Topling Goliath TG Pils

TG Pils is an interesting take on a Bavarian style pilsner.

Brewer's notes: Our Pilsner is brewed with simplicity and results in the harmonious confluence of meticulously executed old-world traditions and ingredients. Our iteration of the Hochkurz mash schedule meant we’d be executing six different temperature rests, each of which carries a specific focus in mind; and while this is significantly more labor intensive than a current-day single infusion mash, the difference in the end result speaks for itself. An egg-white foam rests atop a crisp, clear, golden beer, with just a hint of Hallertau Mittelfruh hops coming through in the finish.

BeerAdvocate: Pilsner brewed with simplicity and true to old-world traditions and ingredients. Egg white foam on a crisp, clear, golden and mostly crushable beer. Floral, fruity and slightly herbal hints from Hallertau Mittelfruh hops.

Tasting notes
2403: I drank #5 from the 6-pack. Not as good as #4.

Rating = 2.5 glasses.

I drank #5 from the 6-pack. The lemony flavor is not present and the beer is good.

Rating = 3 glasses.

February 2024: I write after my second or third can. The beer is nice. It has a lemony finish that may be what other people call grassy. I like it but will not be putting it into my refrigerator on a regular basis.

Rating = 2.5 glasses

Huyghe Delirium Nocturnum

Delirium Nocturnum is a strong dark Belgian ale. 

Tasting Notes

2403: I drank a bottle with some age on it. I liked it. A lot.

Rating = 5 glasses.

2311: Ditto as below.

Rating = 4 glasses

1910: The flavor is difficult to describe. It has brown sugar and sour (chestnuts) flavors. 

0903: A bottle @ Mekong w/ L.A. Smooth and tasty. Nice caramel malt with apple butter and hints of spicy hops.

Rating = 4 glasses.

Downgraded from 5 glasses.

Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic

Brewer's notes

Assembly of Lambics of different ages.
Beer with a tangy and fruity taste, woody and delicate aromas, long finish on the palate.
Long-life beer with evolving taste.
Brasserie Cantillon Lambics are called “young” after one year of aging and reach full maturity after three years. Young beers contain the natural sugars necessary for second fermentation in the bottle. The three-year-old beers bring their bouquet and finesse.
Gueuze is the fruit of a complex blend of Lambics of different tastes and ages, preserved in oak barrels. The most important role of the brewer is taste. He will have to taste around ten Lambics from different barrels to finally select five or six. This is how Gueuze 100% Lambic is made, carrying the original character of the beers from Brasserie Cantillon. Each blending vat will give birth to a different Gueuze. The natural elements available to us do not allow us to manufacture a "standard" product.
Arranged horizontally in the cellar, the bottles will remain there for an average of one year to allow the transformation of sugars into carbon dioxide (second fermentation in bottles). The saturation of the beer occurs slowly and naturally. When Lambic becomes sparkling, it is called Gueuze.
In the 18th century, a Benedictine monk, Dom Pérignon, discovered champagne by blending different non-sparkling white wines. A century later, a Brabant brewer mixed several Lambics and caused a second fermentation in the bottle. La Gueuze was born. Until the 19th century, the people of Brussels and Brabançons drank mainly two beers, Lambic and Faro. The appearance of the glass bottle and the contribution of Dom Pérignon will revolutionize the small world of Brussels brewers. Gueuze then became the symbol beer of Brussels.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting notes

March 8, 2024
The second bottle has about 1.5 more years in the cellar. Similar reaction as below - tart but I wanted more and the apple flavor is not my favorite. Something about Belgium yeasts may be at work. St. Bernardus Abt 12 has a similar note. Downgrading rating to 6 glasses.

Nov. 25, 2022

First of two bottles scored from Corks and Kegs a few months ago. More apple-cidery and less lemon-vinegary and tart than I remembered or wanted. 

Rating: It is still wonderfully complex and refreshing with enough je ne sais quois for 7 glasses but I am downgrading it to 6.5 glasses.

(0911): A bottle at SD21 in NYC. Nice and tart and complex. A tiche milder than I remembered. Girardin rules.

Rating: 7 glasses 

Click here for a previous review. 

Parkway Raven's Roost

Raven's Roost is a fine Baltic Porter. 

