A Friday night of tastings

Bill and Al are at it again!  After a great dinner at Nagoya Steakhouse in Port Clinton, it was off to Bill's house to enjoy a few microbrews.  Here they are:

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron (Malt Beverage Ages on Palo Santo Wood)
12% ABV
Very dark color, big head.  Sweet smell.
According to Dogfish.com this beer is highly roasty and has hints of caramel and vanilla.

Bill - "It smells good and tastes good, but I don't like the aftertaste."
Alan - "The aftertaste is similar to what burnt wood would taste like."
Bill 4.5, Alan 3.5.  Bill said he would have given it a six if it wasn't for the aftertaste.

Ithaca Beer Co. Apricot Wheat

Very light color, small head.  Aroma is strong of apricots.
Bill - "A sound fruit beer."
Alan - "A bit weak, in my opinion, but I shouldn't expect too much from a fruit wheat beer."
Bill 5.5, Alan 5.5.

Ephemere Ale
Golden color, bubbly, strong apple aroma.  Very large head for such a light beer.
Bill - "The smell is much more than the bite."
Alan - "Wow!  You can smell the apples right away.  The apple flavor is not as strong as I would have liked, but it's definitely there.  It has a few other spices that blend nicely with the apples."
Bill - 4, Alan 4.5

Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde
Pale in color, very effervescent.  Not a lot of head.  Lacks a true aroma.
For fun, Bill wouldn't let Alan know what kind of fruit was in the beer.  After several wrong guesses Alan grabbed the bottle.
Bill - "It's not powerful, it's smooth.  It's below average."
Alan - "I barely taste any strawberry, but it's not awful to drink."
Bill - 4, Alan 4.

Dundee Summer Wheat Ale
Pale in color, semi-bubbly.  Very little head and a pleasant smell.
Bill - "Smells good and tastes good.  It has a good aftertaste.  I like it."
Alan - "A very good aroma.  The beer is tingly on your tongue."
Bill 5.5, Alan 5.5.

Smutty Nose Summer Weizen Ale
Big head and pale color.  Cloudy.  Smells a bit sour.
Bill - "The beer is tingly on my tongue."
Alan - "More taste than the last wheat beer.  I like it!"
Bill 6, Alan 6.

And, the final beer of the night:

Great Lakes Nosferatu
8% ABV
Massive head, but not thick.  Smells of high alcohol.  Good redish color.
Bill - "Love the hops, the hoppies make me happy!"
Alan - "Good taste, bites on first taste.  It's very interesting.  A nice beer from a great company."
Bill 7, Alan 7.

Off to Milan....

The Milan Brewing Company is having an afternoon of beer tasting today.  We will be in attendance.  Stop on out and interact with your favorite beer critics!

A special thanks to Norwalk Reflector reporter Aaron Krause for publicizing this event.  Check out the information in his story at:

http://www.norwalkreflector.com/content/milans-brewing-heritage-tap-milan-museum

Hope to see you all there!

Alan and Bill

A night at Maumee Bay Brewing Company, Toledo

So, one night in August Bill got us four tickets to a Mudhens game.  All four of us decided to try all the beers they had on tap.  It was quite the adventure.  Please, read on...

Buckeye Beer
5.2 ABV, 14 IBU's

Bill - Better than mass-produced American Beer.
Alan - Refreshing, Good.
Paige - Crisp and Zippy.
Sarah - Light and Refreshing.

Bill 5, Alan 5, Paige 6, Sarah 6.5

Glass City Pale Ale
5.7 ABV, 37 IBU's

Bill - Nice grapefruit flavor, like the citrus.
Alan - Ok, not great.  Not really and IPA guy I guess.
Paige - Not skunky, not as good as the first one.
Sarah - Likes the front end.

Bill 6, Alan 4.5, Paige 4.5, Sarah 4

India Pale Ale
7.0 ABV, 80 IBU's

Bill - no comment given.
Alan - no comment given.
Paige - Strong and manly.
Sarah - Srong but smooth.

Bill 5.5, Alan 4.5, Paige 5, Sarah 5

Fallen Timber Red
5.0 ABV, 31 IBU's

Bill - Really liked (bought a growler)
Alan - Smokey.
Paige - Good with salt.
Sarah - Kinda sweet.

