So...
A lot has been going on recently. I was considering joining the military and beginning work where I do virtually nothing but write all day. Because of those two things, I've been on a hiatus that lasted way too long.
More than once I said: "Today I'll rewrite the rating system so it makes more sense and syncs up with the other ones I'm using."
I've also said something like: "Oh boy, I had an awesome beer, I'll write stuff down and rate it." In fact, I even actually wrote a couple of reviews that managed to destroy themselves on the tiny page they were written on. Stupid graphite... Guess I'll just have to get more Dogfish Head Punk and random other things.
Point being, apologies for the not-being-around or mentioning the hiatus, but as soon as I have another new beer, I'll be getting back in the swing of things here on NEO-BS.
Another exciting bit of news: I may be beginning to learn to brew soon. The concept for the beer is called Odin and will be a heavy ABV ale with hints of honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and mint. We'll see if it actually happens.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
New Holland Dragon's Milk
Who here is up for another rousing round of angry stout? That's what we've got on the agenda today. Dragon's Milk is both a personal favorite and one that you should probably reconsider if you find it in the beer store. If you're part Viking and you just slaughtered the thing raiding your town every week and you need to calm down because you just can't seem to stop killing, well then, this is your beer. If not... bow to it, stare it down, and back away slowly. This beer belongs in a fantasy tavern and it may very well try to kill you.
As a quick aside, there are multiple Dragon's Milks out there, I believe I've had two, but New Holland is the one I'm most familiar with as well as the one I'm willing to come back to.
Stats:
Appearance - It looks almost like a latte to be honest. It pours really smoothly and has a nice head. It actually looks a bit like a cup of coffee at first.
Smell - There are a variety of things here. I've stated more than once I don't have a strong sense of smell, but there are really nice tones of chocolate, oak, and malt here.
Taste - Along with the things I could smell, you'll find coffee, milk, espresso, and just a hint of vanilla. Did I mention it's barrel aged? Mmmm... barrels... I honestly love the flavoring here, though the high ABV detracts a bit from it.
Feel - This is where the drink has the most points in my opinion. Higher carbonation which compliments the alcoholic fizzy bite you get, smooth and viscous, -I'm reliving it right now, I love the feel of this beer- and definitely a hint of spite. This beer doesn't like you. It's a wanted beer you know... it has the death sentence in 12- Erhrm, sorry, Star Wars... Any ways, yeah. That's that. Seriously, though, this beer does not like you. You know it as soon as you pick it up. For someone like me, that's actually a selling point.
Drinkability - Finally we come to the one place this beer loses points. It's one of those beers that they only sell in large bottles or four packs. Wonder why it's four instead of six? Because they know that you only have three friends and they're not letting you pick drinks again after this. Honestly though, its high alcohol content makes it hard to drink many of. Even those who can run through a few six packs in a night by themselves should reconsider taunting this dragon. I know people with a normal tolerance who've bought the larger bottle and gotten drunk off of it in two separate sittings. It's just not a beer you really want to sip on for a while. Don't let it get warm...
Drew's Ratings:
5 - This beer will always, always be a 5. Even if it's your first beer and it's on tap (therefore you only have a pint or less, as opposed to that traditional larger bottle it likes to come in), it's still going to end you. 9 ABV and angrier than most beers you'll run into, Dragon's Milk is NOT to be taken lightly. It's dark, smooth wonder is mellowed by the fact that even to get the taste out of your mouth, you'd be hard pressed to want another beer.
AND
E - I enjoy this beer, but it's neither world class nor Earth shattering. I come back to it from time to time and we're good friends, but the kind of friend you only see once every couple of months for good reason. It's a good drink and if I only want one, I'm liable to have this or a full 750 ml bottle of Three Philosopher's in my hand. One of only a few beers I actually come back to on a consistent basis.
Overall: B
Honestly, the solid B here is more from a drinkability / normal people standpoint. In terms of merits as a beer and a drink, it's closer to an A-.
Note: My reviews will be a little slower coming. I've gotten a job writing full time. This means two major things, one is that I'm writing almost constantly, the other is that I just have less time to drink. Either way, I'll try and get up at least one review a week. Cheers!
Warm the cheeks and bright the heart,
-NEO-BS
As a quick aside, there are multiple Dragon's Milks out there, I believe I've had two, but New Holland is the one I'm most familiar with as well as the one I'm willing to come back to.
Stats:
Appearance - It looks almost like a latte to be honest. It pours really smoothly and has a nice head. It actually looks a bit like a cup of coffee at first.
Smell - There are a variety of things here. I've stated more than once I don't have a strong sense of smell, but there are really nice tones of chocolate, oak, and malt here.
Taste - Along with the things I could smell, you'll find coffee, milk, espresso, and just a hint of vanilla. Did I mention it's barrel aged? Mmmm... barrels... I honestly love the flavoring here, though the high ABV detracts a bit from it.
Feel - This is where the drink has the most points in my opinion. Higher carbonation which compliments the alcoholic fizzy bite you get, smooth and viscous, -I'm reliving it right now, I love the feel of this beer- and definitely a hint of spite. This beer doesn't like you. It's a wanted beer you know... it has the death sentence in 12- Erhrm, sorry, Star Wars... Any ways, yeah. That's that. Seriously, though, this beer does not like you. You know it as soon as you pick it up. For someone like me, that's actually a selling point.
