Filed under: Dogfish Head | Tags: death by chocolate, hazy, jumping, knocks you over, long finish, overwhelming, rich, sipper, syrup, Syrupy, whack, wispy
Originally published on Published on: Sep 6, 2008 @ 2:55
ABV: 21 %
Calories: estimated at 300 C
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: Trappist
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $8.99
Consumed at: home
Former Impression: Wow. Knocks you over. 0-60 in 3 sips. The aroma fills the room with flowery hops. The malt is jumping. The bottle conditioning is a nice touch. I like a little haze in my 21% ABV ale (!). It’s syrupy with sweetness. It seems like a barleywine style, except for the IPA overtones. You are absolutely forced to sip and recover. The aftertaste is long, palate damaging, and delicious. I would find it hard to pair this with anything but the richest foods. This is the death by chocolate of hoppy beers. Thick yellowish head reduces to a wispy white foam with nice lacing. The reputation of this beer precedes it and it does not disappoint, though I thought I would enjoy it a bit more than I am, it simply whacks you over the head. It’s like trying to drink coke syrup. It’s exactly what I asked for, but as they say, be careful of what you ask for, they might serve it to you in a 12 oz bottle for 9 bucks.
Current Impression: It is the essential full bodied beer. There is no other like it, save for some Avery brews. It is overwhelming, delicious in very small quantities, and a force to be reckoned with. There is very little to compare to this collection of peach, cherry, chocolate syrup, hops bitterness, and mint leaves. Superb.
Filed under: Imperial Stout (snifter), Stone | Tags: Alcohol by volume, amazing, beer, Beer rating, chocolate, coffee, delicious, hoppy, nuts, rich, seasonal, snifter, spring, stout, Types of chocolate
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
ABV: 10.8 %
RateBeer rating: 100/96
Calories: estimated at 600 C
Volume: 22 fl oz
Glass: Snifter
Purchased at: Super Saver, Pennington, NJ
Price: $5.99
Originally enjoyed on 5/9/2008
This is a one-year anniversary tasting, and by complete coincidence.
First Impression: Aroma is roasted, chocolate, nutty, and slightly metallic. Visuals are pitch dark body topped with a nice thick brown head, which dissipates in a few minutes but not completely. Lacing is nice. Taste does not disappoint. A deep, hoppy, roasted flavor. Some coffee, some dark chocolate, some smoke, but just a touch. Alcohol is very well hidden. Palate is back of tongue, spongey, yeasty, and blunt, long, very tasty finish. Nicely done. A grave presence. Second Impression: an impressive beer by any standard, but a great stout. Surprisingly drinkable, deep, delicious, and so very well balanced. Stone does amazing things.
Aroma: 9 out of 10
Visuals: 5 out of 5
Taste: 10 out of 10
Palate: 5 out of 5
Overall: 19 out of 20. This is one of the best beers I’ve ever had.
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Filed under: Abbey Tripel (trappist), Chouffe | Tags: alcohol, banana, beautiful, bitter, citrus, cloudy, delicious, fruit, golden, grapefruit, hazy, hoppy, layered, long finish, nicely balanced, resin, rich, well balanced, wheat
Pourn: Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel
Volume: 25.4 fl oz * ABV: 9% = 220.5 / 60 = 3.67 beers * 150C = 550.5 C est.
RateBeer rating: 98
Style; Glass: Abbey Tripel; Trappist
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ
Price: $8.99
Aroma: fruity, musky, humid, wet. Nice mix. Faint aroma, but delicious.
Visuals: pale golden hazy, immense white long lasting head. Carbonation is a bit overactive, but calms down after some time.
Taste: delicious, rich, hoppy, layered, nicely balanced, slight burn of alcohol. Banana, cloves, pineapple, very hoppy.
Palate: back of tongue, top back, roof. finish is long, dark, deep, and fruity. This marriage of california style hops and Belgian style fruit is an instant classic for me.
Overall Impressions: Banana, cherry, lemon, orange, hops, bitterness. One of my all time favorites.