Bill 6.5, Alan 4, Paige 6, Sarah 6

Summer Stinger
4.8 ABV, 181 IBU's

Bill - Very average.
Alan - The write up is more impressive than the beer.
Paige - Boring, not spectacular.
Sarah - Not bad.

Bill 5, Alan 4.5, Paige 4, Sarah 5.5

Dry Irish Stout
4.9 ABV, 38 IBU's

Bill - I think I could finish this beer.
Alan - Me likey.
Paige - Cappuccino chic.
Sarah - Takes like happy.

Bill 4.5, Alan 7, Paige 7.5, Sarah 7

Amarillo Brillo
8.4 ABV, 101 IBU's

Bill - This is the bomb diggity!
Alan - I like it.  Tickles your tongue, effervescent aftertaste.
Paige - Dry and sweet, orangy, I don't think I like it.
Sarah - Dry, yummy.

Bill 6.5, Alan 6.5, Paige 4, Sarah 6

Total Eclipse of the Breakfast Stout
9.1 ABV, 31 IBU's

Bill - Too much coffee taste.
Alan - Smells good, WOW, alcoholic coffee.
Paige - Deliciouso!
Sarah - Smells divine, tastes like strong coffee with syrup.

Bill 3, Alan 6.5, Paige 9, Sarah 8.5

Another variety six pack from Anderson's in Toledo

Agave Wheat - Colorado
4.2 ABV

Alan - Smell was awful, but taste was ok.  Kinda sweet, interesting aftertaste.
Bill - Very similar to Boulevard Beer (Alabama), smooth yet bold on the tongue.
Alan 4.5, Bill 6, Sarah 6, Paige 5.

Sea Dog Wild Blueberry, Pugsly Brewery, Portland, Maine
4.7 ABV

Alan - WOW!  Did this beer smell like blueberries.  Luckily, the flavor was blueberry as well.  The taste was strong, but not overpowering.  A refreshing beer to end the evening on.  Too bad we drank it second.
Sarah - Nummy!
Bill - Tasted as advertised, however it's just an average beer.
Paige - I would rank this higher if I liked blueberries.
Alan 6.5, Bill 5, Sarah 9, Paige 6

Fort Collins Brewery Smoked Amber Lager, Colorado

Alan - Man, the smokey smells smacks you in the face like an ex-girlfriend.  The flavor reminds me of the time I licked a grill grate on a dare.
Bill - Smells strong and tastes like burnt wood.
Paige - Kinda boring.
Sarah - Smells bad, tastes worst.
Alan 2.5, Bill 3, Sarah 0.5, Paige 4

Troegenator DoubleBock Beer, Pennsylvania
8.2 ABV

Alan - Not much of a smell.  Smooth on tongue, weird aftertaste.  Kinda bitter on the end.
Bill - Rich amber color, doesn't mind the aftertaste.  Impressed with smoothness considering high-alcohol content.  I bet if I liked bocks I would rate it higher.
Paige - Ehh, I don't know.  I don't care for it.
Sarah - Meh.

Alan 4, Bill 5, Paige 4, Sarah 2

Sea Dog Raspberries, Pugsly Brewery, Portland, Maine
4.7 ABV

Alan - Smells a bit like raspberries.  Good flavor.  Very refreshing, just like the blueberry.
Bill - Smell not as strong as expected.  Love the taste more than the Sea Dog blueberry.  I would buy a fruit variety pack from the group.
Paige - What kinda fruit is it?  Kinda bitter.
Sarah - Fruity buy acidic.

Alan 6, Bill 6, Paige 3, Sarah 4

Black Chocolate Stout, Brooklyn Brewery, Utica, NY

Alan - Smells like coffee and chocolate.  Great dark, rich color.  Smooth on the tongue and tremendous malty, coffee/chocolate flavor.  My favorite of the night.  The beer works its way up the glass like a Guinness.
Bill - Tolerable for a stout.
Paige - It is a little strong.  I'd like some cream with my coffee.  You must think that we will like it because you gave us so much.
Sarah - Strong like bull.

Alan 7, Bill 4, Paige 3, Sarah 5

A beer night with Dustin Stower

This beer night happened while Paige and Bill's cousin Dustin was up from Florida.  It was the beginning of July.


