BridgePort Kingpin Double Red Ale ....

My beer for today is Kingpin Double Red Ale from BridgePort Brewing Company.  The twelve ounce bottle lists 7.5% ABV.  The BridgePort web site shows 65 IBUs.

Kingpin poured with a medium head that was a little darker in color than bone, more of a beige.  The beer's color is a darker copper or amber.  The aroma is fairly mild - I get some light floral notes, hops and spice.  Medium bodied.  Mostly simple flavors of hops and malt.  A little sweetness, caramel-like.  It has a dry finish that leaves a mildly bitter aftertaste.  The bitterness is prominent, but not a sharp bitter, if that makes any sense.

BridgePort Brewing Company 

Portland, Oregon

www.bridgeportbrew.com

Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey ....

And another IPA!  Tonight I will sample 400 Pound Monkey from Left Hand Brewing Company.  They list it as a English-style IPA with 6.8% ABV.  Twelve ounce bottle.

This IPA poured with a thick, fluffy bone colored head.  The beer is a golden yellow in color.  There is a little bit of sediment.  The aroma is fairly mild, with light hops and perhaps a little fruit.  Medium bodied.  There are some hops, somewhat bitter, but not quite piney.  Bready.  Fairly dry.  The aftertaste has some bitterness and herbal notes.

Left Hand Brewing Company

Longmont, Colorado

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Dogfish Head Midas Touch ....

Tonight's beer is Midas Touch from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales.  It is in a twelve ounce bottle and 9% ABV.  The web site shows 12 IBUs.  This beer is from their "Ancient Ales" series, with this one created from ingredients that were identified in a 2700 year old drinking vessel.

Midas Touch poured with a small, bone colored head.  The beer color is that of golden honey.  The aroma has honey and fruit.  There is some grape to the taste (muscat grapes are an ingredient).  I also get a honey sweetness on the tail end of the sip.  People compare the taste to a wine, but I haven't really had any wines like this.  There is some maltiness to it, so it definitely is closer to a beer.  Very interesting.

 

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron ....

Tonight is another beer from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales - Palo Santo Marron.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 12% ABV.  Their web site lists IBUs at 50.  It is an unfiltered brown ale aged in wood (Paraguayan Palo Santo).

This Dogfish Head poured with a small, very brown head - it looked like chocolate foam.  The color is a very dark brown, almost black.  No light penetrated the beer when the glass was held up to the light.  With the high alcohol and wood aging, the aroma makes you think a little about wine.  There are some vanilla and and caramelized sugar notes to the aroma as well.  The taste has a smoky woodiness to it.  The vanilla carries through from the aroma to the taste.  Fairly sweet.  Creamy mouth feel.  The smoky wood lingers as an aftertaste.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Rahr Angry Goat ....

Saturday night and time for a big beer - Angry Goat (Weizen Doppelbock) from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company in a one pint, six ounce bottle.  Internet research shows 8% ABV.

Angry Goat poured with a medium to thick head, that was a nice brown that could be described as tan.  The beer's color is a rich brown, caramel-like.  A little light penetrates the glass when held up to the light.  The aroma is a fruity yeast, with a hint of sweetness.  There is some nice malt to the taste, lightly roasted.  A slightly heavier mouth feel.  The fruity yeast carries through to the taste, with the fruit seeming almost banana-like.  There is some spice to the taste that reminds you of cloves.  Fairly dry finish that leaves you with a light yeast/spice aftertaste.

  

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA ....

Time for another IPA - 90 Minute Imperial IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales.  9% ABV is listed on the twelve ounce bottle.  The Dogfish web site shows 90 IBUs.

The 90 Minute poured with a thick, fluffy, bone-colored head.  The color of the beer is a copper-ish gold.  Very clear - you can read through the glass of beer.  The aroma has some citrus, more of an orange, and a hint of the higher alcohol.  Medium to full bodied.  Some nice hops.  Smooth.  There is also a good amount of malt which gives it a heavier mouth feel.  The note of the higher alcohol comes through on the end of the sip.  There really isn't much bitterness in the taste - probably cut by the malt and alcohol.  Some spice to the finish.  There is a little bitterness to the aftertaste.  I have to say that I always enjoy this beer - one of my favorites.

 

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Dogfish Head Burton Baton ....

Tonight I will have a Burton Baton from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales.  It is a twelve ounce bottle, listing 10% ABV.  Described as an oak-aged imperial IPA.  The web site shows 70 IBUs.

