Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout Review #65

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV:  10.6%
Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Victory Brewery Snifter

This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, our award-winning rendition of the Imperial Stout style once made exclusively for Catherine the Great. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specialty roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.

Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn, New York
Steve Hindy And Tom Potter
Garrett Oliver- Brewmaster
1987


Appearance:
Jet Black Motor Oil Color
"Back In Black" Clarity
Head Was Brawny, After A Aggressive Pour
Tan Muffin Top Head, With Swirls Of Brownie Cake Flesh
Solid Head Retention
Oodles Of Mocha Lace Left On The Glass
Nimble Carbonation
Brew Has Excellent Swirl

Aroma:
Well Layered Aroma
Hop Aromatic
Coffee
Roasted Grains
Espresso
Molasses
Smoke
Dark Dutch Chocolate
S mores Aroma 
Vanilla
Char
Licorice

Mouth Feel:
Like Drinking Melted Chocolate Ice Cream
Let The Beer Warm Up A Bit To Catch The Subtle Nuances
Medium Body- Heaviness Is Held Back, Which Is Odd For A Imperial Stout
Formidable Drinkability
Paltry Sessionable- Will Steal Your Soul If You Drink To Many
Medium Viscosity Textured
Dense And Chunky Palate
Cappuccino Like
Has A Minute Alcohol Burn
Aftertaste Fades Into  Tart Gentle Chocolates
Sweet/Tart Balance
Tart Lemony Finish
Mouth Feel Is Like Slipping On A Pair Of Comfy Velvet Slippers
A Real Lip Smacker
Presentably Balance


The flavor is of sweet milk chocolate upfront. it the transitions to a more mocha, coffee, dark chocolaty roast flavor that lingers. hints of licorice and dark fruit are in there somewhere. In the middle, there are also some spicy smokey flavors, but as it warmed the dark fruits become noticeable. Fig, plum, and purple grapes were present in as a compliment to the chocolate and coffee once this had got to around room temp. Long, burnt malts and coffee finish had a alcoholic warming sensation that accompanied every sip. Well worth the $6.99 for a four pack at the local Total Wine And More. This stout is delicious and will warm the cockles of your heart on a cold winter night.

6 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout Review #65

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV:  10.6%
Seasonal
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Victory Brewery Snifter

This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, our award-winning rendition of the Imperial Stout style once made exclusively for Catherine the Great. We use three mashes to brew each batch of this beer, achieving a luscious deep dark chocolate flavor through a blend of specialty roasted malts. We brew it every year for the winter season. It is delicious when newly bottled, but also ages beautifully for years.

Brooklyn Brewery
Brooklyn, New York
Steve Hindy And Tom Potter
Garrett Oliver- Brewmaster
1987


Appearance:
Jet Black Motor Oil Color
"Back In Black" Clarity
Head Was Brawny, After A Aggressive Pour
Tan Muffin Top Head, With Swirls Of Brownie Cake Flesh
Solid Head Retention
Oodles Of Mocha Lace Left On The Glass
Nimble Carbonation
Brew Has Excellent Swirl

Aroma:
Well Layered Aroma
Hop Aromatic
Coffee
Roasted Grains
Espresso
Molasses
Smoke
Dark Dutch Chocolate
S mores Aroma 
Vanilla
Char
Licorice

Mouth Feel:
Like Drinking Melted Chocolate Ice Cream
Let The Beer Warm Up A Bit To Catch The Subtle Nuances
Medium Body- Heaviness Is Held Back, Which Is Odd For A Imperial Stout
Formidable Drinkability
Paltry Sessionable- Will Steal Your Soul If You Drink To Many
Medium Viscosity Textured
Dense And Chunky Palate
Cappuccino Like
Has A Minute Alcohol Burn
Aftertaste Fades Into  Tart Gentle Chocolates
Sweet/Tart Balance
Tart Lemony Finish
Mouth Feel Is Like Slipping On A Pair Of Comfy Velvet Slippers
A Real Lip Smacker
Presentably Balance


The flavor is of sweet milk chocolate upfront. it the transitions to a more mocha, coffee, dark chocolaty roast flavor that lingers. hints of licorice and dark fruit are in there somewhere. In the middle, there are also some spicy smokey flavors, but as it warmed the dark fruits become noticeable. Fig, plum, and purple grapes were present in as a compliment to the chocolate and coffee once this had got to around room temp. Long, burnt malts and coffee finish had a alcoholic warming sensation that accompanied every sip. Well worth the $6.99 for a four pack at the local Total Wine And More. This stout is delicious and will warm the cockles of your heart on a cold winter night.

