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Beer - New Belgium Lips of Faith Pluot

Pour - On tap into a pint glass

This offering from New Belgium’s Lips of Faith line is a Belgian-style ale brewed with pluot juice, which is a hybrid of plums and apricots. Based on my previous experience with pluots (one instance) I expected this to be almost cloying with it’s sweetness but was pleasantly surprised. Pluot pours a transparent golden color with a very thin layer of white head that disappears quickly. The nose is quite fruity with a light sweetness with little else to distinguish it. The flavor is very Belgian at its core and were it not for the name of the beer itself discerning that the fruitiness was a plum/apricot hybrid would be very difficult. The flavor itself is almost like an apple, though definitely not cider-like, the sweetness is very rich on the tongue but the taste fades quickly and leaves the mouth feeling fresh. It’s actually quite sharp, as well, but not aggressive or overwhelming. I might be tempted to call the beer “light” overall but that’s not quite accurate and wouldn’t do it justice. Overall this beer is good but not great, drinkable but not something I’d order all night long. It is distinct but saying its flavor is wholly unique isn’t quite right, it’s definitely refreshing but on a hot day I don’t think it would be my first choice. All of that aside the Pluot is definitely worth a try and I wouldn’t feel bad recommending it to anyone.

Listen to while you drink it: Culture Club - Essential Rating: 77

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A little bit about me.

Dear Readers,

My name is Garth and I'm the guy who runs this blog that a couple of you might even enjoy. I'm currently residing in the Pacific Northwest and working at a fine wine and craft beer shop in Northern Idaho called Enoteca. I've had an intense passion for craft beer for about six years but only recently have my eyes been truly opened to the scope of this amazing and flourishing industry and sub-culture. So when I was given an opportunity to work at a store with such a vast selection (1000+ SKUs and counting) of both common and very rare craft beers alike I was overjoyed.

Parallel to my love of beer has always been my love of writing and so I figured with such resources at my disposal I should maybe get back to it having been stuck in a rut for a very long time. The result is this blag you are reading now. And it isn't much, just one man's opinions on some beers that he's had accompanied by cell phone pictures and a few recommendations regarding music you might listen to while enjoying such craft delights.

So thank you, readers. Having finally created an outlet for which there is some sort of audience I feel motivated once again to pursue both of my passions to the best of my abilities. I hope you'll continue to read and even offer some suggestions of beers you'd like to see me try and review.

Regards,

Garth

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Beer - Sam Adams Infinium 2011

Pour - 750mL poured into chalice glass

I’ve heard a lot about this beer for a long time and never actually thought I’d get my hands on one believing them to be discontinued and all the existing ones gone or prohibitively expensive for what it was. Sam Adams did the initial release back in 2010 as a sort of beer-drinker’s champagne for NYE apparently and the packaging reflected this idea. So this week when I found out about a beer store in my city I’d never been to before and saw these babies on the shelf for $8.99 and the original retail closer to $20 I snatched one up and decided to give it a try. After talking with some other beer geeks I heard some disappointing things about it not holding up well after about 6 months on the shelf meaning this baby would have lost its lustre about a year ago but thought to myself “eh, I paid nine bucks for it, I’ve poured more expensive bottles down the drain." And so here is my review of this 2011 release.

The pour is a cloudy amber color with about two fingers of white head that disappears quickly, much like champagne bubbles. It is very pretty but a bit richer than I was anticipating. I let the head subside then gave it sniff and was surprised to get such heavy Belgian-style notes from it: cloves, anise, sugars but no discernible booze. There’s also a dough-y bread/yeast scent just sort of hovering over everything else. I wasn’t really sure what the taste would be like. I thought maybe sweet and light like medium-dry champagne but I was way off. At first you get the wash of carbonation over your tongue almost like a club soda, then this tart bitterness and an ever so slight sweetness on the tip of the tongue. It’s pretty malty and grainy with some spices that just don’t mesh particularly well and are wholly indecipherable. After the drink there’s a rather unpleasant after-taste that hangs around and forces you to drink more just to get rid of it. It’s easy to see what this was supposed to taste like but whether the fault lay with the brewery for releasing a “meh" beer or me for buying a bottle that was a year and a half old is hard to say. All told it wasn’t a terrible experience or one that I regret but I can’t say I’d recommend everyone go out and find one. If the opportunity presents itself, go for it. The idea of a champagne of beers that isn’t Miller High Life is an interesting one, and with rumors of a 2013 release coming I’d like to hope they manage to put it together perfectly.

