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:  Bell's 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.

Duvel Tripel Hop Citra

Tripel Hop Citra is a Belgian IPA.

Brewer's Notes: Duvel Tripel Hop Citra is an intensely hoppy Belgian IPA with refreshing taste notes of agrum, thanks to the addition of a third hop Citra from Yakima Valley in Washington, USA.

Beer Advocate: "Discover Citra, voted by our fans as the best hop variety for our special Duvel Tripel Hop. Citra enriches the already unique taste of Duvel with fresh notes of grapefruit and tropical fruit."

Tasting Notes: Duvel with hops! Belgian IPA is still not a favorite style for me but this beer is pretty tasty.

Rating = 2.5 glasses. Though about 3 glasses but then remembered I would rather buy Duvel.

New Belgium Trippel, Voodoo Ranger IPA, and Mountain Time

New Belgium sponsored the Mountains to Coast Bike Tour I took last week. Free beer when the camping sites allowed!! Here are notes on three beers I sampled. 

Trippel
Brewer's notes: Our Trippel has always been a big, beautiful Belgian-style ale, but in 2015, we tweaked the recipe to include a new yeast variety and even more complex malt profile. This golden beer opens with a bold blast of spicy Noble hops, courtesy of Saaz and Hallertau Mittlefruh, and gives way to the fruity aromas offered by our traditional Belgian yeast. Brewed with Pilsner and Munich malts, Trippel is classically smooth and complex, and sings with a high-note of sweet citrus before a pleasantly dry finish delivers a warm, strong boozy bite. Give Trippel a sip to get you smiling.

Tasting notes: I liked it the best of all the beers I sampled. Nice clove flavor without being overbearing. 

Rating = 3.5 glasses. MIght merit 4.

Voodoo Ranger IPA
Brewer's notes: Bursting with tropical aromas and juicy fruit flavors from Mosaic and Amarillo hops, this golden IPA is perfectly bitter with a refreshing, sublime finish.

Tasting notes: Eh. Ok but lacked the hop bite I seek.

Rating = 1.5 glasses

Mountain Time
Brewer's notes: Crisp and clean as snowmelt in spring, Mountain Time Premium Lager is brewed with only the finest ingredients by the employee-owners at New Belgium Brewing. This refreshing lager will take you to another time & place. Live life on Mountain Time.

Tasting notes: The surprise of the tastings. It is a decent lager and went well with fried fish and shrimp. Not good enough to savor - I did not finish a second can when the time to leave arrived.

Rating = 2 glasses

3 Floyds Munsterfest

Brewer's Notes: A Märzen-style fest bier brewed with the finest German malted barley, aromatic Bavarian noble hops and traditional lager yeast. This rich, malty lager is one of the few that remain true to the tradition of fest beers originally brewed to honor the marriage of Prince Ludwig in 1810. We hope you enjoy this fall offering. Es ist nicht normal!

BeerAdvocate

Tasting Notes
September 2023: I did not finish the second bottle. I think that the problem is that the beer is too sweet and too malty. The taste is what I imagine a sweet Scotch ale would have. Maybe I will use the last four bottles to make beer biscuits.

Rating: 0 glasses

September 2023: I bought this on a whim because I generally like beers from Three Floyds. They missed on this one. I taste bread, toast, honey, and apple. The body is thin. 

Rating = 1 glass

Festbier v. Märzen

I have sampled several Oktoberfest beers recently and think that I have figured out the difference between Festbier and Märzen. Festbier ressembles an Imperial Helles. Märzen ressembles a hoppy Scotish Ale with a clean lager finish and a malty flavor that accentuates toast or biscuit rather than barley or peat. Festbier is lighter, more quaffable, and simpler. Weihenstephaner Festbier is a great example of Festbier and Great Lakes Oktoberfest is a great example of Märzen. What BeerAdvocate says about the two styles follows below.

BeerAdvocate
Festbier is the modern day "Oktoberfestbier" that's served at the official Oktoberfest in Germany, as governed by the Munich city committee. Traditionally, the majority of the beer served was the dark, rich Märzen lagers that we've all come to love and associate with Oktoberfest, but that hasn't been the case since the 1990s. Now, it's all about Festbier, which is a bright and golden beer that's akin to an export-style (slightly stronger and maltier) Helles lager. Paulaner Brauerei is credited with creating the style back in the mid-1970s. According to many sources, their brewmaster wanted to give the people something "more poundable." Gotta love that.

