Beer Review 26: Russian River Brewing Temptation

As of late I've been on a sour beer binge,especially Russian River Brewing sours. Last night I took my first sip of Temptation and It was nothing short of breath-taking and amazing! Temptation is one of there many sours aged in French oak barrels. This beer is almost like drinking wine, but as matter of fact, Temptation starts off as a blonde ale during first fermentation. After that, while rest in chardonnay barrels, this beer receives a second fermentation using a very wild yeast hated by all brewers and wine makers, brettanomyces also known as brett. This yeast strain begins to give this beer its sour or tart textures. Furthermore, during this process of fermentation, Temptation also receives added good bacteria. This bacteria gives this beer its pleasant sourness and excellent flavor. Moreover, Temptation is best enjoyed out of  a tulip glass and not any other glass. This beer is a rarity so finding it may be hard, but if you come across it please pick it up. You can buy this beer from $ 11.99 to $ 14.99. In addition, to its steep price, Temptation is bottled in a corked 375 ml bottle, but can be found in a 750 ml bottle if you drive up to Santa Rosa and pick it up at the brewery. Lastly, I would recommend drinking this beer on its own and muddling the excellent and complex flavors by adding different food flavors to your palate. If you feel like pairing it with something... I would recommend cheese. Finally, the abv on this beer is 7.50 %.... perfect just perfect.

Color: Bright golden blonde. Very nicely carbonated, little to no lacing and it form a thin crisp whit head.

Nose: Plenty of white fruit: pear,apple, and not white, but present kiwi. A pleasant sourness hits the nose like a tidal wave.

Palate: Crisp, clean, bubbly, and soft. The light Tartness/sour dances on the tongue giving the mouth a pleasant tingle feeling.

Finish: Nothing short of long and emaculate! this beer wow's with greatness, artisitry, and elegance. Its a firework show alll the way down the hatch.

Rating: 98 out of 100

Beer Review 25: Hitachino XH ( Xtra High)

Hitachino Nest XH is tonight's review and I am so pleased to be writing about it. This beer is great on every level, from the nose to the mouth feel and later into the finish. This beer scores massive points all the way around!  Brewed as a Belgian-style brown ale which is then aged in sake barrels for a few months, this beer develops plenty of complexity and character. Like all Hitachino products, this beer is a pit pricey for the amount of beer you get. At $6.99 a bottle and only available in 330 ml bottles(11.2 oz) this beer does put a dent in your wallet, but man it is sure worth every penny. Furthermore, this beer is bottled at a very smooth tasting 7% abv. However, this beer should be sipped, if you drink it to fast you will miss all the great flavor of this beer offers and the medium abv will creep up on you fast. Another tip for tasting this beer is to drink it out of a snifter or goblet. The proper glass really does make a difference here. Lastly, this beer pair great with cheese(Stilton, blue cheese, and goat). 

Color: A blend of Autumn colors: burnt orange, light red, and brown. Very nice off white head and with little to no lacing.

Nose: Vinegar,plenty of cherry, and dried fruits(think trail mix). Also very present is an assortment of wild and spicy spices.

Palate: It floats on the tongue. A nice soft body with no trace of alcohol. Plenty of sweet and gentle fruit. Definitely plenty of sake influence here. 

Finish: Clean ,tasty  and of medium length. The taste of Cinnamon and Coriander come through, even some really ripe orange and cherry explode on the finish.

Rating: 95 out of 100

Beer Review 24: Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

First off I want to thank Bill Rabb, my Beer Advocate buddy for making this review possible. I've always wanted to try this beer by Dogfish, especially since it was brewed with the purpose of being paired up with steak and other rich meats. If you know me, I'm a big fan of steak....a BIG fan! Raison is a Belgian style brown ale that is bottled at 8 % abv. This beer is a definite sipper and one of those beer's that you shouldn't have more than two in one sitting. Furthermore, you can buy this beer in a 12 oz six packs which will run you anywhere from $11.99 to $ 13.99 depending on where you buy it. Also, in some places you can buy it per bottle and that will run you about $2.25. In addition,  this beer should be enjoyed out of a goblet glass or snifter. I made a mistake of pouring one into a pint, even though it wasn't bad out of that glass, when I did have a second Raison D'Etre I poured it into my goblet and it was even better, so do use the right glass for this beer.  Moreover, what makes this beer great is its complexity. Raison drinks like a Bordeaux wine.... full bodied and complex with an amazing mouth feel and finish. Finishing up, this beer is a must seek for Dogfish lovers and  beer geeks alike. Find it, enjoy it, and work it into your rotation, this beer will please.

