Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

20110628:
I'm here at Yard House and I ordered a Shorty's (9 oz glass) instead of the standard pint glass (16 oz glass). This way I can try more beers (three Shorty's total to 27 oz, while two pint glasses total to 32 oz).

I wrote: "Bear Republic Racer 5. At first, the beer smells like fruity pebbles.* On the second sniff, it smells less so. It's a fresh, familiar smell which I can't pinpiont, but I like it. Josh suggested it smells like Downy. It smells so good.

It's definitely hoppy. Josh describes the taste as that of 'pine needles.' Perhaps this is more true of the Racer 5 than other IPAs.

@Eureka! (20150204)

When recommending the beer, the server described it as being mellow. Indeed, it is less harsh compared to other IPAs.

Maybe the smell can be described as woodsy."

*Instead of "fruity" or "fruity pebbles," one could probably say "citrusy."

Yard House:
7.0% Drink Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
5.2% Drink Hobgoblin English Ale
5.2% Drink Young's Double Chocolate Stout
5.3% Drink Alaskan Amber
9.0% Drink North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

[20110705][20141204 Edit]

---

20140419:
Today my friend and I each had a drink at a bar in DC called Iron Horse. My friend had a Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA and I had a Left Hand Milk Stout.

@Yard House (20110628)

The Bear Republic Racer 5 had a nice, grassy, IPA smell. The beer, however, was quite bitter, both during and after sipping. 6:41PM PT

---

20141107:
My goodness, this Bear Racer Republic 5 is packed with flavor. It's not as bitter as the Lagunitas IPA I had earlier today. It's nice to have this one after the Pacifico. Overall, it smells slightly lighter than the usual standard IPA smell and it has a real solid taste. 6:11PM PT

This beer had a great finish. Bam! 6:47PM PT

---

(20141107)

20150204:
Today I went to Eureka! for Steal the Glass Wednesday special*. However, when I arrived I met some friends and one of them offered me an already poured glass of Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA. It was nice and easy, good and solid.

In any case, after finishing the Racer 5, I ordered a glass of Heretic Chocolate Hazelnut Porter, this week's Steal the Glass Wednesday special.

*The restaurant serves a select brew in a glass from the select brew's brewery. Drink the beer and keep the glass!

---

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

@Iron Horse (20140419)

Relevant Links:
Racer 5 IPA (Bear Republic Website)
Racer 5 India Pale Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Racer 5 IPA®
American India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.0% IBU: 75+ Color: Golden
This hoppy American IPA is a full bodied beer brewed American pale and crystalmalts, and heavily hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial.
There's a trophy in every glass.
12oz. 6 pack | 12 oz. 12 pack | 22oz. | keg

2009 GAMF American-Style Strong Pale Ale – GOLD
2009 Colorado State Fair – Best of Show
2006 GAMF American-Style Strong Pale Ale – SILVER
2005 GAMF American-Style Strong Pale Ale – SILVER
1999 GAMF India Pale Ale - GOLD

Wychwood Hobgoblin

20110628:
Josh was deciding between the Hobgoblin English Ale and the Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar. The server said the Rogue was sweeter, and so Josh decided to get the Hobgoblin.

Hobgoblin English Ale*

I wrote: "The Hobgoblin is not as aromatic as Josh's other beer. It tastes good, but not as good as Josh's first beer. It's less bubbly and a little more bitter. Supposedly the Rogue would have been sweeter. In any case, both are brown ales, a category which Yard House descibes as being 'Malted - Roasted - Nutty'. I would agree that the Hobgoblin is nutty."

Yard House:
7.0% Drink Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
5.2% Drink Hobgoblin English Ale
5.2% Drink Young's Double Chocolate Stout
5.3% Drink Alaskan Amber
9.0% Drink North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

*I'm pretty sure this is a Hobgoblin. I took this picture during the same minute as the Young's Double Chocolate. The glass has a different condensation and the head wouldn't have yet dissipated. The second picture in the Young's Double Chocolate still has a good layer of head. I can't entirely go by color, because that can change by camera angle.

[20110704]

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Hobgoblin English Ale

Relevant Links:
Wychwood Website DD MM YYYY
Hobgoblin | Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd (BeerAdvocate.com)
Wychwood Brewery - Hobgoblin (Wikipedia.org)
Wychwood Hobgoblin (Cask) (RateBeer.com)
Wychwood Hobgoblin (Pasteurised) (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Hobgoblin
Legendary Ruby Beer

Traditionally craft brewed with Chocolate & Crystal malts and a bled of Styrian, Goldings & Fuggle hops to produce a full-bodied, Ruby beer that delivers a delicious chocolate toffee malt flavour, balanced with a rounded moderate bitterness and an overall fruity, mischievous character.

Goes with
...Hobgoblin is the perfect beer to drink with meat stews & Steak & Ale pies, Sausage & Mash, Burgers & BBQs; roasts; & char-grilled vegetables. Ideal for Halloween!

Deliciously Dark. What's the matter Lagerboys...Afraid you might taste something?

ABV: 5.2% in bottle | 4.5% in cask
Hops: Fuggles and Styrians
Malt: Pale, Crystal and Chocolate
Taste: Toffee, dry, biscuit
Bitter: 3
Sweet: 3
Allergens: Barley

Bottle & Can: 500ml
Cask: All year
See: Dark Ruby
Smell: Toffee, slight citrus, chocolate
Style: Ruby beer

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

20110628:
Ordered a Shorty's (9 oz glass) instead of the standard pint glass (16 oz glass). This way I can try more beers. 3 Shorty's makes for 27 oz, while 2 pint glasses make for 32 oz.

