Three New Reviews!

Some more beer reviews from a recent beer run to Calandro's!  This time I grabbed a few packs of smaller bottles, and a handful of bombers... here's round one, the multiple beer packs!

The first one I tried was a Limited Series from Full Sail Brewing, this is their #3 recipe.  I've had the #1 a few years ago before I started writing the blog, but I totally missed #2.  This current version is a German Pilsner recipe, and is available at Calandro's for only $8.99 per 6-pack.  The aroma on this one is much bolder than the appearance lets on... good hops with a hint of caramel malts.  The taste is more of the same, very well balanced and super easy to drink.  At this price I could go back to this one plenty and enjoy every one.  For another good example of a German Pilsner, check out the Abita S.O.S. if you can still find it anywhere!

I also saw some Fischer Tradition Amber, and had to pick up a 6-pack.  I used to drink this stuff like crazy with my cousin Travis when they had it in the big flip-top bottles at the Chimes.  It disappeared from the local markets for a while, but apparently it's back, although now in smaller bottles in 6-packs.  Officially this one is a Euro Dark Lager, and it's definitely a darker amber color than a traditional lager would be.  Unfortunately on re-visit to this one there's just not much to it.  The smell is faint, and the flavor is undermalted and somewhat boring.  I know I used to really enjoy this stuff, but either the beer has changed or my palate has... probably the latter.  At $12.99 for a 6-pack, I don't think I'll be buying any more of these any time soon.

The last review for this post is the BrewDog Punk IPA.  BrewDog is a Scottish brewery that has a reputation for really extreme beers (like the 32% abv. Tactical Nuclear Penguin) but this is one of their relatively tame standard offerings.  The smell is hoppy with some really nice pine flavors and a subtle hint of malts.  The flavor is hop dominant as an IPA should be.. again a pine flavor to them and a hint of caramel at the back. Good blend for an IPA and I really like the way the malts compliment the hoppy hit. I'm a big fan of this one, really a top notch IPA in my opinion. Easy to drink, well balanced, but not mild at all on the hops.  It's a bit pricey at $12.99 for a 4-pack, but still one I'd consider going back for.  It's also about to be released in cans... interesting and I'll be curious to see how the bottles and cans compare as far as flavors go. 

That's it for now... I have four more bombers from this trip to review, but I've only drank one of them so far, so it's going to have to wait a few days at least!

New To Baton Rouge - Tin Roof Brewing

It has been several months in the works, but Tin Roof Brewing, located right here in Baton Rouge, rolled out their first two beers last night at the Bulldog.  The party officially started at 4, and Dustin and I were there within a few minutes of the opening pour.  We both started with a Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale, Tin Roof's version of an American Pale Ale.  It's a dark amber color, with a decent malt/hop balance to it.  A pretty good beer, and a good start to the evening.

After the pint of Voodoo it was on to the Perfect Tin Amber Ale.  This one poured pretty much an identical color to the Voodoo, and the guys at Tin Roof even talked about doing something to change the colors to distinguish the beers from each other.  I imagine the similarities caused a few bartenders problems through the night!  As for the beer itself, neither Dustin or I was too impressed with the Amber.  It had a good malt kick but really lacked body and balance.  Easy to drink for sure, but overall pretty weak.

After the Perfect Tin I went back for a few more pints of Voodoo Bengal, which was definitely my favorite of the two, and then called it an evening.  By 7 the place was packed and I think the Tin Roof beers were generally being very well received by the crowd.  Even though I wasn't blown away by the beers I have a huge appreciation for a new micro-brewery in town.  Converting the masses away from the big domestics and into trying craft beer is always a good thing, and Tin Roof seems to be a perfect way for people to try something new and hopefully really enjoy it.  

Props to them for making it happen, and I look forward to trying to the rest of their lineup once it rolls out!

For a change, these pictures are courtesy of Jay Ducote's Bite and Booze blog!

The Latest Reviews!

I already talked a bit about the Hitachino Nest White Ale I picked up on the last beer run to Calandro's, but now that I've had a chance to go through that selection of brews, I figured it was time to share my thoughts, good and bad, on the other 4 different beers I picked up.

 

 

The first one I tried was a Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale.   Moylan's is a brewery/restaurant out of Novato, California that has been highly awarded over its 15 year history.  I'm usually a fan of hoppy beers, so even with a hefty $10.99 price tag for a bomber, I figured I'd give it a try.

The beer has received high regards on BeerAdvocate, with an A- average rating, but I wasn't as impressed.  The citrusy grape-fruit-esque hops dominated too much for my liking, with not a lot of balance in the flavor.  If you're a big fan of super hoppy beers give this one a try, but for my palate there are better IPAs and IIPAs available for a better price. 