6 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer

Chimay Rouge(Red)/Premiere Review #65

Chimay Rouge(Red)/Premiere
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Tappist Beer
ABV: 7%
Widely Distributed 
11.2oz Bottle Poured Into A Chimay Chalice

Chimay Brewery
Scourmont Abbey
Hainaut, Belgium 
Created By Monks
1862


Ingredients: Pilsner malt (French barley from Champagne); wheat starch or flour (10% - 15%); dextrose (5%); malt extract (0.1%); hop extract from German Hallertaur (aroma) & American Galena (bittering) hops. Yeast & liquid invert sugar added to the bottled beer.
Chimay Red is noted for its coppery colour which makes it particularly attractive. Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance. Its taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavour qualities of this beer very harmoniously. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurised. 

Appearance:
A Warm Rusty Red Color
Galaxies Of Small Bubbles
Voluminous Creamy Head
Reserved Head Retention
Offshore Film Of Lace Settled On The Glass
Blurred Clarity
Supple Carbonation Set To A Audible Fizz
A "Gusher" Beer- Beer In Sink With A Angry Sad Human Watching Said Beer Go Away
(Beware Do Not Lose This Masterpiece Of A Concoction)


Aroma:
Dandelions
Apricot
Yellow Apples
Cherry
Spice Aroma- Ginger Snap Cookies
Good Dose Of Some Tappist Funk
Banana
Abbaye De Scourmont's Distinctive Yeast
Raspberry
Mint
Brioche
Green Bell Peppers

Mouth Feel:
Solid Structure With A Tight Acidity (Yogurty) Finish
Effortless Drinkability- No Sting In This To Slow You Down
Sweet/Bitter Balance- A Tranquil Balance Between The Two Opposites
Has A Gratifying Sessionable Feel 
Multifarious Layered Ale
Naturally Fresh Palate
Light To Medium Bodied Ale- Thought The Body Would Have More Of A Condensed Feel
Bittersweet Aftertaste That Lingers On The Back Of Your Tongue
Diabolical Raw Texture
A Engagingly Inoffensive Beer  
Low IBU Makes This Beer Ageable
"Monktastic"
Champagney No Chimayney

Similar to the nose, The taste confirms the fruity aromas with a singular blend of plums, apricot, and cherry. Quite malty with just enough hop bitterness to make the whole thing really refreshing.  A sweet, dark bready malt taste provides for the base and a lot of the flavor. Mid sip to the finish some fruitiness comes out with raisin and plum being the strongest with it being on the lighter side of a dark fruit flavor. Some spice, cinnamon and clove, along with a hint of bubblegum also come out. Like the aroma, it reminded me of a sweet dark bread with some pieces of fruit in it. Good option to bring to dinner at a non craft beer person's house. Some macro beers are chicken nuggets and french fries to Chimay's lemon roast chicken and a bed of watercress. Chimay Blue is still the lead singer, but red is a good back-up vocalist.

3 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer, But Prefer Chimay Blue

La Trappe Quadrupel Review #65

La Trappe Quadrupel
Style: Abt/Quadruple
ABV: 10%
Part Of Their Tappist Beer Line
11.2oz Bottle Poured Into A La Trappe Chalice

The strongest of the special beers. Its flavor is full, mild and pleasantly bitter. Quadrupel is presently available in the autumn, is bottled by the year and is perfect company for those long winter evenings.

De Koningshoeven Brewery (Brouwerij de Koningshoeven)
Dutch Tappist Brewery
Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
Monk Operated
1884

Appearance:
Scarlet Mahogany Color- A Bit Light For The Style
Beige Colored Swirling Head
Worthwhile Head Retention
Misty Lace Around The Glass
Bleary Clarity With Live Yeast
Biting Carbonation

Aroma:
Golden Syrup
Rum
Cinnamon Sticks
Dates
Red Apples
Bubblegum
Raisins
Prunes
Strawberry
Cotton Candy


Mouth feel:
Has Similarities To A Weizenbock
Full Bodied- Powerful Bodied Beer
A Nice Sipper, Don't Rush Enjoy
Dangerously Sessionable- The ABV Will Play Peek A Boo With You
Fruit Melange Mouth Feel
Sweet Balance Not Overpowering Thought
Cakey And Bready Finish
Lubric And Moussy Texture
Aftertaste Linger Of Prunes That Were Dipped In Brandy
Moist And Tangy Feel
"Meditation" Beer
Solvently ABV Quality That Overwhelms Some Of The Flavors

  Flavor is well balanced, but a little alcoholic. Flavors of buttery diacetyl mend well with the apple flavor to make a caramel apple that is sweet up front. Some floral plum flavors as well. Bready malt, and did I mention alcohol. It becomes more fruity/estery as it warms, but too many of these will make for a head banger of a morning. Light spicy yeasty finish with plums. Semi sweet aftertaste, but just enough not to be cloying. 
A divine take on the quadruple style of Belgium. Is it a style? Some argue no, some argue yes. The fact that Belgian brewers still designate some of their darkly rich decadent brews as quadruple is enough for me. Sometimes what’s in a name is just a name, but as for what’s in the bottle…   

4 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer







 

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