The Beer Log: 2006
Submitted by Cosgrove on Wed, 10/11/2006 - 12:31
Tags:
- (31 Dec) Westvleteren 12 Abbey Ale, 11.2 oz. bottle [Eddie Izzard, hentai and the World's Best Beer. What better way to close out the year is there?]
- (30 Dec) Beamish Stout, 16 oz. bottle
- (27 Dec) Unibroue Maudite Ale, 12 oz. bottle
- (26 Dec) Left Hand Sawtooth Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Quaffable, unmemorable]
- (25 Dec) Unibroue Maudite Ale, 12 oz. bottle
- (24 Dec) Unibroue Maudite Ale, 12 oz. bottle [The label calls it the 'Damn Fine Ale,' which I think says it all]
- (23 Dec) Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, 22 oz. bottle [The original bastard, and still a beefy winner]
- (19 Dec) Keegan Mother's Milk Stout, 12 oz. bottle [Pleasant, but there's better]
- (17 Dec) Great Divide Saint Bridget's Porter, 12 oz. bottle [Rich, delicious porter, one of the best domestics I've tasted]
- (16 Dec) Sam Adams Winter Lager, 16 oz. draft (x2) [It's Sam. What else do you need to know?]
- (14 Dec) Lakefront Holiday Spice Ale, 2 oz. sample (approx.) [Nice at first, but becomes cloying pretty quickly]
- (11 Dec) Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, 12 oz. bottle [One of the most disappointing beers I've ever tasted -- it's all alcohol and bite and no flavor. Also, sorry, but using oak chips instead of actually taking the time to age the beer in oak IS pretty damn arrogant, guys.]
- (10 Dec) Victory Hop Wallop Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Definitely hoppy, but I think the same brewery's Hop Devil has better balance]
- (9 Dec) Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Every year I try this perennial winter giant, and every year I'm disappointed that I don't like it more than I do]
- (9 Dec) Lagunitas IPA, 16 oz. draft [Hooray for Lagunitas in my opinion]
- (2 Dec) Koningshoeven Tripel Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Good abbey ale, if a tad underwhelming in light of the other abbeys I've been quaffing lately]
- (2 Dec) Stella Artois, 22 oz. draft
- (1 Dec) Brouwerij 't IJ Struis, 11.2 oz bottle [Really, really not my thing]
- (30 Nov) Hebrew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A., 22. oz bottle [Sharp and tart yet charming, much like the man it's named after (well, maybe not the charming part)]
- (29 Nov) Tuborg Premium Beer, 12 oz. bottle [Clean, easy-drinking lager]
- (29 Nov) Guinness Stout, 12. oz draught bottle
- (28 Nov) Stone Coast Sunday River Lager, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [Blah]
- (27 Nov) Magic Hat Saint Gootz Ale, 12 oz. bottle [The Hat's seasonals are hit-or-miss, and this (their '05 winter) was something of a miss -- half porter, half weizen and nowhere near the late, much-missed Ravell Porter]
- (27 Nov) Scaldis Belgian Ale, 11.2 oz. bottle [Powerful stuff; burns like a madman but still drinkable]
- (27 Nov) Bard's Tale Dragons Gold Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Never even got it to a glass -- half the bottle foamed away the minute I popped the cap. Doesn't matter, though; I only bought this out of curiosity, as it's gluten free. My subsequent experiences with non-gluten beer don't make me believe that I've missed anything.]
- (26 Nov) Hitachino Nest 2004 Celebration Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Holding up quite nicely; another fine effort from Japan's best and most interesting brewery]
- (25 Nov) Yuengling Black & Tan Ale, 12 oz. bottle
- (23 Nov) Yuengling Black & Tan Ale, 12 oz. bottle
- (17 Nov) Beamish Stout, 16 oz. can [Tastes like Guinness to me... tasty!]
- (14 Nov) Pete's Wanderlust Ale, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [This tastes like evil. Who the hell still drinks Pete's anyway?]
- (13 Nov) Lagunitas Cappucino Stout, 22 oz. bottle [It's espresso! It's stout! It's fabulous!]
