Victory Winter Cheers

Perhaps the most versatile style of seasonal beer is the winter beer. On the shelves right now you will find many different styles including but not limited to: IPAs, porters, stouts and Belgian spiced ales. And each and every single one of those beers has a winter or holiday theme on the label. But how do you know which one to pick? Well hopefully I can help you out with that. The holiday beer I'll be looking at  this week is Winter Cheers from Victory Brewing.

Boasting a 6.7% ABV, this self described 'celebratory wheat ale' pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a white head. The head lingered providing a beautiful lacing on the glass. The aroma is light but spicy, with hints of banana and clove. Unfortunately the flavor was light as well. There is an initial pleasant malt sweetness. This gives way to the light flavor of banana, pepper and clove before a light grassy hop finish that lingers on the palate. While that might sound like there is a lot going on in the flavor, there is not. This is a straight by the numbers wheat ale, that truly lacks any imagination. Which is unfortunate because Victory does make some terrific beers. Winter beers for better or worse are usually bursting with flavor, this one unfortunately plays it safe. For example, this winter beer feels like a safe beer you give your craft beer-phobic Heineken or Budweiser drinking family member around the holidays. At the same time, this is not a beer you'll impress your craft beer-enthusiast friends who are still chasing down Bourbon County Stout.

Overall I would rate Winter Cheers a 2/5. A boring, safe winter beer from a solid brewery. On that note, if you can still find their Harvest Ale, try it you won't be disappointed. But I digress, while winter beers usually have a lot going on, this one does not.


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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

He Said Belgian Tripel & He Said Baltic Porter

Pumpkin beer seems to be everywhere and with the season fading fast, I wanted to review at least one before they left stores and made way for the beers of winter. As luck would have it the 21^st Amendment Brewery and Elysian Brewing collaborated on brewing 2 different styles of pumpkin beer and packaged them together(talk about a 2 for 1). He Said Belgian Tripel and He Said Baltic Porter offer 2 unique takes on the pumpkin beer. As excited as I am to try these beers, my expectations are tempered because I find that pumpkin beer is commonly hit or miss. Some of the time you will find a beer that captures the unique flavor of pumpkin and complements to the fall season wonderfully. Other times you will find a mediocre beer that is heavily spiced to a point you can taste little else. Needless to say I was curious to see which side of the coin the He Said Porter and He Said Tripel would land on.

He Said Tripel pours a clear golden yellow with a white head. The aroma is filled with clove, coriander, pepper and pumpkin. The flavor however does not seem as complex. The initial flavor is pumpkin but it is very light and it is followed by a strong candy sweetness, then a spicy finish from the yeast. The is a slight burn from the alcohol(8.2% ABV)hat grew the further I got into the glass. While that did not bother me, the growing flavor of the Belgian spice did. It got to a point where I could no longer taste the pumpkin and felt like I was drinking nothing more then an average tripel ale. By the time the glass was empty I felt it was more of a below-average tripel and I was happy this beer drinking experience was over. I then hoped I would have more luck with the He Said Baltic Porter.

He Said Baltic Porter pours a rich black with red highlights and a khaki colored head. In the aroma I detected roasted malt, chocolate, pumpkin and nutmeg. The flavor was fairly on point with the aroma. The initial flavor is roasted malt, pumpkin, with light chocolate sweetness that finishes dry with nutmeg and ginger. And while that might sound fairly interesting, it seemed more middle of the road to me. There is really little here that you can't find in other beers. With that being said if you ordered this beer hoping try something new that fits the season then you wouldn't be disappointed.

As a whole I felt underwhelmed by the He Said 2-pack. To me, neither beer stood out and I feel like I can safely say I won't be purchasing either one again. In my opinion there are a lot better-tasting and more economical pumpkin beers on the market. But if you insist on finding a pumpkin beer with a higher ABV and more flavor I'd recommend Southern Tier Warlock.

