For this beer review we took a field trip to the Total Wine in Huntington Beach for one of their tasting classes. It's a great program they have - $15 gets you a tasting of some good beers, the history of the beer and region, plus all the pizza you can eat!
This tasting was all Belgium beers who have the famous brewing monks. Monks brewed beer not because they were all a bunch of drunks, but that was the best way to make the water safe to drink in the years before chlorine. Their every-day drinking ales were real low ABV so you could drink it all day long, not get drunk and stay hydrated. They'd brew stronger ABV ales, though, for "fun" consumption. "Trappist" beers are beers that are brewed inside of a monastery. "Abbey" beers are ones were the recipe comes from a monastery, but are brewed outside the monastery. St. Arnold is the patron saint of Belgian breweries.
Beer #1 - Dupont Florent
Farmhouse Ale
7.5% ABV
While highly carbinated, it has a lackluster apperance. It has a very light taste - hardly noticable. Paring this beer with cheese would help the taste a lot. It's recommended this is drunk out of a tulip class and served at a temperature in the mid 50's F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 72.
Beer #2 - Martens Witte
Witbier
4.8% ABV
A refreshing, orange taste. Would be a good beer to drink after a run. It has a lackluster appearance but an inviting smell and an appealing feel in the mouth. Comes in a can and recommended to drink out of a mug. Serve at a cool temperature around 50 degrees F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 79.
Beer #3 - Antigoon
Pale Ale
6.7% ABV
Fairly clear, but very orange in color. Christina thought it smelled like a pistachio swamp. It has quite an interesting aroma - Earthy. Great taste, not bitter. Malty. Recommended to drink out of a tulip glass, cold at around 50 degrees F.
It's sister style is a Belgian Blond Ale.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 90!
Beer #4 - Kwak
Strong Pale Ale
8.4% ABV
Dark golden color. Not much taste considering it's color. It's a little malty. The high ABV content is hidden in the taste. The brewers of this beer use a Belgian candied sugar as yeast. Recommended to drink out of a tulip or wine glass and a serving temperature in the mid to upper 50's F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets an 82.
Beer #5 - Flying Fish Exit 4
Belgian-style Tripel
9.5% ABV
Brewed in New Jersey. Light golden look, like apple juice. Smells crisp and sweet, but very hoppie. It tastes like a Riesling wine at first until the hops kick in. It's very sweet. It's good, but it'd be tough to drink a lot of it. You'd also get pretty drunk pretty fast. Recommended to drink out of a wine glass and serve cool at around 50 degrees F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 90!
Beer #6 - Poppering Hommel Ale
Belgian IPA
7.5% ABV
Cloudy look to it. The smell isn't very hoppie. It's very carbonated but not very bitter in taste. Not a whole lot of flavor to it except an egg aftertaste. We're used to the IPA's of San Diego county that have a much stronger, bitter taste to them. Recommended to drink out of a wine glass or chalice and serve at a temperature in the mid 50's F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 72.
Beer #7 - Flying Fish Westmalle
Belgian-Style Dubbel
7.2% ABV
Very brown and cloudy in apperance. Lots of particles floating around in this one. Kurt though it was too fizzy. Christina liked this much better than an American-style Dubbel. It has something in it (yeast?) that balances out the sweetness of the malt. Recommended to drink out of a chalice or goblet and serve at a temperature in the mid 50's F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets an 80.
Beer #8 - Adriaen Brower
Belgian-Style Strong Dark Ale
8.5% ABV
Dark brown in color. Smells a little like eggs. It's fizzy, but doesn't give much else for an impression. The beer has been discontinued, but if you could buy it, it's recommended to serve it at a temperature in the mid 50's F and any style of glass will suit it.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 76.
Beer #9 - La Trappe
Belgian Quadrupel
10% ABV
Light brown color w/ particles floating around. Sweet smell of molasses. It has a very sweet, sugary taste. None of us noted what type of glass it's recommended to drink this out of. We were a bit tipsy by this point. It is recommended to serve this warm in the upper 50 degrees F.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 76.
Beer #10 - Dauchese De Bourgogne
Red Ale
6% ABV
Very dark in color, yet clear. Smells like a farm and tastes like a vinegary wine. It was tough to finish the tasting pour.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 70.
Beer #11 - Mikkeller Strawberry
Fruit Lambic
7.7 ABV
An unfiltered beer that is cloudy orange in color. It smells more like a barn yard than even the previous beer. It tastes like straight vinegar. There isn't a particular style of glass this beer can be drank out of, but the group recommended pouring this one into a toilet. It was univeraly hated. Drink it cold, drink it warm, it's going to suck either way.
