Label: Mad Bruin
Type: Sour Ale
ABV[%]: 7.0
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Driftwood Brewery, Victoria BC
Smell: Red wine grapes/berries, vinegar
Head: thick and bubbly but settles very thin, no lacing
Color: brown bear brown
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Graawwllll, Rooaaaar...
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
I tried this stuff about a month ago but was too tired after my soccer game to write it up. I liked it then, but didn't have the energy to take notes.
The nose is interesting, almost industrial-like with a vinegary smell, but with a fruity/earthy punch. It hits your tongue all over the place: certainly sour, bit of saltiness and bitter, sweet and leaves a crispy aftertaste. It doesn't lack middle ground (that's an inside joke).
Again, like many good craft beers, you can't taste the rather high abv value except at the end of a swig, and even then it's pretty tame. Should age well.
I haven't got ahold of many sour beers but this has really perked my interest.
Port too?
I prepared some lasagna tonight, but something very gamey would go nicely with this: thinking a bison or venison burger.
Put the lotion in the basket.
@Psbasran: Lasagna is in the oven. Fireplace on. Cold outside. Time for @driftwoodbeer : Mad Bruin Sour Ale #craftbeer 7% ABV http://t.co/lkXbIZJA
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Terrible
Label: Terrible
Type: Strong Dark Ale
ABV[%]: 10.5
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Unibroue, Chambly QC
Smell: yeasty, sweet, molasses
Head: thick pour but settles with little lacing
Color: blackish opaque
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Gangam style
Rating: 6/10
Notes:
Unibroue makes some serious ass kicking beer. This is no exception. This is a mind numbing lager with the abv stealth of a drunk chameleon in a bar full of Venus flytraps. It is really, really sweet. It leaves a sweetish sour aftertaste, full of cherries/berries. Almost like a dessert.
Very yeasty. It is too sweet for my liking so I'm not giving it a high rating: and I can do this because this is MY blog intended to track MY tastes.
But I'm buying another bottle to keep cuz it is very memorable... Not terrible memorable but memorable memorable.
Type: Strong Dark Ale
ABV[%]: 10.5
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Unibroue, Chambly QC
Smell: yeasty, sweet, molasses
Head: thick pour but settles with little lacing
Color: blackish opaque
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Gangam style
Rating: 6/10
Notes:
Unibroue makes some serious ass kicking beer. This is no exception. This is a mind numbing lager with the abv stealth of a drunk chameleon in a bar full of Venus flytraps. It is really, really sweet. It leaves a sweetish sour aftertaste, full of cherries/berries. Almost like a dessert.
Very yeasty. It is too sweet for my liking so I'm not giving it a high rating: and I can do this because this is MY blog intended to track MY tastes.
But I'm buying another bottle to keep cuz it is very memorable... Not terrible memorable but memorable memorable.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Pumpkineater Imperial Ale
Label:
Type:
Pumpkineater Imperial Ale
ABV[%]: 8.0
Packaging: 1 Litre Pot-Stopper
Brewery: Howe Sound Brewery, Squamish BC
Smell: Cinnamon, Nutmeg
Head: Pours bubbly but settles to a thin rich head
Color: Copper
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Deceptive. Sleuth
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
Wow, nice gravity on this beer. Looks almost syrupy. Despite this being a Pumpkin beer, the pumpkins weren't the first thing I tasted. Instead, the spices tended to dominate. The pumpkin taste sorta oozes gently into your mouth, in a very good way, and it is a pretty clean finish... smoo0ve. And the head that settles after you poor is a beauty: thin but rich giving a really great nose.
Perhaps my tolerance was high when I tasted this, but it didn't really feel like a 8 ABV beer (I'm Canadian ). So this didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would.
I'm not a big pumpkin beer fan. Reminiscent of Cannery's Apricot Ale (i.e., not a fruit drink, but beer). And this really hits the spot.
I'm glad I found this stuff while I could. It is tough to find now.
ABV[%]: 8.0
Packaging: 1 Litre Pot-Stopper
Brewery: Howe Sound Brewery, Squamish BC
Smell: Cinnamon, Nutmeg
Head: Pours bubbly but settles to a thin rich head
Color: Copper
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Deceptive. Sleuth
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
Wow, nice gravity on this beer. Looks almost syrupy. Despite this being a Pumpkin beer, the pumpkins weren't the first thing I tasted. Instead, the spices tended to dominate. The pumpkin taste sorta oozes gently into your mouth, in a very good way, and it is a pretty clean finish... smoo0ve. And the head that settles after you poor is a beauty: thin but rich giving a really great nose.
Perhaps my tolerance was high when I tasted this, but it didn't really feel like a 8 ABV beer (I'm Canadian ). So this didn't hit me as hard as I thought it would.
