Smell: Melon, peach, and grapefruit up front. Then a whiff of pine introduces the bready body. With a pithy note sustained throughout.
Taste: Melon, peach, and some sweet grapefruit. A sustained pithy note, faint pine. All on a bready body.
Overall, quite a juicy brew! Dominated by an even sweetness, yet nicely tempered by pith and pine. The dry undercurrent strengthens towards the back end, but it never comes across as unpleasantly bitter.
And for a proper return of my beer reviews, a pic related to the beer I'm drinking:
It's been over an hour?!?
Looks like I've taken my sweet ass time getting around to this next post!
Shame on me.
But let's not dwell on that.
It's time for...
Beer #2:
(Alc.8%)
(Stillwater - Frond)
Smells: Dank pineapple and a hint of stone fruit wander forward. Citrus notes come up with the thick cracker body. All on top of a creamy sugar base.
Tastes: Smooth stone fruit and soft pepper notes stride forward. Dank pineapple and listless citrus notes ride alongside a biscuit body.
Overall, this was an interesting beer from the first sip. The head was insanely thick, like some kind of dessert foam. This gave a slightly different taste profile than it has after the foam dies down. Either way, it's a tasty (if dark in profile) brew with a pleasantly thick creaminess.
(Taking too long to find a decent pic, skipping this one.)
Ok, I'm still under an hour.
GO GO GO!
(Edit: Didn't make it. I started this post over 20 minutes ago. Oops.)
Beer #3:
(Alc. 9.6%)
(Decadent - Multiflora)
Smellin: Green hops, sweet and bitter, right up front. Soft citrus wafts through. And... maybe... the faintest of banana notes? And a body somewhere between cracker and bread.
Tastin: Green earthy notes bring along quieter citrus notes, both riding a heady bouquet. A distant mistaken banana gives way to a biscuit backbone.
Overallin, I really think this has elements of a bouquet of floral flavors. Not perfumey or anything, but more like honey... like wildflowers and honeysuckle. As for the banana notes, don't expect to drink it and be like, "Hey! Banana!"... it's more like an ambiance than hard lighting. I feel like it's better than I'm explaining though, so... if you see it and think my review made it sound like a "maybe", just get it. Trust me, you'll like it!
Obviously, "Multiflora" isn't a hard one to find a pic for.
(Although, it is a hard one to pick just one!)
Well hello there, recently more active SCmkII!
How's things?
Did you know today is National Beer Lover's Day?
Well, it is!
And I'm about to get into it, so... let's get it on!
Beer #1:
(Alc. 8.2%)
(Flying Fish - Few & Far)
Smell: Faint tangerine outlines softly bitter hops. An easy cracker body holds a note of pine.
Taste: Pine and faint nectarine on a cracker body. Softly bitter hops holds hands with hints of sweet malt. Dry and piney finish.
Overall, the flavors here are unobtrusive. It still has a solid profile, it's just kinda laid back. Tasty and very easy to drink. The strongest note is dry and piney, but it doesn't charge at you. Not bad.
(And sorry, but I have no idea what kind of pic would go with this.)
(As always, please feel free to add your own suggestions!)
Ok, let's get moving on to the next IPA.
I'm reservedly excited for this one.
As a huge fan of the flavor profile it's based on, I'm hoping for an amazing experience.
(Or at least a delectable one.)
So, why am I yammering on instead of trying it?
Good question.
How about I just get on to the drinking part of this post?!?
Beer #2:
(Alc. 7%)
(Evil Twin - Key Lime Pie)
Smells: Maybe key lime pie? Not sure if it's me or the beer, but... I can barely smell this at all.
Tastes: More tart lime, less creamy pie. A cracker body with subtle graham notes. Kind of drinks like a sour.
Overall, this is a tasty brew. I hoped for more of a pie taste, unfortunately it just doesn't get all the way there. It's still yummy, but it should've been called "Key LimePA" instead. Either that, or have added some lactose.
Ok, so, like, I tried.
But, while not bad, this is the best pic I could find:
Alright, I suppose I should bite the bullet and move on to my last beer of the night.