On a scale of 100, this one gets a 6.
And that's the Belgians. The Antigoon Pale Ale and the Flying Fish Exit 4 Tripel were the run-away winners with the group. The Mikkeller vinegar beer is something to stay away from. It's $13.99 a bottle by the way!
Beeeeer
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Review #4 - Ambers & Irish
After a very, very long holiday break we reconvened in the barrio for another beer review. This time it was decided to tackle amber beers and Irish brews, since St. Patrick's Day is "right around the corner" even though it was only February 22nd. So really we could fit a second Irish beer tasting in before St. Patty's, however, we found that there really isn't that large an assortment of Irish beer. They invented Guinness and I guess they stopped there.
So here's what we got:
Beer #1 - Barrel Trolley Amber
5.3% ABV
Christina - It doesn't just look like beer, but beer and soda. It has a sweet flavor.
Melinda - Smooth, lemony. A good barbecue beer.
Ruben - A smooth flavor with a dark taste. Almost medicinie or like what I think eucalyptus would taste like.
Alana - Yeah, I get that feeling, too. Smooth, but it tastes numbing, like an antiseptic.
Kurt - I like the label.
Beer #2 - Fat Tire Amber
5.2% ABV
Melinda - It looks nice and clear. No UTI's.
Christina - But it tastes like dirt!
Kris - Yeah, it's Earthy. It has a grassy/straw character.
Kurt - I think this one smells like a hangover.
- Melinda - Like a dirty bar?
Ruben - I think it's a good party beer.
Beer #3 - Green's Amber Ale
Gluten Free (no crustaceans)
6.3% ABV
Alana - Whoa! I taste apples.
Christina - Yucky aftertaste. A bit of a pale aftertaste with the apple.
Ruben - Really medicinie. The carbonation is different.
Kurt - I like this one the best out of the first three.
Lynn - It could use crustaceans.
Beer #4 - Murphy's Red Ale
Irish
5.0% ABV
Ruben - That's light and hoppy.
Christina - I could drink this all night. It's not that strong.
Kris - It's smooth.
Alana - The Budweiser of Ireland?
Kurt - There's no taste.
Beer #5 - Abita Christmas Ale
5.0% ABV
Ruben - That's really piney.
Alana - Yuck, yuck, get that off my tongue!
Kris - Quite perfumie.
Kurt - It's an amber IPA.
Melinda - I'm not a fan.
Beer #6 - Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
5.8% ABV
Christina - Ugh, this looks like a UTI beer.
Alana - Good but only in small doses. Though kind of like a Vicks cough drop.
Lyn - I'm not loving this one.
Kris - A bit of an armpit smell to it. Maybe a sweaty Winnie the Pooh. Mild taste, though.
Kurt - Meh, not bad.
Beer #7 - Guinness Red Harvest Stout
Irish (duh)
4.1% ABV
Alana - Poured into your glass, it looks like a lava lamp as it settles. It tastes light.
Lynn - It's flat!
Christina - Doesn't taste like a normal Guinness. Easy to drink.
Melinda - I'd order this in a bar.
Ruben - You guys are talking me into liking this one.
Kurt - The first thing I taste is water.
Beer #8 - Guinness Extra Stout
Irish
5.0% ABV
Kris - Not as flat as the Red Harvest. I like this Guinness a lot better.
Ruben/Melinda/Lynn - This is what I imagine a Guinness to taste like.
Christina - Black licorice! Though it could be the nacho I just ate. It tastes like every other beer we've thrown away because it's gone flat.
Kurt - Guinness out of a bottle is terrible.
Beer #9 - Guinness Black Lager
Irish
4.5% ABV
Melinda - Chocolaty. It tastes like "other beers."
Lynn - Not as flat. I like this one.
Ruben - I like it. It tastes like any other lager.
Christina - I expected more.
Beer #10 - Wexford Irish Style Creme Ale
Irish? No, it's an English beer. Sons-a-bitches tricked us!
5.0% ABV
Ruben - Does "Irish style" mean flat? I like the flavor, though I just don't like how it's flat.
Lynn - I taste some caramel.
Kurt - Yeah, it's flat but I taste a lot of caramel, too.
Christina - I don't like this one.
Melinda - I don't get a normal aftertaste with this one.
- Alana - But I taste something.
Kris - The sweetness is weird.
Beer #11 - Harp Premium Lager
Irish (from the brewers of Guinness)
5.0% ABV
Ruben - This is the Budweiser of Irish beers.
Melinda - But with a kick.