Due to the foam head and color of the beer, I'm pretty sure this is a picture of Young's Double Chocolate.

I wrote: "Young's Double Chocolate. The beer has a nice chocolate smell. Actually, it smells a little like salmon. Tasting the beer, I feel like I am drinking chocolate. However, after Josh mentioned coffee, I could sort of detect some coffee notes."
I wrote: "This double chocolate, coffee taste is AWESOME. The taste gets less chocolaty with each sip, but it's still good. By now I don't taste any bitterness. It has a strong chocolate smell. Nearing the bottom of the glass, I can still smell the beer - usually I can no longer smell the scent of a beer when I've drunken that far down the glass."

I don't know if I was imagining the salmon smell, but it definitely tastes like chocolate with a hint of coffee and smells great. In terms of texture, it was creamy and leaning towards being heavy like a glass of Guinness. Overall, it was wonderful. If I were to choose a favorite beer, it'd be in the running.

Apparently I've become rather used to a lot of the bitterness in beer. A friend of mine who doesn't drink that often says she had Young's Double Chocolate before, but mostly tastes the bitterness, whereas my experience on 20110702 involved simply enjoying the flavors. In any case, I apologize if you've been drinking beers which I thought didn't taste bitter, and yet were. In most cases I try to find website information regarding the IBU and other information related to the perceived bitterness, but sometimes, like for Young's Double Chocolate, the official website doesn't provide it.

This picture is what I mean by "near the bottom" in my post.

Yard House:
7.0% Drink Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
5.2% Drink Hobgoblin English Ale
5.2% Drink Young's Double Chocolate Stout
5.3% Drink Alaskan Amber
9.0% Drink North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

[20110704][20150425 Edit]

---

20111221:
My friend Michael asked if I wanted to have a sip of his Young's Double Chocolate Stout. I recall telling him I already knew what it tasted like, but if he didn't mind I'd like a sip anyways. Perhaps having a sip of his Young's Double Chocolate is what prompted me to try the two porters (Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter and Deschutes Black Butte Porter).

Yard House:
5.3% Drink Alaskan Amber (SIP)
5.2% Drink Deschutes Black Butte Porter (SHORTY)
6.0% Drink Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter (SHORTY)
5.2% Drink Young's Double Chocolate Stout (SIP)
5.4% Drink Red Nectar (SIP)
4.9% Drink Blue Hawaiian Hefeweizen (SHORTY)

[20120115]

---

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Relevant Links:
Wells & Young's Website
Young's Double Chocolate Stout (Wells & Young's Website)
Young's Double Chocolate Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)

---

Website Information:

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Alcohol strength: 5.2%
Pack format: Bottle

Unsurprisingly for a beer from the Young’s stable, Double Chocolate Stout has been recognised as an award-winning brew on several occasions, including: Brewing Industry International Awards Gold Medal Winner 2000, Silver Medal Winner 2002 and Bronze Medal Winner 1998 and 2004.

Luxurious and at the same time with a hint of decadence, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout has it all, delivering a satisfying, indulgent taste without ever becoming overly sweet.

Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops, real dark chocolate and chocolate essence are combined to deliver a stout of with real credentials.

Chocolate malt and real dark chocolate are combined with Young’s award winning rich, full flavoured dark beer to craft a satisfyingly indulgent, but never overly sweet experience.

Alaskan Amber

20110628:
It's fun going to Yard House with friends, since then there's more beers to try! Especially by ordering Shorty's. Though I need to figure out a way to keep track of which beers I'm taking a picture of...

I wrote: "Josh's Alaskan Amber smells great. Maybe floral, not fruity. Tastes great. Get a nice [occasional] bubbly sensation. Not bitter at all. No aftertaste. Solid tasting. Yeah... bubbly."

I asked Josh to describe what he thinks and he said, "It's good, not that bitter, less [bitter] than others. It's sweet, rich."

Yard House: 7.0% Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA; 5.2% Hobgoblin English Ale; 5.2% Young's Double Chocolate Stout; 5.3% Alaskan Amber; 9.0% North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

[20110702][20150105 Edit]

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20111221:
I wrote: "Sip of Alaskan Amber. Nice." 12:46 AM PST

Yard House: 5.3% Alaskan Amber (SIP); 5.2% Deschutes Black Butte Porter (SHORTY); 6.0% Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter (SHORTY); 5.2% Young's Double Chocolate Stout (SIP); 5.4% Red Nectar (SIP); 4.9% Blue Hawaiian Hefeweizen (SHORTY)

[20120115]

---

20141224:
I can't pinpoint any particular smell in this Alaskan Amber, but to fair I only have about half a class. In terms of the mouthfeel, it mostly feels watery with a bit of a carbonation from time to time. Finally, the drink has no discernible bitterness. 7:30PM PT

[20150105 Edit]

---

20141231:
Going over to a friend's house to pregame for New Years Eve, I share in a bottle of Alaskan Amber. Prior to the Alaskan Amber I had a Widmer Brothers Brrr and after it I had some shots of Grey Goose Vodka. The remainder of the night was filled with mixed drinks and some champagne.

