Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Anacortes Brewery: Porter

This poured a deep dark body with an off tan head. Porters are one of my favorite beers but this one maintained a lightness on the tongue and lacked the chalkiness I'm sort of fond of in a porter. I think it's a porter that just about anyone could drink but those familiar with porters would find this one is lacking a bit. The hop presense was decent and at an appropriate level with the color leaning a bit to the brown side as opposed to black (though a very dark beer).

Anacortes Brewery: Amber

Poured a deep brown amber color just a smidge darker than a typical amber. It had a great smell, off white head, and a great peaty presense. It wasn't too sweet and it clung to the palet nicely. Not quite a hot summer day beer but it did well.I've had Anacortes beer a couple times in the past and they haven't let me down before. Definetly a worthy contender.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Fishing + MGD = A good day

For some reason it tastes way better at a lake with a fishing pole in hand.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Deschutes - Mirror Mirror Barleywine

Deschutes - Mirror Mirror

http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brews/reserve-series/mirror-mirror/default.aspx

Smells sweet and malty, large head when first poured but disapated quickly. First taste was sweet and dry. Second taste was more of the same and the beer seemed just a little thin. I'm just barely tasting the oak, I also like that the hops aren't dominating like some other barleywines.

Good beer, I think it will be a great beer after a year or so of aging.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Belhaven Scottish Stout

Belhaven Scottish Stout

Had this on tap at the Copper Hog. I thought it was mislabled and I was going to end up with the Belhaven Scottish ale. I was wrong.

Awesome stout! Smooth and stouty with all the goodness of a scottish ale mixed in. I was really happy with it, need to find more.

Port Townsend - Barleywine

Port Townsend - Barleywine

American Style barleywine.

Smells great! First sip is perfect, sweet bitter, thick, just right carbonation. Really liked it! But, the hop flavor starts building and gets a little overpowering and resiny. Aging should blend that nicely into the rest of the beer. Get a bottle if you find one!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Ninkasi:Total Domination IPA



Total domination? I think not. I've been dominated by several beers in the past and this will not be another such case. The hop level isn't quite what you would expect from a "domination" IPA and it has almost a muddy hop flavor. The head poured white, it has a bubbly body, and the body is an off amber with cloudiness. You would expect a beer like this to have a crazy smell to it but this didn't have anything. I wouldn't recommend it. I'll try their other beers just to make sure they don't fail at that. Supposidly the Double Red is good.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Mendocino Brewing Company: White Hawk IPA

Same as pictured before (below), this IPA had a deeper amber color than is usually presented with an IPA. The head was white and it had a standardish co2 level that was pleasant and not overly harsh. Alongside with the deeper color it had a nice malt flavor that aided the beer well. It wasn't sweet like some IPA's (a good thing since sweet hops are not good). The hops were in full force though they didn't overdo it. I'd say this is what a typical IPA should be as nothing really stood out from other IPA's, making this pretty drinkable. I'd like to sample their other beers if I ever make it to Ukiah, CA.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Mendocino Brewing Company: Black Eye Ale


Found this on sale at the local grocery store. It says it's a blend of their Black Hawk Stout and Eye of the Hawk Ale. It poured a dark mahogony color but the head quickly dissapated. It looked good but at first sip I couldn't tell what it wanted to be. I've had stout/IPA's before with great success but this one is too sweet and the ale just didn't lend enough flavor to offset the stout. Since it is a blended beer it was hard to tell. Overall not a great choice but I'm sure it's better from the tap. Never heard of Mendocino Brewing Company before so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Georgetown Brewery: Rogers Pilsner

Georgetown has a great rep to me. I'm not a fan of lagers or pilsners at all but I had to try this beer. Golden yellow body, white head, crisp carbonation. This beer has a malty lager flavor, light hops, and a light mouth feel anfter it's gone. By light I mean medium. It's got a decent flavor for a pilsner and I'd definetly have it again. Thumbs up again to Georgetown!

Lagunita's: Pale Ale

Transparent light amber color, white head. Super flowery hop with a decent bittering hop portion. If it had a better bittering this would be an IPA. This characteristic (to me) doesn't make it a great Pale but it wasn't terrible. This could have been a much better pale should it have been toned down a bit.

Lagunita's: Hairy Eyeball

Heavy maple, thick malt smell and flavor. Tastes like some imperial stouts. Head poured an off white with a deep mahogony color. Not super drinkable but a decent beer to go with a steak dinner. Once of the heavier beers on tap tonight at the Green Frog/Acoustic Tavern.