Fermented Adventures

Southern Tier - Imperial Choklat Stout 6.5/7 Awesome Beer - the...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:46:11 -0500

Southern Tier - Imperial Choklat Stout

6.5/7

Awesome Beer - the highest rating i’ve given so far. I’m wary of “chocolate” beers, because they usually just taste “burnt” instead - but not this one. nooo sir. it’s cocoa in there all right, and it’s wonderful. The bottle comes with special drinking instructions, including using a Snifter, and i love that there’s a ritual to the drink - even if i don’t own a Snifter to try it out. Comes with a kick at 11% AbV, too.

HeBrew - Genesis Ale 4 / 7 Ale, Ale, Ale - why so many ales?...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:41:00 -0500

HeBrew - Genesis Ale

4 / 7

Ale, Ale, Ale - why so many ales? This one at least has the shtick of being Kosher - and that might be why it’s better than most - to be Kosher you gotta pay attention to the details, and that might be why this is one of the best ales i’ve had - less bitter and more complex than most, without sacrificing smoothness and drinkability - i had no trouble finishing it.

my only complaint would be apparent lack of alcohol.

Strongbow - Dry Cider 3 / 7 England’s dry cider...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:37:52 -0500

Strongbow - Dry Cider

3 / 7

England’s dry cider isn’t bad - but there’s nothing really special about it either. It doesn’t quite live up to most of the Woodchucks, but so far nothing i’ve had does. Maybe this is best seen as a good “middle of the road” cider - but being import, it probably is priced as one - might as well buy woodchuck.

Sam Adams - Imperial Stout 3.5 / 7 An “Okay” beer,...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:33:11 -0500

Sam Adams - Imperial Stout

3.5 / 7

An “Okay” beer, I’m not a big fan of Sam Adams - too bitter for me. Good for a Sam Adams, less bitter than most — But less than average for a Stout, with nothing outstanding.

Troegs - Java Head 5.5 / 7 This coffee-infused Stout is an...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:24:30 -0500

Troegs - Java Head

5.5 / 7

This coffee-infused Stout is an example of what Troegs does best - specialty craft beers that taste exactly as they should - an excellently represented flavor, with a well chosen stout delivery system - Without any distractions.

Middle Ages - Druid Fluid Barleywine 4.5 / 7 My first...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:16:27 -0500

Middle Ages - Druid Fluid Barleywine

4.5 / 7

My first Barleywine, technically an Ale … Sweet and thick, the name does the type justice. A bit much in large doses, I admit I struggled to finish the pint.

Blue Moon - Pale Ale 3.75/7 Good, for a Pale Ale. We’ve...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:07:01 -0500

Blue Moon - Pale Ale

3.75/7

Good, for a Pale Ale. We’ve been through how I’m not a big fan of the type - the fact that it’s belgian helps, but doesn’t do miracles.

i waded in a stream that went under a bank (the money...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:20:00 -0500

i waded in a stream that went under a bank (the money kind…yeah) when i drank this. That’s all i can say, that and i’ll probably not drink this again - i woke up the next morning still drunk.

Blue Moon - Winter Abby Ale 5.5/7 I enjoy Blue Moon - and this...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:17:00 -0500

Blue Moon - Winter Abby Ale

5.5/7

I enjoy Blue Moon - and this Seasonal edition is just a little better than the rest of Blue Moon’s beers. smooth and light, it reminds one of a light winter snow - there’s not other way to describe the delicate taste (a little too poetic, i know.) Skip the orange, tho, or you’ll miss some of the flavor.

I plan on at least one more six pack of it before winter’s out.

Troegs - Mad Elf 4.5/7 For a long time Mad Elf has been a Mythic...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:16:00 -0500

Troegs - Mad Elf

4.5/7

For a long time Mad Elf has been a Mythic Beer to me - I never was sure enough to shell out the $60+ for a case, and only in the last year did i find a way to buy smaller quantities.

I was right for the mythic awe. with strong influences of Honey and Cherry, it stands apart from most other beers - almost winelike in the sweetness and texture. Not bad, but it took some getting used to - and has sparked an interest in trying Mead. not a beer to try if you hate the taste of cherry, but i was a fan. It has almost too much booze in it, but that’s not always a terrible thing around the holidays. In fact, overall, i don’t mind it’s limited availability - there can be such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Rogue Ale - Santa’s Private Reserve 4/7 It’s not...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:15:00 -0500

Rogue Ale - Santa’s Private Reserve

4/7

It’s not entirely fair to say that this beer pointed out how little i like ales, but the thought first occurred to me while i had it. For an ale, academically it’s pretty good, but not really my thing. Still an enjoyable experience, with an evergreen vibe (without reminding one of pine-sol) and on the darker, richer end of the Ales - i can’t say how well it represents the Rogue label in general, being my first, but i’m intrigued enough to investigate the brand further…

Weyerbacher - Old Heathen Imperial Stout 6/7 I like everything...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:14:00 -0500

Weyerbacher - Old Heathen Imperial Stout

6/7

I like everything about this beer. i like that it’s from Easton, PA - my family’s american point of origin. I like that it’s an amazingly smooth and drinkable Stout - Better than Guinness. I even love the name - it reminds me of a few old men who rightly deserve the title - my own Grandfather included. And maybe that’s one reason why i’m so fond of this beer - it tastes and feels like home to me.

Woodchuck Cider - Winter 4.5/7 Woodchuck’s Winter is best...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:13:00 -0500

Woodchuck Cider - Winter

4.5/7

Woodchuck’s Winter is best described as Quaint - nice, but a little weak. the tastes of vanilla are a nice, welcome addition, but a little understated - i really had to hunt for them, and wouldn’t have known it was anything special without being told. Not to say i didn’t enjoy it, a nice experience, but probably most enjoyed by someone who’s not really into beer.

Hornsby’s - Amber Cider 2.5/7 The wife picked this up at a...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:12:00 -0500

Hornsby’s - Amber Cider

2.5/7

The wife picked this up at a liquor store - nothing really special about it. i dunno, i wasn’t really into it - and she seemed less than impressed. probably something great for someone who’s into wine coolers, i suppose, but it seems to be second rate, at best.

Woodchuck Cider - Fall Cider 5.5/7 Really good for a cider, like...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:10:00 -0500

Woodchuck Cider - Fall Cider

5.5/7

Really good for a cider, like most woodchucks, though the wife didn’t like it - not for people who don’t like spices, particularly nutmeg and cinnamon. i don’t mind spices, and enjoyed it -like the regular amber with an extra little something. looking forward to it again next fall.

Arrogant Bastard Ale - Oaked 4.5/7 Like other Arrogant Bastards,...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:10:00 -0500

Arrogant Bastard Ale - Oaked

4.5/7

Like other Arrogant Bastards, this is one strong tasting beer - it can leave your taste buds numb, it seems. This isn’t my first A.B., and the oak flavor of this particular brew was a nice addition to the original’s taste. I still wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who’s not sure about beer, or who’s into the lighter flavors - This is more akin to drinking strait whiskey than a hard cider. But i could see it going really well with a big ol’ rare steak and some potatos… and a nap afterward.

Munich Beer - 6/7 A great import - one of the smoothest beers...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:06:00 -0500

Munich Beer -

6/7

A great import - one of the smoothest beers i’ve had. a little on the light side concerning taste, definitely have this one first, or cleanse the palate before drinking.

unfortunately expensive, but not as bad as some other imports.

Troegs - Dream Weaver Unfiltered Wheat 4.5/7 if this beer is any...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:05:00 -0500

Troegs - Dream Weaver Unfiltered Wheat

4.5/7

if this beer is any indication, i enjoy Unfiltered Wheat beers - a nice middle range, on par with a lager but with a much, much more complex flavor - overall, a really enjoyable beer - but probably one best kept occasional.

Troegs - Pale Ale 3/7 If someone thinks they don’t like...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:03:00 -0500

Troegs - Pale Ale

3/7

If someone thinks they don’t like Troegs, it could be because they’ve only had this beer. Still better than most Pale Ales, i didn’t enjoy the Craft Brewery’s take on what i consider a “common” beer type - mostly because i don’t like the type. Troegs is at it’s best when it’s doing something unique.

The Saranac collection. IPA, Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Black &...

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:33:00 -0500

The Saranac collection.

IPA, Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Black & Tan, Black Forest and Adirondack Lager (not pictured)

Got a six-flavor case, and i probably won’t buy it again. Not bad, but not worth the time or money - the ol’ Standby of Yuengling is cheaper and more enjoyable than most of these.

A notable exception is the Black Forest, a “Bavarian Style Black Beer” which was somewhere between an okay Lager and a good Stout - I wouldn’t turn another one down.

IPA - 3/7

Pale Ale - 2/7

Brown Ale - 1.5/7 (tasted burned as opposed to Caramelized)

Black & Tan - 3/7

Black Forest - 4.5/7

Adirondack Lager - 3.5/7