Label: Navigator
Type: Dopplebock
ABV[%]: 8.5
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Lighthouse Breweries, Victoria BC
Smell: Malty with a tinge of spice
Head: thin
Color: dark brown
Carbonation: medium
Kick: To Live Crew beatch
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
Yet another night of coaching my sons basketball practice followed by his homework routine and then an hour and a half of indoor soccer. I knew before I came home that I would sample another delicious brew from Lighthouse breweries. My knee kind of blew out so I figured I needed some pain relieve. And what could be better for pain relieve than a Dopplebock.
I normally prefer hocks over Dopplebocks since the latter tend to be a bit too strong for my liking. And swigging 650ml of a Dopplebock might require some exceptionally good behaviour to veil how piss drunk you really are when you speak to your wife. But I digress. Now to the beer.
The first thing you taste are the malts and it covers your tongue with flavor and carbonation. This is followed with a burnt oatish taste, smooth and slightly bitter. The alcohol aftertaste hits you much later and a bit of sourness. Not discouraging though.
Dopplebocks are stronger and dark malty lager and a staple from Munich. It purports of having a deep flavour. And that seems to be a fair comment. What is so cool about Dopplebocks are that they are lagers... Not ales, not stouts, but lagers. So imagine a really good bottle of Canadian (if there is such a thing) but brewed to twice the alcohol content and with a ton of malty flavors. Wonderful. I recently has Philips Dopplebock and this one is clearly better. Not too much flavor, and easy going down. And boy is it strong. Very strong. Strong enough for me to summon all my equilibrating senses when trying to have a civil conversation.
In the words of Spearhead "I like it loudy, loudy, loudy!".
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Abominable Winter Ale
Label: Abominable Winter Ale
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 7.3
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Hop Works Urban Brewery, Oregon
Smell: hops and citrus with some spice
Head: creamy brown that lingers
Color: brownish
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Scotty, beam me up!
Rating: 7/10
Notes
I saw this bottle at my favorite beer store and the label made me teary-eyed remembering my days as a "yout" and watching the pathetically animated Christmas special "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer". My favorite character was the misunderstood abominable snowman. Poor guy. Nobody realized that his fuss is over a simple toothache. The beer label has a picture of a similar looking snowman. I had to stop myself from sobbing at the beer store. Pathetic.
This beer is full of hops and has a pleasant sweet aftertaste. Luke warm it goes down great so it would probably taste better slightly child. It has a strong finish. It has a variety of spices and, for me, maybe a tad too flavourful. But that might be intentional since it is a seasonal brew.
You can't argue with this breweries passion for organic substances. It amazes me how different beers taste with organics ingredients. Ask me to compare the taste of organic vs. non-organic oranges and I'd be lost. But ask me to tell the difference in beer, well it is really quite amazing.
It claims of having 6 organic malts, and has a bitterness vale of 70 IBU. That seems about right. It's too bad we don't get many Oregon brews here in Canada. Maybe it is time for a visit.
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 7.3
Packaging: 750 ml Bottle
Brewery: Hop Works Urban Brewery, Oregon
Smell: hops and citrus with some spice
Head: creamy brown that lingers
Color: brownish
Carbonation: medium
Kick: Scotty, beam me up!
Rating: 7/10
Notes
I saw this bottle at my favorite beer store and the label made me teary-eyed remembering my days as a "yout" and watching the pathetically animated Christmas special "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer". My favorite character was the misunderstood abominable snowman. Poor guy. Nobody realized that his fuss is over a simple toothache. The beer label has a picture of a similar looking snowman. I had to stop myself from sobbing at the beer store. Pathetic.
This beer is full of hops and has a pleasant sweet aftertaste. Luke warm it goes down great so it would probably taste better slightly child. It has a strong finish. It has a variety of spices and, for me, maybe a tad too flavourful. But that might be intentional since it is a seasonal brew.
You can't argue with this breweries passion for organic substances. It amazes me how different beers taste with organics ingredients. Ask me to compare the taste of organic vs. non-organic oranges and I'd be lost. But ask me to tell the difference in beer, well it is really quite amazing.