Drinkability - Finally we come to the one place this beer loses points. It's one of those beers that they only sell in large bottles or four packs. Wonder why it's four instead of six? Because they know that you only have three friends and they're not letting you pick drinks again after this. Honestly though, its high alcohol content makes it hard to drink many of. Even those who can run through a few six packs in a night by themselves should reconsider taunting this dragon. I know people with a normal tolerance who've bought the larger bottle and gotten drunk off of it in two separate sittings. It's just not a beer you really want to sip on for a while. Don't let it get warm...
Drew's Ratings:
5 - This beer will always, always be a 5. Even if it's your first beer and it's on tap (therefore you only have a pint or less, as opposed to that traditional larger bottle it likes to come in), it's still going to end you. 9 ABV and angrier than most beers you'll run into, Dragon's Milk is NOT to be taken lightly. It's dark, smooth wonder is mellowed by the fact that even to get the taste out of your mouth, you'd be hard pressed to want another beer.
AND
E - I enjoy this beer, but it's neither world class nor Earth shattering. I come back to it from time to time and we're good friends, but the kind of friend you only see once every couple of months for good reason. It's a good drink and if I only want one, I'm liable to have this or a full 750 ml bottle of Three Philosopher's in my hand. One of only a few beers I actually come back to on a consistent basis.
Overall: B
Honestly, the solid B here is more from a drinkability / normal people standpoint. In terms of merits as a beer and a drink, it's closer to an A-.
Note: My reviews will be a little slower coming. I've gotten a job writing full time. This means two major things, one is that I'm writing almost constantly, the other is that I just have less time to drink. Either way, I'll try and get up at least one review a week. Cheers!
Warm the cheeks and bright the heart,
-NEO-BS
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Upcoming
All right gang.
I've been at work all week and I'm finally starting to get the rhythm of things. I'll be adding a post either tonight or this weekend on Dragon's Milk with a few likely to follow. Sam Adams Black Lager and I would like to pause for some home brewing and maybe Old Speckled Hen.
As an aside, I may also be using this blog as a place to begin fermenting (yes, it's a beer pun) ideas for what JG and I, as well as a few others, have been thinking about for a while. He wants to open his own brewery, and I'd like to help...
Warm the cheeks and bright the heart,
-NEO-BS
I've been at work all week and I'm finally starting to get the rhythm of things. I'll be adding a post either tonight or this weekend on Dragon's Milk with a few likely to follow. Sam Adams Black Lager and I would like to pause for some home brewing and maybe Old Speckled Hen.
As an aside, I may also be using this blog as a place to begin fermenting (yes, it's a beer pun) ideas for what JG and I, as well as a few others, have been thinking about for a while. He wants to open his own brewery, and I'd like to help...
Warm the cheeks and bright the heart,
-NEO-BS
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Bam Noire Dark Farmhouse Ale
Now, I'll be the first to admit my memory is a bit fuzzy on this beer for two reasons. The primary one being that I've waited a little too long to do the review without having taken any notes while in the bar. The second is that this was the second to last beer I had at the trip to the cave. Still, it left more of an impression than the Censored or the Red Rice {both of which I'll probably have to try again before reviewing them properly}. This particular ale was special enough that even bad note taking and a couple of days in between the review and the drink itself aren't enough to make me forget. It'll never be my Three Philosophers or Duchesse, but it's none the less a worthwhile beer. It's also the first Jolly Pumpkin I've ever had, needless to say, I'll be trying more.
Stats:
Appearance - Honestly, this was fairly average. I mean, it's a darker ale. There's nothing special or shiny about it's appearance. It doesn't destroy light passing through it, nor does it add the reddish tint of lights in a cafe in Amsterdam. It's just a beer. It's got a fair head and it's lighter than Guinness. What do you want from me?
Smell - Very earthy and calming. There's not much sweet fruit like the tiny bits you get with the flavor or the smell you'd get with Duchesse or a cider. It's almost as if the beer has been around for a while and is being patient while waiting for you to come and try it.
Taste - This, for me, is what makes this beer most memorable. This beer had undertones of all things I consider fall that weren't already a part of the Tree of Might mentioned last review. It's got a bit of apple here and there with tiny hints of fruitiness buried under earthy and light chocolate and harvest grains. BeerAdvocate mentions some other things, but to each his own. I don't know about the raisins or other things it mentions. Still, I remember this taste and I'd definitely like to have it again.
Feel - This is probably where my memory fails me the most. I've been looking at BA to try and jog my memory, but I honestly disagree with them. I don't think it was as carbonated as they say it was. I believe the foamy head took care of that for me. It did make a nice lattice and was smooth going down without being watery. All around a pleasant drink.
Drinkability - I don't know if I could go through a six pack of this, but I do know I could probably have two or three in a row. Even for some of my favorites, that's not true. I feel like it would eventually {around beer two or three in a row} lose most of what it has. For that, I have to say is its uniqueness. That's where it also gains and loses points. It is unique, but it also can't retain its qualities after a few. Still, even after three or four other drinks, it will be the same interesting beer it was if your others were not Noire.
Drew's Ratings:
2-5 - I didn't think I'd find a beer that works whenever, but this one really does. It's not so unique that it needs to be your first beer, but it's also not going to mar your palate further so as to hinder the taste of your next beer. That being said, I certainly wish this had been my last beer rather than the Censored. That's the only thing I remember about Censored, was that it pulled me from the gravity center of the Earth that I found with the Bam Noire.
AND
F - In all honesty, I want to recommend this beer to anyone I meet, but it's not for everyone. For me, this was an amazing beer. It had hints of a ton of different distinct flavors and smells, a foamy head that stayed as long as I'd hoped it would, and was smooth going down. I could drink more than one of these in a row and that says something. It's a good place to begin or end the night and I really enjoyed it. The name, to me, says it all. It's dark and has an almost noire quality it imparted to the bar while drinking it plus the flavors reminded me of Phish's Farmhouse album while simultaneously thinking of walks I've taken in late autumn.
