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  • Downgrading the Black Metal back to a 5, as it never really improved enough for me to drink it...I left more than half of the big bomber. It was just, to me, undrinkable.

    And I, for one, like a good imperial stout, don't mind coffee flavors in my beer....but this thing just had too much unpleasantness for me.

    Quick Review: Zywiec, from Poland. (Good luck pronouncing it...took me weeks to learn how myself.) Good lighter colored beer, tasty, honest, refreshing, great for when you get home after a VERY long day of travel and getting one's truck fixed, as I just did. Score: 7. Could drink this every day if I had it more readily available. And because of it, I look forward to one day trying other Polish beers.

    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
    Still A Customer."

    Comment


    • New beer review!

      Today, from the Schmaltz Brewing Company (makers of He' Brew beers), we have Coney Island Human Blockhead, a "tough as nails lager." I'll be honest, my experience with some of the Schmaltz products I've tried have not been great. Good, yes, but nothing that made me stand up and say, "Yes, Senor General!" So this should be interesting.

      First of all, for a lager this is very dark. Not brown beer or black lager dark, but a deep, deep, DEEP amber, bordering on almost brown, or dark brick. The nose is lovely. Dark heather, hint of honey, spices, hint of brown sugar....something's going on here.

      This is a lager? It tastes like a Belgian beer! I mean, seriously. It has that Belgianness to it (that I can never describe), a hoppier note than any lager I've ever had, and while that is balanced by an odd sweetness, this comes across as something completely different than what the label advertises.

      But...is it GOOD? I....don't know. As I've said before, not usually a Belgian beer fan (though there are exceptions), and this is....I actually don't know WHAT this is. Certainly wasn't expecting THIS from a lager.

      In the end, I have to say it's good (I think), and describe it as a strong, semi-Belgian style lager....and give it a confused score of 7 out of 10.

      But has become for some reason tradition with me and Schmaltz, I probably wouldn't get this one again.
      Last edited by Jester; 06-12-2012, 05:09 AM.

      "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
      Still A Customer."

      Comment


      • It's Saturday. I have the whole weekend off. I have almost no responsibilities. I am much poorer after my recent Texas vacation. I am awake in the morning, and it's not quite noon yet. So what better time to have beer for breakfast?

        Yeah, I know. It's irresponsible, frivolous, and kind of idiotic. PERFECT!

        But what beer to have? That's the difficult part. I shall have to go check my craft beer supply, which has grown recently thanks to two recent forays to the mainland. Excuse me....I'll be right back.....

        (...a few minutes and some careful soul (and fridge) searching later...)

        Ah, perfect. A Flensburger Dunkel. I tried one of Flensburger's wheat beers in Houston (I'll be posting my Houston beer notes sometime soon), and it was quite lovely. And a dunkel, while on the darker side, is still light enough for breakfast. Sure, I wouldn't have this dark a beer with my eggs and bacon (well, maybe with my bacon), but since I am having neither eggs nor bacon, but merely beer, it makes sense.

        Like the wheat beer, the dunkel comes in a swing top bottle, which gives a delightful little "pop" when you open it. It pours a reddish brown, a bit redder than other dunkels I've had, and somewhat translucent, but still dark enough to be respectable. The nose is wonderful. It smells of freshness and autumn, but without being heavy like a Oktoberfest or winter beer. Sort of an autumn light, if that makes sense. Maybe even a dark heather, and just the slightest hint of brown sugar or molasses, not quite sure which.

        Interesting. It does rather taste like a lighter version of a brown. Of course, I don't have a lot of experience with dunkels, as most of the ones I've tried in recent years were actually dunkel weisses, a lovely blend of dunkel and hefeweizen. But it being a lighter version of a brown does not lessen its tastiness. And honestly, a brown like Cigar City Maduro might be a tad heavy for breakfast. This is light yet flavorful, quite tasty, and a nice start to my day. Is it as good as Flensburger's hefe? No. But it is quite lovely. I score it a 6.5 out of 10.

        EDITED TO ADD: I have to say, the lingering aftertaste this leaves in your mouth once you're done with it is really quite off-putting. It's easily been half an hour since I finished, I've had a kosher dill pickle, which should kill the taste of just about anything....and I still have a very unpleasant aftertaste in my mouth. In the future, I would only drink this beer if I had something else to follow it up with. Say, napalm.
        Last edited by Jester; 06-16-2012, 04:55 PM.

        "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
        Still A Customer."

        Comment


        • I have long been a fan of Woodchuck hard cider. I tried Strongbow once and thought it tasted like bottled ass, though I have a friend who claims to like it. But the other day I was in Meijer and found a new brand (new to me) called Angry Orchard. I hemmed and hawed before I dropped about ten bucks on it (I didn't want a repeat of the Strongbow experience). Brought it home and opened a bottle of AO and a bottle of Woodchuck to do a taste comparison.

