Sierra Nevada - Bigfoot (2012)

Here's a brew that many of you will recognize!  Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot has not only been a perennial offering, but also has excellent availability during the end of the summer months.  Now, it's been a while since I purchased this, but I don't remember it costing an arm or a leg either.  In fact, I bought a second six pack of it this season.  That might not mean much to you, but to a guy that's trying to taste as many different beers as possible that's another 6 times that I am guaranteeing myself that I will drink this beer in addition to the 6 I already purchased.  Guess I better start emptying this sixer.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12

Dry, hoppy aromas rush from the bottle as soon as the cap is lifted, however the beer as a whole is much more balanced.  Rich caramel malts combine with resinous, peppery hops and a faded citrus that still contains more than a hint of grapefruit and lemon.  Some raw sugar arrives late to compliment the caramel and as the beer opens in the glass a darker, bittersweet aroma, like that of molasses, steps forward as well leaving the beer with a deliciously sweet malt emphasis.  There is a slight alcohol warmth that tries to remain invisible, but 9.6% ABV in a bottle can only stay hidden for so long.

Appearance 3/3

This beer pours an amalgamation of dark autumnal colors.  It initially appears as a shade just this side of red from the dying leaves that still crowd some branches.  It even looks as opaque as some of those dead leaves, but when held to light a gorgeous sunset red fills the bottom of the glass and the remainder lightens to a handsome shade of bright sienna.  The head rests gently on top of this brew and is a light beige color.  Top marks for size, retention, texture, and lacing.

Flavor 19/20

The first impressions from this beer are two very hearty handshakes from hoppy bitterness and that raw sugary, caramel malt.  At first, you can't tell which one wants to meet you more, but eventually the bitter flavors of the hops take over and maintain the style's accuracy.  The backbone involves a fading sweetness and a proportionally increasing resin.  An interesting ray of sugary lemon pokes through that bitter, but its appearance is as brief as it is unmistakable.  Both the sweet and bitter remain strong when holding the beer in the mouth, though a quick slurp allows the alcohol to easily shout over the top of both of them.  The finish is triumphantly resinous and the warmth finally reveals itself to the drinker.  The bitter quickly turns to that of something charred (and maybe a bit peppery) and lingers on the back of the tongue.  It should come as no surprise that the ABV and the bitter leave the mouth quite dry.

Mouthfeel 5/5

Anything that hides alcohol this well deserves some credit.  You almost won't find the warmth in this brew except in the finish and easily with a wine tasters' slurp.  However, this is not the only characteristic worth mentioning.  The body and carbonation go wonderfully together and are perfect for the style.  All the malts used make for a silky smooth body, but not at the expense of carbonation.  The carbonation is present, but diminished so as not to distract from the "big beer" body style.  It also gives the lightest foaming action that adds even more to the creamy mouthfeel, while also keeping it from feeling syrupy.

Overall Impression 9/10

From my limited experience with the barleywine style, this seems to me to be an excellent example.  The colors are beautiful, the aroma very nice albeit diminished by age, the flavor profile is spot on with plentiful malts and a stronger bitter, and the mouthfeel is above and beyond.  Had this been fresh, I can only imagine that the hops would have presented yet another layer of complexity to this brew and possibly have added to its sweetness.

Total 46/50

I have no idea why I don't hear more in the craft beer universe about this brew being vertically tasted.  To me it seems like an excellent candidate: relatively inexpensive, high ABV, annual release, readily available, and extremely tasty!  Then again, I suppose I don't hear much about vertical tastings at all let alone for this brew.  This is a great beer for all the reasons that would make it a great vertical taster and because of its thick body, sweet and bitter balance, and that oh-so-delicate foaming action.  There's no reason not to pick up this beer.  For those not yet accustomed to bitter or hoppy beers, this may be a bit of a stretch for you as the flavors in this are big.  However, I will say that it's also well balanced.  So for those looking for big, tasty beers who want something more than a hop bomb, or are looking to venture into hop bombs in the near future, this is definitely a beer you'll want to check out.

Southern Tier - Pumpking

Now if you've had any of Southern Tier's big ol' bomber bottles, you know that those things are rife with flavor.  It's with that in mind that I'm pretty excited to be reviewing their pumpkin ale, Pumpking.  Pumpking is often listed as one of people's favorite pumpkin beers and definitely has a national reputation for excellence.  This should be a good review for me as I feel I am notoriously picky about pumpkin beers, especially their balance between pumpkin sweetness and those fall spices.  Let's pour!

Aroma 12/12

I unhesitatingly give this a 12.  It is completely unique to anything else on the market.  It erupts with a buttery pumpkin nose and a extremely delicate use of cinnamon and nutmeg.  The sweetness of the pumpkin comes later, and not far after a bready malt sweetness oozing with caramel.  There is also a distant dark vanilla which blends painfully well with the buttery notes.  As the beer warms, the initial buttery note turns into more of a vanilla custard.  This is insane!

Appearance 3/3

It pours a bright orange appropriate to an aisle in any big box store selling Halloween wares, but thankfully sits in the glass in a hue more natural to the season.  More of a "burnt orange," with golden highlights than the traditional Halloween orange.  The head was 1.5 fingers tall and its off-white color was tinted by that of the beer below to a pastel rust color.

Flavor 19/20

It begins humbly enough, with a mild-mannered, authentic pumpkin flavor and a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon.  Soon that delicious buttered pumpkin note from the aroma eases gently in on a viscous wave of caramel, though not in quite as strong a fashion as in the aroma.  What a flavor!  The backbone then transitions to that of pumpkin pie filling replete with all the spices and sweetness expected.  Minus the buttery flavor, which I would not remove for the world, this is almost an exact replica of pumpkin pie filling straight from the can.  Holding the beer in the mouth longer allows the spices and caramel to die down a little and one is left with a lot of natural tasting pumpkin, cinnamon, and some neutral 2-row malts.  The finish gives a brief reprise of the pumpkin flavor right before the cinnamon goes down the throat kicking and screaming.  Believe it or not the aftertaste does show that there are hops present in this beer!  Not long after swallowing, the mouth is left dry and bitter.  It's definitely not something that I expected after drinking a beer this sweet.