Beer Advocate

Brewer's Notes
With a robust and roasty aroma, Raven’s Roost Baltic Porter has notes of chocolate, caramel and toffee. Searching for the perfect porter?

Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.”

Tasting notes
February 24: I keep buying the beer and I keep liking it. Enough flavor to be interesting and easy to drink. I delightful dark beer that doesn't try to impress or overwhelm foods. I am upgrading the rating a titch.

Rating = 5 glasses. 

March 23: Rating = 4.5 glasses.

Three Ring Hi-Wire Keller Pils

Keller Pils is an unfiltered version of a German Pilsner.

Beer Advocate: The ONE rater likes it. 

Tasting Notes
Feb. 2024: Ed likes it: nicely balanced, easy drinking, and flavorful. The unfiltered haze adds a titch of bohemian to the brew. I could see keeping this in my refrig as a regular - $11.49 for a 4-pack of 16-oz. cans. 

Rating = 4.5 glasses. I may revise in either direction with a second can.

3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek Intens Rood

Intens Rood is a delicious "imperial" kriek.

Beeradvocate: "Made from 40% cherries."

Label notes: "Sour cherries were macerated on young peeted lambik and partly on two-year old straight lambik in a stainless steel tank. We blended with young and three-year old (!) lambik. 55% of the blend is old lambik and the final fruit intensity is 567 grams of sour cherries per liter. .... Ingredients: water, barley malt (60%), wheat malt (40%), sour cherries, old hops.

Tasting notes
February 2, 2024. I drank a bottle given to my by BG when she and SJ visited us for dinner. Wow! I really liked it. It is tart and the cherries give an additional punch of sour in the finish. Initial tartness stimulates the salivary glands. Some vinegar pops through, too. The cherry flavor is definitely noticeable but  does not overwhelm the taste. I liked it so much that I went to the beer store to buy another bottle. (I also picked up a bottle of Oude Kriek, Rodenbach Vintage 2018, and De Ranke Kriek).

I am giving it a rating of 7 glasses after one tasting.

Postscript. Having tasted Oude Kriek, I am downgrading the rating to 6.5.

Rating = 6.5 glasses.

3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek

Brewer's Notes: 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek is the result of macerating hand-picked whole sour cherries on young lambic for at least four months, in a proportion of one kilogram of fruit per litre of lambic. The kriek lambic is then blended again with more young lambic to obtain a minimum intensity of 35% fruit, and is bottled immediately afterwards. These bottles are then stored in our cellars for at least five months so that the kriek lambic can develop into a beautiful, traditional, and refined Oude Kriek. With a pleasant tartness and organic notes of almond and cinnamon as it warms in the glass, 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek, will age perfectly but may lose some of the vibrant red colours and forest fruit aromas. This unfiltered and unpasteurised lambic is all-natural with no artificial juices, syrups, or sugars added. Traditional Lambic is living, cultural heritage rooted in the Zenne valley!

Tasting Notes

Feb. 2024: Simply fantastic. Tart, vineous, with a touch of cherry. I think that it is better than Intens Rood.

Rating = (still) 7 glasses

Aug. 2022: See Feb. 2022. I am hooked. Bottle dated 06/02/2020 which I think means 06 Feb. 2020. 

Rating = (still) 7 glasses

Feb. 2022: Wow. Tart + Sour Cherry + a titch of vinegar and je ne sais quoi. 

Rating = 7 glasses, upgraded from 6.

Oct. 2019: Oude Kriek is a great example of the style: lambic that sits atop sour cherries in oak barrels, is blended with more lambic, bottled, and referments in the bottle. Sort of gueze with a dash of tart cherry flavor. The color is dark pink. The flavor is complex: tart with hints of sugar, cherry, and other fruit flavors. Yummy. A rare find obtained by the good folks at Corks and Kegs.

Rating = 6 glasses, and may be knocking on the door for 7.

Rating = 7 glasses

de Garde The Kriek

A weak attempt at making a wild ale taste like an Oude Kriek.

Beeradvocate: "A Spontaneous Wild Ale Aged in Oak Barrels for Two Years with Montgomery & Morello Cherries."