Overall I'd rate He Said Tripel a 1.5/5 and He Said Baltic Porter a 2.5/5. I honestly can't see why either brewery would be proud of these beers. I'd expect something this boring to come from one of the mass produced American beer giants then two reliable microbreweries.



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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Guinness Blonde American Lager

While enjoying a Guinness, how many times have you thought to yourself: I really wish they made a lager? I'd wager the answer to that is zero. But on the slim chance you have had that thought you would find out they made Harp Lager and never think about it again. So when I first saw Guinness Blonde American Lager in stores my first thought was 'why?' instead of 'I've got to try it.' But in the spirit of this blog and the goodwill I have towards Guinness Draught, I felt picking up a single bottle was necessary.

Brewed in Latrobe, PA, Guinness Blonde American Lager pours a beautifully crystal clear golden amber with a fluffy white head. Unfortunately, that was the only positive thing about this lager. The aroma was almost non-existent. I had to bury my nose in the glass for a couple minutes to detect the aroma of a bready malt and some grassy hops. Sadly, much like the aroma the flavor was almost non-existent. There is some initial bready malt sweetness and a light peppery hop finish, but it took almost half a glass to figure that out. 　Frankly, it tasted like someone dumped out ¾ of a bottle of Rolling Rock, filled it back up with water, capped it, slapped a Guinness label on it and charged 10 dollars a 6 pack for it. 　Clearly, Guinness was trying to cash in more on their name value here then providing a quality product.

The first of their new Discovery Series line, Guinness Blonde American Lager disappoints on almost every level. And while I admire their attempt to try to do something new to compete with the expanding American craft beer marketplace, if this is a sign of things to come, I do not expect the Discovery Series to be a success. This is dull, flavorless beer and it’s an insult to the Guinness name. If you find yourself looking for a lager to pair with Guinness, I’d recommend sticking with Harp or looking anywhere else.

Overall I’d rate Guinness Blonde American Lager a .5/5. Overpriced and flavorless, I do not expect to see this beer on shelves for very long.


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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Like many other beer enthusiasts, I am a huge fan of oak aged beer. It’s gotten to a point that nothing will make me pick a beer quicker than seeing barrel aged on the label. I am also a huge fan of fall seasonal beers. The malt and hop profile to these beers seem to compliment the season beautifully. So you could imagine my excitement when I saw Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest. And later my disappointment when I found out that Oak was not used for any part of making this beer. 　In fact according to Firestone Walker's website Oaktoberfest gets its name for the brewery's hometown of Paso Robles or “Pass of the Oaks.” Regardless of whether this beer was oak aged or not, it is still from one of the more reliable craft breweries in the US and I could not wait to try it.

I poured Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest into a glass and immediately noticed its beautifully clear golden amber color and finger thick white head. The aroma was very reminiscent of a German pilsner. It was grainy, bready but there was also a hint of caramel. The aroma of the beer seemed to match the flavor. The bready malt practically mimics the traditional German Pilsner style. But unlike the traditional German Oktoberfest beers, there is only a hint of caramel sweetness in the flavor before a grassy hop finish that washes away clean providing a very light, smooth and easy drinking experience.

Normally at this point, I would begin to write a fairly positive conclusion for this safe but enjoyable beer. Unfortunately I just can’t do it. To me, the point of an Oktoberfest or any style fall beer is to provide a full flavor, slightly boozy, heavier alternative to the light bodied beers of summer. Oaktoberfest does not do that, in fact it is light enough that it seems more like a sessionable summer beer then it does a fuller bodied fall beer. 　But if this was a summer beer I would still feel that it is worth mentioning Oaktoberfest’s 12 dollars a 6 pack price, which is a few dollars higher than many superior alternatives from both summer and fall. Basically what I am trying to say is this is not a bad beer; it just does not work as a fall seasonal beer. And with its high price tag there is very little reason here for a repeat purchase.

　

Overall I’d rate Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest a 2.75/5. It’s a perfectly acceptable beer, just not a perfectly acceptable fall beer.

