Beer Tasting Nov. 21-Nov. 30th
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Widmer Brothers Brewing Co - Portland OR
Snow Plow Milk Stout - 5.9% ABV, 28 IBU
Dark chocolate in color, nice creamy head, laces nicely in the glass. Scents of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Tastes the same as it smells, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Very creamy, smooth finish. This is a very drinkable beer. Probably the best holiday brew we have tried so far this year. Can tell that it is fairly low in alcohol content. That means to me that it's good for lunch :-)
About the beer: this beer was a collaborator project between the Oregon Brew Crew (one of the first home brewing groups in the nation), and Widmer Brothers
I say bottoms up...good stuff.
Widmer Brothers Brewing Co - Portland OR
Snow Plow Milk Stout - 5.9% ABV, 28 IBU
Dark chocolate in color, nice creamy head, laces nicely in the glass. Scents of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Tastes the same as it smells, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Very creamy, smooth finish. This is a very drinkable beer. Probably the best holiday brew we have tried so far this year. Can tell that it is fairly low in alcohol content. That means to me that it's good for lunch :-)
About the beer: this beer was a collaborator project between the Oregon Brew Crew (one of the first home brewing groups in the nation), and Widmer Brothers
I say bottoms up...good stuff.
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Troegs Brewing Co. - Harrisburg, PA
The Mad Elf Ale - 11% ABV
Nice red color. First sip, you taste the cherries and honey used in brewing this. Fairly certain that those tastes are natural and not added post-brewing. The alcohol can definitely be tasted, especially as you swallow. It is not overpowering, but it is certainly present. This might age well and I am thinking of storing a bottle for a bit to see how it does. Overall, it is good, but loses points for the strong alcohol taste.
Troegs Brewing Co. - Harrisburg, PA
The Mad Elf Ale - 11% ABV
Nice red color. First sip, you taste the cherries and honey used in brewing this. Fairly certain that those tastes are natural and not added post-brewing. The alcohol can definitely be tasted, especially as you swallow. It is not overpowering, but it is certainly present. This might age well and I am thinking of storing a bottle for a bit to see how it does. Overall, it is good, but loses points for the strong alcohol taste.
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I see this one has been done, so here is my take on it:
Rogue Ales
Santa's Private Reserve
Copper color, the near-nonexistent head disappeared quickly, though this seems fairly carbonated.
A bit malty, but a hops bitterness dominates at times and especially at the finish. Nothing extra-special holiday about it really, but I liked it as a decent ale. Not overfond of the hops, but it works OK.
I see this one has been done, so here is my take on it:
Rogue Ales
Santa's Private Reserve
Copper color, the near-nonexistent head disappeared quickly, though this seems fairly carbonated.
A bit malty, but a hops bitterness dominates at times and especially at the finish. Nothing extra-special holiday about it really, but I liked it as a decent ale. Not overfond of the hops, but it works OK.
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Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
This I really liked. It had a rich dark ruby-brown color, a nice head (which made its exit within a minute or so). It had a excellent complex flavor. Someone with a better palate than me can try to distinguish the components, so all I will say is that I really liked it. There was a slight hop bitterness, but was very balanced to my tastes.
Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
This I really liked. It had a rich dark ruby-brown color, a nice head (which made its exit within a minute or so). It had a excellent complex flavor. Someone with a better palate than me can try to distinguish the components, so all I will say is that I really liked it. There was a slight hop bitterness, but was very balanced to my tastes.
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Deschutes Brewery - Bend OR
JubelAle - 6.7% ABV
It's almost unfair for me to put this beer in the holiday column. I pretty much have this beer in my fridge year-round. It helped to have lived in Bend OR where you can get this beer more than seasonally.
Dark amber in color, slightly reddish in the light. Nice tan head. Malty aroma with a little bit of a gingersnap smell to it..(one of my favorite cookies)...molasses and spice. Taste is hoppy, juniper berry, slight malt, spice...and a slight bitter bite to it.
Also fun to collect the labels...has different artwork every year. This year is a nice abstract river label.
Deschutes Brewery - Bend OR
JubelAle - 6.7% ABV
It's almost unfair for me to put this beer in the holiday column. I pretty much have this beer in my fridge year-round. It helped to have lived in Bend OR where you can get this beer more than seasonally.
Dark amber in color, slightly reddish in the light. Nice tan head. Malty aroma with a little bit of a gingersnap smell to it..(one of my favorite cookies)...molasses and spice. Taste is hoppy, juniper berry, slight malt, spice...and a slight bitter bite to it.
Also fun to collect the labels...has different artwork every year. This year is a nice abstract river label.
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I have to say Deschutes Brewery - Jubel Ale is favorite of mine. I watch for this beer to arrive every year in November and buy as much as I can to last. It has a great color and full of hops and a hint of juniper, long lasting finish
I have to say Deschutes Brewery - Jubel Ale is favorite of mine. I watch for this beer to arrive every year in November and buy as much as I can to last. It has a great color and full of hops and a hint of juniper, long lasting finish
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I just posted my review of Rogue Santa's Private Reserve at www.mikelovesbeer.com (cheap plug) and here it is.
Name - Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Ale
Country - United States
Type - American Red Ale
Appearance - Foggy amber color with a nice sized white head.
Smell - Earthy and pine smells to it.
Taste - More earthy hops with a slight tastes of spices but not overly present. Subtle taste of citrus, lemon mostly.
This is my first winter beer of the season and it was a good one. The spices and earthy hops were there but not overpowering. The citrus tastes help balance it out and make this a very good winter ale.
Overall Grade - B+
I just posted my review of Rogue Santa's Private Reserve at www.mikelovesbeer.com (cheap plug) and here it is.
Name - Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Ale
Country - United States
Type - American Red Ale
Appearance - Foggy amber color with a nice sized white head.
Smell - Earthy and pine smells to it.
Taste - More earthy hops with a slight tastes of spices but not overly present. Subtle taste of citrus, lemon mostly.
This is my first winter beer of the season and it was a good one. The spices and earthy hops were there but not overpowering. The citrus tastes help balance it out and make this a very good winter ale.
Overall Grade - B+
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KEEP POSTING HOLIDAY BREWS HERE!!! Although the beer tasting was only through the 30th, many have not had the chance to get their holiday brews yet! Feel free to keep the holiday spirit alive through December!!
KEEP POSTING HOLIDAY BREWS HERE!!! Although the beer tasting was only through the 30th, many have not had the chance to get their holiday brews yet! Feel free to keep the holiday spirit alive through December!!
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I have mine to try still and will get it up as soon as it has been consumed.
I have mine to try still and will get it up as soon as it has been consumed.
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Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
This I really liked. It had a rich dark ruby-brown color, a nice head (which made its exit within a minute or so). It had a excellent complex flavor. Someone with a better palate than me can try to distinguish the components, so all I will say is that I really liked it. There was a slight hop bitterness, but was very balanced to my tastes.
I almost bought some of this to try now I will have to.
[quote=Rick]
Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
This I really liked. It had a rich dark ruby-brown color, a nice head (which made its exit within a minute or so). It had a excellent complex flavor. Someone with a better palate than me can try to distinguish the components, so all I will say is that I really liked it. There was a slight hop bitterness, but was very balanced to my tastes.
[/quote]
I almost bought some of this to try now I will have to.