Mouthfeel 4/5

The mouthfeel might be the only noticeably lacking part of this beer.  It remains far from distracting, but the mouthfeel is far from anything I associate with "imperial."  The ingredients list 2-row malts, undoubtedly used to bolster the body of this brew, but I think they took the day off.  The body is medium at best but does a surprising job at carrying all these large flavors.  Its carbonation is tiny and feels active, but closer inspection will reveal the majority of that tingle on the tongue to be the cinnamon working its magic.  The ABV is listed as 8.6%, but I never saw a trace of it.

Overall Impression 10/10

A top 5 pumpkin beer on the market, maybe even top 3.  The nose is without question unlike any pumpkin beer currently available.  It is phenomenal and it alone would justify purchasing the bottle.  The flavor is less, but certainly not disappointing.  This has instantly earned the status of "go-to" bottle for pumpkin seasonals.  It is something that I'll will be purchasing on an annual basis.

Total 48/50

Boy, to dock this brew two points seems like a bit much considering how much I enjoyed it!  However, there are some areas that I see for improvement.  A bit more caramel would be appreciated and I think could really combine well with all the pumpkin/vanilla custard sweetness.  Also, if we're adding more caramel, presumably by adding more caramel malts, then that would also take care of the lighter mouthfeel.   However, knowing Southern Tier's ability to make huge, tasty, sweet beers, maybe this is something they tried and it made the beer thick, syrupy, and undrinkable.  Its mouthfeel might not be imperial, but it sure tastes like one and that's more important anyway.  If you haven't heard of this pumpkin beer already, it definitely deserves your attention.  It is anything but a spice bomb and easily ranks at the top of its style.  It should be widely available and at a decent price.  What are you waiting for?!

Approval from the ORIGINAL Pumpkin King has yet to be determined.

21st Amendment - Bitter American

Dammit.  It's an election year.  This of course means that extremists from both parties will emerge as predictably as cicadas to declare the opposite party's dedication to evil and single-handedly destroying the U.S. of A.  It also means that any form of entertainment I choose to enjoy will inevitably be populated by attack ads like flies on a summer roadkill.  All that said, I try not to focus on all that.  Truth be told, I try to ignore it much as possible by doing my own research and selecting the best candidate.  Plus, summer brings out more reasons to be proud to be an American than most other seasons.  Summer gives us the 4th of July, D-Day Anniversary, Flag Day, VJ Day (Victory in Japan), and this weekend it brings us Memorial Day.  While Memorial Day can certainly be a time to crack open a few craft beers with buddies, grill out, watch the Indy 500, go shopping, and enjoy a day of rest, I certainly hope that we can all take some time to remember those who have died while  in service to this great country.  They have certainly earned it we owe them that much.

Stepping off of my soapbox now, but I'll be reviewing a beer that is closer in name to the divided politicos than the fallen soldiers.  Today's review is for 21st Amendment's Bitter American.  I obtained this with a trade from Eric as I currently don't have 21A in my neck of the woods.  The can indicates that this is an "extra pale ale with bold malt and hop flavors."  Since I love pale ales and big beers, I'm really looking forward to this.  Let's pour!

Thanks to my buddy Kevin for this pic.

Aroma 10/12

Not initially strong in aroma.  The malts are first to the nose in a straw & biscuit combination that eventually allows the biscuit to win out.  Hops come next and are a well-blended mix of a  light pine and spice.  Citrus, at this point, is far, far in the background, but as the beer warms it becomes more and more of a primary player.  This citrus note allows the hops to dominate the slightly warmed beer with a sweet citrus note, not unlike a mandarin orange.  Very pleasant!

Appearance 3/3

This would earn higher marks if it could.  It pours a fairly light gold, but settles in the glass as a wonderful bright apricot orange.  The head is a perfect size, slightly beige in color, and shows excellent retention.

Flavor 19/20

This concoction definitely focuses on the "crisp" nature of a pale ale!  The beginning is an insanely dry and crackery malt with even a bit of bitter on the front of the tongue.  What a great sensation!  Before diving into the backbone, the beer dangles those sweet citrus hops in front of you for just a moment before snatching them away and plummeting the drinker into what Coolio would certainly describe as a "Malt-tastic Voyage."    It is a voyage of more crackery malts that are so crisp you'd swear you could snap them in half.  A moderate bitter from intelligent hop usage adds to the effect.  The finish is a continuation of the backbone, but with hints of grain.  It then becomes perfectly clean before splashing back to existence with a steady crescendo of bitter.  That bitter doesn't linger too long and the aftertaste is mostly clean and extremely drying.  I can't believe one beer can do all this!

Mouthfeel 5/5

The carbonation in this brew compliments the crispness extremely well.  While the carbonation is not abundant, what is available is fairly lively, helping give that extra little bite.  The body is much heavier than most pale ales and at 4.4% ABV this "session ale" (as described on the can) has no detectable warmth.

Front half of can.

Back half of can.

Overall Impression 9/10

This beer focuses all its effort into one characteristic with laser-like intensity: being crisp.  Everything from the  dry crackery, malts and carbonation, to the light citrus aroma and light bitter flavors all come together for a common purpose.  I must say, it succeeds wonderfully.  On top of being crisp, it's also light enough in flavor and ABV that I could truly put these down all day.  Talk about a session ale!  21st Amendment has hit the nail on the head.