          So, Woodchuck tastes a bit vinegary to me, unless it is out of a keg (which I recommend). Angry Orchard is a lot sweeter initially, but has a weird aftertaste, almost like a NutraSweet one but not quite so cloying. I decided to try mixing them...

          Orgasm for the taste buds. Seriously delicious. The sweetness of the AO gets rid of the vinegary taste of the Woodchuck, and the Woodchuck covers up the aftertaste of the AO. I probably won't be drinking them separately again if I have a choice (barring PenguiCon, because Woodchuck on tap is teh yumz)...but I am moving back to Arizona in a few weeks, so I'll have to find out where to buy either one.

          The best thing, booze-wise, about moving back is that I'll have Wyder's Pear Cider available again. Woodchuck Pear is really good stuff when you can find it, but Wyder's...oh man. Tastes explicitly of Bartlett pears, whereas the Woodchuck is just kind of pear-like. *bad Robin Williams fake Latino accent* Bartletts are the only pears that I love.

          ETA: OMG, the internet says Angry Orchard also makes an Apple Ginger version. MUST FIND AND CONSUME. The Reed's Ginger Brew (which is nonalcoholic) is orgasmic...and this has the added bonus of being booze.
          Last edited by Dentarthurdent; 06-16-2012, 09:28 PM. Reason: learned something awesome
          "Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages." - Terry Pratchett
          Emissary of Minong - my blog and its Facebook page

          Comment


          • Woodchuck Pear: I like it, but have only ever had it on draft. Think it's great stuff. Also think it's the best stuff they make. I've had their Granny Smith and Amber ciders, and they are okay, but not great. And their summer cider is absolutely wretched.

            Strongbow: To me, it's a generic, boring, and ultimately forgettable cider, as is Magner's. Many of my friends would find such comments heresy, but these are merely my opinions.

            Angry Orchard: It's made a big splash down here in Key West, and is available on draft in many places. I tried it, and found it somewhat off-putting. Don't really care for it at all. I have not seen, so obviously have not tried, the Apple Ginger version.

            Fox Barrel Pear Cider: Not mentioned in your post, but thought I should bring it up, as I find it actually superior to Woodchuck Pear, and I think Woodchuck Pear is one of the best ciders I've ever had. If you can, find yourself some Fox Barrel and see what you think.

            Wyder's: I'm wondering if that's the cider I tried back in Arizona. I did some tasting at this one bar I met a friend at, and took notes, as I always do, but somehow lost that notepad page from my phone. No idea what happened to it. However, I remember the one cider I tried at that tasting was quite tasty, and the thing I remember about it the most was its clarity. Woodchuck is noticeably light, just about clear. But the cider I tried that day was so clear, if you put it next to a glass of water, by appearance, you would not be able to tell the difference. Now THAT'S clarity. Does that sound at all like Wyder's to you?

            What part of Arizona are you moving to?

            "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
            Still A Customer."

            Comment


            • Quoth Jester View Post
              And their summer cider is absolutely wretched.

              (snip)
              Fox Barrel Pear Cider: Not mentioned in your post, but thought I should bring it up, as I find it actually superior to Woodchuck Pear, and I think Woodchuck Pear is one of the best ciders I've ever had. If you can, find yourself some Fox Barrel and see what you think.

              Wyder's: I'm wondering if that's the cider I tried back in Arizona. (snip) Does that sound at all like Wyder's to you?

              What part of Arizona are you moving to?
              I agree, Woodchuck Summer is disgusting. I was extremely disappointed when I bought it expecting "Woodchuck, only with blueberries!" UGH. Had to get rid of a whole six-pack. Luckily I had help.

              I will try Fox Barrel if I see it. Thanks for the tip.

              Wyder's is pretty clear, if I remember right. Honestly I mostly remember going "OMG BARTLETTS" and slurping down a lot of them in a hurry (luckily, pear cider doesn't have the same tendency as apple - making me claim body parts I don't own and the ability to fly after a certain limit is reached). Their website or Wiki or whatever I just read says they're based in Vancouver and sell mostly in the Western states.

              I...am moving near Flagstaff...I would say more but I already need to do something about my lack of anonymity on this site...
              "Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages." - Terry Pratchett
              Emissary of Minong - my blog and its Facebook page

              Comment


              • I was more fortunate than you were with the Woodchuck Summer, as I only tried a very small bit of it on draft as part of a sampler I got at a the World of Beer in Coconut Creek, during mine and Little Red's Beercation II.

