Filed under: American Strong Ale (trappist), Rogue | Tags: alcohol, amazingly persistent head, as usual, beautifully crafted, brilliant, brown, denim, floral, gold, great quality, long deep finish, Malty, nice hops, no lace, packaging is beautiful, powerful, ruby, rye, sweet, terrycloth, well hidden alcohol, yellow
ABV, Volume & Calories: 9.0 % in 26 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $11.49
Aroma: alcohol, powerful, floral, sweet. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: packaging is beautiful, as usual, yellow, ruby, gold, brown, brilliant, amazingly persistent head, no lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: rye, malty, nice hops, well hidden alcohol, beautifully crafted. 10 out of 10.
Palate: great quality, denim, terrycloth, long deep finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: reminds me of a meadow. I love it, and would seek it out. It’s very well done. 20 out of 20.
Filed under: Founders, Specialty Grain (shaker) | Tags: beautiful, bitter, caraway seed, cascade hops, clear, crisp, deep brilliant, dry, exciting, expertly crafted, favorite, grapefruit, hops, impressive, long bitter finish, off white head, persistent, pine, powerful, pumpernickel, red, rye bread, sandy, siren like, strong, strong lace, sugary
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.8% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 170 C
Purchased at: circle liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ for $2.50
Aroma: siren like, sugary, pine, cascade hops, grapefruit. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: clear, deep brilliant, red, off white head, persistent, beautiful, strong lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: rye bread, pumpernickel, caraway seed, strong, bitter, hops, powerful, expertly crafted. 10 out of 10.
Palate: crisp, exciting, dry, sandy, long bitter finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: Simply amazing – the mix of rye and hops is one of my favorites. I’d have it again in a split second. An instant favorite. Beautifully crafted. One of the most impressive lacings I’ve ever enjoyed. 20 out of 20.
Filed under: Barleywine Style Ale (snifter), Brooklyn | Tags: alcoholic, angry, burning, cherries, chocolate, dense, full, heavy, Malty, oily, powerful, raspberry, rich, ruby, Syrupy, thick, velvety, wine
Calories: estimated at 200 C
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: Snifter
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington
Price per fl oz: $3 / 12 fl oz = $0.25 per fl oz
Consumed at: home
sensory first impression: Aroma is dense – a bit chocolatey, very malty. I’m swooning. An amber pour to a ruby red body with a tan off white head. Aroma of sweet wine is very nice. Wow – knocks you over the head with alcohol. Velvety and rich. A little too rich for me I think, but it’s a wonderfully full experience. Angry red color is foretelling.
Aroma/Olfactory: 8 out of 10
Malt flavor is: syrupy, cloying sweet, and burning. chocolate in aroma.
Hop flavor is: citrus, raspberry.
Yeast flavor is: metallic, dirt, sandy, dry
Other flavors include: cherries, alcohol, raspberry, medicine, raisin, sulfur, oak, barley
Visuals/Appearance: 4 out of 5
Color is: pale, amber, orange, red, fiery, ruby
Liquid is: slightly hazy, actively carbonated
Head and lace are: initial off white, tan goes to wispy nothingness.
Taste/Flavor: 10 out of 10
Maltiness or Sweetness level is: heavy, stretched.
Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: medium
Sour level is: heavy
Palate/Tactile: 5 out of 5
Body or Mouthfeel is: full!
Texture is: oily, thick, gravitas
Carbonation is: lively
Finish is: astringent, bitter, very long
Overall experience: 16 out of 20. I liked the utter power of it, the color, and the aroma. It was overwhelmingly sweet and alcoholic. It’s not for everyday, but it’s something very special. I’ll have it again when I’m eating something I need to balance the flavor of, like scotch bonnet peppers.
Filed under: IPA (shaker, tulip), Stone | Tags: balanced, bitter, depth, fantastic, favorite, flowery, lace, powerful, sour
ABV: 7.7%
IBU: 100+
Volume: 1 PT 6 FL OZ
Glass: Tulip
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s, Lawrenceville, NJ
Price: $4.99
Consumed on: 02/11/2008 at 11:40 pm and many other occasions
first impression: A very nice lighter colored amber ale. Differs in depth at edge. Head is nice and thick and aroma is spicy and permeating. Flowers are everywhere. Nice lace. No question of its power upon first sip – rich and full of bitterness. Disposition of an angry old man, but balanced with flavor, depth, and character in loads. One of my favorite beers.
Aroma/Olfactory:
A nutty, roasted flavor of malt, just slightly charred.
Resinous hops, sticky and flowery. The hops dominate here.
There is something hinting at sawdust or a woodworking scent. Its beautifully layered.
A medicinal tinge loops into licorice and raisin and leads to a smoky wooden taste.
Visuals/Appearance:
A light stained walnut appearance and flavor doesn’t travel far from it. Sculptural.
This is a quiet, clear and crisp ale. More about taste than visuals, but not bad to look at.
A very white head, flattens in time, and clings nicely in lace.
Taste/Flavor:
A slight sweetness and overwhelmingly bitter, with 100+ IBUs.
Tasty sour aftertaste hangs on back of the tongue with a little bit of salt. This would go great with a curry. Malt keeps up with the hops, surprisingly.
Palate/Tactile:
A light body, despite the wallop. This ale is slick with alcohol.
Soft and quiet carbonation finishes with a bitter impact that is worth savoring.
second impression: Overall, this brew is fantastic – if you like bitter, you should not miss Ruination. Be forewarned, all others will pale in character afterwards. This should be the last brew in a session.
