Beer-Geek, Dude. Beer Reviews, beer research, love and save the ales

Session Black Lager

justin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:27:19 +0000

Nice thin session lager. Tasty, I could drink this all night. I just might!

Parabola

justin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:32:29 +0000

Parabola is a VERY Tasty Imperial stout from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.! Beware though, 12.5% ABV! Smooth, dark, just wow.

Short’s huma lupa licious

justin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:36:38 +0000

Picked my hops last week and expected more from the huma lupa. Very tastey not as strong on the hops. More sweet hop flowers

De Dolle Extra Export Stout

justin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 01:43:08 +0000

It is finished! This is my final night of the project!!! I will report in the coming days my observations, top-ten lists and more but tonight is dedicated to the De Dolle Extra Export Stout. I spent all day resting, trying to get better and tonight I am feeling good. Not well enough to go to the Forge where this all began with the Hooker Nor’Easter but, well enough to really enjoy a nice stout. I feel like the ending tonight is a bit anti-climatic. Just another night drinking another good beer.

This stout pours beautifully with a big tan head. The flavour is complex with dates, and other “old world” fruits taking center stage. There is a strong malt flavour and some chocolate for good measure. The alcohol is a bit too up-front for my taste but overall it is a smooth tasty stout. Very nice ★★★★

This has been an amazing year. I will continue to post my beer musings here but on a less regular basis so please check back every once and a while. I am also planning on a new year-long adventure which I will announce here.

Saison De Dottignies

justin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 01:31:28 +0000

Ok, so I am more stuffed up than ever, which is a real bummer cause this saison seems amazing but I know I am only experiencing a portion of the flavour and aroma. I fell in love with saisons this summer and when I saw this one I knew I had to try it. Brewery De Ranke’s Saison De Dottignies is light, slightly sweet but dry. It is crisp with a nice grassy hop flavour. This beer is everything a saison should be. I will get this one again for sure! Summer here we come!!!! ★★★★★

Balthazar

justin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 01:23:40 +0000

Balthazar brewed by Picobrouwerij Alvinne / Den Bierzolder is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. It pours a copper amberish colour and has a small head. The aroma is sweet. The flavour is interesting. There is just too much going on here. Too many fruits and the alcohol is really upfront (not a strong point in my opinion) Not awful but I doubt I’d have another. This beer has a lot of potential just needs to have all of the flavours better integrated. ★★ PS Still on the couch sick, what a bummer.

Bink Bruin

justin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 01:16:37 +0000

Here is is my last week of my project and I’m sick. Finishing strong with Belgians is a fun thing! Bink Bruin is brewed by Brouwerij Kerkom. This Belgian Dark Ale is sweet and has a big head that slowly dissipates. Not bad but not amazing. There is a lot of yeast in the flavour and a dry mouthfeel. Hints of raisins and dates. ★★★

Porterhouse Wrasslers 4X Stout

justin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:46:24 +0000

Take the wayback machine to June 2010 and you might remember how poorly I thought of the contents of the Porterhouse Oyster Stout. Reflecting I should have been even harsher on the rating cause I do not remember it fondly.

Fast forward to present day and I saw the Porterhouse Wrasslers 4X Stout and thought, “they have those cool caps, I’ll give it a go”. I am sorry to report that I am again disappointed. It just is not very tasty, in my opinion. I want to like it, I don’t. I do think it is worth the few bucks just to play with the cool pop top thing. I am starting to wonder though if the top is part of the problem, maybe a bit too much air gets in?

There is fruit and burnt flavours happening, not good burnt, bad burnt. Then there is a chocolate flavour, but with an off hop bitterness (not looking for it here) Seriously, not a fan. I am assuming that this is much better on tap. ★★

Valeir Extra

justin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:15:54 +0000

The Valeir Extra is a Belgian IPA. WTF? IPA? Belgian? Basically, as I have stated before, the Belgians are trying to get into the US “craft beer market” and the yanks love their IPA’s. However…this is not an IPA. Brouwerij Contreras brewed a fruity slightly hoppy ale with hints of pepper. Not bad just don’t go into this expecting a west-coast hop bomb cause you wont find it. I am not a fan of fruity beers so though I can recognize that this is a good beer, it is not to my personal liking. If you like fruit, think hints of citrus and tropical fruits with a dash of lemon pepper, go ahead drink this. You know it might be nice with some fish and asparagus.

The start of Latte brewery dates from 1818. In the second half of the 19th century the company was led by Valère Latte. In 1898 the family sold the brewery to Rene Contreras Latte. The company is now run by Ann Contreras and in 2004 they started the Valeir range of beers.

★★★

Pretty Things Babayaga Stout

justin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:16:20 +0000

As regular readers know, I have been on a Pretty Things kick. And, so far I have totally dug everything they have put out. This is the exception. Pouring the October 2010 Pretty Things Babayaga Stout I noticed that it was not very aromatic. Then taking a sip I was totally disappointed. Maybe it is just cause I had the amazing World Wide Stout last night? Was the bar set too high? With Pretty Things it seems like they keep setting the bar, so I dont think that that is the issue here.

This stout is thin, and slightly sour. There is a strong apple flavour and an odd bite and bad aftertaste. I am so sad. Fro the description I was hoping for some smoke and way more depth. Maybe it was the combo of the English and Belgian yeast strains? Keep working on this one my friends. Ill try again in a year or two.

★★