Russian RIver Consecration

Russian River Consecration

 

   

 http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/index.html

     This is a big name now a days, at least from looking around in the beer world.  Most reviews for this brewing companie's beer are A's and A+'s.  As far as popularity and rave reviews, this and Dogfish Head Brewing Company are at the forefront, amongst others of course.  I was at a beer bar in Redondo Beach and saw this on the menu and thought I should try a brew from this company.  I'm going to try their brews eventually anyway and it was either this or a bottle sitting in my pantry that seems mediocre, thus I wanted something to excite the palate.  This is a Californian brewing company that started in 1997, according to the website.  If you want more information, go there:  http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/index.html.  The big brew is their IPA, but it seems everything gets high reviews, so the IPA in the forefront may just be me being biased by association.  This is Russian River Consecration, let's begin.

Appearance

      What do you think?  I reviewed this with a friend and the descriptions of color were interesting.  But let's just be straight forward first.  This beer was dark brown and slightly amber.  The color reminded me of grapes or prunes (blech, prunes, don't worry, the taste wasn't prune).  It was opaque but not cloudy and had very minimal carbonation bubbles.  The color was actually eloquent in my eyes and put me in a place of sophistication and prestige.  There was barely any head, that of which was an extremely light caramel color and thick for what its size held.  The retention was somewhat strong, but I can't be too sure because it was filled to the rim and spilled over to top it off instead of filled with the head in mind.  The bartender didn't seem to care too much, maybe I shouldn't either.  Oh, and the "creative" descriptions:  leather color, brown leather.  My friend, Mike, said the color reminded him of the interior of a brown interior Cadillac.  Yeah, I like that, Cadillac; in other words, high class (before the pimps and gangsters took over the Cadillac world).  What does it smell like?

Smell

     The smell was very fruity.  I would liken it to cranberry, cherry, or raspberry--somewhere along those lines.  It had a sweet aroma and floral subtleties and a hint of alcohol (this is a 10 percent beer, so I figured I'd smell that.  Although, maybe I ruined my nose by thinking that).  The aromas were fresh and robust but not thick and verging on overwhelming.  

Taste

     Wow was the first thought.  Not wow like, "oh my god I love this beer," but wow this was a shock.  It shouldn't have been considering the smell but I guess I wasn't thinking.  So far this is the most complex and interesting beer I've tasted thus far.  Strong berry tastes, especially the tangy twinge that one can get from eating a berry.  The tangy taste really holds on in the finish.  The alcoholic taste was there but not an issue that merits dismay.  It actually added to the flavor and complemented the finish.  There was also grape involved in the assembly which added a tiny bit of sour flavor and the aftertaste held a subtle citrus wave goodbye.  This beer is close to wine, in my opinion, but still had that beer ruggedness that I enjoy so much.  I would say this beer tasted like a gold miner that really hit it big--a kind of nouveau riche beer that finally got over flaunting their jewels.  

Mouthfeel

     Not a lot of carbonation, thus, not a lot of bite.  The mouthfeel was similar to wine, even with the dryness.  Not overly dry and not dry while it's in your mouth, but once it goes down, your tongue gets dry.  That was enjoyable to me.  The tangy taste pinches the saliva glands but doesn't make you pucker, which is good because I hate that.   The drink was pretty refreshing but the alcohol reminded you it was a "big boy drink."

Overall

     First off, I have to say this isn't my go-to drink, nor is it something I love and hold dear (like the way I raved about the Dogfish Head brews), but this is a damn good brew.  Luckily, I wrote this review a day after I tasted it, you know, to think about it.  At first I would've said I didn't like it but maybe someone else would.  But I had to be more objective, for you, you know.  And after much contemplation, this is really a brewing wonder.  The complexities of this drink really got my mind going and the appearance and smell are awe inspiring to the senses, if only the senses!   Mike said "this is a good girl drink."  I have to agree, but in the sense that by 'girl' we don't mean female, and not in a derogatory way either, but in a newbie to beer way.  No, maybe that's wrong as well.  This drink is for everyone.  The subjectivity of tasting shows itself when I say what beers I like and compare that to this beer.  I just like strong, rough, wheat, barley, and hops beers.  I guess I'm new to the fruits in beers thing, especially when they're as complex as this beer.  So, overall, this beer is amazing.  As a beer drinker, I like it but I'd pass, but as a reviewer of beer, this is a wonder that everyone should try at least once and I guarantee a B rating and above.   Rich, sophisticated, elegant, all adjectives I would use to describe this brew.  Consecration is  apt  for this particular beer--it is a contender for the pantheon of beers, and is a trophy of dedication.

Afterthought

     American Wild Ale you ask?  Basically, it is an ale introduced to, as the site says, "wild" yeast of bacteria.  The rest of the paragraph describing this type of ale practically exclaims "absolutely American inventiveness."  I love that.  I love that the U.S is becoming a beer empire.  It's about time, especially how much we as Americans drink beer (and because I live here and love beer).  So now you done your learnin'.  Go drink with friends and enjoy life!

    

Great White Beer

Great White Beer

     Shivers and anxious paranoia is what that label elicits.  Why? Because the shark ate a surfer, accidentally bit the surf board, walked out of the water and onto the beach to stand the surf board in the sand, and have a beer without fear of repercussion.  Yeah, pretty scary right?  Not really, and neither is the beer.  I went to the store and needed a beer to review and thought "why not help out a brewery from California."  The turn out was not as good.  But that's for the overall.  Sorry for the late entry but I'm back and here we go.

Appearance

     So there you are--a light orange color that's more cloudy looking than what the picture relays.  A lot of carbonation bubbles made the drink look light and the consistency looked thinner than most of the other beers I've reviewed.  It was as cloudy as some Hefeweizens but more orange than yellow.  There was about an inch of head, again not represented here but that's my fault.  But in my defense, the retention was weak and it's receding looked messy and a little ugly.  By ugly, I mean one side went away faster than the other and the side that retained longer looked like spider webs.  That's all I got for appearances.

Smell

     The smell was sweet and full of citrus.  It was a good smell and prepared me for a taste that'd be equally strong.  Not overpowering, but clearly present with clear distinction as to what the smells were consistent of.

Taste


     So the smell was good, known, basically saying, this drink was aromatic.  On a scale of one to ten, this was a six or seven.  Thus, you'd think the taste would be comparable.  Nope, I was wrong in anticipating a strong citrus taste.  Maybe it was my fault.  Maybe I expected too much from this beer.  I bought the beer because it was made in California, had the shark on the label (not because it was a shark but because with such a corny label, maybe it'll make up for it through taste) and I didn't feel like trying something else.  The citrus was there but very very subtle.  There was a little bit of spice or herb and a little of citrus.  That was it though.  It was extremely light tasting and I have to say flavored water is stronger.

