Al Likes Beer

Sierra Nevada: Hoptimum I had been waiting a long time for this...

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:29:44 -0500

I had been waiting a long time for this to be released and even longer to get it up here in Northern Michigan. When it finally came in beer geeks from T.C. rushed in to snatch up the very limited supplies. So, was it worth the hype?

Despite some disappointing reviews I had seen, I have to say that this was an excellent, memorable and interesting imperial IPA. Resiny hops and a solid malt backbone gave it some nice balance, but the finish stayed very dry and hoppy. It also might be one of the most attractive brews I have ever seen. If you can still track this down I would highly recommend picking up a bottle.

Oskar Blues: Ten FIDY This beer is one of the biggest and...

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:25:49 -0500

Oskar Blues: Ten FIDY

This beer is one of the biggest and baddest stouts you are likely to find in a can. With the low carbonation, it was not the most attractive imperial stout I had ever seen, but it had a unique and enjoyable blend of flavors. This is a pretty thick and serious stout that is not overly harsh. Definitely a nice offering from possibly the first canning craft brewer.

North Coast: Old Rasputin After cracking this beer open the...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:57:48 -0500

North Coast: Old Rasputin

After cracking this beer open the other night I remember thinking it was almost criminal that I had not given it a try before. I knew it was supposed to be good and it was always there on the shelf, begging me to take it home. Perhaps I overlooked it because it was so easily available. When I was in Philly I was always on the lookout for the next whale. Whatever the reason, I am here to say that if you like big and complex beers you should definitely pick it up. It is full, roasty, hoppy and delicious. This is a world class RIS.

Bell’s: Java Stout I distinctly remember trying this beer...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:52:25 -0500

Bell’s: Java Stout

I distinctly remember trying this beer for the first time in a room at the Holiday Inn in Traverse City, Michigan. I thought it was pretty bad then, but having it now it seemed a lot more enjoyable. If you like coffee you will probably love this beer. Possibly the most coffee flavored beer I have had to date.

New Holland: The Poet

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:27:56 -0500

New Holland: The Poet

Bell’s: Porter

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:26:36 -0500

Bell’s: Porter

Back in action... maybe

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:34:00 -0500

After a bit of a hiatus I am settling in here in MI. Since my last post I have had quite a few beer adventures, including a trip to Founders, Short’s and a new years eve full of insane beers. Unfortunately none of that will make it here, but I am hoping that I can start posting more regularly again, even though the internet here at my parent’s place where we are currently staying is pretty bad.

Lilja’s: Heifer Weizen This is another beer that my wife...

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:29:50 -0500

Lilja’s: Heifer Weizen

This is another beer that my wife really wanted me to get. She was a fan of the cows on the label and I liked the novelty of having a beer with the same name as a former Red Wings defenseman, so in the mix-a-six it went. Turns out this is a pretty decent wheat beer.

Paste's Top New Beers of 2010

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:55:03 -0500

Paste's Top New Beers of 2010:

I had never even heard of paste magazine, but all the breweries I follow through social media kept posting this article so I figured I would pass it along. It is actually a pretty good list and a few of the entries like Back in Black, Gubna and Tumbler are beers that would be in the running for my favorite new beer from 2010.

Changes

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:53:00 -0500

The Oracle review will probably be my last proper post for awhile. I am moving back to Michigan in the next couple weeks and I am actually about to pack away my computer. The move will bring many exciting chages, including a possible opportunity for me to enter into the beer industry.

I am not sure what it will all mean for the blog, but I guess time will tell.

To my friends from Michigan who read this, I will see you soon!

Bell’s: The Oracle A big thanks to Matt for procuring this...

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:49:43 -0500

Bell’s: The Oracle

A big thanks to Matt for procuring this beer for me.

This beer was billed as an extremely hoppy Double IPA from the Midwest and it seems to have delivered. In fact, I think my main complaint with this is that it was a bit too hoppy. The bitterness seemed a bit over the top, and the mouthfeel was so dry and sticky. I would be curios to hear what a west coast beer geek thought about this brew. Like my reviews states: this was a very good beer, but not quite a great one.

Three Floyds: GumballHead The last of the trio of beers that...

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:43:00 -0500

Three Floyds: GumballHead

The last of the trio of beers that Zach got me when he visited FFF. This is unlike any wheat beer that I have ever had and even though it is probably getting a bit old by this point, it still had a wonderful hop character to it that was a nice change of pace from most American wheat beers. Super drinkable; this would be a great summer beer for any hop head.

Three Floyds: Alpha King This is another FFF beer that Zach...

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:42:00 -0500

Three Floyds: Alpha King

This is another FFF beer that Zach brought back from the brewery. He deserves mucho beer karma.

