Top 3 Toasting Beers for New Years Eve

If you’re a beer lover like me, you may be looking to forgo the conventional Champagne toast and choose instead a brew worthy of ringing in the New Year. It doesn’t have to be advertised to be a replacement for the standard bubbly, in fact many of those beers will have jacked-up prices this time of year. I’d recommend steering clear of the usual suspects (think Sam Adams Infinium) and toasting with one (or all) of these fine brews instead:

1. Dogfish Head Festina Peche
Its light, effervescent, many-bubbled mouthfeel alone make it a perfect New Years toasting beer. Add in its mouthwatering peach aroma, surprisingly tart peach/sour apple taste and doughy malt finish, you’ve got a real winner on your hands. This, my friends, is my top pick for New Years Eve.

2. Orval Trappist Ale
Pineapple is the star is this Belgian ale, both in aroma and taste, marked with Champagne-like carbonation for the bubbles you crave in a New Years toast. Funky brett, a touch of spice, a dry, tart finish and loads of voluptuous head make Orval Trappist Ale one of my favorite brews and my second choice to ring in the New Year.

3. Oude Lambiek De Cam
I haven’t yet written up a review for this yet, but it still slides in at number three. This unblended lambic is perfectly sour with a lovely barnyard funk (if you’re into that kind of thing) and dry finish, making it a great toasting beer for those of you out there who dig something a little different. Enjoy no-holds-barred sour fruit aroma and flavor, with that funky lacto to boot.

Wychwood Hobgoblin Ale Review #64

Wychwood Hobgoblin Ale
Style: Extra Special Bitter
ABV: 5.2%
Flagship Beer
550mL Bottle Poured Into A Hobgoblin Glass


Bottle and can: Pasteurized.
Ingredients: Pale, chocolate and crystal malts; English Fuggles and Styrian Goldings hops.
Hobgoblin is a powerful full-bodied copper red, well-balanced brew. Strong in roasted malt with a moderate hoppy bitterness and slight fruity character that lasts through to the end.




Wychwood Brewery
Witney, Oxfordshire
London, England
Paddy Glenny and Chris Moss
1983


Appearance:
A Beautiful Looking Beer
Deep Russet Red Color With A Stained Crimson Glow
Shan Head Quality
Stable Head Retention
Burly Lacing
Murky Clarity
Spritzy Carbonation


Aroma:
The Aroma Is Very Discreet
The Beer Has A "Dumb" Nose
Red Twizzlers
Treacle
Malty
Red Currants
Brown Sugar
Obtuse Cocoa
Raisins
Tobacco Leaf Notes
Popcorn-Like Diacetyl


Mouth Feel:
Medium Body But Has Full Deep Flavors
English Sessionable Beer
Low Drinkability- Not Six Pack Worthy
Low-Medium Sweet To Medium Bitter Balance
Mouth Feel Is Silky
Aftertaste Is A Nice Sweet Burnt Smoke
Sour Wine Finish
Dull And Fleeting
Flat Weak And Thin Texture
Stale Quality


Flavors usher in a bland and empty front with a mild dark grainy malt. Slow middle with common and infinitely inadequate roast barely reaching the surface. Eases off slow and gradual with a bit more huskiness building with a exhaustively soft effort into a rounded out tameness of roasted grains. Slender sweetness sticks a bit. Slightest of slight hints of vanilla and hazelnut dust sit underneath. The beer had a beautiful label on the bottle. Seems to me they put time in to make this beer look beautiful, that they forgot about the taste. I bought a holiday bottle/glass combo and it turned out I was more happy with the glass than the beer.

1 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3 Review #63

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3
Style: IPA
ABV: 7.25%
Part Of The Pyrate Fleet
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Sam Adams Perfect Pint

Malts: Crisp English Pale, Carapils, and Munich
Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Chinook, Amarillo and Palisade
Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale is a triple hopped IPA containing over 3 pounds of hops per barrel. Not for the faint of palate, it has an intensely floral, spicy, and citrusy hop aroma and flavor. Available year round.