Overall: B+
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Stats:
Appearance - Honestly, this was fairly average. I mean, it's a darker ale. There's nothing special or shiny about it's appearance. It doesn't destroy light passing through it, nor does it add the reddish tint of lights in a cafe in Amsterdam. It's just a beer. It's got a fair head and it's lighter than Guinness. What do you want from me?
Smell - Very earthy and calming. There's not much sweet fruit like the tiny bits you get with the flavor or the smell you'd get with Duchesse or a cider. It's almost as if the beer has been around for a while and is being patient while waiting for you to come and try it.
Taste - This, for me, is what makes this beer most memorable. This beer had undertones of all things I consider fall that weren't already a part of the Tree of Might mentioned last review. It's got a bit of apple here and there with tiny hints of fruitiness buried under earthy and light chocolate and harvest grains. BeerAdvocate mentions some other things, but to each his own. I don't know about the raisins or other things it mentions. Still, I remember this taste and I'd definitely like to have it again.
Feel - This is probably where my memory fails me the most. I've been looking at BA to try and jog my memory, but I honestly disagree with them. I don't think it was as carbonated as they say it was. I believe the foamy head took care of that for me. It did make a nice lattice and was smooth going down without being watery. All around a pleasant drink.
Drinkability - I don't know if I could go through a six pack of this, but I do know I could probably have two or three in a row. Even for some of my favorites, that's not true. I feel like it would eventually {around beer two or three in a row} lose most of what it has. For that, I have to say is its uniqueness. That's where it also gains and loses points. It is unique, but it also can't retain its qualities after a few. Still, even after three or four other drinks, it will be the same interesting beer it was if your others were not Noire.
Drew's Ratings:
2-5 - I didn't think I'd find a beer that works whenever, but this one really does. It's not so unique that it needs to be your first beer, but it's also not going to mar your palate further so as to hinder the taste of your next beer. That being said, I certainly wish this had been my last beer rather than the Censored. That's the only thing I remember about Censored, was that it pulled me from the gravity center of the Earth that I found with the Bam Noire.
AND
F - In all honesty, I want to recommend this beer to anyone I meet, but it's not for everyone. For me, this was an amazing beer. It had hints of a ton of different distinct flavors and smells, a foamy head that stayed as long as I'd hoped it would, and was smooth going down. I could drink more than one of these in a row and that says something. It's a good place to begin or end the night and I really enjoyed it. The name, to me, says it all. It's dark and has an almost noire quality it imparted to the bar while drinking it plus the flavors reminded me of Phish's Farmhouse album while simultaneously thinking of walks I've taken in late autumn.
Overall: B+
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Bruery's Autumn Maple
Back for yet another review in a single day, we have Autumn Maple. This beer is not an anytime beer, but nor is it strictly a mood based beer. More of an eclectic "I need to try this" and then whenever it finds you again {rather than you seeking it out}. I admit that this beer was not mine and I stole sips here and there, but it left enough of an impression to want to do a review. Interestingly enough, those who watched DBZ as kids will get the nickname we came up with for this beer {scary how we're over 21 now, huh?}, it was dubbed: Tree of Might. Thanks to Luke for letting me try enough of it to review while we were out.
Stats:
Appearance - It was Belgian for sure, but it didn't look like a traditional Belgian ale when poured because it had a much deeper color. It looked almost like if you mixed the inside and outside of a sweet potato and got a sort of orangish brown.
Smell - You can smell the oak and maple syrup in this beer and it's overpowering. The difference is, it's overpowering in an amazing way. I wholeheartedly believe that the smell is the best part of this beer and it is the thing I will remember best. Those with a better nose than I have noted its hints of yams and Belgian spices. I can't say I noticed them right off the bat, but I also didn't have the whole thing to myself.
Taste - One of the more interesting beers I've ever been exposed to. The flavor of this beer was by far a mixture of flavors. While I couldn't smell it, the taste of yams and spices were prevalent under the tone of a fairly normal beer. Beyond that, there are hints of maple syrup that are hard to pin down for the darker feel of this relatively light beer. The other thing of note is that this beer really does have a very strong kick to it. It's not so much alcoholic as it is simply there. That being said, it does have an ABV of 10.5, which does lend to the kick. It's really the maple and oak that add to it though. That's the reason we gave it the name Tree of Might.
Feel - There is definitely a kick in the teeth here. This beer could have been amazing, but because of the kick, it loses the smooth feel it ought to have.
Drinkability - I'm not entirely sure what to say here. This beer is smooth as can be, but the kick it's got definitely detracts from the general pleasant oak / maple dynamic it's got going on with the undertone of spices. It just makes it hard to enjoy the richer aspects of the beer.
Drew's Ratings:
2 - This is a solid two simply because of its abnormal flavor. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this being the first beer of the night, but unless it is, you'll miss out on what it has to offer. It will be a one of a kind experience that you rarely find in craft beers. X usually can be compared to Y, it might be my inexperience with Belgians, but I don't believe it is.
AND
E - This beer has so much going on that if you enjoy it's strong taste, you probably won't be able to pay attention to what's going on around you until it's gone. I loved this beer, but not in the way that I would for a G or F. The reason for that is that I couldn't keep getting more of these at once. I feel like I need a few bar trips in between ordering one of these, but when you feel like having one, it is fantastic.
