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For The Love Of Beer (10 unread)

Fantôme BBB Dark White

Posted: July 31st, 2010, 12:30am CEST by Don Thompson

Brasserie Fantôme is located in Soy, Belgium and has been around since 1988. Dany Prignon has been creating an array of saisons since that time using a variety of ingredients...herbs, spices, whatever he can get his hands on. They even brew a saison made with dandelions picked from the grounds around the brewery. Each bottle seems to tell a different story and I was excited to crack this one....

I always enjoy trying Dany's creations and was happy to find this one up in Milwaukee. Cork pops and pours into my Fantome glass a deep hazy brown with red accents and a creamy inch of off white head that has great staying power. Aromas of crisp earthy, bready malts along with a mellow barnyard accent. Yeast tones meet a melange of spiciness where the pepper takes the lead. Slight fruit undertones as well.

First sip brings a cornucopia of flavors. Crisp, slightly bready malts meet a good mix of fruity flavors intermixing with the classic Fantome yeast. As it flows down the pepper kicks in and there's a slight burn on the back of the palate. Mild tartness along with a barnyard / hay accent. Lots going on here...tasty, spicy saison.

Mouthfeel is light and arid making this incredibly drinkable. Creamy with perfect carbonation. Overall, I never quite know what to expect when I crack a Fantome beer and this was a winner for me. At 4% it's incredibly drinkable and the black pepper is well integrated and not overdone. Now it's time for me to find another bottle.

This beer gets a rating of Great bordering on Amazing from me. Simply an awesome traditional saison.

Follow the mysterious ghost of Fantôme by surfing over to http://www.fantome.be
Tyranena La Femme Amère Wisconsin/Belgique-Style India Pale Ale

Posted: July 27th, 2010, 10:21pm CEST by Don Thompson

Tyranena in Lake Mills, Wisconsin has long been one of my favorite Midwest craft brewers. They have an extremely solid line up of tasty year round beers, great seasonals and always interesting one-offs via their Brewers Gone Wild! series. I used to enjoy making a road trip up to Wisconsin for their new releases, however due to the fact that they now distribute to Illinois I can fill my Tyranena craving anytime I want! This is the most recent brew in the Brewers Gone Wild Series! that I'm drinking tonight....

Pours a copper orange color with a couple fingers of eggshell foam on top of the brew and plenty of little bubbles rising up. Aromas of spicy, earthy Belgian yeast alongside crisp malts and a fruity undertone as well. Nice dose of citric hops melds in as well. Touch of bubblegum.

First sip brings crisp caramelized malts upfront with a big yeast kick. Spicy, earthy and a touch fruity. Citrus hops work in with some good bitterness. Flows down with a slight bubblegum / medicinal accent. Lingering yeasty aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is fairly smooth and crisp with punchy carbonation. Pretty easy to drink but I think the yeast overtakes the hops a bit here. An interesting twist on Bitter Woman but I'll be sticking to the original version personally.

Overall I gave this one a rating of Enjoyable. I still like the regular Bitter Woman more!

Check out everything Tyranena by surfing on over to [www.tyranena.com]
Lost Abbey - Red Poppy - 2010 Vintage

Posted: July 22nd, 2010, 11:23pm CEST by Don Thompson

Whew...it's been awhile yet again since I've posted and I'm really going to attempt to start updating this more frequently. The hectic summer and my drive to run / exercise more often have taken up a lot of my time. Today I'm posting about a great brew from The Lost Abbey that's released once a year in fairly small quantities. I've received mine via the Sinner's Club which I've taken part in for the past few years.

Pours a deep brown color with red highlights and two fingers of bubbly khaki head on top. Aromas of dense oak and wood meet a bright sour cherry. Tart, earthy accents run throughout along with a touch of spice. Nice!

First sip brings crispness and dry oak flavors upfront. Tannic with a solid kick of tart cherry. Spice and earthy funk but the wood has really seeped in this year. Flows down dry and puckering with lingering cherry accents.

Crisp with solid carbonation. A good sipper and a tasty treat to savor. Oak seems more forward this year but overall it's still a tasty treat.

Overall I gave this brew a rating of Great for me! (86/100)

Feel free to look into all of the other brews Lost Abbey has to offer by surfing on over to www.lostabbey.com
Harpoon Island Creek Oyster Stout (100 Barrel Series #30)

Posted: April 27th, 2010, 10:56pm CEST by Don Thompson

Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA is one of the larger craft brewers out there and they have been consistently producing great beers since way back in 1986. They started a great program called the "100 Barrel Series". As per the name, this is a series of one off limited batch brews made in 100 barrel batches by a different Harpoon brewer each time. The brewer chooses the style and formulates the beer, making each one unique and interesting.