Mouthfeel

     This is where the beer had some complexity.  With such lack of taste, I couldn't help but review as if the mouthfeel made up for it.  The texture was not frothy and had a medium light bite from the carbonation.  The liquid was like drinking an ice tea made of syrup instead of brewed (ie. Black Mint or Mango iced tea).  It wasn't fulfilling and, again, very light.  I guess that's it.  I think I hyped this section up only to disappoint myself.

Overall

     What else can I say?  This beer was weak.  It wasn't bad nor would I absolutely refuse if offered and there was nothing else, but it was weak.  The profile of a Witbier is subtlety, but this was almost nonexistent.  The herbal taste was a peak for me and the citrus was plain.  This beer is comparable to Blue Moon if Blue Moon made a light beer.  I was thrown sideways because of the smell.  There is a disclaimer:  I've been really getting into strong beers.  I've been wanting stronger and stronger beers since I've been reviewing beer.  My palate (the point of this blog) is developing and becoming more and more jaded to light beers and beers that lean closer to BMC.  So I hope you fel the same, and if you enjoy this beer, then there's no problem.  Opinion people, this is opinion.


Afterthought

     So what's a "Witbier?"  You can go here: Witbier.  Or you can read on.  After reading the description of the what a witbier is, I've realized that this drink fits the bill.  Apparently, always spiced and usually with coriander.  Often brewed with orange peels and other herbs.  The name 'witbier' means white beer due to the cloudiness of the brew.    Also, witbier is a wheat beer; one type out of two common wheat beers, the other being Weissbier.  Witbier, though, is Belgian wheat beer.  Remember when I referenced Blue Moon.  Yeah, it falls under this same thing, Belgian White at least.  And sometimes, you go to a bar and ask for Blue Moon and they put an orange or lemon, that is an American favorite usually used for these beers, as well as hefeweizen.  So there you have it.  I have a beer waiting for me and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a flat review as well, be we'll see.

Ranger IPA

Ranger IPA

     This was a nice little find for me.  Not that it's hard to find, though, I mean, I got it at Albertson's.  But I didn't know that New Belgium had a twelve pack of beers with four different varieties of beer.  Pretty good deal if you ask me.  If you are unfamiliar with New Belgium, they are the good people that brew Fat Tire.  Still not sure?  I've got your back, you can read up on it here: Fat Tire!  Before we move on, might I suggest reading the history of the company.  It's not long and quite interesting, one such fact is that the name 'Fat Tire' refers to the bicycle owned by the creator of New Belgium breweries.  Okay maybe I didn't sell it well, but check the site out anyway.  A little story before I move on:  I bought the twelve pack because I trust New Belgium.  To answer your question of why: because this was my very first craft beer.  I mean they sell it at grocery stores (yes, I did a little research to make sure New Belgium isn't another pseudonym by the giant BCM [Bud/Mill/Coors] jerks).  When I first had a Fat Tire I was shocked at the taste.  No bland, piss taste present at all!  It was full and complex.  I'm not going to say that it changed my life.  I was still drinking to get drunk at the time.  But it left an impression.  So now, a few years later, there is a sampler pack from the New Belgium brewery and it didn't disappoint at all.  Thank you, all of you visionary beer enthusiasts out there.  I am in your debt.  So here we go, the Ranger India Pale Ale.

Appearance

     Like a solid piece of glass is what that is.  To make it prettier, the Lakers are playing in the background winning the third playoff game against the Jazz.  Yeah, you can't tell, but this blog isn't completely for you.
The head was a little higher before I took this picture, maybe at it's fullest it was three-fourths of an inch.  So far we've seen two other American IPAs and this is the lightest of them all.  In order, the darkness of the brew is the Ranger, then the 60 minute, followed by the 90 minute being the darkest.  We can assume that the darker the IPA is, the stronger the hops are--can we agree on that?   The head was eggshell white and retained for a good long time.  I counted about six carbonation streams, which is the most I've seen since reviewing, and it really made me think of the monsters from "War of the Worlds."  Hell if I know why.

Smell

     The smell was very very grassy or leafy.  If I knew what fresh hops smelled like, then I can tell you with complete confidence, but I don't.  Yet, instinct tells me that's what fresh hops smells like.  The smell was thin to medium and smelled very organic, very leafy or grassy.  I would liken it to walking on fresh cut grass after a rainy day and there is an ocean breeze.  If you're from middle America and have never been to the beach, then I have no other idea how else to describe it to you.  But then again, if you're from middle America, you probably grow hops don't you?  I kid (no I don't), on to taste!


Taste

     Yummy, I'm growing to really like these India Pale Ales.  I hear that all the time when I peek into the depths of the beer community (that they love their pale ales) but I always thought maybe they got brainwashed.  I mean, it's easy fall prey and say you like something because everyone else like's it.  But, from my experience, I'm growing to love the bitterness of India Pale Ales.  Really good stuff to tell you the truth.  Anyway, the taste was very similar to the smell:  very hoppy and fresh leaf tasting.  There was a hint of sweet and a slight sharpness, maybe a little citrus taste, but the headliner is the hoppy bitter taste.  That fresh cut grass taste is what I got out of the beer.  It was really good though.  I don't want to convey that I took a bite out of someone's lawn.  The balance of flavors is really the best I've had so far.  Yes there's a star, but without all the other compliments, the star is nothing.  The IBU is 70, and, comparing with the Dogfish beers, that's a good number to rate this bitterness without considering the other flavor notes found in the brew.  The bitterness is there and hangs around for you to have a conversation.  Maybe about the bitterness' childhood of growing in the fields, hanging out with his buddies.  I think I'm digressing so on to mouthfeel.

Mouthfeel

     Slightly dry coming in and after swallowing.  There was also a frothy and aerated mouthfeel but nothing like a smoothie.  Just frothy enough to lift the liquid off your tongue.  There was a bite in carbonation and then it let go as soon as it bit.  The bite was kind of strong but not annoying.  I guess that's why there was SIX streams of carbonation.


Overall

     I enjoyed this beer.  I hope I don't offend anyone, but I would say this is a good beginners beer.  By that I mean if you have some friends that are interested in expanding their beer mind with craft beer, I would suggest this.  I would actually suggest the sampler, which is this IPA (part of their Explore series) and all their Folly line minus their Blue Paddle Lager.  Don't know what I'm talking about? Go to this site.   Before I end this, I have to say that I kind of skimped on you guys.  I lost the notes I took for this beer and went solely on memory.  So if you're thinking, "I'd like to hear some specifics buddy," then you're probably right, I would as well.  But what I thought about the brew is one hundred percent true.  I highly recommend a taste, especially if you want to get into the beer world and you, or someone you know, will probably gag when drinking something that's too bitter or too heavy or something like that.  Remember, take it slow, you have all the time to taste everything.  And don't take baby steps, that's a dumb saying.  Just take a step and go from there.  Easy as that.