This IPA poured with a very thick, cream colored head.  The head was fluffy, like pillowy clouds.  The beer's color is a cloudy copper.  Aroma has a little citrus and the scent of higher alcohol.  There also seems to be a bit of fruit to the aroma.  The taste reflects the high alcohol content, and the oak aging is noticeable, as it makes you think of other wood-aged alcohol like wine or scotch.  A bit of sweetness.  Hops and bitterness aren't that prominent, perhaps mellowed by the aging.  Medium to full bodied.  The finish is somewhat dry, and leaves a slightly bitter, dry aftertaste.  

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Milton, Delaware

www.dogfish.com

Rahr Snowmageddon ....

Tonight I will sample Snowmageddon Anniversary Ale from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  This is a limited release beer to commemorate the 2010 collapse (and rebuild) of the brewery roof due to snow buildup (yes, here in Texas).  Not listed on their web site but some Internet searches show the style as an Imperial Stout and 10% ABV.  One pint, six ounce bottle.

Snowmageddon poured with a thick, very brown head.  The beer's color is very dark and looks black.  No light penetrates any part of the glass when held up to the light.  The aroma has notes of coffee and chocolate, but the chocolate really seems to dominate.  There is also the hint in the aroma that this one is high-alcohol.  There is a heavier mouth feel with a nice softness to it.  A little heavier than medium-bodied.  The flavor shows the higher alcohol and roasted malt.  Some sweetness at the end of the sip.  Leaves a little malty bitterness for an aftertaste.  

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout ....

My beer for today is the Oatmeal Stout from Breckenridge Brewery.  The twelve ounce bottle shows 4.9% ABV.  Their web site lists 31 IBUs.

Tonight's beer poured with a thick, almost chocolate-brown head.  The color is a dark blackish brown and no light penetrates when the glass is held up to the light.  The aroma is a nice mix of chocolate and coffee.  It has a nice foamy mouth feel.  Some nice malt.  There is a smokiness to the taste.  Medium to full bodied.  Fairly dry finish and a slight bitterness to the aftertaste.  

Breckenridge Brewery

Denver, Colorado

www.breckbrew.com

Left Hand Sawtooth Ale ....

Tonight I am trying my third beer from Left Hand Brewing Company, Sawtooth Ale.  Twelve ounce bottle.  They list the style as an American Style ESB.  5.3% ABV and 27 IBUs.

Sawtooth poured with a medium, bone-colored head.  The color is a golden honey, with maybe a bit of an orange tint, and cloudy.  The aroma has a hint of citrus (orange?) and some sweet floral notes.  Medium bodied.  Has some nice malt, then fades to some herbal flavors.  Somewhat dry finish and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Left Hand Brewing Company

Longmont, Colorado

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Real Ale Rio Blanco Pale Ale ....

The beer for this evening is a Rio Blanco Pale Ale from Real Ale Brewing Company.  A twelve ounce bottle.  The Real Ale web site shows 5.3% ABV and 26 IBUs.

This beer poured with a small, slightly off-white head.  The color is golden, and slightly cloudy.  There is some spice to the aroma.  Mild to medium bodied.  The taste is primarily malt, with some spice.  A small amount of bitterness to the aftertaste.  This beer is milder than I usually prefer, but kind of grows on you and seems a little fuller as you drink it.

Real Ale Brewing Company

Blanco, Texas

www.realalebrewing.com

Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale ....

Another late night, but time for a Boont Amber Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  Their twelve ounce bottle shows 5.8% ABV.  Per the web site, there are 15 IBUs.

Boont poured with a medium head that was a little darker than bone.  The color is a golden honey that leans towards copper.  Fairly cloudy.  The aroma has some prominent floral & fruity notes.  Mild to medium bodied.  The floral/fruity notes carry through very clearly to the taste.  Slightly sweet.  There is some nice malt and enough hops to keep the sweetness and floral/fruit from becoming cloying.  Very little aftertaste.  A balanced and interesting beer.

  

Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Boonville, California

www.avbc.com

Saint Arnold Santo ....

A late Friday night, but I am just now trying a Santo from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  4.7% ABV and 17 IBUs are shown on the web site.  They list Santo as a "black Kolsch" and that it is technically not a style, but is their own dark variation on a Kolsch.

Santo poured with a small, light to medium brown head.  The beer is fairly dark, with the color being more of a ruddy brown when held up to the light.  Aroma has a bit of coffee.  This beer is fairly mild, with some decent malt.  I don't get a lot of other flavors, just that of a good quality milder beer.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale ....