Kurt - No bitter taste to it. That surprises me.
Bonus Beer - Ballast Point Pale Ale
San Diego
5.2% ABV
Christina - Smells poochie.
- Kris - Coochie? There is a big tuna on the label.
Lynn - I like it. I can taste citrus.
Ruben - I love pale ales. Ballast makes their beers easy to drink whether you're new to beers or a seasoned [drunkard].
So none of the ambers really stood out to us and if you're going to Ireland, you'd better like Guinness because that's about all there is. We all kind of rejoiced when we popped open the Ballast Point.
So here's what we got:
Beer #1 - Barrel Trolley Amber
5.3% ABV
Christina - It doesn't just look like beer, but beer and soda. It has a sweet flavor.
Melinda - Smooth, lemony. A good barbecue beer.
Ruben - A smooth flavor with a dark taste. Almost medicinie or like what I think eucalyptus would taste like.
Alana - Yeah, I get that feeling, too. Smooth, but it tastes numbing, like an antiseptic.
Kurt - I like the label.
Beer #2 - Fat Tire Amber
5.2% ABV
Melinda - It looks nice and clear. No UTI's.
Christina - But it tastes like dirt!
Kris - Yeah, it's Earthy. It has a grassy/straw character.
Kurt - I think this one smells like a hangover.
- Melinda - Like a dirty bar?
Ruben - I think it's a good party beer.
Beer #3 - Green's Amber Ale
Gluten Free (no crustaceans)
6.3% ABV
Alana - Whoa! I taste apples.
Christina - Yucky aftertaste. A bit of a pale aftertaste with the apple.
Ruben - Really medicinie. The carbonation is different.
Kurt - I like this one the best out of the first three.
Lynn - It could use crustaceans.
Beer #4 - Murphy's Red Ale
Irish
5.0% ABV
Ruben - That's light and hoppy.
Christina - I could drink this all night. It's not that strong.
Kris - It's smooth.
Alana - The Budweiser of Ireland?
Kurt - There's no taste.
Beer #5 - Abita Christmas Ale
5.0% ABV
Ruben - That's really piney.
Alana - Yuck, yuck, get that off my tongue!
Kris - Quite perfumie.
Kurt - It's an amber IPA.
Melinda - I'm not a fan.
Beer #6 - Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale
5.8% ABV
Christina - Ugh, this looks like a UTI beer.
Alana - Good but only in small doses. Though kind of like a Vicks cough drop.
Lyn - I'm not loving this one.
Kris - A bit of an armpit smell to it. Maybe a sweaty Winnie the Pooh. Mild taste, though.
Kurt - Meh, not bad.
Beer #7 - Guinness Red Harvest Stout
Irish (duh)
4.1% ABV
Alana - Poured into your glass, it looks like a lava lamp as it settles. It tastes light.
Lynn - It's flat!
Christina - Doesn't taste like a normal Guinness. Easy to drink.
Melinda - I'd order this in a bar.
Ruben - You guys are talking me into liking this one.
Kurt - The first thing I taste is water.
Beer #8 - Guinness Extra Stout
Irish
5.0% ABV
Kris - Not as flat as the Red Harvest. I like this Guinness a lot better.
Ruben/Melinda/Lynn - This is what I imagine a Guinness to taste like.
Christina - Black licorice! Though it could be the nacho I just ate. It tastes like every other beer we've thrown away because it's gone flat.
Kurt - Guinness out of a bottle is terrible.
Beer #9 - Guinness Black Lager
Irish
4.5% ABV
Melinda - Chocolaty. It tastes like "other beers."
Lynn - Not as flat. I like this one.
Ruben - I like it. It tastes like any other lager.
Christina - I expected more.
Beer #10 - Wexford Irish Style Creme Ale
Irish? No, it's an English beer. Sons-a-bitches tricked us!
5.0% ABV
Ruben - Does "Irish style" mean flat? I like the flavor, though I just don't like how it's flat.
Lynn - I taste some caramel.
Kurt - Yeah, it's flat but I taste a lot of caramel, too.
Christina - I don't like this one.
Melinda - I don't get a normal aftertaste with this one.
- Alana - But I taste something.
Kris - The sweetness is weird.
Beer #11 - Harp Premium Lager
Irish (from the brewers of Guinness)
5.0% ABV
Ruben - This is the Budweiser of Irish beers.
Melinda - But with a kick.
Kurt - No bitter taste to it. That surprises me.
Bonus Beer - Ballast Point Pale Ale
San Diego
5.2% ABV
Christina - Smells poochie.
- Kris - Coochie? There is a big tuna on the label.
