Beer Review 16: Schneider Weiss Hopfen Weiss

I am so pleased to be able to write about this beer and review it! After hearing so much about this collaboration beer between Schneider brewery in Germany and Brooklyn brewery in New york, I had to try it. Out of no where, my buddy Anand ,who like me is a beer aficionado gave me this beer on a Saturday last month. So, after a long day at work Monday, I finally decided to crack it open, and man was it good. Hopfen Weiss is Weissbock that is nicely dry hopped to perfection and deliver a wonderful amount of sweet fruit. Furthermore, this beer is bottled at 8.2 % abv which I think i just right for this beer. In addition, this beer is priced extremely reasonable at      $ 4.49 a bottle, which happen to be 500 ml. Drink this beer out of a cold pint or tulip; I feel you get more out of the beer drinking it out of the specialty glass, but a pint will do just fine. When drinking this beer I also realized what a great outdoor beer this would be. Its refreshing and crisp, and it definitely quenches the thirst.... makes me think spring and summer. In all, this beer is amazing. It combines German precision and American innovation. Everyone should try this beer, it is clearly one of the top beer's in the world and it would definitely rank in my top 30. 

Color: Almost orange with some haze(cloudy)... hints of gold and straw. Nice lacing all through the beer and it form a nice one finger head that is nice and foamy white.

Nose: The hops are blended in nicely with the smells of melon and peach. An aray of ripe citrus fruit float throughout the beer

Palate: A medium bodied beer. Bold with plenty of tang from the citrus. The hops balance the sweetness of this beer quite nicely and they add the right amount of bite to beer. The beer feels soft and delicate on the tounge but full of flavor.

Finish: Long and extravagant! Complex and beautiful. This beer delivers with artistry and great craftsmanship. Everything is savored, from the fruit(melon,peach,sweet apple, and oranges) to the nice dry hopped body.

Rating: 95 put 100

Beer Review 15: New Belgium Sahti

Tonight's beer review comes from the state of Colorado and New Belgium brewery. For those of you who don't know them they are the maker's of such beer's like: fat tire, mothership wit, skinny dip, 2 below, and many more. Usually I would say I'm not a fan of their stuff, especially the stuff I I just mentioned,but then I discovered their lips of faith series of beer's, and I must say this product line is pretty fing good! The beer I'm reviewing tonight happens to be from that series; New Belgium Sahti. This beer is amazing and smooth from beginning to end. It wows with complexity and artistry. I haven't had many sahti type beer's, but this on is clearly the best of what I have had. This beer is bottled in a 22 oz bottle and is best served cold and in a tulip glass. This will allow you to enjoy the deep and dense flavor of this beer. In addition, this beer comes in at a nice 7.2% abv and a good price tag of $7.99- $9.99. I want to thank my buddy Anand for getting me this beer, so Cheer's buddy! Other notes of interest for this beer: makes a great year round beer, it pairs well with pork and poultry, also a great beer to pair with beer nut mix and pretzels. I totally recommend this beer so if you run across it.....buy buy buy!!!!

Color: A hazy amber with some brown hue at the core. it forms a nickle thin head that disappears quite quickly. It does leave behind some nice lacing.

Nose: Exotic and beautiful. Juniper berry floats on top of this beer and with it some rye notes. This beer is also nicely  hopped....I want to say there might be at least two types of hops in this beer if not more. Plenty of spice also surrounds this beer. I get some lemon and coriander but not quite sure. 

Palate: Amazing! smooth,clean, and poetic. A nice mellow sweetness that compliments the rye. the spices play beautifully with the hops. In there some honey makes the rounds.

Finish: Clean,crisp, and refreshing. layered and complex. The taste of this beer last long, all the way through to the stomach. Keeps you wanting more and more.

Rating: 91 out 0f 100

The complex world of wine

If you have followed this blog from the beginning you know that I love to explain in detail everything about the certain thing Ill be reviewing,but with wine I won't be doing that. If I did it would be the longest blog posting in the world of blogging. So, what I will be doing is going into detail about each varietal of wine(at least one each day) followed by a review of a certain wine of that variety. In all, we're about to embark on what may be the most complex alcohol beverage in the world and probably one of the most expensive hobbies to keep up with. So sit and read, and enjoy the ride.

Just to prep you for the future wine reviews to come I will give you a few of the type of wines ill be reviewing and covering on my blog, and I'll also give you some terms so you can understand what I'm talking about in the future.

Varietal(they type of grape used to make the wine):

1. Cabernet Sauvingon: known as the masculine grape. These wines are red in color

2. Merlot: the feminine cousin grape of the Cabernet. these wines are also red in color

3. Pinot noir: these wines are red in color and known to be peppery or ripe in fruit.

4. Chardonnay: white in color. can be buttery and oaky or fruity and tart

5. Sauvingon Blanc: white in color. known for either being tart or earthy

6. Shiraz/Syrah: red in color. Shiraz is from Australia, Syrah from California

7. Zinfandel: red in color. more info to come

8. Malbec: Red in color. Known for being from Argentina

9. Tempranillo: red in color. From spain

10. Pinot Grigio: white in color: comes from Italy and California

There are many more types of wine and Ill get into those later.