I've been done with the last one for a little bit now, but busying myself with Twitter.
Anyfuckinway... let's get to the beast of the night, shall we?
Beer #3:
(Alc. 11%)
(Demented - Wrath)
Smellin: Fireside chocolate. Appropriately bready body. And the most distant raisin note amidst the sweet malty/espresso background.
Overallin, a beautiful stout that I wish I'd tried one of the other dozens of times I've seen it! S'okay... good shit is good shit and worth waiting for. This stout is smooth, velvety... just right up my alley.
(So weird. I totally expected to be able to grab a pic for this with no problem. But, alas, my luck is lacking.)
(But, I gotta post SOMEthing for the last beer of the night!)
(So...)
Back again for another night of drinking.
This time I'm taking it kinda easy (I've got shit to do tomorrow).
Beer #1:
(Alc. 6.5%)
(Omnipollo - Oaxaca)
Smell: Mango and sweet citrus served up on a bit of bread. A distant note of pine rounds out the edges.
Taste: Faint mango and sweet citrus served up on a bit of bready cracker. A very distant note of pine rounds out the edges.
Overall, this is a pretty juicy brew. The only bitter notes come in at the backend and are still slight at that. Tastes more like a sparkling juice than a beer. Not entirely, but well enough to notice.
And next was a bad idea.
I mean, it's a 12oz can and still under 7% alcohol.
Is that even close to a good idea?
It's probably... well...
Beer #2:
(Alc. 6.8%)
(21st Amendment - A Terrible Idea)
Smells: Stone fruit with a touch of pith and pine. A cracker body. Distant whispers of banana and clove.
Tastes: Dank stone fruit with a touch of sweet citrus. Lined with pith and pine. The biscuit body holds hands with (possible) trailing suggestions of banana/clove.
Overall, a bit confusing to nail down the flavor profile, to be honest. And there was a lot of head when I poured it. But my tasting notes are close enough. Maybe.
And a little something I didn't spend too much time in finding:
And for my final act of the night, I'll finally have a brew worthy of the stemmed tulip glass I'm using!
Beer #3:
(Alc. 8.2%)
(Two Roads - Two Juicy)
Smellin: Subtle pineapple and nectarine. Cracker body. Some distant dank hay?
Tastin: Subtle layers of pineapple, nectarine, pear, and clove. The cracker/biscuit body in harmony with understated earthy spices and camouflaged fruity esters.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable brew that's both juicy and earthy. I could easily pound this beer if I... well, wait... I do WANT to, but I also want to savor it for a bit. This beer has every right to be confident in its thick self
How 'bout this?
I got a pic for every review tonight!
Huzzah!
Well, after skipping a week due to a family trip, I'm back!
Tonight I have a selection that include's one from Founder's, which turns out to be a very socially conscious company (under The Big Pitcher, their corporate giving platform)!
Once I saw that earlier today, I made it a point to support them by buying one of their brews.
But first...
Beer #1:
(Alc. 6.8%)
(Rusty Rail - Fog Monster)
Smell: Resinous pine with some citrus up first. Then joined by a bit of stone fruit on a biscuity body.
Taste: Bold, dry pine with a just a hint of citrus pith. On a gently biscuity body.
Overall, mostly a dry pine brew. Seems like it should be more bitter, but it's got rounded corners and is an easy draw. Hints of citrus throughout, but the pine heavy hops take up most of the stage.
But, before reading on, please make sure you're not currently in a position of having food or drink in your rat holes.
Or else it may go spewing out in laughter.
Ok...
here we go...
Beer #2:
(Alc. 7.2%)
(Bolero Snort - Free Bully)
Smells: Lightly funky citrus flows through oceanic notes on a cracker surfboard.
Tastes: Slightly funky citrus breaches through sea salt spray. A faint cracker body gently supports the beachiest of brews.
Overalls, the salt is really nicely distributed in this brew. Immediately makes me think of the beach... standing in the ocean, sea spray on my lips and the sun on my face.
Drink this.
Originally, I was going to skip the pic for this one.
I mean, a kid and an orca (or, in this case, a bull)?