Label notes: A sponteneous wild ale with tart cherries aged in Oak barrels for two years.

de Garde

Tasting notes
February 3, 2024: I picked up a bottle based on the reviews on BeerAdvocate and its price - $9+ for a 375 ml bottle. I was buying three other sour beers and felt expansive. The beer is not bad but was a disappointment. It lacked punch and excitement. It had plenty of carbination. It was a cloudy pink color. The flavor was a titch bland for a wild ale and a little sweet. OK, but not what I want. 

Rating = 2 glasses. 

de Dolle Oerbier

Oerbier is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. It is deep and rich, with lots of dark fruit flavors.

Beer Advocate

Brewer's notes: 

Oerbier, brewed in Esen by De Dolle Brouwers, is dark due to the mixture of different types of malt and hours of cooking time. Only 'Golding' bubble hop from Poperinge is used and all our beers are bottled with secondary fermentation.

Slightly Fresh Acidity

The name refers to the originality and purity of the beer. The specific gravity of the wort is 1078, the alcohol percentage 9%. Oerbier has a slightly fresh acidity due to the yeast and lactic acid bacteria.

The best-before date is imposed by law: one year after bottling, this is also mentioned on the capsule. The beer will experience a slight taste evolution and will become vinous. Samples of the first brew, which are still perfectly drinkable, are kept in the brewery.

Store in a cool cellar

It is the first beer of De Dolle Brouwers and officially dates from 1980. It was brewed in prototype by two students in a copper wash bowl. Previous attempts with English ready-made kits turned out not to meet the strict beer requirements of the two brothers.

Preferably store this beer in a dark, cool cellar and pour at 12°C in a type of wine glass. There are special Oerbier glasses for sale in the brewery. This beer is for sale per 6 bottles or per 20, every Saturday and Sunday between 2 pm and 7 pm.

Tasting Notes

2401: A glass on draft at Can Can while dining at the bar with L and ML. It was delightful and, as before, deep and rich with lots of dark fruit flavors. I thought about increasing the rating to 5.5.

1310: It is deep and rich, with lots of dark fruit flavors. Rating = 5 glasses.

Rating = 5 glasses.

Eggenberg Samichlaus

Samichlaus is a delicious Doppelbock. It is so strong I would call it a Triple Bock.

Beer Advocate: The once strongest beer in the world is back! Brewed only once a year on December 6. Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. This beer is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish. Serve with hardy robust dishes and desserts, particulary with chocolates, or as an after dinner drink by itself. Brewed under the exclusive licence of Feldschlösschen-Hürlimann-Holding, Switzerland.

Brewer's notes: This is brewed only once a year, on December 6th, in a complex process Strong beer is a rarity. It can age in bottle for many years and gains complexity. Red-brown shimmering, complex aromas of dried plums, malt and caramel.

Tasting notes
2401: Another glass at Can Can with L and ML. Sweet toffee goodness. Let's up the rating to 6.5.

2312: I had a glass on draft last night while dining with L and E at Can Can. I sampled the beer years ago but could not find my notes. Well, I was blown away; the beer is better than I remember. It is deep and dark and malty and delicious. It paired well with a good cheeseburger. It reminded me of Alesmith Private Stock and Bells Third Coast Old Ale - a strong ale with loads of flavor and complexity. I want more and will buy some when I see it. It impressed me more than BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien which I rate as 7 glasses. I need more tastes to go that high for Samichlaus. 

Rating = 6.5 glasses.

North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

Old Rasputin is a wonderful Imperial Stout.

Beer Advocate

Brewer's notes: Brewed in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia’s Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It’s a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish.

The Old Rasputin brand image is a drawing of Rasputin with a phrase in Russian encircling it — A sincere friend is not born instantly.

Tasting notes

2312: I revisited an old friend recently. The beer is BIG with loads of dark malt, chocolate, and a titch of soy. My bottle was fresh. It was bottled 30970913 = September, 13, 2023. The batch was 097. Perhaps it needs more time in the cellar.  

Rating = 5.5 glasses, a slight downgrade.

(1303) This is becoming my favorite stout. Had a bottle with dessert.  I purchased the bottle about 6 months ago. Nice and plenty of flavor but drinkable. A solid 6.

(1210) Old Rasputin is what the name says, a big Imperial Stout. Nice chocolate and smoke flavors with a touch of charcoal. Thick and smooth. I purchased this bottle in November 2011 in Mathews; it had aged at least 1 year. Yummy. I discovered that I left an inch or so in the glass overnight and drank what was left in the morning. Still good. I liked the beer so much that I went out this week and bought 3 new 4-packs. I moved its rating from 5 to 6 glasses and thought about 7.