---

Alaskan Amber

Relevant Links:
Alaskan Amber (Alaskan Brewing Company Website)
Alaskan Amber (BeerAdvocate.com)
Alaskan Amber (RateBeer.com)

---

Website Information:

ALASKAN AMBER, ALT STYLE BEER

SPECIFICATIONS
Original Gravity: 1.054
ABV 5.3%
Bitterness: 18 IBU
Color: 22 SRM

STYLE Alt. The name of this beer style comes from the German word "alt" meaning "old". This refers to the aging that alts undergo since they ferment more slowly and at colder temperatures than most ales. Slow fermentation helps condition the flavors in Alaskan Amber, contributing to its overall balance and smoothness.

FLAVOR PROFILE Richly malty and long on the palate, with just enough hop backing to make this beautiful amber colored "alt" style beer notably well balanced.

HISTORY Alaskan Amber is based on a recipe from a turn-of-the-century brewery in the Juneau area. It was voted "Best Beer in the Nation" in the 1988 Great American Beer Festival Consumer Poll.

INGREDIENTS Alaskan Amber is made from glacier-fed water and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties and premium two-row pale and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500 square-mile Juneau Ice Field and the more than 90 inches of rainfall we receive each year.

RECOMMENDATIONS Smooth and richly malted, this altbier goes well with king or silver salmon, flavorful meats and hearty Italian dishes. Also pairs nicely with delicate cheeses, artichokes and roasted red peppers - a perfect accompaniment to gourmet pizzas.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LABEL There are no roads connecting the remote coastal community of Juneau, Alaska to the Lower 48 or even the rest of the state. Everything must travel by air or sea. Oceangoing vessels, from fishing trollers to small skiffs, are a common sight as they travel the icy waters of Southeast Alaska. Each evening fishermen from all walks of life return to a safe harbor and close the day with a cold Alaskan Amber.

AWARDS:
[Omitted]

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

20110628:
I wrote: "Hmmm North Coast has a smell not entirely of chocolate of a stout, [my "typical" is] like Guinness. I expect some bitterness and less heavy. Not bitter at all, smooth, but not heavy. Ever slight bitter aftertaste. I like it. Perhaps not as much as Guinness though."

Yard House:
7.0% Drink Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
5.2% Drink Hobgoblin English Ale
5.2% Drink Young's Double Chocolate Stout
5.3% Drink Alaskan Amber
9.0% Drink North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout

[20110702]

---

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Relevant Links:
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (North Coast Brewing Website)
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

OLD RASPUTIN IMPERIAL STOUT

Produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish.

VITAL STATISTICS

Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Color: Black
ABV: 9%
Bitterness: 75 IBU's

OLD RASPUTIN MEDALS AND AWARDS

2006 Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Fest
2006 World Beer Championships, Chicago
2005 World Beer Championships, Chicago
2004 World Beer Championships, Chicago
2004 Spring Beer & Wine Fest, Portland
2002 GABF, Imperial Stout
1999 GABF, Imperial Stout
1999 World Beer Championships, Chicago
1998 World Beer Championships, Chicago
1997 World Beer Championships, Chicago
1996 World Beer Championships, Chicago
1996 World Beer Cup, Imperial Stout

Sapporo Premium Beer

Sapporo Premium Beer - Bottle and Full Glass

20110627:
Today I got the 12 ounce bottle instead of the 20 ounce bottle. It smelled like a Budweiser. It tasted like a Budweiser. I think it tasted better than a Budweiser, but maybe I was just predisposed into thinking so. There was no bitterness, it was crisp, and it was just regular tasting - like a Budweiser.

The bottle says it's "crisp clear refreshing."

I'd drink a Sapporo over a Bud, but I would drink many beers over a Sapporo.

Sapporo Premium Beer - Bottle and Half Full Glass

[20110705]

---

20180711:
While at Sushi Plus, I got a 16 ounce pour of Sapporo on tap. Technically it could be any brand of Sapporo (Premium, Premium Black, Premium Light, and Reserve), but I'll assume it's Sapporo Premium.*

In any case, it was refreshing. It had a good smell and taste. On the second sip, it had no smell and it had less of a taste. It still had some carbonation. 7:11 PM PT

Sapporo Premium Beer - draught (20180711)

After two sips, the food came out and I started eating. After the food, I was so full, but I didn't want the beer to go to waste. Unfortunately, it felt like a chore to finish, because it tasted like awkwardly flavored water! 7:52 PM PT

*Using the Sapporo website's "Find Sapporo" feature, searched for each brand of Sapporo on draught within 100 miles of a zip code of my choice and the only one that came up positive was Sapporo Premium. A similar search for bottles came up positive for both Premium and Premium Light; a similar search for cans came up positive for Premium, Premium Black, and Reserve.

[20181223]

---

Sapporo Premium Beer*
*Marketed as Sapporo Draft Beer in Japan and Premium Beer in North America.

