Beer: Brooklyn, Victory, and Widmer Brothers

And more beer yet to come. This is just skimming off the top. This installment, some fine brews from some respected breweries. Read on, and have a craft beer today (reject the watery corporate toilet-water)!

BROOKLYN - MONSTER ALE (Brooklyn, NY) - 3.75

Brooklyn is known for making some of the best American-made craft lager (Brooklyn Lager), as well as the superlative Black Chocolate Stout. This is their heavyweight barleywine.

This is a vintage 2010 bottle, so over 2, nearly 3 years aged.

Pours a murky red-amber, with only a small amount of carbonation and almost no lace whatsoever. Nose is big and syrupy-rich, with notes of dried fruit (figs, plums, raisins) and a sharp grain-malt tone. Taste is big and heavy, as to be expected. There's more of the rich maltiness and dried fruit. The intense hops are dialed way back here, and what results is a complex, rich, and rather smooth drinking experience. 

The alcohol kick is definitely there, but this beast gets friendlier with age.

VICTORY - SWING - SESSION SAISON (Downington, PA) - 4.0

Victory is also known for making one of America's finest lagers, Prima Pils. This is a new saison that's got some mixed reviews elsewhere, but I liked it.

Pours a pale golden, with a vibrant, robust white head. Extravagant lace! Nose is spicy, herbal, and fruity. I get some definite citrus and clove. Very nice! Taste is zesty and spicy, with a tangy twist of sour citrus hops at the finish. 

A very enjoyable ale.

WIDMER BROS.- COLUMBIA COMMON (Portland, OR) - 4.0

Widmer is one of my trustworthy favorites, despite being partially owned by corporate interests (AB owns 32% of the Craft Brew Alliance, which also includes Kona and Redhook). This is their take on "steam beer" (aka California Common).

Pours a lovely, rich amber, with fine a tri-finger head. Lovely spoke-style lace, as well. Nose is crisp grains and grassy hops. Perfect aroma for a proper lager, so points here, too! Taste is very palate-pleasing, with a light body but full of flavor. I get enough citrus hops and bready malts to be an ideal balance for a session-style spring lager. 

Very enjoyable and well-done!

WIDMER BROS. - FALCONER'S IPA (Portland, OR) - 3.75

Part of Widmer's Rotator series of rotating, seasonal IPAs, all of which have been enjoyable thus far.

Pours a clean amber, with a frothy tan head. Superlative lace. Nose is grapefruit, pine, and lemon hops. Very nice. Taste? Pleasantly hopped, with more of the citrus/grapefruit tones. I get a hint of bitterness at the finish. 

Not a hop bomb, but still pretty well enjoyable.

WIDMER BROS. - O'RYELY IPA (Portland, OR) - 3.75:

Another part of the Rotator series, this one with the addition of rye malts.

Pours a rich amber, with nice head. Thick, detailed lace. Nose is crisp citrus and floral hops. Very appealing.Taste is nicely hopped, but with enough malts to prevent any acidic or bitter followthrough. The rye shines through with a sharpness, but it's subtle.

Overall, a drinkable and enjoyable IPA -- not overly memorable, but certainly solid.

Beer: Widmer's Brrrbon '12 & Boulevard's Rye-On-Rye

In the craft beer world, aging in oak whiskey, bourbon, or wine barrels is a kind of trend, it seems. Hints of vanilla, wood, and subtle fruity characters can be added via this method. In the spirit of "beer themes", here are a couple of limited releases recently tasted at Goatsden that utilize this "barrel aging" process.

WIDMER BROTHERS (Portland,OR) - BARREL AGED BRRRBON '12 - 3.5

Widmer's always been a solid brand, and even though they are co-owned by corporate beer monoliths (AB/InBev), I still find myself enjoying most of their line. This limited 9.4% ABV beast is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels, and is comparable to the better-known Alltech Brewing Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which has been enjoyed many, many times here at Goatsden HQ. Here's my take on this big beer.

Pours a rich amber, with limited head of carbonation, and not much noticeable lacing. Nose is some vanilla and oak. Taste is rich and sweetly malty, but I don't get much of the vanilla-like bourbon tones. The finish does showcase the warm whiskey character, though. 

This one's not bad, though perhaps a tad high on the price ($14.99/bomber).

BOULEVARD BREWING (Kansas City, MO) - RYE-ON-RYE - 3.5

Part of Kansas City craft beer legends Boulevard's limited edition, premium "Smokestack Series", Rye-On-Rye is an exquisite corked bomber of very strong but unique beer aged in rye whiskey barrels.