Lynn - I like it. I can taste citrus.
Ruben - I love pale ales. Ballast makes their beers easy to drink whether you're new to beers or a seasoned [drunkard].
So none of the ambers really stood out to us and if you're going to Ireland, you'd better like Guinness because that's about all there is. We all kind of rejoiced when we popped open the Ballast Point.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Review #3 - Brits & Krauts
The beers for this review were gringo's choice. It was Mr. Steinback/Whittington's birthday, so we drank all German and English beers. Beers were consumed in order by color from lightest to darkest.
Beer #1 - St. Pauli Girl Lager
German
Abv 4.9%
Lynn - It looks and tastes like Budweiser, but more bitter than Bud. I think Hitler brought it over to kill us.
Mel - Smells like a hardcore, old school beer.
Christina - Smells like Coors.
Ruben - I like it!
Beer #2 - Hopf: Helle Weibe
German
Abv 5.3%
Helle Weibe is similar to a hefewizen
Mel - This smells much sweeter than the lager
Ruben - Cinnamony; tastes like Christmas
Lynn - I taste the spice, I like it.
Christina - It doesn't taste as "thick" as other hefs
Ruben - I don't usually like wheat beers, but this one's not that bad. *burp*
Lynn - It smells different coming out of Rubin's burp.
Beer #3 - Wells & Young Banana Bread Beer
English Pale Ale
Abv 5.2%
Kurt - The greatest beer in the history of Earth.
Ruben - It's too sweet.
Christina - It's very golden in color. When it first hits your pallet it really tastes like banana.
Lynn - I could order this at a bar. Very flavorful - desserty. I can really smell the banana.
Mel - Not bad. I like the smell.
Beer #4 - Morland's Old Crafty Hen
English Ale
Abv 6.5%
Christina bought this with her older sister, Mel, in mind.
Ruben - This is smooth. After you drink, breath out with your mouth partly open and you taste raisin.
Kurt - It smells like an amber.
Christina - It doesn't have the smell that I normally equate to beer, which I think always smells like piss. Though we should get it again and chill it more.
Mel - Oh my god. *hack* It left my mouth so dry.
Beer #5 - Bamber Mahr's Brau Christimas Bock
German
Abv 6%
Christina - It's a little hoppy, but I could drink this.
Ruben - It's like an IPA light
Note: rest of table is a little buzzed and is getting sleepy.
Beer #6 - Newcastle Brown Ale
English
Abv 4.7%
Ruben - This tastes like nothing, now.
Mel - Yeah, I barely taste a thing after the other beers.
Christina - Tastes like mud with water.
Lynn - I like it.
Kurt - It has more color than taste.
Beer #7 - Erdinger Hefe-Weizen Dunkel
German
Abv 5.3%
Mel - Smells good. Tastes like a strong Newcastle. I like it.
Ruben - It's very carbonated, like it's a man's soda.
Kurt - I think it smells like seaweed.
Christina - An oaky aftertaste.
Lynn - Doesn't taste as thick as it looks. I like it because it doesn't have a lot of taste.
Beer #8 - Mean Time London Porter
English
Abv 6.5%
Lynn - It tastes very different and looks like a dip cup.
Kurt - It smells like fish or bait.
Christina - Smokey. Not my favorite porter, but I'll drink it.
Ruben - Bitter coffee. I wouldn't buy it, but I'd drink it.
Isaac (guest taster) - It tastes like bitter old-man ass.
That wraps up BBR #3. Most of the beers were a little bland compared to ones tasted in the past. Wells & Young Banana Bread Beer was the default winner.
Beer #1 - St. Pauli Girl Lager
German
Abv 4.9%
Lynn - It looks and tastes like Budweiser, but more bitter than Bud. I think Hitler brought it over to kill us.
Mel - Smells like a hardcore, old school beer.
Christina - Smells like Coors.
Ruben - I like it!
Beer #2 - Hopf: Helle Weibe
German
Abv 5.3%
Helle Weibe is similar to a hefewizen
Mel - This smells much sweeter than the lager
Ruben - Cinnamony; tastes like Christmas
Lynn - I taste the spice, I like it.
Christina - It doesn't taste as "thick" as other hefs
Ruben - I don't usually like wheat beers, but this one's not that bad. *burp*
Lynn - It smells different coming out of Rubin's burp.
Beer #3 - Wells & Young Banana Bread Beer
English Pale Ale
Abv 5.2%
Kurt - The greatest beer in the history of Earth.
Ruben - It's too sweet.
Christina - It's very golden in color. When it first hits your pallet it really tastes like banana.