Relevant Links:
Sapporo Brewing Website
Sapporo Premium Beer | Sapporo Breweries Ltd. (BeerAdvocate.com)
Sapporo Premium Beer (Sapporo Brewing Website)
Sapporo Premium Beer / Draft Beer (RateBeer.com)

Sapporo Premium Beer - Bottle and Empty Glass (with Lacing)

---

Website Information: (as of 20110627)

Overview:
With lush use of aroma hops, Sapporo Premium has an amazingly crisp taste, refreshing flavor, and refined bitterness to leave a clean finish. Whether in our iconic \"Silver Can\" that is long loved by our American fans, in bottles, or on tap, Sapporo Premium can be enjoyed on any occasion.
*Sapporo Premium is not a gluten-free product.

Sizes: 22 oz. Sapporo Silver Can | 12 oz. Bottle | 16 oz. Bottle | 20.3 oz. Bottle | Draft Beer | 12 oz. Can

Nutritional Facts:
Average analysis per 12 oz. serving:
• Calories: 140
• Carbohydrates: 10.3 grams
• Protein: 1.4 grams
• Fat: 0.0 grams

---

Website Information: (as of 20181223)

Sapporo Premium Beer

The original. The icon. Sapporo Premium Beer is a refreshing lager with a crisp, refined flavor and a clean finish. The perfect beer to pair with any meal and any occasion. Kampai!

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
Average analysis per 12oz serving:
4.9% ABV
Calories: 140
Carbohydrates: 10.3 grams
Protein: 1.4 grams
Fat: 0.0 grams

Sapporo products sold in the U.S. are brewed in the U.S., Canada and Vietnam.

Kirin Ichiban

20110624:
I wrote: "Kirin Ichiban. Light but flavorful and wheat flavor. Bottle 02APR11. Freshest taste within 180 days. 1 pint 6 fl. oz. 22 fl oz."

I'm pretty sure by "flavorful," I mean the beer is just a little more interesting than a Budweiser. Otherwise, it's just plain crisp and refreshing. But being not much more than a Budweiser, it would be low on my choices for beer.

[20110702]

---

Kirin Ichiban

Relevant Links:
Kirin (US) Website MM YYYY
Kirin Ichiban (BeerAdvocate.com)
Kirin Ichiban (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

KIRIN ICHIBAN

With his gold label and Special Premium Reserve appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms.

In 1990, Ichiban's debut made a splash in the world of super premium beers. The luxurious single wort (or first press) process yields a unique, complex flavor. With his gold label and "Special Premium Reserve" appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms. But don't be fooled by a snooty attitude -- this is a great beer that goes with anything.

What makes Ichiban great
Prominent wort. Finest barley malt, premium hops, smooth finish, no bitter aftertaste.

Available in 12-oz and 22 oz bottles, 12-oz and 24 oz cans, plus 7.75-gal and 15.5-gal kegs.

Per 12 fl oz average analysis:
145 calories, 12.1g carbs, 0.9g protein and 0.0g fat

Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Kirin Ichiban® Beer,
Los Angeles, CA

Eel River Organic Amber Ale

20110623

20110618:
My friend had this beer several times at the Cheesecake Factory. One day we went to this wine shop and they had two six packs of it left, so he bought one. On this day (20110618), I smelt the beer and had a taste (it was poured from the bottle to a glass). I wrote: "Eel River, smells a sort of orange and then tastes a good tasting of amber ale. Easy light beer." My nose was rather stuffy and that might have affected the smell, taste, and flavor.

[20110626]

---

20110623:
I couldn't pinpoint the smell. Actually, I didn't really smell much. I didn't exactly enjoy the taste. I finished the beer, but only because I kept drinking it to see if it would taste different or better. It never did. My friend enjoys it, describing it as a lighter Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

Because my observation of the beer changed from the 18th to the 23rd, I can only put my overall opinion of the beer on hold.

[20110626]

---

Eel River Organic Amber Ale

20110618

Relevant Links:
Eel River Brewing Company Website
Organic Amber Ale (Eel River Brewing Company Website)
Organic Amber Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Style: Organic Amber Ale
Original Gravity: 12.0 P
Alcohol: 4.8% by volume
Color: Rich Copper

A Taste of Pure Goodness

Eel River Brewing Company, brewers of California's first Certified Organic Ale, proudly brings you our Organic Amber Ale. Unique in flavor and purity, this medium bodied beer has a hoppy bouquet and a distinctive rich taste with a caramel-like sweetness that is balanced with a liberal dose of certified organic Pacific Gems and Hallertau hops, imported from New Zealand. Pure taste, pure ingredients, pure good.

Awards:
[Omitted]

Henry Weinhard's Root Beer

20110622:
Nice and easy root beer taste. Not overly carbonated.

[20110626]

Boddingtons Pub Ale

20110621:
I wrote: "Josh's Boddingtons Pub Ale smells of regular ale. I waited until the last sip to taste it. I didn't feel there was anything to taste." I will have to try this beer at some other time, since I probably took a sip when it was quite warm and flat. Yard House lists it under "Pub Cream Ales," so the lack of taste might be my interpretation of a creamy beer. Again, I'll just have to try this beer at some other time.

Yard House:
North Coast Brother Thelonious
Boddingtons Pub Ale
Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat

[20110625]

---

Boddingtons Pub Ale

Relevant Links:
Anheuser-Busch InBev Website Country DD MM YY
Boddingtons Pub Ale (Anheuser-Busch InBev Website)
Boddingtons Pub Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Boddingtons (United Kingdom) Boddingtons is a refreshing, smooth & sessionable beer. It is renowned for its golden color, full-bodied flavour and malty, morish taste with smooth, tight creamy head. Brewed in Manchester since 1778, Boddingtons has an ABV content of 3.8% and 4.1% in cask. Also available in Can, Keg and Draught format in Boddingtons Pub Ale (Export - 4.7% ABV).