Tonight I have another from Deschutes Brewery, a Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  It shows 5% ABV on the twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site lists 40 IBUs.

This beer poured with a fairly large head that was bone in color.  The color is a golden honey, maybe leaning towards a copper.  Somewhat cloudy.  The aroma has some hops and bit of citrus.  I would say this pale ale is fairly mild-bodied.  Like the aroma, there are some hops and a bit of citrus, but the flavors are mild.  Smooth, with very little aftertaste.

Deschutes Brewery

Bend, Oregon

www.deschutesbrewery.com

Widmer Brothers Brrr Seasonal Ale ....

This evening's sampling will be a Brrr Seasonal Ale from Widmer Brothers Brewing.  It comes in a twelve ounce bottle that lists 7.2% ABV.  Their web site shows 50 IBUs and that this seasonal is available from October through January.

Brrr poured with a medium, light brownish head.  The color is a nice reddish copper, and fairly clear.  The aroma has some citrus hops and a floral note.  The taste is real mix of hops, citrus, spices - no particular flavor is a real prominent one.  Maybe a little stronger than medium bodied.  Has a warming finish, with some spice and bittersweet.

Widmer Brothers Brewing

Portland, Oregon

www.widmerbrothers.com

Tommyknocker Pick Axe Pale Ale ....

Tonight I will try a Pick Axe Pale Ale from Tommyknocker Brewery.  Searching the Internet, it is 6.2% ABV.  Twelve ounce bottle.

This ale poured with a medium, bone-colored head.  The color is that of a very cloudy, golden honey.  Aroma is a mild citrus with a touch of sweetness that seems somewhat fruity or floral.  The taste has some citrus that seems more orange-like to me.  There is also a bit of fruitiness.  Slightly sweet.  Mild to medium bodied, but flavorful.  Slightly dry finish with little aftertaste.

Tommyknocker Brewery

Idaho Springs, Colorado

www.tommyknocker.com

Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro ....

Today I am going to try the newly released Milk Stout Nitro from Left Hand Brewing Company.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site lists 6% ABV and 25 IBUs.

Nitro poured with a tight, medium head that was a fairly dark brown.  The color is a blackish brown that no light penetrates in the glass.  Great aromas of coffee and chocolate.  I have already sampled the regular Milk Stout - the Nitro is not as sweet, is more malty and has a heavier mouth feel.  Nitro is more full-bodied.  It is more along the lines of what I think of when I think stout - heavy, malty, chocolate & coffee notes.  There is a slightly sweet, malty aftertaste.  This is one serious beer and a hearty stout.

Left Hand Brewing Company

Longmont, Colorado

www.lefthandbrewing.com

Rahr La Grange ....

Sunday night's beer: La Grange Farmhouse Ale from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  This is a limited release from Rahr, and there is no info on this beer remaining on their web site.  But the Internet is a beautiful thing.  Other sites list the ABV at 7.25% and the style as one that is traditionally brewed in farmhouses in southern Belgium for the late summer harvest.  This release comes in a large bottle - one pint, six ounces.

The La Grange poured with a very small, mostly white head.  Color is a cloudy, golden yellow.  The aroma is grassy, yeasty and has a hint of lemon.  The taste has a bit of lemon and a definite yeasty quality.  I would say it is medium-bodied.  Very little bitterness.  It finishes dry and leaves almost no aftertaste.  These yeasty, wheaty beers are not really my favorite styles, but I have to say this is a very nice beer and one I would drink again.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Saint Arnold Lawnmower ....

Another Texas beer, tonight's sample will be a Fancy Lawnmower from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.  Their web site describes the beer as a German-style Kolsch.  4.9% ABV and 20 IBUs, in a twelve ounce bottle.

This poured with a small, almost white head.  The color is a pale yellow that makes you think of lemonade.  Somewhat cloudy.  The aroma has definite floral notes and maybe a hint of citrus.  This is a fairly mild beer, but it has some nice malt.  A slightly heavier mouth feel.  There is a bit of the floral note to the taste, which fades pretty quickly.  No significant aftertaste.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Houston, Texas

www.saintarnold.com

Real Ale Brewhouse Brown Ale ....

Time for a fourth beer from Texas' Real Ale Brewing Company: Brewhouse Brown Ale.  It's one of their year-round beers, served in a twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site lists 5.4% ABV and 33 IBUs.