Terms: all these words will in some way show up in reviews, so if you want to look them up so you have a better understanding please do so.

Tannins

malolactic fermentation

growth

oaky

toothy

earthy

cellar(ing)

vintage

region

vine

grand cru

and many more.

The world of wine is gargantuan. Many countries grow wine and many people drink them, but to truly appreciate the beauty of wine we must understand it. I hope what I will provide in form of information will help you understand wine at a larger level than just consuming it.

Brian Food 9

Word of the day:  japed

Quote of the day: "Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing."

Ben Franklin

Beer Review 14: Hitachino Nest Weizen

Here is another solid offering from Hitachino brewery from Japan. This hefe style beer is an ale brewed using some of the German ways for brewing wheat beer; hence the name of this beer Weizen. This beer is similar to one of Hitachino's other production beer's..... White Ale, which is a wheat beer using the Belgian style of brewing wheat beer. 

Weizen, can be purchased in either a 11.2 oz or a 750 ml bottle. In addition to that, this beer is bottled at 5% abv and the serving size for this beer is a full pint. Furthermore, this beer can be consumed as a year round beer, but for my liking it definitely makes a better summer beer and should be paired with sea food or some full flavored cheeses. 

I love Hitachino beer and I would venture to say its by far one of the top 10 breweries in the world because top to bottom their beer production list is filled with solid offerings. Weizen though I feel is a bit of quandary. It feels like this beer should be better than it is, but it falls short of expectations. It feels as if all the components in this beer don't work together, but also if you broke it down individually you'd see that this beer should  be tasty, complex, and full of flavor. This beer perplexes me and teases me, maybe I'm just not understanding this Hitachino offering.

Color: Vibrant orange with golden notes at the core. No head or vi sable lacing is left on the glass. Little carbonation also.

Nose: Coriander, lemon zest and other citrus hit the nose with potency. Hints of  grass and orange peel.

Palate: The tartness is the first thing your tongue gets. It is followed by a semi sweet orange and some light sourness from the lemon. This is light bodied beer and its soft and refreshing too. 

Finish: Long and tart. goes down clean with waves of lemon zest and grassy notes, but not very complex. Lacks texture and a bit of presence at the back end. 

Rating: 88 out of 100

 

Beer Review 13: Dogfish Head Sah'Tea

Up for review today is Dogfish Sah'tea. I picked up this beer while on my trip to Springfield, IL this last week. As you may know by now I'm a big fan of this brewery, and I have heard great things about this beer.... including from my fellow blogger and friend Justin Hintz. I must say for me this beer was a bit disappointing . Sah'tea just had something missing and it felt like it hadn't met it's full potential, but don't get me wrong this beer is still good and drinkable. This beer is bottled at 9 %  abv and it come in 750 ml bottles only. Furthermore, Sah'tea is a seasonal offering from dogfish so it's not available year round, so if your a fan of this type of beer jump on it when its out. Also, the suggested serving size for this beer is 9.6 oz and it should be consummed out of either a snifter or wine glass. I highly believe it taste better out of the wine glass. Here are other fun facts of this beer: its based on a 9th century Finnish beer recipe , it can also be spelt sahti, it falls under the ale category of beers,and its brewed using juniper berries, chai tea, rye, and hot rocks. I really love dogfish beer and I do like this one, but I really feel something is missing in order to make this beer truly spectacular.  This beer is also a good beer to pair with most foods and especially poultry. 

Color: A honey orange with hints of gold at the core. It forms little to no head and leaves behind minimal lacing.

Nose: explodes with rye followed by waves of subtle juniper berry. Hints of honey flow up the nose if you really  sniff.

Palate: gentle and clean. Definitely a medium bodied beer, but lacks complexity.  The black chai tea sits on the tongue nicely, but not long enough to enjoy. The rye and honey also present.

Finish: Medium to short finish, really can't tell, but either way ,this beer lacks the most here and this is where  this beer falls apart for me. Most Dogfish beer's end with a flair this one sort of falls flat and looses flavor.

Rating: 88 out of 100

Beer Review 12: BrewDog Punk IPA

This brewery could quite possibly be my favorite brewery from over sea's. BrewDog, Hailing from Scotland, produces some of the most fascinating beer. I compare them to Dogfish because they are not afraid to try new things with their brews. Their Punk IPA to me is one of the top IPA's in the world! It's everything you want and nothing you hate. This fantastic brew is bottled at 6.5 % abv and is packaged in 22 oz bottle. The price tag is just fine as it comes in at anywhere from $5.49 to $ 6.49.  It can be found at most places that have a large selection in beer, i.e. Bevmo, Vendome, or Binny's. This beer pairs well with plenty foods,but I really like it with pizza or Italian food, it just seems to compliment that food very well. Furthermore, it makes a great summer beer and year round beer if your an IPA freak! Please enjoy out of a frosty cold pint.

