Filed under: American Strong Ale (trappist), Captain Lawrence | Tags: alcohol, caramel, dark, deep, delicious, long finish, resin, roasted, smoke, spicy, strong, thick, white head
Style and Glass: American Strong; Trappist, Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 12 % in 25.4 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $14.49
Aroma: Very much the impression of bourbon or whiskey. Alcohol, smoke, and fire await. Like a fireplace going in the neighborhood on a cold winter night.
Visuals: Very nice packaging, tasteful, inviting. Thin white head hangs on indefinitely, over a dark black oily body. Lacing is intricate and sticky.
Taste: Like cough syrup — it’ll cure what ails you. Thick, sugary, with a surprising control of the 12% ABV. Warms immediately. Woody, oaky, and smoky. More of a smoked german sausage than italian or polish spicyness. Like biting into a cupcake — very thick. Tasty! Cherry, chocolate, and caramel.
Palate: Warming throughout. Starts thick and dull, no crispness throughout, and not really looking for it. Middle is spongy and drying, and finishes long, smoky, and a little spicy.
Overall: Like other CL’s I’ve tried, this is very much about the smoke, and like others I’ve tried, CL seems to do it right — not like eating a sausage, but it would compliment it very well. Delicious, expertly balanced, and neither cloying nor overpowering, which is astounding considering the ABV.
Filed under: IPA (shaker, tulip), Rogue | Tags: amber, bitter, classic, clean, craft, crisp, deep, delicious, fresh, fun, golden, grapefruit, grassy, great, hazy, hoppy, hops, impressive, inventive, lasting, lingers, long lasting, Malty, mellow, nice, phenomenal, pine, resin, sour, special treat, strong, sweet, tingles, unique, well balanced, white head
Style and Glass: IPA; tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6.2% in 5 liters estimated at 1,000,000 C
Purchased at: Bensalem Beer and Soda for $34.59
Aroma: mellow, sour, grassy. Hops come through nicely.
Visuals: The 5L can is impressive, unique, and a great way to draw beer. Fun, inventive packaging for craft brew. A bit hazy, golden to amber in color, with a long lasting white head that thins but does not disappear. Lace is phenomenal.
Taste: Very well balanced, with a malty, sweet start and a bitter hoppy finish. All the classic flavors you’d expect: pine, grapefruit, and resin. Dark malty finish is delicious. Flavor is deep, strong, and lasting.
Palate: Fresh, clean, and crisp, but lingers nicely on the front and back of the tongue. Tingles throughout the mouth.
Overall: A special treat from a great brewer. As close to the tap as I’ll have at home. I’d love to have it again, but I doubt I’ll ever see it again, after I slowly enjoy these 14 glasses. Delicious.
Filed under: Hacker-Pschorr, Oktoberfest [marzen] (lager glass) | Tags: badly crafted, brilliant, copper, dull, flowery, fully dissipates, low quality, no hops, quick finish, scratchy, thin light lace, weak, wheaty, white head
ABV, Volume & Calories: 5.8 % in 12 fl oz. estimated at 160 C
Purchased at:Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $1.33 as part of an oktoberfest sampler pre fix six
Aroma: dull, flowery. 7 out of 10.
Visuals: copper, brilliant, white head, fully dissipates, thin light lace. 3 out of 5.
Taste: wheaty, no hops, weak, badly crafted. 4 out of 10.
Palate: low quality, scratchy, quick finish. 2 out of 5.
Overall: Not very good. I will not have it again. Shameful. 12 out of 20.
Filed under: Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), Stone | Tags: brilliant, clear, fruity overtones, golden, inviting, medium bitter finish, medium craft, mostly hops, short lived, smooth, some fruit, some hops, sticky, very little lace, wet, white head
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.6% in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 372 C
Purchased at: Circle Liquors Super Saver, Pennington, NJ for $6.99
Aroma: inviting, fruity overtones, some hops. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: brilliant, clear, golden, white head, short lived, very little lace. 4 out of 5.
Taste: some fruit, mostly hops, smooth, medium craft. 8 out of 10.
Palate: wet, sticky, medium bitter finish. 4 out of 5.
Overall: Reminds me of a lighter version of Brooklyn’s Hopfen Weisse or Chouffe’s Belgian IPA mix. I’d have it again, but I wouldn’t wait until 2012 for it. A well crafted beer, but not a favorite. I like the style quite a bit. 17 out of 20.