Listen to while you drink it: The Pogues - Very Best of the Pogues Rating: 71

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Beer - 21st Amendment Brewing Hop Crisis Imperial IPA

Serving - 12oz can poured into Sierra Nevada IPA glass

This isn’t the first time I’ve had this beer and so my review may be a little biased but I can’t say I’m overly concerned because this brew is spectacular. Pours that cloudy honey color typical of a lot of IPAs these days, but no less beautiful for it, with about a finger of white head that’s rather fleeting. The aromas coming off this beast are incredible, aside from the citrus-y and hoppy scents there’s a sweet maltiness I’d consider pretty unique compared to other examples of the style, also alcohol. A whole lot of alcohol. The first sip of this beer I had several weeks ago was immediately enough to launch it into my upper echelon of IPAs with such offerings as Avery Brewing’s The Maharaja, Oskar Blues’ Gubna and Heady Topper. Tonight the flavor is no less welcome and loved than it was then. The hoppy blast at first sip is bracing to say the least but mellows quickly and there is an awesome malt sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm. That being said the beer itself is almost syrupy, it feels more viscous than most brews I’ve had recently including the two Black Butte Anniversary releases recently reviewed on this blog. And the booze, I can’t forget the booze. On the can it says it’s 9.7% ABV and that might be a little low because the alcohol on this comes through a lot. On the back end those hops come through again and a little bit of oak (did I mention this IIPA was aged on oak spirals?) and anise dances across the palate. Everything about this beer is amazing to me, the nose is enticing, the flavor robust and satisfying and even the damn packaging design is of the same amazing quality I’ve come to expect from 21st Amendment. Rare is the beer that speaks to me about the food it wants to be drank with and Hop Crisis practically screamed "BURRITO!" in my face with every sip so take that into consideration if you live in the Southwest where satisfactory Mexican food can be found.

Listen to while you drink it: The Refreshments - Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy Rating: 97

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Beer - New Belgium Lips of Faith + Red Rock Brewing Paardebloem Dandelion Sour

Serving - 22oz. poured into a tulip glass

The Paardebloem pours a cloudy honey color into the glass with about a finger and a half of white head which dissipates quickly. The nose is flowery and sweet with a hint of peach and citrus notes, which pretty accurately reflect the flavor. The first sip is sour which is surely enhanced by the carbonation—which seems a bit higher in this than other beers I’ve had recently—substantially. The first real is flavor you experience is intense dandelion, flowery but with an understated sweetness, perhaps the lingering tartness on the tongue is helping to mellow the sugars but preserve the dandelion flavor. As that tartness fades a peachy sweetness comes through that manages to be more refreshing than cloying and makes the beer all that more refreshing for it. On the back of the tongue, as the tastes fade like the summer sun, a last fleeting and much richer dandelion flavor makes itself known, like the sunset is so much richer than the rest of the day’s light. All said this is a very approachable beer and a great warm weather drinker, reasonably priced for the style and a thoroughly decent introduction to sour beers for the inexperienced.

Listen to while you drink it: The Toadies - Play.Rock.Music Rating - 80

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Beer - Deschutes Brewing Black Butte XXV Anniversary Porter

Serving: On tap poured into a tulip glass

This year’s Black Butte anniversary release offered just as much of the cocao nibs, dates and figs as previous years but made some other changes which fresh offer some slight changes but a year down the road will radically alter the profile of this beer. Deschutes upped the amount of the final blend aged in barrels from 50% to around 63% and added, for further depth, 12.5% which was soured before the final blend. The nose reflects a lot of the XXIV’s aroma but a bit sharper. The chocolate comes through more and so does the bourbon, but absent is the forceful booziness of the XXIV. The fig and date notes are rounded out nicely with hints of molasses and a much smaller dose of the umami smell. Immediately the taste is much more understated than the XXIV likely because the lack of age on it. The chocolate is more subtle on the tongue than it was on the nose but the bourbon oak tones have come through very well; they tantalize but don’t overwhelm. Vanilla and coffee flavors are present as well and the soured portion shows itself very gingerly, as though peeking from behind the other barrel and waving, like a child. The soured portion of this beer is like a quiet, timid child. Except I like the soured part of this beer fundamentally. As the beer warms it becomes much richer and the chocolate comes through much more than it does at first. All things told This beer is great fresh but next year web it has the same age on it as the XXIV does now it will likely be better than its predecessor.