Color: A nice Mahogany brown with some beautiful glow. Thin head form but dissolves quickly. some lacing left behind. Very nicely carbonated.

Nose: Raisins abound.  Sweet malts and sugars. Light fruit in the background. Lots of wine qualities.

Palate: Medium bodied with a good presence. For a beer with a high abv the alcohol is well masked. It sweet on the tongue with a strong fruit feeling. Totally enjoyable.

Finish: Of good length and with plenty of taste. Complex but accessible. A beer that was brewed with a purpose and it succeeded. 

Rating: 90 out 100

Beer Review 23: Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale

Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale is only available during the new year and its quite a treat if you really give this beer a chance.  Upon opening this beer and then pouring it into your pint glass, you'll quickly get a scent not pleasant to the nose; this beer smells dirty... almost like dirty feet! It almost makes you want to toss the beer out,but if you are a Hitachino beer fan like I am you give it a chance. This beer blows you away on the palate and that is where this beer scores its points. Furthermore, this beer is best enjoyed out of a snifter glass and not out of the bottle or pint glass, this beer really opens up in the snifter and this allows this ale to drink to its full ability. Also, like all Hitachino beer's, this beer is a bit expensive... at  $6.99 for 330 ml bottle which translates to 11.2 oz its a pretty steep price to pay for any beer this size. In addition, this beer is bottled at 9 % abv, and for a beer with that high of an abv you really can't taste the booze. In all this beer really pleases once you get past the whole smell thing, so please do try this beer and enjoy it with any chicken dish or pork dish, this beer makes a good dinner drink.

Color: Brownish.... almost copper. quite hazy with big head. Light lacing and well carbonated.

Nose: Not pleasant. To much going on with this beer that it muddles the nose and creates a really bad aroma.  It can be that there is to much spice going on here and with the hops on this beer it creates a dirty stench.

Palate: Big point here. you get all sorts of tasty, smooth, and complex flavors. Orange  peel comes through with a bit of nutmeg and vanilla bean. Also evident is some coriander and other citrus. Definitely a medium bodied beer with plenty to offer in the mouth.

Finish: Medium with a nice hop Finnish. Plenty a spices make all the way to the end giving this beer some good character. Still this beer lacks a bit at the finish.... this beer could be a bit more layered and bolder.

Rating: 88 out of 100

Beer Review 22: Deschutes Abyss 2010

Let me start off by saying WOW! As in probably the best stout I have ever had and quite possibly the best stout on the market today. Deschutes Abyss is an imperial stout aged in oak barrels for a period of time and because of this, this beer is packed with flavor and flavor and even more complex flavor, this beer is craftsmanship at its very best. Bottled at 11 % abv, The Abyss is smooth and clean with hardly any trace of the high alcohol. This 22 oz offering from Deschutes brewery out of Bend,Oregon is part of their reserve series which include great beers such as The Dissident, Mirror Mirror, and The Black Butte XX and XXI; all these beers are seasonal and some like The Dissident are only brewed every 2 years, making these brews rare and great items to buy and age in your cellar for a couple more years. Furthermore, The Abyss  is meant to be shared with other beer aficionados because one bottle of this on your own will land you on your ass. In addition to sharing its also important to use the proper glassware for this beer and the proper serving. My prefrence for this beer is a snifter glass, but this beer can also be enjoyed out of a 16 oz pint glass according to Deschutes. Finally, this beer is great when paired with dessert dishes, a great companion to any pastry with red fruit in it. Also this beer can be paired with plenty of stinky cheeses and heavily spiced pasta dishes.  