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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

The Muddy Imperial Stout by Goose Island

I have to admit pretty much anytime I visit the grocery store I feel I have to check the beer aisle. Most of the time I walk out of the aisle with nothing. Nevertheless I feel I have to check because of that exciting moment every beer enthusiast loves, finding something new and exciting. I did just that on a recent visit when I came across The Muddy Imperial Stout by The Goose Island Beer Company. Now if the Bourbon County Series has taught us one thing, The Goose Island Beer Company knows how to make an incredible stout. I didn't think for an instant this was going to be in the same ball park as Bourbon County but I thought there was a chance it was the equivalent of tailgating outside of said ball park. Please pardon the bad sports metaphor but I was very excited about that. Add in the fact that this imperial stout according to the bottle featured “amplified sweetness with licorice notes” I probably could not have gotten it in the cart fast enough. The only question I was left with was, is this beer going to be as exciting as I think it's going to be?

The Muddy poured a thick black color with a dark tan head that went away almost immediately. The aroma was slightly sweet, full of roasted malt with chocolate and a hint of coffee. The aroma was also slightly boozy but with an ABV of 9% that is not completely unexpected. And while The Muddy is a fun name for a stout, unfortunately it accurately described the flavor. The roasted malt was easily detectable initially in the flavor but shortly after that the outrageous candy sweetness dominated my palate. It was so overpowering that any of the subtle flavors that I was doing my best to detect were pretty much “muddied” by this sweetness. The worst part to me was the fact that the licorice was practically nonexistent. As I made my way through the glass I kept hoping the next sip was going to be the one where I tasted the licorice, sadly this never happened.

When I was finished with The Muddy all I was left with was an empty glass and a whole lot of disappointment for this completely missed opportunity by Goose Island to create something new and creative. And it is also a reminder that unfortunately not every new beer we spot is as good as we hope it would be. But it is beers like The Muddy that make us appreciate when we find that good beer that much more.

Overall I give The Muddy Imperial Stout a 1.5/5. While it is not completely undrinkable it reminded me more of an extremely sweet cheap liqueur then it did an imperial stout.

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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Allagash Saison, Tripel and White Ale

Like the season premiere of your favorite show, I'm back with a new round of beer reviews. It's been far too long since I sat behind this keyboard talking about whether a particular beer happens to be good or not. So to make up for lost time I'm going to start my “new season” of beer reviews off with a bang. In this review I'll be looking at 3 Belgian-Style beers that just hit the western New York area and all of them are from the Allagash Brewing Company in Portland, Maine.

Typically I have little to no interest in seeking out Belgian-Style ales. For as long as I have been drinking beer, I have found the spiciness of them to be overpowering and completely unbearable. But due to the overwhelmingly positive reputation of the Allagash Brewing Company and my never ending curiosity to all things beer I felt it was time to put my feelings aside, keep an open mind and try some new beer.

The first beer I tried was the Allagash Saison. This beer poured a clear light yellow with a thin white head. The aroma was a little grassy with lemon and spice. Upon tasting I was hit with the taste of herbal lemon that gave way to the clove flavor of the Belgian spice before finishing with a hint of pepper. And while that may sound intriguing I assure you it is not. To me it is a boring by the numbers saison. That being said, it is by no means terrible but nothing about it truly stands out. If you are looking for anything groundbreaking, here you won't find it. Overall I'd rate Allagash Saison a 2.5/5.

Next up is the Allagash Tripel Ale and it poured a hazy golden yellow with a slightly off-white head. The aroma was bready, sweet, and fruity with a hint of spice. Upon tasting I knew immediately I had found something special. The flavor of bready malt, banana and pear immediately stood out before finishing with a hint of hops and spice. The flavor of the hops pleasantly lingered until I took my next sip. And believe me when I say I was looking forward to every single one. There is almost no trace of the powerful 9% ABV hidden behind the beautiful flavor of this beer which makes it a bit deceptive. My advice is to drink it slowly. Overall I'd rate Allagash Tripel an 4.25/5.