Drinkers can expect Festbiers to showcase a clean, but strong malty backbone, light hop profile, and incredible drinkability.

And you might see the style referred to as Wiesnbier, Wies'n, or Wiesn. The latter is what locals in Munich call Oktoberfest, based on Theresienwiese, which is the meadow/fairgrounds where it's hosted. This is not to be confused with Weissbier, Weißbier, or Weizenbier (wheat beer).

BeerAdvocate

Märzenbier ranges from dark amber to deep copper in color. It's a full-bodied lager that's rich, malty (toasty, bready, biscuity, caramel, roasty), moderately hopped (floral, spicy, herbal), and finishes clean and dry like a good lager should. Alcohol can bite and warm a bit, but overall should be tame.

Historically, Märzen (March in German) was brewed in the spring, lagered in caves (stored cold) during the summer months, and served in the fall. From 1872 to the 1990s, the style was served at, and widely associated with, Oktoberfest in Munich until the lighter Festbier became popular and adopted as the official Oktoberfestbier. That said, brewers around the world still brew "Oktoberfest" and "Fest" beers that lean toward the Märzen style.

Kerkom Reuss

Brewer's Notes: Reuss is produced for the Bink festival. Marc Limet blends the lambic with a less bitter version of Bink Blond (38 IBUs versus 52 IBUs.) Reuss was the name of the first beer brewed at Kerkom in 1878.

BeerAdvocate

Tasting Notes

August 2023: First, a 750 ml bottle cost $5.99 @ Corks and Kegs. I didn't expect much. I didn't get much. The taste matches the brewer's notes - a blend of lambic and blond ales. The taste is an aimless mixture of sour, tart, lemon, sweet, and possibly brett. I am tempted to buy more at the price but think I will stick with two bottles of Stone IPA.

Rating: 2 glasses

Jester King The Weigh-In Montmorency

Brewer's Notes: Montmorency cherries from Michigan were added to mature barrel-aged sour beer and refermented to dryness. 

Tasting Notes

August 2023: I bought a bottle from Corks and Kegs as a treat. I was expected something like a tart Kriek. I am disappointed. The beer has an earthy sourness and, maybe, some tart cherry playing in the background. The earthiness may be oak from the barrels used for aging. The beer is brewed with skill but for the price I want more tart, vinegar, and cherry bite.

Rating: 1.5 glasses.

Dupont Saison

Brewer's Notes: The Saison Dupont is a top fermentation beer with refermentation in the bottle. Since 1844, this beer has been brewed in our farm-brewery, during the winter time. Then this beer became a second refermentation in the barrel. During the next summer, this very thirst-quenching beer was served to the “saisoniers” which were working on the fields. Surely therefore, our Saison Dupont is considered as “the classic” among the Belgian season beers!

Added  note from BeerAdvocate

Coppery blond, the finest aromas and a strong bitterness transform this beer into a thirst-quenchener with no equal, just the way it was created. Our selection of yeasts is the perfect base for these typical aromas and ditto taste. A real refermentation in the bottle, which will continue for a long time in your cellar, result into this complex and particular aromatic beer.

Tasting Notes

202006

The more I drink Saison Dupont, the more I like it. It is hearty without being "big". It is refreshing with a titch of funk, easy to drink, and goes great with food or by itself. Click here for previous reviews.

Rating = 6 glasses.

Dupont Avec les bons voeux

Brewer's Notes 

The Bons Vœux is a blond top fermentation beer with refermentation in the bottle.

Since 1970, the brewery has been brewing a special beer to give as a new years present to their best clients. (the name of this beer “Avec les bons Vœux de la brasserie Dupont » means « With the best wishes of the brewery Dupont » ).
Because of the increasing success, they started to commercialise this “cadeau” but kept the name. Although the demands were considerable, only a small quantity was brewed, so they had to make a reservation list, even months before new year.

This Bons Vœux is coppery blond, has very fine hop aromas and tastes bitter, fruity and mild.

Our selection of yeasts, in combination with a long during riping process, on a “dry hopping” base, are creating a typical and complex aroma and taste.