Right Brian Brewery Cherry Wheat  (Traverse City, Mi)

*Three week old growler

None of us tasted any cherry, disappointing after hearing about this brewery for so long.

Bill-5, Alan-3.5, Paige-6, Sara-6, Dustin-4 

Mackinaw City Brewery Belgian Wheat (Traverse City, Mi)

*Three week old growler

Bill-Better at the Bar when we visited, I’d give it a 9 fresh from the tap.

Bill-7.5, Alan-5, Paige-6, Sara-5, Dustin-3 

Hopping Frog Boris Stout (Akron, Ohio)

Bill- Best stout I’ve had, Alan- Delicious

Bill-5, Alan-7.5, Dustin-8  

Bells Amber Ale (Michigan)

Bill-6, Alan-5.5, Paige-3, Sara-7, Dustin-6

Bells Lager of the Lakes (Michigan)

Sarah- tastes like swine piss

Bill-7, Alan-4.5, Paige-3, Sara-1, Dustin-4.5  

Stevens Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat Ale (Wisconsin)    

Bill-8, Alan-6.5, Paige-4, Sara-3, Dustin-5

Two Brothers Dortmuder Lager (Illinois)

Alan- Did you give me a Bud Light? Sara- Wet Dog, Paige- Horse Piss, Guys- Girls are drunk

Bill-4, Alan-3.5, Paige-1, Sara-2, Dustin-4.5  

Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Ale (Maryland)

Paige- Smells like playdough

Bill-6, Alan-5.5, Paige-6, Sara-5, Dustin-5.5      

Flying Dog In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen (Maryland)

Bill-5, Alan-2.5, Paige-2, Sara-0, Dustin-2  

Wow! We need to update!

Hey everyone!

Bill and I have been very busy tasting and trying new beers, but we haven't had the time to update our blog in a while.  We apologize for the delay and will have some new beer information up later this week!

Stay thirsty and cool this summer!

Alan

TommyKnocker Night

Bill and I are sampling six beers from the TommyKnocker Brewery, located in Idaho Springs, Colorado.  Unfortunately they didn't send these to us, we had to buy them.

Here we go....

Jack Whacker Wheat Ale

Very light in color, very light in taste.
Tingles on the tongue, probably from the lemon used during the brewing process.
Very little head, not much carbonation.
The flavor quickly disappears.

Ratings:  Bill, 4.  Alan 3.5.  Bill said "Nothing Special, except for the taste on the tongue."  Alan said "Too much like Bud Light for a Wheat Beer."

Pick Axe Pale Ale

Amberish in color, very sour smell.
Small head with decent carbonation.
Not as good a feeling on the tongue, it's more bitter than we expected.

Ratings:  Bill, 2.5.  Alan, 2.5.  Both agreed "We wanted to rip the taste off our tongues with our teeth."

Alpine Glacier (Lager)

Light golden color, medium head after the pour.
Smell was awful, like the beer had rotted or something.
Taste was very weak.  Not what a lager should be.

Ratings:  Bill 2.5, Alan 2.0.  The label says "brew contains the finest quality ingredients in the Tommyknocker tradition."  Thus far, this tradition isn't anything worth celebrating.

Butthead Doppelbock Lager

Very dark brown color, big head.
Both Bill and Alan quickly picked up the scent of the caramel.
Great flavor, very tasty.  Very smooth in the mouth.

Ratings:  Bill 6.0, Alan, 6.5.  Both thought this was the best beer thus far, and both would drink a six pack.

Ornery Amber (Lager)

Medium Brown color, no head to speak of, very little carbonation.
Nice, pleasant smell.
The initial drink fills your mouth with bubbles, and it is very tasty.  It is smooth and flavorful.

Ratings: Bill, 5.0, Alan 4.5.  Bill says "A decent beer, I would maybe buy a three pack."  Alan said "Not the best, not the worst."

Maple Nut Brown Ale

Dark brown color, medium-sized head, little carbonation.
Smell is nutty and pleasant.
Alan was very impressed with the flavor and finish of this beer.  The chocolate malts make the difference.

Bill 2.5, Alan 6.5.  Alan said "Liked it a lot."  Bill said "I did not enjoy them."

After tasting the six beers, Alan thought the brewery did an ok job.  As most breweries do, there are some that they are known for, and there are some that just fill the stable.  Bill says "Go for the Butthead," while Alan says "Butthead or Maple, both were tasty."

