Reviews articles:

Maine: 11th Anniversary Ale, Allagash, Portland


Tagged with:

ale, beer, belgian

Published June 5, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.
777265-maine--11th-anniversary-ale--allagash--portland

Memorial Day weekend el norte continues with this four year old treat from Allagash in Maine. Sixteen bucks for 750 ml at 9.2% in 2006? I have no idea. Pre-recession pricing is meaningless to me now ... The brewery speaks highly of this creation which finds itself this far into its life looking very much like a very good Belgian dark strong. Fig and licorice are works used by Allagash but there is a fabulous texture to this beer, like a sticke alt, that speaks to enough residual sugar to let

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Are Fingers Crossed Behind Beer Writers' Backs?


Tagged with:

ale, beer, belgian

Published June 5, 2010 at 6:58 p.m.

Writing about beer writing is both boring and interesting. Mark Dredge, a young lad in London, poses the occasional enjoyable question of this sort and I have to admit they draw me in. Here is his latest post about the propriety of describing having had too much to drink and this was my response: ... " ... a disservice to beer ... "? I have no idea what this means. What I take from the disassociation of drinking from , you know, the obligatory effects of drinking is that if it is discussed

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Michelob Ginger Wheat


Tagged with:

beer, belgian, wheat

Published June 2, 2010 at 1:31 a.m.

Michelob’s latest seasonal, which they sent me last month and is only available in their Spring Sampler Pack, is their Ginger Wheat: a Belgian Wit style of beer spiced with ginger. (Or rather, “natural ginger flavor” according to the label.) Yes, they already have a Belgian Wit style of beer in their stable, and indeed, [ ... ] ...

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CBR 161: Strong, Black, and Beery


Tagged with:

ale, organic, pale, peak organic, stout

Published June 1, 2010 at 9:14 a.m.

Coriander, Cardamom, Caraway, Grains of Paradise; Brewers have added many seeds to their beers over the years ... But perhaps none are as distinctive as the seeds (or "beans") of the Coffea family of trees ... Hulled and roasted, these beans form the foundation for one of other most widely drunk beverages in the world ... Today we taste five coffee beers and see, once again, what the humble coffee bean has to offer ... Beers: ... Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout [BA] Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale

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CBR 160: Limited Edition Stouts


Tagged with:

ale, sierra nevada, stout

Published May 17, 2010 at 8:49 p.m.

Four Limited Edition Imperial Stouts. Will they live up to our expectations? Film at 11 ... Beers: ... Boulevard Dark Truth Stout Sierra Nevada XXX Anniversary: Fritz and Ken's Ale Brooklyn Black Ops Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S ... Rankings: ... Greg: Black Ops. Sierra Nevada, Dark Truth, Hoppin Frog ... Jeff: Hoppin Frog, Black Ops, Dark Truth, Sierra Nevada ... Preshow Postshow ...

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Session 39: Collaboration? Call O' Bore-a-tion?


Tagged with:

ale, beer, belgian, brew, craft beer, hops, ipa

Published May 11, 2010 at 6:11 p.m.
765861-session-39--collaboration--call-o--bore-a-tion

That's not very clever. Or polite. But one must pun as one can. And one has to be always on watch for indulgence - especially when it comes to marketing ... or is it marketability. That is what Stan mentioned: "Collaborations are good business, good marketing, good fun and often result in interesting beer." Or a bit of what he said ... or implied. Sorta. But can they also result in bad business, poor marketing, tedium and dull beer? Of course they might. If not, what point would there be to

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Ontario: Our First Craft Beer Week Is Coming


Tagged with:

ale, beer, belgian, craft beer, sierra nevada

Published May 11, 2010 at 6:04 p.m.
765852-ontario--our-first-craft-beer-week-is-coming

As I think you all might know, I live in eastern Ontario and have often cast an envious eye towards other nearby jurisdictions especially New York but also recently Quebec. I was south just yesterday to buy some Ommegang, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada and Goose Island at a grocery store. A grocery store. Next Saturday, I have managed to set up a plan that includes an hour and a half to hit an SAQ for some Belgian beer as well as Marche Omni, my favorite dep, for a few of Quebec's finest. But things

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Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale coming to bottles this fall


Tagged with:

ale, beer, belgian, craft beer, wheat

Published May 10, 2010 at 11:44 a.m.

(Petaluma, CA) – Lagunitas Brewing is bringing A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale to the bottle.Per the website, the beer will debut in September: “Another Big Sister of the Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale…. Loads of Malted Wheat for a Curious Malt Foundation and a Light Color, But Our Belgian Yeast Leaves a Huge Flavor and Complexishness. [ ... ] ... Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale coming to bottles this fall ... [Disclaimer: Beernews.org is a leader in craft beer news and is the original

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Ontario: Matt's Sleepy Time, Beau's VanKleek Hill


Tagged with:

beer, belgian, stout

Published May 5, 2010 at 4:42 p.m.
756343-ontario--matt-s-sleepy-time--beau-s-vankleek-hill

No. 1 in Beau's Wild Oat Series, Matt's Sleepy Time is styled as a Belgian Imperial Stout. I know Belgium had an empire once, I just didn't think we were talking about it all that much ... It pours a massive fine mocha head and I am drinking dry cocoa coffee nutmeg mousse to make room in the glass for the other mousse that is moving up out of the clay jug. It's good tasting mousse. In the mouth, waves of spice, cocoa, rich cream and dark plum ending in minty chocolate malt bitterness that covers

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Quebec: L'Infernales, Micro' le Grimoire, Granby


Tagged with:

beer, belgian, brew

Published May 5, 2010 at 4:42 p.m.
756342-quebec--l-infernales--micro--le-grimoire--granby

What an odd beer. I had a Creemore Springs Kellerbier just before this and am stunned how similar this 9% brew is. It pours a deep caramel with a cream foamy froth. One the nose, grain and a bit of spicy hop but then this real musky tone. In the mouth, caramel notes with some dry spice (clove and all-spice) but a really light mouthfeel for the strength ... like a kellerbier. Sticky with black malt and clove at the end. The brewer doesn't have any notes on the beer. It's listed as a Belgian dark

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