Color: A golden orange that really glows. It forms a nice white head and leaves nice lacing through out the whole pint.

Nose: Plenty of citrus and sweetness. You also get a nice floral bouquet on the forefront of this beer with hints of vanilla, grapefruit, and kiwi. Yum!

Palate: A balance of of hop and sweet malt. The fruit hits you from beginning to end but in balance with the hop. This beer is complex and intoxicating on the palate.

Finish: Long and amazing! Nice amount of hop and the fruit really shines as it goes down. A thirst quencher!

Rating: 90 out of 100

Beer Review 11: Hitachino Nest White Ale

Can Hitachino Nest make a bad beer.... I don't think so. Hitachino white ale is one of the highest selling beers in the U.S. and it will probably continue to be until Hitachino no longer exist. This Japanese brewery is one of the worlds best breweries! They make 9 to 10 beers that are all fantastic and artistically constructed with some of the best ingredients found world wide.

Hitachino white ale is truly a white beer lovers dream, its clean and crisp with plenty to offer the drinker. White Ale is bottled in 11.2 oz bottle, but can also be found in a 350 ml bottle which may be hard to find in California. Hitachino Beers are usually expensive but worth it. This beer usually prices it self around $ 4.50 to $5.99 a bottle depending on where you buy it. The abv on this beer is just right for this type of beer at 5 %. This beer also should be enjoyed out of a cold pint glass in the summer time, but also makes a good year round beer if you make it your mid afternoon beer. Furthermore and lastly, this beer would pair nicely with all and most sea food and some lighter Italian foods.

Color: Cloudy straw gold. Little to no head at all which happen to be a true white foam head. this beer leaves minimal head retention/lacing.

Nose: Plenty of citrus. lemon zest orange juice and definitely coriander.  hints of Belgian yeast and wheat in the background.

Palate: Light bodied beer. some light sour/tart. Very crisp and clean on the tongue with the orange flavors dancing about on your taste buds.

Finish: Short and clean. The tartness of the lemon zest and sweetness of the orange juice finishes strong and truly stand out. Not that complex but nicely layered and refreshing.

Rating: 92 out 100

Beer Review 10: Dogfish Head Pangaea

Today's beer review is another great achievement by the folks at Dogfish Head. Today I had the Pangaea, and I must say this beer made my evening. I cracked into this beer this evening and from the first sip I was hooked! Pangaea explodes in you mouth tantalizing your taste buds, leaving you wanting to savor every sip you take. 

Pangaea, for those who don't know or didn't pay attention in geography class, Pangaea was the name of given to all the continents before they broke apart to form what we now know as the 7 continents. Other things you need to know about this fine brew is that the people at Dogfish use one ingredient from each continent to make this beer, and if you want to know what they are you can visit their site. Furthermore, Pangaea is bottled at 7 % abv and its packaged in a 750 ml bottle. This beer is a seasonal beer for dogfish so its not available year round so keep your eye out for this brew. Moreover, this beer is worth the price tag of $9.99, so don't be afraid to spend your money on this beer, you will be rewarded. Also, make sure to enjoy this beer from a snifter glass to enhance all the flavor this beer has to offer. Pangaea makes a great year round beer and it pairs well with many meals.

Color: Golden honey with an amber hue at the core. It forms a thin white head thats disapates quickly and has minimal lacing.

Nose: Sweet and crisp. Ginger hits your nose at the forefront along with subtle honey notes. In the background you get an array of spices.

Palate: Medium body beer with lots of complexity. Layered with plenty of flavor and exotic spice. A gental sweetness dances on your tounge,

Finish: Not to long not to short.... just right . The ginger reappears at the end along with some yeast.

Rating: 93 out 100

Bourbon Review 1: Michter's Small Batch

Ok here you have it.... the first Bourbon review of the year, and its gonna be a good one. Michter's small batch bourbon; this is one of the few bourbons that you can't trace way back. This bourbons heritage come from Pennsylvania and dates back to 1753.  This is one of the few American whiskey's that you can consider superb. Michter's small batch delivers complex flavors and it's layered with soft earth tones. This bourbon is one of my favorites and one that is meant to be savored sip by sip. Its best enjoyed out of a snifter glass after dinner or before bed with an evening cigar. Another thing you need to know about this bourbon is that its comes from what they call "small batch." Small batch bourbon is bourbon that has limited quantities so that the quality can remain at a high level.  Most small batch bourbon is a bit expensive but very well worth it; this Michter's  has a price tag of $44.99 which is reasonable for a quality bourbon like this one. Michter's also has other whiskey's in their line of products. This small batch bourbon is an 8 year old bourbon for you who care about how old your whiskey is. Other info on this bottle: its bottles at 45.7 % abv which is 91.4 proof.