??? Old Rasputin by North Coast is much better with some age on it than fresh. I enjoyed a bottle that was at least one year old that I bought three 4-packs from my local Total Wine store. I cracked open what I assume was a relatively fresh bottle last night. It was good but not the flavor experience I enjoyed with the older bottle. The flavors were harsher and not as complex. Judged in isolation, I would probably give it 4 or 5 stars.

(1111) Very nice. May rate 6 glasses.

(1103) Ditto as below.

(0911) Pleasant dark chocolate, a hint of coffee and hops. Flavorful, complex, and easy drinking.

0904: A bottle @ Joe's. A hint of sweet malt, followed by coffee, chocolate and charcoal. Complex and big. Upgraded from 3.

?? A fine stout. 

Liefmans Goudenband

Goudenband is a good example of a (Flanders) Oud Bruin.

Beer Advocate: Liefmans Goudenband is one of the most distinctive dark beers in the world. Originally called IJzerenband (Iron Band) – a reference to the iron bands around the beer barrels – the bottle gained its champagne cork when it was renamed Liefmans Goudenband (Gold Band). Made in open vats with beer of mixed fermentation, it is left to mature for four to 12 months in the cellar. Mature beer is then fortified with younger beer, so the fermentation process starts up again.

Liefmans Goudenband is a beer for storing, and just keeps improving over the years like a fine wine. Even after ten years, this dark red beer tastes as fresh as ever. You’ll immediately pick up on the wonderful aromas of caramel, apple, rhubarb, cherries and malt. On the taste buds you will find hints of apple and cherries, combined with woody notes, while the aftertaste hints at nuts and dried raisins. The mildly acidic taste make this beer a perfect match for blue cheese.

Brewer's notes: Liefmans Goudenband is one of the most unique beers in the world. To emphasize that personality, each bottle is closed with a champagne cork. As a red-brown beer with mixed fermentation, it takes 4 to 12 months to mature to reach speed. Then the beer is ready to be cracked, unless you prefer to wait a little longer. Even after ten years you will recognize Liefmans Goudenband by its fresh nose and slightly sour aromas of caramel, apple, rhubarb and cherry.

Tasting notes

2312: The second bottle in a 4-pack was much better than I remember from the first bottle. The notes from Beer Advocate describe the taste well - woody with hints of fruit and vinegar. I liked it well enough to think about buying more for the cellar.

Rating = 5 glasses. The rating may change with more experience and aging.

BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien

Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien is a fantastic beer, one of my favorites. Beer Advocate classifies it as a Flanders Red Ale.

Beer Advocate

Brewer's notes: The Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a strong sour ale of mixed fermentation, aged during a year in old wine oak barrels. The oak aging and the action of wild yeasts confer this beer’s astonishing wide range of aromas. Its outstanding komplexity, balance, roundness and long finish, are the fruit of the meticulous blend of selected barrels.
On the palate the blend reminds one of fruity red wines with a pronounced balsamic sourness.
The best way to enjoy a Bon-Chien is to serve it in an elegant wine glass at 16°C or 60.6°F paired with a duck breast or some panned foie gras for example.

Tasting notes
2312: I enjoyed a glass on draft at Can Can while dining with L and E. It continues to impress. It paired well with beef tartar and escargots. I have sampled the beer on draft and from the bottle several times since my last review but saw no reason to add new comments. "Sour with oak and smoke and tons of complexity" is accurate. I noticed more wine last night.

Rating = (still) 7 glasses

1308: Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien is a fantastic beer. Sour with oak and smoke and tons of complexity.  Rating = 7 glasses.

J. W. Lee's Harvest Ale

Harvest Ale is a great example of an English barleywine

Brewer's notes: Our limited edition vintage barley wine is made but once a year. It's brewed with the first hops to be harvested, and then we add the very finest British malt. Each vintage brings different flavours, which then evolve as they age, so it's no wonder it's gained a cult following among ale enthusiasts. Pop the date in your calendar.

Beer Advocate

Tasting notes

2312: Had a 2013-bottle with gluten-free Oreo cake from Shyndiz. Emily and I shared the cake. It was not as good as anticipated - perhaps past its prime. I taste apples, toffee, and leather and then a burnt sourness.  Previous ratings were 4, 6, and then 7.