Pours a murky, ruddy red-amber. Very sudsy, but little head visible. Carbonation continues to bubble as the glass warms. Odd and unusual. Nose is unique -- I get wet wood, some fruitiness, butter, and toffee. Not that it's bad, just an unusual combination, again. Flavor is fruits/berries and some toffee -- sweet and somehow wine-like. I don't detect much of the rye whiskey barrel, though, as this one just seems more of a fruit-oriented champagne style. 

It's quite easy to drink, and especially with the very deceptive 13% ABV. 

Overall, certainly a memorable and genre-busting brew.

Beer is Life!

It's time again for more beer reviews. Expect even more in the coming weeks, as this site becomes better balanced amongst the arts...film, sound, and flavor! 

Remember to keep it indie, keep it local, and keep it artful! Beer is food, and food is life, so wouldn't beer be life? Goatsden thinks so. 

Here are a few more recent reviews. Try them yourself and see if you agree, and let us know! Until next time, prost!

SIXPOINT - RESIN (Brooklyn, NY) - 4.0

Amber with hints of ruby upon pouring from the can, with a huge head of foam and gorgeous lace. Nose is sweet grapefruit, as is the taste. It's a sticky mouthfeel, being gloriously hopped, but with an underlying backbone of big malts as well, lurking beneath the palate-shocking hops. Definitely one for the hardcore hop-heads here. Solid, and a good experience, for sure.

RIVERTOWN - BLUEBERRY LAGER (Lockland, OH) - 1.0

This cloudy, pale yellow light lager pours with a nice head, but no lace to note.

The aroma is definitely blueberry, but more in line with a Nehi soda than fresh. Taste is very light, and not at all complex. There's a sure blueberry-like character, but it's a weird and funky sweet that clashes with the lager grains. Maybe I'm swayed by the bottle stating prominently that there's "artificial flavor added", but this just seems wrong. The finish is despicable and chemical-like. Awful.

WIDMER BROTHERS - ROTATOR SPICED IPA (Portland, OR) - 4.0

Very light but cloudy yellow in complexion, with a full head and detailed lace. Impressive. The nose is positively delectable, being intensely fruity with a deep citrus hops ester vibe. Flavor is tough up front, with a bitter pine/grapefruit hops bite. I get a light hint of tea and spice towards the finish. Unique and quite enjoyable!

REDHOOK PILSNER (Woodinville, WA)- 3.0

A fairly typical pilsner here, pouring yellowish with a white head and big, loopy lace. The aroma is lagery and grainy - definitely heavy on the malts. Tastewise, it's rather sweet, but not overly so, with a tinge of hoppiness at the finish. Solid, if forgettable.

Summer Craft Beer Roundup, Part 2

As the endless Summer (hopefully) winds itself down, I think it best we clear away some of these warm-weather beer reviews I've been hoarding. Here's another batch. Ratings, as ever, range from a lowly 1 to a stately 5. Drink well, but drink responsibly. And drink indie! Just say "No" to corporate beer monopolies!

WIDMER BROTHERS - CITRA BLONDE SUMMER BREW (Portland, OR) - 3.0

This clean golden-amber ale pours with an attractive fine white head of carbonation, and with a light but pleasant lace on the glass. Aroma is fruit-forward. I get nicely-sweet orange. Flavor-wise, this one is citrus-hoppy, but there's no bitterness, as it's all balanced by a prominent sweet malt profile. 

BROOKLYN SUMMER ALE (Utica, NY) - 3.0

The always-dependable Brooklyn's light summer ale pours a clean golden, with wispy lace. The taste is toasty up front, with a subtle hint of citrus hops in the middle, followed by a bready finish. Enjoyable and quite nice for hot summer days.

RED HOOK - WIT (Woodinville, WA) - 2.0

This cloudy pale amber ale pours with a minimal head and lace. The aroma is malty and spicy. Upon hitting the palate, this one hits sweet and candy-like, with a hint of ginger spicing it up. Nonetheless, I found this one to be overbearingly sweet, and tough to finish.

NEW BELGIUM - FAT TIRE (Fort Collins, CO) - 3.0

This easy-drinking amber ale is now available in 16 oz. cans, and it opens with a rich and malty taste. I get toasty bread, with only a faint hint of hops. Fat Tire remains an easy-drinking session beer, and an American craft beer classic.

More Beer, No Fear...

