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.