Afterthought

     This isn't going to be educational.  Maybe it will be if you regard me, your narrator.  I recently watched a documentary called "Beer Wars."   This documentary gives a good sized window into the beer world, more specifically, the brewers and the difficulties they faced when breaking into the beer making industry.  I learned something from this:  I learned why I shouldn't buy BMC brands.  First, I should direct you to this site:  Real American Beers.  This site gives a list of beers that is owned by whatever company, DESPITE WHAT THE LABEL SAYS.  This is also revealed in "Beer Wars," when a certain beer, which I forget the name but who cares anyway, claims to be from a microbrewery in Fairfield, CA but is actually made by Budweiser. 
     So why am I saying this stuff?  Because at first I thought "you know what, who cares, you can't get away from the machine.  What I like isn't what everyone likes."  That's true still, but lesser than what I originally thought.  The truth is, when you're in your twenties, you just want to get drunk.  Taste doesn't matter as much as the social and physiological aspects of drinking alcohol.  So yes, I buy BMC every so often.  And I don't want to be that guy that villainizes the layman because he/she buys BMC.  But what I want to say is PLEASE buy craft.  Every time you can buy craft, buy craft.  Try to drink craft more than you drink BMC.  You're going to go to house parties, clubs, even bars, and they're not going to have craft beer.  And for the sake of having fun or social acceptance, your going to drink what ever is there.  There's nothing wrong with that.  But try to drink craft majority of the time.  Even if the bar you go to has one craft beer on tap, buy it.  These little breweries have people that have so much passion and are so intelligent that I couldn't help but side with them.  And so, I want to help pass the message along that the BMC companies are heartless and care nothing about quality.  It's just to get drunk.  That's all it's good for.  Thanks, I'm off the soap box, deuces.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA



http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/90-minute-ipa.htm


     Do you remember him?  Our old friend from Dogfish Head?  Well if you don't then go here: 60 Min.  In this video we learn a little more about both the beer and the spokesperson.  For example, he apparently loves his malt mill.  Also, they continually added the hops using an old school football board game when Dogfish Head first started out.  See folks, you can do anything with a little research, ingenuity, and drive.  So how did it go?  Read on.
     It was a pretty cool day which actually ended in a steady drizzle.  It was my first time at Naja's Place in Redondo Beach on the International Boardwalk.  I heard good things about the place and some friends and I wanted to watch the Laker game there.  I arrived early, and so, got to review.  I looked at the whiteboard that had their list of brews and saw the 90 minute.  Well I might as well, I thought, especially since it's on tap.

Appearance

        Doesn't that look absolutely wonderful?  The perfect glassware at the perfect temperature with the perfect pour.  It was just perfect.  What you see is exactly what I saw.  Yes, I finally got a perfect shot with my phone, what a rarity!  So you see the dark amber color with the pretty white head.  The head had good retention and steadily disappeared after drinking and never before, which really boggled my mind.  The glass really does make a difference, not just in look, but in smell as well. Okay, on to smell.

Smell

     I'm regretfully going to skimp a little on this section.  The bar was pretty much an outdoor bar and the sea breeze was at my back blowing away smells and blowing around the aromas of french fries and various meats from the kitchen.  What I did smell, though, were scents of orange and sweet.  Part of the reason I smelled it the first try, though, was that the Snifter glassware really helped the aromas come out.  The smell was stronger than the 60 minute IPA and I think that's because of the glassware and not due to the drink.  Sorry, that's all I really got.  After the first smell, the wind started blowing hard and I lost it.  All I could smell was chili fries and ocean air after that.

Taste

     Damn this drink was in your face.  It was strong and full; really top of the line.  I tasted citrus flavors, a little bit of sweet that mixed well with the citrus.  Before I move on, I'm noticing that beers tend to have two strong flavors which are usually made by a combination of different flavors.  The two flavors are bitter and sweet.  Yeah, I know it was simple, but I got lost thinking about notes of nutty flavors and citrus flavors and what not.  Ultimately, at least to me, it's bitter and sweet and what's inside those two sections are the "notes" of flavor that reviewers taste.  Hopefully that makes it easier for you in picking out what you're drinking.   In this case, the sweet end was a fruity/citrus kind of taste.  On the other end, the bitter had notes of almond  and a bitter taste that I really can't articulate.  I checked Beeradvocate and the Dogfish Head for some help and here's what I got:  a brandied fruitcake with extra alcohol.  That's the best I can do.  That doesn't sound very appetizing but it's because I have no words!  That bitter taste is the centerpiece of the beer but is settled down by the other flavors and creates a nice blend that made me happy, at least.

Mouthfeel

     The mouthfeel for this drink was easy on the tongue.  It wasn't heavy on the tongue nor was it light; and, by light, I mean frothy.   By heavy, I mean thick like syrup.  Sure you have better words but I'm writing this and you need to give me a break.  The carbonation was middle high and added a nice texture to the brew.  There was a slight bite but nothing harsh.  There was no dryness and was rather refreshing to drink.

Overall

     Overall this was a great great beer.  I enjoyed this over the 60 minute, but I could pick the 60 minute over the 90 depending on how I feel that day.  Either way, they're both top of the line beers.  I also have to add that my friend arrived midway through my review and had a taste.  He said he liked the 60 minute more and that the 90 minute was too strong for him.  There you go--to each his own.  I do like the strength of the bitterness in this ale but I know it's not for everyone and, if you haven't destroyed your tongue as much as I have, you'll feel the same as him.  Also, like the 60 minute, the ABV and the IBU are alliterate to the number of minutes:  9.0 ABV and 90 IBU's from 90 minutes.  So there you go.  This is a beer I recommend you drink before you die, I think you'll like it.  If you don't like it then okay, I'm better than you, I get it. 

Afterthought

Glassware
      I've talked about glassware before and, since I'm lazy to look up anything with more meaning, I'll just let you guys know where to get it.  I recently went to Crate and Barrel and they have a great selection of glassware.  Some stores that specialize in libation may have some but often they cater to the wine drinkers.  Of course there's online, but if you really hate the idea that the mail man might destroy your glasses, you can go to Crate and Barrel.  Sorry for those reading outside of California.  I can't speak for you and you're, unfortunately, on your own.  Here's where you can learn about glassware:

                                            - Beer Glasses!

That's my favorite guide so far.  And here's some sites where you can buy glasses:

                                            - Amazon
                                            - Pub Glasses (good luck with this site, when I went on it, it was goddamn slow)
                                            - Crate and Barrel
                                            - True Beer
                                            - Mikasa

Well, there's some sites for you.  If you don't like those then stop being so lazy and do your own research, come on this blog is for free.  Anyway, the glasses can get expensive if you're looking for a particular kind or want yours engraved or something like that.  Also, there are a lot of boots.  So I've heard it's impossible to drink so fast where the bubble at the bottom of the shoe does anything (sorry frat boys).  And if you run into this thing called a beer "flight paddle" that's just a thing to serve samplers (no not for beer pong).  Okay guys, good luck and drink up.