Rating = 6 glasses.

(1008) A 12-yr old bottle brewed in 1998. Sticky sweet burnt caramel, molasses, leather, apple butter, and prunes. Big, bold, complex, and smotth. Upgraded from 6 glasses. I though about the taste for days. 

(0808) A 1998 vintage. Massive taste and viscous consistency. Cream brulee, bananas foster, sugared prunes, raisins, a tiche of leather and slight alcohol burn. Upgraded from 4 glasses. 

(0612) A bottle dated 2000. Complex. Big malty taste up front, esp. when cold, fading to a sour hop bite. Good with peach flan. Sipped for 2+ hours. A better version of Third Coast Old Ale? 

Alchemist Focal Banger

Focal Banger is a good New England IPA.

Brewer's notes: Brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops. A firm mineral backbone supports the dank flavors and aromas we cram into this beer, and separates it from the pack.

BeerAdvocate: Focal Banger® is an American India Pale Ale. We have a real love for IPAs here at The Alchemist and we strive to offer you the best hop experience that we possibly can. The beer is brewed using Citra and Mosaic hops and our favorite British malts. Truly an abundance of malty goodness.

Freshness and control have always been my main concern when it comes to our beer. We are committed to providing you with an unfiltered and unpasteurized hop experience. Why do I recommend that you drink it from can? Quite simply, to ensure a delightful hop experience. The act of pouring it in a glass smells nice, but it releases the essential hop aromas that we have worked so hard to retain.

If you MUST pour it into a glass, you may find that some of the hop resins have settled to the bottom -- leave them in the can when pouring. This beer is perishable and at its best when it is young, fresh, and hazy. Keep it cold, but not ice cold. Drink this beer today, you could be dead tomorrow ... -- John Kimmich

Tasting notes

2311: A can from ML. I was taking a tour of Vermont beer ML brought back from a recent trip. The tasting occurred too long ago to give a thorough or accurate review. I remember liking Focal Banger better than Heady Topper and Vermont Strong. I liked the complexity of the beer. However, Vermont Strong is the beer that haunted me for days. I like bitter more than dry hopping. I want more of all three beers. I fear that my expressed preferences are not transitive.

Fiddlehead Second Fiddle

Second Fiddle is a nice New England Double IPA.

Brewer's Notes: 
Extensively dry-hopped, Second Fiddle is second in name only. Big, juicy and aromatic.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting notes
1211: A can from ML. Drank it so long ago that I cannot give it a full or accurate review. I remember thinking is was too "New England" and not bitter enough. The reviews on BeerAdvocate make me want to try it again.

Brasserie d'Achouffe La Chouffe

La Chouffe is a delightful Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Brewer's notes: LA CHOUFFE starts off with some citrus notes, followed by a refreshing touch, pleasantly spiced to give it great brightness. This golden beer, with its light taste of hops, was the very first to come out of the Achouffe brewery’s vats 40 years ago. Since then, its unique flavours have won it several awards, and conquered the hearts of beer lovers the world over.

BeerAdvocate: The gnomes of Fairyland are particularly fond of this golden beer. LA CHOUFFE, with its slight hoppy taste, combining notes of fresh coriander and fruity tones, is the drink which gives them their zest for life. At least, that's what these imps say when they are thirsty. Their secret used to be jealously guarded from one generation to the next until the day they shared the recipe with humans to seal their friendship. Of all the legends from the wonderful region of the Belgian Ardennes, the tale of LA CHOUFFE is the one which most merits re-telling.

Tasting notes

2312: I noticed the Belgian yeast. Some clove and wheat was prominent. 

2308: The ale impresses. It is smoother and sweeter than Duvel. At $1 less per bottle than Duvel, it is a good value. I WILL buy more.

Rating: 5.5 glasses. 5.5 is a downgrade from 6 because I am trying to be a "tough" grader. The rating may increase with a second or third bottle. Perhaps Duvel is overrated?

1011: Wonderful - A little spice, a little funk, a little sweet fruit.

