From a firkin. Oh boy. This knocked me over at the Bella Vista Grand reopening in October in Philadelphia. Those 2 oz samples were like little tiny bricks sealing me in to a personal twiddly state. It was amazing, memorable, and significant. After about the third small sample, the world was a blur. Use with caution, and enjoy. If you can get it, suckas.
Filed under: Anheuser Busch, Bells, Brooklyn, Current selections, Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, InBev, Sierra Nevada, Uinta, Victory, Weyerbacher | Tags: sixpacks
Before I clean out my collection of six pack carriers, I decided to take a few shots for those of you who might be keeping track. Enjoy!
Filed under: American Strong Ale (trappist), Stone | Tags: amazing, brilliant, clear, crisp, deeply hoppy, earthy, flowery, grassy, heavenly, heavy, hoppy, long bitter finish, Malty, menacing deep red, molasses, mold, nice label design, not syrupy, quality, rigid, rough, sandy, smoke, sticky tight lace, strong, sugary, sweet, thick white head, very malty, what seas might look like in hell, wow
Style and Glass: American Strong Ale, Snifter; trappist
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10.5% in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $7.99
Having this on Christmas night to finish off an amazing day. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you.
Aroma: amazing, sweet, flowery, hoppy, grassy, heavenly, malty, earthy, mold.
Visuals: nice label design, what seas might look like in hell, menacing deep red, brilliant, clear, thick white head, sticky tight lace.
Taste: wow. very malty, deeply hoppy, sugary, not syrupy, crisp, heavy, molasses, smoke, strong.
Palate: Of the highest visual and taste quality, rigid, sandy, rough, long bitter finish.
Overall: An absolutely amazing DIPA, though not classified as such. I’d have it again no question. Perhaps one of my top ten. A favorite. Great value. High craft.
Filed under: Dunklerbock (Mug or snifter), Left hand | Tags: bready, brown ale, chai, cloudy, deep murky brown, flowery, grassy, interesting label, inviting, light, like an aged iced tea, meadow, medium, medium strength, onions, rain, roses, rye, smooth oily texture, some hops, sticky lace, tasty finish, tea, thick off white head, very nice, very well balanced, wheaty
Style and Glass: Dunkler Bock, Mug; Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 7.7% in 25.36 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $2.79 (down from $14 ea — I picked up 6 for $15 — madmen there, and they better stay nutso)
Aroma: very nice, inviting, flowery, rye, bready, wheaty, grassy, meadow, rain.
Visuals: interesting label, like an aged iced tea, deep murky brown, cloudy, thick off white head, sticky lace.
Taste: very well balanced, brown ale, sage, onions, rye, roses, tea, chai, some hops, medium strength.
Palate: very nice, smooth oily texture, medium, light, tasty finish.
Overall: A summery brew, refreshing, very enjoyable. A repeat, 6x at least. Maybe my favorite bock so far. Amazing value — makes me wonder why the run on the price. well crafted.
Filed under: Pilsener (flute or footed pilsener), Victory | Tags: beautiful, bologna, Bread, bubblegum, cabbage, cereal, cherry, deep, doughy, floral, ginger, golden, great, leathery, moldy, nice lacing, no head, nuts, oats, pilsner, pork, raisin, resinous, rich, simple, smoke, smoky, thick, Toast, very herbaceous, yellow
Victory Prima Pils
ABV: 5%
IBU: ?
Calories: 150
Volume: 12 fl oz
Glass: Tulip
Purchased at: Joe Canal’s
Price per fl oz: $8 / 72 fl oz = $0.11 per fl oz
Consumed on/at: home on March 18th, 2008
sensory first impression: No head but a beautiful yellow golden beer. A pilsner, to be sure – pale, clear, and plain, visually. Aroma is smoky. Aroma is deep and rich. Aroma is hints of pork and cabbage. Taste is delicious, rich and hinting of other flavors. I taste bologna. I taste bread. I taste lettuce. I taste toast. It’s wonderfully balanced, a superlative taste but so very simple and unidimensional. Lacing is nice, but head is minimal. Warm with light alcohol. A great simple beer.
Aroma/Olfactory:
Malt flavor is: bread, cereal, nuts, toast, oats.
Hop flavor is: resinous, floral, very herbaceous
Yeast flavor is: doughy, thick, moldy, leathery, deep.
Other flavors include: bubblegum, lightly cherry, ginger, raisin, smoke
Visuals/Appearance:
Color is: pale, golden, amber, light, thin, white.
Liquid is: clear, immaculate
Head and lace are: minimal, white
Taste/Flavor:
Maltiness or Sweetness level is: medium to heavy
Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: light to medium
Sour level is: none
Palate/Tactile:
Body or Mouthfeel is: medium
Texture is: creamy, thick, silky
Carbonation is: lively
Finish is: long and wonderfully balanced.
Overall experience: Visually this is not a stimulating beer, but so rewarding in other ways. It’s delicious in terms of taste, though not overwhelming in any way. It’s feel is enveloping, smooth, and mellow. Its aroma is enticing, but not overwhelming. It’s a wonderful beer, and easily my favorite pilsner.
