Showing posts with label dark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dark. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Absolute Darkness (VIB)

This the forth bomber release by VIB. A unique India Dark Ale release is the flavour this quarter, even if the style name is unspeakable. Like always, VIB lets loose the marketing machine and highlights something local. In this case it is the Horne Lake caves and campground. The very busy release party had several people promoting this Island attraction. Well done for supporting Island events.


Absolute Darkness = 7/10

The first thing to hit you is the grassy and floral hop nose. It is quite pronounced, but I don't seem to mind. This grassiness takes a backseat to the sip of equal parts floral, lemongrass and slight spruce hop assertiveness. Then the dusty, milk chocolate and toast malts make an appearance. They are all in perfect balance, but the floral grasses never really go away. The aftertaste reminds me of lavender candies I got from Harrods.  It is a tasty beer and no doubt people will enjoy it, but something is out of sorts. Maybe the nose is a tad too grassy and the body a little thin, but these are my delusions of beer critic grandeur speaking.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.5%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (supercool glow in dark label)

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Hoyne Dark Matter

This is the fifth release by Hoyne. It is perfect timing that they released a dark ale around St. Patrick's Day. It is too dark and roasted to be called a nut brown and there is not enough hops to be called a English bitter. Let's call is a dry style stout.


Hoyne Dark Matter = 7/10

This is not a powerhouse of flavour, but it is very nice. The nose is heavy on the roasted coffee beans and dry, toasted grains. From the smell you can predict the flavour. At the start a roasted astringency tingles the mouth and sets up the stout like follow through. The predictable burnt toast, dry cocoa and hidden dark berries are a welcome wash for the tongue. A dusty ash and bittersweet chocolate are an afterthought and don't last long. Sadly this brew didn't last long in my glass; perhaps this is the sign of a good beer. 


Taste +3
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content 0 5.3%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (Are those the some people in the Down Easy Pale ale camping?)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Shiner Bock

Crap! I have to make an effort to say something witty and smrt sounding because people are reading. So this one of the most well known brands of beer in the US. It's not on par with BUD, but more the Pabst level. It is also a poser beer. It's not a bock for a few reasons. The first is that it is weak. The second is that it is weak. The third is that is doesn't come from un-spellable town in Belgium. The fourth is that you can see through it. Forget the fifth, tick tick tick. I bought this beer based on name alone.


Shiner Bock = 2/10
Ratebeer 2.58 19th  percentile
Beer Advocate 71%

This reminds me of another beer that calls itself a bock, but doesn't taste like one. FYI the local on tastes really good. Even BJCP calls it an American Dark Lager. I call it weak smelling of light lager and grass. YES, lager is a smell, check the dictionary. While you are busy with that: the taste is boring toffee, egg whites and buttery. This brew would taste great over popcorn. Thankfully the ending was quick; just like a last drop. Overall it sux. That is a bit harsh. Call it a gateway beer, until you drink some real craft beer. Grab a New Belgium Ranger and mess yourself up.

Taste +2
Aftertaste 0
Alcohol Content -1 4.4%
Value 0
Appearance +1 (legendary name alone wins)

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Cameron Dark 266

This beer produces thought of the brewer referred to as Deebs at Phillips Brewing. It's a very obscure inside joke. Does he still own that Red Wings jersey? Nevermind. Life us rough for an obsessive beer ticker; gotta get thru these 33beer journals. This is 3 of 16!

Cameron Dark 266 = 4/10
Ratebeer 2.91 40th percentile
Beer Advocate 76%

The nose is unimpressive with light straw and roast chocolate. We all know what a well done dark lager tastes like. There is lightly astringent chocolate upfront mixed with toast. Then there is this herbal and citrus hop bite at the end; vary the hop bite a little bit. The Cameron had more hops throughout the sip than expected. You can guess the ending. Wait I will spoil it for you: lightly roasted, toast with Nutella and weak marmalade. It was simple and tasty.


Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 4.5%
Value 0
Appearance 0

Other dark lager reviews
Midnight Sessions Dark Lager YES!
Jacobsen Dark Lager Maybe
Okanagan Spring Dark Lager NO




Friday, November 18, 2011

Midnight Session Lager



Midnight Session Lager = 6/10

Ratebeer 3.69 98th  percentile
Beer Advocate B+

This beer is as dark as my heart. You can probably guess what it smells like. You're right; roasted chocolate and pale grass. The sip has that roasted astringency up front with more alcohol warmth than you might expect. If you like it roasted, then this one will not disappoint. The top of the mouth tingles with wood, vanilla and over toasted whole wheat bread. It might have scored higher with less roast. Did I mention it was very roasty? At least it was better than the Pacific Western Schwarzbock. I'm still mad that they released that in cans after I bought the limited edition boxset!