Lazy Dog Porter

Lazy Dog Porter

If you live in Southern California maybe you're familiar with this place, particularly Torrance, Irvine, and, well, just click here.  I didn't expect this place to have craft beer at all (which they do have a pretty good amount) let alone craft beer with their name on it.  But I am glad they did.  So today, I got the Lazy Dog Porter made by Bay Hawk Ales brewing company in Irvine.  Well, well, well, it looks as if Bay Hawk Ales have a nice little site that details their brews--click here to see the scoop.   I am guessing I drank the Chocolate Porter, considering I had the porter, but the description is different from what I experienced with the Lazy Dog Porter.  What did I experience?  Well then let's have it.

     
Appearance

      I made this picture of the extra large persuasion because I wanted you to see that, no this picture isn't badly taken albeit through the camera on my phone once again, this porter is black.  The drink is completely opaque with a deep thick looking texture.  I wonder if this is as dark as it gets.  The color is comparable to motor oil.  I couldn't see through it at all so no telling if there were any carbonation streams, which I'm sure there were because there hasn't been a beer, minus this one, where I didn't see carbonation streams.  The head you see was the head I got.  This came from tap and was poured away from my supervision, thus, I don't know if the head was bigger or what kind of retention it had.  Hey you can't watch the bartender all the time, what are you a stalker!  No big deal, though, and they had a 22 ounce option as opposed to an American pint.  Don't remember the difference between the American pint and the English pint?  Here you go my friend, just scroll to the educational afterthought.  So how does that beer look to you?  Did you like that?  Did you think that was sexy?

Smell

     The smell was a nice chocolate smell with a little bit of a roasted nut or bean smell.  I really smelled the chocolate though.  If you are a baker, or know one, look for some semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Yeah, that's right, the kind you throw into a batch of cookie dough.  Open the bag (hopefully it's at least half full, but I'm sure you'll still smell it.  Especially if the batch is new) and stick your nose in the bag and inhale.  That's what this beer smelled like .  A thin breeze of semi-sweet chocolate.  The chocolate was the star of the smell show.  The supporting cast was a roasted smell of something.  I want to say coffee, but maybe that's because that's what the description on the menu said.  I don't really want to say coffee but more like just a roasted bean or grain of some sort.  Yeah, you're probably right in saying that's roasted malt.  Either way it smelled good.

Taste

     I have to say, as far as taste and smell going together, this one was right on the nose.  I might as well put this section and the smell section together. The star of the show was chocolate, but not like drinking chocolate fudge or being a fatty and drinking from a chocolate fondue fountain, more like drinking a more acidic Yoo-Hoo.  And if you don't know what Yoo-Hoo is, well it's a chocolate milk drink that you can never get enough of, and ma'am/sir, you're missing out.  The taste of coffee was present but stayed on the sides of the mouth.  Every time I drank, though, all I could think was chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.  The malts were on point in this drink.

Mouthfeel

     The mouthfeel had a nice variety or complexity, whatever adjective you'd like to use because I honestly am not fully confident in my use of 'complex' when talking about beer--not yet at least.  The brew was thick and creamy, similar to Guinness but more carbonated, which gives more texture that can keep your tongue interested.  I, and I imagine others, can grow tired of Guinness because the mouthfeel is so smooth and I begin to feel like I'm just drinking syrup.   I grow tired of drinking it and start to feel like I need a little more excitement in my life.   Nothing wrong with Guinness, though, and I love the drink--honestly--but I like carbonation and would pick a more carbonated drink rather than Guinness.  There was a dryness to the drink which made me think of chocolate ( if that's normal or not, I'm in space).  Lastly, which I think was a nice way to end my session, the brew made my breath smell like chocolate.

Overall

     This beer was good!  I don't want to make it a favorite.  Well, no, I don't exactly want to say that.  The explanation is that this beer is different.  I wouldn't drink it as a session beer because I think the texture is too rich.  It was a heavy drink and the flavors were very robust.  For me to call it refreshing would be wrong.  It was filling.   I can drink more bottles of Guinness than this (and remember what I said earlier about getting tired of it).  Can I go so far as saying this is a sort of dessert beer?  Just like a dessert wine is sweet, this beer is sweet and I could really end a good meal with this beer as a replacement to a cupcake or cookie or something like that.  I guess it can be a more tough dessert.  I mean really, how cool can you look when you bite into a cupcake?  Do I suggest it?  Hell yeah!!  Try it; the only reason I wouldn't pick this beer before other beers is because of personal preference.  There's quality present in this brew and I really don't want to take away from that.  So go out there and take it in.


Afterthought

     Yeah I'm labeling the afterthoughts now.  Not only for easier organization but also because when I refer you to something I'm talking about that is in another blog,  you can now just scroll to the bottom and look it up with an easier time at finding it (although I understand how hard it is to avoid reading the entire article, but you know, time dictates everything).  So what are we going to talk about today?  Malts of course. I'm in my mid-twenties and only recently have attained a full understanding of what 'malt' is.  I know, and now you do if you didn't, that malts contribute the sweetness to beer--as well as candy and milkshakes and et cetera.  So I looked some stuff up for you and good old Wiki gave this nice and clean explanation: MALTS!  If you were a good student and read the entire article, then you realized that malt is not a thing but the result of a process involving grains.  The product is sugar, grain, and/or malted milk (milk shakes!). 
     Here's another thing about malts--adjuncts.  When referring to beer (I don't really know if adjuncts are included in anything else) an adjunct is an unmalted grain that can add certain flavors for beer, create a kind of retention in the head, and it also helps with cutting costs.  Just read this if you're interested: ADJUNCTS!
     So there's a little preview of Malts and Adjuncts.  You now have an extremely (and take extremely generously) basic knowledge of malts and adjuncts in reference to beer.  Here's a list of malts and adjuncts you can find in beer:  MALTS AND ADJUNCTS! That page got a little thick for me and becoming an expert that fast isn't my thing.  This is fun remember?  If you want to go get a degree in Beer go to UC Davis.  Other than that,  let's take it easy and learn as we go along. 
 

Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen

Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen

     You like that label?  Apparently,  this beer makes you feel like you're climbing the side of a building.  I must be frank, this label is ugly.  That's probably my biggest gripe with a lot of American breweries--the labels are a little annoying to the eye.  But I can overlook if you make good beer.  So this is Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen, a new name for the brewery according to their site.  Their original name was plainly Pyramid Hefeweizen.  Apparently, this beer was named to remind you it'll make you haywire.  So I bought this as a six pack from Bevmo! because, well, I don't really know why I picked this particular brand up.  I guess the label did me in.  What I thought you ask?  I got you friend.

Appearance

     As you can see (I think I always lead in with that now), it's a cloudy golden/orange color which references the wheat that it's made of.  A lot of carbonation streams rising to the top, which I thought looked cool (I  interject that because I don't see people talk about it too much in other reviews and sometimes I enjoy watching the bubbles rise, especially in lighter beers).   The brew looked like it had the texture of thick and creamy.  The head was slightly larger than what you see on the right, but it broke away quickly and left the beer looking less appealing.
  

