Two Pints a Day

Smuttynose - Gravitation My first introduction to...

jaarons — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:53:32 -0400

Smuttynose - Gravitation
My first introduction to Smuttynose’s Big Beer Series was a bottle of Gravitation in 2009. I ended up becoming a huge fan, and even split a full-year Big Beer Series subscription with mattohara for the 2010 season.
Gravitation is one of my favorites in the American-take-on-the-Belgian-Quad style. The beer offers quite a bit of caramel, butterscotch, dark fruit, and whatever else you get in really heavy, malty beers. Even then, the beer seems to mask the 12% ABV quite well at serving temp. This was a 2010 bottle that I had recently, so some characteristics likely changed with age. (82/100 on Beer Advocate)

Weyerbacher - Riserva 2010 The 2010 release shipped with a...

jaarons — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:53:54 -0400

Weyerbacher - Riserva 2010 The 2010 release shipped with a warning label on it. It’s insanely sour. If you get past the fact it tastes a little like bile, the fruit and alcohol notes are actually quite enjoyable.
In reading reviews, it seems like the 2010 was a one-off, as previous and later iterations receive high marks. I’ll revisit this with a 2011, perhaps, or when the 2012 is released. (87/100 on Beer Advocate)

Jolly Pumpkin - Fuego del Otono (Autumn Fire) Look, if...

jaarons — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:54:46 -0400

Jolly Pumpkin - Fuego del Otono (Autumn Fire)
Look, if you’re going to have fire in the name, I expect some smoke. I was initially disappointed that this was not a rauchbier, but Jolly Pumpkin doesn’t make a bad beer. Per the usual JP brew, this one had a solid amount of malt and sour/funk up front, but the spices and citrus helped balance things out. I plan to try it again in the Fall. (91/100 at Beer Advocate)

Bull Jagger - Original No. 19 I may have enjoyed the label more...

jaarons — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:56:55 -0400

Bull Jagger - Original No. 19
I may have enjoyed the label more than the beer itself. I know, it’s a plain-looking label, but if you look closer you’ll find ALCOLOL By Volume. C’mon, that’s gold!
Original No. 19 is a Baltic Porter by a Maine brewery that plans to do nothing but lagers. I found that 19 offers a mild roast, some chocolate and dark fruit, and a touch of sweet malt. It clocks in at 8% but drinks almost like a session beer. It’s a promising second release from Bull Jagger, and I look forward to future brews. (No score at Beer Advocate)

Brouwerij de Troch - Chapeau Kriek Lambic This one would be a...

jaarons — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:00:00 -0400

Brouwerij de Troch - Chapeau Kriek Lambic
This one would be a solid dessert and/or summer beer. It’s a bit sweet and syrupy, though the cherries offer just enough tartness. It’s not as approachable as some other widely-available cherry lambics, but it’s still a fair entry. (78/100 on Beer Advocate)

Rising Tide - Polaris Keeping on the theme, Polaris is what...

jaarons — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:50:07 -0400

Rising Tide - Polaris
Keeping on the theme, Polaris is what happens when you take Ursa Minor (a wheat-based stout) and age it in bourbon barrels. It’s a milder take than Rasputin - both in the barrel aspects and the ABV - but it’s great in its own way. Polaris features noticeable chocolate and roasted notes, though you can still get some of the oak and booze up front. It was a limited, 336-bottle run this winter, but you may still find it in smaller shops and restaurants. (85/100 on Beer Advocate)

Speaking of pricey dark beers that are not too hard to fall in...

mattohara — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:15:19 -0400

Speaking of pricey dark beers that are not too hard to fall in love with, Ommegang’s Art of Darkness (limited release) is pretty easy on the taste buds. In yet another departure from their core collection the brewers make sure to deliver a balanced beer.

You won’t find strong bourbon or oak notes but this delicious monster is pretty high ABV and almost too easy to drink. If it weren’t for the price (well also the limited quantity) I would drink this daily.

North Coast - Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XIV It’s hard to...

jaarons — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:59:08 -0400

North Coast - Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XIV
It’s hard to fall in love with a pricey bottle of beer, but Rasputin 14 makes up for it. The picture doesn’t do this beer justice – it’s a pitch-black liquid that smells delightful and practically absorbs light. Full of bourbon and toasted oak, there’s no doubt from the get-go that you’re drinking something barrel-aged. It’s smooth and flavorful for a 11.5% brew, but I’d expect no less from North Coast. Don’t let the price tag scare you. (94/100 on Beer Advocate)

Sap Beer article on NPR

mattohara — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:01:40 -0400

Sap Beer article on NPR

Ommegang - Aphrodite A fruity sour, approaching a Flemish red in...

jaarons — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:36:13 -0400

Ommegang - Aphrodite
A fruity sour, approaching a Flemish red in character. It was a touch champagne-like with a light body and high carbonation. The brett was muted but still noticeable, offset by the fruit. If you’re looking for serious funk there are better beers out there. If you want a gateway beer to wild ales that can be quite approachable, look no further. (84/100 on Beer Advocate)

Anchorage Brewing - Galaxy A white/Belgian IPA with...

jaarons — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:04:00 -0400

Anchorage Brewing - Galaxy
A white/Belgian IPA with Brettanomyces, aged in French oak. There’s a lot of citrus and funk in the smell, more than a slight hit of pepper or spice, and plenty more funk. Anchorage does not disappoint with this one. (90/100 on BeerAdvocate)

Ithaca 14. Black Ale

mattohara — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:44:08 -0400

Ithaca 14. Black Ale

Nightcap

mattohara — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:22:28 -0400

Nightcap

Odd Couple

mattohara — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:54:44 -0400

Odd Couple

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

mattohara — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:55:26 -0400

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

For Gautam. This is my first Dogfish Head in a while,...

mattohara — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:38:00 -0400

For Gautam. This is my first Dogfish Head in a while, we’ve been ignoring most of the new releases. What do you really need after 60, 90, 120, Red $ White, and Burton Baton? This one is neato. Not to dumb it down but I think this would be killer with some baguettes and a good herb olive oil.

Photo

mattohara — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:26:11 -0400

Firestone Walker Sucuba Dryer than most barley wines, which...

mattohara — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:25:15 -0400

Firestone Walker Sucuba
Dryer than most barley wines, which makes it easy to drink, this is a keeper. Already mild but I’m sure would age like a champ.

Cuvée René Gueze Lambic Bottled in 2005, purchased in 2010,...

mattohara — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:44:08 -0400

Cuvée René Gueze Lambic
Bottled in 2005, purchased in 2010, opened in 2012. Funky and delicious!

3 Heads Loopy

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:55:48 -0500

3 Heads Loopy