Dogfish Head: Noble Rot

I've wanted to try this beer since I saw the video that Dogfish Head posted when they were finalizing the process. They showed the trip that Sam took, the abundance of must, and discussed the complexity of making such a brew. They described it as something relating to being the closest thing to a 50/50 hybrid of beer and wine.

Now, I've had a lot of beers that have been brewed, aged, or both, within the wine world in regards to ingredients and barrels. A number of beers are aged in red wine barrels, some sours are aged in Chardonnay casks, etc. The list really can go on and on, but excluding this beer, when was the last time you heard of brewing with grape must? The last beer I had that I immediately thought, "Oh man, I'd give this to a white wine drinker and they'd be hooked," was The Bruery's White Oak (the original batch). I bought it in 2009, and finally popped it open in October 2011. I figured approximately 2 years was best because that's what the back of the bottle suggested, and boy, was it perfect. It was clean, acidic but buttery, and was definitely worth the wait. Here is the picture I took the night I had it:

It may not look like much, but it was very much relatable to the flavor profile of a white wine. I'm 99.9% positive that this is because I let it sit and mellow out for two years. I remember hearing how boozy and bourbon-overpowering it was back when it was first bottled. The vanilla and bourbon melded into a very different flavor during those years, which I feel attributed to its "winesque" nature. Anyways, that was the last one where I really thought that it would be a great "hybrid." This leads me to the Dogfish Head Noble Rot. I thought that the Noble Rot would be pretty similar to that, in one way or another. I know that some of the Russian River sours I've had also share a similar flavor profile; this is especially true because of they were sours and were aged in wine barrels or oak casks.

Upon opening the Noble Rot and carefully pouring it into my Dogfish Head goblet/chalice, the beer is clean. Americans love "clear beer," and this is no exception. However, I'm sure if I wasn't very careful some things may have been shaken up a bit. I don't see sediment on the bottom of the bottle, but it may be minimal. Either way, the beer pours a light straw color that is reminiscent of the now defunct Moonshot (sorry Rhonda). I'll be perfectly honest: I'm surprised by the color. I understand that this is somewhat of a Saison, but I really thought it would be darker because of the must. Also, I think the bluish-purple bleed down the bottle on the label may have affected how I had pictured the beer.

That is not an optical illusion, folks. The beer really is that light. The aromas coming off of this are very similar to a farmhouse ale. The funky, yet balanced, fruity aromas blend with the aromas of a white grape juice. The only difference here is that this should not be filtered and pasteurized like a white grape juice. Knowing (not personally) Sam, I bet he left all of the gritty pieces and stems in while he brewed. It's what he does. Remember the bees in the honey? Anyways, time to swirl it around and give it a sip.

Immediately, and I mean immediately, the bitter grapes hit the tongue. I've let this warm up quite a bit, so I begin to cough a bit the same way I do when I take a big swig of white wine that has migrated more towards room temperature. Does it taste more like a wine than a beer? No. Does it taste more like a beer than a wine? Not at all. I am appalled--yet I really don't know why I should be--that Sam could do this. This brew is so original and funky, and I love it!

This is most definitely not an everyday beer. This is something to drink for a special occasion; yet if you can get your hands on one, I suggest you do so and save it for such an occasion. It'll surprise both your diehard beer-drinking buddies and your "I don't like beer," friends. Technically this is a beer, but the complexity in aroma and flavor will make many think twice about what it really is. Serve it up with some friends and discuss how awesome life is. Cheers!

Samuel Adams: Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout, Batch No. 1

You know, it's funny how things work out. I've been wanting to return to News, Views, and Brews for quite some time. As I've said in previous posts, my absence from posting in this blog is not because I've stopped drinking beer. Quite the contrary, in fact. My last post was in February, and I had just started a new job; things were definitely looking up. Working a job, full-time, for 40 hours a week really does take a lot out of a man. My weekends were spent enjoying my beers and I neglected the blog for a bit. Transport to December: it's time to resurrect News, Views, and Brews.