I'm not a big pumpkin beer fan. Reminiscent of Cannery's Apricot Ale (i.e., not a fruit drink, but beer). And this really hits the spot.
I'm glad I found this stuff while I could. It is tough to find now.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Sasquatch Stout
Label: Sasquatch Stout
Type: Stout, you dummy (ala Sanford and Sons)
ABV[%]: 5.0
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Old Yale Brewing Co. Chiliwack BC
Smell: molasses, burnt oates, sweetness
Head: non existent
Color: super dark brown
Carbonation: mild
Kick: above the belt
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
Boys this is one opaque beer. On my first swig, I tasted Smokiness. And it left quite a linger of a burnt flavor on my tongue. The carbonation brings out the sweetness in this beer, even though it isn't very carbonated. It doesn't taste like a heavy stout. But it does linger in your mouth for quite some time. To me, this tastes pretty mild And given how dark the beer looks, I was expecting a little more. Now the label says that this is a full body beer, but I'm not so sure about that. Because there's next to no head nor any lacing on the beer, there aren't very many flavors that come through the nose. There is clearly some chocolate and some coffee in there ... probably a little more coffee than chocolate.
Don't get me wrong, I do like the Stout. But it isn't the "kick you in the pants "kind of stout but I thought it might be, given the mysteriousness of the Sasquatch shadow that is on the label. In fact, it tastes more like the little horse emblem on the label than a Sasquatch. I wouldn't go so far as to call the session beer, but you could put quite a few of these babies down without much trouble.
The city of Chilliwack itself seems like a city that is supposed to be there but not necessarily required, being nestled between farmlands of Abbotsford, and the mountain ranges of Hope BC. Unfortunately, my memories of Chilliwack are not all that great. I remember my mother frequently requesting me to drive her from Abbotsford to Chilliwack so she can go to the apparently only Zellers in the lower mainland. This, coupled with that unfortunate band from the 80s, doesn't leave favorable impressions of Chilliwack. But having this beer might change that.
Rock out wid your sock out.
Type: Stout, you dummy (ala Sanford and Sons)
ABV[%]: 5.0
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Old Yale Brewing Co. Chiliwack BC
Smell: molasses, burnt oates, sweetness
Head: non existent
Color: super dark brown
Carbonation: mild
Kick: above the belt
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
Boys this is one opaque beer. On my first swig, I tasted Smokiness. And it left quite a linger of a burnt flavor on my tongue. The carbonation brings out the sweetness in this beer, even though it isn't very carbonated. It doesn't taste like a heavy stout. But it does linger in your mouth for quite some time. To me, this tastes pretty mild And given how dark the beer looks, I was expecting a little more. Now the label says that this is a full body beer, but I'm not so sure about that. Because there's next to no head nor any lacing on the beer, there aren't very many flavors that come through the nose. There is clearly some chocolate and some coffee in there ... probably a little more coffee than chocolate.
Don't get me wrong, I do like the Stout. But it isn't the "kick you in the pants "kind of stout but I thought it might be, given the mysteriousness of the Sasquatch shadow that is on the label. In fact, it tastes more like the little horse emblem on the label than a Sasquatch. I wouldn't go so far as to call the session beer, but you could put quite a few of these babies down without much trouble.
The city of Chilliwack itself seems like a city that is supposed to be there but not necessarily required, being nestled between farmlands of Abbotsford, and the mountain ranges of Hope BC. Unfortunately, my memories of Chilliwack are not all that great. I remember my mother frequently requesting me to drive her from Abbotsford to Chilliwack so she can go to the apparently only Zellers in the lower mainland. This, coupled with that unfortunate band from the 80s, doesn't leave favorable impressions of Chilliwack. But having this beer might change that.
Rock out wid your sock out.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Twenty Pounder
Label: Twenty Pounder
Type: Double IPA
ABV[%]: 9 point holy knotknickers batman zero
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Driftwood Brewery, Victoria BC
Smell: Cascade hops with light citrus
Head: Light with mild lacing
Color: Burgundy Brown
Carbonation: mild
Kick: Holy PantsOnTheGround Batman
Rating: 6.5/10
Notes:
For those about to hop... We salute you.
This is a very sharp tasting brew as might be obvious from the high ABV, coupled with the fact that it's a double hopped IPA. This isn't just about the hops... It's also about the buzz.
It pretty much attacks you with some sweetness at first at the edges of the toungue, followed by a kick of hoppiness to the middle, and concluding with a tarty and dry palette, typical of a really strong brew. After 5 or so swigs, my toungue feels like it's been carpet-bombed by Cascade hops. And as for the hoppiness... it's kinda like a premature ejaculation: immediately satisfying self-absorption, but feeling awkward now... was that it? (subject matter I know very, ahem, little about of course).