Filed under: Imperial Stout (snifter), Southern Tier | Tags: alcohol, as usual, beautiful packaging, bitter finish, black, caramel, chocolate, cocoa, cream, delicious, high quality, like a night in the deep woods, milk chocolate, nice tan head, opaque, smooth texture, So nice, sourness, strong, strong lace, syrupy chocolate, tight bitter finish, utter darkness, warm, warming, well balanced
Style and Glass: Imperial Stout, Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 11% in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Burlington for $8.99
Aroma: So nice, cocoa, chocolate, milk chocolate, sourness, cream, caramel, alcohol.
Visuals: beautiful packaging, as usual, utter darkness, like a night in the deep woods, black, opaque, nice tan head, strong lace.
Taste: Well balanced, syrupy chocolate, tight bitter finish, warming, strong, delicious.
Palate: High quality, smooth texture, warm, bitter finish.
Overall: dessert in a bottle. I’d have it again in a heartbeat. Likely my favorite chocolate imperial stout. It turns it to 11. Nicely done once again by Southern Tier.
Filed under: Imperial/Double IPA (snifter, tulip), Moylan's | Tags: beautiful, bitter, brilliant, cascade, crisp, dark amber, fiery sunset, good strength, hoppy, hops, inviting, longer bitter finish, lots of awards, overwrought advertising and packaging, rocky, royal, silky, So nice, staying lace, summer nights, thin white head, too much, well balanced, woody
Style and Glass: DIPA, Tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.5% in 22 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Burlington, NJ for $8.00 (Thanks, Mike!)
Aroma: beautiful, so nice, inviting, hops, cascade, summer nights.
Visuals: overwrought advertising and packaging, lots of awards, too much, fiery sunset, dark amber, brilliant, thin white head, staying lace.
Taste: well balanced, woody, crisp, hoppy, bitter, good strength.
Palate: royal, silky, rocky, longer bitter finish.
Overall: A brilliant example of a DIPA. A definite repeat. A favorite. Mike at Canal’s never steers you wrong.
Filed under: Current selections
This place is amazing. I can’t wait to try out some drafts. The list is surprising and deliciously stacked.
Located in historic Hulmeville, PA the Hulmeville Inn has been proudly serving its guests for over two hundred years. Originally built as a hotel, the building was a stage coach stop for those traveling between Trenton and Philadelphia. (Hence, Trenton Road) There is still a hitching post and a stone step that was used to board the carriages located on the property. The Inn operated as an ice cream parlor during prohibition. It was known as Marek’s Cafe for 75 years before becoming the Hulmeville Inn in 1994.
via Home.
Filed under: Barleywine Style Ale (snifter), Dogfish Head | Tags: autumn, average label, beautiful, bitter ending, delicious, feeling of high quality, good hoppy finish, good strength, intoxicating, leaves, like turkey gravy, long bitter finish, mississippi, mold, mostly malt up front, muddy, nice 4 pack, peach, raisins, rich, rose, sticky, sticky lace, sugary, Syrupy, thick, thin white head, unbalanced in both directions, woody, wow
Style and Glass: BWSA, Snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 15% in 12 fl oz. estimated at 300C
Purchased at: Trenton Road Take Out, Fairless Hills, PA for $3.73
Aroma: wow, rich, raisins, peach, rose, autumn, leaves, mold, intoxicating.
Visuals: average label, nice 4 pack, like turkey gravy , muddy, mississippi, thick, thin white head, beautiful, sticky lace.
Taste: mostly malt up front, good hoppy finish, unbalanced in both directions, delicious, sugary, syrupy, bitter ending, good strength.
Palate: feeling of high quality, sticky, woody, long bitter finish.
Overall: Exactly what I paid for — not exactly a 120 minute IPA, but more of a mix between the 120 Minute and a Raison d’ extra. I’d have it again, for sure. very nice, but not one of my favorites. Medium value for high craft.
Filed under: Belgian Strong Ale (trappist, tulip, tumbler), St. Bernardus | Tags: amazing, amazingly balanced, banana, bitter hops, Cinnamon, dark body, dark pour, deep finish, deep flavors, fruit juice texture, high quality, high strength, inviting, Malty, nice lace, opaque, overlapping influences, peach, red brown body, sweet, thin head
Sorry people, this was on location, and so no visual media.
Style and Glass: Strong Dark Belgian Ale, Trappist
ABV, Volume & Calories: 10 % in 22 fl oz. estimated at400 C
Purchased at: Issac Newton’s, Newtown, PA for $18.00
Aroma: malty, sweet, inviting.
Visuals: typical St. Bernardus label — neither inviting or not, like visiting an old friend, dark pour, thin head, opaque, dark body, red brown body, nice lace.
Taste: amazingly balanced, deep flavors, overlapping influences, peach, banana, cinnamon, bitter hops, high strength.
Palate: high quality, fruit juice texture, amazing, deep finish.
Overall: delicious. An amazing treat. Beautiful, rich, and deep. A repeat when I can afford it. A high level favorite. medium value. high craft. Paired with a brownie and ice cream dessert — matched well in sweetness and contrast.
BeerCritic 