Beer Review: Red Stripe

Red Stripe Jamaican Lager

The most famous Jamaican beer. The infamous Red Stripe. I had no idea what to expect from this, I have had Red Stripe before but its been a good five years so my memory is a bit hazy. Pour the lightest color I have ever seen in a beer. I dare call it off white. Aroma is faintly of malt with no hop presence. Head is somewhat there but nothing too large.

Flavor is very unique. I expected a completely bland corn tasting beer but I was pleasantly surprised. Malt is very much in effect. Tastes almost like a light bock beer. I get slight hints of fresh mint in it. Definitely a well brewed beer and this would have certainly been a great import find before the craft brewing movement in America.

This recipe captures the desire for light beer that would fit in with the intense island heat of Jamaica while not compromising a great flavor. I would recommend this to anyone who is going to spend a day in the sun. Really has a fresh and light flavor with little sacrifice of taste.

Final Score: 83% (Light body and Great Flavor)

Beer Review: Saranac Caramel Porter

Saranac Caramel Porter

This is a rising star in the Saranac lineup. The popularity has caused this brew to become a seasonal release as well as a member of the 12 beers of winter. This porter pours a dark caramel color with some light coming through around the edges. Aroma is mainly of coffee with some chocolate cake thrown in. The head also wants to hang around after hours, no early night for the bubbles. Carbonation is a little too much but not too much to overshadow the dominate flavors.

Caramel is appropriately the most powerful flavor present in this brew. Coffee also lingers around to participate. The hopping is just right for a porter. Not too much but enough to keep things from being too sweet. This really does taste like they added a jug of caramel to the barrel, its almost overwhelming at times. I look at it as a good and bad thing. It provides a strong contrast to other traditional porters while potentially alienating porterheads.

Overall, I really like this beer. I have a hard time calling it a porter because the roasted flavor has been largely overpowered by the caramel flavor. I would strongly recommend this to people who like caramel but anyone who is looking for a classic porter should seek it elsewhere.

Final Score: 81% (Not as true to the style but stands on its own)

Beer Review: Flying Dog Road Dog

Flying Dog Road Dog Porter

I love a good porter. In my opinion its an underbrewed style, I usually prefer it to its relative the stout. Porters seem to me to be deeper and richer with more of a powerhouse behind them. Pours a deep dark brown with very trace amounts of light coming thorough if held up to the sun. The head is persistent and a cream off white color. Aroma is of roasted malt, not too strong but it is there.

Lots of roasting is the way to describe this taste. Someone left this loaf in the oven for a while and it came out very rich and flavorful. Chocolate malt is dominant with some faint hop character present. What I love about this kind of flavor is that its good any time of the day. It can substitute for coffee or for the after dinner dessert. Don't know that I would really want to trade this in for coffee though as the consequences could be severe. Works from a taste perspective though.

This is a robust porter. I don't know what the alcohol by volume is on this but it certainly packs a punch. This isn't the kind of beer that you want to drink rapidly or in extremely large amounts. Very filling and satisfying. I now have a nice warm feeling and will leave you with the final score.

Final Score: 90% (Deep complex roasted flavor that packs a punch)

Beer Review: Bitburger Premium Beer

Bitburger Premium Beer

This is a beer that I have not seen much of in the local stores around me but was given to me by my girlfriends father. I have now discovered that this is the number one draught beer in Germany. Pours a rich gold color with a very minimal head, which did not look like the picture posted above. This could have been due to inadequate pouring skills or wrong glass, I don't know. Aroma is very minimal with faint maltiness coming through.

Taste is very unique. I can't think of a beer to really compare this to. It has a strong malty presence but also a bit of hops to counter it. Very well balanced. This to me tastes like a solid pilsner where they left out some the hop bite and allowed aging to add character to the brew.

This is a very good beer. One of the best examples of a lager that packs quite a bit of flavor into a light color and body. I wish Anheuser-Busch would take some notes on what a light lager should be. While I would certainly get this in the future, I would have to be in the mood for it. If it were a little richer it would be ideal.

Final Score: 79% (Very good for the style, could be more rich)

Beer Review: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

This was a rare find considering I found a couple of these at the end of March. This pumpkin ale style of beer is one that I wanted to try more of and had only had some lackluster examples of. Luckily this one stands out as the best pumpkin ale I have ever had. Pours a dark amber with an aroma that isn't far from fresh pumpkin pie. An average head is present.

The flavor is fantastic. Rich malt background with multiple spices coming through. Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice make themselves known. This is surprisingly not over spiced however. I can't think of a better beer to have during Halloween or Thanksgiving. I love it now and its April. If you like pumpkin pie and beer you will love this. At 7% alcohol this one also packs a decent punch.

Final Score: 87% (Holiday Greatness, All Year Round)

Beer Review: Southampton Double White Ale

Southampton Double White Ale

I would first like to say that this ale was one that I didn't think I would enjoy. I really don't like the white ales very much and a double white ale sounded like it would be twice as bad. The most startling thing about this beer is the sediment that comes out toward the end of the bottle. I don't mind the yeast (in fact its good for you) but this probably scared people who might have figured it went bad. Pours a cloudy yellow color with a moderate head. No real lacing going on. Smell is strongly of spice which I would expect from a heavily spiced ale. Coriander really comes through.

