Tag: Collaboration

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from the cellar – Bottleworks 13th Anniversary Ale

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For 2014, I will be pulling up some bottles from my cellar and reviewing them.  Not to be pessimistic, but I don’t have lofty expectations.  Though my beers were light protected and kept at a consistent temp, beer can be fickle and some may have been better last month or next month.  That being said, I am really excited to dig into the beers and see what time has wrought.

First up is a Stone Brewing collaboration with the esteemed BottleWorks of Seattle Washington. But before that, the backstory on the beer from Stone, “Bottleworks, Seattle’s legendary craft beer store captained by Matt Bonney and Matt “Vern” Vandenberghe, celebrated their 13th Anniversary in March of 2012. Since bottle shop owners can’t make their own beer, “The Matts” commission a different brewery each year to help them create their anniversary brew. This time they wanted an especially big beer (they were aiming for 13% abv), so naturally they turned to us for help. Here you see the delicious fruits of our collective labor: a 13-grain, 13-hop imperial porter that packs a wallop.”

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The beer pours with a big head of espresso that you could put a barista design into easily.  I catch a slight bourbon-esque whiff as I pop the cap. A little sweet raisin note and a bit of alcohol heat also rise up out of the glass.  Not totally what is expected but this beer sorta defies style though it is called a porter, it probably could just have easily been called a strong ale or barleywine due to the hefty malts and hops in it.

Now the taste is very complex.  He’Brew has done the whole double digit malt and hops thing and I have liked the idea better than the execution but this beer is quite enjoyable and different.  I get notes of tobacco, coffee, caramel and milk chocolate that start and finish a sip as the sharp raisin note takes over the middle.  Coffee notes at the end linger for a bit too.  The time wore away the hop aroma and bitterness.  Though that may be for the better.  Probably more akin to an English Barleywine with the fruit notes.  For all the big flavors, the consistency is a bit on the thin side.  And for it’s high ABV, it isn’t hot on the palate or cheek warming.

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The final cellaring verdict:  This beer held up well but I think that if I had pulled this a bit sooner (maybe 5 months ago) some of the more jarring raisin notes would not have been there and this beer would have been even more balanced.  But overall this experiment in aging gets a thumbs up.

 

 

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Class of ’88

Deschutes and Goose Island have teamed up for the final Class of ’88 installment….

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And here is the little blurb put out about it…”This exotic beer was brewed with Michigan Riesling and Oregon Pinot Noir grapes, hops from Mt. Hood and pilsner malt – all aged in barrels that previously held Muscat wine in them for 10 years. ”  Beers with grapes can be tricky to make beer-y enough with good wine characteristics so this will be a test to see how these two “ancient” breweries handle it.

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Review – Terra Incognita from Boulevard and Sierra Nevada

First things first, this is the Boulevard branded version of Terra Incognita.  Now onto what else I am watching/listening/reading while reviewing.  Why?  Because great craft beer makes me enjoy all the good things in life.  Kinda new age-y but that is fine.  So I am on a season 1 of Fringe kick right now.  If you are a Netflix-er.  Catch it there.  I am also a big fan of the ESPN/Bill Simmons/McSweeney’s mash-up Grantland.  Funny and spot on sports reporting/commentary as well as culture analysis of Mad Men that will leave you rolling.

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On to this mash up of Chico and Kansas City…..The cork shot out of this bottle. Lots of foam initially, followed by a big blast of barrel aged notes. Whiskey. Not bourbon heavy. Still quite effervescent after settling down. Getting some acidity and hop bitterness after the oaky notes fade. Amazing that it is 8.5% when you consider how strong the aroma and taste is. But it is indeed light when you let it linger on the tongue.

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Review – Deschutes & Great Lakes Class of ’88 Imperial Smoked Porter

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This is one of those beers where you know what you are going to get but it still hits with a punch.  Deschutes is known for their Black Butte Porter and Great Lakes has their Edmund Fitzgerald so you know going in that this beer is in each of these breweries wheelhouse.  But then the beer pours a light cola color.  Lulling you into thinking it is not that imperial.  The aroma hints at the smoke but chocolate notes come into play as well.  Then you take a sip and the smoke descends.  This is really “rauchy”.  And that liquid smoke lingers.  You would need a big BBQ sauce to soften this beer.  Otherwise, most other foods would pale against it.

Rauch is not my cup of beer usually.  But I can tell what was being aimed for here and it was hit.  If you don’t like the smokey then this is not the beer for you but if that is a something you like then this is one to pick up.

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Review – Rhizing Bines from Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head

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Count me as a fan of Sierra Nevada hop bombs and also count me as one who isn’t super fond of  Dogfish Head IPA’s.  But I love that these two big regional breweries can collaborate from time to time.  Life and Limb part one and it’s cousin Limb and Life were both really solid beers.  So how does Rhizing Bines fare…..

Well it pours a light orange color.  I get a big alcohol hit in the aroma and some dankness.  I will have to compare it with the recent Celebrator beer magazine 25th Anniversary Imperial Pale since they both use the experimental 644 hop.  The Celebrator beer was super boozy but the blueberry and citrus notes popped more.  This beer was much more on the Dogfish Head side of the spectrum than the Sierra side.  Uber malty with a slickness that coats the tongue.  The hops are there and their fruit notes are underneath but I would prefer them in the forefront.

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’88 like me

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The collaboration craze shows no sign of abating and I, for one, am not surprised. If brewers can be creative with malt and hops then why would that end when more industry friends are invited in.

Now Deschutes will collaborate with breweries from the Class of ’88. North Coast – Rogue – Goose Island – Great Lakes Brewing who have all reached the 25 year mark. This will be a series of beers honoring that joyous mark.

According to schedule the first to appear will be a barleywine in March of this year.
Then a couple months later a Smoked Imperial Porter will be released and finally a Belgian Style Strong Golden will arrive late in the year.

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Review – Ichigo Highway

In my mind, the Bruery has been on a roll in 2012. So many beers covering a wide range from light to dark and some great local collaborations with Eagle Rock and Bootlegger’s to name just two beers. Now they have teamed up with the high flyers at Hangar 24 for a strawberry accented beer called Ichigo Highway. Here is the review…

Here is the label copy, “Ichigo Highway is a collaborative beer that we created with Hangar 24 Brewing from Redlands, CA. The base style is a sessionable sour red ale that we aged in oak barrels along with a whopping amount of strawberries, most of which were picked from the fields besides Hangar 24’s brewery. Aged for approximately 8 months, this beer has developed a pleasant funk and a delightful acidity that is balanced by the intensely sweet aroma and flavor of the strawberries as well as a unique dryness achieved by using a sake yeast along with our house strain along with souring bacteria.”