With all of the social media out there these days, many of my beer pictures have found their way to Instagram. It takes less time to share them that way, and if somebody truly cares what a beer is like, they know how to get into contact with me. I have since realized how unsatisfactory this logic is, so my return has arrived. There will be many more additions to NVaB in the coming weeks and months; keep your eyes peeled and your taste buds ready!

Now, the beer. This brew pours, as expected, a deep brown. I would like to say black, but I can tell that it is not entirely black when held to light. As I move the beer to and from the light, the aromas coming off of it are amazing. Just as the bottle says, this guy is an aromatic spice bomb. Ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon are figuratively flowing over the lip of the goblet. I smell the clove as well, but it is most definitely not as predominant as the others.  A cappuccino-colored head leaves minimal lacing as it falls down the glass. Going off of aroma and visuals, I'm very excited to give this beer a shot.

Keep in mind, I'm drinking this a bit cold. I feel this beer, as with most stouts, will be much more complex as it warms up. While cold, I get nutmeg, anise, and even some dark fruit (no lie, even almost a hint of raspberry or blackberry) flavors on the front that merges into a spicy, cinnamony, slightly bitter finish. Roasted maltiness mixing with all the spices really presents a great beer-drinking experience.

This is the type of beer I refer to as a sleeper. No, it's not a Sleeper Agent Cylon like Boomer. What I mean by this is that it's relatively high in ABV and does not taste like it. Where is the booze flavor in this beer? It is well-hidden and ready to strike. It'll sneak up on you quickly, especially those lacking in some sort of adequate alcohol tolerance. The brew ranks in a 9.0% ABV, so enjoy it responsibly. The gingerbread man on the label wasn't responsible, and look what happened to him!

I like this a lot Boston Beer Company. I feel that winter ales, especially warmer style ales like this stout, have a well-deserved niche in the holiday booze market. Properly channeling this with a great beer is something every brewery attempts to do. Some are successful, some are not. I truly expected nothing less with all of the history under the belt of Samuel Adams. Go out and find it. Give it a shot. If you like stouts, or winter ales, get your hands on one. Damn, it's good to be back.

Epic Brewing Company: Brainless on Peaches

As I prepare myself for Inland Empire Brewing Company's Third Anniversary tomorrow, I figured I'd have a delicious brew to wind down after a busy, yet very positive, week. As I visited my friend Stan at my local bottle shop, I saw three brews from Epic Brewing Company that I'd never seen before. In fact, I hadn't even heard that brewery's name until I saw the bottles. I was immediately drawn to them and I had to purchase two of them. Naturally, this is one of the recent purchases. It had a tag hanging on the neck saying this beer won a silver medal at the GABF (Great American Beer Festival) in 2011. That was enough to sell me.

The beer pours a delicious-looking apricot color. Minimal lacing around the glass with a frothy egg-white head, the brew is quite pretty to be honest. The aromas on the nose are Belgian candied sugar, oak, and definitely peachy fruitiness. Obviously the bottle says all of these things, but that is truthfully what the nose consists of. Maybe some chamomile, but overall it smells fruity. Upon tasting, it's actually somewhat bitter on the front of the tongue; however this is immediately countered with a very oaky flavor (delicious). The finish is fruity, dry, and somewhat bitter. Not a hoppy bitterness though. More like a canned peach flavor. Overall I think this is a really good fruit beer. Notice I did not mention booze or alcohol in any part of the description. I cannot even pick out that flavor, or "hotness" in the throat, in this brew at all. Ladies and Gents, be warned! Ranking in at 10.7%, this is a monster that hides its booze very well.

Epic Brewing Company, you have earned yourself another fan today. Time to search out everything I can find from you. Folks, I would highly suggest you do the same. I really do not think you will regret it. Salt Lake City, it's about time you start making, no pun intended, epic beers. This is definitely one of them. Well done, Epic B.C.