The flavor is surprisingly not bad. I think the double gravity actually helps this beer a lot. Rather than being over spiced it is nicely spiced. Enough to taste but not burning potpourri. I would actually get these now and then if the mood struck me. It doesn't mention the alcohol percentage on the bottle but with the double gravity its got to be higher. This is also a good thing. If I had to summarize this brew I would call it the Man's white ale. Strong and still true to the style. I am impressed with Southampton and will try to sample more of their offerings in the future.

Final Score: 85% (Double = Better)

Beer Review: Troegs Nugget Nectar

Troegs Imperial Amber Nugget Nectar

This is one of the seasonal releases from the Troegs brothers. I love the in your face picture of the hop. Really makes you crave the flavor. This is my first Imperial Amber and I look forward to it. The nectar pours a rich amber color (surprise, surprise) and donates a ton a lacing to the cause. Charlotte was busy with this web. The aroma is perhaps the most noticeable thing upfront. This is the most hoppy smelling beer I have yet experienced. Flowers, fruit, and spice. All in one.

The flavor is extremely hoppy. Very similar to an Imperial IPA. In fact, I don't know why they just don't call it an Imperial IPA. Its loaded with hops and flavor. A damn good beer regardless of what they call it. This is truly a hop lovers dream. Right on par with Saranac's Imperial IPA. The 7.5% alcohol is hidden well with these hops.

In summation this is a great beer that should be enjoyed by all hop fans. Its availability is also a big plus. Maybe in the future I will do a battle between this and Saranac's Imperial IPA to see who wins. Not sure yet... Close Call.

Final Score: 81% (Badass Imperial Amber, Troegs Did Great)

Beer Review: Saranac Belgian Ale

Saranac Belgian Ale

My fourth of the six beers for the Saranac 12 Beers of Winter packs. This Belgian style ale pours a cloudy amber color with a decent head that has some lacing. I didn't know what to expect from this considering I have had some great Belgian ales and while Saranac produces great beers at low prices it would be hard to fill the shoes of some of these pricey Trappist style ales.

The flavor is pretty damn good for how cheap this beer is. I have been debating about whether or not price should factor into these but I feel it may be necessary. Bottom Line: A great cheap beer is better than a great expensive beer. This is an almost great relatively cheap beer. Especially considering the malt and hop shortage. The flavor is very much spiced. I don't get the fruity flavor described by the bottle but I do get lots of spice. It's very similar to a Blue Moon.

Overall this is enjoyable. Not something that will impress someone who has had tasted the best of Belgium beers but this is a great intro. It also adds a great amount of variety to the winter pack. If this was sold as a six pack I might buy it, but probably not.

Final Score: 71% (Mediocre but Less Expensive)

Beer Review: Saranac Mountain Ale

Saranac Mountain Ale

This was quite the find for me. I have no idea how it went so long without being purchased. I found this in a liquor store in south jersey in a torn up box of 12 Beers of Summer. In the winter, over a year after it was not sold anymore. I may now be drinking one of the last mountain ales in existence. This was one I was happy to find. The ale is fermented with blueberry honey, blackberries, raspberries. Should be a great combo.

Pours a amber color with a small head an no noticeable lacing. The blueberry honey is most present up front. The sweetness that the berries provide really compliments the ale well. Very much a rich ale that is good all year. I love the warmth of the honey. It also provides a nice texture.

I am sad that this may be the last one I have for a long time, possibly forever. Though the replacement, the pomegranate wheat is also a great beer. This was more complex where the pomegranate wheat was more refreshing. While this isn't the best beer ever made, it is a solid beer. I really like the flavor and its a nice change from a standard hoppy beer.

Final Score: 82% (A Complex, Flavorful Beer)

Beer Review: Saranac Winter Wassail

Saranac Winter Wassail Ale

I am proud to have gotten my hands on another Saranac 12 Beers of Winter pack. They were all over the place in October/November but have been scarce from January till now. I love being able to get it early but I wish they spaced out the shipping or upped the production a little more. I feel like I will start seeing the 12 Beers of Summer any day now. Don't get me wrong, I love the summer pack as well. But I just would like releases to occur with the season they are meant for. I want winter beer throughout the winter and summer beer throughout the summer. I also would love it if they came out with a 12 Beers of Autumn or Spring but I suppose that may be asking too much. Anyway...

This ale pours a clear copper color with excellent lacing and a creamy head. The aroma is of spice. Nutmeg and cinnamon dominate. Spice also plays a significant role in the flavor as well. This almost reminds me of an Oktoberfest beer with some spices thrown into the brew. I really enjoy this. Its not the deepest beer around but it is definitely in the holiday spirit and I know of few months that may need holiday spirit more than March. The rain and cold would do well to learn a thing or two from Rudolph and his snow antics.

Overall, this is a nice beer. Not going to blow your mind or wow you with subtle flavors. But it is enjoyable and a bit different than what you might normally find in a beer. Unfortunately, I don't have an example of another wassail to compare it to as this is the only one I have tried. Definitely worth the time and something you should experience.

Final Score: 74% (Enjoyable but Not Superb)