Lynn - I could order this at a bar. Very flavorful - desserty. I can really smell the banana.
Mel - Not bad. I like the smell.
Beer #4 - Morland's Old Crafty Hen
English Ale
Abv 6.5%
Christina bought this with her older sister, Mel, in mind.
Ruben - This is smooth. After you drink, breath out with your mouth partly open and you taste raisin.
Kurt - It smells like an amber.
Christina - It doesn't have the smell that I normally equate to beer, which I think always smells like piss. Though we should get it again and chill it more.
Mel - Oh my god. *hack* It left my mouth so dry.
Beer #5 - Bamber Mahr's Brau Christimas Bock
German
Abv 6%
Christina - It's a little hoppy, but I could drink this.
Ruben - It's like an IPA light
Note: rest of table is a little buzzed and is getting sleepy.
Beer #6 - Newcastle Brown Ale
English
Abv 4.7%
Ruben - This tastes like nothing, now.
Mel - Yeah, I barely taste a thing after the other beers.
Christina - Tastes like mud with water.
Lynn - I like it.
Kurt - It has more color than taste.
Beer #7 - Erdinger Hefe-Weizen Dunkel
German
Abv 5.3%
Mel - Smells good. Tastes like a strong Newcastle. I like it.
Ruben - It's very carbonated, like it's a man's soda.
Kurt - I think it smells like seaweed.
Christina - An oaky aftertaste.
Lynn - Doesn't taste as thick as it looks. I like it because it doesn't have a lot of taste.
Beer #8 - Mean Time London Porter
English
Abv 6.5%
Lynn - It tastes very different and looks like a dip cup.
Kurt - It smells like fish or bait.
Christina - Smokey. Not my favorite porter, but I'll drink it.
Ruben - Bitter coffee. I wouldn't buy it, but I'd drink it.
Isaac (guest taster) - It tastes like bitter old-man ass.
That wraps up BBR #3. Most of the beers were a little bland compared to ones tasted in the past. Wells & Young Banana Bread Beer was the default winner.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Review #2 - Blondes and IPA's
For this second beer tasting the ladies in the group thought blondes sounded nice - cute and fun! IPA's were chosen as well to 1. be a stark contrast to the blondes and 2. IPA's are the it beer right now, not just with hypsters, but particularly in Southern California. It's all but mandatory for breweries in San Diego County to make an IPA their primary beer.
So, lets get to the beer . . .
Blonde #1 - Wychcraft
4.5% ABV
A dry tasting beer.
Christina - Smells like Coors Light! It's a beer my dad would like.
Kurt - The smell reminds me of a (cheap) beer from high school.
Ruben - Yeah! Like a beer from high school. No foo-foo flavors, just straight out beer. What teenagers should drink if they're going to drink beer. It's an expensive sporting event beer.
Lynn - Tastes like pee . . . but I don't know what pee tastes like.
Blonde #2 - Stawberry Blonde
4.5% ABV
Very strong strawberry smell. Lemony, zesty, bitter.
Kurt - Mmmmm, smells like girls in elementary school. It has a lot of smell, but not a lot of taste.
Ruben - Oh yeah, it smells like that lip gloss that Brenda Hughsman used to put on.
Melinda - This is a beer that you can put sugar on the rim and have, like, a lemon drop.
Lynn - Maybe you have to, to give it some flavor.
Blonde #3 - Afflingem
7% ABV
It's got floaties. You can taste the hops, but without the bitter hoppiness of IPA. In general, the group thought it was very good, but hard to describe.
Melinda - Smells good.
Kurt - More carbonated.
Ruben - Almost like a wheat beer. Kind of thick/syrupy. Rich in beer flavor.
Lynn - It would make you full very fast.
Blonde #4 - The Lost Abbey Devotion
6.25 ABV
Hoppy, tastes more like a mild IPA
Ruben - Tastes like a hoppy Fat Tire.
Melinda - It's thick. Looks like pee with a UTI. So hoppie my burp hopped out of my throat.
Lynn - It smells like farts.
Kurt - The bottle pours weird. It was hard to poor without a foamy head and it dripped everywhere.
Blonde #5 - Alley Cat Amber Ale
5.5% ABV
Slightly bitter after taste, but smooth flavor while drinking. Very refreshing
Ruben - Whoa, I got a totally different flavor than the first sip . . . like my buds were confused.
Kurt - Wouldn't drink it with food. It has too much flavor.
Ruben - Yeah, except for pizza! It would be excellent with pizza.
IPA #1 - Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA
7% ABV
Melinda - Holy!!! . . . If I were to eat shit, this would go good with it.