Dreadnaught was awesome, but I have to say that I liked this beer even more. I am a sucker for hoppy APAs, and this one was right up my ally. Hop forward yet, well balanced with simple and vibrant flavors. My favorite meals are flavorful and layered, yet simple and clean. This beer presents itself much the same way with layers of flavor that work together instead of getting in the way of one another. I will be buying a case of this whenever I make the trip to Munster. Hopefully that day is not too far off.

Three Floyds: Dreadnaught IPA This bomber came to me through the...

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:31:00 -0500

Three Floyds: Dreadnaught IPA

This bomber came to me through the generosity of my good friend Zach, who also hooked up some of my other beer geek friends with bottles of various FFF brews. Thanks Zach!

This is a beer that comes with a reputation for being both delicious and intense. It did not disappoint. It is a pretty large double IPA, coming in at 9.5% ABV. It was loaded up with hops and had a nice tropical flare to it that was appreciated. Not too malty and well constructed, this is not for the faint of heart. If you are a hop lover you should do whatever necessary to track some of this down.

St. Bernardus: Pater 6 This is the smallest beer made by St....

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:23:05 -0500

St. Bernardus: Pater 6

This is the smallest beer made by St. Bernardus, with the exception of their Wit. “Patersbiers” are usually table style beers that Trappist monks are able to drink with meals. Unlike the one I brewed, this more closely resembles a dubbel and has a dark color and nice fruity flavor that is milder than a beer like Prior 8 or Chimay Red. I found it to be quite tasty and I bet it would go great with a meal, just as intended.

St. Bernardus: Prior 8 This is the only St. Bernardus beer I had...

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:15:05 -0500

St. Bernardus: Prior 8

This is the only St. Bernardus beer I had tried prior (hehe) to my wife getting me the gift set. It is a wonderfully rich dubbel with plenty of spice. This is a super complex beer and a great example of the style. If you are not a fan of the clovey, peppery Belgian yeast, this may not be the dubbel for you.

Pre-Wedding Beer Tasting

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:03:00 -0500

I have not posted much in the last couple of weeks because I was in Michigan for a most joyous occasion. Two of my close friends married one another at an awesome ceremony with an equally awesome reception full of friends, dancing and tasty beer.

Here’s to many years of love and happiness for Zach and Ashley!

On the day of the nuptials the core of my beer nerd friends assembled for a pre-wedding tasting. We also had a surprise “beer shower” for Zach. We all got him a mixed six so that he would have plenty of beers to review when he got back from the honeymoon.

The beers from the tasting are as follows:

Bruery: Three French Hens

AleSmith: Speedway Stout (I had previously reviewed this)

Victory: Dark Intrigue

The Victory was the rarest of the three and while quite good and very interesting, it was Victory’s first barrel aged beer and it showed. I think the speedway was the overall favorite, and though we all knew Three French Hens would be good, it had a better showing than expected.

I also brought a gag beer: Bud Light: Chelada. The Chelada was the most vile liquid that has ever touched my lips. Our HS used to do this thing called thundermug for musical, where if you screwed up you had to drink a nasty concoction of various ingredients. (milk, OJ, tuna, ect.) I have to say, I think I would rather eat another thundermug taco than drink a full can of this. It tasted like rancid tomato soup mixed with bile, celery and blended up salmon. Try this at your own risk.

I could not wrap this up without a mention of the stellar beer choices at the reception. Zach put a lot of work into choosing them, and I felt honored that he asked for my input. There list is as follows:

Kegs

PBR (beer for the masses)
Founders: Red’s Rye (insanely fresh!)

Bottles

Bell’s: Winter White (a classic)
Short’s: Soft Parade (a very tasty fruit beer)
Short’s: Black Cherry Porter (nice chocolate notes without too much cherry)
Founders: Breakfast Stout (this one went fast, and for a good reason)

Also, there was a surprise bottle of Three Floyds: Broo Doo that someone snuck in and we consumed in the men’s room. Good times!

Gifts for Beer Lovers

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:37:26 -0500

Gifts for Beer Lovers:

There is some pretty cool stuff in here. I especially like the glasses made from old bottles.

This is a pretty humorous and fairly true representation of the...

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:33:19 -0500

This is a pretty humorous and fairly true representation of the stages of being a beer geek from the Beer and Whiskey Bros Blog. I especially like the Craftus Erectus and the line about “getting hammered on weeknights” while sampling new beers. Been there and done that.

St. Bernardus: Abt 12 This beer is currently at 11 on the...

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:47:30 -0500

St. Bernardus: Abt 12

This beer is currently at 11 on the BeerAdvocate top 100. While not quite as complex or flavorful as a beer like Rochefort 10, this beer is amazingly drinkable and smooth for being so huge. It has tons of cherry flavor and hides its strength superbly. Definitely recommended.