The craft beer revolution continues! Amidst failing global markets, failing stock markets, multi-national conglomerates, and the decimation of the "middle class", craft beer has not only sustained, but actually shown growth, while the corporate monoliths slip, slip, slip...Bravo! Scales are, as always, 1 is awful, 5 is awesome. And a one, and a two, and a here-we-go!

WIDMER BROTHERS - OKTO FESTIVAL ALE (Portland, OR) - 3.5
The dependable Widmer's entry into the Oktoberfest sweepstakes opens with a cloudy amber appearance and attractive spoke-wheel lacing on the glass. Superlative presentation! The aroma is caramel and wheat, and pretty well typical for the style. But the taste, you ask? It's sweet, with the caramel malts up front alongside hints of a nutty, even almost roasty character. Very well-done, and an enjoyable brew.

BOULEVARD BULLY! PORTER (Kansas City, MO) - 4.0
This is a perfectly-executed porter, with a deep black appearance and overwhelming carbonation that leaves some extraordinary retention on the glass. First sniff reveals a nutty, roasty character, with a chocolate or cocoa overtone. Nice! Tastes burnt, with more bittersweet cocoa at the finish that seems to sweeten up as it warms. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this one, and any fans of porters or stouts will be pleased.


SHIPYARD PUMPKINHEAD (Portland, ME) - 2.0
I wanted to like this one, being from Maine and boasting of a spooky-cool Ichabod Crane character on the label. But alas, this clear and golden ale with limited head and no lace proved disappointing. The nose seemed lagery, grainy, and thin...not very pumpkin-like at all. The flavor was also mild and bland, even. Imagine a typical adjunct lager beer with some pumpkin flavoring dropped in, and you have this unimaginative brew. Thanks, but no thanks.

SHOCK TOP PUMPKIN WHEAT (St. Louis, MO) - 1.0
This seasonal macro-posing-as-craft-beer pours a cloudy copper, with an average head and very little lace. Smells of pumpkin, rather than spice. Not bad so far. But the worst is yet to come! The flavor is metallic, with a weird artificial-tasting pumpkin-spice mix. To boot, this one's watery and thin-bodied. There's something missing here. Avoid!

Harvest-time beer reviews, continued...

More beer reviews sadly neglected last month. Most of these can be likely found in most Midwestern United States-area stores, and these are all solid craft beers. Remember the system...1 is awful, 5 is awesome. in-between, well, let's just say that 2 would be bleah, 3 drinkable, and 4 worthy. Make sense? As always, judge on your own taste buds, and give these breweries your support.

GOOSE ISLAND - HARVEST ALE (Chicago, IL) - 4.0
This Fall seasonal from Chicago's fine Goose Island pours a fittingly rusty amber, and boasts of an ample head and stunningly gorgeous spiderweb lacing. The aroma is malty - like Fall leaves and grains...robust and sturdy. Tastes well-balanced, with a biscuity malt profile at first, followed by a hoppy, sharp bitter finish. Very good, and a welcome break from the usual Fall Marzen/Oktoberfest styles.

WIDMER BROTHERS - DRIFTER PALE ALE (Portland, OR) - 3.5
Nice clean pine-amber color, with a modest head. Slight but attractive lace.
Aroma is pleasantly pine, with some orange tones.
Easy-drinking hops presence, but very well-balanced with the malts. Flavor reveals more pine and orange/citrus character. Fine and likeable, this is a superb session-worthy pale ale.

GREAT DIVIDE - HIBERNATION ALE (Denver, CO) - 4.5
This dark red/amber English-style old ale pours with a massive and lovely retention on the glass. A strong start, for sure. The aroma says roasty, peaty malts. Earthy, like wet leaves and yeast. Nice. Taste is huge - strong peat-roasted malts, followed by a dry hops sharpness. The strong 8.7% alcohol isn't too apparent, but it is there underneath all the powerful flavors. I get even more of a pungent licorice, raisin, and tobacco taste upon slight warming. A potent, heavy, and complex ale. High marks here.

GUINNESS BLACK LAGER (Dublin, Ireland) - 3.5
Deep and black (as Guinness well should be), this new brew leaves a large but erratic lace on my pint glass. Nose is grainy like most lagers, barely hinting at the flavors to follow. Tastes mildly burnt/roasty - but still light on the body, as opposed to the usual heavier stout. Very enjoyable, and though I'd rather sip on a warmed Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, this one hit the spot.

Holydaze craft beer roundup!