Lawson's Vermont Strong

Vermont Strong is a wonderful American Pale Ale

Brewer's notes: Vermont is a state we love. Vermont Strong is a benefit brew in support of the many friends and neighbors who have been affected by the catastrophic floods of Summer 2023. This project was created to support the Vermont Community Foundation and their efforts to help our brave little state respond, recover, and build back even stronger.

Make a donation to the Vermont Community Foundation

BeerAdvocate

2312: A can courtesy of ML. I really liked it. A clean hop bit with a pleasant malt backbone. 

Rating = 5 glasses. May change with more tastes.

Bitburger Premium Pils

Premium Pils is the one of the most popular beers in Germany. Bitburger's company slogan is, "Bitte ein Bit." 

Brewer's notes: Perfect hoppy pilsner enjoyment, unique in taste: Bitburger Premium Pils – the most tapped premium pilsner at German counters.

BeerAdvocate:  The perfected delight of pilsener with an accent of hops, combined with ease and elegance, and a crystal-clear, sunny straw-colour and long-lasting, fine head: brewed for almost two hundred years from the finest raw ingredients according to the German purity law, it's not for nothing that our Bitburger Premium Pils is the most popular draft beer in Germany. Its freshly-drawn flavour makes our Premium beer so well-loved.

Tasting Notes
2312: A nice easy drinking pilsner that pairs easily with food. Some grassy hops with enough bitterness to notice. A fresher beer would be better; the can is dated 2306, It may find a regular place in my refrigerator. I need a side-by-side comparison with Weihenstephaner and St. George. I miss Prima Pils. My reaction is much better than a review 13 years earlier.

Rating = 4 glasses. 

1006:: A minikeg. Eh? Unoffensive. Following a Paulener Weiss may have hurt the rating. May rate 2 glasses.

Rating: 1 glass

Alesmith Speedway Stout

Speedway Stout is a big coffee imperial stout.

BeerAdvocate

Brewer's notes: A HUGE Imperial Stout that weighs in at an impressive 12% ABV! As if that's not enough, we added pounds of coffee for a little extra kick.

Tasting notes 

2312: With a second can, I am downgrading the rating. I think that the coffee is a one-trick pony and I am not that into coffee. The beer is beautifully crafted but the flavor does not scratch my itch.

Rating = 5 glasses.

2311: Coffee bitterness adds a nice touch. I am leaving the rating @ 6 but may downgrade with a second can.

0902: A bottle aged in my cellar for 10 months. Chocolate and coffee and alcohol and cocoa (and cherry?). Complex, big, sippable and gulpable.

Rating = 6 glasses. Placed in top 10ish list initially and downgraded after a few days. I didn't dream about drinking this beer again.

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

120 Minute IPA is a big beer. I have read it described as a triple IPA. Dogfish Head reports that IBU = 120 and abv = 18%. Wow!

Brewer's notes: "Clocking in at 15-20% ABV, 120 Minute IPA is continually hopped with a copious amount of high-alpha American hops throughout the boil and whirlpool, and then dry-hopped with a boatload of hops. Unfiltered and abundantly hoppy, it's the Holy Grail for hopheads!"

BeerAdvocate: "Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute IPA is brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!"

Tasting Notes

2312: I drank the first of a six-pack dated 2017, making the beer 3.3-years old. I enjoyed it while Lisa and I enjoyed a fire and put up our new artificial Christmas tree. Perhaps 120 Minute IPA will become a Christmas tradition. The taste has mellowed some but still resembled a BIG and rough IPA. Lots of hops and plenty of malt for balance. I might not have picked 6 glasses for the rating but enjoyed it enough to leave the rating unchanged.

Rating = 6 glasses

2006: I drank a second bottle dated 1908 last night with a sweet dessert and the pairing was fantastic. 120 Minute bursts with hop flavor with big malt for balance (and alcohol) - much more a HUGE IPA than a barleywine. The bottle-date means that the beer is about 1-year old.

Rating = 6 glasses

2002: I drank the first of a six-pack bottle dated 1908. It tastes like a BIG English Barleywine. BeerAdvocate calls it an American Imperial IPA and says abv varies from 15-20% and IBU = 120. Bottle says abv = 18%. Bitter hops fight to emerge from a sweet raisin mash, followed by big alcohol blast. It is a 2+ hr. sipper. A 12 oz. bottle usually goes for $9 or $10 dollars. I just picked up two four-packs from Costco for $24.99 each. I plan to drink them over the next six years.