Overall: B+
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Stats:
Appearance - It was Belgian for sure, but it didn't look like a traditional Belgian ale when poured because it had a much deeper color. It looked almost like if you mixed the inside and outside of a sweet potato and got a sort of orangish brown.
Smell - You can smell the oak and maple syrup in this beer and it's overpowering. The difference is, it's overpowering in an amazing way. I wholeheartedly believe that the smell is the best part of this beer and it is the thing I will remember best. Those with a better nose than I have noted its hints of yams and Belgian spices. I can't say I noticed them right off the bat, but I also didn't have the whole thing to myself.
Taste - One of the more interesting beers I've ever been exposed to. The flavor of this beer was by far a mixture of flavors. While I couldn't smell it, the taste of yams and spices were prevalent under the tone of a fairly normal beer. Beyond that, there are hints of maple syrup that are hard to pin down for the darker feel of this relatively light beer. The other thing of note is that this beer really does have a very strong kick to it. It's not so much alcoholic as it is simply there. That being said, it does have an ABV of 10.5, which does lend to the kick. It's really the maple and oak that add to it though. That's the reason we gave it the name Tree of Might.
Feel - There is definitely a kick in the teeth here. This beer could have been amazing, but because of the kick, it loses the smooth feel it ought to have.
Drinkability - I'm not entirely sure what to say here. This beer is smooth as can be, but the kick it's got definitely detracts from the general pleasant oak / maple dynamic it's got going on with the undertone of spices. It just makes it hard to enjoy the richer aspects of the beer.
Drew's Ratings:
2 - This is a solid two simply because of its abnormal flavor. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this being the first beer of the night, but unless it is, you'll miss out on what it has to offer. It will be a one of a kind experience that you rarely find in craft beers. X usually can be compared to Y, it might be my inexperience with Belgians, but I don't believe it is.
AND
E - This beer has so much going on that if you enjoy it's strong taste, you probably won't be able to pay attention to what's going on around you until it's gone. I loved this beer, but not in the way that I would for a G or F. The reason for that is that I couldn't keep getting more of these at once. I feel like I need a few bar trips in between ordering one of these, but when you feel like having one, it is fantastic.
Overall: B+
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Break from regularly scheduled programming
A few notes before I start working on the next review.
I plan on doing a lot of reviews in quick succession in the beginning, that's what follows bar trips like the one after my graduation party, I get the chance to try {and hopefully remember} a large succession of craft beers. Later on down the line, I plan on doing them more sporadically, but also more often as opposed to the giant chunks of reviews you're likely to notice for the first couple weeks.
Next, while the Cave is certainly an amazing place with a fantastic atmosphere, my quest is to expand my knowledge of craft beers will fall short if I never go anywhere else. I have recently discovered that my home town of Kent actually has a number of astounding places with out of this world selection that I'd urge anyone in the area to take note of.
Here's the third, yes that last sentence ended with a preposition. I am indeed a competent writer, but in a blog, I feel like it's more personal if you read the way I speak, so I write the way I speak. I think it makes things more personal.
Now, backtracking for a moment. Those places in Kent are a wine bar on 43 with a selection on par with the Cave, Professor's Pub with a good atmosphere and fair selection, and Ray's which also has a Cave-esque selection. It doesn't have the most personal atmosphere, but the quantity and quality of food {like sweet potato fries} make up for it.
In terms of homebrews, I want to mention that I will occasionally be making space for those reviews even though my readers will {sadly} not be able to get a hold of them. It's for that reason that those reviews will be a little less in depth.
Finally, I want to mention two things. One is that I love seasonal beers, specifically fall, so you may begin to notice a sort of seasonal cycle as I run down the list of local and craft beers. Examples would be a lot of the Octoberfests coming out and the seasonal things by Magic Hat that are usually new. Secondly, I'm hoping to eventually get user input. I may one day need advice on what to try or if someone wants a beer revisited for a second opinion.
Along with this line of thought, I'll soon be introducing a guest author. He's a good friend of mine, Peter, who will occasionally be doing IPA reviews for me so they're a little more unbiased than if I were writing them myself. As I've said Two Hearted Ale and I aren't friends. Most IPAs I've had haven't agreed with me.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
I plan on doing a lot of reviews in quick succession in the beginning, that's what follows bar trips like the one after my graduation party, I get the chance to try {and hopefully remember} a large succession of craft beers. Later on down the line, I plan on doing them more sporadically, but also more often as opposed to the giant chunks of reviews you're likely to notice for the first couple weeks.
Next, while the Cave is certainly an amazing place with a fantastic atmosphere, my quest is to expand my knowledge of craft beers will fall short if I never go anywhere else. I have recently discovered that my home town of Kent actually has a number of astounding places with out of this world selection that I'd urge anyone in the area to take note of.
Here's the third, yes that last sentence ended with a preposition. I am indeed a competent writer, but in a blog, I feel like it's more personal if you read the way I speak, so I write the way I speak. I think it makes things more personal.
Now, backtracking for a moment. Those places in Kent are a wine bar on 43 with a selection on par with the Cave, Professor's Pub with a good atmosphere and fair selection, and Ray's which also has a Cave-esque selection. It doesn't have the most personal atmosphere, but the quantity and quality of food {like sweet potato fries} make up for it.
In terms of homebrews, I want to mention that I will occasionally be making space for those reviews even though my readers will {sadly} not be able to get a hold of them. It's for that reason that those reviews will be a little less in depth.