The time is finally here for more beer reviews. I hope to catch up and post several more months worth soon, but meantime, here are some craft brews worthy of your attention, taste buds, and hard-earned cash. My rating scale goes from 1-5, with 1 being awful and 5 being awesome. As you see, nothing here was outright crap. Support craft beer, and especially your local craft brewers. On we go...

GOOSE ISLAND - PERE JACQUES 2010 (Chicago, IL) - 3.5
This bottle-aged, living beer is a Belgian-style ale, and it pours a rusty amber (with visible sediment) and a minimal head. I get virtually no lace, either. Not really impressive. The aroma is boozy, with hints of dried fruit esters and yeast. The flavor is similar, with notes of candied fruits and crusty bread. It's pleasant but heavy on the palate, and with a strong alcohol kick (8%), this one's a sipper. I like Pere Jacques, but wonder what it would taste like with a few years of aging to smooth it all out.

BOULEVARD NUT CRACKER ALE (Kansas City, MO) - 3.5
This hazy amber ale pours with medium carbonation and only a half-finger of lace on the glass. Nothing spectacular in the presentation. The nose is spiced, malty, and rich. Not bad. Upon tasting, I get more spice, and some tones of fruit and nuts, with a slightly bitter finish. Boulevard has captured some appropriate flavors for the holidays, and this ale is solid, if unremarkable.

WIDMER BROTHERS - BRRR SEASONAL ALE (Portland, OR) - 4.0
Ah, Widmer rarely disappoints my taste buds, and this clean red/amber ale pours with an impressive head and a luxuriously thick lace on the glass. The nose is caramel malty with some definitely hoppy flair tucked in there. Impressive. The flavor seems malty at first, but with a clean hops finish that places this more in line with a pale ale. Delicious and worthy!

BELL'S WINTER WHITE ALE (Comstock, MI) - 4.0
The respected Bell's presents their venerable Winter seasonal here, and it's a Belgian-style wit beer. This one pours a hazy yellow-orange with plenty of fine, white carbonation and a little retention. The aroma is definitely spices (I get a little clove) and citrus (namely orange). The taste is balanced and mild, with sharp wheat notes and orange zest playing leisurely with a little spice for warmth. Pleasant and enjoyable.

Beervember 2010!

So we are officially into the chilly months, so some darker, heavier beers are in order. This month there are some sure-fire winners from some first-rate brewers. But don't take my word for it...try them yourself. Remember that I rate beer on a 1-5 scale, with 1 being undrinkable pisswater, and 5 being nectar of Valhalla. So, it stands to reason that a 3 or 4 will still be a solid drinking experience. Support your local breweries and drink indie!

GOOSE ISLAND 312 URBAN WHEAT ALE (Chicago, IL) - 3.0
A pleasant and cloudy gold, this wheat ale boasts of an appealing banana and biscuit scent. First taste is subtle, with a slight citrus hint, though it is fairly subdued. Like most unfiltered wheat beers, this one's rather heavy and solid. It may not be frilly or challenging, but I found this one comfortable and a fine easygoing brew.

SAMUEL ADAMS - CHERRY WHEAT (Boston, MA) - 3.5
This cloudy golden-amber ale came to me highly recommended by this very magazine's illustrious beer expert/managing editor, and he knows his brews. Not to mention the fact that Sam Adams seldom disappoints, so this one's a "can't lose". What we have here is a cloudy golden ale with a strong cherry nose -- instantly appealing and unusual. My initial taste revealed, not surprisingly, tart cherries with a smooth honey undertone. Cherry wheat is balanced on the palate, and not too sweet or artificial-tasting (as are so many fruit-infused beers). Enjoyable.

NEW BELGIUM - 1554 ENLIGHTENED BLACK ALE (Fort Collins, CO) - 4.0
This deep, dark black ale is supposedly based on a 500 year old Belgian recipe, and it's an unusual and tasty ale that doesn't easily fit into a category. I get a roasty chocolate scent, which gives way to a burnt chocolate palate -- not as spicy as a traditional Belgian abbey ale, and more akin to a softer, gentler stout. It's not snappy or hoppy, but subtle, smooth, and quite tasty. This one's a delightful brew with a unique personality.

WIDMER BROTHERS HEFEWEIZEN (Portland, OR) - 4.0
Cloudy gold, and nearly amber in color, this hefe (unfiltered wheat) ale has a fruity nose up front. That's followed by a sharp and toasty tongue and a brisk, hoppy finish. Widmer's hefeweizen is a more complex wheat beer than most, and the strong, assertive personality may not be for beginners. Excellent.