It claims of having 6 organic malts, and has a bitterness vale of 70 IBU. That seems about right. It's too bad we don't get many Oregon brews here in Canada. Maybe it is time for a visit.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Angry Scotch Ale
Label: Angry Scotch Ale
Type: dark ale
ABV[%]: 6.5
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Russell Breweries, Surrey BC
Smell: Roasted malts
Head: thick whitish brown
Color: chestnut brown
Carbonation: medium
Kick: G Force!
Rating: 9/10
Notes:
I was excited to find this bottle at the store as one of my favorite beers of the Victoria Beer Festival was from a limited batch keg of this beer. It was my hands down most memorable, and almost my favorite (I did not have a favourite since almost everything I tried I loved, and the more I drank, the more I loved that beer over the preceding one... Things just got too wanky after the first 10 glasses). I really like the staff pulling the pints (or glasses). They seemed like they gave a shit, and I had a nice chat with them about their brews. It was the most memorable spot at the festival since they were able to make a beer that tasted sharp in the beginning yet could finish with such a nice smooth taste without a heavy chocolaty aftertaste. It was awesome.
Well the beer from the bottle wasn't as fresh, but was pleasing nonetheless. It has a sophisticated dark color which could seem intimidating at first. When you first sip it, it tickles the tonsils with the scotch taste, but not so much that you gag on it. This is quickly followed with a rich malted taste that covers your tongue and then the chocolate kicks in: not heavy, but there to smooth the throat so you are ready for another swig.
Sharp .. Tinge back of throat, roasted caramelized malts, chocolate aftertaste.
I actually prefer the carbonation of the bottle over the keg, but you can tell it is not as fresh. It leaves a bit of a bitter burnt taste, likely from the roasted malts.
I love this brew, and I love this brewery. The west coast beer scene is awesome. And further mind blowing is the fact that these guys are in Surrey, where there really is not all that much to be proud of.
Just an update. Looks like i'm not the only one liking this beer. It won silver in the scotch ale's category at the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards.
Type: dark ale
ABV[%]: 6.5
Packaging: 650 ml bottle
Brewery: Russell Breweries, Surrey BC
Smell: Roasted malts
Head: thick whitish brown
Color: chestnut brown
Carbonation: medium
Kick: G Force!
Rating: 9/10
Notes:
I was excited to find this bottle at the store as one of my favorite beers of the Victoria Beer Festival was from a limited batch keg of this beer. It was my hands down most memorable, and almost my favorite (I did not have a favourite since almost everything I tried I loved, and the more I drank, the more I loved that beer over the preceding one... Things just got too wanky after the first 10 glasses). I really like the staff pulling the pints (or glasses). They seemed like they gave a shit, and I had a nice chat with them about their brews. It was the most memorable spot at the festival since they were able to make a beer that tasted sharp in the beginning yet could finish with such a nice smooth taste without a heavy chocolaty aftertaste. It was awesome.
Well the beer from the bottle wasn't as fresh, but was pleasing nonetheless. It has a sophisticated dark color which could seem intimidating at first. When you first sip it, it tickles the tonsils with the scotch taste, but not so much that you gag on it. This is quickly followed with a rich malted taste that covers your tongue and then the chocolate kicks in: not heavy, but there to smooth the throat so you are ready for another swig.
Sharp .. Tinge back of throat, roasted caramelized malts, chocolate aftertaste.
I actually prefer the carbonation of the bottle over the keg, but you can tell it is not as fresh. It leaves a bit of a bitter burnt taste, likely from the roasted malts.
I love this brew, and I love this brewery. The west coast beer scene is awesome. And further mind blowing is the fact that these guys are in Surrey, where there really is not all that much to be proud of.
Just an update. Looks like i'm not the only one liking this beer. It won silver in the scotch ale's category at the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Fat Tug IPA
Label: Fat Tug IPA
Type: Pale Ale
ABV[%]: 7.0
Packaging: 650 ml Bottle
Brewery: Driftwood Breweries, Victoria BC
Smell: very hoppy with a tinge of citrus
Head: thin with a rich lacing
Color: golden
Carbonation:
Kick: Scotty, beam me up!