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Filed under: Imperial Stout (snifter), Oskar Blues | Tags: alcohol, beautiful, bitter, black, caramel, chocolate, coffee, dark, deep, delicious, high quality, hoppy, long finish, mold, opaque, resin, rich, roasted, strong, sweet, thick
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
Style; glass: Imperial Stout; snifter
12 fl oz x 9.6% ABV = 115.2 / 60 = 1.92 beers * 150 C = 288 calories (est.)
Purchased at: Super Saver Pennington, NJ for $2.99
Aroma: An amazing aroma of cocoa, sugar, chocolate, syrup, coffee, mold, and dust.
Visuals: Cans are beautful, rather unique for craft brew, and very welcome. It is darkness in a glass. It’s midnight. It eats light. It is black and fully opaque. The beautiful brown tan head is fluffy and lasting, and the lace struggles against the ABV, but is beautiful.
Taste: Like chocolate syrup, so very delicious. A chocolate milkshake. Over the top roasted malts and a bitter rich finish that is very much like espresso. Absolutely delicious.
Palate: Starts sweet and with a heavy gravity, middle is dark and roasted with a satisfying bitter finish. Great for a hop head like me, but soothes my imperial cravings as well.
Overall: An amazing, if expensive, brew. Worth every penny. Dark chocolate, espresso, and syrup, you just can’t beat it.
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Filed under: Brooklyn, Imperial Stout (snifter) | Tags: alcohol, beautiful, bitter, black, caramel, chocolate, coffee, dark, deep, delicious, dry, hoppy, long finish, nice, rich, roasted, strong, sweet, well balanced
Brooklyn Black Ops Oak Aged Imperial Stout
Style and Glass: Imperial Stout; Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.7% in 25.4 fl oz. estimated at 400C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $23.00
Aroma: intense coffee and licorice aromas, alcohol is very present, inviting, enticing. Berries, grass, and wood. Oaking is evident. Roasted, burnt scents throughout. A bit acrid, and enjoyably so.
Visuals: Packaging is engaging, classic, and perfectly done. The body is absolute pitch in color, viscosity, and heft. As deep black and opaque as anything I’ve ever seen. Head is tan, starting thick and fluffy, then dissipating, but not fully. A thin head remains. Lacing is exquisite.
Taste: Crisp body gives way to sultry chocolates, coffee, and caramel. Luxurious. Surprisingly balanced for the style and treatment. I expected to be bowled over, but instead, I’m treated to a very drinkable (dangerously so) beer.
Palate: Perhaps the best part of this beer is the set of sensations in the mouth and throat. Starts with a bubbly crisp effervescence, followed by a mild transfer to smoothness that carries those roasted flavors, then a sweet cream milkiness, then a bit of chalk, followed by a three part finish consisting of sweetness, roastiness, and hoppy bitter burn.
Overall: This is a once in a lifetime beer, very well done, and I’m thrilled to have enjoyed it. I only wish I was celebrating something besides Saturday night, as this beer deserves a celebration.
Filed under: Founders, Imperial Stout (snifter) | Tags: alcohol, bitter, chocolate, coffee, dark, deep, delicious, hoppy, nice, rich, roasted, strong, sweet
Founders Imperial Stout
Style and Glass: Imperial Stout; Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.5% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $2.75
Aroma: roasted malts, coffee, sugar, syrup, carbon, toast, winter evenings, fireplace
Visuals: beautiful, exquisite packaging like all Founders brews, dark as midnight, absolutely black, light does not escape, starts with thick tan head, which dissipates over time but does not disappear, lace stays for a while.
Taste: delicious balance, syrupy but not cloying malt flavor, deep and acrid hop flavor afterwards.
Palate: Smooth, silky velvet feel. lingers upon the tongue and in the mouth. Coating, sticky, and delicious.
Overall: What an amazing brew. I’ll have it again, at least 3 times, though I’d love to have it at least once a week.