Color: Golden brown with an amber hue at the core of the whiskey

Nose: Hints of charred oak...probably white oak. caramelized nuts on the forefront with smokey caramel too. in the back you get some faint vanilla and dusty wood and quietly some apple creeps up.

Palate: Definitely warm on the mouth, explodes with bold and round flavors. Medium to full body and packs smoked wood on the back of your tongue.

Finish: Long and warm. you feel it all the way into your stomach. the sweetness comes to fruition  and leaves you wanting another sip.

Rating: 94 out of 100

Bourbon! All so American.

As you well know by now I have promised to educate you all on all the fine things in life, but not until now have I got around to telling you about Bourbon. I will apologize for getting a little to beer happy,but with the whether in California remaining hot till now I just haven't gotten around to drinking bourbon. Well boys and girls the wait is over! Bourbon season is here and Ill guide you through all you need to know about it.

Lets start off by saying that bourbon has been made in the U.S. since the 18th century and that its the American whiskey. Bourbon got its name from Bourbon County Kentucky because its said that that's where the distilling of Bourbon began.  Furthermore, Bourbon is made from primarily corn(maze). There is more to bourbon so brace yourself for the mass information coming your way......

Here are the requirements that need to be met before bourbon can be called bourbon: 

 

- must be of a grain mixture and at least 51 % corn.

- must be distilled at no more than 160 proof (80% abv) 

- no coloring or flavoring can be added.

- must be aged in new charred oak barrels. 

- must be bottled at no more than 125 proof (62% abv)

- must be aged a minimum of 2 years to e called straight bourbon.

- only whiskey made in the U.S. can be called Bourbon.

More information that you want to know: 

Bourbon can be produced in any state in the U.S. where distilling is legal

95% of bourbon is made in Kentucky.

How to enjoy Bourbon: 

Enjoy Bourbon neat(no ice) or on the rocks (with ice) or with some water back.

Best enjoyed when cold outside.

After a heavy meal or with dinner. 

Great drink to pair with a cigar.

enjoy out of a tumbler glass or a snifter if drinking a high end well aged bourbon

Other elements that will be covered later:

single barrel bourbon

well aged bourbon

why jack daniel's is not bourbon.

Hope this is helpful and I look forward to reviewing bourbon for you followers

 

Beer Review 9: Don DE Dieu by Unibroue

This Beer by Unibroue is now one of my favorite beers to come from outside the U.S. This beer is made in Canada.... who said nothing good come from Canada! The Don de Dieu is an Ale that is bottled at 9 % abv and can be bought in a 750 ml bottle or a four pack of 11.2 oz. The standard serving size for this beer is 9.4 oz and best served in a tulip. The price on this beer is definitely worth it. You can get the 750 bottle for about 7.50 to 9.00 dollars a bottle or the 4 pack for 11.99 to 13.99.  I enjoyed every sip of this beer, so much so I put down the whole bottle, which by the way is not recommended unless you want to feel quite tipsy. Another thing you need to know about this beer is that this beer is re fermented in the bottle. This beer makes a great year round beer and best served alongside a heavy dinner.

Color: pours a vibrant golden color. It really glows and looks beautiful in the glass. At top of this beer forms a 2 finger head that is a nice frothy white.

Nose: Sweetness and citrus with semi sweet malt. The scent of orange lemon zest. In the background of this beer you also get some notes of sweet bread and banana.

Palate: Nice and crisp with a gentle softness. Explodes with flavors and for the high alcohol content in this beer its not evident what so ever.

Finish: medium finish with an array of complexity and sophistication.

Rating: 91 out of 100

Brian Food 8

Word of the day: Tomfoolery

Quote of the day: Character is higher than intellect... A great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think.

- Emerson

Beer Review 8: Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

This brew was simply amazing! usually beers by Stone Brewery are a bit to robust for me,but this beer here really hit the spot! Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous is clearly a sensational brew! Self-Righteous is a dark IPA that was first brewed in 2007 by Stone as their 11th anniversary beer. Usually I hesitate when it come to dark IPA,but this one I took a chance on and I was blown away. This beer comes in at 8.7% abv and can be purchased in a 22 oz bottle. I highly recommend this brew to anyone who is a fan of heavy beers and IPA. Its everything you want and nothing you don't. Wonderfully complex and layered, this Ale by Stone is a benchmark in beer making and a trailblazer to what many IPA is today. 

Color: Pours black with a nice one inch head. not transparent at all.

Nose: A bouquet of hops hit your nose. It smells fresh and clean like a forrest on a spring damp morning. Light citrus emulates from the beer along with coffee notes and nuts. 

Palate: Wow! soft, clean, and gentle. full body beer with a large amount of flavor. Sweet and citrus flavors. 

Finish: Long and full of flavor. Very complex and explosive as well. you get the coffee and sweet malt balanced by the bite of the hop.

Notes: Great year round brew. great with any meal and a cigar. A must have beer  for everyone. 