A real refermentation in the bottle, which will continue for a long time in your cellar, result in a harmonious and well-balanced beer, full of unexpected and complex aromas.

Notes from BeerAdvocate

Les Bons Voeux means best wishes, which is what Brasserie Dupont sends with this very special saison ale brewed for the holidays. Redolently aromatic, rich and velvety.

Rich gold color, fragrant (lemony with hints of pepper, banana and clove), as all the beers of Dupont are with a full, deep malt richness that lingers on your tongue for what seems the whole holiday season. Considered by some the finest offering from this unparalleled Brewery. “The best Belgian beer, if ever there could be such an award...a sumptuous, seductive 9.5% beer. Because of it’s intensity, I would recommend the novice graduate to this beer. However, if a saison that is starting to lean towards being a triple appeals to you, and if its in season, don’t hesitate.”

Reviews

202307

Another wonderful bottle. It tastes so good after I have not had one for a while. Easily 6.5 glasses and may merit 7.

Rating = 6.5 glasses

202203
The beer continues to impress. It's rating has varied from 7 to 6.

Rating = 6.5 glasses.

201501

This is the Christmas special version by Dupont. It is wonderful. Hardy without being big. A subtle touch of spice. Yummy.
6 glasses

Earlier review.

Mc Chouffe

BeerAdvocate rates Mc Chouffe as the 4th best Belgian Dark Ale. The beer, brewed by Brasserie d'Achouffe, is a pleasant and easy drink. The flavor merges apples, brown sugar, and titches of lemon and banana.

Brewer's Notes: Among the mythical characters living in Fairyland, some are more unusual than others. Malcolm, for example, is different because of his accent and his kilt: when it comes to beer, his favourite is Mc CHOUFFE. The delicious flavours of aniseed, liquorice and toffee tickle his taste buds. If you listen to him, he will boast of its ruby sparkle, its smooth bitterness and its strong character, worthy of his native Scotland. Although robust, Mc CHOUFFE goes down as easily as LA CHOUFFE.

ABV varies from time to time.

Rating: 4 glasses (maybe 4.5)

Prima Pils

Brewer: Victory

Style: Pilsner

BeerAdvocate rates the beer as outstanding and the 24th best German Pilsner on July 18, 2023. I think that back in the day it was rated #1.

Tasting notes:
(2306) At last! Prima Pils appeared in Total Wine. I bought 2 6-packs. The beer did not disappoint and remains my favorite pilsner. The hops are crisp and present but did not overwhelm the malt. Yummy. Upgraded to 5.5 glasses. I want it in my refrigerator. 

(1104) Upgraded from 4 glasses. Maybe I am becoming a lager fan again.
(1103) 1st of a 6er. Nice, crisp, hoppy refreshment. May rate 5 glasses.
(1002) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Nice hoppy pils. Went great w/ sailor sandwich. The serving merits 5 glasses but I left the overall rating unchanged. Fresh is good. 

(0903)

Rating: 5.5 glasses

The Veil Lock Lock, Bend, and No More Flowers

Lock Lock is the Veils take on a West Coast IPA. It is wonderful. A deep bitter bite mellowed with some citrus from double dry hopping. 55 IBU

Brewer's notes: 6.5% ABV, 55 IBU. Lock Lock is a DDH West Coast-inspired IPA hopped with Citra, Centennial and Simcoe. Clean, crispy and relatively dry with flavors orange fruit cups and Juicy Juice.

Rating = 6 glasses

Bend is the Veil's take on an American Pale Ale. Some sweet, some bitter, and some dry hopping. 40 IBU.

Brewer's notes: 5% ABV. Bend returns! Our American Pale Ale hopped with CTZ, Amarillo, Citra, and Cascade hops. Brewed with a clean American yeast strain, a light touch of caramel malt, and flaked oats. Very fruit-forward with resin oil and hoppy orange-blossom flavors.

Rating = 3.5 glasses

No More Flowers is the Veil's take on Kolsch. It is the best example of the style I have had. I think it too is dry hopped. The dry hopping adds some citrus and complexity to what is a sweet malt-forward beer.

Brewer's notes: 5.2% ABV. No More Flowers is our Kolsh-inspired beer. Clean and crispy from weeks of lagering with a distinct soft and delicate ester profile balanced by a light German Tettnang hop addition. Quaffable notes of spring flowers and lemon poppy seed loaf.