Finally, I want to mention two things. One is that I love seasonal beers, specifically fall, so you may begin to notice a sort of seasonal cycle as I run down the list of local and craft beers. Examples would be a lot of the Octoberfests coming out and the seasonal things by Magic Hat that are usually new. Secondly, I'm hoping to eventually get user input. I may one day need advice on what to try or if someone wants a beer revisited for a second opinion.
Along with this line of thought, I'll soon be introducing a guest author. He's a good friend of mine, Peter, who will occasionally be doing IPA reviews for me so they're a little more unbiased than if I were writing them myself. As I've said Two Hearted Ale and I aren't friends. Most IPAs I've had haven't agreed with me.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Storm King and Old Rasputin
This one's going to be a joint review because, to be honest, there's very little about Storm King and Old Rasputin that differ. Both of these beers, nearly twins, are Imperial Stouts. Old Rasputin's edge is that it is a Russian style Imperial Stout that, if you found the right one, is cask aged. These twin terrors are extremely angry beers and are only recommended to a very specific caliber of person or if someone's been cheating on you and you know 151 is a bad idea.
Stats:
Appearance - Both of these beers are incredibly dark, though Rasputin doesn't have the blackish tint that Guinness does. Storm King is definitely the darker of the two.
Smell - Both have an impressive aroma. There's a high odor of coffee and malt with a hint of oak that makes you feel like you're taking a walk on a crisp autumn morning in a fleece.
Taste - That being said, this is where the beer loses points from an objective perspective. It's hard to describe what I mean when I say a beer is angry, but if you ever try one, you'll understand. The aftereffect is basically what ends this beer. I drink my coffee black and strong, but even that doesn't compare to the aftertaste. It's a lot like Turkish coffee if you left out the sweeteners. The oak and rich, bitter coffee taste will stay with you in the beginning, but the end of it, it's almost as though some kind of sludge is involved. Rasputin doesn't do this quite as much as Storm King, it has more of a bite at the end.
Feel - This is one of these beers greatest assets. While the drinkability is lacking due to the shock {read on, you'll see}, these beers both have one of the most amazingly smooth feels that you'll ever find. Both are carbonated {obviously}, but you'd never know it from drinking one.
Drinkability - In the end, there's a superb amount of drinkability to this beer assuming it's not your first and your tongue is loosened up a bit. It's coffee flavor, heavy aroma, and smooth start will have you coming back {just probably not for a second one in a row}.
Drew's Ratings:
5 - Both of these beers are by far terminators. They should always be the last beer or the only thing you're drinking. There's a reason Old Rasputin only comes in a pack of 4. This lies under the subcategory of 5 where you had better already be at least tipsy when you consider finding this in your hands. Both are so overpowering that any other flavor you've ever known will be gone and lost.
AND
E - This is an excellent example of something I mentioned a few posts ago where my opinion will diverge from the beer's primary rating. While I do have to be in the right mood for an Imperial Stout, both hold a special place in my heart. It's almost as though someone distilled the anger out of a liquor above 100 proof and put it into a richer Guinness-like beer. When I've decided to drink a beer like this, I know what I'm getting into and honestly, I like it. The overall rating won't reflect this because it's a beer that is only something a guy like me would drink. There's nothing special about these beers from an impersonal perspective other than their uniqueness, but I can't help but enjoy it when it isn't the first thing I've had.
Overall: C+ -> B-
-> This rating is from an impersonal perspective, personally, it's closer to an A, A-.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
After thought:
I'm not sure about Storm King, but for those of you who are also cooks, I have used OR as a cooking beer before. Don't ever, EVER use it for a batter, but if you like cooking off most of the water, this can be used with something spicy like Siracha and maybe a hint of brown sugar or vanilla if you're cooking with beef or sausage and using potatoes, onions, and garlic.
Stats:
Appearance - Both of these beers are incredibly dark, though Rasputin doesn't have the blackish tint that Guinness does. Storm King is definitely the darker of the two.
Smell - Both have an impressive aroma. There's a high odor of coffee and malt with a hint of oak that makes you feel like you're taking a walk on a crisp autumn morning in a fleece.
Taste - That being said, this is where the beer loses points from an objective perspective. It's hard to describe what I mean when I say a beer is angry, but if you ever try one, you'll understand. The aftereffect is basically what ends this beer. I drink my coffee black and strong, but even that doesn't compare to the aftertaste. It's a lot like Turkish coffee if you left out the sweeteners. The oak and rich, bitter coffee taste will stay with you in the beginning, but the end of it, it's almost as though some kind of sludge is involved. Rasputin doesn't do this quite as much as Storm King, it has more of a bite at the end.
Feel - This is one of these beers greatest assets. While the drinkability is lacking due to the shock {read on, you'll see}, these beers both have one of the most amazingly smooth feels that you'll ever find. Both are carbonated {obviously}, but you'd never know it from drinking one.
Drinkability - In the end, there's a superb amount of drinkability to this beer assuming it's not your first and your tongue is loosened up a bit. It's coffee flavor, heavy aroma, and smooth start will have you coming back {just probably not for a second one in a row}.
Drew's Ratings:
5 - Both of these beers are by far terminators. They should always be the last beer or the only thing you're drinking. There's a reason Old Rasputin only comes in a pack of 4. This lies under the subcategory of 5 where you had better already be at least tipsy when you consider finding this in your hands. Both are so overpowering that any other flavor you've ever known will be gone and lost.