Filed under: Pilsener (flute or footed pilsener), Victory | Tags: beautiful, bologna, Bread, bubblegum, cabbage, cereal, cherry, deep, doughy, floral, ginger, golden, great, leathery, moldy, nice lacing, no head, nuts, oats, pilsner, pork, raisin, resinous, rich, simple, smoke, smoky, thick, Toast, very herbaceous, yellow
Victory Prima Pils
ABV: 5%
IBU: ?
Calories: 150
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: Tulip
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s
Price per fl oz: $8 / 72 fl oz = $0.11 per fl oz
Consumed on/at: home on March 18th, 2008
sensory first impression: No head but a beautiful yellow golden beer. A pilsner, to be sure – pale, clear, and plain, visually. Aroma is smoky. Aroma is deep and rich. Aroma is hints of pork and cabbage. Taste is delicious, rich and hinting of other flavors. I taste bologna. I taste bread. I taste lettuce. I taste toast. It’s wonderfully balanced, a superlative taste but so very simple and unidimensional. Lacing is nice, but head is minimal. Warm with light alcohol. A great simple beer.
Aroma/Olfactory:
Malt flavor is: bread, cereal, nuts, toast, oats.
Hop flavor is: resinous, floral, very herbaceous
Yeast flavor is: doughy, thick, moldy, leathery, deep.
Other flavors include: bubblegum, lightly cherry, ginger, raisin, smoke
Visuals/Appearance:
Color is: pale, golden, amber, light, thin, white.
Liquid is: clear, immaculate
Head and lace are: minimal, white
Taste/Flavor:
Maltiness or Sweetness level is: medium to heavy
Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: light to medium
Sour level is: none
Palate/Tactile:
Body or Mouthfeel is: medium
Texture is: creamy, thick, silky
Carbonation is: lively
Finish is: long and wonderfully balanced.
Overall experience: Visually this is not a stimulating beer, but so rewarding in other ways. It’s delicious in terms of taste, though not overwhelming in any way. It’s feel is enveloping, smooth, and mellow. Its aroma is enticing, but not overwhelming. It’s a wonderful beer, and easily my favorite pilsner.
Filed under: Barleywine Style Ale (snifter), Dogfish Head | Tags: autumn, average label, beautiful, bitter ending, delicious, feeling of high quality, good hoppy finish, good strength, intoxicating, leaves, like turkey gravy, long bitter finish, mississippi, mold, mostly malt up front, muddy, nice 4 pack, peach, raisins, rich, rose, sticky, sticky lace, sugary, Syrupy, thick, thin white head, unbalanced in both directions, woody, wow
Style and Glass: BWSA, Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 15% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 300C
Purchased at: Trenton Road Take Out, Fairless Hills, PA for $3.73
Aroma: wow, rich, raisins, peach, rose, autumn, leaves, mold, intoxicating.
Visuals: average label, nice 4 pack, like turkey gravy , muddy, mississippi, thick, thin white head, beautiful, sticky lace.
Taste: mostly malt up front, good hoppy finish, unbalanced in both directions, delicious, sugary, syrupy, bitter ending, good strength.
Palate: feeling of high quality, sticky, woody, long bitter finish.
Overall: Exactly what I paid for — not exactly a 120 minute IPA, but more of a mix between the 120 Minute and a Raison d’ extra. I’d have it again, for sure. very nice, but not one of my favorites. Medium value for high craft.
Filed under: Avery, Imperial/Double IPA (snifter, tulip) | Tags: beautiful label design, beautifully balanced, breaking lace, brilliant, citrus, copper, exhilarating, grapefruit, great strength, heavy hops, heavy malt, high craft, high quality, lime, long mild finish, pine, rich, smooth texture, spirits, thin white head
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.21% in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Burlington for about $6
Aroma: exhilarating, pine, grapefruit, citrus, lime, spirits. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: beautiful label design, rich, copper, brilliant, thin white head, breaking lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: beautifully balanced, heavy malt, heavy hops, great strength, high craft. 10 out of 10.
Palate: high quality, smooth texture, long mild finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: My favorite style bar none, and an exemplar of it, I’ll repeat it most definitely, a favorite, highly affordable pleasure, masterfully crafted. 20 out of 20.