Rating = 5 glasses

Founders Porter

Brewer: Founders

Style: Porter

Tasting notes

Feb. 2010: A bottle @ Avalon. Stoutlike: dark and rich.

March 2024: Good description from 2010. I like it but don't think it measures up to Great Lakes. For something dark, I think I might choose Guinness Extra Stout for its lower APV. Downgraded the rating from 5 glasses to 4.


Rating: 4 glasses

Guinness Extra Stout

Extra Stout is a more-than-decent Irish Dry Stout. My original rating was 3.5. I upgraded from the rating after the third bottle. It is a pleasant beer with a nice touch of charcoal and chocolate. I could see adding occasionally six 11.2 oz bottles for $9.99 into my beer rotation

BeerAdvocate Notes
Aroma: Medium and balanced. A roast character with subtle fermentation fruitiness
Flavor: A perfect rounded flavor of bitter and sweet
Palate: Smooth with a slight bite leading to a dry finish
Appearance: Distinctively black full bodied liquid with a rich creamy head

Brewer's Notes
Aroma: Subtly fruity with warming, roasted notes of coffee and dark chocolate
Appearance: Dark ruby red with a frothy head
Taste: Crisp and balanced with bitter, sweet, roasted notes and a dry finish

Rating: 4 glasses. 

Great Divide Hibernation Ale

Tasting notes

Dec. 13, 2022

I bought a 6-pack to try again after many years had passed since my last taste. Great Divide calls Hibernation Ale an Old Ale. It blurs the line between Old Ale, Strong Ale, and Winter Warmer. I think it is best classified as a Winter Warmer. Burnt caramel dominates the flavor, sort of a  softer version of Arrogant Bastard. It is an interesting sipper.

Rating = 4 glasses.

Brewer: Great Divide Style: Old Ale Tasting notes: (1102) A 3-yr. 3-mn. old bottle. A hoppy brown ale w/ a creme brulee bite. Downgraded from 5 glasses. (1012) A 3-yr 1 mn old bottle. A thin English Barleywine w/ old ale sour flavor. Makes me wonder what more age would do. (1010) A 1-yr 10-mn. old bottle. Cream brulee, heavy on the brulee, w/ a sourish finish. (1001) A two-year old bottle. A toned down Old Ruffian? Old Ale w/ hops? Nice malty start followed by hoppy bite w/ a little sour, chocolate, coffee, and caramel. Seemed a tiche thiner than I remembered, something like Fullers Vintage Ale. May be the age. (6) Sweet caramel malt, an "Old" sourness, and pleasant spicy bite. (5) Burnt caramel. (4) Toffee, coffee, and chocolate. (3) Wonderful. Caramel followed by sour bite. (2) Less impressive. Malt lacking. (1) Wonderful. Caramel malt nicely balanced with a bitter, piney hop finish. Flavorful but not overpowering. An English Barleywine or Old Ale w/ a touch more hops. Good to drink. Fine to sip. I want more. Comments: Great Divide Hibernation Ale is the brewer's seasonal release in Winter. The brewer achieves a wonderful spiciness without adding spices. Spices are frequent trademark of winter beers. It blurs the line between Old Ale, Strong Ale, and Winter Warmer. Previous ratings: 5, 6, 5 glasses Rating: 4 glasses

Hardywood Gingerbread Stout

Brewer's Notes: Made with baby ginger from Casselmonte Farm and wildflower honey from Bearer Farms, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout captures the terroir of Central Virginia in a rich, creamy libation with a velvety mouthfeel and an intriguing evolution of notes from milk chocolate and vanilla, to honeycomb and cinnamon, to a snap of ginger in the finish. We hope Hardywood Gingerbread Stout contributes to your merriment this season.

Reviews

Nov. 25, 2022

I shared the last bottle dated 201612 Alex last night with Thanksgiving dessert. Six years of aging makes the beer a delight. It is plenty sweet with a nice ginger kick. 

Rating: I am leaving the rating at 5.5 glasses but think aged bottles are better.

