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.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale

Brewers Notes: Bigfoot is a beast of a beer, brimming with bold flavors of bittersweet malt and heaps of aggressive whole-cone Pacific Northwest hops. First introduced in the winter of 1983, Bigfoot is a cult-classic beer brewed in the barleywine style, meaning a strong, robust, bruiser of a beer with the refined intensity of a wine. Bigfoot is prized by beer collectors for its supreme cellarability. Under the proper conditions, it can age like a fine wine, developing new flavors and character as it matures in the bottle. Each new release or “expedition” is vintage dated. Collect your own and see the flavors develop and progress.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting Notes

Nov. 2023: I drank a ten-year old 2013 vintage with pumpkin cake from Shindiz. The pairing was great. The beer still had robust flavors and the hops had mellowed some. I noticed a nice chocolate flavor coming forward. Yummy!

August 2023: I drank a 2023 vintage with Jen's Chocolate Cake at the conclusion of dinner to celebrate my 71st birthday. The beer continues to amaze me. What I noticed was the fantastic lacing clinging to the glass as it emptied. I revisited my review to see if I rated it 6.5 or 7 glasses. The flavor, color, and lacing merit 7.

Feb. 2022: The first 1.5 bottles of 12. Alex got the other 0.5. May not be as sweet as last years but it has hops galore. A flavor bomb. I plan to purchase another 6-pack.

Jan. 21, 2021: I drank the first bottle of a case of just released 2021 vintage. It paired wonderfully with carrot cake from Publix. It did not disappoint. Loads of caramel-sweet almost sticky malt coupled with tons of hops. At $13 a 6-pack, I think it is a great value for a fantastic beer. 

July 5, 2020: Bigfoot is the classic American Barleywine. It is a flavor bomb - tons of sweet malt and tons of bitter hops. It ages fantastically and my "cellar' has bottles dates 2006. It has been a favorite of mine for years. It goes great with carrot cake and other sweet desserts. My understanding is the "Barleywine-style" in the title arose because the ABC folks feared that buyers would confuse it with wine if the SN called it simply "Barleywine".

Rating = 7 glasses.

3 Floyds Alpha Klaus

Alpha Klaus is an Christmas porter.

Brewer's notes: Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar, and tons of strange American hops. The pronounced hop bitterness gives way to flavors of molasses and chocolate from the roasted malt bill.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting notes
2311: Alpha Klaus tastes like it has chocolate and maybe cinnamon; but the brewer's notes do not mention any extracts. The beer is pleasant and a nice variation of a Christmas Ale. It is easy to drink and the flavor is interesting.

Rating = 4 glasses

Alesmith Private Stock Ale

 old ale

6 glasses

sweet but not cloying

Girardin 1882 Black Label Gueuze

1882 Black Label Gueuze is a great example of the style. Once it was one of my favorite beers. 

BeerAdvocote

Tasting notes 

2311: Plenty of tart but more bitterness than I remember - too much lemon rind. Left rating unchanged but thought about reduction.

1308: A recent bottle led to a downgrade from 7 glasses. It is really good but not as tart as I wanted or remembered. 

1002: A bottle purchased 4 mn ago. See previous review. Cantillon may be better??

(3) A bottle purchased about 2 years ago. Tart, complex, funky. Less lemon than I remember. Almost quaffable. Still the best. 

(2) Lemon, vinegar, and apple cider. Each sip causes salivation. 

(1) Sour and tart but doesn't take away your breath. Sort of a fizzy lemon cider.

Rating: 6 glasses.

Bell's Third Coast Old Ale

BeerAdvocate classifies Third Coast Old Ale as an American Barleywine. I am not convinced that it is not an Old Ale.

Brewer's Notes

Third Coast Old Ale starts with a rich, caramel base, and finishes with heavy hop bitterness. Sharply intense at first, it will age gracefully, adding complexity and subtlety to your cellar. Go ahead, test your patience.

Flavor Profile: Complex, Warm Malt Character, Huge Body, Rich Caramel Malt Aromas

Beer Info: A mixture of burnt caramel and other earthy malt flavors, with enough hop presence to prevent a sense of sweetness. Sharply bitter when first packaged, this hop aspect will fold into the malt character over time and find balance.

Shelf Life: Unlimited

Ingredients: Water, Malt, Hops, House Ale Yeast

Nutritional Information (per 12 oz. serving): Calories: 318, Carbs: 26.7

IBUs: 65

Original Gravity: 1.101

Tasting Notes

2311: A five-year old bottle. Tastes very Old Ale-ish. Musty sourness dominates the flavor. I wonder if the beer is past its prime. 

Rating = 5.5 glasses

Nov. 14, 2022: Another bottle with about 6 years of age. A delightful combination of brown sugary malt, hop bitterness, and a tiche of sour from somewhere. 

Rating = 6 glasses (and thought about 6.5).

Previous ratings: 3, 5, 6

Aug 25, 2019: With second dessert I drank a Bell's Third Coast Ale, an American barleywine. The bottle was relatively fresh. Brown sugar flavor but not sweet. The aftertaste was sort of sour. I think this beer gets better with age. Ratings based on beers aged about 4 years = 6 glasses. Today,

Rating = 5 glasses.