Total 46/50

It's not so much that it's a really bitter beer as the name would imply (though the can claims 42 IBUs), it's that 21st Amendment has managed to remove almost all sweetness from this beer.  No caramel malts, no hoppy citrus, no unfermentable sugars, this beer is just dry malt and fairly clean hops.  As unappetizing as that may sound, this beer is fantastic!  Some folks might like a bit more sweetness in their pale ale, but I would urge them to try this anyway just for a different take on a fairly universal style.  I absolutely dig it, even though most of my favorite pale ales often involve a citrus bouquet from the hops.  Doesn't matter.  Like I mentioned earlier, I could drink this all day.  In fact, if these were available in my area, I probably would.  This was my first 21st Amendment beer, but I can assure you, it won't be my last.

Samuel Smith's - Winter Welcome Ale

This review is rather ill-timed.  This beer is Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale, even though the evidence of spring surrounds us.  It seems my little corner of the Midwest is having nothing but 70 degree days all week! Which means three things.  First, I can write this review outside.  Second, I picked the perfect weekend (that just past) to move all my beer from the garage (which in winter serves as an excellent beer fridge), to the cool dark basement.  Third, it's time to break out the motorcycle!

Goodbye winter!  You might have one last hurrah before you depart, but your demise is inevitable!  To that end, I toast you with your own brew.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
This is very different from most winter seasonals and a welcome variation.  It's very malt-forward with lots of pale caramel and biscuit aroma, however its most unusual twist is the unmistakable apple esters from a cider (the alcoholic kind, not the orchard kind).  It's a accompanied by a tartness that borders on a citrus sour and I can only assume comes from the Fuggle and/or Golding hops.  Also appearing is the faintest of spices and a light alcohol warmth.  I'm not sure where the warmth comes from as the beer is only 6.0% ABV, but it is present and holds hands nicely with the citrus astringency.  The malts grow richer as they warm.

Appearance 2/3
A bright, high-clarity brew the color of orange liqueur.  The head was over 1 finger, barely beige in color, and appears wet and shiny as it sinks into the beer.  The retention is adequate and remains for some time to coat the surface.  Nothing wrong here, but nothing to write home about either.

Flavor 18/20
It's no surprise that the malts come forward again in the flavor, but they do so in a very unique way.  I'm not sure I've ever had a beer quite like this one.  The front end seems to be like a spice cake (and again, like the aroma, with very light spice.  Much to my relief), but quickly allows that same crispness & astringency to quickly enter and juxtapose itself with the caramel and an earthy butterscotch note.  This is very unique!  More butterscotch and toffee notes arrive as the beer warms and it adds a great sweetness which combines superbly with the aforementioned spice cake.  It also rounds out a superb balance!  Toffee +butterscotch + earthy spices (nutmeg) are all being brightened and "unbittered" ever so slightly by the citrus.  Brilliant.  The finish is dry, bitter on the sides of the tongue, and shows much more of the spices that were so well hidden earlier.

Mouthfeel 5/5
A nice lighter offering that would be just as good in summer as it would in winter.  Its medium-light body and perfect carbonation (Not too prickly.  Not too much.  Not too little), are a great combination.  Add to that its high clarity and the touch of citrus and you've got yourself a beer that's very easy to tip back, as well as extremely flavorful.  That balance of drinkability and flavor is also not an easy thing to attain.

Overall Impression 8/10
The balance and mouthfeel are definitely the high points in this beer.  No wait, the balance and overall composition of this beer are the high points.  The balance was covered well in the "Flavor" section, so I won't rehash that, but let me restate how pleased I am with the start-to-finish vision of this beer.  First off, it's definitely not the alcohol laden, cinnamon explosion winter ale.  It's a lighter, drinkable beer unlikely to offend and maintains that throughout: lighter body, perfect carbonation, citrus for balance, and high clarity.  However, it also has elements of a bigger beer: bitter finish, slight warmth, spices, earthiness, and a nice malt presence.  This is impressively well constructed and the results are satisfying.

Total 43/50
Now, all that said, is this a beer that's going to bowl you over?  No.  Is it going to satisfy the inexperienced and the veterans alike?  More than likely.  This beer earned more points for its remarkable balance and overall construction than for being a powerhouse that beer geeks are going to clamor over each other to obtain.  However, being that this beer comes from Samuel Smith, it should not be any surprise that it is excellently made and an overall solid beer.  It also is a really nice change in scenery for those who love winter seasonals.  It has everything a winter seasonal should and shows what some brewers should be striving toward.  This is classic Samuel Smith's.  Basic, well-made, and balanced.  Cheers!

Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Let me start right off by saying that I know nothing about this beer.  No preconceived notions.  No press.  Nothin'.  All I do know about is that my introduction to this beer was their seasonal pumpkin ale this past fall and I immediately felt bad for neglecting their wide availability in my area.  I picked up a few more bottles right away and this was one of them.  Today's review of Hoppin' Frog's Frost Frog Christmas Ale is rarin' to go!  Let's pour!

Aroma 9/12
Ahhh!  Finally a Christmas Ale that utilizes the "traditional" mix of spices.  I love a beer that breaks from the norm, but thus far it seems like all I had been drinking were those beers that dared to tread off the beaten path. This beer is a refreshing return to conformity.  Right off the bat, it's a mellow mix of sweeter Belgian yeasts and spicy cinnamon that has me thoroughly convinced this could be served for dessert.  I'd swear that molasses is present because of the color and dark sweetness, but the strong cinnamon makes it difficult to tell.  The ginger (which is almost citrus-like) and nutmeg hang back a bit, but are also present.  I also have a sneaking suspicion that a nice warmth is mingling in with those spices.

Appearance 2/3
The color on this beer alone could have earned it a three if the head were not so dismal.  The color is gorgeous and spans everything from tea browns to bright coppers, and shows tons of scarlets and magentas!  The high clarity lets the light play in the glass and the results are smile-evoking.  The head on the other hand is difficult to coax out, small when produced, and hisses as it quickly settles into a ring.  It didn't even give me time for two quick snapshots!