A beer making adventure

Hello again everyone!

My father and I have bottled another batch of beer today.  This time around we made wheat-style beer.  It should be ready to drink after four to five weeks or lagering, so right now it is sitting in the fridge.

An Epic Beer Adventure

Hello all!

This past weekend Bill and I stopped by the Quay Street Brewery in Port Huron, Michigan.  Bill was officiating the Port Huron vs. Marion arena football game, and our wives were with their friends at a bachelorette party in Putnam County.  I was lucky enough to follow along, play alternate official for the game, and enjoy some great brews after.

Two other officials from the game, Matt and Les, came out with us, and the night was very enjoyable.  Bill and I discussed the many different beers we sampled after the evening, and our comments will be posted as soon as we get together to type them up.

Dundee Irish Red (USA, NY)

Dundee Irish Red (USA)

ABV - 5.0%

Appearance – Darker Red than the last beer, the McGuire's Irish Red.

Aroma – Bill said the smell was not bad.  Alan was appalled, saying "It smells moldy!"  Bill said "Try it."

Taste - Malty and sweet.  It tastes much better than it's smell.

Mouthfeel – A tiny bit harsh, much like Tiger Woods' putting stroke.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 5.5, Alan a 5.0. Bill said "much better than McGuire's Irish Red."  Alan said "so-so."

McGuire's Irish Red (USA, Florida)

McGuire's Irish Red (USA)

ABV - 4.5%

Appearance – Red, very white head.

Aroma – Not bad, but not memorable.

Taste - The initial taste was harsh, but not bitter.  However, it starts being more enjoyable the more you drink. Very malty. 

Mouthfeel - Smooth.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 4.5, Alan a 4.0. Alan though the beer was disappointing, saying "Not what I expected from a handcrafted Irish Red from an Irish Pub."  Bill said "Good drinkability, but disappointing."

Never Summer Ale (USA, Colorado)

Never Summer Ale (USA, Colorado)

ABV - Unknown

Appearance – Deep ruby red.  A lot of head, considering the pour down the side of the glass.

Aroma – Sweet.

Taste - The dark carmel malt added during the brewing process makes this beer a bit bitter.  The flavor is not as intense as the Old Man tasting before.

Mouthfeel – Ok.  It didn't leave a lasting impression.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 5.5, Alan a 5.0. Bill said "I like it better than the last one."  Alan didn't say much as he wasn't that impressed.

Winter Ale Old Man (USA, NY)

Winter Ale Old Man (USA, NY)

ABV - 7.7 %

Appearance – Dark brown, caramel.  Good head and nice carbonation.

Aroma – Sweet and inviting.

Taste - From the first taste it has an overwhelming flavor of coffee.  The taste is not bitter and the flavor sticks around for a while.

Mouthfeel – Syrup-like texture.  Thicker, cling to your mouth like it clings to the glass.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 5.0, Alan a 7.5.  Alan said "This is my favorite thus far.  The flavor is intense and the coffee tones are enjoyable.  A very-good, well-crafted beer that would warm you up during a cold night."  Bill said "By taste this is a three, but I can tell it's a good beer.  It tastes like a mild Guinness."

Blue Heron Pale Ale (USA - NY)

Blue Heron Pale Ale 

ABV - 6.1 %

Appearance – Medium-light gold color.  There was a lot of head, and the carbonation was heavy.

Aroma – Strong scents of grain.

Taste - Very hoppy.  The hoppy taste lingers long after you swallow.

Mouthfeel – Stings the tongue at first taste, finishes smooth.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 2.0, Alan a 6.0. Bill said "This beer makes my mouth dry."  Alan, a fan of Pale Ales, enjoyed this beer.  Bill is not a fan of Pale Ales, but he is trying.

Tire Bite Golden Ale (USA, Maryland)

Tire Bite Golden Ale (USA)

ABV - 5.1 % (IBU 16.5)

Appearance – Golden, medium-light.

Aroma – Bill said the smell was enjoyable.  I thought it smelled a bit sour.

Taste - This beer is very harsh on the tongue, but it finishes with a nice hoppy flavor.

Mouthfeel – Harsh on the tongue, but smooth finish.  Doesn't leave anything behind.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 7.0, Alan a 6.0. Bill said "Yes, I would drink another one of these."  Alan wouldn't refuse one at a friend's house.

