Kelpie Seaweed Ale

Once in awhile I come across a beer I just have to try. In most cases it is a new offering from one of my favorite breweries, or if I'm in a different city I usually seek out something from a local microbrewery. But in the case of this week's beer I was intrigued by the idea of a Seaweed Ale, it just took a me a little time to build up the courage to try it.

When I was a kid I had a wild imagination and a love of horror movies. The movie Creepshow 2 did no favors for me whenever I went swimming in a lake. In Creepshow 2, a group of teenagers were attacked and eaten by a mysterious blob after swimming in a lake they clearly shouldn't have. As a child, I would think of this anytime I swam and got stuck in seaweed. Each time I thought the seaweed I was stuck in was the blob about to eat me. So because of that I am not usually excited about anything seaweed-related, but I thought what better way to get over it than try it in my favorite beverage, beer.

Kelpie Seaweed Ale is brewed in Scotland by the Williams Brothers Brewing Company. It pours a clear brown with a light khaki colored head. The aroma is strong, full of roasted malt, a hint of salt and bitter chocolate. Upon tasting the roasted malt flavor overwhelmed my palette. Bitter chocolate and molasses are strong in the malt and finishes with a light salty finish. There is little to no hop presence. Just the flavor of roasted malt, that lingers unpleasantly until the next sip.

The most noticeable thing about Kelpie Seaweed Ale is the fact that there is nothing special going on here. It tastes like your run of the mill average brown ale and that is what makes this beer truly disappointing. Nothing about this beer stands out even though it is brewed with a truly unique ingredient. If you are in the market for a good dark beer, this is a good way to play it safe but I think it is best to look elsewhere.

Overall I'd give Kelpie Seaweed Ale a 2/5. I may not have forgotten the nightmares of being caught in seaweed as a child, but I'll forget this beer as soon as this blog is finished.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Ommegang Game of Thrones Fire & Blood Red Ale

With the latest season of Game of Thrones now underway, I thought it was the perfect time to review the latest Game of Thrones-inspired beer from the Ommegang Brewery. Fire and Blood Red Ale pays tribute to the “Mother of Dragons” Daenerys Targaryen and her three dragons. There are three different bottle designs for Fire and Blood Ale, each of which features a different dragon. As far as great label designs go this is one of the coolest. I just hoped the beer was more then great packaging.

Fire and Blood Ale pours a cloudy reddish amber with a thick fluffy tan head. The aroma is fruity with a hint of Belgian spice. Upon tasting, I felt my palate begin a long journey much like Darnerys Targaryen is currently on in the show. I was immediately hit with the taste of fruit, rye and caramel sweetness. The sweetness lingered and then gave way to a light Belgian spice before it finished with the unique but great flavor of ancho chiles. The spice from the ancho chile was not overpowering, but it does linger briefly before it fades away long enough for you to forget it's coming back upon the next sip. The sweetness however, sticks around the entire time and flirts with being overpowering but never quite gets there.

All in all I found Fire and Blood Ale very drinkable but I could easily see how someone may not enjoy the spice of the chile pepper finish. I know it won't be for everyone and it is a bit different but in the case of a beer inspired by dragons it does seem very fitting. This is not a beer however I could see someone drinking regularly and perhaps that's why its a fitting one off. I do recommend giving it a try and as long as you know what you are in for and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Overall I give Ommegang Game of Thrones Fire and Blood Ale a 3.75/5. A fitting beer to enjoy while watching fire breathing dragons run wild.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale

I was walking through my local grocery store and was surprised to see that some of the summer seasonal beers are already on the shelves. It almost seems like a cruel joke considering there is still snow on the ground but it is a sign that good weather, barbeques and outdoor concerts are on the way. That being said I realized I have yet to review any of the spring seasonal beers. So before it's too late I decided to take a look at Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale.

I have always been a fan of the Goose Island Brewery. From Bourbon County Stout to Honkers Ale to the easy drinking Mild Winter Ale, Goose Island has become a brewery that I do not hesitate to try a new beer from. That being said, not everything that comes out of there is fantastic beer. And that unfortunately is the case with this week's beer.

Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale pours a clear golden brown with a finger thick white head. The aroma is very light, flowery with citrus notes. The flavor is balanced but nothing spectacular. The malt is bready and slightly sweet, and the very light citrus flavor of the hops comes through in the finish before it washes away clean.

But once Ten Hills Pale Ale washes away, it's almost easy to forget what it tasted like. In fact it was difficult to write this blog because there was almost nothing to say about it. The flavor is so safe and comes and goes so quickly, I felt like I spent the entire bottle trying to remember what the last sip tasted like. That being said, the beer is very easy to drink and contains a 6.2% ABV which is hidden nicely in its almost invisible flavor.

Overall I give Goose Island Ten Hills Pale Ale a 2/5. This is a forgettable entry from a solid brewery. I would be surprised to see on shelves next spring.



Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Founder's Red Rye IPA

Spring is usually the time of the year I like to put down the heavy beers of winter and lighten up a bit with Irish ales, pale ales and IPAs. But with winter seemingly never coming to an end in the Northeast, I’ve found it a bit difficult to let go of the full bodied beers that always seem more enjoyable in cold temperatures. Because of this, I thought Founder’s Red Rye IPA is a fantastic way to split the difference between Winter and Spring.

Founder’s Red Rye IPA pours a beautifully dark amber color with a khaki colored head. The caramel and rye malts are very prevalent in the aroma, as is a bit of citrus. Upon tasting a rich earthy rye malt immediately flooded my palette. This was complimented nicely by a light grapefruit like finish from the hops.

As I progressed through Red Rye IPA, I became quite impressed with how balanced it was. The aggressiveness of the malt if left to its own devices would have easily made this a chore to drink halfway through the bottle. And if this was a regular IPA the light hop profile would have made this a rather forgettable entry from the Founder’s Brewery. Instead, both the malt and the hops shine in their own way. In fact one of my biggest complaints from a few of the beers I’ve reviewed is that they have left behind an unpleasant lingering aftertaste that over time gradually overwhelmed my palate. Red Rye IPA does leave an aftertaste but in this particular case it was not a bad thing. The lingering citrus flavor of the hops allowed for the more subtle peppery flavor of the malt to come through thus adding another layer of depth to the flavor.

All and all this is a solid beer that is definitely worth a try if you are an IPA fan. Its wonderful balance ensures a great beer drinking experience. And the 6.6% ABV is masked but not undetectable as it, along with the hops, provides a warm finish perfect for these absurdly cold spring nights.

　

Overall I give Founder’s Red Rye IPA an 4/5. If you are looking to give a Rye IPA a try, this is a great place to start.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles

If you asked me one word to describe the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company it would be average. Every beer I have sampled from them has been just that, not terrible, not mind blowing, just average. But for some strange reason I keep trying their beer hoping to find one that is anything but middle of the road. Perhaps the reason I do it is to make all the time I've put in and the money I've spent mean something, or perhaps I'm just not that bright. Nevertheless, for this week's beer I decided to try again with Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles.

Originating in Munich, Germany, a Helles Lager is typically a pale golden style lager. Leinenkugel's Hoppin' Helles keeps to that tradition as it pours a beautifully clear light golden color with a nice white head. The aroma of Hoppin' Helles however is not as pleasant as it's appearance. The aroma reminded me of my college days when cheap beer got stuck into the carpet for too long. Even worse, the hops promised by the title of the beer were barely evident in the aroma, just a cheap stale grassiness and not much else.

Upon tasting, I was greeted with a light malt sweetness with only a touch of hops. This led to a slightly spicy but mostly forgettable finish. Like other Leinenkugel's products(Honey Weiss for example) the beer does not wash away cleanly. Instead an unpleasant aftertaste continued to build until I was happy the glass was finally empty.

And with that I had found my first truly bad beer from Leinenkugel's. This particular one was disappointing because Hoppin' Helles failed on its' promise to add an uncharacteristic hoppiness to the helles style lager. Instead it's a forgettable beer that I strongly encourage you to stay away from. If this review doesn't discourage you to stay away, hopefully its' 9 dollar a six pack price does.