Clipper City Brewing Company
Baltimore, Maryland
Hugh Sisson
1995

Appearance:
Lively Wooden Color That Shimmers Golden Maple In The Light
White Flat Webby Head
Procrastinating Head Retention
Hazy Clarity W/Some Floaties
Splotched Lacing
Carbonation Was A Usual Dichotomy Of Fluffy And Gritty

Aroma:
The Hop Oil Charge Climb Into The Olfactory Lobes And Scream Their Alpha
Birch wood
Citrusy Hop Notes
Christmas Trees
Sweet Nectar
Zesty Pink Grapefruit
Paraffin
Peach
Sour Grape
Pine Pine Pine
Caraway Seeds

Mouth Feel:
Strong Hop Charge On The Tongue, But Priority Is Aroma And Flavor Not Bitterness
Assertive Dry Crisp Attack Finish
Superb Balance: Perfect Blend Of Sweet, Bitter, Sour Balance
Sessionable Beer But The 7.25% ABV Will Sneak Up On You
Full Bodied Beer But Less Filling Than You Would Expect, Let's You Enjoy The Concoction
Untiring Cohesive Mouth Feel
Urbane Palate
Undiluted Condensed Texture
Thick And Creamy
Clean Smooth Herbal Aftertaste Tempered By Cool Ethanol
Cousin Of Dogfish Head's Little Cousin

Taster right up front there are nice sweet citrusy notes. Hops all over, the hop oils climb into the mouth and on the tongue, but not the least bit overwhelming. Grapefruit and sweet orange marmalade notes flow across the tongue and over a slight mild bready malt base. This all thins out towards the finish and there is a very mild citrusy/floral hop bitterness in the end. A IPA that is decent but not great, it's based more on aroma than flavor. It is like building a great house on a crappy piece of land.


21/2 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer

Toxic Bootleg Liquor Deaths Reach 170 in India

170 people have died in an eastern Indian district after drinking bootleg alcohol that had been mixed with toxic methanol. Another 195 are still critically ill in the hospital. The victims had gathered in various locations for a drink after work Tuesday, which proved to be fatal for many. Residents of 12 different villages had purchased the illegal booze for 10 rupees (about 18 cents) a half-liter. What they thought was a bargain, was actually a death sentence.

Many of the victims were day laborers, street vendors, and rickshaw drivers.

So far twelve people have been arrested in connection with making and distributing the cheap, unlawful liquor but the District Magistrate Naraya Swarup Nigam reports that police are still searching for the kingpin of the operation at this time. Local residents admit that illegal breweries in that area operate freely and local authorities do not interfere.

Ironically, just last week the state of Gujarat brought in a new law that makes the illegal manufacturing and sale of toxic alcohol punishable by death.

Also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, methanol is a chemical used as an antifreeze, solvent, and fuel. Its toxic properties are astounding. When ingested, as little as 10 mL of pure methanol can cause permanent blindness by destroying the optic never and just 30 mL can be lethal. The toxic effects take hours to appear and because it is similar to ethanol (the alcohol in beverages) it is difficult to differentiate between the two.

If there’s a lesson to be learned from this tragic story, it’s to stay away from bootleg booze – unless you’ve made it yourself.

Beer and Wine at Starbucks a Big Hit

Back in July 2009, we found out that Starbucks was testing beer and wine in some of their Seattle and Portland flagship stores. We ran a survey to find out what you, our readers, thought about the inclusion of alcohol in coffee shops. The poll was split pretty much in the middle, with 52% of you saying you’d be game, and the rest of you poo-pooing the idea.
Well, according to chicagotribune.com, the stores selling beer and wine have done rather well for themselves. In fact, sales after 4pm in these stores have increased by double-digit percentages. Starbucks is so happy with the increase in business, they’ve decided to open up to seven stores in the Chicago area, all carrying beer and wine.

While I dig the idea of beer and wine in a coffee shop, I’m of the opinion that the addition of spirits would also work well. Like a local coffee shop here in Buffalo, Caffe Aroma, Starbucks could offer coffees spiked with liqueurs, whiskeys and brandies. Why not capitalize on what made them famous in the first place by taking it to a new level? What do you think?

More Impressive Holiday Cocktails!

Traditional Manhattan
It's bold, invigorating and as relaxing as a deep tissue massage. The best part is it's not just for mobsters, ad men and cocktail connoisseurs anymore.