- (13 Nov) Stone '06 Vertical Epic Ale, 22 oz. bottle [Stone still hasn't managed to top the 2003 version of this, which is in my top five best beers ever, and I was surprised at how mild this vintage initally was; both the flavor and the alcohol crept up on me the further into it I got, though]
- (12 Nov) Goose Island Matilda, 12 oz. bottle [Appreciable facsimile of a Belgian spiced ale]
- (11 Nov) Yuengling Black & Tan Ale, 12 oz. bottle
- (10 Nov) Lagunitas Brown Shugga' Ale, 12 oz. bottle [This dynamite, slightly sweet strong ale now comes in six packs. Mercy me, I'm in trouble.]
- (9 Nov) Yuengling Black & Tan Ale, 12 oz. bottle (2x) [Hey, it's cheap, and for the money it's pretty good]
- (8 Nov) Uerige Sticke Altbier, 11.2 oz. bottle [Certainly unusual, but also merely decent, no more]
- (7 Nov) Westvleteren 8 Abbey Ale, 11.2 oz. bottle [So it's not as good as the 12, but that's like saying a self-induced orgasm isn't as good as one with a partner -- all things considered, it's still pretty damn awesome]
- (5 Nov) Shipyard 2005 Pumpkinhead Ale, 12 oz. bottle [A disappointing effort from the former kings of pumpkin back when I first tried it in '05, and it hasn't improved any]
- (5 Nov) Brooklyn Brewery 2005 Monster Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Not the best barleywine I've had, but a lesser barleywine is still superior to the majority of regular beers]
- (4 Nov) Tinkov Russian Pilsner, 12 oz. bottle
- (3 Nov) Butternuts Porkslap Pale Ale, 12 oz. can [I confess I only purchased this for the name, and it's about what I expected -- s'alright, nothing more]
- (1 Nov) Deschutes Black Butte Porter, 12 oz. bottle [Oh, how I've longed for this beer!]
- (30 Oct) Newcastle Ale, 16 oz. draft [Another reliable standby]
- (28 Oct) Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 12 oz. bottle (x2) [Reliable standby]
- (26 Oct) Saranac Mocha Porter, 12 oz. [No great shakes, but at least the flavor is integrated and free of artificiality]
- (26 Oct) Saranac Caramel Porter, 12 oz. bottle [Why any brewery, let alone an allegedly-reputable one like Saranac, would desecrate the noble porter with artificial, over-sweet caramel flavor is beyond my comprehension]
- (26 Oct) Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold Strong Golden Ale, 16 oz. draft [Bright, crisp and quite effective version of this Belgian style; solid introduction to a promising neophyte brewery]
- (24 Oct) Rogue 15th Anniversary Glen Ale, 22 oz. bottle [Lovely strong ale, with a nice balance of hops and barley; shame this was a one-shot, but it was worth the trip]
- (24 Oct) Gosser Dark Ale, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [Blah]
- (24 Oct) Gosser Ale, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [Okay, if unexciting; the Chinese do this style of beer better these days]
- (23 Oct) De Regenboog 't Smisje BB Bourgondier, 11.2 oz bottle [Not unpleasant Belgian quad, but I can't quite place my finger on the flavor and why it doesn't resonate with me like it should; props, though, for the best heavy-alcohol integration I've tasted since Dogfish Head's 120 Minute IPA -- this tastes like 6% ABV, not 12%]
- (23 Oct) Gaffel Kolsch, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [Likeable, clean example of this German style]
- (23 Oct) Jever Pilsner, 1 oz. sample (approx.) [Why is it that all German pilsners taste to me like tin and wet pennies? Eww.]
- (22 Oct) Paulaner Hefe-weizen, 12. oz bottle [Starts out pleasantly enough, with the expected flavors of banana and clove, but falls completely apart in the homestretch]
- (21 Oct) Guinness Stout, 12 oz. (?) draft [Guinness isn't beer -- it's lifeblood. No thanks, though, to Applebee's, who have switched over to the smallest, gayest glassware I've ever seen. Bastards.]