This particular one is #30 in the series and was brewed by Katie Tame. More info can be found here: 100 Barrel Series Session 30
Brewed with fresh Island Creek oysters, this is quite a unique beer and one of the first I have sampled featuring molluscs. Here's a great write up featuring pictures from the brew day as well:

[lovebeerlovelife.wordpress.com]

Quite excited to try this as I've never had an oyster stout brewed with whole oysters before. Pours into my glass a nice deep black with a cappuccino head on top that lingers around. Aromas of crisp roasted malts featuring some coffee and a slightly burnt/toasted undertone. Grainy with an earthy, mineral tinged accent. Scents of the sea that may just be in my head as well.

First sip brings smooth, roasted grains upfront. Notes of coffee and cocoa intermingle as it flows down with a touch of saltiness and briny minerals. Rather dry on the back end. Smooth overall and the oysters really add an interesting, yet not overwhelming twist.

Mouthfeel is smooth with punchy carbonation. Falling on the lighter side of the spectrum for a stout, making it easier to imbibe. Overall, I found this to be a tasty and unique brew. I appreciate the brewers imagination here and the whole oysters definitely have an impact. Worth checking out!

Overall this brew gets a rating of Great from me. (82/100)

Check out the main page for Harpoon and all they have to offer at www.harpoonbrewery.com
Alpine Nelson - Golden Rye IPA

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 8:54pm CET by Don Thompson

Alpine Beer Company's Nelson is a Golden Rye IPA that's brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. This is a unique hop that isn't very prominent in American micro brews. An added twist comes from the addition of rye in the malt bill. It comes in at 7% ABV. I cracked a fresh bottle and this is what I thought:

Bomber pours into my glass a deep orange/yellow with a two finger creamy, bubbling white head and superb clarity. Aromas start with a distinct tropical, pungent, fruity hop explosion. Grapefruit melds in with a nice spicy rye character. There is somewhat of a vinous, white wine character lurking within as well. Quite the lovely aroma.

First sip brings a plethora of fruity, resinous, pungent hops upfront with bold mango and grapefruit flavors. Spicy rye mixes in beautifully. Flows down with a good kick of bitterness that's well placed. Lingering fruity hops on the palate. Delicious!

Mouthfeel is crisp and smooth with perfect carbonation. This one is exceedingly easy to drink and just amazingly enjoyable. A top notch IPA and I love the addition of rye and the Nelson Sauvin hops. Seek it out if you have the ability!

Overall this earns a rating of Amazing.

One of the tastiest IPA's I've sampled!

Again, feel free to swing on over to www.alpinebrewing.com and check out their full line of great brews!
Alpine Duet IPA

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 8:42pm CET by Don Thompson

Alpine Beer Company is located in Alpine, CA and opened up shop in 2002. They have now expanded once already and opened a pub in their building as well. They have produced some awesome brews, including a nice list of amazing IPA's such as Pure Hoppiness, Nelson and the Duet I am drinking now. They have also brewed a lambic and a kriek along with other treats like barrel aged barleywines. Here are my thought on the Duet. A 7%ABV IPA that was brewed with Simcoe and Amarillo hops.

Fresh bomber pours into my glass a wonderful peach color with amazing clarity and a half inch of creamy white head that leaves some spotty lacing. Enticing. Aroma is all hops! Tropical fruit, grapefruit, green hop resins, floral accents and a bit of spiciness. Really shows off the Simcoe and Amarillo. Mellow caramel sweetness in the background.

First sip brings all hops upfront. Citric, tropical, herbaceous with green leafy resins. A bit floral with a mellow underlying sweetness from crisp light malts. Flows down with a bitter kick and lingering hops on the finish.

Mouthfeel is smooth with fast moving carbonation making this brew immensely drinkable. This is just a damn good IPA that I would be buying many bombers of if it was available locally. If you have access to this consider yourself lucky!

Overall I would give this a rating of Great. Super drinkable stuff!

Check out more from Alpine Beer Company by surfing over to [www.alpinebrewing.com]
Coast Brewing HopArt IPA

Posted: February 25th, 2010, 9:30pm CET by Don Thompson

Oh yeah, I still have a beer blog don't I?? Apologies for the lack of posting, the chaos of daily life has gotten to me recently. Well, I am back and this time with a bomber of IPA from Coast Brewing in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Pours into my glass a super hazed dark orange with a half inch of creamy bone white head on top that leaves spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas are a mix of pine, grass and citrus upfront with herbal accents. Slightly spicy with a caramel and mild grainy kick.

First sip brings a mix of pine and citrus fruits upfront with spicy herbal hop oils. Slightly grassy it is met by a solid creamy malt featuring caramel and a light toast. Flows down and finishes with a solid bitter kick but is well balanced overall. A tasty IPA.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with a great body that goes down easy. Overall, a tasty IPA that brings the hops but doesn't go overboard. Glad I had a chance to try it!!