Rating: 90 out of 100

Beer Review 7: Hitachino Nest Red Rice

When I first had this beer I was not a fan. It was the one beer from hitachino I did not like or even thought was remotely good enough to keep producing. After a second go around with this beer on the recommendation of my buddy Anand, I must now say that I'm a fan. This beer provided an excellent body and taste, with a wonderful nose. It was like drinking a whole different beer. Red Rice is definitely worth the price tag($5.49), so pick one up and give it a shot. Red Rice is an Ale beer brewed using red rice which was cultured in ancient times in Japan. It comes in at a 7 % abv and in a 11.2 oz bottle. Definitely enjoyed best out of a cold pint glass!

Color: This beer pours a very pale red and unfiltered. It creates a white one inch head that disappears slowly.

Nose: some tartness up front... most likely from the citrus in this beer. Also evident are some bread like scents and sweet malt.

Palate: soft,crisp, and light. very tasteful and complex. goes down easy and can't say enough how great it taste.

Finish: short but full of burst. sweetness and some light hops at he end. truly an achievement. 

Notes: great everyday beer,but unless you can afford this beer on a daily basis stay away from it and just allow yourself one on the weekend. Great summer beer,but also does well year round

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer review 6: Maredsous Tripel

This beer is one of those that you will either like or not want to bother with again. The Maredsous Tripel is a Belgian abby beer that has been fermented 3 times. This beer is brewed to what in Belgium is known as the Benedictine tradition. Furthermore, this beer is re fermented in the bottle during a two month aging period before it sold to the public. I bought this beer about a month ago at my bevmo and finally drank it tonight. I bought the 11.2 oz bottle but you can also pick it up in the 750 ml bottle. The alcohol is 10%, typical for a Belgian tripel. so drink it slowly or you'll be down for the count quickly.

Color: pours a cooper orange with hints of gold.

Nose. Very smooth citrus and vanilla. Ripe orange and Mandarin hit your nose with intent. Some cream is also evident on the nose. More complex flavors hit the nose but are hard to break down.

Palate: Drinks heavy and crisp. Definitely a full bodied beer meant to sipped slow and enjoyed. all the complex flavors hit at once with a definite presence of orange on the tongue.

Finish: A bit dry but definetley long. it does linger with some alcohol but that is subdued by the citrus once again.

Rating: 89 out 100

Recommended for those who big Belgian style beer, not for those who like light beer that are light in body or alcohol.

Scotch Review 3: Lagavulin 16

I'm pleased to be reviewing this Scotch. Lagavulin 16 clearly is a masterpiece and a treasure in the single malt world. I received this Scotch on my birthday this year, so major props to the special person who went out of their way to make me happy this August. Lagavulin 16 is an Isla region whiskey,which if you remember from the scotch 101 posting, these whiskies tend to be on the peaty and smokey side. Lagavulin is all that and more: it packs peat and smoke with a complexity of other great flavors. This Scotch should definitely be enjoyed in the winter time because it truly leaves behind a warmth that is wonderful and cozy. Lagavulin 16 is a must buy for any Scotch enthusiast; it tends to sell anywhere from $79.99 to $ 129.99 depending on where you purchase it. Either way If you want to take a step forward into the upper class of Scotch, this whiskey needs to find its way into your home. A little bit more about Lagavulin 16: It's one of the 6 classic malts(I'll cover those in later post),its also one of the oldest whiskies as it dates back to the early 1800's, and it's also known as the "prince of isla" scotch's.

Color: A very light copper with a tint of honey. really glows under the light.

Nose: Yummy peat with tantalizing smoke. Hints of sea and grass in the background. Also the smell of burnt wood penetrates the body of the whiskey.

Palate: Heavy but yet soft. Comes on big and robust,but transitions into a smooth and clean drink. definitely a medium body Scotch with plenty of complexity.

Finish: Long and not long enough. You just wish it lasted a lot longer. Everything comes together: All the scents from the nose come to the forefront, the construction of this Scotch is amazing so it all finishes with a flurry of amazingness.

Rating: 97 out of 100

Brain Food 7

Word of the day: Bewildered

Quote of the day: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

--Heather Cortez

Beer review 5: Orchard White by The Bruery

I love this Brewery! I was just there this Saturday and I had a blast. Most of there beers are hard to find depending where you live in California. The Bruery brews beer that can be drank now or you can have the choice to age them a few months or year's for a better tasting beer down the road. Today I'm reviewing Their Orchard White which is a Belgian Style White Ale. This beer is brewed to some high standards, but I think It falls short compared to their other beers, but White Orchard is still a very solid offering. Orchard is brewed with spices,oats, and its fair share of wheat. Its priced well, so even if you don't like it you don't feel like you spent your money poorly. The ticket price on this is $7.99 for a 750 ml bottle. This beer drinks best out of a tulip glass so don't even bother trying a pint because it totally looses flavor and body.

Color: cloudy white. Very pale with pale white head.

Nose: plenty of citrus here. orange,tangerine and maybe some light grape fruit. Hints of lavender patrol the background of this beer. Somewhere on the nose you get some bread like flavors.