- (20 Oct) Hebrew Genesis 10:10 Anniversary Ale, 22 oz. bottle [Delightful, full-bodied ale, with pomegranate juice used to add an extra dimension of kosher quality]
- (18 Oct) Daleside Brewery Morocco Ale, 16.9 oz. bottle [Spiced ale with notes of molasses, ginger and pine; off-putting at first, but not a bad quaff once the palate adjusts]
- (16 Oct) Tinkov Russian Pilsner, 12 oz. bottle (x2) [Mediocre]
- (14 Oct) Samuel Adams James Madison Dark Wheat Ale, 12 oz. bottle [I've found that most non-Germanic darker-style wheat ales don't work for me, but this is better than most]
- (12 Oct) Samuel Adams Boston Lager, 12 oz. bottle [Best choice out of some slim pickings]
- (11 Oct) Vapeur Cochonne, 11.2 oz bottle [Spiced Swiss brown ale, notes of cola & brown sugar; strange, cloying and basically not my thing]
- (10 Oct) JW Lees Manchester Star Ale, 16.9 oz. bottle [Complex, intriguing old-school dark ale; there's a lot going on in here -- even a touch of rauchbier! -- and though I'm not sure it all works, it's worth a taste. Wish I'd gotten to try the Brooklyn Brewery iteration of this a few years back, though...]
- (10 Oct) Rock Art IPA, 12 oz. bottle [Mild IPA; not as interesting as some of the brewery's other efforts]
- (9 Oct) Harvey's Christmas Ale, 12 oz. bottle [Not sure what Xmas this was from, but it's way far gone]
- (8 Oct) Taj Mahal Lager, 22 oz. bottle [Standard Indian lager, crisp if unexciting, but it does quench the spicy fire of the country's cuisine quite well]
- (7 Oct) Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Saison Ale, 22 oz. bottle [A tad overspiced; otherwise, a reasonable attempt at a saison]
- (7 Oct) Samuel Adams Octoberfest, 12 oz. bottle
- (7 Oct) Spaten Octoberfest, 16 oz. draft [Reliable classic]
- (5 Oct) Samuel Adams Octoberfest, 12 oz. bottle [Fallen off a bit in recent years, but still a solid effort]
- (3 Oct) Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, 22 oz. bottle [I know I shouldn't like pumpkin ale, but I do, so this monster version of the breed was right up my alley]
- (2 Oct) Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, 12 oz. bottle [Worthy tribute to the late Hunter S. Thompson, if a bit sharp on the alcohol]
Author Comments:
Bold = Beat up your best friend to drink it
Italics = Beat up the guy who made it
Most beers will fall in between those two designations -- an unmarked entry could still be well-liked, or it could be undistinguished.
Also, because I tend to buy my beer in mass quantities, there's a third classification that I'll run up on a couple times a year:
Red = Spoilt, skunky or otherwise undrinkable for reasons not pertaining to quality
Now, on with the liquid worship...
Sooooo glad you started up this again (the Liquor Log was legendary -- I had a print-out at one point!). I've been drinking these truly, truly odd beers of late - because someone I know bought a few - and they're like, made with cranberry juice or just taste like cranberry juice. I don't have a bottle around so I don't know the name ... but it brings new meaning to the word disgusting.
I had a Corona last night when at the Art Brut concert. It was either that or some Blue Moon shit or a Yuengling or a Heineken. :-(
Chris got me thinking about restarting this simply by leading via example. Sticking to mere beer should be easier -- one of the hardest parts about the old Liquor Log was getting the vintages right on the wines, especially after a heavy run of Monday samples.
Limiting myself to beer, however, does mean I don't have a place to talk about how awesome the Balvenie 17-Year-Old New Wood Single Malt Scotch that I purchased recently to commemorate a special occasion is.
Butternuts Porkslap, eh? And in cans too. I take it that's a NY brewer?
Have you seen the 2006 Double Bastard over there yet? It just hit here a couple days ago. I don't think I'll be "cellaring" mine, though. Probably give it a go one night this week. 10% ABV so I might be asleep early that night.
Haven't seen it yet, but that's good to know that it's out -- I'm still cheesed about missing the '06 Vertical. I'll try to hit up the places I know that would have it, which means much driving for me, so I'll probably buy a few (one for now, one for holding, one for whenever my fancy strikes).