 

The next one I broke out was the Bacchus Red Ale from Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck in Belgium.  The brewery does the traditional range of Belgian ales (tripel, quad, etc.) as well as a wide variety of fruit beers and lambics.  This particular beer was in the style of a Flanders Red Ale which is described as "infamous for their distinct sharp, fruity, sour and tart flavors which are created by special yeast strains."  This was my first taste of the style, and the sour and tart flavors are no joke.  In fact, they were so potent it really took away some of my enjoyment of the beer.  The aroma was absolutely fantastic, but the sour flavors were just too strong for me to really enjoy.  At only $5.79 for a 12.7 ounce bottle I'm glad I learned some more about a style I'd never tried before, but I don't feel the need to go stock up on these.

 

Next up was the only 6-pack I bought... the Eel River Organic IPA.  I had previously had both a great experience with the Eel River Raven's Eye Imperial Stout (fantastic stout) and a bad experience with the Eel River Acai Berry Wheat which left me a little underwhelmed.  Even still, at $11.79 for a 6-pack I was willing to give this one a try.  The aroma struck me as more of an APA than an IPA, with a good balance of malts and hops, with the caramel flavors coming out the most.  The taste was more hop-dominated, but not so bitter that it took away from the enjoyment of the beer.  I was impressed overall, and this is certainly one I'd consider picking up again. 

 

Last up was a beer from New Zealand, from a craft brewery I even mentioned in the New Zealand World Cup of Beer post back in the Summer!  It was from the MOA Brewing Company, their version of the Belgian ale, their St. Joseph's Tripel, and at $7.99 for a bomber it also made the cut as a beer to try.  Tripels are one of my favorite styles, and I've tried versions from all over the world, so I was excited to try this Kiwi take on the style.  On first glance, it had all the look of the Belgian counterparts... hazy amber color with a frothy white head.  The beer had a very floral aroma, and well balanced too with the hops and some malts and spices.  On the tongue the hops came out stronger, with the floral flavors and spices dominating the front of each sip and the caramel malts just lingering slightly on the aftertaste.  An above average attempt at a Belgian tripel, but not quite on par with the authentic products, as to be expected.  In New Zealand it's probably a real treat and quite affordable, but here it doesn't set itself apart from the Belgian ales and other North American attempts at the style. 

Another successful beer run for me... found a brewery (Eel River) that I want to explore further, and got my feet wet with the Flanders Red Ale style.  Unfortunately, my fridge is about empty... guess I need to get some more!

Hitachino Nest White Ale Spotting!

After work Friday I realized my beer supply was dangerously low, and LSU had an away game on Saturday leaving me a chance to try some new brews.  So... I was on my way to Calandro's on Government (I know Seigen has the better selection, but Government is so much closer!) to check out the brews.  

There were a few new ones that I picked up, but what I was most excited about were bombers of the Hitachino Nest White Ale!  This beer has been a fixture in my Top 10 beers list, and I featured it from Japan in the World Cup Of Beer.  The problem is, it can be hard to find, as it tends to not stay on the shelves too long.  A few local sushi joints carry the beer, but it's usually rather absurdly marked up.  I believe it's $8 at Rock N Sake for a 12 oz. bottle, but the bomber (usually either 750 ml or 25 ounces) was only $9.69 at Calandro's.  A good deal for this world class beer.

 

Gulf Shores / Orange Beach - Part 3

I'd be remiss if I didn't conclude the beer adventures of the Alabama Gulf Coast with two beers widely available at any place we went: Yuengling and Landshark lagers! 

Yuengling has a near legendary following in Baton Rouge and around the country, and I have to attribute this to nostalgia.  Or in the case of Baton Rouge, lack of availability.  As far as beers go, it's a middle of the range lager, certainly a step up from the Buds and Millers of the world but not a world-class brew.  

 

Yuengling is America's oldest brewery, originating in 1829 in Pottsville, PA, surviving prohibition, and has expanded to become one of America's largest breweries.  They now produce over 2 million barrels of beer annually among their several breweries, and maybe one day soon we'll see Yuengling in the Baton Rouge market?

Landshark Lager, a Jimmy Buffett creation, is without a doubt the flagship beer of the Alabama Gulf Coast, and with good reason.  The beer is "produced" by Margaritaville Brewing Company, which is actually just a marketing company.  The reality is that Landshark Lager is an Anheuser-Busch product cleverly marketed using the Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville brand.  It's really a brilliant move, and the beer dominates the market in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.  It doesn't hurt that it's branded as a beach beer, and Jimmy Buffett and his family is closely associated with the region.

 

As for the beer itself... eh... skip it.  Nothing more than a macro lager with hints of 'cerveza' and marketed as an 'Island Lager.'  Trust me, there's nothing special about it.