Palate. Even though you get lots of citrus on the nose on the beer does not have a tart or sour flavor. Its a light bodied beer with plenty of character.

Finish: The lavender is very evident on the finish and the citrus is in the back end. the finish is short but quite crisp.

Rating: 89 out 100

Notes: great summer beer and awesome to pair with sea food.

Beer review 4: Yeast Hoist by St. Sebastian

I picked up this beer 4 weeks ago at the Studio City Bevmo. When first looking at it and its price tag I was skeptical. I love everything I have tried from St. Sebastian, so when I saw this I figured I should bite the bullet and pay the hefty price tag on this beer(12.99) and see if it is as good as the price says it should be. I finally got around to Drinking it last Saturday and I was in awe....it poured  beautifully and it had a great smell, and nice coloring.  I must say it was totally worth the price. Yest Hoist is a top fermented Belgian Golden Ale with tons of flavor and complexity. Its drinks better out of tulip than a pint so take that in mind when serving this beer.

Color: this beer is a gorgeous straw/golden color. This beer really glows,it will definitely capture your eyes.

Nose: Lots going on here. Faint citrus lingers in the background. Plenty of malty flavors in the forefront and some fig and pear as well.

Palate: Clean and smooth. Definitely a medium body beer with tons of presence in your mouth. The amount of alcohol and carbonation really give this beer the perfect palate for any beer drinker.

Finish: Amazing, refreshing, and crisp. what else does one need in a beer.

Rating: 96 out of 100

brain Food 6

Word of the day: Egregious

Quote of the day: "When you are in Love you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams."

--Dr Seuss

Beer review # 3.... Speakeasy White Lightnning

I've been drinking this beer for about 3 weeks now trying to find something spectacular about it, but I must say that so far this beer has really come up short in about every category. I expect awesome beer to come out of this excellent San Francisco brewery. White Lightning, is a American style wheat beer (which by the way falls under the ale category) that is brewed with coriander seed and curacao orange peel. Its bottled at 5.2 percent alcohol, which is about right for a wheat beer, and it comes in a 6 pack.

Appearance: Almost a true white color,but it is more pale orange color. It has little to no head at all and what does appear fades away quite fast. It also contains very little carbonation.

Nose: Surprise! Surprise! scents of orange and other citrus appear. Also evident are spices: light Cinnamon and possibly some vanilla.

Finish: its in your mouth and like a flash its gone. not much there at all very lackluster.

Notes: Not worth the price you pay for this 6 pack(9.99). For the price you can do a lot better and save a lot more money. This beer is only good if its the only thing avaliable and you want a wheat beer,but still better than shock top or pyrimid and widmer.

Rating: 85 out off 100

beer review # 2.... westmalle trappist tripel

I picked up this beer last week at work(bevmo studio city) and I was really happy I did. The bottle looked interesting and the description on the price tag made the beer sound amazing. The price tag on this beer was also very reasonable($5.49) especially for the quality of beer you get.

This beer is a Belgian style trappist tripel ale. It comes in an 11.2 oz bottle and it contains 9.5% alcohol. It suggest that you serve this beer around 45-50 degrees and in a Belgian style beer goblet. let me tell you that the right glass did make a difference on this beer,I served a third of this beer into a pint glass and the rest into my goblet and I got two different tasting beers, so do use the proper glass wear when recommended.

Appearance: it pours with an orange hue and with a light foamy head. Also very dense in appearance.

Nose: Citrus! wow if you like those smells you'll be in heaven. The smells of fresh orange come alive and with it strong scents of ripe orange peal. other fruit is evident but hard to narrow down and the slightest scents of wood hit the nose at the end.

Finish: tremendous finish. Sweet on the palate without being syrupy or sugary. complex and layered going down.

Notes: The high alcohol is not evident and that is a good sigh=n from a well crafted belgian ale. Great beer to pair with sea food and or chicken. also a very good fall beer to be enjoyed with thanksgiving foods.

Rating: 91 out of 100

Beer review #1... Dogfish Head midas touch

This is the first beer review on this blog and I'm pleased to be reviewing this brew. Dogfish Head Midas Touch: I picked up this beer today at my local Vendome's, and im very happy about it. This Beer comes from Delaware and it fall's into the Ale tree. This beer pour's a wonderful autumn orange and it has an excellent nose. I really loved this beer from the get go. It really has a wonderful presence on the palate and it really finishes with a bang. Furthermore, This recipe is the actual oldest-known fermented beverage on the planet. This ancient Turkish recipe uses original ingredients from the 2700 year old drinking vessels which were discovered in the tomb of King Midas. So if if you like buttery chardonay this beer would be perfect for you.

Nose: Very evident is the honey which is brewed into this beer. Light grape lingers in the background of this beer, which is a very nice touch.

Palate: Sweet and medium body on the palate. The alcohol level of 9% is perfect for the beer and it helps to balance all the flavor on the palate. Some woody flavors linger from your first swig.