Neat magenta color and extremely high clarity!

Flavor 12/20
The caramel is given a brief show before the spices take over.  They are rampant!  Cinnamon is almost bitter with its strong presence and the nutmeg is extremely earthy.  The caramel malt is the only sweetness and seems to serve less of a purpose of flavor than simply balancing out the heaps of spice.  The ginger is all but covered up, but the alcohol is anything but shy.  A slurp brings out more of the Belgian yeast flavor and reinforces the warmth.  That warmth carries this beer into the finish where it becomes a bit medicinal and combines with an oriental trading route full of spices.  The Belgian yeasts are all but swallowed up by spices and can only be perceived by paying attention to the inhale while drinking.  The aftertaste is... oh who cares.  This is the hydrogen bomb of spice and hides almost any notion of a beer behind it.

Mouthfeel 5/5
It starts as a mouth-filling, über-smooth, full bodied beer.  I really enjoyed the way this beer filled the mouth and seemed to take charge.  In fact, it was the first thing I noticed about this beer, even before the spices, so it definitely attracted my attention in a good way.  The warmth is not camouflaged in this beer, but in a winter warmer I'm quite happy with that.  The carbonation is lively and sharp (though mellows nicely at the end of the bottle), and helps detract from the fact that you're drinking a bit of a heavier beer containing no less than one metric ton of spices.

Overall Impression 4/10
In case I made it vague, I was not pleased by this beer.  The spices were simply too much for my taste and did not let any of the other ingredients come to play (with the exception occurring in the aroma).  The color is fantastic, the aroma is pleasing, and even the mouthfeel is highly desirable... but those SPICES!  They make drinking the entire bomber seem more of a challenge (A cinnamon challenge?) than an enjoyable experiment in craft beer.

Total 32/50
I feel that this score is appropriate with the given system.  While there are no flaws that would earn it a score below a 30, the flavor is so out of line with my personal preferences that I cannot score it any higher.  If you love a super spiced winter warmer that has a nice alcohol presence, then this bottle is for you.  I actually mean that when I say a "nice" alcohol presence; I enjoyed the stronger tones in this winter warmer.  Upon finishing the bottle, I discovered that there is still a thin layer of residual spices covering the bottom of this bottle.  holy crap!  How much spice does a beer need?!?!

Hoppin' Frog... c'mon.  I know you can make great beer.  I've tasted it!  There's no reason to hide behind all this spice and such.  I actually want to taste your beer.  I do!  I understand the desire to make a strong flavored beer and I of all people can appreciate that.  I love a big, bold, flavorful beer.  However, it has to have more than one flavor.  "Big" and "nuanced" are not concepts that are mutually exclusive.  This simple beer seems to hide behind an intimidating veil of spice in the hopes that no one will notice that the behind said veil isn't actually the Wizard of Oz it claims to be.  I'm disappointed.  Although with such beers as Hoppin' Frog's B.O.R.I.S. and D.O.R.I.S. remaining unsampled (one of which is in my cellar), I hold out great faith that this brewery will more than redeem itself.

"Mama Mia!  Thatsa spicy craft-a bierra!"

Ridgeway - Bad Elf vs. Very Bad Elf

I see these beers nearly everywhere I go and could only go so long without trying them out.  Instead of drinking them one-by-one, I figure why not put them head to head and see how different they really are.  Bad Elf takes on Very Bad Elf in a slugfest of miniature proportions (they are Elves after all).  Let's pour!

First up Bad Elf

Aroma 9/12
My first sensation was that of tart apples and white grapes - the type of grapes one finds in a bottle of sparkling grape juice.  Citrus hops are not far behind and provide a hint of herbs and a stronger, syrupy apricot scent.  The alcohol warmth can be detected on the back of the throat with a deep inhale and the malts finally show up toward the end.  There is a little hay aroma and a molasses sweetness that blends with the other scents so well it's hard to detect.  This is fairly perfume-like, for better or worse, and the ingredients all come together very well.  If you like esters, you're in luck, especially since as the beer warms it takes on more honey and floral characteristics from the hops.

Appearance 2/3
The head was stark white and fairly small considering that I all but threw the beer into the tulip.  It lasts a while and does leave some nice lacing.  It's an extremely high clarity golden shade that includes some amber tones as well.  There are no bubbles rising to the surface, which is surprising considering how aromatic this beer is.

Flavor 17/20
I'm not sure why this is called a "Winter's Ale" as there are no discernible characteristics that would make it so.  The initial flavors are a rather plain crystal malt, honey, and a very nice apricot note from the aroma.  The backbone is eased into and provides a steady continuation of the apricot, but adds grapefruit, more honey, a "just right" bitter that doesn't detract from the sweetness, and a sweet cream.  The finish is crisp apples, a hint of the white grapes, more of the cream, and a bitter note that comes from nothing, but grows to a more than moderate strength.  This seems less like a winter seasonal and more like a floral, dry-hopped IPA.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Nothing wrong here.  Seems a bit more full-bodied than one would expect given the body and lighter flavors. Its body is medium, and the carbonation seems low for its lighter hue and flavors.  A slightly more aggressive carbonation would compliment these refreshing fruits and floral tones quite nicely.  It's going for a big beer feel with its lower carbonation, higher ABV, and medium body, but the ingredients all seem a little too delicate for such an undertaking.

Overall Impression 7/10
Not a bad beer by any means.  It definitely will appeal to drinkers of Heineken and those who are teetering on drinking something a little closer to the craft beer world.  It smells great, has some sweeter flavors, and a very nice bitter.  I'm not sure what this sold for originally, but I picked it up on clearance for $3.00 and I think that price is about right.  It attempts to bridge the worlds of a big beer with one that is sweet and drinkable.