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
This is a sharp tasting hoppy ale from the Driftwood masters. It is very refreshing and readily quenches the thirst. It has citrusy notes and leaves a mild bitter aftertaste. It reports an IBU of about 80, but it isn't as hoppy as some of the brews I've had... Tree's Hophead comes to mind. The malt gives it a slightly darker tinge, but it is clear as crystal. My wife said "that smells like beer", and I guess it does since the aroma is quite strong and full bodied. The aftertaste is not unpleasant and just a tad sour. It definitely leaves with some funky beer breath though. Don't expect smootchy smootchy after a few pints.
It is very strong. It makes me think of those sailors on those long journeys, needing to fill their bellies and drown their sorrows while at sea. I only had half a beer and it hit me like a cast iron anchor. But you can't tell the ABV is that high, unlike some other beers. So it is a great beer if you want to get smashed on a few pints. Economical. My guess is that it would probably not be as great out a tap since they tend not to have the same consistency of carbonation. Any less and I think the hoppiness would be just too over-powering.
This would probably go great with some tasty west coast salmon.
I love the name. It is a tad naughty, making me giggle like a school girl.
For an out-of-body experience, try this beer with a few muscle relaxants and watch an episode of Law and Order UK.
Or don't.
Type: Pale Ale
ABV[%]: 7.0
Packaging: 650 ml Bottle
Brewery: Driftwood Breweries, Victoria BC
Smell: very hoppy with a tinge of citrus
Head: thin with a rich lacing
Color: golden
Carbonation:
Kick: Scotty, beam me up!
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
This is a sharp tasting hoppy ale from the Driftwood masters. It is very refreshing and readily quenches the thirst. It has citrusy notes and leaves a mild bitter aftertaste. It reports an IBU of about 80, but it isn't as hoppy as some of the brews I've had... Tree's Hophead comes to mind. The malt gives it a slightly darker tinge, but it is clear as crystal. My wife said "that smells like beer", and I guess it does since the aroma is quite strong and full bodied. The aftertaste is not unpleasant and just a tad sour. It definitely leaves with some funky beer breath though. Don't expect smootchy smootchy after a few pints.
It is very strong. It makes me think of those sailors on those long journeys, needing to fill their bellies and drown their sorrows while at sea. I only had half a beer and it hit me like a cast iron anchor. But you can't tell the ABV is that high, unlike some other beers. So it is a great beer if you want to get smashed on a few pints. Economical. My guess is that it would probably not be as great out a tap since they tend not to have the same consistency of carbonation. Any less and I think the hoppiness would be just too over-powering.
This would probably go great with some tasty west coast salmon.
I love the name. It is a tad naughty, making me giggle like a school girl.
For an out-of-body experience, try this beer with a few muscle relaxants and watch an episode of Law and Order UK.
Or don't.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Begbie Cream Ale
Label: Begbie Cream Ale
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 4.7
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Revelstoke, BC
Smell: hops and citrusy
Head: starts thick and rich lacing
Color: beautifully clear amber
Carbonation: medium to high
Kick: low
Rating: 9/10
Notes:
So another night of soccer and I find out that the game is off due to the holidays. Once I found this out, I thought about how I could justify drinking this 650ml bottle that's been teasing me in the fridge. So I decided to spend an hour at the YMCA and earn myself a beer. Seeing all the bubbles in the jacuzzi made me thirsty so I darted home. Unfortunately, Aphex Twin's version of Philip Glass's version of David Bowie's song "Heroes" was on CBC2 (I gotta start listening to Signals!) and I had to check it out.
Wow. Yet another beautifully clear beer from this little brewery in Revelstoke BC. This water isn't from lake Erie. I love the carbonation of this beer: it isn't overbeering as, say some of the commercial brews (Labbats Blue comes to mind) where you just forget about the taste. It is, for me a great balance for a cream ale. In fact, I can beerly detect the "cream" part of this ale. It has very, very little aftertaste like the other beer I reviewed before, and so you could pound these babies back very quickly.
