Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Tripel Exultation (Eel River)


Tripel Exultation = 8/10
Ratebeer 3.59 96th percentile
Beer Advocate 85%

Order up! Today's special is vinous, figs and caramel in a glass. It comes with a side order of slick and warming sherry notes but not too burning. You can upgrade to a thin sherry with prunes, herbal and floral hops. For Dessert: extra alcohol vapours are on the house. A little thin for a big ABV.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 9.7%
Value  +1 barely
Appearance +1 full label and organic!

Old Boardhead Barley Wine (Full Sail)


Old Boardhead = 8/10
Ratebeer 3.8 99th  percentile
Beer Advocate 87%

This glass emitted a fear inducing odour of alcohol soaked cherries, earth and wood. These scents can either be from a fresh grave or a barley wine; luckily it was the latter. Thin alcoholic malts gave more warmth than expected. The real shock came from copious amounts of caramel, brandy, minerals and earthly, resinous hops. Flavours still resonated long after the glass was empty.


Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 9%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Other barley wine reviews
GreenFlash Barley Wine
Old Bad Cat (Fat Cat)
Battle of the Victoria Barley Wines 2010

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Southern Hemisphere Harvest

Let's give a big round of applause to massive environmental footprinting.  Seriously, hops from New Zealand flown in to make a batch of beer. Who am I to talk; I've ordered beer bottles from Belgium.


Southern Hemisphere Harvest = 9/10

Ratebeer 3.75 98th  percentile
Beer Advocate A-

At least it tastes really good. The nose was uneventful with only the faintest mix of citrus, pine and floral spices. The very hop forward taste gives a lot to think about. I'm thinking..loads of pine, floral and orange citrus, but where is this slightly burnt flavour coming from? It's good. Maybe the bready and caramel malts are carrying this sensation? The pondering carries on as the burnt pine lingers for a long time. Could it be charred orange peel? Excellent beer!

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 6.7%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Other IPA reviews
Half Pints Humulus Ludicrous
Grow Hop Centennial (Phillips)
Uncharted IPA





Friday, November 18, 2011

Sculler's IPA


Sculler's IPA = 9/10

Ratebeer 3.43 90th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Just a quick review. The nose was oddly vacant with only a hint of sweet citrus. The taste makes it all worth while. Big flavours of bubblegum, cotton candy, herbal and grapefruit. Slick is the feeling as this brew blasts you upfront with all things PNW hoppy; then the warming caramel malts settles things down. An excellent IPA, get it if you see it.

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 6.8%
Value +1
Appearance 0 (boring label)

Citra IPA (Dead Frog)
Burton Empire Ale
Sink the Bismark

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

St. Rogue Dry Hopped Red Ale

No preample. It's Rogue, it's dry hopped, yum!

St. Rogue Dry Hopped Red Ale = 7/10
Ratebeer 3.53 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+


Oddly faint on the nose, but the roasted/caramel malts with citrus and floral hops foreshadow greatness. Up front it was very hop assertive: loads of spicy citrus, piney and quite dry. This hop blast fades to reveal a roasted caramel malt base. At the end a long bitter astringency lets you know PNW hops were here. A hop head must, but not stellar.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content 0 5.2%
Value +1
Appearance 0

Yukon Red Amber Ale
Skyhopper Amber Ale
Drop Top Amber Ale (Widmer)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale (Stone)

I like anything wood aged. The wood just gives an added dimension to the flavours: vanilla, tannins and sherry. I would wood age soy milk if the wife would let me.
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale = 9/10
Ratebeer 3.84 99th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

Anyone who has tried an Arrogant Bastard will remember the flavours: grapefruit citrus, resin and toffee. I'm sure many people buy this beer because of the catchy name. The wood aging gives an extra layer of flavours: vanilla, roast, tannins and (obviously) oak. Bready and toffee malts try very hard to keep this hop monster in check. Upfront is quite bitter but not pucking; it is oddly smooth for such a high ABV beer. Every sip leaves a long lingering of astringent citrus notes.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 7.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (great looking silk screened bottle - I kept it)

Pike Entire Wood Aged Stout 2009

Dogfish Head Burton Baton
Innis and Gunn Canadian Cask 2009

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Labyrinth Black Ale

I hate attending BYOB dinner parties; they can be anxiety inducing. It is not what you are thinking. I have no worries about meeting, greeting and making small talk. Also, rarely do I make awkward comments and come across as a sociopath. It worries me because I have to bring beer. For a beer geek, choosing the right beer to bring to a party can be a Herculean task. In this case I was more like Theseus and headed for the Labyrinth.