Finish: Outstanding! sweet and full leaves you wanting another because of how amazing this beer is.

Notes: Great with any dinner or a night cap beer. Truly should be in your weekly rotation if you have one. Dogfish has done it again!!!!!

Rating: 90 out 100

brain Food 5

Word of the day: megalomania

Quote of the day: "a heart that loves is always young"

-greek proverb

Scotch Review # 2 Macallan 18

I received this bottle as a christmas gift last year, and i must admit its one of the best gifts any scotch lover can ever receive. So thank you very much Katrina Schindler for such an awesome gift. I took me a few months to get the courage to open such a beautiful bottle of amazing single malt scotch,but when I did boy was I a happy malt lover. The Macallan 18 delivers with class, elegance and masterful craftsmanship. Very few scotches perform like this single malt, many fail to even replicate such precision in their 18 year whiskey's.

The Macallan 18 does carry a hefty price tag,one that may be a bit high,but The name carries power and prestige, so this bottle is a must have for any scotch buff or connoisseur. I highly recommend this single malt and it should be enjoyed on those special day's when you need to treat yourself to something nice.

The Macallan whiskey's are a speyside region scotch, which leads them to be on the softer sweeter side and also they tend to carry soft floral tones.

Nose: very easy to sniff. the alcohol is not potent so you can really stick your nose in it. very present are the scents of vanilla and honey. in the background hints of dried wood and cinnamon hit your nose.

Palate: Again... its gentle on the tounge. it lays soft through the mouth and goes down like sweet honey tea. at the beginning the taste of smoked wood appears followed by soft waves of orange and and dried fruits. underneath all that lies hints of clove and vanilla.

Finish: the finish is like that of the 1812 overture... fantastic and sharp. the lingering flavor of smoked wood and the appearance of ginger give this scotch a finish of epic proportions.

Notes: enjoy this with a fine cigar ( avo no.2 or a montecristo media noche) great after dinner drink and great pairing with dark semi sweet chocolate.

Rating: 97 out of 100

Beer 101

I have already given you some basic knowledge on scotch so now its time to do the same for beer. Beer can be a little complicated because of how many styles there are,but I will do my best to break them down to you. After you are done reading this post you will know the basic beer tree and know what you like in beer and what you most likely don't.

Beer is broken up into two parent categories: Lagers and Ales. under these categories you'll find many other offspring of beer. In the following paragraphs, I will break down the lager tree as well as the ale tree so you can see where all these types of beer branch from.

First I will start with lagers. Lagers are a type of beer that is brewed using bottom-fermenting yeast at lower temperatures and for longer durations rather than those typically used to brew ales. The lower temperature in which this beer is brewed allows the the yeast which is different from the one used in brewing ales to slow work its way into the beer giving the lager a specific taste. Examples of lagers on the market today are as follows: Pilsner,Bock,Marzen,Schwiezbier, and Helles (aka pale lager). all these beers are part of the lager family, there are a few more but we will cover these for now and the others later when i review specific beers. Furthermore, lagers can be two different colors: Golden yellow and/or dark red to Brown. These beers also tend to be lighter than ales. Interesting fact…. lager means storage in German.

Ales is the second and final parent category in beer. In an ale you'll find a beer type brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste. Most ales contain hops, which impart a bitter herbal flavor that helps to balance the sweetness of the malt and preserve the beer. Ales are also top fermented as where lagers are not. Examples of Ales: brown ale, pale ale, india pale ale (ipa) scotch ale, belgian ale, and stouts. I will get more into detail when I review a specific type of ale in future postings.As with lagers, Ales also come in different colors. Some are a strong golden color, others hazy and pale, and some very dark. With ales you can also find that the alcohol level's in them can go anywhere from 5 percent to anywhere under 13 percent.

I hope that this bit of information is helpful to you in your future endeavors into buying beer or even just understanding the vast world of brew.

Brain Food 4

Word of the day: egregious

Quote of the day:

"what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"

Emerson-

How to drink your scotch

Many of us love our booze no matter how we drink it. We don't care if we drink it out of a can,bottle,or even a jar. When we go out to bars or restaurants and we order drinks, we don't care or even give it a second thought to notice what glass they are serving it in, we just simply drink it and order another. Well....let me tell you you something, the glass wear is important! wether it's the proper beer, martini,scotch,or tom collins glass they make a difference.

Today I'm gonna cover the proper way you should drink your single malt scotch's and even those hard to love blends. If your a scotch lover and you simply are drinking your whiskey out of any glass you have at home,it's time to get the proper glass. The GlenCarin glass is what you want. Yes most places and most people drink there scotch out of a tumbler(nothing wrong with that)but to get the full nose and the most taste out of your single malts...the GlenCarin glass is king. Not only is the glass elegant looking its also sophisticated and regal. With this glass you can appreciate all aspects of your whiskey: the color,nose, and the elegance of it. I highly recommend purchasing a glass or two. Once you've had your scotch from one of these glasses you'll tell the difference right away. Keep your tumbler's for your guest or bar's treat yourself like your inner connoisseur and drink like one.

