Beer Review Session #1

My friend Brandon and I have been talking about doing an entire blog for beer reviews for awhile, but it seems like we never have the motivation to get it going.  This will be a little test for that.  This past weekend my friend Seth and I tasted a few beers. There were all an impulse buy at a local Beer and Wine store. We drank these out of a tulip, chilled to recommended temperature.   Here are the results (copy and pasted from my profile at Beeradvocate.com, if you like beer sign up!):




Hel & Verdoemenis (Dutch meaning Hell and Damnation/Doom/Perdition)


Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Brewed By: Brouwerij De Molen, Netherlands
ABV: 10.2%


Appearance- We liked the darkness and the healthy coffee colored head, it poured a little over a finger thick, and dissipated fairly quickly.

Smell: We loved the smell. It smelled similar to other Russian imperials (dark notes: coffee, dark chocolate, a little nutty), with a bright smell which we assume comes from the Czech hops. Very aromatic.

Taste: Tastes as a Russian imperial should, with discord through the hop choices. Definitely interesting. Not super traditional but it has it's own charm. Lacks the post drink heat typically associated with this style.

Mouthfeel: We agreed that it was smooth and a bit thick (befitting the style), but had bright almost "tingle" sensation towards the middle. Again, lack of heat the style is typically associated with.

Overall: Fantastic beer. Would get again. Very impressed.

Serving type: bottle
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5 [A+]


Dogma


Style: Herbed/Spiced Beer
Brewed By: Brewdog, Scottland
ABV: 7.8%


Appearance: Other than it's big head, it isn't much different than other ales. 
A nice golden slightly amberish color, pale head that dissipates fast. Nothing too notable.

Scent:  Smells unlike many other ales, has a deep almost porter smell. Very complex. Definite hoppy brightness.

Taste: An incredibly complex ale. Onset is herbal astringency with an almost smokey flavor (the poppy seed?) A nice taste of a sweet honey flavor towards the middle and end. Tastes better as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Short aftertaste, no real warmth. Sort of forgettable.

Overall: Definitely an experience. Interesting, but leaves something to be desired, especially with the build up the bottle gives.

Serving type: bottle
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5 [B]


Old Curmudgeon


Style: Old Ale
Brewed By: Founders, Michigan (Makers of Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
ABV: 9.8%


Apperance: Nice color, reddish brown, ruby. Very cloudy, can see the carbonation. Head had to be coaxed out. Small and dissipated quickly.

Smll: Not a whole lot of smell, what's there is very nice. Sweet smell. Little in the hop department.

Taste: Very nice. Thoroughly makes up for lack of smell and head. Very sweet at the front, sweeter fruits (perhaps apricot and cherry), ends with a burnt toffee. Surprising lack of heat for the abv. Will definitely drink again.

Mouthfeel: No heat, but it leaves you feeling refreshed. Not too thick, not too thin. Very nice consistency.

Overall: Strongly in favor of this beer, not familiar with this style but would rate this as a strong 4.

Serving type: bottle


Look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 [A-]


Captain Sig's Northwestern Ale


Style: American Amber/Red Ale
Brewed By: Rogue, Oregon (Dead Guy Ale)
ABV: 6.2%


Apperance: Nice red color befitting the style. Creamy colored head with a hint of rust. A nice looking beer.

Smell: Very bright smell, nice amount of smell (not very strong but definitely there). Has the standard hop brightness. Nothing spectacular.

Toughness: Sort of an acrid bitterness. Very hoppy. Took me and my fellow reviewer by surprise. More bitter than I'm used to with this style. Has the hoppy floweriness I associate with other styles. One of those rare beers where I'm not pleased to see my glass still is fairly full. Sweet where it doesn't make sense and bitter where it isn't wanted. If it changed up the taste a little bit and called itself an IPA it would be better.

Mouthfeel: Nothing stands out other than the hoppy bitterness/warmth. Not quite what I was expecting. The finishing warmth is nice and not expected.

Overall: Incredibly average, would get again possibly. A bit pricey for what it is.

Serving type: bottle


look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3 [C]


Trappistes Rochefort 10


Style: Quadrupel
Brewed By:Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy), Belgium (Actual monks)
ABV: 11.3%


Apperance: Dark brown to a mocha head

Smell: Smells sweet with a lot of dark fruit

Taste: Very little heat, sweetness of fruit followed by a carmel flavor. Fantastic.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, great consistency and deceptively lacking heat. Feels right.

Overall: My friend and I reviewing this might be fanboys of this. But it is as fantastic as it's hype suggests.


look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5 [A+]