Smell

     The smell was slightly sweet and a little bit smokey.  The sweet smell was not sweet like candy but of something like honeysuckle pig sweet, thus the smokey barbecue smell.  Yeah, I said barbecue, is that weird?  It probably is, but that's what I smelled.  Again, it wasn't strong.  It was actually quite light in smell.  The smell waved in and out but wasn't present the entire session.

Taste

     I was pretty disappointed with this beer as far as taste goes.  There was a complexity in smell, although light, that made me expect more from the taste.  Yes, it was a little bit sweet, the basic taste of a Hefeweizen.  There weren't any strong tastes that set it apart from anything else.  Actually, it tasted like the breweries skipped out on putting any other taste in the brew.  There was a little bit of a bitter aftertaste that may have been due to aging (a good amount of dust on the bottle when I bought it), but I don't think that's the reason for the bitter.  Overall taste was disappointing.  Especially if you've had a lot of Hefeweizens prior to drinking this.  One taste that came out was a slight twinge of an unripe orange.  The orange taste being a flavor I taste in many Hefeweizens.  I should probably say 'citrus' rather than orange because that's what the flavor is closer to.  Also, there was a sweet taste but, again, nothing that wows the palate.  Otherwise, the entire flavor canvas of this beer was light like the smell and didn't impress me much. 

Mouthfeel
     
     The feel was pretty aerated and frothy.  The end of a drink would have a slight dry sensation on the tongue.  No refreshing taste and it was pretty bland to drink.  I was pretty distracted with the frothy feel that I didn't get much out of taste.  Overall, the mouthfeel was plain.

Overall

     Eh...that's all I can really say.  I'd drink it again only if someone bought it for me.  It wasn't bad, but the taste is like my opinion of the beer--plain.  At 5.40% ABV this could be a session beer.  I didn't feel much and, yeah, I can drink this all day.  There was nothing robust about this beer so I can't give you something to hold on to about this beer.  I automatically give Bud Light a shit rating.  You need letters? A damn 'F' for Bud Light.  This beer would be a C.  I don't like giving letter grades because of the subjectivity of taste, but there are beers that I can definitely grade; and, this beer is a definite C.  It's just there.  Don't be afraid of it, but don't go out of your way for it.  Then again, the great thing about opinion is that it's not truth and you, you, or you, can just tell me to go fuck myself.

     If you were keen enough to check the label I put on these things--a label I make by type of beer--then you'll notice that this beer is labeled American Pale Wheat Ale.  But the label on the bottle says Hefeweizen.  Well, American Pale Wheat Ale is another way of saying "American Hefeweizen."  If you want a definition of  a Hefeweizen, then go here.  If you weren't lazy and clicked on the links, you'll notice that at the end of each definition states that adding a lemon wedge is an American popularization and can be a nice complement or a slap in the face of beer makers.  My opinion of the lemon wedge is forget about it--in most cases.  I would actually put a lemon wedge on a Pyramid Haywire.  It would probably add a nice flavor, but I didn't try it.  For me, most Hefeweizens have enough flavor, especially German Hefeweizens, that the lemon just cancels all the strong flavors out.  Here's a little rule you can follow that I just made up right now:  if it is an American Pale Wheat Ale, or Hefeweizen made in America, then sure, you can put a lemon if you really need to, but try it without one first.  If is is a Hefeweizen from Germany: DON'T PUT A LEMON.  That's just my opinion.    I don't know what I"m drinking next but let's hope it's a good one.  Deuces!

Dixie Blackened Voodoo

Dixie Blackened Voodoo

     A surprise trip to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, shoot up to the top floor and stroll down the stairs into the Bona Vista Lounge--a revolving lounge that has a spectacular view of Los Angeles (might I add the best time to go is sunset).  Well, well, well they have some craft beers available.  I stupidly forgot to remember the entire collection, but I'll return for reviews.  Today's pick, though, was the Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager.  This site appears to be their distributor and, if I can recall correctly, their description is the same as the one on the menu.  To be honest, though, I picked it because of the name.  Before you get angry and claim I was being reckless with my decisions, I want to add that I've never heard of any of the other beers and they all seemed the same caliber with different names.  When the period appears, shoot.

Appearance

          Oh yeah, another reason I picked it was because the word 'Blackened' inferred that it was a dark beer, and if you're new, I pick dark over light ninety percent of the time.  See, I didn't forsake you as your guide, you're tester, you're "first stone thrower."  So the head was tiny on this one.  It didn't dissipate too fast, but it didn't add to the physique of the beer.  The color, though, was pretty wonderful.  The liquid was relatively thick with a dark brown roasted coffee color, giving a leather-like texture.  There were a couple of carbonation streams but it wasn't really noticeable.  Have you been looking closely?  You see it now?  Yup, frost, and not light frost.  The damn glass is sweating.  Makes the beer look more enticing, more tasty, I can go so far as saying it's a little more sexy.  Did I mention that the beer was served in a cold bottle with a frosted glass.  No don't!  It's a ruse!  It's a Siren song to the untrained;well, most of the time. I'm not completely sure about that yet.  Read on, you'll see why.



Smell

     This lager--yes, my first lager review, exciting isn't it--  has a lot of fruity attributes to the smell.  I smelled the sweet of malt and a nice cherry smell.  I didn't smell hops; and, if I did, I didn't notice it.  It wasn't strong but it was stronger than the Samuel Smiths that I had a few weeks ago.  Alright, on to taste.

Taste

     It was a nice beer.  I did run into a problem--remember when I mentioned that the glass was sweating?  Yeah, it was served pretty damn cold.  At first, I tasted hardly anything.  It was kind of a job trying to figure out what was wrong with the beer.  I kept thinking "damn did I ruin my taste buds somewhere today?  I can't blame it on the food because it hasn't come out yet."  Then I finally realized it was too cold and it numbed my tongue.  I let it sit for awhile and held it in my hand sporadically.  About fifteen to twenty minutes later and I was good to go.  A minor inconvenience but a lesson learned.  The taste is light with a nice malt taste (I'm tired of saying "hint of chocolate."  Let's just say it's malt from now on. I'm convinced that's my idea of malt.  And it's not like I taste a Hershey's bar.  It's more like a Whopper ball after getting through the chocolate.  Oh yeah, BECAUSE IT'S A CHOCOLATE MALT BALL.  Go try a whopper ball, then try a 'malty' beer.   Here's a little site that helped me).   There was no strong aftertaste nor did any of the flavors linger.  The taste was there, said a salutation, and then left down the tube.

Mouthfeel
      
     It may just be solely my opinion, but I'll go out there and say that the mouthfeel was more spectacular than the taste.  What, do you wanna fight about it?  The texture was thick and frothy.  I enjoyed that--almost like melted ice cream.  The carbonation contributed to this by adding gas to the liquid.  The carbonation had a slight bite but wasn't passive; meaning, I felt the carbonation but it didn't bother me.