Total 39/50
Upon some investigating, the "propaganda" section on the bottle declares this a Golden Ale.  While I can definitely say that it misses the mark on that style, Golden ales being one of my favorite styles, it is far from a bad beer or a run-of-the-mill winter/Christmas seasonal.  It seems to me more like a very floral IPA.  The apple flesh flavor, variety of aromas, and very nice bitter are all evident of the "three pounds of fresh hops" that allegedly "goes into every barrel."  If you haven't tried this, it's worth a shot.  It's definitely worth gifting to that friend who is trying to get into craft beers... if he/she can handle the bitter aftertaste, that is.

and now for... Very Bad Elf

Aroma 11/12
Ooo... lots of rich molasses and roasted malts right out of the gate.  Then the same apple and white grapes peek their way in, while showing a more present alcohol warmth than in Bad Elf.  This is a very similar tone to the first beer, but with more sugary molasses goodness and definitely more roast that balances out a diminished floral character.

Appearance 1/3
There is no head at all.  I even dumped this beer in the glass knowing that the first one also didn't have the strongest propensity for foaming.  Nada.  No head also equals no lacing.  The color is what one should expect from a good amber malt: deep copper tones, siennas, and hints of ruby.  Very nice color, but that's about it.

Flavor 17/20
This beer also starts with crystal malts, but this is much more creamy and savory.  The backbone keeps this creaminess and throws on top of it a rich, roasted amber malt, a mellow bitter, and a sweetness that I can only associate with the sweetness of a good brandy - without the warmth of course.  Not to say this is completely without warmth.  Slurping brings that warmth to the forefront and really helps accentuate the sweet apples notes.  The finish is a crisp, citrusy bitter and when combined with the higer ABV (7.5%) leaves the mouth a bit drier than Bad Elf.  The molasses and the apple's starring roles paint a very "caramel apple" theme to this beer.  A nice bitter aftertaste seems to evolve from the molasses sweetness and is a great memento.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Oddly the carbonation is greater here than in the lower ABV beer, both in amount and its presence.  Nothing distracting, mind you, but it seems much more appropriate than the Bad Elf.  It keeps the beer refreshing, compliments the beers "heavier" elements (ABV, molasses driven body) while respecting the "lighter" aspects (hue, citrus notes).  Warmth is difficult to detect, but is best seen after the beer is first swallowed.

Overall Impression 7/10
Despite it being the more "serious" or "hardcore" of the two offerings, this beer might actually appeal more to non craft beer drinkers than the first.  It's sweeter, smoother, and relaxes the bitter aftertaste.  The smell won't entice them as much, but its caramel apple nature and higher ABV should definitely make it a hit any holiday gathering.

Total 40/50
This rating feels a tad generous, but that doesn't make it a bad beer.  It's sweet, takes a chance on a flavor profile, and gives me a nice ABV with which to get warm.  I'd say it's a sweet beer with a lighter bitter that is tasty, but probably not worth the $5-7 it cost to originally procure it.  Wait til it goes on sale or give it to anyone trying to get into craft beer.  You won't have to worry about the bitter nature like in Bad Elf and I guarantee it'll be appreciated.

P.S.  Love the contrasting bottle caps.

and the winner is......
Very Bad Elf by a nose!  Yes, I know the pictures depict them with very large noses, but the race was close none-the-less.  It's less "in your face" than the Bad Elf and provides a greater harmony of ingredients instead of contrasting them.  In case, you didn't notice I spent most of the beers' summaries recommending them as "gateway beers" for non-craft beer drinkers.  I stand by this.  Most non-craft beer drinkers will enjoy this.  Heck, even seasoned craft beer drinkers will not be taken aback by drinking this beer, but for their price a veteran craft beer drinker will probably be better off spending the money on something a bit more substantial. They're tasty, sure and they're mostly well made.  But for the price it seems like more of a marketing gimmick than anything else, especially since the beers don't seem to evoke a winter/Christmas seasonal in any way other then their labeling.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a seasonal that attempts a new variation on the theme, but to just make a beer and declare it a "winter ale," smacks a bit too close to the marketing gimmicks of a macrobrewery to me.  That aside, either one is worth a try if you see it in a pub this time of year and you're feeling festive.  If you insist on bottles, I would wait on them to come down in price.

New Belgium - Snow Day

Today brings to mind the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for.  You just might get it."  After unseasonably warm "winter" weather (50s, sunny), and many complaints about the lack of snow we finally got this winter's first snow.  And it's still falling.  I've shoveled snow twice today and I have a strong feeling that I'm going to again in the morning.

It should then go without saying that today's appropriately chosen beer to review will be New Belgium's Snow Day Winter Ale.  I obtained this bottle from their Folly variety 12-pack and have thoroughly enjoyed the other bottles.  As with the previous day's review, this beer really surprised me by straying far from they "typical" Christmas/winter seasonal.  It's dark and doesn't need to use a bunch of spices as a crutch.  Not to say that all beers with the "holiday blend" of spices are using a crutch, some are quite tasty, but there are those that hide behind them to flavor what would be an otherwise weaker product.  Since past experience has shown that will not be a problem with this beer, I'm just itching to really dissect this beer into its tasty elements.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
The hops on the label do not lead the drinker astray.  The first aromas are a warm, piney hop, that is more "juniper berry" pine than it is "air freshener" pine.  It has that almost herbal quality to it.  There is a hint of straw aroma, but it is faint and fleeting.  Just when you think the hops have shown all their tricks, there is a citrus that brightens up the pine hops.  Very neat.  At first, it is difficult to find any malts behind this wreath of hops, but eventually a dark roast becomes detectable.  This dark roast hints at rye and smokey characteristics, but none come close to usurping the hops as the primary aroma.