But after tasting it... it's just a fucking awesome, sunny day at the beach.
Fair warning, I'm already decently inebriated.
Writing sentences without spelling errors is taking a little extra time.
And I'm just now about top get to the last beer of the night.
Which is also the highest alcohol content.
I'll try to remember to come back and post some random shit.
For now, time to hit up this last beer of the night.
AKA - Beer #3:
(Alc. 11.1%)
(Founders - Barrel Runner)
Smellins: RUM. Also, caramel and toasted oak. Distant hay shimmers on a faint wheat body.
Tasteins: Oak rum barrels and caramel dominate the scene. Somewhat funky hay lays back on a subtle wheat layered undergrowth.
Overallins, this does not drink like an IPA. It's a rum barrel aged brew that's well made for small to medium sips. Do not gulp.
As for a pic?
It doesn't have much by way of obviously related elements, but I think it certainly has the feel of this concoction!
Hello there.
Just came by to pad my postcount a bit.
Turns out, I'm only several posts away from hitting 10,000!
I'm also now just ONE tweet away from having 10,000 tweets as well.
Yay me!
I've been holding off from posting anything on Twitter though, as I want my 10k post to be something cool.
So, it'll end up being my first post about beer a little later tonight.
Because beer.
Got a different setup tonight... and for the next few drinking nights.
See, I got some beer as gifts from family members, so I'll be going through that stuff.
Possibly only one review tonight, as I have two 36oz crowler cans in this collection.
(Maaaybe a second brew, since the crowlers are a lower abv.)
So, without further ado...
Beer #1
(Alc. 6.5%)
(Ship Bottom - Hop & Hazy)
Smell: Stone fruit and pineapple lead the way. Pine undercurrents. A slightly bready cracker body.
Taste: Dry pine up front, in the middle, and stronger as it goes. A pineapple note amidst the bitter hops. Cracker body.
Overall, this leans further into pine and bitter hops than I prefer. However, if that's your thing, this brew handles it fairly well. Not bad.
Yeah, turns out that first crowler wasn't quite enough alcohol to make the night right.
So, what else could I do but move on to...
Beer #2:
(Alc. 6.5%)
Smells: Pumpkin and nutmeg move forward, perhaps with a touch of cinnamon and clove. Earthy vanilla lays back, close to the biscuity body.
Tastes: Pumpkin, nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla. Followed by a bready body, hinted with cinnamon.
Overalls, this is a very tasty brew. I'm not sure if I'm getting the tastes profile correct though. I'm saying "pumpkin", but that's only because I'm not sure what else to describe it as. Whatever the correct notes are, it's definitely a fitting Oktoberfest brew!
And I owe y'all at least one pic for the night, yeah?
Alrighty, big night tonight!!
I only have two new beers to review, which are the second half of the gifted brews I received a couple weeks ago.
But the big part is that I'll be hitting 10,000 posts!!!
Once upon a time, that would've been a "big deal" 'round these parts.
So, without further ado, let's do!
Beer #1:
(Alc. 6%)
(Ship Bottom - The Shack)
Smell: Soft pine, pithy pineapple and a whiff of stone fruit lead the way. A note of sweet wheat winds throughout the brew. All on a biscuit body.
Taste: Soft pine leads the way. Subtle pineapple pith and sweet wheat notes fill it out. With a body that suggests bread, but reads cracker.
Overall, a solid brew. Nothing too bitter or exaggerated in any direction. A nice, even flavor profile. It's a good beer for when you just want a beer, but you can't stand the thought of any of the standard pisswater macros out there.
Ok, so I was going to find a pic for this, but then I read what it was about.
And honestly, I kinda want to leave the memory of this one in peace.
(Don't worry, I'll make sure the next beer gets a pic!)
And here we are.
One of the weakest beers I've reviewed, but it gets the honored position of POST #10K!!
I can't believe I finally made it here.
I'd like to give props to all the 10kers who came before me.
And I want to thank my family and friends.
OH!
AND DANCING BACON!
And Lady Gaga!
And my store that still hasn't opened!
And ForgetMeNot, the X-Man that nobody knew of!