Brewhouse Brown poured with a small head, which was a light brown in color.  The beer is a medium or slightly darker brown, somewhat cloudy and has some sediment.  There are notes of coffee and chocolate in the aroma.  It has a slightly heavier mouth feel.  There is some nice malt to the taste, but maybe not as much as you would expect considering the aroma and mouth feel.  I would say it is a medium-bodied, maybe a little stronger.  Very little bitterness.  The finish is dry and gives way to mildly malty aftertaste.

Real Ale Brewing Company

Blanco, Texas

www.realalebrewing.com

Summit Horizon Red Ale ....

And now for a Horizon Red Ale from Summit Brewing Company.  A twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site lists 5.7% ABV and 60 IBUs.

This poured with a small to medium head that was bone in color.  The beer is a medium brown, with a bit of a red tint.  Very clear - lets a fair amount of light through the glass.  The aroma is hoppy, with hints of citrus and pine.  This is not your typical red ale.  There are some nice hops, and some malt as well.  I would say strength is on the strong side of medium.  A bit of sweetness, citrus and pine in the taste.  The aftertaste has a nice bitterness.  I am usually not a big fan of red ales, but this one has a lot going for it and is one that I would drink again.  

Summit Brewing Company

St. Paul, Minnesota

www.summitbrewing.com

Lagunitas New DogTown Pale Ale ....

Time for another from Lagunitas Brewing Company.  I started this venture off with their Holiday Ale, and tonight I will be trying a New DogTown Pale Ale.  It comes in a twelve ounce bottle and shows 6.2% ABV.

This Lagunitas poured with a medium head.  The head was light in color, not white, but more like the color of bone.  The beer's color is a bright golden yellow.  Very clear - I can read the computer screen through the full glass.  Aroma is mainly of grapefruit, but not biting - more of a sweet grapefruit.  The taste is more of the same, a sweeter grapefruit more than one that makes your mouth pucker.  Medium in strength.  Very little bitterness in the taste, actually a bit of a sweet note.  But there is a nice dry finish that leaves a little bitterness on your tongue as an aftertaste.

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Petaluma, California

www.lagunitas.com

Rahr Iron Thistle ....

Another local: my beer for today is an Iron Thistle from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company.  This is one of their seasonals (January-February), a Scottish-style ale.  It comes in a twelve ounce bottle, and the web site shows 8% ABV and 25 IBUs.

This Rahr poured with a small to medium head, which was a lighter brown.  Definite chocolate in the aroma.  The color is a darker brown, which lets through very little light when held up to the light.  There is some nice malt and a heavier mouth feel.  The higher alcohol is there in the taste and warms you up a bit.  Slightly sweet.  Some nice hops on the tail end that fade into a slight bitter aftertaste.  Medium to full bodied.  This is definitely one of my favorites that I have tried from Rahr.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company

Fort Worth, Texas

www.rahrbrewing.com

Summit Silver Anniversary Ale ....

After a while using a tasting "theme" for consecutive days  (4 seasonals, 21 IPAs, 7 stouts and 4 porters), I am going to go through a few in no particular pattern.  Tonight will be a Silver Anniversary Ale from Summit Brewing Company.  This beer is no longer listed on their web site, but a little research on the Internet shows that it is 6.5% ABV and 80 IBUs.  The style is an American Pale Ale and it comes in a twelve ounce bottle.

This Summit poured with a fairly thick, ivory-colored head.  The beer itself is a lighter golden honey color, and a little cloudy.  The aroma has a great citrus note; it is a little grapefruit-like but there seems to be a slightly more exotic fruit note there as well.  Medium-bodied.  The taste is hoppy, with very prominent citrus that is mostly grapefruit.  There is a little pine/resin note as well.  It has a dry finish that leaves a fairly bitter aftertaste.  A very interesting beer - I would recommend trying one if you can find it.

Summit Brewing Company

St. Paul, Minnesota

www.summitbrewing.com

Anchor Porter ....

Today's beer is the Porter from Anchor Brewing Company.  Apparently this porter has been around for a while: first brewed in 1972 and first bottled in 1974.  Twelve ounce bottle.  Their web site shows 5.6% ABV.

The Anchor poured with a medium head; one that was a nice darker brown.  The color  is a very blackish brown and I couldn't see any light through it in the glass.  There was something in the aroma that made me think of sugary baked goods.  On the first sip, I got a hint of brown sugar.  The beer isn't really sweet, but there are some definite notes of brown sugar or caramel.  Some nice hops and malt.  I would give it a medium on the strength-o-meter.  Almost no bitterness.  The aftertaste is mild, with just a touch of the caramel notes.

Anchor Brewing Company

San Francisco, California

www.anchorbrewing.com