Appearance 3/3
Generous, but not overdone head comes from a moderately aggressive pour, and lingers like a in-law at a Christmas gathering.  Unlike the in-law, which only leaves dirty dishes and a funny smell, the head leaves a most attractive, thick lacing.  The beer appears as a coffee brown (in hue, not clarity), but when held to light reveals some surprising scarlets and magentas.  Nicely done.  Again, I reiterate what a pleasant surprise it is to find such a dark beer as a winter seasonal!

Flavor 17/20
This beer starts bitter and rarely lets up.  The dark roasted malts in the aroma now taste burnt, but the roast is still detectable later on.  The citrus provides a light backdrop to everything especially if you run the beer over the tip of the tongue.  The backbone is this citrus overtone, with the juniper hops and charred malts.  This just goes to show that there are lots of different ways to express bitter in a beer.  The roast is the longest lasting sensation before departing in to a finish that seems smoother than in the main mouthfeel.  The hops show a more grassy nature combined with their previous pine character.  This grass note allows the citrus to be showcased a bit more and the result is a satisfyingly fresh finish with a light-medium bitter.  Despite the starring role of the hops, the finish is not very dry.  The aftertaste is a slow-to-die aspirin bitter.

Mouthfeel 3/5
Not the most substantial mouthfeel here.  It's not a huge beer, but packs a wallop of bitter despite it's body.  The lighter body makes it more quaffable, but it doesn't accompany it with an overly-bubbly, annoying carbonation.  The carbonation is certainly present, but it is so tiny that it just barely foams up the beer inside the mouth.  The bottle says 6.3% ABV, but I never caught wind of it.

Overall Impression 8/10
Never again shall a hop head complain about not having a seasonal beer.  Not that this is a showcase for hops, but the bitter nature of it should make it a satisfying selection.  It's not the big beer by a long shot, but it is chuck-full of flavor.  It's drinkable, bitter, smells great, and has a helluva lot more guts than most beers available in a variety pack.

Total 41/50

I enjoyed this beer a lot.  Best of all, if you don't spend your holidays with craft beer people, then you can probably have all of the Snow Days in the variety pack to yourself.  It's a little too bitter for the masses, even if its smell could entice anybody.  The best part is, you probably CAN drink all of them in the variety pack.  The lighter mouthfeel, carbonation, and citrusy hops all make this beer one you can enjoy several of in one  sitting.  Not every beer can be a monster, that's a fact.  This beer is not a monster, nor extremely complex, but that doesn't mean it's not worth picking up.  Heck, I'd bring this as a sixer to a gathering of craft beer drinks or just casual drinkers.  I wouldn't expect all of them to drink it up, but there might be a brave soul or two you could convert.

Even a festive bottle cap!

Mikkeller - Santa's Little Helper (2011)

The weather in IL is a bit odd for this time of year.  Granted, the weather in the midwest is always odd, giving rise to the expression, "You don't like midwest weather?  Wait 5 minutes," but we generally have an expected pattern.  This pattern is being mocked by Mother Nature and she has been giving us 50-degree days throughout January.  However, tonight is supposed to give rise to a less-than-punctual Old Man Winter and we might even get some snow.  It's just the type of thing to put me in the mood for more winter/Christmas seasonal beers.  Today's review will be Mikkeller's Santa's Little Helper.  It's a Belgian ale whose 10.9% ABV should help me land on the naughty list next year.  Let's pour!

How amazing does this look?

Aroma 12/12
At first it smells as a mild Belgian yeast strain should smell, but even that is behind a lemon citrus.  As it sits in the glass, all sort of interesting flavors rise to the surface.  Before I describe those any further, let me say that this beer surprised the hell out of me by pouring like a stout!  I was expecting some lighter, maybe amber, frou-frou holiday ale that has all the usual starring roles filled by cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, etc.  This beer flowed dark from the bottle and even evoked a "What the..?!" from this reviewer.  It was not at all what I was expecting, but I digress... back to the aroma.  While starting off with the lemon zest and Belgian yeast, two things I definitely didn't expect to smell in a beer this dark, it quickly turns to its dark roast for the majority of the aroma.  The roast is rich and dark, but has an aroma that accompanies it so closely I can't be sure if it's part of the roast or not.  There is a sweetness to the roast like a rye, but it sometimes mingles with the lemony notes that I can't put my finger on it whether it IS a rye or just the dark roast mixing with the lemon and perhaps grassy & piney hop characteristics.  There is only a hint of alcohol warmth and it is found only during the deepest of inhales.  In case you couldn't tell by the length of this paragraph, this smell's complexity is only eclipsed by its unique nature.  Full marks.  I've never smelled anything like it.

Appearance 3/3
OK, seriously.  How come nobody ever mentioned that this beer is this dark?  It genuinely surprised me!  This is darker than most recent stouts I've had.  It's black to its core and shows only bits a pieces of a coffee brown at the very top of the class.  The brown head is giant, light as if it has been whipped, and very creamy.  It left tons of ornate lacing.  This beer looks dark and amazing.

Behold its monsterous head!

Flavor 20/20
Oh. My. Dad.  It starts a little creamy from some body-enhancing malts and allows one to still catch a glimmer of the Belgian yeast, but crescendos perfectly into an absolute mountain of chocolate malt (the beer ingredient, not the frozen treat).  The chocolate isn't 100% cacao dark -it still allows a creamier milk chocolate texture- but it blends marvelously with the roasted notes and the present-but-not-subtle warmth.  The finish is more "roasted chocolate" (roast + chocolate), but with a new, distinct, resinous hop bitter and a brief wash of dark fruit.  The mouth is initially left a bit sticky, but as the alcohol and hops have their way, the tongue is left rather dry in the aftertaste and with a slight tingle of warmth.  Oh so good!

