Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Sam Adams Fat Jack




















The Dirt
Another addition to the quickly growing line of what I call experimental beers from Sam Adams. I love pumpkin beers during the fall, so I was very excited to try this imperial pumpkin ale.

This beer poured a very deep copper color, looking very much like a big pumpkin ale. My first sips reminded me of a non-sweet spiced rum, with noticeable booze and some nutmeg on the back half. As I drank more I could certainly tell there was plenty of pumpkin used. There was a bit of sweet malt 1/3 of the way in, but the taste profile was ending a bit more bitter than I would have liked. Perhaps there was too much booze or maybe even too much pumpkin (gasp!). A bit more malty sweetness would have been ideal for the early drinking of the beer.

I say "early drinking" as it does take a bit of time to consume this bomber, which is a good thing. It became less bitter as time went by and the beer warmed up. But don't let it get too warm, as the spices and booze will come through too much.

Overall the Fat Jack was an interesting and dynamic beer. I recommend enjoying it with a meal, as this too decreases the bitterness or harshness I tasted.

Worth it?
It was a rather affordable bomber. I'd pick Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin over this, but it's worth a try. I think I'd be a big fan if it had a little more maltiness, but it is a good beer, especially after it warms a bit.

The Final Word

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

SPECIAL REVIEW: Dogfish Head Midus Touch 2010 (AGED: 2 years - bottle)




















The Dirt
Every now and then I get a little too creative, whether it's cooking up a meal or aging a beer. I happened to have an extra Midus Touch lying around for a bit so, having not read anything against aging it, that's what I did. It's 9% alcohol and is similar to a tripel, so why not?

Oh silly me - I wasted a perfectly good Midus Touch that when fresh is a tasty brew (review to come someday). Turns out this beer is about as age-worthy as milk. The nose smelled like strong grape juice, which wasn't surprising given that grapes are used in the beer. But the taste was that of the worst wine you've ever encountered. It was like taking cheap champagne meets store brand grape juice and putting it in your car for all of July before drinking. There was also a nasty gray film on the cap. Needless to say I did not finish this experiment gone horribly wrong. Sorry Sam for wasting one of your perfectly good brews.

Worth it?
The beer, when fresh, is worth it as a treat now and then. But aged? No sir. I regret my decision 110%.

The Final Word
 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Sam Adams Dark Depths




















The Dirt
The Dark Depths is another addition to what I call Sam Adams' experimental bomber line. The beer caught my attention with its proclaimed style: Baltic IPA. I love Baltic porters and am a big fan of IPAs, so this was a must try.

And a tale of two beers was indeed the story of this beer. Deep and complex would be the words I would use to describe its character. It starts off like a black IPA, with good upfront hoppiness for the first half of the beer plus some slight maltiness. Then it turns over into Baltic porter territory for the back half, with slight dark chocolate notes and a bit of toasted notes. Once my sip was complete, I noticed that the hops still lingered on my tongue ever so slightly. As the beer warms up it becomes less like an IPA and more like the Baltic porter half - basically a slightly hoppy Baltic porter. The toastiness starts to become more apparent earlier, while the hops become less impactful.

A really well designed beer that has many layers and changes over temps. Perfect in a bomber, as it's not super drinkable though not too much of a task.

Worth it?
Definitely. It was not only a fun try, but a delicious find. Many times I enjoy an experimental beer but don't really have the desire to have again. Not true here. A good fall beer or for the winter time when you want a little more hops.

The Final Word

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA




















The Dirt
It's no secret I love everything Deschutes, but that doesn't mean they don't have to prove themselves when they release a new beer. The Chainbreaker was released this summer, and will be a staple of my summers to come for as long as they brew this refreshing brew.

Light in color and crisp subtle wheat profile like a wit with hop levels of a weaker IPA or stronger pale ale, this beer screams refreshment without sacrificing flavor. Although certainly drinkable anytime of the year, its great citrus hop profile combined with wit characteristics makes it the perfect companion to a hot summer day. It's also incredible with spicy food. All in all a very well balanced beer that's refreshing yet layered. Come March it'll make you even more restless for the summer days ahead.

Worth it?
Yes. If you don't like hops, it may not be for you. However, it's on the lower end of an IPA, so it's worth a try if you have a part-time interest in hops. If you're a hop-head, it's not overly hoppy, but will be a nice "session" beer in terms of hops for the summer time.

The Final Word