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project: Hedgerow Bitter

Oh, Pretty Things! Personally, I have become quite the fan of Pretty Things. The first time I had one of their beers was at Stone Bistro and Gardens. I was there with some friends, and I discovered that they specifically preferred saisons over any other style of brew. I quickly gathered the bottle list and picked a saison for us all to try. It was Pretty Things' Jack D'Or. I had no idea it was their staple brew, but nevertheless, all four of us enjoyed it greatly. One thing I like about this brewery is their sticker over the bottle cap. A minute detail, yes, yet I still love finding that sticker on every bottle of Pretty Things I pick up. Here's why: it difereciates their bottles from any other bottle on the shelf. Their artistic labels may blend in with other labels if you aren't looking carefully. However, you know it's a Pretty Things bottle by looking at the neck and top of the bottle. You will find the teal band with red flowers and the Pretty Things shield on top.

Now that I've effectively shown my appreciation for the "Beer and Ale Project" myself, it's time to get to the beer. The beer pours a golden light amber color with about an inch of head, with decent head retention on the glass. The aromas present are slightly spicy with hints of clove and yeasty fruit (similar to that presented in aromas from a Belgian yeast strain). I don't get much hop character in the aroma.

The flavor is dead on, as it reminds me of an English style bitter pub ale (and yes I know that is what these brewers are going for). I would say that this beer "tastes as it smells," but I feel that doesn't effectively describe it because of the minuscule bitter aspect of the beer! The bitter dryness presented in these types of beers is nothing like the West Coast hoppy bitterness that breweries don't let us forget out here. It's nice to have something different, while still classic, from Massachusetts. Additionally, though, as you progress in drinking the beer the bitterness seems to fade away as the tongue gets used to it. It still lingers in the aftertaste, but it's not as predominant as it was upon first tasting the brew.

Go get some of their brews if you can find them. They're worth it in my regard. I like it, Pretty Things. I have three more of your beers to enjoy soon. I'm most looking forward to "Our Finest Regards," as barley wine-styled ales are quite the favorite of mine. Folks, I'm spending my Thursday evening enjoying Pretty Things; I hope you are spending your Thursday in similar fashion.

Samuel Adams (Boston Brewing Co): Griffin's Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale

I was actually pretty excited to find this brew. Apparently, from what I read, Samuel Adams had four brews that were going to be terribly difficult to get out here in California; this brew just happened to be one of the four. However, I presume it was all self-produced hype from Samuel Adams because I have heard of a number of places out here that have them. Either way, since I am a sucker for Barley Wine styled ales, I was intrigued by this one. Apparently the brew is aged in "Toasted Oak." Let's give it a try.

The beer is clean. You know us Americans, we are obsessed with clear beer. What I am surprised about is that the bottom of the bottle has absolutely no sediment in it. I find this rather strange for a "barley wine," with bottle-conditioning and all. Either way, it's definitely filtered; quite honestly, I do not necessarily know how I feel about it. I suppose it does not matter too much, but I just don't like the idea of filtering something like a barley wine. Oh well. The head leaves almost no retention around the glass as it drops away.

The aroma is quite plain to be honest. I smell malts, some citrusy fruit notes, and toffee. That's all I get. I don't particularly smell any sort of toasted oak, but perhaps it'll come across in the flavor of the brew.

Wow. This guy packs a punch! The flavor actually surprised me because of the beer's lack of aroma. I get a huge grapefruit on the front, almost like a glass of ruby red. Then I do, in fact, get some oak mixed with a lot of alcohol. The grapefruit flavor is, for me, the strongest and most apparent in the brew. It is quite complex in flavors, but the finish is even bitter with undeniably lingering grapefruit notes. Sometimes when there are just a hodgepodge of ingredients, they can cancel each other out and only a small number of them are actually noticeable. I think this is one of those beers. It's not bad in any sense of the word, but it's also very boozy. Is it balanced? I would say so. Would I recommend it to others? Absolutely, especially if you like bitter citrus. Would I buy it again? Probably not, but never say never. Let's not forget the fact that it's a blonde barley wine and just that alone takes talent to produce. When I really think about it, hats off to Sam Adams for brewing some beers that are more complex than a basic lager or porter. If you can find it, give it a shot. At 11.5% ABV, it's worth the $6.00 you'll spend on it. I'm going to grab the other three and compare them all. Cheers.