---

Yard House Information:

Boddingtons Pub Ale
Brewery: Boddingtons
Origin: England
Style: Pub Cream Ales
ABV: 4.8%
Description:
An English pale ale served through a nitrogen dispenser and noted for its remarkable creaminess and smoothness. It is advertised in the UK as “the cream of Manchester.” The flavor is predominantly malty with light hop overtones and a hint of honey.

North Coast Brother Thelonious

20110621:
I wrote: "North Coast Brother Thelonious. Powerful sort of smell like a red. Taste is a nice buzz with a red taste. A little bitterness roams around, more in the aftertaste than during. Kinda fruity like a red wine. Yes... That's what I'm most reminded of red wine. Love the smell. Definitely strong. Not best, but good. After about half, the dominant smell is alcohol. Not much like wine taste."

Yes, I definitely remember just smelling the alcohol after I drank about the cup. I wasn't surprised how dominant the smell was. I asked my friend for a second opinion. He agreed the dominant smell was alcohol. It's curious I didn't smell this when I first got the drink. Maybe the fried chicken strips, fries, barbeque sauce, ranch, or maple dijon altered the taste.

Maybe the beer was less than good, maybe it was just okay. I'd wait at least a year before trying this beer again.

Brother Thelonious is to the left of the keg with the green and orange stripe.

Yard House:
North Coast Brother Thelonious
Boddingtons Pub Ale
Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat

[20110625]

---

20140805:
I wrote: "Brother Thelonious. Complex smell. Strong flavor. Sweet aftertaste. Josh, after some sips, perceived an aftertaste which he found unique. I think it has a bit of a caramel taste to it. Josh thinks it tastes like violet crumble (light, airy, substantial). Overall, I find it strong and sweet." 9:52PM PT

[20140913]

---

North Coast Brother Thelonious

Relevant Links:
North Coast Brewing Co. Website
Brother Thelonious (North Coast Brewing Co. Website)
Brother Thelonious (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

BROTHER THELONIOUS
Belgian Style Abbey Ale

Like a Belgian “Dark Strong Ale”, the beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%. The package is a 750 ml bottle with a traditional cork and wire finish or 12oz 4 packs and features a label picturing the jazz master himself.

VITAL STATISTICS
Style: Belgian Style Strong Dark
Color: Dark mahogany
ABV: 9.4%
Bitterness: 32 IBU's

Russian River Redemption

20110618:
I wrote: "Russian River Redemption. The beer smells like a Belgian White. It's actually a blonde ale. It tastes bright. It tastes better than a Blue Moon. From what I can remember, it also tastes better than other beers from this category. Shared a little. 5.15% 12.68 fl oz. Tim K.G. mentioned it should be more Belgium; that's reassuring. It's good and citrusy."

I was dead on about the main smell and taste.

On a different note, I'm curious about how much I enjoy this beer, because I recently made the comment that beers that were too citrusy weren't cutting it for me (c.f., my Drink Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat post). I conclude either this beer must not be overly citrusy, or my non-functioning nose altered the flavor.

[20110627][20190303 Edit]

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Russian River Redemption

Relevant Links:
Russian River Brewing Co. Website
Belgian Style Ales page (Russian River Brewing Co. Website)
Russian River Redemption (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Redemption
Blonde Ale, 5.0% ABV

Why do we make Belgian style Ales?
Inspired by the great beers of Belgium , our brewer and owner Vinnie Cilurzo has created a line up of Belgian style beers. It all started back in 1999 when Cilurzo took a trip to Europe, on a day trip to Belgium he fell in love with ales of Belgium. One week later he finally left the tiny little country.

In 1994 while brewing at Blind Pig Brewing Company in Temecula , CA , a local home brewer, Darrel Flood would bring Cilurzo samples of his homebrewed Belgian style ales for Cilurzo to sample. Cilurzo always wanted to brew Belgian style ale at Blind Pig; however, due to the fact that all of his fermenters were plastic, he did not want to take a chance of having the Belgian yeast stay permanently impregnated in the plastic fermenters. So, he waited.

Finally, in 1997 Cilurzo & his wife Natalie moved to Northern California where he was hired by Korbel Champagne cellars to brew at their new brewery Russian River Brewing Company. On the weekends he would homebrew Belgian style ales. Eventually, he created his first Belgian style ale called California Abbey Ale. Than came Damnation and several other "tion" Belgian style ales.

How are "Belgian style ales" different than actual beers of Belgium ?
Out of respect for our brewing friends in Belgium , we choose to use the word "style" when explaining these types of beers. We certainly do not set out to copy any Belgian ale. But we do take inspiration from them. Like all of our beers, we brew them with our own unique California craft beer twist.

How are these beers different from our more traditional ales such as Blind Pig IPA & Pliny the Elder?
The difference between our Belgian ales and non-Belgian ales all starts with the yeast. The yeast used to ferment our Belgian style ales can ferment at much warmer temperatures as compared to our non-Belgian style ales, sometimes as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Often, we start the fermentation in the 60 degree range and then shut the refrigeration off and let the beer "free rise" up to the warmer temperatures. These warmer temperatures can create some beautiful fruity & spicy character. Any other yeast fermenting at these warm temperatures would create too much diacetyl (butter & butter scotch).