Lynn - Can you write this down? (bitter beer face)
Ruben & Kurt - We think it's like something you could drink on a hot day at the beach.
Christina - You know what IPA's taste like to me? Like you're chewing on an orange or a lemon peel. This one, though, tastes like a 16 year old boy's . . . . . . . armpit.
IPA #2 - Port Brewing Mongo
8.5% ABV
Smell is not as strong and flavor is more mild than previous Port Brewing IPA.
Melinda - It looks like sewer water.
Kurt - It tastes like the last one, to me.
Ruben - Ah, smells like feet. It's stronger taster . . . it's strongier. You can tell these beers have more alcohol.
Lynn - Didn't I say this one tastes fruity?
Melinda - That was three beers ago.
By the 7th beer, the conversation had turned to farts, hot boxing and cartoons . . .
IPA #3 - Renaissance Brewing Company Malty Pale Ale
8.5% ABV
New Zealand brewed beer
Ruben - This is the best IPA I've ever had. It's crisp, not citrusie. A smoother IPA.Hint of chocolate; dark chocolate.
Melinda - Like how mom likes her men.
Lynn - I didn't make a face with this one.
Christina - It has a weird smell, like yeast. This one's bitterness hits the middle of my tongue. Smoky taste on the front. Go Kiwi's. This is a good tasting beer.
Kurt - I can really taste the malts
Ruben - Good to drink at a barbecue
Es bueno!
IPA #4 - Underworld IPA
6% ABV
Kurt - It smells sweet.
Ruben - Very sugary. If you have diabetes, stay away from it.
Christina - It was on sale for $1.99.
Melinda - And it tastes like a $1.99.
Barrio Beer Review Quote:
Melinda - "Addendum" - See, I can use big words.
Note: After beer #9 the conversation moved to menstruating. Ruben - "Hey, hey, lets go back to talking about farts."
IPA #5 - Stone IPA
6.9% ABV
Ruben - The typical IPA; little citrusie & hoppy, then a bitter aftertaste. Light flavor. A novice to a beer snob would appreciate this beer.
Kurt - It's the baseline IPA. You can tell it's a hypster beer - it has a long, self involved description.
Melinda - It smells like the first beer we had tonight; the Wychcraft.
Bonus Beer - Oyster Stout
4.5% ABV
Brewed with oyster shells.
Lynn - It looks like I'm drinking Ruben's dip cup.
Anonymous - It smells like a dookie yard. Doesn't taste how it looks.
Kurt - It tastes blah.
Lynn - It tastes better than I expected.
Ruben - I taste a hint of the sea.
Christina - A little salty.
And that wraps up BBR #2. Renaissance Brewing Company's Malty Pale Ale was the winner this round.
So, lets get to the beer . . .
Blonde #1 - Wychcraft
4.5% ABV
A dry tasting beer.
Christina - Smells like Coors Light! It's a beer my dad would like.
Kurt - The smell reminds me of a (cheap) beer from high school.
Ruben - Yeah! Like a beer from high school. No foo-foo flavors, just straight out beer. What teenagers should drink if they're going to drink beer. It's an expensive sporting event beer.
Lynn - Tastes like pee . . . but I don't know what pee tastes like.
Blonde #2 - Stawberry Blonde
4.5% ABV
Very strong strawberry smell. Lemony, zesty, bitter.
Kurt - Mmmmm, smells like girls in elementary school. It has a lot of smell, but not a lot of taste.
Ruben - Oh yeah, it smells like that lip gloss that Brenda Hughsman used to put on.
Melinda - This is a beer that you can put sugar on the rim and have, like, a lemon drop.
Lynn - Maybe you have to, to give it some flavor.
Blonde #3 - Afflingem
7% ABV
It's got floaties. You can taste the hops, but without the bitter hoppiness of IPA. In general, the group thought it was very good, but hard to describe.
Melinda - Smells good.
Kurt - More carbonated.
Ruben - Almost like a wheat beer. Kind of thick/syrupy. Rich in beer flavor.
Lynn - It would make you full very fast.
Blonde #4 - The Lost Abbey Devotion
6.25 ABV
Hoppy, tastes more like a mild IPA
Ruben - Tastes like a hoppy Fat Tire.
Melinda - It's thick. Looks like pee with a UTI. So hoppie my burp hopped out of my throat.
Lynn - It smells like farts.
Kurt - The bottle pours weird. It was hard to poor without a foamy head and it dripped everywhere.