1210:  Bells bottled this 6-pack on 4 Dec 2008, making it about 4 years old. The taste was all brown sugar and malt. I want to buy and age more. Yummy. It continues to earn its 6-glass rating. 

1009: A 2-yr. old bottle. Burnt caramal, dark fruits, and hop bite @ finish. A solid 6. Ages well. 

1009: A bottle purchased from the cooler section @ Elwood Thompson. Burnt malt, deep bitter hop bite, a tiche of sour. A complex beer. May rate 5 glasses but I left it at six pending further review. Complexity and the impression it made on my memory prevented the downgrade. 

Rating = 6 glasses

1004: A 2 yr 7 mn old bottle brewed 0709. A tiche thnner than I remembered and a little lactic acid, a la Vintage Ale, peeping out. Thought about a downgrade to 5. 

1002: A 2 yr 5 mn old bottle brewed 0709. Malty burnt caramel with some hops and a tiche of old ale sour. 

0909: A 2-year old bottle. Toffee. An English barleywine. Ages fantastically. Thought about 7 glasses. 

0809: A 1-yr. old bottle. Wonderful. Big caramel malt with sour, bretty bite at end. Upgraded from 5. 

0801: A bottle dated 0709. Delightful. Cream brule, a hint of chocolate, dates, a touch of alcohol, and a little leather. 

0801: A little cream brule, some bitter hops w/ a touch of sour, and a blast of alcohol. Quaffable and flavorful. May rate 6. 

0712: Sweet malt followed by a sour (Brett?) bite. Sourness becomes predominate as it warms. An interesting sipper. Ages nicely and would pair well with game. 

0710: Caramel, dark fruit, alcohol, deep bitterness, and a touch of stout/smoke when cold. Port (?) wine, figs, and sour bitterness as it warms. An non-sweet English BW? A good sipper for a cold night. Upgraded from 3. 

0611: 1st of a 6. Burnt crème brule when cold. As it warms the malt fades a little and a sour hop bite at end becomes more predominate - sort of a subdued Arrogant Bastard. Alcohol present in every sip. I suspect it will improve with age. I could see pairing it with game cooked with sweet fruits. May rate 4/8.

Duvel 6.66

6.66 is a fine Belgian blond ale if you like the style. I am not a big fan.

Brewer's Notes: The Duvel Moortgat family brewery is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, with a new variant of Duvel, a new mild, full-bodied blond Duvel with the alcohol percentage of 6.66%.

This Duvel is mild, expressive and deliciously drinkable. No fewer than 6 different hop varieties are used for Duvel 6.66%: just like the classic Duvel, it’s based on the noble and exclusive hop varieties Saaz and Styrian Golding. The flavour is then balanced by adding four expertly selected hop varieties to the mix, which also involves the dry-hopping method.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting Notes
November 2023: As noted, 6.66 is a fine Belgian blond ale.

Rating = 2.5 glasses.

Live Oak HefeWeizen

The reviewers @ BeerAdvocate love HefeWeizen. I do not.

Brewer's notes: Modeled after the classic wheat beers of Bavaria, Hefeweizen is cloudy and straw-colored with a meringue-like head that lingers to the bottom of the glass. Brewed with an ample volume of wheat malt and few hops, this beer features a unique yeast strain that produces harmonious notes of clove, banana, and vanilla throughout this effervescent brew. A traditional interpretation of a classic style, this idiosyncratic Bavarian beer is perfectly at home here in Texas.

Tasting notes
14 October 2023: The aroma of the beer offers great promise - nice clove and banana smells. But the taste fails to deliver on the promise. The beer is a rather bland hefe with an odd lemon flavor and a titch of zest and the head dissipates quickly. Some of the reviews in BeerAdvocate express similar reactions. I was disappointed after discovering what I thought was a whale. 

Rating = 1 glass. I'll finish the six-pack I purchased.

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Festbier (2023)

Brewer's Notes: This collab with Kehrwieder is 20 years in the making, back when our brewmasters were classmates in Berlin. Today, Kehrwieder is turning German-style craft beer on its head - just like we did stateside - and out mutual passion is fused in this Festbier that's bright like polished copper, rich with biscuity malts, and balanced with a punchy blend of German and American hops.

BeerAdvocate

Festbier v. Märzen

Tasting Notes
Oct 2023: I am liking the beer more and more. I titch malty for a festbier but still quite quaffable.

Rating = 5 glasses

August 2023: I was surprised to see Oktoberfest beers on the shelved of Total Wine at the end of July. I figured I should buy some immediately to get stuff that is fresh. I picked up a six-pack of Weihenstepaner Festbier and the 2023 release from Sierra Nevada. This year's version from SN is bold and hoppy for a Festbier IMO. I think it is more a Märzen. I was not impressed by my first can but enjoyed the second (different night). The second can was flavorful and easy to drink.

Rating: 4 glasses. The rating may climb as I drink more of the six-pack and other Oktoberfests.