Mouthfeel 5/5
This beer is ridiculously creamy, but without weighing down the drinker with a huge, thick, heavy body.  The carbonation doesn't foam a lot, just enough to lend a more silky texture to the beer.  I should also mention that the carbonation is plentiful, but doesn't effect the over all composition of the beer.  Normally, stouts or other dark beers shy away from higher levels of carbonation to achieve a better beer as a whole.  This beer doesn't shy away from carbonation.  It instead embraces it and uses it as a tool to make the beer better.  The warmth is used in much the same way and adds a dimension to this beer instead of distracting from it.

Overall Impression 10/10
This beer is right up my alley.  Unique taste, aroma is interesting, body and mouthfeel are perfect, and it breaks convention with the norm.  This is not your average Belgian Strong Dark Ale!  It keeps all the things you love and brings even more to the table.  Even more, I love how far it strays from the typical Christmas/winter offerings available from most brewers.  It shows creativity, independence, and some damn high quality brewing.

Total 50/50
In case I didn't gush enough praise earlier, here's my chance to really heap it on.  However, I will do so with one caveat.  I checked BeerAdvocate after I finished my review to see if others thought this beer as excellent as I do.  They don't.  Thus the subjectivity of taste comes into play.  For me this beer has everything I want, roast, chocolate, smokey, sweet, warmth, Belgian hints, dark fruit, great carbonation, and the list goes on....  To be honest, I'm not sure how folks have ranked it so lowly on BeerAdvocate.

I've gone through my scores and tried to see if there is a portion where I could remove some points.  Perhaps I missed something where this beer could have done better, right?  Not for me and my palate.  This beer is complex, well-made, tasty as can be, boozy, and with a great mouthfeel.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  Now I know what I need to ask for for next Christmas!

Sam Adams - Noble Pils

I know this is not exactly a "rare" beer.  However, Samuel Adams still accounts for less than 1% of beer sales in the United States (kinda sad, really) and I have not done a review of a Sam Adams to date.  Also, in my defense, I have heard many good things about this beer and appreciate Sam Adams dedication to quality and making "non-macros" brews.  They have been more focussed on good beer than good profits for some time and that says something.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 6/12
The theme of the aroma is definitely the sour, citrusy hops.  Underneath, there is the aroma of true, almost piney hops, but they were not as present as one would expect in a beer that boasts 5 types of hops.  Then again, this is "just" a pilsner and perhaps one should expect a lighter, more subtle aroma.

Appearance 3/3
The picture says it all.  Does that not look like a perfect pilsner?  It is a bright, clear yellow and has a sizable  head that comes roaring out of even the gentlest pour.  The head retention was phenomal and the lacing was more than I expected out of a pilsner as well.  Top marks all around.  Cheers!

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20

There is no insane flavor waiting for you in this bottle.  However, this is a pilsner and so that not only is OK, it is appropriate.  A sweetish, grainy front is the introduction.  This leads to a balanced structure that does favor the "hops" side.  The bitter of the hops combines with a light spiciness that is quite nice.  This is not the "death by hops" amount of hops that are often insisted upon by many west coast brewers.  The hop flavors are present and enjoyable without beating one about the head.  The bitter and spice in the mouth are a departure from the citrus that was present in the nose.  The citrus is all but absent in the backbone.  The finish is true to its pilsner roots; clean and crisp.  The aftertaste again revisits the bitterness of the hops and leaves a dryness that does not alter the refreshing nature of this beer.

Mouthfeel 5/5

Very drinkable for a beer themed by hops!  A tad heavier than the average pilsner, but the "average" pilsner is often a thin macro offering.  This is a welcome change.  Noble Pils' body is still appropriate to style as is the near-sparkling carbonation.

Overall Impression 7/10

A technically sound beer that not only is a great quencher, but also a great introduction to hops without being overwhelming.  A bit simple in its flavors with only the hops, spice, and malt truly present.  A bit more of the citrus notes from the aroma or any other complimentary sweet flavor (honey, sugar, etc) would have been welcome and suited this seasonal beer.

Total 38/50 (Excellent)

I originally had this beer scored lower due to a personal bias: I enjoy intense beers.  It should come as no big surprise that a pilsner is not a huge glass of flavor and I rated it accordingly.  However, the more and more I drank, the more I realized that this beer is an excellent representation of the style.  Not only that, but it still manages to add a little something extra in the way of body and hops.

Kudos to the boys at Sam Adams for not only being technical enough brewers to hit this style dead-on, but also to offer some hops that do not feel like a punishment to drink.  This offers a taste of hops, a great spring thirst-killer, and a thorough understanding of the (American) pilsner style.  It may not have been my personal cup of tea, but I cannot give it a lower rating in good conscience.

Harpoon - Winter Warmer

First off, you may be thinking that it is a tad late in the year to be reviewing winter seasonal beers.  You may be right, but let me defend my decision by saying that the bottle clearly states, "Best by 03/15/11."  So not only is this bottle at its best, but it is my duty to drink it before it becomes otherwise.  This beer was recommended to me by a friend during the holiday season and I had tried it then and enjoyed it.  I recently came upon it again and decided to give it a thorough evaluation.  Thank you Kelly for the bottle and Jim for the suggestion!  Lets pour.

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only

Aroma 8/12
The spice smell is super present, but not so much that you cannot detect notes of sweetness underneath.  The malt is of bread and carmel - maybe even a bit toasted.  There must be a fairly complex malt at work here, I only wish I could detect it through the spice.  The hops could be present (and earthy if so), but I think I'm merely smelling the spices again.