2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz sweet vermouth
1 - 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Gourmet maraschino cherry or twist of orange peel, for garnish
Add the whiskey, vermouth and bitters to a rocks glass with
cracked ice (chilled martini glasses have also been used but
we prefer the less "stemmy"option here.) Gently stir, garnish
and serve.
Trade Secrets
For a real Manhattan you need rye whiskey – it doesn't matter what else you do, if you start with
bourbon, it's just too sweet
Keep your open bottles of sweet vermouth in the fridge to retain quality
Cocktail garnish peelers have extra wide blades to make orange peeling quick and easy – if you
do it in advance you can save time during your party

The Merry Magnificent Bastard
Invented by mixologist Bryan Swanson and very much endorsed by our good friends over at
magnificentbastard.com, this drink is wonderfully warming and all kinds of festive.

2 oz Bulleit bourbon
1 oz Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur)
1/8 oz Laphroaig 10-year scotch
2 dashes Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir
vigorously for 20-30 seconds. Strain into ice-filled rocks glass.
From the inventor: "The ginger in the DdC and clove/spice flavors in the Fee Brothers give the
drink a nice warming touch. Have it with some gingerbread and it's a holiday."
Already have a recipe in mind? Get the best Bitters & Mixers the cocktail world has to offer.

Holiday-Worthy Cocktail: The Blackberry Bramble

Sure, you can pick up a few bottles of wine and choice beers, in fact I recommend you do, but I also advise having an easy-to-make cocktail that’s worth serving to holiday guests. You don’t have to go crazy, mixing up drinks touting 12+ ingredients, but offering friends and family something other than a rum and cola wouldn’t be a bad idea.

We’ve got three rad, easy-to-master cocktail recipes to ramp up your holiday and earn you some serious respect.

Blackberry Bramble
It's not too fruity but the sweet-seeking ladies will love it just as much as you do.

1½ oz gin
1 lime (juiced and for garnish)
2 tbsp muddled blackberries (about 6 berries)
1½ oz simple syrup
4 - 6 oz tonic water (we wholeheartedly recommend Q Tonic)
Muddle blackberries in a cocktail shaker. Add gin, lime juice,
simple syrup and crushed ice. Shake well. Pour into a rocks
glass, top with tonic water and enjoy.
Trade Secrets
If you don't have a muddler on hand, use the end of a wooden spoon
Spring for the good tonic water – it makes a huge difference – the grocery store stuff is made
with synthetic quinine and high fructose corn syrup
A juicer makes life way easier, even a hand held version like this

Harpoon Winter Warmer Review #62

Harpoon Winter Warmer
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
ABV: 5.5%
Winter Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Dogfish Head Tumbler Pint Glass

Harpoon Winter Warmer is a full-bodied rich ale that uses a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg to achieve its spirited flavor. Perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients: Water, Malted Barley, Hops, Yeast, Flavoring (cinnamon and nutmeg).

Harpoon Brewery
American Microbrewery
Boston, Massachusetts
Windsor, Vermont
Rich Doyle, Dan Kenary And George Ligeti
1986 

Appearance:
Rich Auburn Color With Burnt Orange Highlights
Three Finger Of Frothy With A Creamy Component Beige Head
(Framable Head)
Short Lived Head
Touch Of Lace
Murky Clarity
Vivid Carbonation

Aroma:
Overpowering Spice Aroma
Cider
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Heavy Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ginger
Clove
Potpourri
Cardamon

Mouth Feel:
Not Refreshing At All
Low Drinkability- I Find This Beer Requires To Much Work From The Drinker To Be Accepting Of Its Quirky Flavor
Not A Proponent Of Wasting Beer, But This Is A "Drain Beer"
Sour Note In The Aftertaste
Port Wine Flavor In The Finish, But It's Quick
Bitter/Slight Sour Balance
The Beer Is Off-Balanced
Light Bodied- Body Is Weak And Fragile
Perrier Mineral Water Palate
Slight Warming Gingerbread Kick
"Spice Bomb" That Leaves You With A Spice Filled Mouth Feel

Flavor is similar to the aroma, but is a bit disconnected. The flavor never comes together in a nice neat little package of joy. First the beer has a cinnamon liberalism to the point of DOA and has a cough syrupy sweet that the beer presents smoothly. I can taste Sucrets as my mouth reddens and the beers malts are fighting for their lives, to  little avail. Spices and herbs, mainly nutmeg and cinnamon simmer into a hodgepodge backdrop. In the middle clove spices and a touch of brown sugar come out with a caramel sweetness struggling beneath. In the finish your tongue soon recoils from the powdery spice onslaught of dusty cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. 