 

 

And that concludes the quick beer tour of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach... some definite highs when Jay and I found some fantastic beer unavailable in Baton Rouge, but as a whole this isn't a beer nerd's dream destination.  Not that there's anything wrong with hitting the beach with a margarita in hand!

Gulf Shores / Orange Beach - Part 2

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to hit up local beer & liquor stores and see what's available that I can't find in BR, or the semi-regular beer runs to Houston.  After breakfast Jay and I found one that was open in Gulf Shores, and decided to check out the selection.  

We knew we didn't have a whole lot of time to spend hanging out drinking at the suite, but still we figured a couple of six-packs was a good idea, right? 

Jay and I decided on some Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale, and Bell's Two Hearted Ale.  We had both tried another Tommyknocker beer the day before and enjoyed it, and I've been hearing great things about the Bell's Two Hearted for years.  

First for the Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown Ale... I poured it from a 12 oz. bottle into a straight glass. Not ideal but it's the best option here! Has a cola appearance, small head but I'll give it some leeway.

I really like the smell. Delicious malt flavor and the alcohol is mild. The taste is good but a little thin on the mouth. Same malt flavors but nothing else happening. Again, can't pick up the high abv.

All in all I'm happy with this one. Definitely worth a try and better than the average nut brown ale.

 

My rating: B

BeerAdvocate: B

Now for the Bell's Two Hearted Ale!  Just like the Tommyknocker brew, I had to use a straight glass, as that was the best option at the condo in Gulf Shores. Next time I'm bringing my own glassware, especially when I have all sorts of room to pack stuff and I know I'll be looking to try some different brews. 

The beer poured a deep yellow color with a big fizzy head... definitely a good looking beer!  There is a great nose to it, full of mild hoppiness with a malt balance. The taste is more of the same blend of hops and malt. I really like the balance this beer displays and would recommend it whole heartedly to anyone trying to get into hoppy beers.

If anything, it reminded me a lot of Parish Brewing's En Vie APA that I was able to taste a while back.  It's the same style, and really had the balance between hops and malts nailed.

My rating: A-

BeerAdvocate: A

Two good choices, in my opinion, and next time I'm over there, I'm definitely going to try some other new ones, and stock up on some Bell's!

Gulf Shores / Orange Beach - Part 1

Greetings everybody!  It's been a few weeks since Jay and I were lucky enough to take in a weekend at the beach, so it's past time to fill you in on the beach beer scene.  The first stop, after navigating through I-10 traffic and checking in to the Phoenix All-Suites West and grabbing a quick look at the oil-free beaches was a place called Live Bait at the Wharf.  The first thing Jay and I did, after the introductions of course, was hit the bar and see what they had to offer.  Unfortunately the selection wasn't impressive, just Blue Moon, Land Shark Lager, and something called the Tommyknocker Pickaxe Pale Ale.  Okay, easy choice here, when in doubt I always go with the beer I've never tried first. 

I know it's not the best picture ever, but I was armed with only my smaller camera this time.  The beer itself, however, was pretty damn good.  It turns out Tommyknocker is actually a Colorado brewery, not local at all, but it's still a brewery I've seen in Baton Rouge, so I'm happy to give them a try.  The Pickaxe Pale Ale was a well balanced APA with good malt and hop presence but not overpowering in either direction.  APAs are quickly becoming one of my favorite styles, and this one wasn't even the best of the trip... more on that later of course.  For the food options at Live Bait, check out Jay's Bite and Booze blog where he'll cover that in full. 

That was it for the first night, and it was back to the suite to crash.  The place was pretty nice, actually, a converted condo into a suite, with a master bedroom, pull-out couch, and a small bunk-bed in the hallway that would be perfect for kids or college cheerleaders.  Plus it had a full kitchen and a half-bath to make the stay even easier.  I'd consider a place like the Phoenix West again for my next trip to Gulf Shores.

The next morning it was on to a place called Tacky Jack's over in Orange Beach.  It had received good reviews from what Jay and I had heard, and had a very cool seaside ambiance to it.  Upon recommendation we started off with some 'hair of the dog' bushwhackers, even though we weren't hungover.  I mean, it seemed like a good breakfast drink, and you can't drink all day if you don't start before noon!  The 'bushwhacker' is a delightful sweet concoction of white rum, coconut rum, and coffee liqueur all mixed in with some vanilla ice cream, and then topped off with a 151 floater.  I'm not usually one for sweet drinks, but this one is famous around those parts and it was mighty delicious.  Delicious enough to go back for a second, that's for sure!  (The food was alright... as Jay will describe...)

And that was it for breakfast... on our way back to the suite we stopped in at a liquor store to see about some beers that can't be found in BR, but that will have to wait for Part 2!