                As for Arizona, was just curious. Northern Arizona is pretty cool. Don't know what part you'll be in, but if you haven't checked out the Jerome/Cottonwood area in a while, they have a really cool new wine scene that is definitely worth checking out. Several vineyards, wine bars, clubs, etc. And while in northern AZ, definitely try some Oak Creek Nut Brown Ale. Most of Oak Creek's stuff is okay, but their Nut Brown is simply amazing.

                "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                Still A Customer."

                Comment


                • I'll try to remember to check it out, thanks.

                  ETA: I decided I'm kind of a jackass and this post looks like I'm blowing you off. Not my intention, I was just busy and distracted when I posted. I have never been to Jerome or Cottonwood, but I might check them out if I have an exceptionally long weekend. Being without a car will be a barrier, but that's not permanent. I also have a friend who likes to drive to Flagstaff, and she might be talked into it, since she also likes a good drink.

                  What does the Nut Brown taste like? If it's dark, I probably won't like it. I did once meet a dark beer I liked, though, so I try to keep an open mind.

                  Also, can you recommend any commercially available mead? I like it sweet, not dry. Story time...I was dating a guy once whose grandfather died, and there was a wake at his house. One of the uncles went down to the basement and brought up a jug of mead that the grandfather had put down about sixteen years previously. Despite the grandmother's admonishments that it was surely nasty and no good by now, we drank it. It was...*sigh* it was like having your head run over by a honey train, with the most delicious walnut aftertaste imaginable. I have never tasted anything like it, before or since. I was lucky enough to have it a second time at my then-boyfriend's sister's birthday party, beside German chocolate cake. Such indulgence.
                  Last edited by Dentarthurdent; 06-18-2012, 04:08 AM. Reason: I'm a jackass and like to blather about mead
                  "Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages." - Terry Pratchett
                  Emissary of Minong - my blog and its Facebook page

                  Comment


                  • Quoth dragonslayer126 View Post
                    I decided I'm kind of a jackass and this post looks like I'm blowing you off.
                    Really? I didn't read it like that at all, actually. Frankly, I was fine with it, and didn't see any reason to apologize whatsoever.

                    Quoth dragonslayer126 View Post
                    I have never been to Jerome or Cottonwood, but I might check them out if I have an exceptionally long weekend. Being without a car will be a barrier, but that's not permanent. I also have a friend who likes to drive to Flagstaff, and she might be talked into it, since she also likes a good drink.
                    If she likes wine, you should convince her to go...she'll thank you for it.

                    Quoth dragonslayer126 View Post
                    What does the Nut Brown taste like? If it's dark, I probably won't like it. I did once meet a dark beer I liked, though, so I try to keep an open mind.
                    Hard to explain, though I am pretty sure I reviewed that exact Nut Brown here in this thread. And yes, I did...here it is!

                    Quoth dragonslayer126 View Post
                    Also, can you recommend any commercially available mead?
                    As much as I am good person for recommending beer and rum, and even to a degree cider and wine, I really know bupkus (i.e., nothing) about mead. I've had it from time to time, and enjoy it, but I couldn't name even ONE brand of mead if I had to.

                    Clearly a segment of the beverage market I need to explore more. Sadly, though, that means I have no recommendations for you at this time. The good news is that YOU can be the pioneer here, trying new meads and reporting back to us on the good, the bad, and the ugly in the mead market.

                    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                    Still A Customer."

                    Comment


                    • And now an unlike beer review from me--an IPA. Those who know me or read this thread regularly know that I am not really an India Pale Ale fan, as IPAs are just way too hoppy for my personal tastes. But I have this in my fridge, after my Beer Monger talked me into picking up a bottle of it several months ago. Hell, it may have been even longer...this beer may well have been in my fridge over a year. Time to bite the hop bullet and see if I survive.

                      The good news is that this is from one of my favorite breweries, Cigar City Brewery out of Tampa, Florida. The bad news for me is that it is still an IPA, and historically, I like only about 1 out of 20 IPAs, and many of THOSE have been black IPAs, which have a lot more malt than the typical IPA. Ah, screw it. What's the worst that can happen?

                      So today's beer is Jai Alai India Pale Ale. It pours a dark golden amber with red highlights. The nose is hoppy, but not overpowingly so, actually smelling fresh and almost summery. Intriguing. The taste is....surprising. I was expecting a punch in the guts of hop overload, and that is not what I got. Again, summery, heathery, fresh, definitely with a hop bite, but not the kind that makes you pucker up your lips like you're in a Billy Idol lookalike contest. Continued drinking tells me that I don't hate this. I even *gasp* kinda like it. Me. Liking an IPA. What's next? Kosher pork roasts? Adolphus Busch IV drinking a Coors Light? Barack Obama attending a KKK meeting? Arizona State having a winning football team? (Sorry, my fandom is actually more bitter than my beer at the moment.)