It is not very hoppy and there maybe a really small hint of something obscure... Maybe plums... Maybe not. It is slightly sweet (added honey) and not bitter.
I am absolutely impressed with this beer. I wouldn't call it so much a lager, but it is pretty close, so if your one of those guys who drinks the stuff you see on tv, try this beer. If you you drink this stuff and think your regular crap is better, I feel very, very sorry for you.
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 4.7
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Revelstoke, BC
Smell: hops and citrusy
Head: starts thick and rich lacing
Color: beautifully clear amber
Carbonation: medium to high
Kick: low
Rating: 9/10
Notes:
So another night of soccer and I find out that the game is off due to the holidays. Once I found this out, I thought about how I could justify drinking this 650ml bottle that's been teasing me in the fridge. So I decided to spend an hour at the YMCA and earn myself a beer. Seeing all the bubbles in the jacuzzi made me thirsty so I darted home. Unfortunately, Aphex Twin's version of Philip Glass's version of David Bowie's song "Heroes" was on CBC2 (I gotta start listening to Signals!) and I had to check it out.
Wow. Yet another beautifully clear beer from this little brewery in Revelstoke BC. This water isn't from lake Erie. I love the carbonation of this beer: it isn't overbeering as, say some of the commercial brews (Labbats Blue comes to mind) where you just forget about the taste. It is, for me a great balance for a cream ale. In fact, I can beerly detect the "cream" part of this ale. It has very, very little aftertaste like the other beer I reviewed before, and so you could pound these babies back very quickly.
It is not very hoppy and there maybe a really small hint of something obscure... Maybe plums... Maybe not. It is slightly sweet (added honey) and not bitter.
I am absolutely impressed with this beer. I wouldn't call it so much a lager, but it is pretty close, so if your one of those guys who drinks the stuff you see on tv, try this beer. If you you drink this stuff and think your regular crap is better, I feel very, very sorry for you.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Powerhouse Pale Ale
Label: Powerhouse Pale Ale
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 4.8
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Revelstoke, BC
Smell: caramelized Malt
Head: thin, and thin lacing
Color: beautifully clear dark amber
Carbonation: medium
Kick: low
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
I used to go through Revelstoke frequently when I drove from Calgary to Vancouver during university days. It is a beautiful little oasis in the thick of perhaps the best ski hills you will find in the Canadian rockies. The mountain roads are unforgiving in winter and the down right scary when the semi trucks barrel around the windy roads. It looks like a great little spot to brew beer and I guess that is what this brewery thought too.
The thing that struck me was the color. It's an amber ale but it almost looks a bit purple/brownish, and clear. It is a really beautiful sight. It has a descent nose and not very hoppy. Pretty well balanced for an ale... Not too malty. It has a smokey aftertaste that isn't all that unpleasant. After a while the aftertaste is a bit sour though.
The label has a picture of the Revelstoke Dam taken back in 1912. I'm surprised they had a freakin camera back then. And why wouldn't anyone drink a beer from a Brewery sharing the name of the most likable character in Trainspotting?
This is the kind of beer you can have maybe one or two pints, but perhaps not many more as I'd imagine the aftertaste would be a bit unbearable. Having said that, it has a low ABV so you could pound back a few of these without feeling bloated. But crap, I'd drink this stuff cuz it looks just so damn pretty.
If this beer were a car, it would be a Delorian: nice on the eyes, but probably not destined for greatness. I'd imagine this stuff would be awesome from the keg. Check it out and, as Jimi says, let your freak flag fly.
Type: Ale
ABV[%]: 4.8
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Revelstoke, BC
Smell: caramelized Malt
Head: thin, and thin lacing
Color: beautifully clear dark amber
Carbonation: medium
Kick: low
Rating: 7/10
Notes:
I used to go through Revelstoke frequently when I drove from Calgary to Vancouver during university days. It is a beautiful little oasis in the thick of perhaps the best ski hills you will find in the Canadian rockies. The mountain roads are unforgiving in winter and the down right scary when the semi trucks barrel around the windy roads. It looks like a great little spot to brew beer and I guess that is what this brewery thought too.
