Post Valentines Beers, or rather Carnival!

Siren Noire

by Heavy Seas

Company Description: Rich and velvety, this smooth brew owes its full body to healthy of imported specialty grains. The roasted malt flavors of coffee yield to notes of mocha, fig, and raisin - and Belgian cacao nibs impart a decadent chocolate nuance. Bourbon barrel aging finishes by adding tone of vanilla. An unparalleled flavor experience.

Appearance: Black, decent sized light tan head, and long lasting lacing.

Taste: Bitter chocolate, bourbon, and slight fruit notes to the smell, the vanilla didn't really come through in the smell or taste. Flavor starts out as bitter chocolate, then the bourbon moves in with hints of the fig flavor bringing up the end. The raisin flavor didn't come through.

Overall: Tasty despite the lack of vanilla and raisin flavors. It definitely fits the category of imperial stout and bourbon barrel aged.

Cody: 90/100
Derek 87/100 (had better of the same style and aging methods)

Dubbel Reserve

by Allagash

Company Description; Allagash Dubbel Reserve boasts a dark malty taste. The finish is dry with subtle hints of chocolate and nuts. With time, Allagash Dubbel Reserve will mature in the bottle and acquire distinctive port and sherry characteristics.

Appearance; Amber in color, with a very fine frothy head. The head diminished quickly. 

Taste; The beer had a very present fruit smell that carried through to the taste. The chocolate wasn't really prominent in the beer. If you looked for it at the end, the nut flavor was detectable.  

Overall; The flavors where typical of a Belgian. with strong floral flavors. 

Cody; 87/100 I liked it but not sure its the top of my lists for Belgians 

Derek; 87/100

Cocoa Psycho

by BrewDog

Company Description

Welcome to the world of Cocoa Psycho, a liquid dimension where pure indulgence reigns. Originally brewed some 250 years ago to celebrate the Russian Royal Family, this 10% Imperial Russian stout borrows from the decadence of the time with its extravagantly smooth blend of crushed coffee beans, cocoa nibs and dark malts. But continue to dig a little deeper, past the infusions of vanilla pods and toasted oak chips, and eventually you'll come face-to-face with the madness required to make this beer; a kind of insanity that would have made Rasputin himself proud. To fully unleash the aromas and bittersweet luxury of this stout, we recommend drinking it from a stemmed beer glass before taking a sledgehammer to a Faberge Egg.

Appearance

Almost the color of used motor oil, for those of you who are not gear heads (shame on you) it's, well, BLACK. The head of the beer was even black.

Taste

It has a bitter taste with a slightly chocolate flavor.  There's a slight smooth vanilla flavor. It definitely has the Imperial Russian Stout flavor. Somewhat smokey.

Summary  

They both agree it's a chewy beer. (Cue Cody making the wookie sound.) Not chewy and dark like molasses. It's a good beer, and if you can find it decently priced, we suggest you try it.

Cody: 82/100

Derek: 74/100.

Black & Goldings

by 3 Notch'd and Oskar Blues

Company Description

A black ale hopped with first Gold, U.S. Goldings and East Kent Goldings. Dave Warwick and Tim Matthews became friends in Pittsburgh, PA in 2006 when they were both assistant brewers in crosstown brewpubs. Dave, now Brewmaster for Three Notch’d, and Tim, now Brewmaster for Oskar Blues, created “Black and Goldings” as a nod to the beloved city where their friendship and brewing careers began. Their experiences in Pittsburgh have left their mark on Dave and Tim, and now they’re teaming up to leave their own Mark with this delicious collaboration brew!

Appearance

Dark, perfectly fitting a black IPA. Fairly fluid, did not cling to the glass as much as the Cocoa Psycho, and the head was a decent tan color.

Taste

There was a good balance between the nature of the IPA and the dark ale. Bread-y, a bit sweet, and the taste of the hops came through. Derek says it was a nice, interesting combination of the two styles. 

Summary

A pretty decent beer. The brewery is near us in Charlottesville, VA. Even though it's dark colored, the flavor is light. It's more a good Spring beer. It's a good in between of a dark ale and an IPA.

Cody: 72/100

Derek: 84/100

Gose Blood Orange

by Anderson Valley

Company Description

Our Blood Orange Gose is a tart, refreshing wheat ale that is kettle-soured with lactobacillus and brewed with sea salt and coriander. However, unlike traditional versions of the style, ours features liberal additions of blood oranges during fermentation. This imparts tangy citrus notes that complement the champagne-like flavors, creating a complex and sessionable ale perfect for any occasion.