Often, we add sugar to the kettle while the wort (unfermented beer) is boiling; the addition of sugar adds more fermentables to the beer. All of these sugars will eventually ferment to alcohol although there will be no body or mouth feel contributed to the final flavor profile of the beer. In Salvation, our dark strong ale we use some more flavorful sugars that add more personality to the beer.

Finally, our Belgian style ales are 100% bottle conditioned, this means that they go through a second fermentation in the bottle which creates the beers carbonation. A fine layer of yeast is left in the bottom of the bottle as a result of this bottle re-fermentation. This secondary fermentation in the bottle will add even more unique character to the final beer. Sometimes we go as far as using a second yeast in the bottle fermentation thus adding a second yeasts personality to the beer.

Belhaven Scottish Ale

20110614:
Josh got the Belhaven Scottish Ale. I had a sip.

The Belhaven is to the left in the pint glass.

I wrote:"Josh's Belhaven Scottish Ale has a slight fruit smell. It's light and soft, and has a creamy finish. At Yard House, it is a Pub Cream Ale. They describe the category as Light, Toasted, and Creamy. Josh says the Boddingtons is clean and smooth, the Killkenny is like the Boddingtons, but citrusy. He thinks Belhaven is comparatively bitter with less of a creamy taste."

Yard House:
9.0% Drink Unibroue Trois Pistoles
5.2% Drink Belhaven Scottish Ale

[20110715]

---

Belhaven Scottish Ale

Relevant Links:
Belhaven Scottish Ale (Belhaven Website)
Belhaven Scottish Ale (BeerAvocate.com)
Belhaven Scottish Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

BELHAVEN SCOTTISH ALE

100% Scottish malt and finest English hops in perfect balance
Smooth, rich and nutty a classically crafted Scottish Ale
The ale we've been brewing longest of all, and our best-selling bottled ale worldwide

STYLE Scottish Ale
ABV 5.0%
IBU 21
MALTS 100% Scottish pale ale malt
HOPS Challenger and Goldings
FORMATS 330ml bottle, Smoothflow Keg, 440ml can and 500ml bottle (USA)

SIGHT Deep ruby
SMELL Malt and spicy hops
TASTE Nutty, biscuit and smooth

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

20110614:
I wrote: "The waiter said Trois Pistoles, Maredsous 8, and North Coast Brother Thelonious were supposed to be real dark. Trois Pistoles has a complex smell. It's real nice. There's a nice fizz, and a sweet and light bitter finish."

Yard House:
9.0% Unibroue Trois Pistoles
5.2% Belhaven Scottish Ale

[20110714]

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Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Relevant Links:
Unibroue Website
Trois Pistoles (Unibroue Website)
Trois Pistoles (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Trois Pistoles
Origin Chambly, Quebec
Brewed since 1997

ABV 9.0%
Fermentation Top
Style Abbey Style Strong Dark Ale

Color Dark brown
SRM 32.2
Clarity Opaque, cloudy

Head Rich lacy beige foam
Bubbles Fine
Effervescence Sustained

Nose Strong malt flavor, roasted aromas with chocolate, brown rum, and spice
Flavor Slightly sweet. Enhanced by accents of roasted malt, cocoa, ripe fruit and dark spices with a smooth finish like an old port.
IBU 15.5
Body Medium
Aftertaste Pleasantly lingers on

Suggested serving temperature 8º–10ºC, better at 12º–14ºC / 46°-50°F, better at 53°- 57°F
Suggested glass Chalice or balloon

Rum and Pepsi

20110614:
I learned that the bar here at Shannon's Irish Pub opens at 6. As a result, I wasn't sure whether or not I should have a drink, because I would have to board fairly soon. I ended up deciding I wanted a drink and asked for a Rum & Coke. The bartender said there wasn't Coke and asked if Pepsi was fine. I said, "Yes."

I wrote the following: "Whoa, a double shot of Barcardi rum with Pepsi. I think Pepsi is too flat to make a good substitute for Coke. But the rum is nice and overall drinkable."

[20110710]

Victory Golden Monkey

20110607:
Smells good. Drinkable, light tasting. I was gonna say it tastes like Blue Moon. And I realized that my senses and tastes for beers are improving, because this beer advertises itself as a "Belgian-style" beer. Blue Moon is a "Belgian-style witbier."

But there's always something to learn. Today I was reading BeerAdvocate.com's description of a "Tripel" ale and the last sentence reads "Tripels are actually notoriously alcoholic, yet the best crafted ones hide this character quite evil-like and deceivingly, making them sipping beers." Then I looked at the Golden Monkey bottle and saw it is 9.5% ABV. True to the description of a tripel, I wouldn't have known the beer was that alcoholic..

As the beer warmed up, the beer was wonderful to smell. Clumsily, I sniffed some up my nose. Good thing nobody was around to see.

I was going to drink only half, but the beer's good taste convinced me to drink it all.

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20120520:
I wrote: "My nose must be stuffed because I certainly didn't smell the taste. Actually the taste is mostly bitter. With something... Hoppy. I think I had this once before and enjoyed it." 12:03 AM
I wrote: "However, today I do not. Enjoy by Oct 05 2014. Mistake? I don't know many beers which last that long. Drank only half." 12:06 AM

That's funny that this time I drank only half, when apparently last time I tried this beer, I was only going to drink half, but liked it so much I drank the rest of it.