The thing that struck me was the color. It's an amber ale but it almost looks a bit purple/brownish, and clear. It is a really beautiful sight. It has a descent nose and not very hoppy. Pretty well balanced for an ale... Not too malty. It has a smokey aftertaste that isn't all that unpleasant. After a while the aftertaste is a bit sour though.
The label has a picture of the Revelstoke Dam taken back in 1912. I'm surprised they had a freakin camera back then. And why wouldn't anyone drink a beer from a Brewery sharing the name of the most likable character in Trainspotting?
This is the kind of beer you can have maybe one or two pints, but perhaps not many more as I'd imagine the aftertaste would be a bit unbearable. Having said that, it has a low ABV so you could pound back a few of these without feeling bloated. But crap, I'd drink this stuff cuz it looks just so damn pretty.
If this beer were a car, it would be a Delorian: nice on the eyes, but probably not destined for greatness. I'd imagine this stuff would be awesome from the keg. Check it out and, as Jimi says, let your freak flag fly.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Black Death
Label: Black Death
Type: porter
ABV[%]: 6.5
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Russell Breweries, Surrey BC
Smell: barley bit of coffee
Head: thick but dissolves quickly, little lacing
Color: dark purple
Carbonation: medium
Kick: medium
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
After a game of indoor soccer and a trip to my local favorite beer store, I felt it was about time that I got back on the job of reviewing beers. You see, the last time I did a review was just before the beer festival. Boy that was fun. Deliciously evil. One of the booths was from Russell breweries and I tried a limited edition brew of a scotch-infused porter (post note: I review this beer later in this blog). It blew my mind. So after seeing about six brews on the shelf of the store, I was excited.
This beer is very, very smooth. It has the right amount of carbonation and is silky on the tongue after a swig. It isn't bitter and you can't tell this is a 6.5 % ABV. I don't know how they squeezed that much fun without leaving a strong alcohol taste. There is a tinge of fruitiness if it lingers in the mouth, and the aftertaste is also mild. You can tell the ingredients are fresh. Just a great brew.
The label is devilishly red and the font is intended to scare you like the name. Which is surprising since after a swig, I can only think of fluffy kitties dancing in a meadow of daisies chasing butterflies. Oh so pretty and serene... Until the ABV catches up with you and you find yourself in the middle if a GWAR concert basking in a pool of fake blood.
Brap on baby, brap on.
Type: porter
ABV[%]: 6.5
Packaging: 650ml bottle
Brewery: Russell Breweries, Surrey BC
Smell: barley bit of coffee
Head: thick but dissolves quickly, little lacing
Color: dark purple
Carbonation: medium
Kick: medium
Rating: 8.5/10
Notes:
After a game of indoor soccer and a trip to my local favorite beer store, I felt it was about time that I got back on the job of reviewing beers. You see, the last time I did a review was just before the beer festival. Boy that was fun. Deliciously evil. One of the booths was from Russell breweries and I tried a limited edition brew of a scotch-infused porter (post note: I review this beer later in this blog). It blew my mind. So after seeing about six brews on the shelf of the store, I was excited.
This beer is very, very smooth. It has the right amount of carbonation and is silky on the tongue after a swig. It isn't bitter and you can't tell this is a 6.5 % ABV. I don't know how they squeezed that much fun without leaving a strong alcohol taste. There is a tinge of fruitiness if it lingers in the mouth, and the aftertaste is also mild. You can tell the ingredients are fresh. Just a great brew.
The label is devilishly red and the font is intended to scare you like the name. Which is surprising since after a swig, I can only think of fluffy kitties dancing in a meadow of daisies chasing butterflies. Oh so pretty and serene... Until the ABV catches up with you and you find yourself in the middle if a GWAR concert basking in a pool of fake blood.
Brap on baby, brap on.
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