Other notes on how to drink your Scotch.

. Depending on how big the scotch is your drinking add a few drops of water to open it up and release all other aromas

. Pour yourself a glass of no more than six oz and let it sit for a bit before you drink it

. Don't add any other liquid to your single malts other than water.

. Pair your scotch with cigars or chocolate(delicious)

Brain Food 3

Word of the day: eructation

Quote of the day: "no bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings

William Blake-

Brain Food 2

Word of the day: Dander

Quote of the day: Between the failure and the masterpiece,the distance is one millimeter

Paul Gaugin-

Scotch Review #1

The Aberlour 12

This Scotch is an amazing drink. I first picked this up at my local bevmo in studio city. Which by the way happens to be one of the newer bevmo's and one with an excellent Scotch selection.

The Aberlour 12 is a Speyside Scotch, so if you remember what I discussed in my scotch 101 post, you should know that this whiskey will be sweet and soft with some floral hints. Now lets see if my knowledge hold true.

Nose: Sweet and not over powering. Plenty of sweet fruit and a background of floral textures.

Palate: Clean and smooth. Light spice on the tounge with hints of chocolate and sweet apple.

Color: Dark honey with a tint of amber. Almost red at the center of the whiskey.

Finish: Very textured and complex. It ends long and warm,with the clean, crisp taste of cinnamon and ginger

In all i give this scotch a mark of 4 stars out of 5. Highly recommended to those who love the sweeter whiskies. Drink neat and add little water to open up. Enjoy with a cigar or cashews.

Brain Food

Word of the day: Abominate.

Quote of the day:We know what we are,but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare-

A new element to the blog

Starting tomorrow I will begin posting on this blog a word of the day and quote of the day. My goal is too spark or inspire my follower's as to expand their daily vernacular.

Scotch 101

Follower's, today we're gonna get started with what I think is the most refined and magnificent drink on the planet: Scotch! Scotch is a form of whiskey that is produced......where..... yes, your right if you said Scotland. This form of whiskey is amazing and complex with so many different options that you are bound to find one you'll love! So, young connoisseur's here is you

introduction to Scotch.

Scotch whiskey comes from three different main regions,but there are also other parts of Scotland that produce this excellent beverage. The three we will cover in this posting will be: The Isla region Speyside , and Highland region. All these different sectors of Scotland have certain characteristics that make them unique and regional.

First region I will cover is the Isla region. The Isla Scotches have and are known for their peat and smokey textures and flavors. They tend to be more robust and heavy, as they lso pack a heavy punch when consumed. Most Scotch experts believe the the Isla region Scotch's are the top of the line whiskey's. I believe that as well especially when it comes to the older scotch whisky's. In Isla, you can find such distilleries as: Lagavulin(the prince of isla whisky), Ardbeg, which i consider the most robust and manly scotch on the market, Bowmore, Bruichladdich(my favorite from this region) Caol Ila, Laphroaig, and a few more which we will cover in up coming reviews and post.

The second region is the Speyside. Unlike the Isla region, the Speyside Scotches Tend to be a lot sweeter and easy on the palate, but yet very flavorful. They also have lots of floral flavor's and fruit scents. Some of the most popular Speyside Scotch's are: The Glenfiddich, Glenlievet, Aberlour, Balveine, Tomotoul,The McCallan, among more that we will cover later.

The last and final major region I will cover is the Highland region. The Highland region"s in my book tend to be a great balance between both the Isla region and the Speyside . In they Highlands of Scotland the produce such big names in the whiskey world such as: Highland Park, Aberfeldy, Balblair, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glen Ord, Glenmorangie, Oban, and more.

In all Scotland offers plenty of choices for the different palate. As this blog grows older and and longer I will cover all these Scotches and will do my best to describe them in depth and show you how to drink them all properly. Till next time you young connoisseur's

Not only for the men!!!

As I reviewed my first posting i must say that it seem like I have directed this blog just to young men and Men in general. Let me say that that is not my intention. this blog is for those ladies who also want to enjoy the better things in life too. So,ladies please feel free to follow and chime in in your two cents on this blog. Nothing more beautiful on this planet than a women who enjoys a fine scotch and cigar as well as a spectacular beer and solid wine. So, ladies... hope to have you join this movement in learning about the finer things in life.

The Intro

This blog is dedicated to those young, up and coming and aspiring connoisseur's(and those older people out there too). This is meant to enlighten you on the world beyond your generic drinking and smoking pass times and introduce you to the fine world of Scotch(single and blended malts), Bourbon, Craft Beer and Cigars. I hope to cover everything from the different taste's all these great drinks and smokes provide, to how to drink them or smoke them, and most importantly how to pair them with food and how to order them on location. Hope you all enjoy what you'll be reading

Brian Alvarado

blog operator and writer