 

(202002) I drank a bottle dated 201612, meaning the beer has aged a little over about 5 years. Aging makes the beer yummy. Flavors are muted like a three-day old stew. Patsy picked up hints of port. Alex thought that the ginger shined through. I really liked it.

I also drank a glass on draft recently. It was a disappointment. Tasted off. This is my second bad experience with Gingerbread on draft at Postbellum.

Rating = 5.5, up from 5, based on the 5-year old bottle.

(201911) Hardywood Gingerbread Stout is a BIG Milk Stout. It contains vanilla, cinnamon and local ginger and honey.  The taste varies from year to year. I described my first glass years ago as like drinking chocolate gingerbread cake. Last year's version was a disappointment. Hardywood is back on their game this year. Back to being chocolate gingerbread cake with a titch of cinnamon sauce on top. It is a beer you want to drink slowly and best one beer per evening.

Rating = 5 glasses

Fantôme Saison

Nov. 25, 2022

I am hooked on this beer. Corks and Kegs has a good supply and I want to buy a case. I shared a bottle with Alex yesterday with Thanksgiving turkey. A delight.

Rating: 7 glasses

(202202): The biggest gusher I have ever seen. Lost over 50% of the beer.

(201910): Wow, my favorite saison. Funky with a titch of sour. Complex, hardy and quaffable. Everything you want in a saison.

Rating = 7 glasses. Upgraded from 4.

Previous review

Why my head hurt this morning

Nov. 14, 2022

I started with a Great Lakes Oktoberfest.

I also drank a Toppling Goliath Pseudo Sue. Pseudo Sue is a hazy American pale ale. Nice balance of sweet and hazy hop flavor. A titch understated imo.

Rating = 4 glasses, well below its standing on Beer Advocate. My aversion to hazy continues.

Bell's Third Coast Ale

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).

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. Previous review. Today,

Rating = 5 glasses.

Duvel

Nov. 14, 2022

A fantastic beer but may lack the je ne sais quois for 7 glasses.

Rating = 6.5 glasses

May 15, 2020

Duvel is a fantastic beer. It is THE Belgian Pale Ale. A great introduction to craft beer and to Belgian beer. Here are earlier posts. The picture to the right is AFTER a very easy pour. 

BeerAdvocate rates it a World Class, 823rd best beer overall, and the BEST Belgian Strong Pale Ale. I flip flop between 6 glasses and 7.

My rating (today) is 7. 

Triple Crossing VIII

VIII is Triple Crossing's Anniversary selection. It is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels. The bottle was a gift from Lauren Glazier on the occassion of my 70th birthday.

Brewer's notes
Eight years in, like sands through the proverbial hourglass, we’ve found ourselves in a place where our spirit barrel aging program speaks loudly, but not often.
However, as we’ve learned through this last year, it ain’t all waiting on us, and gorgeous inky black stout will, if we let it, emerge from barrels come hell or high water. The combination of our purpose-built Imperial Stout grist, a tightly controlled fermentation, whiskey soaked charred deep dark oak, and the end all variable of patience, has again gotten us to this point.
Our annual anniversary stout returns as VIII, comprised of just 4 whiskey barrels from a couple of our favorite bourbon producers, with an average age of 18 months of rest, blended together in one of our 10bbl brite tanks, and then lagered for another 6 weeks, letting the whole thing patiently round itself out.
We taste impressions of bourbon-soaked devils food brownie batter, dark French roast coffee, sweet cinnamon burnt brown sugar, with hints of leather and pipe tobacco. Even though this past year might have been the most challenging in our history, we are constantly reminded that we would not be here without the continued support you’ve all shown us over these last VII years… for however many times we’ve already said so, we thank you again. 12% ABV.

Tasting notes
05 Nov. 2022

Black ink. Motor oil. Need a spoon to pour. Almost no head but not flat. Sublime. Brewer's notes are on spot.

Rating - 6 glasses

Bell's Expedition Stout

Brewer: Bell's

Style: Imperial Stout 

 

202210

I drank the 3rd bottle from the 6 pack. It is just over 1-year old. Still massive. Has a deep burnt charcoal finish.

(202202) I splurged on a 6 pack while shopping in a Trader Joe's in Indy. The beer is a great example of a Russian Imperial Stout. It it massive. Sweet malt with enough hops to balance. I am liking it.