Another round of tasting tonight..

Hello everyone!


Tonight will be Bill and Al's second tasting adventure.  We plan to taste a few Irish Reds, a beer or two from Samuel Adams, and some uncommon beers from all around the USA.  Check back later tonight for our tasting notes.


Enjoy!

The Excellent Adventure Begins...

Hello everyone!

Bill Foltz and I have started a beer-tasting adventure. We have decided to taste different styles and flavors of beers. Our method of selecting what to drink is single bottles from various stores and sampling them.

Tonight is our first tasting...stay turned for more updates.

Enjoy!

Bill and Alan

Lion Lager (Sri Lanka)

Lion Lager (Sri Lanka)

ABV - 4.8 %

Appearance – The color was a medium tan. The head was large and the foam remained for much of the glass.

Aroma – The smell was spoiled.

Taste - Weak flavor. No aftertaste as there was not real taste.

Mouthfeel – Thin and light, carbonation was good.

Overall Impression (1 to 10) – Bill rated this a 3.0, Alan a 2.5. Both agreed we would not want another glass. Bill added "not what he expected from a lager called Lion."

James Boag's Premium Lager

James Boag's Premium Lager

ABV - 5.0%

Appearance – This beer has a medium-light golden color.

Aroma – Pleasant aroma.

Taste - The taste started out well, as the flavor came through on the first sip. However, the beer quickly lost it's good flavor the longer we drank. It didn't last through the entire glass.

Mouthfeel – Smooth and mild, good carbonation.

Overall Impression – Bill - 6, Alan 5.5. Alan says, "Would drink again in a pinch."

Czechvar Premium Czech Lager (Czech)

Czechvar Premium Czech Lager (Czech)

ABV - 5.0%

Appearance – Medium golden color. Very little head, not much foam.

Aroma – Average smell, nothing to write home about.

Taste - The flavor started sour but grew on you as you drank more.

Mouthfeel – Semi-smooth.

Overall Impression – Bill 5, Alan 6.5. Alan said "Zingy."

Estrella Damm (Barcelona)

Estrella Damm (Barcelona)

ABV - 5.4%

Appearance – Medium light color. Good head and a foam that clings to the class.

Aroma – Pleasant.

Taste - Mild, pleasant, bitter taste. The flavor lingered for a while and the aftertaste was great.

Mouthfeel – Smooth and silky.

Overall Impression – Bill 7, Alan 7. Bill and Alan agreed that "If we had to buy a six-pack of one of the beers we drank tonight, this would be the one."

33 Export (Vietnam)

33 Export (Vietnam)

ABV - 4.5%

Appearance – Medium golden color. Not much head or foam. Not much carbonation.

Aroma – Average, nothing spectacular.

Taste - Not much flavor, very similar to Natural Light. The aftertaste is actually better than the first taste.

Mouthfeel – Semi-smooth.

Overall Impression – Bill 4, Alan 3.5. Bill and Alan think "this beer lacks exceptional quality." Bill, however, "wouldn't refuse one if it was free."

Kronenbourg 1664 (France)

Kronenbourg 1664 (France)

ABV - 5.2%

Appearance – Medium golden color. Good head with a foam that clung to the glass.

Aroma – Perplexing. It started out with a very bad smell. However, a second sniff was a lot better.

Taste - The first sip was bad. But, once again, this beer snuck up on you. The rest of the glass was enjoyable with a mild, sweet flavor full of fruits and floral tones. The aftertaste was floral.

Mouthfeel – Smooth.

Overall Impression – Bill 6.5, Alan 6.5. Bill made an interesting observation, saying "If you stopped after the first smell or first taste you would think this beer was awful. It is a weird beer." Alan's thoughts, "Complex."

Weihenstephaner (Germany)

Weihenstephaner (Germany)

ABV - 5.1%

Appearance – Light golden color. Great head and long-lasting foam.

Aroma – Sweet.

Taste - This beer had a classic taste. It was sweet.

Mouthfeel – Full of body.

Overall Impression – Bill 6, Alan 6. Bill summed up the last beer of the evening with a wise saying - "This tastes like what I expect from a beer that comes from the homeland." Alan just nodded in agreement.