Thursday, October 21, 2010

Flying Dog - Road Dog Porter


Flying Dog - Road Dog Porter
6.0% Alch by Vol

I tried this beer quite a while ago from recommendation, but I didn't write on it since I enjoyed it too much to write about it. However, on my third time purchasing it, I took the effort! It has a dark brown chocolate coloring to it and a lovely white head. It is quite an effervescent porter which is very refreshing. It is rich, malty and not at all bitter. Simply flavorful with hints of coffee lingering.
There are many different types of this type of type of beer such as an amber, pale ale, and an IPA. It comes in a six pack and it about eight bucks. Definitely give this a try!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Speedway Stout


Speedway Stout - 12% Alc by Vol

The first noticeable characteristic is the black color of the beer and the thick creamy head that finishes the pour. The smell is roasted chocolate coffee. For a stout, it is easy to drink without the uncomfortable taste from such a high alcohol content. It is a lovely sipping beer that I definitely recommend especially if you enjoy a smooth stout.

The price on this is on the higher end, but it is due to the alcohol content. The size of the bottle is quite hefty as well as you can see in the picture.

Saison Dupont


Vieille Provision - Saison Dupont - 6.5% Alc by Vol

This is a Belgian beer, and after reading their website, it can be a difficult one to get your hands on. I would not know this without some research since it fell into my glass in the form of a hospitality gift (lucky me!).

It is a sturdy beer with a definite taste that you do not have to guess on. It smells and tastes quite bitter, but if you take the time to enjoy it you will. However, if bitterness is not your thing, then this may be too much bite. It had a great gold color with a thick and foamy head and a noticeable amount of sediment in the bottom of the glass. The taste is similar to a strong hefeweizen.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Pumpkin Comparison


I know that many people do not particularly enjoy pumpkin beers, but since my first sip I have been in love. Fall is definitely my season, and when I see those orange pumpkins on my favorite type of bottle I get so excited! However, just like many good things, there are so many to choose from. In this season I am going to try as many as I can in order to get a strong base of pumpkin flavors to compare.
This entry will start with two pumpkin beers.
The first being Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. (and yes, that is how they spell pumpkin). 7% Alc by Vol. It was approximately $10 for a 4 pack from BevMo. It has a light ale coloring versus the normal rich brown that usually accompanies an ale. In comparison to other pumpkin ales, it is on the less sweet side and instead of being left with a pumpkin flavor, it is more of a hoppy beer aftertaste. The pumpkin flavor is quite rich with many spice tones such as nutmeg and cinnamon.

The second being Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale.
5.2% Alc by Vol and approximately $8 for a six pack at BevMo. This has a rich amber color and unlike the Dogfish Head, it actually smells like pumpkin. The best way to describe this pumpkin ale is pumpkin pie in a bottle. It is sweet with a light balancing of malts and hops. The taste of pumpkin still lingers after swallowing is finished. This pumpkin beer is my favorite so far, but I still have many more weeks of trying new beers!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Alaskan Amber


Alaskan Amber - 5.3% Alc by Vol

12oz bottle from a 6 pack that came out to about $8.00 at a local grocery store

This beer would definitely fall in the same category as Sam Adams if I made categories. It has a great amber color with low bitterness and is slightly sweet after swallowing. It is overall a great full bodied beer and easy to drink.

Philip and I went to the grocery store and decided that we wanted to try this for the first time. We ate Italian food and watched Anchorman.

Old Speckled Hen

Old Speckled Hen - 4.5% Alc by Vol

This particular experience happened in a British pub, so I had 1 pint of this beer.

This entry is going to be slightly different since I do not have a picture of the beer and I am also going to write about my experience at the pub along with the beer.
As you could have guessed from the location of the pub, this was a British brew. My sister and I went to a quaint British pub only 10 minutes or so from our house. It was my first time going there, and it quickly became one of my favorite pubs. The bartender was British (which was actually my favorite part) and he poured the beer from the tap leaving about a half a pint of head which he waited for it to go down and then topped it off. This left the beer with a creamy head that was not too overwhelming. Just as most British beers I've tasted, Old Speckled Hen had a rich taste with a lower amount of carbonation than most beers. Definitely bitter and malty, but not unbearable. I prefer this over London Pride in case anyone would like a recommendation.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Bell’s Special Double Cream stout


Bell’s Special Double Cream stout – 6.1% Alc by Vol

1 pint bottle. I don't know where it was from or the price - a friend offered me a glass.

It had a very creamy smell with a most unique taste. The only taste that I could relate it to is going to come across as very negative. Not the initial taste or even on the swallow, but on the lips afterward, you are left with a sour cream taste. It is very peculiar to have a beer tart and creamy, and this beer definitely did it.
It is not my favorite beer, and I can recommend many more before this one. However, in no way is it a bad beer with its dark color and hearty stout taste. The stout is there, so if you are wanting to try a new kind of stout then pick this one up.