Rating = 5 glasses and I thought about a little more. Upgraded from 4 glasses.

Previous Notes:

(1101) A 3-yr 5-mn old bottle. Last bottle in my cellar. Big and almost mellow. I think fresh is better. 

(1009) A 1 yr 10 mn old bottle. Massive. Cocoa w/ a touch of charcoal and alcohol. Downgraded to 4 glasses from 5. I appreciate the craft in the beer but, in the end, don't enjoy it as much as beers rated 5 glasses. 

(1006) A 2 yr. 5.5 mn. old bottle. Deep, dark chocolate. Upgraded from 4 glasses. 

(1003) A 3 yr. 5 mn. old bottle. Sweet, burnt, dark chocolate. I kept wondering if I really liked it. Upgraded from 3 glasses. 

(1002) A 6.2 yr.mn old bottle. Massive dark chocolate. May rate 4 glasses. I'll continue to age other bottles in the cellar. 

(1001) A 2.4 yr.mn-old bottle. Big and massive with some soy. Went well w/ chilli but at end I was glad to see the bottle empty and did not like what I was tasting. Downgraded from 5 glasses. I think I will try an older bottle in the cellar and then decide what to do w/ the rest. 

(0911) A 2.2 yr.mn-old bottle. Massive. Chocolate and charcoal and hops. Aging nicely. Upgraded from 4 glasses.

Previous review. 

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 30 January 2009 or 9 August 2009.) 

Previous ratings: 6, 7, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 4. 

Stone Ruination

Brewer: Stone 

Style: Double IPA 

Tasting notes

2208: Super bitter. Upgraded to 6 glasses.

2208: A nicely balanced bitter double IPA. Upgrading the rating from 4 to 5.5. Thought about 6 glasses but think Dreadnaught is a titch better.

1006: Ditto although the grapefruit was not as pronounced as I remember. 

0706: Moved to 4 in new rating. 

0602: Floral, hoppy nose. Plenty of hops taste but milder than I expected (or advertized on the bottle). Strong grapefruit aftertaste. Would be fun to share with a hop head, although my recollection is that Bear Republic Racer X would be a better choice. 

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010. 

Rating: 5.5 glasses

Bingo Lager

I am not a fan of Bingo Lager. The brewer aims for something easy to drink. I found it boring and declined to finish a sample when deciding what to purchase at Osaka: I ordered iced tea. It lacks the hop bite that makes beer beer imo.

Rating = 1 glass

RAGBRAI

Here are some quick notes about beers I sampled while biking with RAGBRAI, the Register Annual Great Ride Across Iowa.

New Glarus Spotted Cow
A decent saison. It was a gift from Nancy and I would have drunk a second one if it was on the table.
Rating = 3 glasses

Cross Plains Esser's Best
A decent Helles. Another gift.
Rating = 2.5 glasses

Big Grove Tailwind
Notes: Tailwind is a celebration of all things RAGBRAI® and Big Grove Brewery. We brewed this light, refreshing golden ale for the “oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.” Relax and embrace the Tailwind.
Rating = 1.5 glasses

Big Grove Easy Eddy
Notes: Easy Eddy showcases big tropical aromatics of pineapple and mango. Flaked wheat and oats make for a brilliant golden haze in this Unfiltered IPA. Hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe.
The other RAGBRIA beer. A decent NE IPA.
Rating = 2.5 glasses

3 Fonteinen Hommage

Brewer's Notes: A blend of lambic beers brewed at 3 Fonteinen, with an addition of 30% whole fresh raspberries from the fabled Payottenland and 5% sour cherries. This unfiltered beer will enjoy a spontaneous refermentation in the bottle. No artificial colors or flavor enhancers are added. Lambic is brewed only from 60% barley malt, 40% unmalted wheat, hops and water.

Bottled on 01 July 2020.

Tasting Notes

07 May 2022

Bottled on 01 July 2020

Dry, tart, sour, acetic, with fruit accents. The raspberry and cherries hit me as strawberry. A wonderful beer and I am not a fan of raspberry. The cherries (?) add to the sourness. I want a little less sour and a little more tart. 

Rating = 6 glasses

Pilsner Urquell

Brewer's Notes

In 1842, at our brewery in Plzeň, brewer Josef  Groll introduced the world to the first golden  ‘pilsner’ lager, and changed beer forever. His  invention soon became the most popular  style of beer on the planet.