[20120619]

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Victory Golden Monkey

Relevant Links:
Victory Beer Website
Golden Monkey (Victory Beers Website)

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Website Information:

GOLDEN MONKEY
Strong and sensual, this golden, Belgian-style ale glows. The richness of German malts and Belgian yeast are tempered by a sparkling approach and overall light body. Abundant herbal, fruity notes make this one to savor.

COMPOSITION
Malts: 2 row German malt
Hops: European whole flowers
Yeast: Imported, of Belgian origin
Alcohol by volume: 9.5%

AVAILABILITY
Draft and bottles year ’round.

Coca-Cola (Mexico)

20110607:
355 mL (12 FL OZ) Bottle.

Following the routine I've learned to do with beer, I started by smelling the beer. It smelled minty - like menthol. I'm leaning towards it smelling like menthol. I wondered if this is what Coca-Cola usually smells like, because I've never tried smelling Coca-Cola before. I also wondered which of the ingredients would contribute to this smell? At first I thought there were a lot of ingredients listed on the bottle, but eventually I realized that the ingredients were listed in both English and Spanish:

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine.
Agua Carbonatada, Azucar, Color Caramelo, Acido Fosforico, Sabores Naturales, Cafeina.

Hecho En Mexico

In any case, the bottle seemed flat in comparison to (U.S.) Coca-Cola from a can or plastic bottle. Perhaps I got a bad bottle.

With that being said, the sugar goes down more smoothly. However, I might be saying that just from knowing that the main difference between Mexican Coke and domestic Coke is the use of sugar versus high fructose corn syrup.

I've had bottles of Coca-Cola in the past, but I'm pretty sure they were made in the United States of America. Perhaps the closest beverage I've drank to a Mexican Coke is a Mexican Pepsi.*

Nutrition Facts, Ingredients, Etc.
Product of Mexico

Right below the ingredients, the label on the bottle says the following:

BOTTLED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, ATLANTA, GA 30313.
BY BEBIDAS MUNDIALES, S.A. DE C.V.,
MONTERREY, N.L. C.P. 64290.
CONSUMER INFORMATION CALL 1-800-438-2653
INFORMACION AL CONSUMIDOR LLAME 1-800-438-2653
PRODUCT OF MEXICO

*I actually drank it while in Mexico. This, however, was many years ago; I was still a kid. I actually still have the bottle, having kept it as a souvenir.

[20110607][20180624 Edit]

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20110815:
I wrote the following: "Coca-Cola from Mexico. 355 mL. The real sugar goes down so easy! Yum."

I was later looking around and stumbled upon some half liter bottles of Mexican Coke! But since I already drank the above and had another stowed away, I wasn't prepared to buy a half liter bottle for $3.

Half Liter Bottles of Mexican Coke!!!

[20110821]

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Coca-Cola (Mexico)
a.k.a. Mexican Coke

Oliver's Ironman

20110606:
Oliver's Ironman. On tap at CVP (Charles Village Pub).

I wrote: "I can smell the bitterness (whatever that means). Perhaps, more precisely, I can smell the typical pale ale smell. The beer does not too much flavor. It does taste kind of hoppy. The beer finishes the same - not really that hoppy. The beer does, however, have a lingering bitter taste to it."

[20110615]

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Oliver's Ironman

Relevant Links:
Oliver's Breweries Webpage
My Oliver's Irish Red post

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Website Information:

Ironman:
6.2% a.b.v.
An English Pale Ale, moderately hopped, golden in color with a slightly dry finish. A smooth, well-rounded flavor masks the relatively high alcohol content making for a very drinkable ale.

The Mummy

20110603:
I went with some friends to a place called Dionysus. While here I got a mixed drink. I was told the drink concocted had club soda, lemon, lime, two packets of sugar, triple sec, vodka, and ice, but mostly vodka.

I was looking online for drinks which resembled this and the closest I could find was a drink called The Mummy: 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 oz triple sec, and 2 oz vodka mixed in a glass half-filled with ice, and topped off with club soda.

It was a good drink to end the night out.

[20110617][20180624 Edit][Part of Drinks at 13.5% Wine Bar and Dionysus]

Orkney Skull Splitter

20110603:
13.5% Wine Bar
11.2 fl oz bottle poured into a glass

I wrote the following: "Skull Splitter Orkney Brewery | 11.2 8.5 percent. | Nice aromatic sweeter smell than the other. | Not bitter, can't pinpoint the taste. But it's great."