Overall I'd give Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles a 1.5/5. Aside from appearance, there is really nothing pleasant about it. Hoppin' Helles tastes cheap and belongs on the shelf next to the likes of Busch, Milwaukee's Best and Keystone.



Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Paulaner Salvator

“Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy” is a common quote(or misquote) tied to Benjamin Franklin. Whether Mr. Franklin said this or not is unimportant but some beers actually do have religious ties, and this week's beer is among them. Originally brewed by the Friars at the Paulaner Monastery, Paulaner Salvator(Latin word for savior) is the world's original doppelbock. Brewed in Munich, Germany, Paulaner Salvator is commonly referred to as “liquid bread” and was typically consumed by the friars while fasting during lent.

The term doppelbock or double bock refers to a fuller bodied, more alcoholic version of a traditional bock. Paulaner Salvator lives up to that very description in flavor and its 7.9% ABV(Alcohol by volume). Bottom line, if you are looking for a beer that is light and refreshing you are in the wrong place.

After pouring Salvator, one immediately notices its' cloudy deep reddish brown color. It may have been just my imagination but I thought I could feel the density and weight of the beer just by holding the glass. The strong malty aroma was almost immediately noticeable. I also believe the aroma contained a hint of fruitiness.

Upon tasting, the hearty, almost chewy malt immediately flooded my palate with its' sweetness and then it hit me with a musty, earthy finish. What was surprising was that the high alcohol content almost goes unnoticed because of how well it was hidden by the sweet, powerful flavor of the malt. The aftertaste was mostly dominated by the strong malt flavor and this continued to build the further into the beer I got. There is little to no hop profile to this beer and I feel that is unfortunate because it could have provided a little more balance to the flavor.

With that being said, this is a good beer. There is almost no way to argue against that point when considering the well over 200 years of history and tradition that comes with each bottle. But in my opinion it's not a great beer. This could be due to the fact that this is the original blueprint for a doppelbock, and as with any original design there's always room for improvement.

Overall, I give Paulaner Salvator a 3.5/5. It's worth a try, especially for malt lovers. But unlike the Friars of the Paulanar Monastery, try to drink it on a full stomach.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!




Reference:
"Paulaner Salvator, the original doppelbock" http://us.paulaner.com/our-beer/salvator-double-bock

 

Rhinelander Chocolate Bunny Stout

I’ve never understood the appeal of the Chocolate Bunny. I think they are boring, bland and as easy to chew as a piece of concrete. However this does not stop someone from getting me one as a gift every Easter. And every year I do the same thing. I eat a piece, remember how much I don’t like it, put it somewhere for someone else to eat and then throw it in the garbage a week or two later. It’s my Easter tradition.
 

And while I am not a fan of the Chocolate Bunny, I am a fan of the chocolate stout. If it is done right, the chocolate stout can be an very enjoyable beer drinking experience. With its’ chocolate sweetness and coffee bite, it might be the closest beer gets to being a dessert. So, my curiosity was peaked when I came across Rhinelander’s Chocolate Bunny Stout. The title alone gave me a reason to hope I might have found a new Easter tradition.

Things started out very well when Chocolate Bunny Stout poured a wonderfully dense black with a thick tan head that resembled chocolate milk. There was almost nothing else to detect in the aroma but chocolate and more chocolate. At this point I thought I was in for quite a treat.

Unfortunately upon tasting, I was hit immediately with the unpleasant flavor of artificial chocolate, followed by a hint of roasted malt. Things then went from bad to worse when the beer finished with the strong flavor of old burnt coffee. To better put it into perspective, think Nesquik meets vending machine coffee. It was at this point I realized it was time to stop looking for a new Easter tradition and start looking for any reason to finish the bottle.

Overall I give Rhinelander’s Chocolate Bunny Stout a 1/5. There are many variations of the chocolate stout, try any one but this one.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

To discuss this blog or all things beer follow me on Twitter & Untappd at

@ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews go to: http://acraftylook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!