Blonde #5 - Alley Cat Amber Ale
5.5% ABV
Slightly bitter after taste, but smooth flavor while drinking. Very refreshing
Ruben - Whoa, I got a totally different flavor than the first sip . . . like my buds were confused.
Kurt - Wouldn't drink it with food. It has too much flavor.
Ruben - Yeah, except for pizza! It would be excellent with pizza.
IPA #1 - Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA
7% ABV
Melinda - Holy!!! . . . If I were to eat shit, this would go good with it.
Lynn - Can you write this down? (bitter beer face)
Ruben & Kurt - We think it's like something you could drink on a hot day at the beach.
Christina - You know what IPA's taste like to me? Like you're chewing on an orange or a lemon peel. This one, though, tastes like a 16 year old boy's . . . . . . . armpit.
IPA #2 - Port Brewing Mongo
8.5% ABV
Smell is not as strong and flavor is more mild than previous Port Brewing IPA.
Melinda - It looks like sewer water.
Kurt - It tastes like the last one, to me.
Ruben - Ah, smells like feet. It's stronger taster . . . it's strongier. You can tell these beers have more alcohol.
Lynn - Didn't I say this one tastes fruity?
Melinda - That was three beers ago.
By the 7th beer, the conversation had turned to farts, hot boxing and cartoons . . .
IPA #3 - Renaissance Brewing Company Malty Pale Ale
8.5% ABV
New Zealand brewed beer
Ruben - This is the best IPA I've ever had. It's crisp, not citrusie. A smoother IPA.Hint of chocolate; dark chocolate.
Melinda - Like how mom likes her men.
Lynn - I didn't make a face with this one.
Christina - It has a weird smell, like yeast. This one's bitterness hits the middle of my tongue. Smoky taste on the front. Go Kiwi's. This is a good tasting beer.
Kurt - I can really taste the malts
Ruben - Good to drink at a barbecue
Es bueno!
IPA #4 - Underworld IPA
6% ABV
Kurt - It smells sweet.
Ruben - Very sugary. If you have diabetes, stay away from it.
Christina - It was on sale for $1.99.
Melinda - And it tastes like a $1.99.
Barrio Beer Review Quote:
Melinda - "Addendum" - See, I can use big words.
Note: After beer #9 the conversation moved to menstruating. Ruben - "Hey, hey, lets go back to talking about farts."
IPA #5 - Stone IPA
6.9% ABV
Ruben - The typical IPA; little citrusie & hoppy, then a bitter aftertaste. Light flavor. A novice to a beer snob would appreciate this beer.
Kurt - It's the baseline IPA. You can tell it's a hypster beer - it has a long, self involved description.
Melinda - It smells like the first beer we had tonight; the Wychcraft.
Bonus Beer - Oyster Stout
4.5% ABV
Brewed with oyster shells.
Lynn - It looks like I'm drinking Ruben's dip cup.
Anonymous - It smells like a dookie yard. Doesn't taste how it looks.
Kurt - It tastes blah.
Lynn - It tastes better than I expected.
Ruben - I taste a hint of the sea.
Christina - A little salty.
And that wraps up BBR #2. Renaissance Brewing Company's Malty Pale Ale was the winner this round.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Review #1 - A Beer Tasting Medley
This initial beer tasting and idea for this blog stemmed from a night when the three Escandon siblings brought their stockpiles of beers together to see what they could get rid of. Bottles were opened, glasses were poured, beers were drank and somehow legible notes were taken.
This tasting consists of a random medley of beers. No rhyme or reason was given for which beers were chosen or what order they were drank in.
Beer #1 - Ass Kisser Smoked Porter
8% ABV
Smokey with a chocolatey aftertaste. Not too dark.
Beer #2 - Abita Amber
4.5% ABV
Smooth with an initial caramel flavor. Smells like a common light beer.
Beer #3 - Moose Drool Brown Ale
5.1% ABV
Smooth. Not too dark. Slightly malty. A crowd pleaser.
Beer #4 - Alley Cat Amber Ale
5.5% ABV
Bitter and hoppy
Beer #5 - Sierra Nevada Hoptimum IPA
10.4% ABV
Very strong aftertaste.
Ruben - "Very piney, sweet to bitter taste."
Melinda - "Taste like you accidently sprayed perfume in your mouth."
Christina - "Tastes like armpit."
Beer #6 - Underworld Brewing American IPA
6% ABV
Not as piney as Hoptimum. Leaves mouth dry. It's like an angry chihuahua.
Beer #7 - Bootlegger's Brewery Old World Hefeweizen
5% ABV
German style unfiltered wheat beer. Cinnamon and citrus tastes.