Appearance 2/3
The color is fantastic for a winter seasonal.  A warm dark color like pure maple syrup.  It is bright and clear with a nice tan head.  The head dissipates quickly and leaves only a collar with no lacing.  Its texture while present is light and smooth.  EBC is about 36.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 15/20
The aroma is not lying; there is an abundance of spices in this beer and they are the first thing to greet you from the glass.  It is followed by the sweet, lightly toasty malts, whose flavors make up the majority of this beer.  This beer has a lightly hoppy finish to try and balance out all the malt and leaves a pleasant bitter aftertaste.  The sweetness of the malt plus the spicy cinnamon are almost reminiscent of orchard bought apple cider.  Please do not take that to mean there are any fruity esters in this beer.  It is simply a connection that my brain finds unavoidable.

Mouthfeel 4/5
This beer features a combination that is tough to beat: a nice medium body, but light enough to be drinkable.  The carbonation is just fine, though some might find carbonation this high to be more appropriate in a summer seasonal.  It hints at warmth, but again, I believe that to be the cinnamon playing games.

Overall Impression  7/10
Spices?  Check.  Sweetness?  Check.  That should be all you need, right?  I wish that I could say so.  It is a darn tasty beer, but feel it relies to much on its one strength - spice.  In fact, this beer may be substituting "spice" for "dark."  Winter is time for the nut brown ales and doppelbocks to rear their heads and sweetness usually takes a backseat to darkly roasted malts.  This is not the case here.  Both are present, but Harpoon's priorities to be inverse from the norm.

Total 36/50
While both this beer's spiciness and sweetness do make a great winter seasonal, the beer could be improved with a bit more balance.  I would love to have more carmely malt notes shining through the flavor.  Can we not give the spice as much importance?  Could we invite some earthy/woody hops?  That said, I would have no problem sharing a sixer of this at a holiday gathering.  This beer earns a "very good" ranking and my recommendation to sample it this winter.

New Glarus - Wisconsin Belgian Red

Well, friends,  I have been waiting to sample this beer for some time.  It has been sitting in my fridge for a bit, waiting for just the right moment.  Apparently, that moment was today.  This beer has a bit of a reputation (as does the brewery) and I was trying not to build it up too much in my mind - I have to give a fair review after all.  The bottle claims loudly that it is a "Belgian red style," and (a little less loudly) that it is a "Wisconsin ale brewed with cherries."  In fact, the bottle description claims that "a pound of Door County Cherries" goes into every bottle.  For those of you unfamiliar with Wisconsin, Door County is the tip of Wisconsin that extends out as a peninsula into Lake Michigan.  It is known for its wine, natural beauty, fruits, culinary delights, and other such delicacies which easily fit into the "finer things."  I'm more than anxious to try this beer.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only

Aroma 11/12

Its a bouquet of cherries.  Period.  Please do not read this as cherry cough syrup or maraschino cherry or cherry flavor slurpy.  This smells like proper cherries right from the tree.  There are sour notes and light hints of spice.  It is difficult to get much else through those cherries.  Wow!

Appearance 3/3

Besides the smell, it even looks like authentic cherries.  No candy apple reds here, just a very dark, wonderful hue of amber.  It is slightly translucent when held to light, otherwise the picture tells all.  The head size was nice from the pour, but did not stick around long.  The head originally appeared peach in color, but settled down to a nice cream color instead.  Its texture was like the lightest whipped cream you have ever had, but still maintained decent carbonation.  Just like whipped cream compliments a dessert, the head was a perfect compliment to the beer beneath.  I would like to deduct a point for its lackluster head retention, but am hard-pressed to do so when it was so very pleasant when it was around.  I think I just wanted more of it!  EBC ranking is 38.

Picture is my own.

On a side note, this beer is capped with red wax.  The was does not look as glamorous as that on Maker's Mark, but it still makes you take a step back when you see it.  Beer with wax must mean business, right?  I felt that deserved another picture.

Picture is my own

Flavor 18/20

Not to be let down, this beer delivers on its taste of cherries.  It is not the fake taste of sweeteners (New Glarus has a reputation to defend after all), nor ciders, but real, honest juice.  The taste seems too complex to allow otherwise.  The sour hints in the aroma were false, it was simply the tart of the cherries.  This is delicious and the cherries are not overwhelming.  After holding this in the mouth for a moment, a bitter taste begins to evolve.  Almost as if it were dark cherries?  I am not sure what causes this, but the bitter finish is certainly present and rounded out by a cherry aftertaste.  I would rather that bitter finish be replaced by a warmth or a vinous finish. This beer is not a lambic, nor a "wine-beer" (like Dogfish Head's 'Red & White'), but its own version of those two tastes.

Mouthfeel 4/5

The body is certainly more "beer-like" than one would expect with its juice-based roots.  However, it is still extremely light (think American lager).  I do perhaps it were not so light, but with more body this beer might fall into the  "syrupy" trap that so many other beers find too easy to do.  I also imagine a bit more warmth might make this an even more successful venture for New Glarus, but may tread the line of becoming a port (without the smokiness).

Overall Impression 9/10

A fantastic beer from top to bottom.  Despite its extreme flavor, it remains very drinkable and light.  This is definitely an experience that I recommend.  It is another excellent alternative to the lambics out there and another fun thing against which to compare them.  The only factor keeping this beer from a perfect 10 was the bitter sensations.  I found it a bit distracting.  I worry that it was supposed to be a more "mature" flavor to round out all the sweetness, but I did not find it complimentary.  There must be a better way if that is their intent.

Total 45/50

A ranking of 45 earns the Wisconsin Belgian Red the description, "World-class example of style."  The only problem is, I am not sure what that style would be.  It has more body and richer flavor than lambics that I have tasted.  It lacks the vinous nature of some beer-wines (the aforementioned Red & White, etc).  It is just plain better than hard ciders with its fuller body, delicate head, and complexities.  It is wonderfully sweet, without overwhelming the drinker.  I had no problems finishing this bottle (1 pint, 9 fl oz), nor do I believe I would have such problems in the future.  Kudos, New Glarus!  This was quite a treat.