Long time no review.
It’s not as if I haven’t been drinking craft beer. The day I stop drinking craft beer is either the day I die or the day I take a pregnancy test and it turns out positive. And seeing as how I’m not out there whoring the street corners, have a ring on my finger, and I’m as healthy as a horse, neither is going to happen ANYTIME soon. So have no fear, I shall always drink craft beer. J
Review away, you say? Well, alright you impatient SOB. Here goes review overload.
Odell St. Lupulin - Extra Pale Ale, 6.5 ABV
It reads on the bottle that this brew is dedicated to the mystical legend of St. Lupulin, the archetypal hophead. Devoting endless summers to endless rows of hops and its flowers, which contain the resin – lupulin. Paints a pretty little picture, doesn’t it?
Well this mystical little thing pours a like something you’d find at the end of the rainbow, beautiful and golden. No extreme carbonation, just smooth and slightly effervescent. Clean. Nice malty weight to the smell. Pretty aromatic hops for an EPA, and not very bitter or aggressive. A well done dry hopped brew, and I’m assuming they just used a less aggressive hop in the boil. It has this sweet, clean malt taste. Not thick. Pretty hoppy for an EPA. Also, higher alcohol content that you would generally encounter with this style. In comparison to something local, and a general go to beer (as it’s always on tap), I would prefer this over Summit’s EPA. It’s slightly more aromatic, and carries with it a more crisp and clean finish. Their EPA (and actually most others I’ve tried) are a bit sweeter and perhaps more viscous. But I’m thinking this might have something to do with how bars treat their kegs (too little or too much pressure, or dirty lines, etc) as I haven’t had a “fresh” summit EPA in a while. As for St. Lupulin, I’d hunker down with a 6 pack of this for sure. Though maybe I wouldn’t drink them like water, because of the higher ABV and not as crisp and drinkable as say a pilsner or kolsch. And by maybe, I mean I shouldn’t, but probably would anyways.
*New grading system: I’m now including a scale for my beers. 1. Carbonation/mouthfeel 2. Hop factor: a: aromatic; b: bitterness 3. Malt factor 4. Overall grade of beer. On a system of 1-5. 5 being extreme (or in overall category, a highly favorable beer).
SCALE: 1. 2; 2. 3 a: 3.5; b: 2; 3. 3; 4. 3.5
Deschutes Hop in the Dark C.D.A. (Cascadian dark ale)
Black pour. Little head. Roasted, bitter, hoppy. Clean. Crisp. Great black IPA. Bitter and bold finish slightly lingers. Simply put: I could drink this all night. Why are all black IPA’s only seasonal or limited edition. Will some brewery please, on a regular basis make this brew?
SCALE: 1. 3; 2. 4 a: 3.5 b: 3.5; 3. 2.5; 4. 4
Widmer Brothers Brewing – Pitch Black IPA
This brew is from their 924 series. Clever little bit on the bottle: “always bet on black”. I couldn’t agree more. I’m so in love with black IPA’s, I think I’m going to adapt this as yet another beer slogan of mine. And I’d say that this one, would always be a safe bet. A well done BIPA. This brew is at 6.5% ABV and was born on March 30 11 – so not extremely fresh, but it still has a distinct and pleasant bold hop flavor to it. It’s slightly smoky. Smooth. Refreshing. And it has a nice roasted finish that lingers a bit. This would taste great with steak or smoked pork. In fact, I’m pissed I’m not eating one right now. And now I’m hungry. Super. Well this brew isn’t as big or in your face as Deschutes hop in the dark, but still noteworthy and I’d definitely grab this one again.
SCALE: 1. 2; 2. 3 a: 3 b:2; 3. 2.5; 4: 3
Weyerbacher – Insanity
This oak aged ale is set at an impressive 11.1% ABV.
Chestnut pour. Little head. Aroma is very malty, sweet, and strong alcohol. I was hesitant to drink the entire 12 oz. and with reason. And you know what, you’d be insane as shit to drink more than one of these. I mean, if you want something big, and in your face that tastes like there’s a couple ounces of bourbon in it. Something with extremely high alcohol content, this is your brew. Want to get messed up? Drink this. Do it on a full stomach though, or you’ll pay the next day.
SCALE: 1. 2; 2: 1 a:0 b:1 or 0; 3: 4; 4: 2
And the best for last:
Deschutes Brewery – Black Butte XXIII (23rd Birthday Reserve)
Bottle reads: “Welcome to Crazy”. You’re damn right.
This incredible masterpiece is brewed with cocoa nibs from Theos, orange peels from Seville, and Pasilla Negra chilles, and added with 25% aged in bourbon barrels. This beauty poured like dark liquid chocolate. Very smooth. Very little initial carbonation. Smells sweet, and the cocoa is evident in the initial aroma. Has a slightly caramel taste, possibly from the crystal malts. I’m still working on detecting specialty malt varieties in brews. Let’s be honest, I’m still working on detecting pretty much everything. But I need to carry on. It’s so smooth it’s like you can barely feel it. Like drinking dark chocolate milk, with a bit of a citrus zest and slightly bitter caramel roasted finish. Only the slightest bit of tingle as you drink this bad boy to remind you that you are in fact, drinking a beer. This is a great imperial porter. Smoked, but not over the top. It has enough of a bitter factor, that I would drink this again and again. You find roasted and caramel notes. Then a bittersweet chocolate bite from the cocoa nibs. And to top it all off, perfectly I might add, is the slight orange zest. And I believe I taste the slight zing of the chilies in the finish. Absolutely wonderful. This is art. This is why I drink craft beer. Well done.
SCALE: 1. 2; 2. 3 a:2 b: 3; 3. 3; 4: 5!
Also note: Not using this scale again. As simple as it is, it’s just a bit confusing unless you remember which number is what and what the scale is.