Taste +3
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value 0
Appearance +1 (always great labels)

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Noir De Dottignies (De Ranke)

Still committed to getting ahead on all my reviews. Only about 300 more to go.

Noir De Dottignies (De Ranke) = 7/10

Ratebeer 3.54 94th percentile
Beer Advocate B+

Everything about this brew is big. The nose is big, perhaps a bit heavy on the alcohol side but dark fruits, roast and citrus still peak through. Noir grabs your tongue early and hits with a one-two combination of alcohol slap and citrus hop bite. Once the burn vaporizes away, you get a complex mesh of plum, raisins, cocoa and dark sugar. You are visited once again in the aftertaste by an unrelenting spicy, citrus hop linger.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 9%
Value +1
Appearance 0 (boring label)

Wellington County Dark Ale
Petrus Special
Chambly Noir and Video Game Help





Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wellington County Dark Ale

From now on all old beers will be speed reviews. I have 8 33beer books to go through and 2 beer schools to write up. Brevity is the name of the game.

Wellington County Dark Ale = 6/10

Yup, it's another dark ale. All the required flavours are present and accounted for: bitter chocolate malts, lightly roasted, caramel and no hops This brew is almost a stout but not quite; just a little thin and too effervescent. The light to medium mouthfeel made this a very drinkable can. Think of it as a gateway beer to the Dark Lord stout.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5%
Value +1
Appearance +1

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Petrus Special

I took a wrong turn and ended up at Chambar in Vancouver. I know that I can be a food/beer snob and I felt uncomfortable in this place. Don't ask how much this beer cost per glass.

Petrus Special = 6/10
Ratebeer 2.89 39th percentile
Beer Advocate B-

Very malty nose with plums and faint cloves can be expected from a dark Belgian like this one. It was very velvety with plums, cherries, dark sugar and a slight alcohol warmth. This slick, wet brew stayed on the tongue with lingering sweetness. Their description was "evocative of green grapes with a gentle touch of copper." I have been licking my copper bracelet for an hour and have yet to discern any sort of gentle tastes.

Taste +3
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content +1 6.5%
Value 0 (not for $10 a glass)
Appearance +1 the ambiance made up for high price

Brasserie Des Rocs Brune and no time for small talk
Brooklyn 2
Monk's Mistress

Friday, January 21, 2011

Local 2 (Brooklyn Brewery)

The strong dark Belgian ale beer category such a treat. Flavours are always complex and can change with aging and temperature serving. You have your strong Trappists, Abbey styles even Unibroue makes a couple.

Local 2 (Brooklyn Brewery) = 8/10
Ratebeer 3.67 97th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

I must have some odd genetic defect; whenever I see a Brooklyn Brewery corked magnum, my wallet comes out and I start salivating. The aromas of dark fruit, spicy yeast and candied sugar are not helping my condition. I'm drooling for a reason: the full mouthfeel of dark honey, plums and rum cake cures my sickness. As I lose consciousness, the dry/tart yeast, alcohol burn and candied dark fruits lingers into blackness.

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

Brother Thelonius and Blade Runner Boobs
Rochefort 8 and the Stig
Chambly Noir

Friday, December 31, 2010

Witte Noire

This was one my finds from Bottleworks in Seattle. I wonder what an imperial amber wheat ale tastes like. Anything with a cork attracts my attention like a crow to tin foil.

Witte Noire = 9/10
Ratebeer 3.4 81st percentile
Beer Advocate B+

The nose did not make a good impression; it was too faint of roast and chocolate. A medium-full, creamy mouthfeel and alcohol warmth is making things a little better. Finally! This brew is very assertive with its carbonation. The flavours of creamy milk chocolate start off and are followed closely by a slight bitterness/tartness with molasses. There is also a mix a dart fruity esters floating around. The slight citrus hops lingers along with the bitter milk chocolate and wheat. Another very interesting brew. I really like beers that do not conform to a specific style.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +2
Alcohol Content +1 7.4%
Value +1
Appearance +1 (I'm a sucker for corked beers)

Dunkel Weiss (Great Divide)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen

This was a purchase from BottleWorks in Seattle. I only bought it because I don't think I have ever sampled a dark hefe.

Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen 6/10

Ratebeer
3.54 94th percentile
Beer Advocate A-

The nose was standard, yet deliciously hefe: yeasty, bready with cloves. With the dark malts came the added roasted and chocolate aromas. A light-medium mouthfeel and high carbonation carried the smooth and creamy flavours everywhere. Let's start the tastes list, there was: roasted whole wheat toast, bitter yeast, mild milk chocolate, cloves, lemon and bananas. After it was all done, a creamy coating of toasted banana bread faded too quickly. If you want to try something different, this is the one brew for you.

Taste +4
Aftertaste +1
Alcohol Content 0 5.3%
Value +1
Appearance 0 (boring bottle, boring label)

Longwood Dunkelweizen
Baron Bohemian
Dunkel Weiss Great Divide

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Black Tree Dark Ale


Black Tree Dark Ale (Tree Brewing)

This is a seasonal release by Tree Brewing. The label claims to be a specialty blend of pale ale and a rich porter. I have big expectations for this brew, their Weizen bock limited was excellent.

Ratebeer 2.92 38th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +1

The nose was a bit off and smelled like day old coffee. Even the flavour was a tad watery. It tasted like day old coffee with corn syrup added as a sweetener. There was mild tastes of bitter hops and roasted coffee.

Aftertaste -2

It left a slick oily coating of roast/smoke that would just not go away. I had to scrub my tongue to make it go away. The morning after it was still there.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

Value -1

I feel bad, every other Tree Brewing beer has been pretty good. For six bucks I could have bought another bomber and still had change left over.

Ingame Enhancement 0

I did have a great night in L4D2. Dark Carnival is a great level; it is always fun to beat circus clown with the butt of a shotgun. The problem was that I kept trying to scrap the taste off my tongue with my teeth.

Overall -2/10

I feel bad but I didn't like this beer. It is not like Tree makes bad beers. Their hefeweizen won a silver medal and Hop Head double IPA won a gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards 2009. Personally I think their hefe tasted better than the Whistler brewing hefe.

Chambly Noir and Video Game Help

Okanagan Springs Black Lager and Fast Cars
Jacobsen Dark Lager

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Fort Garry Dark Ale


Fort Garry Dark Ale

Ratebeer 2.79 27th percentile
Beer Advocate C+

Located in beautiful Winnipeg, the Fort Garry Brewing Company has been producing this dark ale for the enjoyment of all Manitobans. This is one more reason why I have no plans to visit this cold rock of a province.

Taste -1

The nose was ever so slight of roast and digested fruit (aka. vomit). No surprise to me the taste is no better; thin demerara sugar, acid and brunt white bread.

Aftertaste -1

The lingering was too acidic and tasted of golden pancake syrup.

Alcohol Content 0 5%

There really is nothing redeeming about this beer.

Value 0

It wasn't too bad; thankfully I never bought it.
Ingame Enhancement -1

I never played a lot this night because I had to leave to brush my teeth. The flavours would not get out of my mouth. When I finally returned, all the other players had gone to bed.

Overall -3/10

May I suggest we start a telethon to raise funds and send good beer the Manitoba?

Hitachino Nest XH (-3)

Rolling Rock Light (-4)
Pacific Pilsner (-4)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Negra Modelo


Negra Modelo
Munich Style Dunkle

Ratebeer 2.72 23rd percentile
Beer Advocate B-

This brew must be purchased in a Mexican restaurant for authenticity purposes.

Taste +3

The nose is very faint of caramel and floral with slight roast. It has a medium mouthfeel with above average malt roast sweetness roast and faint vanilla. The hops are understated with ample carbonation.

Aftertaste +1

The sweet caramel fades off clean.

Alcohol Content 0 5.4%

Value +1

Say what you want I like this beer. The flavour is simple, delicious and goes great with Mexican food.

Ingame Enhancement +1

Nope, didn't play but I still wanted to bump the score up.

Overall 6/10

This is a nice, sweeter dark lager. Keep your light stuff with lime.