Color: Dark brown to almost a solid black. A dime thin tan head that leaves behind some medium lacing. This beer also has a good amount of carbonation.

Nose: A plethora of smells attack the nose. Charred wood and sweet vanilla penetrate first followed by a mild scent of Bourbon. Maple syrup is also present and it is balanced well with the robust black coffee in this beer.

Palate: Full bodied beer with a robust presence. A big beer with plenty texture and complex flavor. Molasses makes an appearance as does licorice(black). the alcohol is well masked in this beer making this beer very drinkable.

Finish: Long and bold. It finishes with waves of  different flavors. bourbon first followed by molasses and coffee, and then the vanilla soothes everything making this beer epic and majestic.

Rating: 96 out of 100

side note: buy 2 drink one now and age the other and drink a year from now, should get better

Beer Review 21: Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Burton Baton by Dogfish Head is tonight's review and it will be a good one. I've been saving this beer for a  while since my buddy Anand gave it to me sometime back. As we all know, Dogfish is known for their "off-centered" ales because of all the strange ingredients that go into their beer, and how they brew the beer. Sometimes it just seem like they go over board in creating their product, but with Burton they did  the opposite.... this beer is the true meaning of "less is more"  and for Dogfish this is... well a change of pace. Burton Baton is spectacular and simple. It starts of with two threads: An imperial ipa and a old English strong ale, then its blended together and aged in oak barrels before it is bottled. The result of this simplicity is an amazing brew. Bottled at a smooth and tasty 10 % abv, this beer you can be purchased in four packs for about $13.99. Furthermore, this beer is great to pair with meaty pizza and oily fish i.e. salmon. Lastly, this beer is a seasonal beer and its only brewed three times a year, so keep your eye out for this offering.

Color: A hazy amber/brownish tint. looks a lot like raspberry iced tea.  Very well carbonated and it also forms a dime thin white head. Hardly any lacing.

Nose: First thing that hits the nose is the nice balanced hop aroma, followed by these waves of sweet vanilla and charred wood... yummy! The smell of citrus then comes through most likely from what I believe may be north-western hops.

Palate: Definitely a big beer with some kick. Full bodied and delicious. Oaky notes float on the the tongue then they are washed away by tangy grapefruit and orange.

Finish: Great, Awesome, and complex. Explodes with all sorts of texture and artistry.  Its a beer meant to be sipped and enjoyed all the way through. Good job Dogfish Head!!!!

Rating: 95/100

Beer Review 20: Oskar Blues Old Chub

Oskar Blues out of Colorado is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries in the country. Everything I have gotten my hands on has been amazing and incredibly tasty. Tonight's review focuses on there wee heavy style Scotch Ale Old Chub. This beer checks in at a smooth 8 % abv and its also nicely packaged in cans available only in a 6 pack. Furthermore,  Scotch Ales are known for there copper color and malty sweetness, and this beer is no exception. Its big on flavor and a great drink. The alcohol is nicely blended into this brew so you don't get any of that burny nasty flavor that bad high alcohol beer's give you. In addition, old chub stacks up with any of the other domestic beer's in this category. I feel it falls behind to the AleSmith's Wee Heavy, but after that.... its a coin toss on which other Scotch Ale in the country is second best. This beer is enjoyed either in the can you buy it in or in a cold pint glass . Lastly, this beer pairs wonderfully with smoked meat and grilled salmon, but also does well with gouda and cashews. Go out and try this beer, its worth the dollar amount.

Color: Copper to dark hazy brown. develops a light head, but disappear quickly. Nicely carbonated. 

Nose: A bundle of sweet malty goodness. Light smokey textures that pair with some caramelized nuts and sweet bread. 

Palate: A bit sticky, but not like syrup. Its definitely a medium bodied beer that is layered with plenty of sweetness. Lots of bready textures on the tounge.

Finish: Smooth, clean, and sweet. Extremely drinkable. Its everything a Scotch Ale should be. 

Rating: 89 out of 100

Wine Review 1: Educated Guess Cabernet

The time has arrived for the first wine review on this blog. Tonight I'll be reviewing the 2007 vintage Educated Guess, a Cabernet from Napa Valley, California. This wine is cellared and bottled at roots run deep winery in St. Helena which is located in the northern part of the state.  Before I continue with my review of this wine I'd like to give you some information on the Cabernet grape and the varietal. It is widely accepted in the world of wine that Cabernet is the world's best varietal. Furthermore, this is a big grape with thick skin and when made into wine it provides flavors of blackberries,black currants, raspberry and blueberry. In addition to the mass amount of fruit flavor this varietal provides, this type of wine also goes through heavy oak treatment which gives this type of wine the earthy wood flavors people love in Cabernet. Other facts about Cabernet are: these wines tend to age well, so you can buy a few bottles and drink one now and cellar the rest and drink at a future date. Not all Cabernet will stand the test of time, some are good to go now and not later. I recommend you age this type of wine only if you are paying upwards of 25 dollars a bottle if not just go ahead and drink now and enjoy them along side steak and cheese's such as Stilton, goat , blue, and Cheddar.  Now back to the review on hand. 2007 Educated Guess... I've been talking up this wine since I first had it in January of 2010. This wine showed beautiful character and presence, and a complexity rivaling many of the more expensive Cabernet on the market today i.e. DuckHorn and Jordan. However, unlike Jordan or DuckHorn which carry a hefty price tag and get better with some cellar time, Educated guess only cost $ 19.99 on average and really doesn't benefit much with the aging process. If you do age this wine though I would say don't let it sit for more than 2 years. Like most Cabernet the abv on this wine is on the high side at 14.5 % , but it still drinks smooth and clean all the way through to the finish. Lastly, I'd have to say this wine is a good introductory Cabernet for those looking to get into this varietal. Its soft and easy to drink, it falls on the fruitier side rather than the high tannin- dryer- more classy Cabernet's. Enjoy Educated Guess alongside lamb and strong cheeses and make sure to use a red wine glass to fully enjoy all the great complexities of this varietal.

Color: Crimson on the rim of the wine. Violet at the core. It leaves behind a medium amount of legs on the glass.

Nose: Gentle and very aromatic. Plenty of red fruit in the forefront: Cranberry and raspberry hit your nose first followed by some mellow black fruit: black cherry and some plum.

the tannins in this wine are in check and subtle.

Palate: Here is where this wine earns its grade. explodes with complex flavor of fruit and earth. The acid of the wine is mellow and not over powering. Hints of wood and light vanilla appear. Its a firework show in your mouth.

Finish: medium to long. its soft and crisp all the way through. it really finishes silky soft and with plenty of texture.  

Rating: 89 out of 100

Beer Review 19: Maui Brewing Co. Coconut Porter

Maui Brewing Co. is a pretty new brewery on the large scale of  all things beer. At this time they brew four types beer that are available to mostly everybody in the United States. The review for tonight focuses on their Coconut Porter which is their most award winning beer. This beer is quite frankly an excellent porter and worthy of the accolades it has received. It drinks exceptionally clean and smooth with lots of layered flavor. Maui's Coconut Porter comes packaged in canned form and as a 12 oz four pack. Furthermore, this beer is worth all of the $ 9.99 you pay for it, so don't hesitate in buying this beer if you see it at your local store. In addition, Coconut porter is is canned at a smooth drinking 5.7 percent abv, making this porter an excellent fall to winter beer. Lastly, I love this beer as a dessert beer! Tried it with with some cherry pie on Monday and boy was the combination fantastic. I  also recommend pairing this beer with an au jus beef sandwich and an orange flavored dark chocolate bar..... yummy!

Color: A heavy dark brown almost espresso like. It form a one finger tan head the dissolves slowly. This beer is well carbonated and leaves behind some light lacing.

Nose: Smokey, roasty, and nutty. Major roasted coffee in the forefront, followed by chocolate covered coconut. A creamy texture floats in the background along with light smokey oak.

Palate: A definite medium bodied beer. It boasts plenty of espresso flavors. In the mouth you also get an appearance of hazel nut and vanilla that later gets over taken by surfacing woody flavors that bring forth a honeyed coconut texture.

Finish: Long and robust, but not explosive.  It goes down like a good iced coffee and it also leaves a trail of kind sweetness. This beer delivers complexity and excellent beer craftsmanship. Cheers! Maui Brewing Co

Rating: 94 out of 100

Beer Review 18: Russian River Brewery Damnation

Russian River Brewery is known to be one of the premiere breweries in the country. With many crowd favorites like pliny the elder, supplication, blind pig, and pliny the younger you would expect that their other beer's would be good as well.... Damnation is no exception, this Belgian Golden Ale is amazing and would make any Belgian monk proud. This is my first time having this beer and I'm amazed at how smooth and spectacular it is. I would really have to compare this beer to any top Belgian made Golden Ale on the market. Furthermore, this beer isn't hard to find,so if your a fan of Belgian style ales go pick one up at your local whole foods or vendomes or any other retailer that carries Russian River beer. The price tag on this beer is not over the top, as a matter of fact this beer is priced below market value in my book.  At $ 4.99 to $ 6.99 this beer is a steal. Bottled in a 375 ml bottle and at a nice and smooth 7.75 abv, this beer should make it into your beer rotation as much as possible. In addition to all the fantastic info I have given you about this beer, you should really enjoy this beer out of a tulip glass or a Belgian style wide mouth glass i.e. a chimay glass.  Lastly, This beer makes a great year round beer and it can be enjoyed on its own or with some bellavitano cheese. Another great thing about this beer is that it is so versatile, that you can pair it with any lunch or dinner meal.

Color: A beautiful golden color with hints of orange at the core. This beer forms a very thin white head and it leaves behind some light lacing. This beer is also very nicely carbonated.

Nose: Staying authentic to the Belgian Style of brewing, this beer smells of yeast textures and sweet malt. I also get plenty of white fruit like pear and apple.

Palate: Here light hops emerge along with some light woody flavors....a ceder plank smell comes to mind.  Lightly on the tongue you also get citrus flavors( think tangerine).

Finish: Long and and some what dry. It really finishes complex and layered with plenty of flavor. 

Rating: 91 out of 100

Beer Review 17: Stone Lucky Bastard

Stone Brewery's Lucky Bastard is tonight's beer review. I'm actually very pleased to be reviewing this beer because it was such a treat to drink it. Lucky Bastard quickly became one of my favorite stone offerings and easily one of my top 3 stone beer's. This beer is a blend of the other three bastard  beer's: Arrogant Bastard, Double Bastard, Oak Aged Bastard, and all 3 together make a fabulous, deeply rich, and tasty beer. Furthermore, this beer is not for the meek, it packs a punch and also delivers an array of pungent/citrusy flavors. In addition to the latter, this beer is truly an accomplishment for stone brewery. This beer deliver excellent craftsmanship and ingenuity, while still keep the stone character of beer making. Lucky Bastard, is bottled at a decent 8.5 % abv and is available in a 22 oz bottle. The suggested serving size is 6 oz, but I ignored that and went for a 16 oz serving and it delivered a knock out punch once done with my pint. Seriously you are better off sharing this beer with someone who will appreciate it with you. Other information about this beer: lucky bastard was brewed to celebrate 13 years of brewing arrogant bastard, this beer will pair well with a meaty pizza or a heavy Italian dish, and finally you can purchase this beer for $ 5.99 to $ 6.99 depending on where you decide to buy it.

Color: A very dark amber color, almost hazy. At the core it gets a dark brown. It forms about a two finger tan head and leaves behind a nice amount of lacing.

Nose: A nice pungent smell... almost a dank aroma. Hops explode on your sense once you really put your nose into it. In the background you get some sweet malt along with some bread and citrus flavors.

Palate: Sticky and citrus filled. Full bodied and extremely bold. A plethora of hops dance on the palate and leave behind hints of grapefruit and apricot. If you really give the beer a twirl in your mouth you get a genteel sweetness that is superb.

Finish. Sticky and long. The hops deliver a ripe citrus sweetness with a mild bitterness.  But this is where the beer kinda falls apart. It feels syrupy and lacks complexity, and most of the excellent flavors this beer presented at the start are now barely evident.

Rating: 89 out 100

Top 10 Winter Seasonal Beer's

This is my list of the must drink winter seasonal beer's, so I hope you can go out and try these fabulous brews

1. Deschutes Brewery Abyss: This beer is an imperial stout with plenty of complexity and character. Age for a year or so an you'll have a beer that can quite possibly be the best stout in the world.

2. Anderson Valley Winter Solstice: A creamy beer with plenty of winter in it. Not overly spiced or under spiced..... just perfect. Pick up a six pack and enjoy!

3. Dogfish Head Chicory Stout: A low abv stout with plenty of coffee notes and light chocolate. Goes well with most meals and its great alone. a  bit pricey, but worth the money.

4. St. Feuillien Cuvee De Noel: A great Belgian seasonal. Loaded with plenty of flavor and high abv to surely keep the winter cold away. 

5. Affligem Noel: a dark brown beer that smell like Christmas! what else need to be said.

6. Sierra Nevada Celebration: Nicely hopped and spiced. A perfect winter beer with more to offer than other beer's in its category.

7. Ale Smith Yule Smith: Hopped perfectly and it smells of pine tree and nutmeg, Yummy!

8. Firestone Velvet Merlin: A stout with character. Very smooth for a stout but also packs plenty of flavor.

9. Anchor Christmas: For years its been a staple of the winter months. Every year a different recipe is made and every year it satisfies. A must have for the winter months.

10. Dogfish Head World Wide Stout: Hard to find, hard to justify paying 10 dollars for a 12 oz bottle, but definitely a pleaser. With an 18 % abv and heavy coffee and barley flavors, this beer fulfills and justifies a place on this list,

Scotch Review 4: Bruichladdich Resurrection 2001

Its been awhile since I last reviewed a Scotch Whiskey, So today I'm gonna review a goodie. Bruichladdich Resurrection 2001 is a Islay region Scotch that is nothing short of fantastic.  This is a 8 year old Scotch that drinks smooth and much more mature than it is. When drinking this for the first time I was amazed at how soft and complex this whiskey was. It showed precision and an array of earthy flavors and light fruit. Furthermore, the traditional peat and smokey flavors that are common in Islay whiskies are toned down and not overwhelming. Bruichladdich Resurrection is a must drink for any Scotch lover, especially anyone who loves the Islay region.  This bottle runs on the expensive end, but totally worth every penny. At anywhere from $79.99 to $89.99 this bottle is sure to please. This bottle was also released in limited quantity, as only 24,000 bottles were ever made of this whiskey. . In addition, this this whiskey is bottled at a robust 46.4 abv and is best savored out of a gleancarin glass. This Scotch needs little to know water to open up so drink up and enjoy. Resurrection makes a great dinner whiskey that will pair well with roast meats and other heavy meals and it sure makes a great winter warmer alongside a maduro cigar.

Color: A beautiful pale golden straw color. definetly looks young.

Nose: the obvious peat and smoke hit first, but don't over power the other wonderful smells from the whiskey. The peat in gental amd  the smoke peaceful. Hints of sea breeze and wet grass. In the background you get light apple and pear followed by some mineral elements.

Palate: A full bodied Scotch with plenty of complexity.  At the beginning you get the subtle fruit and its then taken over by the smoke and mineral elements. The peat plays on your tounge nicely and the whiskey is layered with plenty of amazing flavors.

Finish: Long and smooth. Warm and glorious. This single malt whiskey drinks with all the grace and ellegance of a much older Scotch. A definte winner.

Rating: 93 points out 100