The label art is reminescent of the AC/DC classic album cover, which pretty much exemplifies what this beer is all about... maybe some "Balls to the Wall" as well.
I will give kudos to Driftwood for making this beer (and I have one in my beer 'cellar'), but it really isn't my cup-o-tea. So my rating is what it is... Live with it crappy-nut lovers. Speaking of edibles, this would likely go well with some strong cheese.
Keep hope alive.
Type: Double IPA
ABV[%]: 9 point holy knotknickers batman zero
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Driftwood Brewery, Victoria BC
Smell: Cascade hops with light citrus
Head: Light with mild lacing
Color: Burgundy Brown
Carbonation: mild
Kick: Holy PantsOnTheGround Batman
Rating: 6.5/10
Notes:
For those about to hop... We salute you.
This is a very sharp tasting brew as might be obvious from the high ABV, coupled with the fact that it's a double hopped IPA. This isn't just about the hops... It's also about the buzz.
It pretty much attacks you with some sweetness at first at the edges of the toungue, followed by a kick of hoppiness to the middle, and concluding with a tarty and dry palette, typical of a really strong brew. After 5 or so swigs, my toungue feels like it's been carpet-bombed by Cascade hops. And as for the hoppiness... it's kinda like a premature ejaculation: immediately satisfying self-absorption, but feeling awkward now... was that it? (subject matter I know very, ahem, little about of course).
The label art is reminescent of the AC/DC classic album cover, which pretty much exemplifies what this beer is all about... maybe some "Balls to the Wall" as well.
I will give kudos to Driftwood for making this beer (and I have one in my beer 'cellar'), but it really isn't my cup-o-tea. So my rating is what it is... Live with it crappy-nut lovers. Speaking of edibles, this would likely go well with some strong cheese.
Keep hope alive.
Edit 2015:
So after keeping. A bottle aged in high efficiency conditions I cracked open a bottle aged after about 2 years. Boy what a difference!
The hoppiness is pretty much gone and the Caramel tones are on full display. The lacing and carbonation are weak but it's a totally different experience. I'm going with a 7.5 now.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Jack D'Or
Label: Jack D'Or
Type: IPA (saison americain)
ABV[%]: 6 point friggin 5
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Pretty Things, Massachussets
Smell: Hops...
Head: white and rich with thick lacing
Color: yellow and a bit cloudy
Carbonation: mild
Kick: jacked
Rating: 8/10
Notes:
Oh dear. How I have missed this blog.
Pretty Things is a delightfully weird brewery that has a few nice brews Ive heard of but never tried. So seeing their flagship brew on stock in my local store in the west coast made my mouth water. But it wasn't until about 6 months after buying the bottle that I had the opportunity to pop the cap (more on the reason in a later blog).
This is a deceptively strong beer given the color and taste. It has a great balance of hoppiness and tartiness that gives you the kind of beer breath your partner will object to. Small penance. The finish is very balanced, and again very deceptive: you'd think it was citrus flavours but it isn't. They manage to pull off the tart by balancing hops with a variety of grains (rye, oats...).
Upon pouring, it had a beautiful goldish yellow transparent color, but at the end of the bottle was some sediment, so my second glass was fuzzier... And a bit more rich tasting.
I totally get why locals in MA would dig this beer out of the tap as it would likely have better consistency and it tastes great. But it is strong so it isn't a session beer unless your objective it to get blitzed. And the label art is ugly/weird enough to attract the curious.
Until next time beatches.
Type: IPA (saison americain)
ABV[%]: 6 point friggin 5
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Pretty Things, Massachussets
Smell: Hops...
Head: white and rich with thick lacing
Color: yellow and a bit cloudy
Carbonation: mild
Kick: jacked
Rating: 8/10
Notes:
Oh dear. How I have missed this blog.
Pretty Things is a delightfully weird brewery that has a few nice brews Ive heard of but never tried. So seeing their flagship brew on stock in my local store in the west coast made my mouth water. But it wasn't until about 6 months after buying the bottle that I had the opportunity to pop the cap (more on the reason in a later blog).
This is a deceptively strong beer given the color and taste. It has a great balance of hoppiness and tartiness that gives you the kind of beer breath your partner will object to. Small penance. The finish is very balanced, and again very deceptive: you'd think it was citrus flavours but it isn't. They manage to pull off the tart by balancing hops with a variety of grains (rye, oats...).
Upon pouring, it had a beautiful goldish yellow transparent color, but at the end of the bottle was some sediment, so my second glass was fuzzier... And a bit more rich tasting.
I totally get why locals in MA would dig this beer out of the tap as it would likely have better consistency and it tastes great. But it is strong so it isn't a session beer unless your objective it to get blitzed. And the label art is ugly/weird enough to attract the curious.
Until next time beatches.
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