Labyrinth Black Ale = 10/10
Ratebeer 3.76 98th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

The label may say 'black ale', but the vanilla, wood and bitter chocolate reveals its true nature: imperial stout. Is that a hint of licorice I smell? Oh man! The dark chocolates, licorice, dark cherry were perfect; a good hop snap at the end made this brew heavenly. There was a very full mouthfeel that was silky and slippery. It was complemented by an all encompassing alcohol warmth. The best beer I have had in some time.

Taste +5
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 13.2%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Stunning label art and corked bottle)

Pothole Filler (Howe Sound)
Longwood Imperial Stout
Pike Wood Aged Stout 2009

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Double Trouble IPA (Lost Coast)

Never before have I felt like I was cheating while drinking. This was the only time. One expensive pint was enjoyed at Veneto Lounge in secret. Normally I am a Clive's regular; drinking here almost felt like I was betraying my friends. At least the beer was tasty.

Double Trouble IPA = 7/10
Ratebeer 3.48 93th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

This was certainly a big WCIPA; the nose was bang on with pink grapefruit and cotton candy. Again the taste was big and sweet. Double Trouble slapped your tongue with pine, cotton candy and sweet pink grapefruit. The malts from this chewy, medium-full mouthfeel brew carried a mild caramel character. On the way out, only a light lingering of ruby red grapefruit and pine was left. It was not astringent at all - only smooth. A good, sweet WCIPA with flavour to spare.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 8.5%
Value 0 ($9 a pint!)
Appearance +1

Stone IPA
60min IPA
Torpedo Extra IPA

Friday, December 17, 2010

Firestone Robust Porter

Sigh. A robust porter for my sampling pleasure. The things I do for my loyal followers. Please note the sarcasm

Firestone Robust Porter = 5/10

Ratebeer
3.66 97th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Robust is a relative term; this one barely meets the mark. Sure, the nose is sweet and roasted with dark chocolate and pine. The medium-full body is creamy but oddly not that flavourful. It's all there: sweet, roasted chocolate, not-too-bitter-cocoa and slightly cooling hops. It was all just too drinkable. Even the ending was glycerin-like with roasted chocolate. Robust should be gripping, not easy drinking.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5.9%
Value 0
Appearance +1 (nice label though)

Granville Island Porter and Real Life
Samuel Adams Honey Porter
Snoqualmie Porter and New Parts

Upright Brewing Seven


I can never resist a saison. My only wish was for a larger bottle.

Upright Brewing Seven = 6/10

Ratebeer 3.58 95th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

This is what I need; a big nose of lemon, citrus and spicy grass. Every gulp gives lemon tartness, dry oranges, spicy coriander and fabulous effervescence. Don't forget the tart yeast and wheat. Sadly the ending was dry, clean but slightly yeasty. Upright brewing I love you! Your saison is a tad below Dupont but above Brooklyn Local 1.

Taste +4
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content +1 8%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (nice label)

Saison Du Buff
Farmhand Ale
Saison Dupont

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Gordon Biersch Marzen



Ratebeer 2.98/5 46th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +4

The nose was truly clean with a lightly bready and caramel nose. Usually I am not a fan of lagers, but this was tasty. The taste was just like the nose with a noticeable floral and earthy hops backing.

Aftertaste 0

The ending was very clean, crisp and slighly effervescent. Maybe just a lingering kiss of roast and caramel.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

I wasn't expecting miracles.

Value +1

This one was really nice.

Ingame Enhancement +1

This brew was enjoyed on my patio with a good buddy; he even bought the beer. I think he bought it because his name was Gordon also.

Overall 6/10

I will never look the same was at their cheesy restaurants again. This was a great Oktoberfest style beer: easy drinking with just enough caramel and hop goodness to provide palate love.

Buckerfields Lederhosen Lager
Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
Hofbrau Bock - Trader Joe's

Friday, November 5, 2010

Brooklyn Brown Ale

Ratebeer 3.41 89th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3
  • nose is roasted and caramel malts
  • colour is deep brown with an off white/tan head
  • Nice effervescent carbonation up front
  • slightly earthy hops that barely contain the rich caramel and roasted mild chocolate malts
  • Very malt forward
Aftertaste +1
  • Clean and slightly dry with dry roasted caramel. The malt quickly fades away

Alcohol Content 0 5.6%

Value +1

It wasn't that exciting, but it was good and flavourful.