Overall

     I wouldn't argue with you if you said that this review was a little short.   I'd agree with you and I would also say it was because this beer wasn't all that impressive.  But, and that's a big 'but,' this is a lager--my first craft lager that I reviewed.  The 'but' gets bigger because most BMC beers (it used to be all, but Budweiser came out with an ale and I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head) are lagers.  I'd like to make this beer my base.  I can't use BMC beers because they're just so bland. There's a taste that I can agree with and I can describe.   If I were forced to compare this beer with a more widely distributed beer, I'd use Heineken.  Dixie Blackened Voodoo does not have that sharp acid taste that Heineken has.  It is thicker and sweeter.  Does that put it more into perspective?   This beer is also a good session beer.  About a 5% Alcohol by Volume, which means I can drink this for days without getting ridiculous.  I had two of these at the lounge and, yes, I just felt good and sober.

     Before I go, I want to remind you that the difference between Lager and Ale is just how it's made.  Lager is bottom fermenting and Ale is top fermenting.  I wanted to tell you that there is a big distinguishing taste between a Lager and an Ale, but after trying this--no.  You could probably make an ale taste like this.  Perhaps ales are more bitter, but I'm sure I'll run into a bitter lager.  So I'm with you in saying I have no clue what sets these apart other than the way it's made.
     Furthermore, this is a "Munich Dunkel Lager."  Which is explained in detail here at the top of the list, as well as a link that leads you to what the top Munich Dunkel Lager beers are.  I have to admit, I feel a little lost with the lagers.  The learning never ends.  Drink up!

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA



http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/60-minute-ipa.htm

      Did you like that video?  Did you check out the site?  This company cannot cater to beer lovers any more perfectly.  A video, an explanation, and genuine enthusiasm is what I see.  They even have beer porn!  I gotta say, the cups full of hops...pretty sexy.  So let's get to it shall we?

     In the last entry I talked about Samuel Smith's India Ale as a good base for India Pale Ale's.  This beer seriously smashed through the ceiling.  This was seriously a damn good beer.  But maybe I should save the cocksucking for later.  Last night I tasted this before a party that was going to happen at my house.  Smells of food filled the entire downstairs, so I hid upstairs and locked myself into a room that hasn't been permeated by distractions.  I poured, I smelled, I drank, I enjoyed, and then I went downstairs and had a good time with my peoples.  I bought the 60 min IPA as a six pack from Bevmo! in the craft beer section (for those of you who haven't been to bevmo) at the Torrance location on Hawthorne Blvd.  There's no doubt in my mind that this beer set the mood for the rest of the night.


Appearance

      Sorry for the picture.  It's grainy because it was taken from my phone.  Do you really care?  You better not.  Also, sorry for the lame print on the glass, I really need to stop being lazy and go get something less tacky.  So you can see the nice gold color.  A little darker, deeper amber than the Samuel Smith, but still had that glassy look but with more noticeable streams of carbonation rising to the top--a real classy looking beer.  The head was small but retained well.  It didn't crumble away like Samuel Smith's IPA.  In the words of Akon "...damn you a sexy bitch."


Smell

     Oh the smell was stupendous!  This was hands down the best smelling beer I've had so far.  At first I thought it was just my weak nose that made me review previous beers as light smelling, or something to that effect, which still might be the case except to a lesser degree, but this beer smelled sweet and, oh I don't know, pine like?  Not like Pinesol cleaning agent, but more grassy, to use the words of the man in the video.  It also had a sour twinge, maybe orange or something citrus flavor like that.  It really smelled great, and gathering from how it's made (did you read the blurb on the website?) that's the smell of hops.  It really does smell nice.  It wasn't strong and overwhelming but like a pleasant scent that lingers in the air when you walk through a forest--how fanciful.  Also, I usually lose the smell after drinking it for awhile, but this stayed the course.  I didn't have to aggravate the beer too much to unleash the smell.  It just hung out with me until I finished my session.

Taste

     The taste was yummy.  Super balanced like a high end Le Mans race car.  Many IPAs tend to be bitter throughout the drink.  To me, I don't know if this is consensus, the strong bitter hops taste is a marker of an IPA; but, this beer was very light and sweet which got punctuated by the bitter hops taste rather than the bitter taste taking center stage.  The beer was clean and refreshing with light carbonation.  The taste was less dry than Samuel Smith's IPA and left my palate feeling clean afterward.  I had questions about the Doghead Fish Brewery site claiming it was a "session" beer (that I'll explain at the end), but the lightness helps with making it a session beer.

Mouthfeel

     Again, the brew was dry to the tongue but not so much where it felt like it sucked all the moisture from my tongue.  The carbonation had no sting and really did a good job at aerating the beer to make it fresh and light.  Often too much carbonation ruins drinks (beer and soda) for me because the sting it gives distracts me from what I'm tasting.  Instead of tasting the sugars and whatnot, I feel the bubbles bursting on my tongue and I focus most of my attention on that.  The drink was not at all thick and not too watery.  

Overall
     

     The opinions I heard about this beer and the reviews that I've read are all raving glory for this beer.  I am officially jumping on that wagon because there is nothing bad about this beer.  Sure, I'll try to think of one:  the bottle was too small and a six pack is not enough.  That actually sounded like alcoholic phrases.  Anyway, it is true that this beer is high end and a real prize for American IPAs.  There's nothing bad about it and should, or will, become a regularly bought drink in this household.  The site says that this beer has an ABV (Alcohol by Volume remember?) of 6% and an IBU (International Bitterness Units) of 60.  Sixty is a really high number and if I saw that  before I drank the beer I would have braced myself for a face cringe, but it really was not as strong as 60 IBUs would lead one to anticipate.  The mix of malt with hops is so well put together, despite adding and boiling hops for sixty minutes (yeah that's where the name comes from, but you should've known that after you clicked on the link under the first picture!), that the bitterness shows as a friendly face instead of a punch in one.  Also, if you needed to review the IBU and ABV terms again go to the afterthought of this entry which will also have good links that will lead you to education, or this site.  Also, as a kind of side note, I poured the other five bottles for friends and they loved it.  A good friend of mine, who loves Hefeweizens, really smiled wide when he drank this one.  So go out and have a taste, I really encourage this one.