I wasn't expecting to have another beer, but the next thing I knew, another beer was on the table in front of me. The Skull Splitter was something I was looking up earlier, but decided not to get it. I'm glad it was ordered on my behalf. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[20110617][Part of Drinks at 13.5% Wine Bar and Dionysus]

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20120210:
I wrote the following: "Skull Splitter. This is the second time I've had this beer. I think the first time I had it, it was also poured from the bottle. Anyway, it's appearance is opaque and/or cloudy. There's kind of a chocolate smell. Very creamy." 11:44 PM
I also wrote the following: "I recall that I liked it a lot then, and I'd have to say I like it a lot now. There's a great floral smell. There's a slight alcoholic fume. After each sip, there is a slight buzz on the tongue." 20120211 12:10 AM
And then I wrote the following: "While done with the drink, there's a nice sweet taste on the tongue. I really like this beer. The back of the bottle describes how the beer on the nose and on the palate." 20120211 12:20 AM

[20120410]

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Orkney Skull Splitter

Relevant Links:
The Orkney Brewery Website Country Year
Skull Splitter (The Orkney Brewery Website)
Skull Splitter (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Skull Splitter is our strongest ale: which is named after Thorfinn Einarsson who was the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney. Sophisticated, satiny smooth with a deceptively light character, it is a tribute to our colourful forbear.

On the nose, this strong beer has a fruity malt character, with hints of dark fruit, spicy hop, dates and figs.

On the palate, rich and complex with sweet toasted malt, molasses, fresh and dried fruit and hints of warming spices.

NORMAN SINCLAIR RECOMMENDS DRINKING HIS SKULL SPLITTER ALE WITH PATE, REDMEAT DISHES AND STRONG CHEESES.

Appearance
A crystal-clear, rich tawny-red colour beer; a tight, smooth head with hints of red and amber colour

Aroma
Juicy, almost fruity malt character, together with a medley of fresh and dried fruits, dates and figs, hints of ginger and cinnamon spice, hints of vanilla

Palate
A rich, fruity, wine-like complexity on the palate includes fresh and dried fruits, warm exotic spices, and light summer citrus fruits

Key Ingredients
Very best pale ale malt – and plenty of it – together with crystal and chocolate malts provide a rich, fruity backbone which is perfectly balanced by the spicy herbal character of East Kent Goldings hops

BrewDog Hardcore IPA

20110603:
13.5% Wine Bar
330ml (11.2 fl oz) bottle poured into a glass

I wrote the following: "BrewDog Hardcore IPA | 9.2% by volume | explicit imperial ale | product of scotland. | Batch 17. | 25-07-11 | 11.2 fl oz || Hazy orange brown. | The smell is AMAZING. | like apple or apricot. | Beautiful complex | tasteful hoppy taste | Lol at first when i was smell"

The funny thing when smelling the beer was I would sniff and after a long enough whiff I smelt this fiery sensation. I smelt the beer four times and each time the sensation was the same. I told the friend who invited me along to try smelling the beer. She was like, "Are you drunk already man?" Lol. Of course I wasn't, I only had one beer in me. But I was my usual crazy. I came to realize there was a candle at the center of the table, that I must have gotten a whiff of during my strong intakes of the beer's scent. ::slaps forehead:: In any case, this was a great beer.

[20110617][Part of Drinks at 13.5% Wine Bar and Dionysus]

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BrewDog Hardcore IPA

Relevant Links:
BrewDog Website
Hardcore IPA (BrewDog Website)
Hardcore IPA (2nd Ed. 9.2%) (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

BrewDog BrewSheet:
ABV: 9.2%
OG: 1083
IBU’s: 150
Malts: Maris Otter, Crystal malt, Caramalt
Hops: Centennial, Columbus, Simcoe
Dry Hops: Centennial, Columbus, Simcoe
Twist: Hopped to hell, then dry-hopped to hell too
Available in
330ml bottles
9 Gallon Cask

This little bottle has a grandiloquent story to tell.
2,204 malted Maris Otter grains gave all they had to offer the world to provide the robustly delicate toffee malt canvas for the ensuing epic.
6 Hop Cones willingly sacrificed themselves in fiery cauldron that is our brew kettle to ensure your mouth is left feeling punished and puckering for more.
9,900,000,000 yeast cells frantically fermented their little hearts out as the sugars were magically turned into alcohol in the dark depths of our fermentation tanks.
This explicit ale has more hops and bitterness that any other beer brewed in the UK. This is an extreme beer rollercoaster for freaks, gypsies and international chess superstars.

Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

20110603:
13.5% Wine Bar
12 fl. oz. bottle poured into a glass
$4.9

This beer had a dark color. It had no smell. I mostly sensed the bubbles on my tongue. It had a chocolate aftertaste. After it warmed up, the chocolate made itself known as the primary taste of the beer. It had a typical light stout smell."

So instead of going with the farmhouse ale, I decided to order this stout. I don't recall anything special about it, at least not in comparison to the two beers I would have next. But overall, I do believe I thought it was a good stout.

[20110617][20180624 Edit][Part of Drinks at 13.5% Wine Bar and Dionysus]

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Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

Relevant Links:
Breckenridge Brewery Website
Oatmeal Stout (Breckenridge Brewery Website)
Oatmeal Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Oatmeal Stout:
Rich, round and roasted, our Oatmeal Stout is satisfaction in a glass. It's a bold, smooth-bodied concoction that oozes dark-roasted coffee aromas and flavors of espresso and semi-sweet chocolate. We round out these heady pleasures with a dose of flaked oatmeal for a creamy body and a semi-dry finish.

Unforgettable.

Quick Facts:
Beer Style: Specialty Stout
Flavor: Chocolate coffee maltiness, round oatmeal mouthfeel with very slight hop character
Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Oat Flakes, Black
Hops: Chinook, Perle
Color: Black
Bitterness Units: 31
Alcohol By Volume: 4.95%
Alcohol By Weight: 3.96%