Overall, I gave this a rating of Enjoyable. Tasty IPA!

Check out more from Coast Brewing over at [coastbrewing.com]
Jolly Pumpkin - Bière De Mars - Grand Reserve

Posted: January 3rd, 2010, 8:45pm CET by Don Thompson

Jolly Pumpkin is a fitting brewery to have the honor of being my first new blog post in 2010. Located in Dexter, Michigan they have been one of my favorite breweries since they started. They focus on using open fermentation, oak barrel aging and feature all bottle conditioned beers. They have recently expanded with a cafe and brewpub in Ann Arbor as well as a location in Traverse City as well. Please visit them and check out their great brews!! I had been hanging onto this bottle in my cellar for awhile and finally decided to crack it as my last brew of the holiday weekend:

Oak Aged - 14 Months. No date on the bottle but I will guess it's from 2006 based on other reviews I have seen.

Pours into my glass a deep, vibrant garnet with a hint of purple and a half inch of bubbly off white foam that sticks to the side of the glass. Aromas kick off with a nice mix of dark dried fruits alongside a ribbon of caramel and light toasted grain. A clean, slightly acidic funky, farmhouse aroma is there with a woody, oak backbone. Leather, lemon zest and a kiss of vanilla.

First sip brings smooth crisp malts laced with a myriad of fruit flavors, grape, strawberry, lemon zest and more. Dry woody oak digs in along with a nice funky tartness as well. Leather, caramel and an afterthought of vanilla on the way down. Finishes with lingering fruit, funk and wood. Extremely tasty and well balanced overall. A joy to drink.

Mouthfeel is smooth, arid and easy to drink with steady carbonation. This is an incredibly drinkable elixir and I wouldn't mind a 750ml bottle of this right now. Really glad to have had the chance to sample this one. Keep it up JP!!

Overall this one receives a rating of Amazing. Each sip leaves me wanting more.

Check out more from Jolly Pumpkin by surfing on over to www.jollypumpkin.com
Ballast Point Sculpin India Pale Ale

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 9:21pm CET by Don Thompson

This is a somewhat new west coast IPA that burst on the scene with lots of hype, that after reading my below review, you will see is well deserved. Ballast Point already had a good following for their regular lineup as well as their awesome double IPA, Double Dorado. The Sculpin is an easy to drink hop bomb that has a great hop bill with big, lush flavors. I was very happy to find this on the shelves on a trip to Peoria, IL and here are my thoughts:

My second bomber of this pours a crystalline golden orange with a billowing three finger head of creamy white foam on top. Plenty of active carbonation. Stellar! Aromas start out with huge citric and tropical fruit hops and tons of resins. Green and a touch floral as well. Mild crystal and light toasted caramel malt backbone. Hop profile is just great here and draws you in with every inhalation.

First sip brings is just beautiful...mild toasted malt upfront with some caramel sweetness that's quickly bowled over by a boatload of citric, vibrant tropical hop goodness. A touch floral with tons of bitter, resinous hop flavor. Smooth on the finish with lingering fruity hops. Immensely tasty.

Mouthfeel is on the light side with good carbonation and a bit of crispness. This is the epitome of easy drinking for an IPA and super smooth and tasty. A bomber disappears like nothing and leaves me wishing I had more. Just a killer IPA that deserves the praises it has received.

Overall this one gets a rating of Amazing.

Super IPA goodness that's hard to put down.

Check out Ballast Point on the internet and see their whole line of brews at www.ballastpoint.com
De Struise Brouwers - Cuvee Delphine

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 7:24pm CET by Don Thompson

This is quite a rare beer that I was able to get my hands on via a trade and finally decided to crack open and try. This is batch "0" of the tasty Black Albert from De Struise that has been aged in a Four Roses bourbon barrel for over a year. This one is not exported to the US, so if you want it you will have to find an online shop that ships to the US or get one in a trade!

25cl bottle. Pours into my glass dark as night black with a two finger head of creamy tan foam. Lots of chocolate on the nose with wood and some subtle, mellow bourbon accents. There is a quiet and unassuming balance here. Lots of tannins with a touch of caramel as well.

First sip brings smooth dark malts augmented by a big wash of chocolate flavors. Woody tannins meet with a creamy caramel accents. Smooth bourbon weaves in and brings a touch of sweetness and vanilla. The smoothness of the Four Roses barrel really shines through here. Deceptively smooth and mellow.

Mouthfeel is surprisingly on the lighter side with mellow carbonation. Akin to the Black Albert this is a tricky beer as it's powerful but not heavy like a normal bourbon aged stout. This one will creep up on you with a left hook and leave you on the mat. Happy to be able to share this bottle with autumnaldave as it packs quite a punch. Cheers to De Struise for this one.

Overall this one gets a rating of Great.

Check out more from De Struise Brouwers by surfing over to [www.struisebrouwers.be]