Jacobsen Dark Lager
Ok Springs Black Lager and fast cars
Chambly Noir and video game help

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Jacobsen Dark Lager


Jacobsen Dark Lager

Ratebeer 2.9 35th percentile
Beer Advocate B

Taste +3

This has to be one of the cooler bottles out there; nothing beats a bottle with a head on it. It is a spot on dark lager; nose consists of sweet caramel malt, licorice and brown sugar. The flavours are a well rounding of toffee, bread and nuts. There is slight bitterness at the end comparable to tart tomatoes.

Aftertaste +2

The mouth coating lasted quite a long time and consisted of a dry sweetness with that tomato like tartness. It could easily be a -2 if you are not into dry, tart flavours.

Alcohol Content 0 5.8%

Value 0

I can appreciate the style, but I wouldn't get it again.

Ingame Enhancement 0

It was a nice night of L4d; even if NW and Matrix did keep setting me on fire. Gentlemen please shoot the gas can after I put it down.

Overall 5/10

If you like your dark lagers a little sweet and tart, then this one is for you.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Chambly Noir (Unibroue) and video game help

Flavius: I have finally found a situation where playing video games has helped me in real life.
Meterman: You recently got back from LA; please do not tell me the game has GTA4 or Saints Row.
F: Luckily no, it was GRID and Gran Turismo.
M: Navigating the LA freeway?
F: Nope; kicking ass on the go-kart track.

Chambly Noir (Unibroue)

Rate beer 3.33 72 percentile
Beer Advocate B


Taste +3

The nose is pleasantly light with caramel, toffee and plums. At first sip the heavy carbonation floods the mouth are carries a citrus and molasses wash with it. The usual Unibroue yeastiness is there, but it added an unusually smoothness. Mixed in with all this is a sour fruit (lemon) tang.

Aftertaste +1

Once the sourness and yeast flavours fade with the bubbles; you are left with a delightful malt and molasses sweetness.
Alcohol Content +1 6.2%

The alcohol taste is apparent, but it enhances the sour flavours very well.

Value +1

Meterman was impressed with this one and would get it again. I believe the standard 750ml corked bottles go for around $6.
Ingame Enhancement 0

Meh, no zombies tonight. The scary part is that in real life, I often find myself bumping my hip against expensive cars. I think it a habit; set off the alarm and the zombie fun is soon to come.

Overall 6/10

Meterman was particularly taken with this darker Unibroue style. It focused more on the dark fruits and less on the light breads and yeastiness. Not as good as some of the other Unibroue flavours we have reviewed.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Okanagan Spring Black Lager and Fast Cars

Flavius: I have got to get me one of these!
Meterman: Please don't tell me you are reading Tiger Beat Magazine.
F: Nope. Performance Car UK Edition. They are releasing a new Scirocco.
M: Now that is a beautiful car: 2.0 Turbo, 197BHP, 206 lb of torque, 0-60MPH in under 7 seconds. Where are you gonna drive that thing in the city, to and from the library?
F: I might drive up and down parking garages really fast.

Okanagan Springs Black Lager

I had high hopes for this beer. Usually Okanagan Springs puts out beers that all kinda taste the same, but something this dark is unusual.

Taste +2

This beer gave the nose a standard lager, with a little bit extra of dark roasted malt and molasses. The first taste was a very light hint of dark chocolate and espresso. There was just the standard amount of fizzy. It might be classified as a bold oatmeal chocolate stout for beginners.
Meterman: I think this beer was a huge let down. It was like getting a sports car and revving the engine. The first initial taste was great; hints of dark chocolate and malt building.. This might actually be a great tasting beer. Then you drop it into gear and the wheels fall off.

Aftertaste +1

Just a very, very light taste of dark chocolate was left, but it faded quickly.

Alcohol Content 0 5.0%

What is it with mass preoduced beers that only have 5.X%.

Value +1

A standard six pack of bottles is only $11.25

Ingame Enhancement 0

Played the COD after a few month break; got owned by Grandpa no less. Then it was the Killhouse map, had to leave. You either love that map or hate it. I shot zombies instead.

Overall 4/10

This is a very drinkable beer, just like everything else Okanagan Spring makes. Not that this is bad.
Meterman: This is a gateway beer. Get your friends hooked on this stuff and they will never go back to boring lagers again. Next you can move onto Young's Chocolate Stout and finally Rogue XXX Imperial Stout. Now they will have a raging craft beer habit.