Appearance

Looks like a light cider. Slightly cloudy. The smell is definitely Gose, and has a citrus scent on the tail end of the smell. 

Taste

Very tart, and very much a citrus flavor. Overall, it is very dry and salty. It is not as salty as the majority of Gose beers.

Summary

A slightly warmer month beer. Light and refreshing, the citrus taste compliments the fine carbonation. At the bottom, flat ends of the beer, it starts to go bland and slightly weedy. 

Cody says he likes the beer, however he's not quite sure why he likes it so much. It reminds him of the traditional beer of the Frankfurt area in Germany.

Derek says he likes the way the sweet and tartness of the orange helps offset the saltiness of the beer. 

Cody: 87/100

Derek: 81/100

Grand Arbor

by Southern Tier

Company Description

Grand Arbor is hazy pale straw in color with a thick rocky white head and persistent lacing. Aromatically earthy with distinct fruity esters and low to moderate noble hop character. Balanced fruity character blends into crisp biscuit notes with a dry tart finish. Interestingly, although we add maple syrup it adds an earthy/woody character rather than an overt sweetness.

Appearance

Light, amber, with a nice white head. The lacing is persistent. 

Taste

No maple.  There's more of a pepper flavor in the initial taste. There's a bit of sweetness towards the middle of a sip, however the beer will hit you with a bushel of wheat before you're really able to savor the sweetness of the syrup. 

Summary

Thanks to our friend for coming and joining us for a tasting and for being our scribe. 

New Year, New Brews

What is the best way to spend a sub-zero night? Why with beer and friends of course.

Crabbie's Fruits, Cloudy Alcoholic Lemonade

Taste: not exactly the ideal winter beer, more suited for summer, it tastes like lemonade (surprise!). It has no real alcohol flavor, more sweet than tart. 

Smell; like Lemonade.

Summary: pour yourself a glass of lemonade, imagine it alcoholic but with no alcohol flavor, and carbonated. There you have it. We truly don't have much of an idea how to rate this since it is fairly unique, so we will revisit this in the summer. Hopefully with more of an idea on how to evaluate.

Cody's rating is: high 80's?/100    Derek's rating is 80ish?/100 

Oskar Blue's Old Chub Nitro 

Taste: Smooth, nutty, creamy, flavor. A good head with a decent longevity. Though most of this might be due to it being a Nitro.

Smell: Again maybe due it being a Nitro it didn't release much of an aroma

Summary: Decent scotch flavor, feels like sitting back in a kilt and enjoying a nice evening.

Cody rates it as: 78/100 Cody is probably a jerk (he agrees to this)    Derek says 85/100 because he is a nice guy

Valar Morghulis by Ommegang Brewery

Taste: Complex, with a delightful Caramel tail, a slight tingle throughout. Very well blended, the fruity esters peak through. Full bodied.

Smell: Fruity and caramel scents with a little hoppiness, after a while the smell takes on a slight woody character.

Summary: Tasty, kinda of unique, we would likely suggest this beer to every one (except for our one acquaintance since this would be wasted on him) 

Cody Says: 88/100 (he likes this one)     Derek Says: 94/100

Another Fall Special

As the fall season comes to an end we pulled out a few more Pumpkin beers to tickle the pallet.

Five Pound Fall

BY: 3 Brothers Brewing

Appearance; 

Clouded amber, with light head, that lasted a short while. Descent lacing, lasting about 2 seconds.

Taste; 

This beer has a light spice flavor at the beginning and a deep pumpkin aftertaste. A thicker mouth feel. It has very little scent to it as well. 

Overall there is not much to be said about this particular brew. We found it to have a bland flavor, and poor complexion. 56/100. 

Warlock

By Southern Tier

Company description;

Imperial stout brewed with pumpkins Warlock is brewed to enchant your palate on its own and also to counterpoint our Imperial Ale, Pumking. Make your own black magic by carefully pouring this Imperial Stout into a goblet.

Dark and mysterious, the Blackwater Series is serious about high gravity. Reanimate your senses with Warlock’s huge roasted malt character, moderate carbonation and spicy pumpkin pie aroma.

Appearance;

Dark Brown with tinges of red on the fringes, light brown head that dissipated quickly. long lasting lacing, 

Taste; 

As you raise the glass the scent of the spices and pumpkin come through. There is a nice smooth mouth feel, medium carbonation. The pumpkin and the spice come through in the beginning of the beer, with a stronger alcohol tail. It should be noted that this is part of their High Gravity Series so the aftertaste fits. 