Butternuts, by the by, is indeed a New York brewery. The lack of pretension is appreciated, but the beer's just eh. It certainly can't hold a candle to, say, Wittkerke Belgian Wheat Ale (still the greatest canned beer in existence).
If you make it to Seattle next year, I found a place I'll have to take you: The Stumbling Monk. 10 taps...5 Belgians and 5 North American Microbrews in the belgian style. I had the North Coast Brother Thelonius Abbey Brown last night and will be going back for the Unibroue Chambly Noire tonight. When you order something the bartender thinks is really good, he gets all happy. Cool place.
Ooh, sounds like fun. I've liked the North Coast beers I've had in the past, so it's nice to think there's places that'll put it on tap. Adventurous tap houses make me all warm and fuzzy inside.
In other news, I serendipitously stumpled upon three bottles of the Stone Vertical '06 last night in NYC. Words cannot express the breadth of my elation.
Sweet that you got the Vertical. I remember how much you wanted it. I haven't seen any of it left here in Seattle.
I'm hearing bad things about the Double Bastard. It's making me want to open my bottle and see what's up. Finally had the Brown Shugga' last night. Had it as my second beer of the night...bad idea. It kicked my ass and made me want to crash out at 9pm. The sweetness makes you forget the alcohol content. I wasn't as wild about it as you are, but it was interesting enough that I'll try it again.
That 9.9% is sneaky, innit?
Lagunitas also has a Cappucino Stout in the 22 oz. format that should be circulating about now... give that a shot if you find it. It's pretty friggin' tasty.
You'll have to let me know what you think of the Double -- I haven't tried this year's issue yet, but I've had it in the past and been suitably whomped by it.
Your (understandable) disgust with the Wanderlust ale reminds me of the great Denis Leary line: "Who the fuck is Pete? Fuck Pete!"
And while I'm thinking of it, I tried the Gonzo Flying Dog Porter or whatever it's called. It seemed ... um ... not sure of the word ... mmm ... thick. Thick will do. Like lava. (Pretty good though.)
I'm impressed it's still around -- as I understood it, the Gonzo was a one-shot. Definitely not a weak beer, at any rate. I'm finding that, the more I drink, the more I gravitate towards the intense styles of beer -- high-alcohol IPAs, imperial stouts, barleywines, Belgian quad ales, what have you. Not that I can't appreciate the beauty of a simple lager or ale... it just seems so (to borrow a word from Miles) prosaic in comparison.
I tried Beamish in a pub in Northern Ireland, and found it didn't quite measure up to Guinness for me. I thought it didn't quite reach the depth of flavour of a Guinness. But then, I only tried the one, and I've tried many a Guinness. The difference between Guinness in Ireland and abroad (even in England) is noticable, even to a relative rookie like me.
Where do you live that you can get your hands on so many fantastic beers? Almost everything I can find in my area is shit.
I live in Connecticut -- there's still a thriving microbrew culture in the Northeast, and being only an hour away from New York City doesn't hurt, either. Neither does managing a liquor store... :-)
Holy crap, dude. Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. 19% ABV. Just split one with my lady. $9 for a 12oz. but you've gotta try it. Don't know how they make it drinkable at that alcohol level, but they do.
I'm veeeery well acquainted with the joy of the Worldwide -- it's firmly entrenched in my mental list of Five Best Beers Ever. The drinkability never fails to amaze me (compare it to Sam Adams Triple Bock, which is roughly around the same ABV and density but tastes like motor oil).
Guess I'll have to get me a Westvleteren 12. I have a St. Bernardus Abt 12 in the fridge right now. Hoping that's a good one as well.
The St. Bernardus, for my money, is the closest thing available in America to the Westvleteren. So yeah, ya chose well. :-)
Had any good Westvleteren 12 clones? The real thing is impossible to track down.
Never had a genuine clone, no. Like I've mentioned before, the St. Bernardus 12 is about as close as I've found in-country. (Then again, you are in Venezuela right now, so...)
Or, ya know, you could just try this.