Ingame Enhancement 0

Meh, I need to rethink this blog I am over 100 beers behind in reviewing.

Overall 5/10

A good malty and roasted chocolate brew. Interesting enough to please the seasoned beer drinker, but not scary enough to repulse the light beer crowd.

HoweSound Nut Brown Ale
Beaver Brown Ale (Canoe)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Ranger IPA (New Belgium)

Ratebeer 3.54 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

With a big nose with pine, roast and a slight resin your know this in an IPA that means business. This is backed up by an assertive pine, toasted and resinous hop presence. This sweet hop lineup is supported by a continent of caramel and bready malts. It is mostly pine. The mouthfeel was sticky and left a gloriously sweet and bitter tongue coating. If you are keeping track; it has 70IBU.

Aftertaste +2

The mouth puckering and tongue coating aftertaste was all pine bitterness.

Alcohol Content +1 6.5%

6.5% seem to be the magic number for big IPAs

Value +1

Sure to be a hop-head favourite.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle loving the great beer selection

Overall 9/10

New Belgium has once again shown that there is no hop shortage with the flavours in this beer. It is big with pine and resin with just enough bready malts to make it enjoyable.

Brew Free or Die IPA
Broken Halo IPA
Diamond Knot IPA

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Brooklyn Lager


Brooklyn Lager

Ratebeer 3.43 90th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

The nose is cool with menthol and faint biscuity malts. A well done lager is an uneventful brew; luckily this is far from uneventful. The light citrus (lemon) and floral hops jumps out at you to grab your tongues attention. This fades off to reveal a bread and biscuit malt.

Aftertaste +1

The quickly fading hops leaves a floral hop ending. Then it is gone, clean.

Alcohol Content 0 5.2%

Value +1

An above average and flavourful lager.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Just bumping the score up.

Overall 7/10

It's a lager: clean, crisp and easy drinking. The enhanced citrus and bready flavours were a nice surprise.

Red Canoe Lager
Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Hard Science
Red Stripe Lager

Mirror Pond Pale Ale


Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Ratebeer 3.46 92nd percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

This is a go-to beer for a lot of people; I can understand why. The aroma says it all: glorious and hoppy with floral and citrus. This is well balanced with bready malts and a slight vegetable. The hops impart citrus, floral, banana and a cool menthol flavours.

Aftertaste +1

It was a wet finish with lingering bread malts and menthol. There was a slight herbal mouth coating.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value +1

This is unlike all other pale ales; it is the king. The flavour is above average but not overly challenging for the routine beer drinker.

Ingame Enhancement +1

I have this beer often and is always enjoyable. It goes will with everything.

Overall 7/10

A truly great pale ale. The bready malts are slightly shadowed by the sharp citrus and menthol hops

Phillips Blue Buck
Salt Spring Island Pale Ale
Deschutes Hop Trip

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Fish Tale Organic IPA


Fish Tale Organic IPA

Ratebeer 3.3 82nd percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

I never get tired of tasting good PNW IPAs. This one comes from the Fish Brewing company in Olympia, Washington. They also brew the Leavenworth beers for that uber-cute Bavarian town. The nose is sweet with citrus and subdued pine. Again the taste is smooth with citrus, resin and pine. You get most of the bitterness at the back of the mouth. The citrus is leaning more to the tangerine side of things. This IPA is brewed with organic Pacific Gem hops with 42IBUs for those keeping score. Malts were light with caramel

Aftertaste +1

There was a bare lingering of caramel and light tangerines

Alcohol Content +1 6.7%

Just as a good IPA should be.

Value 0

This was not an outstanding IPA. It must be tough to release an IPA in the PNW; they must be outstanding to rise above the others.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle, still drinking great beers.

Overall 6/10

This was a solid IPA, just not outstanding. The caramel malts were overshadowed by the citrus and pine hops. Props go out for being Organic.