Overall this beer is a decent if somewhat strong tasting affair, it is the sort of thing a person should try at least once. Derek 77/100 Cody 83/100.

The First of Many a Good Brew

Welcome to our little corner. Were glad you're joining us on our adventure through the Pleasures of downtown life. Through this blog we will explore the multiple sub cultures of Beer, Tobacco and Downtown Life. At least in our little Burg

Captain Pumpkin's Maple Mistress 

by Saucony Creek Brewing Co. 

Company Description: 

In the autumn of 1720, Captain Jack Rachman and his pirate-mates were celebrating their victories in typical hard-drinking tradition. Suddenly a British Navy sloop surprised them. The drunken pirates hid below deck, leaving Captain Jack’s mistresses Anne Bonney and Mary Read to defend the ship. The women shared a reputation as “fierce hell cats,” but the British Navy eventually overtook the pirate ship. Captain Jack and the pirates were sentenced to hang. Anne visited her lover in his cell before his execution, and instead of loving words her scathing comments live on throughout history, “Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang’d like a dog.” Their legacy inspired us to brew an equally ferocious Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with pirate rum spices. We added a touch of autumn flavor with roasted butternut squash and natural maple syrup.

Appearance; 

Bright amber, with fairly decent head. Head has a good longevity actually was able to last through most of the beer. Decent lacing lasting about 4 seconds. this beer becomes slightly cloudy the closer to the tail you get.

Taste; 

Has a tantalizing scent of Cinnamon and nutmeg, The maple notes are noticeable, but not the focus. This beer possesses a smooth mouth feel. the spices are tasted throughout. the Butternut Squash noticeably changes the flavor as it weaves across your taste buds with the pumpkin. The maple flavor shines through at the back-end of the drink with a strong alcohol flavor. This is to be expected of a beer that posses 9.5%. the beer maintained a good flavor throughout the glass. .

Our overall opinion of this beer is that the incorporation of the butternut squash is a unique and tasty change of pace. The beer lives up to its name with the defining maple flavor being well presented. 87/100 seems to be a fair rating for this "Fierce Hell Cat." 

Imperial PUMKING ALE

 Brewed with pumpkins 

By SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO

Company Description;

Pumking is an ode to Puca, the mythical Celtic horse beast said to entice careless travelers onto its back and take them on a terrifying night ride through the forest. It is a journey from which you will return forever changed. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow its spiced aroma and deep copper color to entrance you. taste the beer and you are bewitched, powerless to resist the Pumking

Apperance;

Light copper in color with light clouds. The head of this beer has no real longevity, this also accounts for the lack of lacing. The beer maintains its color throughout the glass. However there is a sediment that developed on the bottom of the glass.

Taste;

The smell of this beer will almost bring to mind Grandma Pumpkin pie, The notes of pumpkin and spice are immediately recognized. The scent of roasted Vanilla is a nice undertone. The beer leaves the mouth with a light tingle, fairly smooth and a good carbonation in the body. The flavor has the malty sweetness as advertised by the bottle. To our taste the beer reassembled more of a pumpkin bread than a pumpkin pie.

Overall the beer had a nice vanilla flavor hiding under the pumpkin exterior. the aroma of this beer will get you into the fall spirits and ready for the cold weather ahead. We believe that the beer didn't quite have the Pie taste to it. This beer gave us different Opinions so; Cody gives it a 71/100 and Derick a 78/100.

CHOKLAT

A stout brewed with Chocolate

BY SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO

Company Description;

The Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). We’re not surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured for rulers and gods. Choklat is every bit a dessert beer, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle.

Apperance;

DARK. this beer is black, so black that light ceases to exist within the glass. out flashlight could not penetrate the dark roast. A light brown head tops off the glass, with a good longevity and lacing, The lacing lasts a good amount of time, and the head stays on top for a few minutes

Taste;

Chocolate lovers will die from the smell of this vibrant sent. If you allow your nose to linger by the glass the smell of barley shines through with a hops after tone. After initial tasting we where surprised to find the taste to be very similar to that of the scent. The beer is fairly smooth but also chewy. The bitter chocolate starts out sweet and balances with the smokey body. The flavor of the Caramel malt comes through on the head and tail of every sip. 

Overall this desert beer had a strong chocolate flavor that delivered on the promise from the bottle. the noticeable caramel malt added a good balance for sweetness and flavor. Even in this 10% beer the alcohol is not really detectable. 85/100 for this Mayan inspired drink of the Gods.