AND
E - This is an excellent example of something I mentioned a few posts ago where my opinion will diverge from the beer's primary rating. While I do have to be in the right mood for an Imperial Stout, both hold a special place in my heart. It's almost as though someone distilled the anger out of a liquor above 100 proof and put it into a richer Guinness-like beer. When I've decided to drink a beer like this, I know what I'm getting into and honestly, I like it. The overall rating won't reflect this because it's a beer that is only something a guy like me would drink. There's nothing special about these beers from an impersonal perspective other than their uniqueness, but I can't help but enjoy it when it isn't the first thing I've had.
Overall: C+ -> B-
-> This rating is from an impersonal perspective, personally, it's closer to an A, A-.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
After thought:
I'm not sure about Storm King, but for those of you who are also cooks, I have used OR as a cooking beer before. Don't ever, EVER use it for a batter, but if you like cooking off most of the water, this can be used with something spicy like Siracha and maybe a hint of brown sugar or vanilla if you're cooking with beef or sausage and using potatoes, onions, and garlic.
Duchesse De Bourgogne
This beer is one that I've had both on draft and out of the bottle. It will probably always be one of my personal favorites and it is an amazing beer. It is the kind I would recommend for friends that don't like the taste of beer or prefer drinks like Mike's Hard.
Stats:
Appearance - Once poured, this beer has an amazing reddish tint to it with very little head or lattice.
Smell - There's a faint smell of cherries with this one, it masks the small hint of actual beer you get from the rest of it.
Taste - The taste of this beer is somewhere between wine and candy. There's almost nothing to suggest it's ever been related to beer. It is definitely what I would consider a desert beer, with it's fruity aftertaste and pleasantly mild flavor it can compliment just about any food you might want to have it with.
Feel - It has a small fizz of champagne at the beginning and keeps it for a while. It almost feels like drinking a pop.
Drinkability - Everything about this beer is drinkable. After the initial carbonation passes, it goes down smoothly and could easily be one you have over and over again.
Drew's Ratings:
2 or 3 - This beer cannot possibly be fully appreciated unless it's had early in the night. It makes an excellent first beer, but its sweet flavor could easily wash out the taste of bad decisions.
AND
Somewhere between F and G - It's really difficult to place this one. There are so many qualities about this beer that I like, it's difficult to place. I want to give it a G, but I'm so inexperienced that I want to reserve this category for down the road. That being said, it's still better than most that would fit into the F category.
Overall: A-
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Stats:
Appearance - Once poured, this beer has an amazing reddish tint to it with very little head or lattice.
Smell - There's a faint smell of cherries with this one, it masks the small hint of actual beer you get from the rest of it.
Taste - The taste of this beer is somewhere between wine and candy. There's almost nothing to suggest it's ever been related to beer. It is definitely what I would consider a desert beer, with it's fruity aftertaste and pleasantly mild flavor it can compliment just about any food you might want to have it with.
Feel - It has a small fizz of champagne at the beginning and keeps it for a while. It almost feels like drinking a pop.
Drinkability - Everything about this beer is drinkable. After the initial carbonation passes, it goes down smoothly and could easily be one you have over and over again.
Drew's Ratings:
2 or 3 - This beer cannot possibly be fully appreciated unless it's had early in the night. It makes an excellent first beer, but its sweet flavor could easily wash out the taste of bad decisions.
AND
Somewhere between F and G - It's really difficult to place this one. There are so many qualities about this beer that I like, it's difficult to place. I want to give it a G, but I'm so inexperienced that I want to reserve this category for down the road. That being said, it's still better than most that would fit into the F category.
Overall: A-
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Monday, September 6, 2010
Part II / Before The Reviews Begin
Okay.
So last night, we went out to the Cave and I had the opportunity to try quite a few beers my friends got. Honestly, it got to the point where I could only keep track of the beers I got myself and had enough of to fairly judge. Those beers will be:
1. Duchesse de Bourgonge
2. The Bruery's Autumn Maple
3. Hitachino Nest's Red Rice Ale
4. Lagunitas Censored Ale and
5. Bam Noire's Dark Farmhouse Ale
I also tried one of Lindeman's lambics, which I've had before and may review, as well as Lucifer, though I'll save that for another time.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
So last night, we went out to the Cave and I had the opportunity to try quite a few beers my friends got. Honestly, it got to the point where I could only keep track of the beers I got myself and had enough of to fairly judge. Those beers will be:
1. Duchesse de Bourgonge
2. The Bruery's Autumn Maple
3. Hitachino Nest's Red Rice Ale
4. Lagunitas Censored Ale and
5. Bam Noire's Dark Farmhouse Ale
I also tried one of Lindeman's lambics, which I've had before and may review, as well as Lucifer, though I'll save that for another time.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Upcoming Reviews Part I
This is specifically a part one because I didn't intend to go out drinking last night, but it happened anyways, the beauty of being between graduation and finding a job I suppose.
The two I specifically had were a Left Handed Milk Stout and a Victory Storm King Imperial Stout.
Sometime in the near future, I'd also like to make time for a few of my old favorites. One of my all time favorites that I'll be doing soon is Three Philosophers. Another I may merge with the Storm King was Old Rasputin. I will also eventually be making time for Dragon's Milk and Sam Adams Black Lager.
Either way, tonight's the trip out to the Wine Cave and I'll have a few more new ones to add to Part II.... Then the reviews begin.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
The two I specifically had were a Left Handed Milk Stout and a Victory Storm King Imperial Stout.
Sometime in the near future, I'd also like to make time for a few of my old favorites. One of my all time favorites that I'll be doing soon is Three Philosophers. Another I may merge with the Storm King was Old Rasputin. I will also eventually be making time for Dragon's Milk and Sam Adams Black Lager.
