Beer Review 27: Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

With one of the better names in the brewing industry, Jolly Pumpkin also produces some of the best beer's in the country. The artwork on their labels are crazy awesome and the Spanish style names even better. La Roja( the red one) is the beer review for tonight, and wow! This beer was great! La Roja is an American Wild Ale brewed in the Flanders tradition. If you like barrel aged beer's you can cellar and those lovely sour/tart notes in your beer, you will not be disappointed by this brew. Furthermore, to me this beer is a great bargain; at anywhere from $11.99 to $14.99 a 750 ml bottle you get more bang for your buck then buying Russian River sours. In addition, La Roja is bottled at nice 7.20% abv which makes this beer so drinkable and delicious. With this beer you really need to use the proper glassware. I would definitely suggest you use a tulip like the one in the picture; if you don't have one either a snifter or goblet will do fine. Serving size for this beer is anywhere from 6 to 8 oz so don't put the whole  thing down at once. Lastly, this beer pair's well with spicy cheese: some jalapeno jack would be great even some Gorgonzola would pair nicely. This beer is meant to be savored, so sip and enjoy the wonderful craftsmanship of the master brewer's at Jolly Pumpkin. 

Color: A deep dark red. Hints of mahogany. When poured correctly this beer forms a nice to finger head that is a nice foamy white. The beer is well carbonated too.

Nose: sour fruit notes. Green apples some light kiwi, dark cherry and cranberries. Lots of wine like qualities. Soft wood at the back end.

Palate: Amazing! The gentle sourness dances on the tongue. Tart fruit splashes on the inside of your mouth. Medium bodied beer with plenty of texture and complexity.

Finish: Long and explosive. Think Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture. Explodes,seduces, and amazes. One of the better sours on the market today. On par with any of the Russian River beers.

Rating: 97 out of 100

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