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
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)