Rating = 6 glasses.

Bells Expedition Stout

Expedition Stout is a MASSIVE Russian Imperial Stout. 

Brewer's notes: One of the earliest examples of Russian Imperial Stouts in the United States, this beer offers immensely complex flavors crafted specifically with aging in mind.

Beer Advocate: Expedition Stout offers immensely complex flavors crafted specifically with vintage aging in mind, as its profile will continue to mature and develop over the years. A huge malt body is matched to a heady blend of chocolate, dark fruits, and other aromas. Intensely bitter in its early months, the flavors will slowly meld and grow in depth as the beer ages.

Tasting notes

2311: Another beer packaged Sept. 10, 2021. Now the beer is a little over two years old. It was dessert after Lisa's birthday dinner and followed too much food and alcohol for a detailed recollection. It was BIG and good. No soy but loads of black malt. 

Rating = 5 glasses

Here is a set of reviews from 2022 and EARLIER.

Dec 13, 2002. 

I am drinking a bottle packaged Sept, 10, 2021, making the beer about 1.25-years old. I think that I like it but am not really sure. Charcoal with some soy with a big hop bite hidden by chocolate malt is what I taste. It pours slow and black. My ratings have ranged from 7 glasses to 3 glasses. The rating seems to decrease as the beer ages. This is the second of what I think was a 4-pack and is better that what I remember when the beer was "fresh". I think that drinking the beer may be like playing basketball for Bob Knight - I want to see if I can do it.

Rating: 5 glasses.

August, 2008

A 2.5 year-old bottle. Ditto as 0905. Downgraded from 4 glasses. Click here for previous review. Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 30 January 2009 or 9 August 2009.) Rating: 3 glasses

Allagash Tripel

Allagash Tripel is my favorite tripel. The flavor is a mix of spicy, citrus, a flash of sweet alcohol, and a titch of clove. It is an old friend and continues to impress. Other tripels can be too much clove.

Brewer's notes: This award-winning celebration of a classic Belgian beer style is filled with notes of passion fruit and honey. Its simple recipe yields a full range of elegant flavor and finishes refreshingly dry. Its golden, crisp, and refined profile pulls from a tradition that began centuries ago in Belgian Abbeys.

BeerAdvocate: This strong golden ale is marked by passion fruit and herbal notes in the aroma, with suggestions of banana and honey in the complex palate. The Tripel has a remarkably long and smooth finish.

Tasting notes

2311: Another delicious bottle last night with Lisa's birthday dinner.

Rating = 6.5 glasses

2004

Rating = 6 glasses, but thinking about 7.

Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue)

Grand Reserve is a delightful Belgian Strong Dark Ale. In the 33 cl bottle, it is called Blue. In the .75 l bottle is stamped Grande Réserve.

Brewer's notes

Beer Advocate: The Chimay Blue is a dark ale with a powerful aroma. Its complex flavor improves with passing time.

Tasting notes 

(2311) Alex and I shared a bottle during Lisa's birthday dinner. I think that it was bottled around February 10, 2022 and has aged 1.75 years: the label reads L22-040. I did not enjoy the beer as much as I remember. It did not WOW me. I am downgrading the rating to 5 glasses.

(1106) A bottle w/ about 6-8 months on it. A delight.

(1101) Complex and difficult to describe. Not sweet as I was expecting. Musty apples, a dash of cinnamon, and a light hop bite. Complexity may merit 6 glasses. 

(0911) A bottle in NYC. Brown sugar, apple butter, and light hops. 

(0701) A delight. Brown sugar, spiced slightly sour oranges, and light hops. Winelike. Upgraded from 2/8. 

(????) Had a 12 oz. bottle. Looked for something else after the bottle was empty.May be worth another try. 

Rating: 5 glasses

Previous ratings: 2, 5, then 6 glasses

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Black Chocolate Stout is one of my favorite beers.

Brewer's Notes: This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. In the 18th century, Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, ordered a stout to be sent to her from England. This beer was brewed strong and hoppy to survive the sea voyage, and it arrived in perfect condition. Soon "Russian Imperial Stout" became the toast of the Russian aristocracy. Brewed since 1994, our Black Chocolate Stout has itself become a modern classic, heralded the world over. It achieves its dark chocolate aroma and flavor through the artful blending of six malts and three distinct mashes. Properly kept, it will improve in the bottle for many years. This stout is the toast of the winter season in many countries, and there is nothing better to enjoy with chocolate desserts, cheesecake, ice cream, fine cheeses and roaring fireplaces.

