Friday, May 20, 2011

Older Viscosity by Port Brewing

Older Viscosity. American Strong Ale. Port Brewing. San Marcos, California.

Spring 2011.

My review on RateBeer:

4.4 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
AHTOH (66) - San Diego, USA - MAY 20, 2011

2011 vintage. 375 mL bottle. Lost Abbey tulip.

APPEARANCE: Black. Tinge of dark caramel brown. Head is 1-2 fingers, dark tan – like the foam on an espresso, and has lengthy retention.

AROMA: Cocoa, milk chocolate, bourbon, vanilla. Hints of whiskey dipped figs, oak, coffee, mocha, faint allspice.

TASTE: Massive bourbon notes. Chocolate malt, vanilla. Hints of oak, roasted barley, faint allspice, faint grassy hops. Light roasted barley contributes mild bitterness on finish.

MOUTH FEEL: Lively carbonation – more than expected for the style/viscosity – helps reduce the viscous perception. Plentiful alcohol warmth. Slick mouth feel.

OVERALL: Milk chocolate and bourbon extremely well balanced on nose – almost like a chocolate milk shake blended with a bit of bourbon. Bourbon is just a touch heavy on taste. Overall, amazing.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sublimely Self Righteous Ale by Stone

Sublimely Self Righteous Ale. Black IPA. Stone Brewing Co. Escondido, California.

Spring 2011.

My review on RateBeer:

3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
AHTOH (65) - San Diego, California, USA - MAY 14, 2011

Bomber. Duvel tulip.

APPEARANCE: Pitch black. Hues of deep dark brown only barely discernible at the edges when held to light. Head is dark beige, creamy, has lengthy retention, minimal lace.

AROMA: Citrus (grapefruit) and grassy hops, lightly roasted malt, light coffee. Hops more prominent than malt. Hints of dark bitter chocolate.

TASTE: Citrusy and some grassy hop taste combined with hop and roasted malt bitterness. More roasted malts on taste than on nose, however hops still more prominent than malt. Hints of chocolate malt.

MOUTH FEEL: Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Alcohol well hidden behind bitterness and roasty characteristics.

OVERALL: Bitter finish a tad more bitter and longer lasting than would have preferred. Like drinking an Americano with grapefruit peel.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Harvest Ale (Calvados) by J.W. Lees

Harvest Ale (Calvados). Barley Wine (matured in Calvados casks). J.W. Lees. MIddleton, England.

Spring 2011.

My review on RateBeer:

3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
AHTOH (64) - San Diego, California, USA - MAY 11, 2011

Brewed in 2009. Ale matured in Calvados casks. 275 mL bottle. Duvel tulip.

APPEARANCE: Orange gold and amber. Quite hazy. Sparse sediment. Head is 1 finger, cream colored, and has short duration.

AROMA: Brandy, barley, grain, cereal. Hints of green apple, caramel, vanilla, allspice, lightly toasted wood.

TASTE: Brandy, barley, grain, caramelized green raisin, burnt brown sugar. Charred wood much more noticeable and more charred on taste than on nose. Hints of vanilla, faint spice, extremely faint bitter orange.

MOUTH FEEL: Soft carbonation. Quite sweet. Full bodied. Light alcohol warmth.

OVERALL: Pleasant brandy barrel aged barley wine. Faint notes of charred wood on taste linger for quite some time and become a bit earthy towards the end of the lingering phase as the other tastes fade; charred wood notes are a bit more prominent than would have preferred.