Spontaneous Tasting Video

watch me taste beer and review it in 5 minutes or less.

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Video Review – Lomaland Saison from Modern Times

Modern Times gets the beer review spotlight for January 2014 and we start with their Lomaland Saison…..

Here is the brewery description of the beer, “Lomaland is an earthy, rustic Belgian-style farmhouse ale that’s both complex and quaffable. It smells like hay, pepper, and friendly sunshine. Its dry, cracker-like body and lightly-hoppy finish makes it a beautiful compliment to food. We named Lomaland after the brilliantly crazy utopian community that was the first settlement built in Point Loma, the San Diego neighborhood where our fermentorium is located.”

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Holiday Beer Review – Anchor Our Special Ale 2013

I have saved up Anchor Christmas beers from 2008 through this year’s version for a special taste test.  Notes below are on each year as it tastes when opened in December of this year.  Followed by a short video of the major tasting….

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2008-2010

The 2008 has a mixture of a brandy or sherry / soy sauce.  The head really holds up on this one.  Lots of maple syrup and soy sauce in this one.  I fear it’s prime is now way long past.  And yet I still have 1 bottle for next year.

The 2009 is still woodsy.  A touch of spruce is there.  Lighter than the 2008 and a little crisp as well.  Very much like the Steam beer just with age and spruce.

2010 has a lot of cider notes to it.  It reminded me of some English beers that have a touch of that note in the back.  It sticks to the tongue as well.

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2011 – 2013

The ’11 is the worst smelling of the bunch.  I get a little bit of tree note but then more cardboard.  It is worse when cold.  As it warms it does get better but it is the least of the bunch.  Has some sour to it as well.  Some light coffee notes in the back.

2012 has more of an espresso head to it.  It is a mix of spruce and caramel.  It is smooth and a little viscous.  A touch of cider to it as well.

And here are my notes from last year when I did the vertical tasting……

2008
Very frothy pour with an espresso head. Aroma hints that this one may have passed prime tasting time. An old ale background with a touch of sour creeping in. Very British ale tasting.

2009
Another frothy beer. Both were stored standing up so I don’t think it was my cellaring technique. But this one had a much lighter head to it. Some minor roast notes and a little whisper of pine. That same sourness and apple cider taste is evident in this one as in 2008.

2010
This one poured better. More Belgian-y. Good sparkle to this one in comparison to the flatter beers form ’08 and ’09. More coffee acidity here. Again the tree and pine notes are only faint and way in the background.

2011
Dark with a brown ale backbone. Not much spice or flavor in the 2011. Even tastes a little thin. If the others did not stand up to aging then I fear for this one.

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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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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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Video Review – Angel City Angeleno IPA

I usually reserve my October reviews for pumpkin beers but in a fit of pique, I have decided to skip over them this year as punishment for coming out too early in the season.  Petty, I know but I have a great replacement, Angel City from right here in Los Angeles is now bottling (Oddly enough in Ohio) some of their core line-up.  So let’s get to the review for the Angeleno IPA…..

And here is the description from the Angel City website for reference, “Big, bold, grapefruit hop flavors and aroma best characterize this medium-bodied, copper-hued beer. Angeleno IPA is hopped with Citra, Nelson, Simcoe, and Nugget to make the perfect treat for hop heads.”

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RavenBeer # 2 – Tell Tale Hearty Ale

For September, I will be reviewing two new to me beers from RavenBeer.  I finish with hearty ale that tells tales….

For your Poe-ification, here is the website description, “Your first experience with this IPA is the citrus bouquet from its rocky white head. The initial taste is subdued but gradually becomes intense without any harsh bitterness. The Heartier the Better.”

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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.”