Given this beer’s higher ABV and sturdy character, we think it’s a prime candidate for cellaring. Find a cool, dry spot away from light sources, and see how it changes in the years to come. You never quite know what will happen when you age a beer: perhaps the body will smooth out, notes of vanilla, oak, and tannins will come to the front, or hints of leather and soy sauce will make themselves known. No matter what, remember that beer is meant for drinking, so don’t keep it to yourself for too long.

Beeradvocate

Tasting Notes

Nov. 2023: I recently drank a fresh 2023 bottle and another one-year old 2022 vintage. The fresh bottle was not as good as I remember. I will try another bottle to learn more. The one-year old bottle was a wonderful stout. Plenty of chocolate flavor and pleasant. I didn't detect charcoal bite in either one.

02 Oct. 2022: Drank another bottle from the purchase in late 2021. Still a fine beer with a nice charcoal bite at the finish.

Rating = 5.5 glasses

30 Jan. 2022: This is a recollection of some beer I purchased late 2021. I like the first bottle so much that I went back and bought a 2nd 6-pack. I am back to loving this beer. Loads of chocolaty flavor with a bit of a charcoal bite. Yummy. I think that it is my new favorite imperial stout.

Rating = 6 glasses. 

24 Oct. 2020: I pulled my last bottle from Winter 2019 from the cellar last night. The beer was a delight. Rich, chocolaty, and smooth. The only question was whether the rating was 5 glasses or 6. Given the five previous reviews, I left the rating @ 5.

Rating = 5 glasses

15 May 2020: BBCS has earned its reputation as one of the great Imperial Stouts. Tonight's bottle is dated Winter 15-16, meaning the beer has aged about 4.5 years. The beer is delivers a massive dose of chocolate malts with a little bitter charcoal bite at the end.

BeerAdvocate rates it as Outstanding, the 1,977th best beer overall, and the 117th best Russian Imperial Stout. My last rating = 4 glasses.

Rating = 5 glasses.

12 June 2014: Shared a 2006-07 bottle from my cellar last night. It was wonderful: complex, sweet, chocolate, with a nice mouthfeel. A good sipper. 

Rating = 6 glasses

1101: A year-old 2009-10 bottle. Chocolate malt w/ a flash of charcoal. Very nice. 

1008: A 2006-07 bottle, 4.5 yr. old. Chocolate nose. Almost soy but not, Bitter/sour end. Dry port? 

1004: A 3-yr-old bottle from 2006-07. First sip was bittersweet chocolate and charcoal dust. Sippable and quaffable. Upgraded from 4 glasses. 

1001: A fresh bottle from 09-10. Dark chocolate syrup. Downgraded from 5 glasses. 

0912: A 3-yr. old bottle from 06-07. A delightful, deep, dark, stout. Some port peeking out? Upgraded from 4 glasses.

 

Comments: This beer seems to vary slightly by year and improves w/ age.

Previous ratings: 5, 6, 4, 3, then 4 glasses.

Rating: 5 glasses

0909: A bottle 1.5+ years old. Bitter chocolate with old ale sour taste at finish when cold yielding to bitter chocolate throughout.

Rating: 4 glasses

0811: The Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout I had on tap tonight at Joe's Inn is a really nice beer. BBCS is a big Imperial Stout. Reviewers on BeerAdvocate rated it as one of the top 100 beers on the planet on 29 December 2005. As the name suggests, it has chocolate flavors. I have tasted several vintages of BBCS with mixed reactions. The most recent release seemed too hot. On tap, the beer was flavorful and balanced. I don't know if the difference is draft v. bottle or 2008-09 v. 2007-08; but, I think that the tap makes the difference. Chocolate is the predominate flavor but coffee and smoke rear their heads, too. Joe's Inn is a neighborhood restaurant in Richmond, VA. It sells BBCS as a seasonal item for $3.50 a pint. At this price the beer is a great deal. It was fantastic w/ a hamburger. Oliver Garrett, the brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, is a big advocate of pairing food and beer. His book, The Brewmaster's Table, is a classic. For a sample of his thoughts, click here.