Lagunitas "Censored" Review

Lagunitas makes some veeeeryyy interesting brews. I'm a fan of their IPA's, but tonight we try a red/copper ale.


Date: 1/29/10 8:45pm
Beer: Lagunitas Censored (Kronik) Rich Copper Ale
Abv: 5.9%
From: Bottle
Vessel: Snifter
Temp: 43f


Pours a very true copper color (obvious) with minimum tan head. Nose is slight malt with sweet hints of cinnamon and caramel. Tongue is decently hoppy, again with some malt, caramel, and coffee falvors. Mostly subtle stuff here, but though it does not boast a complex flavor profile, it's quite refreshing. Leaves a nice tart aftertaste. Nothing worth jumping in the car and picking up right this second, but surely should be part of your next bulk craft brew purchase at the local specialty store!

3/5

Blog Re-Name and HomeBrew Posts

Pournucopia sounded a bit too much like Porn-ucopia. Also, look for homebrew recipe posts in the near future. Until then, enjoy the reviews!

Rogue Chocolate Stout Review

Rogue (Eugene, Oregon) was one of the first craft breweries to make a name for itself on a national scale. Their Hazelnut Brown Nectar is one of my favorite beers of all time. Tonight I try their Chocolate Stout

Date: 1/21/10 10:00pm
Beer: Rogue Brewery Chocolate Stout
Abv: 6.3%
From: 22oz Botte
Vessel: Snifter
Temp: 48f


Pours a jet black color with a caramel head. Nose is quite malty with hints of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. Tongue is only slighty of chocolate and very bitter. Really not that much going on here in terms of complexity, and the taste of chocolate in this stout is underwhelming. This would probably be very tasty after a night of pounding bud lights, but in comparison to the plethora of chocolate stouts out there, this is a let-down.

2.5/5

Green Flash -West Coast IPA Review

This one's been highly touted as a stalwart among IPAs. Not for the weak-willed and hopped to about 95 IBUs. Has drawn a lot of comparisons with Bell's Hopslam. Verdict below!

Date: 1/19/10 7:15pm
Beer: West Coast IPA by Green Fash Brewing (San Diego)
Abv: 7.3%
From: Bottle
Vesse: Snifter
Temp: 42f

Pours a beautiful, hazy, dark-orange color with a nice fluffy white head! Nose is pine at first, then lots of citrus notes going on...orange, grapefruit, and melon. Tongue is VERY pine with a hint of citrus in and out. So hopped it feels like pop rocks on the tongue after being imbibed! A very subtle malt flavor is JUST enough to balace the veritable WAVE of hops in here...PHEW! If you're looking for a perfect balance of malt and hops you will NOT find it here. This is only to really be enjoyed, per se, by those who crave hops. While dogfish head 120min suffers from a bit too much sweetness, what may keep this from being an epic is a lack thereof.

3.5/5

Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale Review

I've had this sitting for a few months and I don't think it's going to benefit from too much aging. Tasting notes below!

Date: 1/14/10 815pm
Beer: Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
ABV: 8%
From: Bottle
Vessel: Snifter
Temp 46f

Pours a nice clear, copper color with minimum white head. Nose is slighty citrusy with a decent hop aroma and hints of sweet malt. Tongue is NOT very hoppy, subtle malt with notes of brandy and honey. Well-balanced and a lot like a Sam Adams winter lager but less "spicy". Southern Tier is known for some exoctic brews, so it's no surprise that a winter lager seems....plain. That being said it is tasty. Nothing mind-blowing, but it will go down easy on a cold winter night!

3/5

Inaugural Post

As this is the first post, I figured I would refrain from any long, drawn-out hyperbole regarding the impetus for starting this thing. Simply put, I have discovered that beer, for many including myself, is in itself a raison d'etre (reson for living). I've been home brewing for a little less than a year, and am in no way an expert at the craft. I've brewed, fermented, cleared, bottled, and aged 4 of my own batches (@ 5gal/each)as of now, and hope to commence with brewday #5 by the end of the month. The plan is to clone an Irish red ale of some sort, which could provide the perfect timing (the process takes a month or more) for St Patrick's day in March. Stay Tuned.

In terms of tasting and indulging in craft brews....it's a never-ending paradise. Frankly it's impossible to keep up, but I'll do my best with this blog. I've got over 300 bottles of craft brews (including some of my own stuff) sitting in my closet aging wonderfully as I type this. While no longer a craft brewery by any means, I thought I'd start witha fairly simple offering from Sam Adams. I picked up two 4-packs of their imperial series brews (a double bock and stout) over a year ago and 've been letting them sit ever since. Decided to break one open tonight. Tasting notes below!

Date: 1/13/10 - 8:45pm
Beer: Sam Adams Imperial Series - Stout
Abv: 9.2%
From: Bottle
Vessel: Snifter
Temp: 45f


Pours a very heavy, motor oil-like back color with a small but dark-tan head. Heavy caramel nose, with notes of coffee and chocolate. Very clean tongue, first of java and lingering bitter chocolate. Finishes clean with a slightly acidic aftertaste. Surprisingly good product! Sam Adams still sticking to the basics, but with great results!