     Okay here's the educational afterthought.  Two things: what "session beer" means and an explanation on IPA.  First off, when you hear that a beer is a "session beer," that beer is a beer that can be drunk in large quantities without becoming tiresome and/or getting too drunk.  According to Beeradvocate.com's definition of "session beer,"

Any beer that contains no higher than 5 percent ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hop characters (ingredients) and, typically, a clean finish - a combination of which creates a beer with high drinkability. The purpose of a session beer is to allow a beer drinker to have multiple beers, within a reasonable time period or session, without overwhelming the senses or reaching inappropriate levels of intoxication. (Yes, you can drink and enjoy beer without getting drunk.)

  but this is Beeradvocate's definition and, thus, is not accepted by the world, at least not yet.  I personally like this definition.  The Doghead site claims that their 60 Minute IPA to be a session beer, but after drinking one, I had a nice buzz.  Also, since I subscribe to Beeradvocate's definition, the 60 Minute IPA has an ABV of 6%, which really makes a difference albeit is only one percent.  I couldn't drink the whole six pack and be sober.  Click the Beeradvocate for more information, though, there's some history about the term and a better explanation than I care to give at the moment.  See, I like that I have the resources to teach you without saying a damn thing.
     Now, since this is the second IPA, I realized I didn't even explain really the term IPA or India Pale Ale.  I thought it originated in India by the English, but I'm not entirely correct.  If you have time or if you are really interested in IPAs read this article on India Pale Ales.  It gives the history and the characteristics and even some suggestions.  Things I can't really explain because, I mean let's face it, I'm pretty stupid.  Self deprecation is only sad if you let it be, I'm not!  I'll find articles on the other beer styles when I get to them.  Sorry for neglecting to do that in the previous reviews.  Share a drink with friends and make lots of jokes.  Beer is the absolute best when you're laughing with friends.

Samuel Smith's India Ale

Samuel Smith's India Ale

 

     Well Samuel Smith, I see we face each other once again--same name but different Ale.  I accept your challenge, just don't hit the face.  I might be getting ahead of myself, but after tasting this I think I'm going to just buy all Samuel Smith products and use them as my base.  They aren't exquisite and mind blasting, but it's great quality and comparing this beer to the others gives me a better gauge than using BMC (remember Budweiser, Miller's, and Coors?).  Okay so let's get this done with because I have a 60 minute IPA by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and from what I heard it's the bees' knees.  Plus it was recommended to me by a good friend who says that it is one of his holy grail beers to try.  So Sammy Smith, you're my base and tonight, Dogfish will test my gauge.

Appearance

     So the picture might not do too much justice because the lighting is bad, but hey, I'm not a photographer!  Give me a break.  Anyway, as you can see there's a really golden/amber color to it.  It was smooth and glassy and really exquisite looking but the head went away too fast.  The head came out about an inch thick, maybe a little more, but crumbled away after ten seconds (I know this because I put a timer on my camera so I wouldn't shake it and blur the picture).  I don't get enticed by golden beers like I do with dark ales, but I do appreciate the color and texture and I stare in awe like a painting that strikes my interest.  My mouth doesn't water as much as my mind begins to wander and my imagination takes me into the brownish orange liquid.  The label says, "...characterised by the colour of a golden sunset...," sure whatever you say boss--not really.  Okay this is getting stupid, moving on!

Smell

      

     The smell was light; nothing overpowering.  I am not sure if I'm on the right track with smelling beer.  I invigorate the aromas (look at me with those words!) but I don't get as much.  I don't know if my sense of smell is off or if most of the beers have light smells.  Well, either way, there was a hoppy smell and that's about it.  A bitter bread kind of smell.  That's all I can say about that.

Taste

      

     Bingo--the taste of an Indian Pale Ale.  Strong flavors that included hopps and grain sugars.  By that I mean a bigger amount of bitter than other beers and there's a presence of grain, something like rice or wheat bread.  There's nothing special about it like a fruit taste or a nutty taste.  It tastes like strong beer without weird impurities that a lot of commercial beers (BMC) have; such as, a metallic  or skunky taste (skunky means it's old beer which tastes stale, flat, and a little rotten.  If you want to find out what skunky tastes like, find a dusty forty ounce at the liquor store that has a clear glass bottle, they're usually skunked beers) or basically piss tasting.  No, you know this is beer, and you know it's an IPA with it's punch.  I have to say, my first pour was not as impressive and I think that's because this beer was sitting in my house for awhile--everything just sunk to the bottom.  The second pour was way better.  Also, the hopps really punches out in the aftertaste.  You sometimes want to smack your lips.

Mouthfeel

     

     The mouthfeel was dry and thin.   The liquid went down fast and disappeared from my tongue, leaving the taste of the beer only.  The carbonation was there but not strong.  I didn't think that was a bad thing, but we're all different.  Yeah, I like Gin sometimes.

Overall

     I like this beer.  Like I said before, this is a really good base to compare IPAs.  It seems pretty basic but tough and the quality is easily present.  Go judge for yourself,though, because I've been hearing a lot of opinions about IPA's and so it's probably going to be awhile before I can really develop an solid opinion on what is what.  We're getting better though aren't we!

      

     Well, before I end this entry I found out something interesting, something trivial, maybe.  The pint is different here in the States and in England (and probably the rest of Europe, but I'm not a hundred on that).  In the U.S, a pint is 16 ounces.  In England, the pint is 20 ounces.  There's a law that a pint poured must be 20 ounces in England.  All this info was from Wikipedia and it goes on to say that the pint can only be used to measure beer.  Most everything else is in the metric system--I guess what I just told you is old.  So when you go to Europe and have a pint, you'll see a line on your glass that says "pour to here" which will probably read something like 550ml.  There you go!  GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN MY PEOPLE!

OUT OF ORDER!!

     I'm broken and I'm pissed.  It's been almost a week and only a snails pace in getting fully recovered.  Yes, no reviews because my nose has been clogged like a Persian's bathtub.  Sprays and home remedies and lots of rest is not really doing much--and my beer has just been sitting there, looking at me with a wanting eye.  I wanted to write tonight because I can't sleep and I haven't been able to shake off you guys, the readers!  I didn't want you to think I was dead or anything.  I have something interesting to share with you anyway.  But, truthfully, at the end of the day, I just want to talk.
   First order of the day, if you are in the Los Angeles area, then April 10 is a special  day for you.  There is a beer festival going on.   It sounds fun and no I'm not going.  Well, because it's a forty dollar ticket that I can't spend right now.   Plus being around that many people doesn't tickle my fancy.  I will go one day, but right now I just don't want to be there.  You go.  Have fun and tell me all about it.  My bible site, Beeradvocate.com , has suggested, which is another reason why I'm just not going to go this year, is reviewing beer isn't recommended at a festival because of all the distractions present: food smells, noise, people smells, people noise.  Plus, I figure, how nerdy would you look with a pen and pad taking notes and drinking your little four ounce beer.  Yes, it's unlimited beer but all four ounces.  You can't fully enjoy a beer that's four ounces!  That one was personal opinion, but I don't know, maybe it's just me.
     Another thing to teach you:  BMC.  I've been reading through the forums at beer advocate and I see this acronym all the time.  'What the hell does it mean' I kept wondering.  This acronym stands for "Budweiser, Miller, and Coors."  So many of the phrases will say things like "I moved on to craft beers because I got so tired of BMC."  BMC probably makes every lager that is popular or at most liquor stores.  And if you haven't guessed, a craft beer is a beer made by a brewery that isn't so corporate.  So go use that willy nilly.
     Well, that's it.  I was thinking about telling you the story of how I really got into reviewing craft beers and why I'm into it so much, but its not that exciting and it would get to long.  Wish me luck in recovering and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