I like Harpoon products, but this is not one of them. Maybe it's a misclassified, but this beer is a waste of a glass and water. This beer is a waste of my time and money, look for better winter warmers.

1 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer 

















































 
 

Guinness Black Lager Review #61

Guinness Black Lager
Style: Schwarzbeir
ABV: 4.5%
New Brew
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Guinness Stout Glass

Guinness Black Lager is cold-brewed with roasted barley to deliver the refreshing taste of lager with the unique character of Guinness. Enjoy ice cold straight from the bottle.
 
Guinness Brewery
Dublin, Ireland
Arthur Guinness
1759

Appearance:
Midnight Black Color With Brown Around The Edges
Little Transparency
Waxy Turbanado Colored Foam Head
Head Dies A Bit Too Soon
Some Creamy Spotty Lacing
Bubbly Carbonation

Aroma:
Rather Innocuous Aroma
A Whisper Of Roast Coffee
Roast Cocoa Malts
Burnt Toast
Light Hint Of Vanilla And Cream
Pumpernickel
Wet Cardboard
Caramel Malts
Herbal Hops

Mouth Feel:
More Like A Black And Tan Than A Schwartzbeir
Light Bodied- Lacking Any Depth Or Substance
Weak Feel In The Texture
Chalky And Prickly Finish
Fluffy And Crisp Mouth Feel
Simple Refreshing Black Lager
Incomplete Beer A Nondescript  Offering From Guinness
Quite Smooth But No Character On The Palate
Slightly Sweet To Medium Bitter Balance
Very Drinkable To Sessionable Beer

Pale malted barley, maybe even a trifling inclusion of pils malt. Very, very low roastiness, more like they added caramel coloring to achieve the color. Faintly herbal hint of hops with a minute bitterness. More of the same (which isn’t much) until the crispish finish. My taste buds were not doing any Irish dancing  for this beer. Guinness stout is the king and this beer would be the jester in the house of Guinness.

2 Out Of 6 
Don't Want A Sixer








 
































 


 
 

Troegs The Mad Elf Review #60

Troegs The Mad Elf
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 11%
Winter Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Dogfish Head Snifter

The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast , this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the character of this Ale. 

Troegs Brewing Co.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
John Trogner and Chris Trogner
1996

Appearance:
Awesome Color- If I Could Harden It I Would Make A Ring Out Of It
Ruby Red Color With Darkened Patches-Almost Looks Like Grenadine
Beautiful Transparent Clarity
Wisps Of Lacing Down The Glass
Small White Head
Weak Staying Power In The Retention
Mellow Carbonation

Aroma:
Cherry Heavy
Candied Sugar
Plum
Kool Aid
Cinnamon
Spices
Pepper W/Other Cooking Spices
Honey 
Peanut Butter
Banana
Nutmeg
Cloves

Mouth Feel:
A Tamed Alcohol Bite, Buried Well In The Flavors
Sour Cherry Aftertaste, That Lingers For A Moment On The Tongue As You Swallow
Heavy, Sticky And Chewy Finish
Nightmare Before Christmas Mood
"Big Beer" Qualities
Really Smooth For ABV Of 11%
If You Want The Evil Mad Elves To Come And Carry You Out Of The Bar And Steal Your Wallet, This Beer Is Not Very Sessionable.
Heart Burn Beer, Acid Reflux Will Set In After Too Many
Cough Syrup Like Texture
Medium Bodied Beer, With A Heavy Flavor Profile
Sweet/Tart Balance
Not Very Refreshing
Truly A Night Cap Brew

This beer should stay what it is as a seasonal beer. The way I had to get this beer was funny, it wasn't on the shelves and I had to asked a worker to get it. Then I had to meet him in the the alley and was only allowed one sixer (LOL). I felt a little robbed, because I paid $15.99 for a sixer. I don't believe this beer deserves all the hype it gets, it is what it is a mediocre beer. This was the first time I tried this beer and I had a decent experience with it. 