We’ve brewed Pilsner Urquell in the same  brewery using the same recipe for over 175  years. Today, we still insist on using  traditional methods, like triple decoction and  parallel brewing in wooden lagering barrels. It takes longer but means we never compromise on our taste.

Beer Advocate Notes: While most lagers give away most of their taste profile in the front of the mouth, Pilsner Urquell only hints at its flavour there. Instead, it develops in the middle, followed by a refreshing, clean finish and balanced aftertaste, practically inviting you to have another.

Tasting notes

Pilsner Urguell means Royal Pilsner. It is a classic Pilsner and is brewed in the town of Pizen in the Czech Republic. The brewer is Plzensky Prazdroj and is part of the SAB Miller family.

(2022.04) Pilsner Urquell gets credit for being the first pilsner. I enjoy it but do not love it. It has some grassy and biscuity flavors. I want more crispness and bite. 

Rating = 3 glasses. It may deserve more.

(1002) A bottle @ Avalon. Wet and cold. 

Rating: 2 glasses, downgraded from 3. Click here for previous review.

3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek Intens Rood

Label Notes
This specific Oude Kriek Intens Rood has macerated for almost ten months on five different lambikken from two barrels. Another four different lambikken from another two barrels were used in the blending process. The final fruit intensity was about 442 grams of sour cherries per litre of Intens Rood.

2022.04
I bought a bottle to celebrate filing my 2021 taxes. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.

The beer is wonderful. Lots of lambic tartness with a cherry sweetness on the finish. 

Rating = 6 glasses

Russian River Consecration

Brewer's Notes: Dark Ale aged in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from local wineries. It is aged for 4 to 8 months with black currants, brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus added to each barrel. Rich flavors of chocolate truffle, spice, tobacco, currants, and a bit of Cabernet. Very full-bodied, sip slowly!

202202: MS provided me with a bottle of this rare gem. The craft in the brew is obvious. However, it was too vinous for my tastes. Too much cab and not enough brett.

Rating = 4.5 glasses.

Fantôme Printemps

Printemps (= Spring) is a seasonal release from Fantôme that varies from year to year.

02 Feb. 2022
From the label: "Belgian Ale brewed with spices." Printemps is a wonderful saison. It lacks some of the funk of Fantôme Saison. It is super carbonated.

Rating = 5.5 glasses

Blaugies - Hill Farmstead La Vermontoise

Brewer's Notes: Collaboration with Hill Farmstead Brewery

Regional beer based on malt, spelt.hops US.as

It was developed and manufactured jointly with our American friend Shaun Hill (Hill Farmstead Brewery, Greensboro, Vermont, USA). It continues to be brewed at our facilities in Braugies.

We exchanged our know-how to create this blond with pronounced bitterness with a slight lemon aftertaste.

From the label: "classic saison brewed with spelt and an abundance of noble hops."

Tasting notes
(202201) A fine saison. I left too much yeast in the bottle while pouring.

Rating = 5 glasses

Toppling Goliath Pompeii

Brewer's Notes

Inspiration for our newest Hop Patrol IPA comes from the House of Faun in Pompeii, Italy. At this site, some of the world’s most famous mosaics were preserved under layers of ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In this fashion, Pompeii IPA preserves and showcases the luxurious taste of the Mosaic hop. This single-hop IPA offers a floral aroma and a truly complex “mosaic” of taste: dark citrus and pineapple flavors, with deep earthy undertones and a persistent bitterness in the finish.

January 2022

What was I thinking. Pompeii is a fine New England IPA but lacks the bitterness I crave. Maybe the beer has lost some of its bite. Best drink by = March 22, 2022. BeerAdvocate classifies it as American IPA, not New England IPA.

Rating = 4.5 glasses

August 2019

Pompeii is a single hop IPA. The single hop is Mosaic. It has tons of California IPA hop bitterness AND New England IPA hop fruitiness. Here is my previous review.

It is my new favorite IPA. Sorry Finest Kind. 

Old rating = 7 glasses.

New Belgium Transatlantique Kriek

Transatlantique Kriek is a dark cherry-red kriek. More sour than tart. Eh?

Rating = 2 glasses