Either way, tonight's the trip out to the Wine Cave and I'll have a few more new ones to add to Part II.... Then the reviews begin.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Note On Ratings & Upcoming Trip
To begin, I wanted to mention that the rating system I was talking about in the first post will be heavily modified. I was planning on using the system as a judgement for when in the evening the beer was best to have based on what else you'd been drinking, but I feel I need another system too. That being said:
1. Never: I hope to never give a beer a rating of 1, but it may happen. There may be beers I come across in my excursions that should simply never be purchased. An example might be Natural Lite. Never under any circumstances would I recommend that beer to anyone for anything except beer pong, and even then, you can find something better and more fun, example: Strongbow.
2. First Beer: This rating will go to beers which have a unique quality that might be watered down later in the evening when you can no longer taste and fully appreciate it. Another possibility is that this beer is so relaxing, you don't need another one. The final reason a beer might get the rating of 2 is that it is absolutely worth trying because it has such a distinct flavor, aroma, etc. but will likely leave you wanting something more mild.
3. Early On: A beer like this is an any time beer. You've found a golden one. It may not get you astoundingly drunk, but hey, that's not the purpose with good beer, right? A rating of 3 might be given to a lambics or a smooth Belgian. Another possibility are personal favorites (yours, not mine). An example of my favorites that I like early on are Guinness {Irish water} and Strongbow because of their drinkability and low alcohol content.
4. Late: Beers with a rating of 4 should be your first beer only if you're an alcoholic or Irish. Beers like this are Old Rasputin, beers with such a bite and kick to them that they can only be fully enjoyed when you've already been drinking. These are beers for keeping you where you are or sending you into oblivion (should you really want this). Heavy, angry stouts are the sort of beer you should expect to see here. These are not your "winding down" beers. If you're not trying to get drunk, skip a beer like this.
5. Terminator: Terminators fall into a few categories. The first is a beer with such a high alcohol content that if you finish it, it finishes you! Regardless of any other attribute, the draw to this first category is that it is very alcoholic. Mad Elf or Dragon's Milk would be examples of what I'm thinking of here. Another category is similar to one in rating 2, this beer is has an incredibly distinct flavor, but you want to make sure you're a bit tipsy to take the edge off of the 5's bite. Finally, a rating of 5 could be given to a beer that is so brilliantly smooth, so perfectly flavored, that it is hands down the best beer to end the night on and will give you a pleasant place to leave off, here, I'm thinking of a red sour ale I once had on draft. It is still the best I've ever had.
Now that I've mentioned the way I planned on doing ratings, I should also mention that I plan to learn as much as possible. While my taste buds are fully developed for beer, my mind is not. I don't know the fancy ways to describe aroma and body, but I intend to learn them. Until then, bear with me as I try to describe the amazing things I've tasted.
Next, I also wanted to deal with a secondary rating system. Think of it as a way to gauge my personal opinion of the beer. At some point, I'll try and give my pallet so you can figure it out from there. The first system is meant for everyone whereas this one is specific to me. If all you drink are fruity cosmos, this rating system will be virtually worthless to you, if however, you've had more than a single shot of 151 sober without a chaser, but you still enjoy the near flavorlessness Guinness, then this will hold more interest for you.
A. Not ONLY will I never be drinking this beer, I will never buy it for anyone if they PAID me to do so.
B. Why am I drinking this?!
C. Meh. I am unimpressed by this. If you paid me {price} plus a dollar, I guess I'd have another one.
D. Oh look, a beer. It's a beer. It's... well, it's not thrilling, but give here, I will drink.
E. You have my attention, but the beer is more interesting than you are, so excuse me if I don't hear everything you're saying.
F. I have found this beer. I have renamed it as it is mine now. What have we learned here today? "Beer foamy!"
G. I have seen the end of beer. Please, please go away and leave me with this beer. Come back in 5 minutes with another one, maybe a round for the bar, but bring them all to me.
LASTLY!!! I am making a trip up to the Cave in Cleveland on Sunday night to celebrate my graduation. The first wave of reviews should hopefully be coming from that.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
1. Never: I hope to never give a beer a rating of 1, but it may happen. There may be beers I come across in my excursions that should simply never be purchased. An example might be Natural Lite. Never under any circumstances would I recommend that beer to anyone for anything except beer pong, and even then, you can find something better and more fun, example: Strongbow.
2. First Beer: This rating will go to beers which have a unique quality that might be watered down later in the evening when you can no longer taste and fully appreciate it. Another possibility is that this beer is so relaxing, you don't need another one. The final reason a beer might get the rating of 2 is that it is absolutely worth trying because it has such a distinct flavor, aroma, etc. but will likely leave you wanting something more mild.
3. Early On: A beer like this is an any time beer. You've found a golden one. It may not get you astoundingly drunk, but hey, that's not the purpose with good beer, right? A rating of 3 might be given to a lambics or a smooth Belgian. Another possibility are personal favorites (yours, not mine). An example of my favorites that I like early on are Guinness {Irish water} and Strongbow because of their drinkability and low alcohol content.
4. Late: Beers with a rating of 4 should be your first beer only if you're an alcoholic or Irish. Beers like this are Old Rasputin, beers with such a bite and kick to them that they can only be fully enjoyed when you've already been drinking. These are beers for keeping you where you are or sending you into oblivion (should you really want this). Heavy, angry stouts are the sort of beer you should expect to see here. These are not your "winding down" beers. If you're not trying to get drunk, skip a beer like this.