Beer #8 - Hanger 24 Orange Wheat
4.6% ABV
Very light bodied. Fruity compared to other wheats. Like beer mixed with pulpy orange juice. Your burps have a hint of lemon.
Beer #9 - Buffalo Bill's Brewery Strawberry Blonde Ale
5.2% ABV
Polarizing taste. Some thought it was great with a unique, slight ginger taste. Others thought it was too sweet or tasted like grass.
Beer #10 - Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter
6% ABV
Smooth, slightly smokey coffee flavored porter with a hopie aftertaste.
Beer #11 - Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
7% ABV
Very peppery, spicy taste, like Cheyenne.Slight vanilla taste. Smells like coconut curry. Might make a good marinade.
Beer #12 - Alaskan White Wheat Ale
5.3 ABV
Brewed with spices. Refreshing.
Beer #13 - Firestone Solace Wheat
4.8% ABV
Seasonal, summer beer. A very light wheat beer with the taste of citrus and cloves. An "everyday" drinking beer. Tastes like a fruity lager.
Beer #14 - Traquair House Ale
7.2% ABV
Scottish brown ale brewed in the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Flavor of a dark brown ale, but very smooth. Has a mysterious taste to it. A favorite by several in the group.
Group Polling
If you were going to a party and wanted to take a good drinking beer with you, which one of these would you take?
Ruben, Melinda and Kurt - Alaskan White (anybody would like eat)
Christina - Moose Drool
Lynn -Buffalo Bill's Strawberry Blonde
Which was the most interesting beer you tasted tonight?
Ruben, Melinda, Christina & Kurt - Ballast Pointe Indra Kunindra
Lynn - Buffalo Bill's Strawberry Blonde
This tasting consists of a random medley of beers. No rhyme or reason was given for which beers were chosen or what order they were drank in.
Beer #1 - Ass Kisser Smoked Porter
8% ABV
Smokey with a chocolatey aftertaste. Not too dark.
Beer #2 - Abita Amber
4.5% ABV
Smooth with an initial caramel flavor. Smells like a common light beer.
Beer #3 - Moose Drool Brown Ale
5.1% ABV
Smooth. Not too dark. Slightly malty. A crowd pleaser.
Beer #4 - Alley Cat Amber Ale
5.5% ABV
Bitter and hoppy
Beer #5 - Sierra Nevada Hoptimum IPA
10.4% ABV
Very strong aftertaste.
Ruben - "Very piney, sweet to bitter taste."
Melinda - "Taste like you accidently sprayed perfume in your mouth."
Christina - "Tastes like armpit."
Beer #6 - Underworld Brewing American IPA
6% ABV
Not as piney as Hoptimum. Leaves mouth dry. It's like an angry chihuahua.
Beer #7 - Bootlegger's Brewery Old World Hefeweizen
5% ABV
German style unfiltered wheat beer. Cinnamon and citrus tastes.
Beer #8 - Hanger 24 Orange Wheat
4.6% ABV
Very light bodied. Fruity compared to other wheats. Like beer mixed with pulpy orange juice. Your burps have a hint of lemon.
Beer #9 - Buffalo Bill's Brewery Strawberry Blonde Ale
5.2% ABV
Polarizing taste. Some thought it was great with a unique, slight ginger taste. Others thought it was too sweet or tasted like grass.
Beer #10 - Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter
6% ABV
Smooth, slightly smokey coffee flavored porter with a hopie aftertaste.
Beer #11 - Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Stout
7% ABV
Very peppery, spicy taste, like Cheyenne.Slight vanilla taste. Smells like coconut curry. Might make a good marinade.
Beer #12 - Alaskan White Wheat Ale
5.3 ABV
Brewed with spices. Refreshing.
Beer #13 - Firestone Solace Wheat
4.8% ABV
Seasonal, summer beer. A very light wheat beer with the taste of citrus and cloves. An "everyday" drinking beer. Tastes like a fruity lager.
Beer #14 - Traquair House Ale
7.2% ABV
Scottish brown ale brewed in the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Flavor of a dark brown ale, but very smooth. Has a mysterious taste to it. A favorite by several in the group.
Group Polling
If you were going to a party and wanted to take a good drinking beer with you, which one of these would you take?
Ruben, Melinda and Kurt - Alaskan White (anybody would like eat)
Christina - Moose Drool
Lynn -Buffalo Bill's Strawberry Blonde
Which was the most interesting beer you tasted tonight?
Ruben, Melinda, Christina & Kurt - Ballast Pointe Indra Kunindra
Lynn - Buffalo Bill's Strawberry Blonde
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