                      For non IPA drinkers like myself that don't mind a bit of hops (I love Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, for example), this is quite a tasty little beer. It's hoppy, to be sure, but tolerably so, even enjoyably so. It may not be a true IPA, just a ramped up pale ale, but whatever it is, I spent many months looking at it in the fridge and bypassing it. Something I regret. Maybe it mellowed with age, maybe my palate is starting to be drawn to the Hop Side, I dunno. But if you get a chance, try this tasty little number from Tampa. After all, it doesn't bite....much. Score: 7.

                      Yes, that's a SEVEN out of ten from me for an IPA. Hopheads may not love it, I don't know. But I do. As I said, I generally only like about 1 out of 20 IPAs. Jai Alai is that 1.

                      "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                      Still A Customer."

                      Comment


                      • I haven't kept up much on all the posts here, but this is one I came up with for summertime:

                        Highball glass
                        2-3oz Captain Morgan Pineapple Rum
                        fill the rest of the glass with either diet sprite or diet 7-up (diet helps cut the sugar over-load)
                        And a scoop of raspberry sherbet or any other citrus sorbet/ice cream

                        I call this a Parrot Floater
                        "We go through our careers and things happen to us. Those experiences made me what I am."-Thomas Keller

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                        • So I bought a six pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

                          It's a real easy-drinking beer. By which I mean whenever I have a bottle I tend to chug almost the entire thing in one go.
                          Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil.

                          "I never said I wasn't a horrible person."--Me, almost daily

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                          • Irv, while other beer snobs may disagree, I find Sierra Nevada to be the epitome of what a pale ale is: tasty, with flavor, and with a hoppy bite, but still eminently drinkable.

                            Oddly, as I've mentioned here, everything else I've had by Sierra Nevada has been average or worse, sometimes downright disastrous. Nothing I've had by them can compare to their flagship Pale Ale.

                            Of course, if you found it so slurpable, you might want to try other pale ales and even India Pale Ales (IPAs), as you may enjoy the latter more than I do.

                            "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                            Still A Customer."

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                            • From Hofbrau Kaltenhausen, we have Edelweiss Weissbier. (And no, it is NOT German. It is Austrian.) Hefewiezen, weiss, Belgian wit....we beer snobs that, for the most part, these are the same style, with subtle variations. Please don't ask me to elaborate on the variations between them, because frankly, beer snob or not, I am not that educated in the differences. But this one IS hazy, cloud, opaque, and golden amber, as you might expect from this style. The nose is only one note, but that note screams "WHEAT!" in several different octaves.

                              Holy crap.

                              This is a freakin' amazing wheat beer/hefeweizen/weiss/wit/whatever the hell this is. This is amazing.

                              Sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Wheaty, and unmistakeable at that. Strong notes of bananas and cloves, as they should be. A smoothness that is not easy to come by. THIS, my friends, is a Worthy Beer. Remember the name. Edelweiss. For my fellow Americans, that's pronounced "ee-dill-VICE". And is spelled "E-D-E-L-W-E-I-S-S".

                              Truly an astounding beer. Worthy of the attention of beer snobs everywhere. Creamy, wheat, yummy, delicious. Edelweiss. Oh so nice. Scores an 8.

                              "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                              Still A Customer."

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                              • How much do I like the Edelweiss Weissbier? Well, tonight I've done something I've almost never done before. While drinking it, I dozed off.

                                Okay, well, that part I've done. Many, many times. Bear with me.

                                So, after several hours asleep on the couch, I woke up to the painful realization that my Edelweiss had just sat there, neglected, for all that time. Now, normally when this happens, I chalk it up to my own stupidity, call it a sacrifice to the beer gods, and pitch the beer down the drain.

                                What I've almost never done before, what I did tonight, was stick the beer back in the fridge for a couple hours in an attempt to recover it. Rarely, if ever, does such an attempt work. But the Edelweiss was so good, it was worth the attempt. And now I'm about to find out if this fool's errand has a happy ending, or falls flat.

                                Smells just as lovely as before. No stale beer smell here.
                                Admittedly much flatter than it was before. Beer being a carbonated beverage, this is why it's usually ill-advised to try to recover it after it's been sitting out for hours.
                                And while it's tastier than most semi-flat beers out there, and I will drink this, I have to admit, I am going to drink it quickly rather than savor it, because it is not nearly as good as it was earlier.

                                So, lesson learned. When getting a beer at the level of the Edelweiss Weissbier, don't be a tool and doze off on your couch until AFTER you've finished the damn thing.

                                But yeah, it was worth the attempt.

                                "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                                Still A Customer."

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