5. Terminator: Terminators fall into a few categories. The first is a beer with such a high alcohol content that if you finish it, it finishes you! Regardless of any other attribute, the draw to this first category is that it is very alcoholic. Mad Elf or Dragon's Milk would be examples of what I'm thinking of here. Another category is similar to one in rating 2, this beer is has an incredibly distinct flavor, but you want to make sure you're a bit tipsy to take the edge off of the 5's bite. Finally, a rating of 5 could be given to a beer that is so brilliantly smooth, so perfectly flavored, that it is hands down the best beer to end the night on and will give you a pleasant place to leave off, here, I'm thinking of a red sour ale I once had on draft. It is still the best I've ever had.
Now that I've mentioned the way I planned on doing ratings, I should also mention that I plan to learn as much as possible. While my taste buds are fully developed for beer, my mind is not. I don't know the fancy ways to describe aroma and body, but I intend to learn them. Until then, bear with me as I try to describe the amazing things I've tasted.
Next, I also wanted to deal with a secondary rating system. Think of it as a way to gauge my personal opinion of the beer. At some point, I'll try and give my pallet so you can figure it out from there. The first system is meant for everyone whereas this one is specific to me. If all you drink are fruity cosmos, this rating system will be virtually worthless to you, if however, you've had more than a single shot of 151 sober without a chaser, but you still enjoy the near flavorlessness Guinness, then this will hold more interest for you.
A. Not ONLY will I never be drinking this beer, I will never buy it for anyone if they PAID me to do so.
B. Why am I drinking this?!
C. Meh. I am unimpressed by this. If you paid me {price} plus a dollar, I guess I'd have another one.
D. Oh look, a beer. It's a beer. It's... well, it's not thrilling, but give here, I will drink.
E. You have my attention, but the beer is more interesting than you are, so excuse me if I don't hear everything you're saying.
F. I have found this beer. I have renamed it as it is mine now. What have we learned here today? "Beer foamy!"
G. I have seen the end of beer. Please, please go away and leave me with this beer. Come back in 5 minutes with another one, maybe a round for the bar, but bring them all to me.
LASTLY!!! I am making a trip up to the Cave in Cleveland on Sunday night to celebrate my graduation. The first wave of reviews should hopefully be coming from that.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Introduction
Hey all!
{Which as of right now is no one, but I doubt that will last long}
Here is my formal introduction to the internet.
I admit that I haven't been over 21 for a terribly long time, but in that time, I've done a lot of drinking. Honestly, a lot of it was sheer curiosity and I fell in love with the experience of trying new beers. Here at North East Ohio Beer Snob, or NEO-BS as I'm calling it, I aim to try new beers as often as possible and provide a rating system.
I believe I'm going to use a scale from Early On to Mid Evening to Terminator with a special category devoted to that which I simply cannot recommend. I'll determine that one later!
As with all reviewers, I must admit my personal bias. A few unfortunate and fortunate trends have led me to this place. One is a simply fantastic experience in Columbus with a few specialty stores that taught me during college and another was with a bar called The Cave in Cleveland. Without these two, I wouldn't have developed my taste.
Herein, however, hide two sad truths. One is that I will never enjoy cheap beer again. One day, I hope to have tried so many beers that I actually need user input when coming up with new ones to try. This means I will never, ever, review your Natty Lite or your Keystone, I once refused to buy it for someone on the grounds that they had to choose something better. Come ON! I may take an aside for my favorites, like Guinness, but let's be honest, it's basically Irish water.
On the other end of the spectrum lies my failing and personal bias. I cannot guarantee a good rating for an IPA. Ever. I simply have never had a taste for them, but I will still try them in the hopes one will surprise me.
That all being said, I'll try and post a few retroactive reviews sometime soon. Bear with me as I figure out what I'm doing and I'll occasionally post an interesting cocktail I come up with. Maybe you'll find me stories interesting or come to trust my reviews {either because you believe me, or have decided your tastes are opposite mine}.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
{Which as of right now is no one, but I doubt that will last long}
Here is my formal introduction to the internet.
I admit that I haven't been over 21 for a terribly long time, but in that time, I've done a lot of drinking. Honestly, a lot of it was sheer curiosity and I fell in love with the experience of trying new beers. Here at North East Ohio Beer Snob, or NEO-BS as I'm calling it, I aim to try new beers as often as possible and provide a rating system.
I believe I'm going to use a scale from Early On to Mid Evening to Terminator with a special category devoted to that which I simply cannot recommend. I'll determine that one later!
As with all reviewers, I must admit my personal bias. A few unfortunate and fortunate trends have led me to this place. One is a simply fantastic experience in Columbus with a few specialty stores that taught me during college and another was with a bar called The Cave in Cleveland. Without these two, I wouldn't have developed my taste.
Herein, however, hide two sad truths. One is that I will never enjoy cheap beer again. One day, I hope to have tried so many beers that I actually need user input when coming up with new ones to try. This means I will never, ever, review your Natty Lite or your Keystone, I once refused to buy it for someone on the grounds that they had to choose something better. Come ON! I may take an aside for my favorites, like Guinness, but let's be honest, it's basically Irish water.
On the other end of the spectrum lies my failing and personal bias. I cannot guarantee a good rating for an IPA. Ever. I simply have never had a taste for them, but I will still try them in the hopes one will surprise me.
That all being said, I'll try and post a few retroactive reviews sometime soon. Bear with me as I figure out what I'm doing and I'll occasionally post an interesting cocktail I come up with. Maybe you'll find me stories interesting or come to trust my reviews {either because you believe me, or have decided your tastes are opposite mine}.
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart,
-NEO-BS
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