Listen to while you drink it: Eric Clapton - Slowhand Rating: 89

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Beer - Deschutes Brewing Black Butte XXIV Anniversary Porter


Serving: On Tap in a pint glass


The Black Butte XXIV Porter is a limited release beer from 2012 released in concert with the 24th anniversary of Deschutes Brewing and the fourth of such annual releases. It pours a beautiful black with little to no light brown head and smells magnificent, umami and booze with hints of date and fig. The XXIV is sweet and robust with the alcohol being easily distinguished. Chocolate-y notes play over the tongue with wisps of the fig and date. The further into the pint you get the more you feel the beer coating your mouth and the slight bitterness coffee and pleasant amounts of dark chocolate nibs as well as fleeting notes of vanilla and molasses. This beer was partially barrel aged and it shows a year in. There’s a rich woodiness to a lot of the beer but it’s nuanced and delicate in spite of the 11% ABV boasted. As powerful and rich as this beer is it manages to not overwhelm, preferring to settle you into a comfortable lull as though you’re sitting in a room lined with leather-bound books and the scent of rich mahogany wafts gently in the air. I also paired it with some nice chocolate truffles and the combination was fantastic with each working together to amplify the taste of the other.


Listen to while you drink it: Dave Brubeck - Time Out Rating: 96

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Beer: Laughing Dog Brewing - Alpha Dog Imperial IPA

Serving: 22oz. poured into a tulip glass

This big IIPA pours a golden honey-color with about two fingers of tan head that dissipates quickly and indicates a decent lacing on the glass. The ever-important first waft is sweet but not cloying with hints of pine and a distinct hoppy aroma. That little bit of pine excites the taste buds for what’s to come next and, when delivered, doesn’t disappoint. It’s very smooth considering it’s 8.5% ABV and sweeter than anticipated, but only for a moment. That flash of fruitiness is quickly cut by a wonderful bitterness that slowly engulfs the tongue like a mouth-hug. Then it sits there for a bit, like an old friend here to remind you of what it was like before everyone and their mother thought they had to make an IPA and generally muck it up. The pine scent from the aroma makes itself known as you get further into the brew evoking thoughts of a thickly wooded forest and a light breeze. This beer definitely wants you to drink it and to like it. Just be careful because this is one dog that can bite if you’re not careful how many others you bring along with it.

Listen to while you drink it: Three Dog Night - Naturally

Rating: 82

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Beer: Drew Curtis/Wil Wheaton/Greg Koch Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout.

This coming Monday Stone Brewing will release their latest in a long line of collaborative brewing efforts. This coming together of great minds from three diverse backgrounds has yielded a stout clocking in at 13% ABV. According to the press release it consist of “a delicious amalgamation of wheat, rye, pecans, and dark-roasted malts." Add that to a partial aging in bourbon barrels and this imperial stout is shaping up to be a delicious tribute to the brewers roots and geek culture. Additionally the beer will be released in three variant bottles (seen above) with the “super" (above left) and “comic" (above right) bottles being available in significantly limited quantities.

Look for my review of a fresh bottle next week!

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Beer: Boulevard Brewing - Love Child No. 3 (Fresh)

Serving: 750ml poured into a tulip glass

This American Wild Ale pours a cloudy mahogany with about a finger of tan head that dissipates briefly. At first sniff the aroma reveals a tartness with hints of oak and bourbon owed, obviously, to the time its components spent aging in various barrels. The first taste offers a reflection on the aroma, oakiness with a hint of bourbon and a little bit of booze. As you drink it plays over the palate, initially sweet but quickly cut into with pleasurable sourness. As it drifts toward the back of the tongue and warms its tartness offers a slight pucker which accentuates the woodiness of the beer. Deeper into the bottle you’ll notice slight notes of an herbal bitterness become prevalent and, as the taste fades there is a bit of anise on the back of the tongue. The Love Child No. 3 offering is very good now but it’s easy to see how, with a year or more in a cellar, it could mature into a truly beautiful example of the style.

Listen to while you drink it: Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Rating: 90