Nine Donkeys of the Hopocalypse
Pliny the Elder and Adrenaline Shots
Green Flash Imperial IPA

Sunday, August 22, 2010

KellerWeis (Sierra Nevada)

KellerWeis (Sierra Nevada)

Ratebeer 3.62 96th percentile
Beer Advocate A-


Taste +4

After the pour, the standard pillowy head emits a pronounced lemongrass, yeast and wheat aroma. Things become nonstandard when the creamy, medium mouthfeel fluid offers no tartness at all. Without this tart distraction you are able to enjoy the lemons, big bananas and wheat flavours. There is a hint of clove spice at the end. Oddly this hefe holds its nose right until the end.
Aftertaste +1

A slow fading reveals creamy bananas and a mild clove spiciness.

Alcohol Content -1 4.8%

There is a surprising amount of flavour for such a low alcohol beer.

Value +1

Truly a great hefe.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle enjoying great beer. The flavours keep getting better and better.

Overall 6/10

Don't let the low score fool you. This hefe has it all: a big citrus and yeasty nose, with a very refreshing and drinkable profile.

Tree Brewing Hefe and I get by...
Marin Hefeweiss
Granville Island Hefeweizen

Monday, August 16, 2010

New World Porter (Avery)

New World Porter (Avery)

Ratebeer 3.7 98th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +4

This brew pours with the hugest, fluffiest head. You cannot see through this black fluid, but the edges do offer a ruby glow. The word here is sweet, sweet, sweet; not without balance. You also get some big roast, bitter chocolate and juicy resinous hops. As you fill up don't forget to notice the creamy mouthfeel with low carbonation.

Aftertaste +2

Gee.. a porter with a long lingering of roasted bitter chocolate; never saw that coming. The dry and slightly astringent linger: shocking. Smartass sarcasm aside, it was good.

Alcohol Content +1 6.7%

Why can't anyone make a 6.9% brew?

Value +1

This was the 5th beer I sampled tonight. If I can taste this one, it must be good.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Oh forget it!

Overall 9/10

I know..any porter that is half decent get a 9/10; but this one deserves it. The uber-roastiness did not overpower the chocolate and juicy hops.

Sleemans Fine Porter (Bleck)
Elysian Perseus Porter
Black Boss Porter

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Oatmeal Stockyard Stout


Oatmeal Stockyard Stout

Ratebeer 3.33 84th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Taste +3

This was another exclusive Trader Joe brew. Like all good stouts, the nose was full of dry roasted grains and coffee. The taste came through as expected with dry, bitter cocoa, roasted oatmeal and thin coffee. The black brew had ruby edges, minimal head retention and a medium mouthfeel that I thought was a little thin.

Aftertaste +1

The ending was astringently dry with a quick touch of bitter cocoa. Quite a pleasant experience.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

It was not mentioned on the bottle, but it was easily guessed due to the lack of warmth.

Value 0

This was a nice oatmeal stout, but I thought it was too dry and thin.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle and trying not to think about the possible history of my hotel room.

Overall 5/10

A decent oatmeal stout. It was very dry but still had a good dose of bitter chocolate and roasted oatmeal.

Dark Stout Oatmeal Stout (R&B)
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Ten Fidy Imperial Stout

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Hofbrau Bock - Trader Joe's

I like Trader Joe's. Mrs Left4Beer really likes Trader Joe's. Life is good and all is harmonious after she visits this epicly odd grocery store. She almost has as much fun here as I have at Bottleworks. The beer selection is getting better and very reasonably priced. I rarely buy a six pack of beer because then the same beer has to be sampled six times. This policy might have to change soon because a lot of their house beers sound really good.


Hofbrau Bock - Trader Joe's
Brewed by Gordon Biersch

Ratebeer 2.82 35th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

Taste +3

There was zero carbonation from this bottle and therefore zero head retention. The nose also did not provide any surprises; it was very lager like with light honey and sweet limes. Things improved with a light/medium mouthfeel and a slightly creamy sensation. Lightly toasted grains with toffee hints overpowered the earthy hops. This brew was a little on the sweet side but nice. There were 22IBU for those keeping score.

Aftertaste +1

The earthy hops, honey and toasted grains slowly faded away cleanly.

Alcohol Content +1 7%

I never saw that one coming.

Value 0

It was nice, but a little too light and sweet for a bock.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Still in Seattle wondering how many DNA stains are in my hotel room.

Overall 6/10

A nice, light, sweet and high octane bock can now be found at Trader Joe's. Don't forget to pick up some 2 buck Chuck and chocolate covered edamame beans.

Samuel Adams Imperial Dopplebock
Boss Kozlak Bock
Yankee Jim Ice Bock