3 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer

Lancaster Hop Hog IPA Review #59

Lancaster Hop Hog IPA
Style: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 7.9%
Active Beer
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Sam Adams Perfect Pint

Our hoppiest beer to date! This formidable India Pale Ale has a hop aroma that demands attention. The bold, citrus hop flavor is balanced by a dry malt character that makes this refreshing ale a true classic.

Lancaster Brewing Company
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Owner: Lancaster Brewing Company
1840

Appearance:
Ruby Brown Color (Brown Ale Coloring)
Full Eggshell White Head
Sturdy Firm Head Retention
Assertive Carbonation
Swirl Lacing Around Glass
Crystal Clear Clarity

Aroma:
Lackluster Aroma
Ginger
Metallic
Pine-Sol/Lemon Pledge
Hint Of Caramel
Roasted Malt Heavy
Sherry-Like Alcohol
Grape
Faint Hop Aroma


Mouth Feel:
Has Smooth Transitions
Medium Bodied But Lacks Real Depth
Dusty Graininess Mouth Feel
Sticky And Flat Palate With Bitterness On The Sides Of Your Mouth
Slightly Refreshing
Sweet/Malty Balance
ABV Is Hidden By Maltiness
Horrible Drink ability- It Was A Chore To Finish This Beer
"Pass Up'' Beer
A Bit Acidic On The Finish
Sweet Beer With Almost No Bitter Hop Influence
If You Are A Bitter Hop Addicted IPAer, Stay Away From This Beer, Because It Falls Short Of The Ad Copy
More Of A Vegetable Finish

The taste is very sweet upfront, so sweet I wasn't expecting it. Almost no bitterness at all in the middle or finish. It just had a steady stream of a lurking faint bitterness throughout.  All that the taste acquires is a dry earthy malt flavor with a buttery element and a blunted brief mediocre hop finish that annoys you as you drink. This is the least bitter IPA I have ever drank. There are more Pale Ales out there with more of a bitter punch than this one. This beer is more about appearance than it's flavor.

0.5 Out Of 6
Don't Want A Sixer






















 































 

Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Review #58

Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning
Style: Uber Pils/Heller Bock
ABV: 7%
Part Of The Pyrate Fleet Rotation
A 12oz Bottle Poured Into A Dogfish Head Lager Glass

Malts: German Pils and Carapils
Hops: Amarillo, Saaz, Hersbrucker and Tettnang
We call this beer an Uber Pils - a pilsner style bock lager. Rich, malty, and well rounded but with a firm structure of noble hops. Surprisingly pale in color for such a powerful, complex beer. Available year round beginning Feb. 05.

Clipper City Brewing Company
Baltimore, Maryland
Hugh Sisson
1995

Appearance:
Burning Sun Color
Foggy Clarity
Compact Soapy Head
Stubborn Head Retention
Antique Lacing
Stark Carbonation

Aroma:
Super Sweet Aroma, Almost To A Level Of Werthers
Rich Pil Malts
Mild Hop Undertones
Honey Dew
Cantaloupe
Pear
Peach
Fresh Baked Bread
Bathroom Soap

Mouth Feel:
Lively And Clean Feeling
Medium Body With Chewable Characteristics
Alcohol Is Barely Noticeable
Refreshing
Quite Drinkability, Without All The Blandness That Sometimes Comes With The Pilsner Territory
Weirdly Balanced
Sweet/Bitter Balance
"Sitting By The Dock On The Bay" Beer. Eating Steam Crabs On The Water Sitting And Drinking
Palate Is A Thick Creamy And Oily
"Euro Beer" Feel

The taste is truly odd; super sweet malt heavy bock and buttered caramel, up against a Euro-hopped floral overly bitter middle. In the finish noble hops re-appear later in the session and the bitterness laces the aftertaste like a hooker with a bad attitude. The result is a wickedly bi-polar beer, sweet for one second and bitter the next second. A decent imperial pilsner, not a staple beer for me, but I like the cut of its jib. It is much better than the Budweiser shit that is out there.  


2 1/2 Out Of 6
The Sweet Value In This Beer Lowers The Score
Want A Sixer