Deschutes Brewery (Boulevard Brewing Co.) Conflux Series: No 2

"The Conflux Series: Where we unite with fellow craft beer zealots separated by distance, but not passion, to create unlikely, one-time only collaborations." -Beer Bottle

I read somewhere that this beer is quite the treat, and considering it's Halloween and I don't really eat candy, I thought I'd treat myself. The label describes the contents inside the bottle as a citrusy, smooth white India Pale Ale which combines Deschutes' hop skills with Boulevard's deft wheat touch. It also says it's brewed with orange peel and coriander with spices added. Naturally, with the sudden heat wave Southern California has been subject to (big surprise, right?), this brew seems just perfect for the occasion.

The appearance is a clean light golden color. I've never had any of Boulevard's beers, but I was expecting at least a bit of cloudiness considering the whole "deft wheat touch" aspect of the label. This is neither here nor there because appearance isn't that big of a deal to me (or professional beer judges to be honest). There is a nice white foamy head which leaves a nice retention around the glass. Speaking of the glass, since a beer geek loves matching glassware to the beer they are consuming at that precise moment, I busted out my Deschutes Brewery Public House pint glass for this one.

As far as aromas go, I get the citrus on the nose with some grassy aromas. By grassy, I am referring to certain different varietals of hops which contain aromas similar to, well, grass. Green and earthy does not mean bad when it comes to hops. I can also smell some slight bitterness on the nose as well.

Wow, this is definitely a delicious brew! It starts off fruity and citrusy as I would expect, but then suddenly gets a bit spicy. I do not mean "hot" spicy, but spicy in terms of flavor. As the spices settle, the hops power through and the finish leaves the mouth marginally bitter and dry. As I continue to enjoy the beer, the dryness seems less predominant in the finish. I would definitely say that if you enjoy Saisons, this beer is right up your alley! Delicious and definitely refreshing, this brew is masterfully crafted. I wouldn't expect anything else out of Deschutes. I do not believe I've ever tasted a beer I have not enjoyed from them. They are completely reliable as far as I'm concerned. Let's here it for the Conflux Series! What's next for No. 3?

New Belgium Brewing Company: Lips of Faith Kick

After such a long day at work, I think it's time to wind down with a new brew that I'm, quite honestly, excited to try. New Belgium's Lips of Faith series has yet to disappoint my taste buds, and I highly doubt this one will be the first. This ale is 75% brewed with pumpkin and cranberry juice, 25% ale aged in wooden barrels. Ranking in at 8.5%, I have high hopes.

It pours a nice golden color with an egg-white colored head. Malty sweet aromas come off the nose with some spices as well. I do get some pumpkin off the nose, but nothing like Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin. Time to taste...

Oh my! It's a sour! If you enjoy sours, you will love this. On the front of the tongue I get all the tartness I would expect from a sour. The tartness brings out a bitter cranberry flavor with is actually quite balanced and pleasant. As the beer warms, the tart cranberry gives way to the pumpkin as the recognizable flavors seem to switch. The warmer it is, the more pumpkin I taste. I like this a lot. Overall I'm quite pleased with how well balanced this ale is. I didn't expect it to be a sour, but the wooden barrels obviously did their job well. What is so impressive about this beer is that it's 8.5% ABV. Most sours tend to be in the 5-6, maybe 7, range in terms of ABV. Obviously there are many exceptions to this non-intentional grouping of "sours," but something at 8.5% does indeed stand out when you don't taste any alcohol in the beer. Go buy one and enjoy it! It won't be around for long, I can promise you that. Well done, New Belgium.