South Loop Porter

South Loop Porter

      This is a Porter Ale that comes from a Brewery in Torrance, CA called Red Car Brewery & Restaurant.  I've been to this place before but only to hang out.  This time, though, I came for the beer.  They have four beers that are brewed here and I intend to taste them all.  Tonight I had the South Loop Porter.  This beer falls under the ale category (if you didn't look it up last blog, ale means it was fermented at the top of whatever you ferment beer in and lager is fermented at the bottom) and is of the Porter persuasion.  What the hell is a Porter?  That's exactly the title of an article you should read here to get the answer.  In short, a Porter comes from 'Transporter,' as this was their favorite type of beer back in the 1700s.  The porter was created in England and began as a mix of an old ale, new ale, and mild flavor ale.  The porter beer was the first engineered beer.  Interesting right?  I read that and wondered if that's how we're going to engineer women one day-- old, young, kinda hot equals 'damn that's good cooking!'
     Not only did this beer have a good amount of information about it in the menu, but also gave a little history lesson about the city I live close to.  South Loop, a bridge, that carried the old Red Car of Los Angeles. So, let's begin:


Appearance

      
     This is a Porter, but apparently there aren't any really famous or popular porters out there that I've tasted.  If you have one, let me know, but searching through a thousand porter brands isn't my idea of a good time, thus, I'm just going to use Newcastle again.  The picture could've been better but it was dark and I was using the camera on my phone.  So, as you can see, the beer is dark--really dark.  I loved the color.  I used a maple syrup analogy for Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale, but this one was more of a watery chocolate.  Light hardly got through the thing.  My sister said soy sauce.  Maybe she's right, but I thought it looked thicker.  The head was short, less than an inch, and practically disappeared by the time I had my camera ready.  Part of it, though, may also be because the server spilled some of it when he pretty much slammed the glass down like he just took a shot.  It's alright though, no damage done.


Smell

     I didn't notice much.  I swirled and inhaled and did as much as I could to release the aromas, but the smell wasn't that strong.  There weren't a lot of people there and no one was close by but there were empty plates at our table that might have distracted my sense of smell.  What I did smell was roasted coffee and little bit of chocolate.  Other than that I wasn't too impressed with the smell.  Again, my sister said soy sauce.

Taste

     It makes you do those quick smack your lips a couple of times.  There was a woody roasted taste.  I could taste the malt mix with hops (honestly that statement was more instinctual than empirical, so if you thought I was using jargon that needed explanation I really don't know what I'm talking about from an intellectual stand point.  I'm such a rookie.  But if you still want an explanation in the simplest form:  malt is sweet and hops is bitter). The initial taste was sweet, but after it went down, the roasted hoppy taste gave a hearty 'hello.'  Yes, again, my sister said soy sauce or "something fish like."

Mouthfeel

     There was a lot of carbonation.  It reminded me of a soda in regards to how carbonated it was, especially with the sweetness of the malt.  Good or bad, that's probably completely personal preference, but I liked it.  It made sure your tongue knew the drink was there.   The beer flattened a bit towards the end of the drink, but the initial tastings had much of that biting sensation that you get when you drink a fresh coke too fast.  You know, when you feel like the drink is 'burning' your tongue? Sure you do.  Anyway, that was the initial mouthfeel, and I think it took away from the taste because I had to let the beer sit in my mouth for a long while until I could fully taste it.  I don't really know, maybe it's not supposed to be a big deal.  Give it a year, though, and maybe I'll change my mind.


Overall

     Nice beer.  That's all I can really say.  There is nothing really special about it.  I loved the color and the roasted taste was my favorite flavor that came from the drink, but in the end it wasn't strong enough for me.  Nothing was pronounced.  Maybe you're thinking, "oh now he wants stronger, with all his drinking he's probably desensitized his tongue anyway."  Maybe you're right.  Maybe you're wrong; hell if I know.  My sister said it had a soy sauce, fishy taste.  I don't completely agree but I see where she's coming from.  I suppose it's due to location because many of the drinks that pop up in my head that come from that area have that hinting of a taste.  England and fish and chip-- you probably can conclude that this beer goes great with this beer.  Hell if I know though, I'm thousands of miles away from England.
     I know I juxtaposed this beer with Newcastle, but there isn't much comparison.  They're two very different areas of the ale that can't be compared to one another, at least not the South Loop and Newcastle. This porter took me out of the English dark ale and raised it up a level--changed the game sucka!  So, hooray for the South Loop to do that; thus, creating a new base for me: the Porter.

      This isn't over!  If you look closely at the label, you can see on the side the letters OG, IBU, and ABV.  The letters OG stand for Original Gravity.  There is Original Gravity (OG) and Final Gravity (FG).  If you need specifics go to Wikipedia or Beeradvocate.com (I'll link to BA in a minute).  They have a whole confusing web page about it.  To short shrift it, though, Gravity refers to the sugars that turn into alcohol.  You do a whole math equation and you can get the alcohol content of beer, which is the last grouping of letters you see on the picture:  ABV
     ABV stands for Alcohol By Volume.  This is the calculation produced from the equation involving the OG and FG.  It's like the proof system that you read on liquor labels.  For the South Loop Porter, the ABV is 7.06 percent of alcohol.  Read up on it here, it also includes a fairly simple explanation of Gravity: Get to Know Your Alcohol (By Volume)
     I'm guessing that if you take these numbers into consideration you can approximately gauge how sweet your beer is going to be.  If anyone can verify that it'd be greatly appreciated.
     Lastly, and most interestingly, is the IBU or International Bittering Units.  Now, if you were like me and you tasted Arrogant Bastard way too early in your life, you'd wish you knew what this was back then.  This is a measure of the bitterness of beer.  Since bitterness is subjective, you should use this as an approximation rather than an absolute gauge.  Bitterness usually comes from the hops.  The lower the number, the less 'hoppiness' a beer has or less bitter.   If you need a table, below 20 is a little bitter; 20 to 45 is the mid-range, and after 45 the beer will be bitter.  In other words, not for you fruity drink lovers out there, people force feeding themselves bitter beer because they want to 'be down,' and especially people who say they LOVE Bud Light.  Also, in my experience, and I may be completely wrong, but beers that are more bitter tend to get me buzzed faster.  Again, it might just be me, but I doubt it.  Here's where I got the information if you really don't trust me: Bitter
     So there you are.  You learned something more than just the usual 'how this tastes.'  And if you didn't, what the hell are you doing reading this?  Go read something smart, this blog is for new booties.  Or maybe you're on the other end and your life is filled with punching drunk women in bars and building beer pyramids.  Just kidding, I've been hearing that beer drinkers are way more educated about beer than around ten years ago.  Anyway, remember that this blog is so you can drink with me and we can compare notes.  So enjoy your drinks where ever you are and don't over do it.  Sorry if you were expecting the IPA.  The trip to the brewery came first and now I'm a little sick so I have to let this pass before I taste again.  Deuces to all.