At this point I was pleasantly surprised to find one Belgian-Style ale I truly enjoyed. I felt I was playing with “house money” when I tried the Allagash White ale. I felt there was no way it was going to be better then the Tripel ale and I can't tell you how pleased I am to say I was wrong. Allagash White ale pours a cloudy straw color with a thin white head. The aroma is spicy with a hint of banana and citrus. The flavor was incredibly complex. With each sip I seemed to detect something different than the previous one. The flavor of coriander, pepper, clove and light bready malt are prominent before a crisp, peppery finish that remained on my palette between sips. Bottom line, this is an exceptional beer. It's extremely sessionable and the best white ale I've had. Overall I'd rate Allagash White Ale a 4.75/5.

Bottom line, I'm extremely impressed with the first beers I have tried from the Allagash Brewing Company. They have taken styles of beer I don't typically seek out and given me a whole new appreciation for them. While there are other beers from Allagash I look forward to trying, the White Ale is going to have a regular place in my fridge for the foreseeable future.

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 at @ACraftyLook

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

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Hipster Ale by Evil Twin Brewing

It seemed out of nowhere Pabst Blue Ribbon became the “hipster beer”. Now I am not a hipster, but I do enjoy a PBR tallboy from time to time. Before I go on, I feel a need to justify the previous statement. I dig a PBR once in awhile because sometimes I want to enjoy a beer on a budget. And sometimes it's nice to drink a beer with 170 years of history behind it(I often wonder if my great Grandfather enjoyed one back in his day.) Still, I have never dug the thought of drinking a beer because it's trendy. If I did that I would not be writing a beer blog and on top of that I'd probably have a fridge full of Blue Moon, oranges and Bud Light Lime. Still, I've always wondered why hipsters took to PBR. Was it Dennis Hopper's famous “Heineken? F—k that sh-t. Pabst Blue Ribbon!” line from David Lynch's Blue Velvet? Is it because it's cheap? Or is it because according to the can, the “choicest products provide its' prized flavor?” Perhaps it is none of the above or perhaps it is a combination of all three. Either way I guess we'll never know the real answer and maybe there isn't one. Sometimes things just become popular with little to no reason. But it seems Stratford, Connecticut's Evil Twin Brewing has decided to force the issue and try make their Hipster Ale the next trendy choice. So my mission with this review is to find out whether or not it has a shot at doing just that.

Evil Twin Brewing's Hipster Ale pours hazy gold with with a lingering white head. The aroma was pretty standard for a pale ale. A bready malt matched with the grapefruit and citrus aromas from the hops. The hops seemed to stand out a bit more in the aroma and they did the same in the flavor. Unfortunately, aside from being a hop forward pale ale, there is really nothing else good to say about the flavor. The dirty, peppery, citrus flavor of the hops were all I could taste. My first sip I could barely taste the malt. Towards the end of the glass I could start to pick up some of the malt sweetness but that was only because my palate had been desensitized by the strong, lingering, unpleasant aftertaste of the hops. To put this in perspective, there are beers that wash away clean, beers that leave a pleasant lingering flavor that almost beg you to take another sip and then there is the flavor of dirty garbage which this beer left behind. I wanted to put the rest of beer down the sink but in the name of integrity I carried on, determined to finish it in the hope there was at least something positive I could say about it. Unfortunately, by the time I finished the beer the only positive thing I could come up with was the can looked pretty cool.

To put it simply, this is a bad beer. And it's one that I would recommend staying very far away from. Usually, I will retry a beer a few years down the line to see if I may have been wrong about it upon first tasting. I don't think that will be the case here. And unless it becomes cool to drink really bad expensive beer out of an a fun looking can, I think it's safe to say this beer has no shot at becoming trendy.

Overall I give Hipster Ale a 0.75/5. I want to make it clear that half point is for the cool can, not the beer.


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!