But I should get moving on to the review.
So, here we go.
Beer #2:
(Alc. 5.3%)
(Pinelands Brewing - Evan John Porter)
Smells: Vanilla, marshmallow root, and a hint of coffee start it up. The breadish body cushioning the corners.
Tastes: Vanilla soul, walks forward with a touch of coffee and marshmallow root in tow. Something like a bready cracker fills out the body.
Overalls, a fairly tasty brew. A bit thin in the body and tiny in the bubbles. Of course, I may just be thinking of it as an underachieving stout instead of a decently performing porter (since I have much more experience in the former). But, it's yummy and low in alcohol, so it could be useful in a lot of different situations.
I don't know... it's pretty good, but not kill-for-it-amazing.
(I'm giving it 3.75/5 on Untappd)
And I didn't forget that I promised y'all a pic for this one!
*goes to find something fitting*
How about this one?
Smell: Almost like a standard beer with a touch of sweetness on a metallic cracker body.
Taste: Mango is front-forward for the whole ride. A whisper of pine and pepper hide in the cracker body. Some bitter hops curl under the tongue.
Overall, not bad. A fairly tasty brew, with the pine and bitter hops building a little as I get through it. It seems versatile, like it could fit in on a summer afternoon or a winter evening.
(No pic. It was proving hard to find as there's apparently a nude model with the name "Mango"... but no mangoes in her pics.)
Ok, I'm back for a real night of drinking this time!
I've got a couple new ones and a couple I reviewed recently.
I'll be starting with the new ones, then drinking the others as "needed".
Beer #1:
(Alc. 9%)
(Mother Earth Brew Co - Primordial)
Smell: Citrus, sweet and pithy, rises forth on a cracker body and an undercurrent of wheat/hay.
Taste: Pithy citrus, with a sweet backbeat, gives way to bitter piney hops. All on a creamy, cracker/biscuit body.
Overall, this is more bitter than I prefer, but not exceedingly so. Citrus on the front end, pine in the back. The creamy body gives it some heft. A decent west coast IIPA.
(No pic. I thought it would be easy, but it's not... as always, feel free to offer up your own take on this!)
Alrighty, on to beer #2!
(And all I've done is post my beer review in a couple other places, lol.)
But, I've decided to change it up.
I think I'd rather keep the stout for last... or at least 3rd.
So, I'm just going to have a Pinelands Oktoberfest for now.
Obviously, there's no need for a review of something I just reviewed several posts ago.
So...
Smells: Sweet, black coffee and dark chocolate. Malted oats in the middle. Supported by a biscuit body.
Tastes: Black coffee calls up dark chocolate for some malted oatmeal. All pulling up seats on a biscuit for a dry spell.
Overalls, it's a Founders stout... how could I go wrong? Apparently, I couldn't! Good shit, even if fairly standard. It's just that the standard for these brews tends to be good shit... knowhudimean?
Ok, I just KNEW this one would give me something to work with!
Here we go...
you're lovely beer related pic...
Oh hi again... I'm back for another mid-week badge beer.
And it's quite an interesting set-up on the label!
An oak aged stout fermented with syrah must. o.o
So, let's see what happens with this... thing!
Beer #1 (of 1):
(Alc. 10%)
(Dogfish Head - Oak Aged Siracusa Nera)
Smell: Tangy red wine up front with smokey oak close by. Also, coffee and dark chocolate notes just underneath them. Seems like a cracker body and I swear I can smell the smaller, porter-like bubbles.
Taste: Smokey oak and tangy syrah notes lead the way. Soft, dark coffee/chocolate flow underneath. Metallic cracker of a body.
Overall, this is not yer daddy's stout. A wild and weird combo of flavors blend together more seamlessly than I expected, making the tasting notes a bit harder to decipher. The oak and syrah must definitely are most apparent. The more common stout notes hide in the back a bit.
And the body... is weird. For a stout. Small bubbles, thinner than normal, and a lack of a bready quality to the body... it's like it has the body of a porter.
Pretty interesting and unique brew.
And here's a fairly fitting pic to go with this one as well: