Beer Review 46: Founders Breakfast Stout

In a previous post I reviewed Founders KBS, which is by far one of my most favorite stouts on that market. Today's review is Founders Breakfast Stout, this beer is KBS's little non barrel aged brother. Breakfast Stout comes in at a very drinkable 8.3%  abv, and I must say it is so drinkable you can probably polish off the four pack that this beer is packaged in.  Furthermore, this beer does make a great morning beer; with the robust coffee and chocolate flavors, this would pair beautifully with a breakfast burrito or omelet.  Even though this beer is bottled in 12 oz bottles I do suggest you pour 6 oz. at a time into a snifter and sip on this beer because it is truly a magnificent beer that offers complexity and plenty of character as it warms in the glass. Founders brewery in Michigan is really a winner when it comes to brewing stouts... they really know what they are doing and how to please the the consumer with full body stout offerings. Keep up the good work guys.

Color: Pretty dark... I would say dark heavy brown. a nice dark khaki head forms, about 1 1/2 fingers worth and the lacing is quite good through out.

Nose: Just like breakfast should be... full of robust coffee flavors and nice thick dark chocolate. In the background there are the scents of roasted malts and a mellow hp body.

Palate: An amazing mouth feel with excellent drinkability. The carbonation on this beer is great it allows for the beer to show off all its incredible flavors. I love that this beer coats the tongue

with waves of coffee(if I had to guess... Sumatra coffee was used.) and sweet dark chocolate. Totally yummy.

Finish: Like everything else: Coffee and chocolate all the way down the hatch. Well balanced and layered. An incredible stout.

Rating: 96 out 100

Beer Review 45: 50/50 Eclipse Evan Williams

One of the smaller breweries in California 50/50 brewery is located in the northern part of the state in a little city called Truckee. For awhile now they have been brewing their eclipse line of stouts in which they age their stout in different bourbon barrels. Today's review is their Eclipse aged in Evan Williams bourbon barrels, not the best bourbon out there,but I'll tell you what, it provides an excellent tasting stout.  These beers are pretty hard to come across as they make very limited amounts of them each year. The better the bourbon barrel they use the less of them they produce. As for the EW, they only produced 3000 bottles of it last year. Moreover, 50/50 brewery releases this beer each December and boy are they pricey. They range anywhere from $23.99-$25.99  depending on which version of the beer you are buying.  Furthermore, all these stouts are bottled in 22 oz bottles with waxed caps, in this instance the EW is dipped in black wax.  What I really like about this beer is that unlike most top of the line imperial stouts which clock in at high abv's this one is brewed to a 9.5 % abv, and that makes this beer very drinkable. Lastly, this beer is one of those beer's you wanna share with a friend and enjoy after dinner on a cold night with a fine maduro cigar.  Also, before i forget please enjoy this beer out of a snifter and 6 oz at a time.

Color: Black at the core but if held to the light hints of a dark brown appear around the top ring of this beer.  It forms a nice dark tan head, about 1 1/2 fingers worth. Light lacing left behind on the glass.

Nose: Warm bourbon flavors hit the nasal passages: vanilla, molasses, and hints of caramel. Also present are scents of honey, coffee, charred oak, and roasted malts.

Palate: Full bodied with decent carbonation. It drinks warm, so it can use a bit of aging. Here the bourbon coats the mouth and later its soothed by chocolate and honey. The beers hop profile makes a show here but not totally noticeable. 

Finish: Warm, long, and complex. Much like bourbon, this beer can use some time in the cellar before it reaches it max potential

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 44: Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow

Three Floyd's brewery is becoming one of my favorite breweries in the country. They continue to make solid beer that is a bit "not normal" and I like it. Today's review, is a seasonal release by Three Floyd's, usually coming out in July, Apocalypse Cow. This beer is an double IPA brewed with lactose sugar, giving this beer a different taste and take on the style. Coming in at 9.5% ABV this double IPA is very drinkable and balanced. Bottled in 22 oz bottles and priced anywhere from $10.99- $12.99, this beer is worth the buy. Furthermore, Apocalypse Cow is best enjoyed out a snifter glass or tulip glass, this will allow the intriguing characteristics of this beer to be more noticeable. A 9.6 oz serving of this beer should be enough, but one can easily drink down this monster cause it so good. Lastly, this beer makes a great summer time BBQ beer as it pairs nicely with grilled meets, grilled or cedar planked salmon. Make sure to pick up a few bottles of this brew, it does go fast and it is limited.

Color: Hazy bright yellow/orange.  Forms a frothy white one finger head as well. Leaves behind a good amount of lacing.

Nose: Big time citrus and fruit: Oranges, grapefruit, tart tangerine, and peach. pleasant sweetness from the malt and lactose sugar. The hop body brings forth some pine and wet Forest smells.

Palate:  Balanced between the sweetness and hoppiness. Full bodied and very drinkable, the carbonation is just right. petite waves of creaminess coat the tongue and then are washed away by the taste of fruit. Very very nice.

Finish: Long with some dryness. Wonderfully complex and sharp. Three Floyd's brewery really know how to use hop and each beer is always a surprise. 

Rating: 94 out 100

Beer Review 43: Dogfish Head My Antonia

Wanna give a shout out to my very good trading partner Corey Evans for sending me this beer, so thanks! 

My Antonia is Dogfish's version of an imperial pilsner and in my book this beer is a slam dunk. In my humble opinion this is one of the top ten beers that Sam and the boy's over at Dogfish produce. My Antonia is a limited release beer each year so if you are fan of this type of brew, I suggest you seek it out when its released. Furthermore, this pilsner is bottled at a very drinkable 7.5% abv and in a 750 ml bottle. The cost of this beer depends on where you buy it... I have seen and heard that it can go from $10.99-$15.99 a pop. Is it worth the hefty price tag, I would say yes, but only if you really like this style. Moreover, what makes this beer pretty good is that its very versatile, it pairs really well with most foods and its drinkable the whole year round.  I prefer drinking this beer out of either a pilsner glass or a wide bottomed tulip.  Lastly, this beer says it can be aged for time, but I would say differently. I believe that the hop character this beer has will fade over time and it will also lose its crispness, so if you do wanna give it some time take that in mind when doing so.

Color: Golden straw, hazy at the core.  It form a 2 finger with frothy head. Leaves behind a good amount of lacing.

Nose: Some citrus. Oranges and lemons come and go, with comes hints hops and malts. Some nice bready flavors.

Palate: Amazing mouth feel. Refreshing and complex. The hop character of this beer comes through here. the citrus texture blend well with the malt in this beer.

Finish: A tad dry but very drinkable because of the good carbonation of this beer. Lots of good flavor here

Rating: 93 out of 100

Beer Review 42: Cantillon Gueuze 100 % Lambic

For a long time now the Belgians have been brewing beer of all kinds. Some would say they are the best beer producing nation in the world, and in some way I agree with that. They have developed so many styles and have become trailblazers in the world of beer. The one significant style that sticks out for me is the Lambic; here we have a style so beautifully crafted and perfected the by the Belgian brewers. Lambics are beers that are spontaneously fermented and then has fruit added to add texture and flavor to balance out the tartness/sourness. After that process it then aged in oak barrels before bottling. Another form of Lambic is gueuze, and this style is made by blending young and old lambics together. This style is said to be the more dry/intense/sour of all the lambic styles. Today's review is a gueuze style beer from the renowned Cantillon brewery. 100 % Lambic is that beer. This being my first one from Cantillon I was more than pleased to have savored such a treat. Like most beers from Cantillon, they are hard to come across in the U.S. as most of them are very limited, 100 % Lambic is one of the most common ones you can find, so if you see it... buy it! At $ 9.99 a 375 ml bottle it totally worth it. Furthermore, this beer requires special glassware to be consumed; I recommend either a tulip glass or an over sized wine glass, this will allow for this beer to open up and release all its aroma. Moreover, a typical serving size of this beer is about 9.6 oz and it should be sipped at cellar temp(55 degrees). Lastly, this beer is meant to be sipped and enjoyed over time. If you wanna pair this beer with something I would suggest Stilton cheese or a blue cheese or cashews and other more oily nuts.

Color: Hazy gold with hints of pale orange at the center. This gueuze develops a nickle thick head and leaves no lacing on the glass.

Nose: Major yeast funk in the forefront followed by light vinegar tones and barnyard scents.  Also present are very mellow oak scent.

Palate: Light bodied and with a perfect amount of carbonation. The sourness is pleasant as it coats the mouth. Hints of lemon and sour apple appear and slowly wine like qualities such as those of a sauv blanc begin to sow.

Finish: Explosive, complex and surprising. It ends a bit dry but with plenty of flavor. An amzing beer,

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer Review 41: Russian River Consecration

As you well know I am a big fan of everything Russian River brewery.  The brewers at Russian River just continue to produce solid beer and especially in the wild ale category. Consecration is just that, a sour ale that aged 4 to 6 months on Cabernet oak barrels and then refermented in the bottle to create the nice carbonation this beer possesses. Furthermore, this beer is so well crafted and complex that it really requires a special glass to drink it from to fully enjoy this beverage. I recommend you go with either a tulip glass or Cabernet wine glass, both of these will help nose the beer better and help open it up. Moreover, Consecration like most of the RR sours are a bit pricey, but always worth it in my book. At anywhere from $10.99- $ 14.99 per 375 ml bottle, this beer will make a dent in your wallet, so buy them in moderation. Consecration is bottled at a robust 10% ABV, but when drinking it you will notice its hardly evident. Other notes on this beer: Consecration is now on batch five and that's what I am reviewing, this beer is a good choice to age, this beer pairs well with aged cheeses, and will pair nicely with a lamb dinner. So, if you are a fan of sour beers this one should make its way to your home or seek it out on tap at you local beer bar, you wont be disappointed.

Color: A deep mahogany with shades maroon at the core. Forms a clear bubbly head that disappears quickly. No visual lacing left behind.

Nose: Sourness form the brett and other wild yeast and bacteria used to brew this beer. Dark cherries are evident along side the currants and faint tobacco. Oakiness creeps up toward the end.

Palate: Nicely carbonated makes for an easy drink. The abv is well masked through the beer, hardly noticeable. The dark cherry coat the tongue followed by little waves of oak and tobacco. The currants are not very evident here.

Finish: Long and a tad dry. Crisp with oak and cherry. Complex and drinkable, really well crafted beer with the right amount of sourness.

Rating: 94 out of 100. Not as good as Supplication or Temptation, but extremely solid.

Beer Review 40: Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

There is this fine Brewery in San Diego by the Name of Ballast Point and at this fine beer producing business they make what might be my second favorite IPA in the country. Sculpin IPA is that beer, and boy does it leave you feeling like you just had a sublime beer experience. This beer is a complete single IPA, it has everything you want and nothing you hate, this beer is just that good. Furthermore, is that this beer is a single IPA and it delivers all the robust textures and flavors of double IPA's. Moreover, what enhances the taste of this beer is the dry hopping stage that this beer goes through, it adds more complexity to the beer and it lets all the fruity flavors blend together to give Sculpin a wonderful aroma. Like most top of the line IPA's you want to enjoy this beer out of the proper glassware, and for this beer I fully recommend drinking this beer out of a snifter, but a tulip will work ok if a snifter is not available to you. At 7 % abv this beer drinks smooth and clean with plenty of refreshing qualities. Lastly, this beer is worth every dime, at $7.99 a 22 oz bottle I believe this is a steal and this beer should be in your fridge at all times. Try Sculpin with an array of foods, but my recommendation is to pair this beer with meaty  pizza or other robust Italian dishes, the pairing is amazing.

Color: A hazy hopper color with an orange hue around the edges.  This beer is excellently carbonated and it forms a nice 2 finger head when you pour it into your glass. Not much lacing but it does stick to the glass.

Nose: Delightful! This beer delivers a plethora of floral and fruity flavors. Mango, apricots, peach, and some mellow papaya make their way up your nose. The bouquet of hops follows and it is accompanied by a welcomed sweetness..

Palate: A full bodied beer that is balanced, explosive, and complex. This beer just throws everything at you and it all works so well together. Smooth and clean and exploding with flavor.

Finish: Just sublime! The Hops are more evident at this stage and the fruit kinda takeas a back seat but nothing wrong with that. Best Single IPA on the west coast and maybe the whole country.

Rating: 96 out of 100

Beer Review 39: 3 Floyds Moloko

For those of us out west or way out on the east coast we may not be familiar with 3 Floyds Brewery, but we should be. They make some of the best beer this country has to offer and also at very good prices. Located in the small city of Munster, Indiana it van be easy to overlook such a brewery, but with solid offerings like Dark Lord imperial stout, Moloko, Behemoth, and Apocalypse Cow this brewery is amazing.  Tonight's review is on Moloko, a milk stout that is released in the summer months. It can be seen on the shelves starting in August. Furthermore, this beer is is awesomely priced at $8.99 a 22 oz bottle and the art work makes this an eye catcher as well. Moreover, this milk stout is bottled at a nice 8 % abv, which is wonderfully masked by the creamy texture of this excellent beer. Moloko is not a beer you need a special glass for, so any icy cold pint glass will do. This beer, unlike most high abv stouts, is not meant for aging, so don't still stick it in your cellar for to long, as it will loose most of it characteristics that make Moloko so tasty. Lastly, this is an awesome stout for hot days in the summer, it drinks so good and it can be paired as a dessert beer or with some fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Go and seek this beer out, you wont regret it.

Color: Very Dark... almost jet black.  Pours with a nice two finger tan head and the beer has a medium level carbonation.  Some lacing left behind.

Nose: Milk Chocolate and cream hit the nasal passages first followed by hints of mellow coffee and vanilla flavors. Caramel brings up the rear.

Palate: Light bodied stout with lost of sweet and creamy flavors. The milk chocolate hits the palate first directly followed by some fresh vanilla and coffee tones. 

Finish: Smooth and clean. Sweetness and mild roastiness are evident on the way down. Everything works together to make an excellent drinking beer.

Rating: 93 out of 100