Month: February 2016

Destihl Brewery Wild Sour Series Counter Clockweisse Berliner Weisse at 3% ABV (US$2.83 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 6-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear pale straw with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart lactic and citrus, wheat, light funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, high tart. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, dry tart finish. (3/5)

Super sour, light and easy drinking – basically mildly alcoholic lemonade. Far more sour than usual for the style. A bit one-dimensional, but drinkable. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Samuel Smith Old Brewery Yorkshire Stingo English Strong Ale at 8% ABV (US$12.62 at Specs Main Houston, 550 ml, bottle date 2012, reviewed 5-Feb-2016)

Appearance: nearly opaque amber-brown with one finger of medium dense ivory head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: raisin, stone fruit, toffee, slightly vinous oak. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart, mild alcohol. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, lively to moderate carbonation, lightly tart and warming finish. (4/5)

“English Strong Ale”? That’s about as helpful a designation as “American Strong Ale” – which is to say, no bloody use whatsoever. Personally, I call this a barleywine – though it’s got elements of a quad or abt, as well. It’s not overly complex, but I have to say, I enjoy it. It doesn’t seem like the combination of sweet dark fruit and almost white wine vinous characteristics would work all that well, but in fact it does. In particular, the tartness on the tongue persists through the finish and stops the toffee malt from becoming mouth-coating or cloying – think christmas pudding with a not-too-sweet lemon sauce. (15/20)

My 215th from the 2010 Edition (204th from the 2013 edition), and 226th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Shipyard Brewing Company Monkey Fist IPA American IPA at 6.9% ABV (Trade – thanks Bayman 4048!, 355 ml, best before 1-Apr-2016, reviewed 5-Feb-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one fat finger of pillowy ivory head, excellent retention and moderate patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: herbal/floral, citrus zest, resiny pine, caramel malt, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-strong bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, dry slightly sticky lingering and building bitter finish. (3/5)

Not bad at all. Stylistically, it sort of bridges old-fashioned Northwest-style American IPA and traditional English IPA. There’s far more bitterness than one usually associates with English IPAs, but the malt is also a strong and rich caramel. Interestingly, that caramel really doesn’t come through on the tongue: the sweetness is initially restrained, and drops off quickly leaving a dry (though still sticky) bitter finish that builds. A bit quirky, sure, but not unpleasant at all. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stillwater Artisanal Stateside Saison Saison at 6.8% ABV (US$3.57 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 16-Sep-2015, reviewed 4-Feb-2016)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short, short-lived white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, apples, grassy funk, bready yeast. (7/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, bone dry moderate bitter and mild tart finish. (3/5)

Not sure what the relationship is between this and Cellar Door, but in my opinion this suffered by comparison to Cellar Door. It’s still a nice saison, but doesn’t have the depth and complexity of Cellar Door. The finish is also dryer but a bit harsher, and on the whole it just doesn’t feel as well put together. Good, not great. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stillwater Artisanal Cellar Door Saison at 6.6% ABV (US$3.57 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 16-Sep-2015, reviewed 4-Feb-2016)

Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dry straw, lemon zest, bready yeast, herbal, stone fruit, grassy. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, dry mildly bitter and tart finish. (4/5)

An interesting blend of hops and herbs give this a unique aroma. The herbs (sage) build on the tongue and gradually become more prevalent as the beer progresses, but never become unbalanced or overwhelming. I initially found it a touch too sweet, but as the bitter and spice grow in the finish, this is less and less of a problem. A very nice beer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Prairie Artisan Ales Eliza5beth Saison Saison at 8% ABV (US$9.46 at Specs Main Houston, 500 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 3-Feb-2016)

Appearance: hazy to cloudy (verging on lumpy) medium to deep gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing slowly to a thick cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: earthy brett funk, stone fruit, woody, dry straw, lemon zest. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (9/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, dry mildly bitter and tart finish. (4/5)

Really nice – even better than their Standard. For me, funky and tart are a killer combination, especially when in-spec for the style, and this delivers. That said, neither of those elements are aggressive or overdone. Very drinkable, with a dry tart finish that invites the next sip. This is definitely a beer for those who appreciate saisons, sours, and brett. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

New Belgium / 3 Floyds Lips of Faith Series Grätzer Ale Grätzer at 4.5% ABV (US$8.41 at Specs Main Houston, 650 ml, best before 1-May-2015, reviewed 3-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with brown margins, two fingers of fluffy light beige head, good retention and patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: ashy, dark roasty malt, earthy. (7/10) Taste: low sweet, mild bitter, mild tart. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, crisp slightly smoky and tart finish. (4/5)

I went into this knowing full well it was nearly a year past its best-by, but I was both curious about the style, and hopeful that as essentially a smoked sour, it would actually have an extended shelf life. It did not disappoint. Despite its intimidating colour, it’s light-bodied, easy-drinking, and mildly tart. Someone unfamiliar with smoked beers might find the smokiness odd or intrusive, but I find it mild and pleasant. The lively carbonation and lactic tartness prevent the smoke from becoming mouth-coating, and the low sweetness works well. The low ABV and tart finish make this pretty sessionable. Really quite an interesting beer, and worth picking up even as far past its best-by as this was. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Avery Brewing Co. White Rascal Witbier at 5.6% ABV (US$2.52 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, bottle date 15-Sep-2015, reviewed 2-Feb-2016)

Appearance: cloudy straw with a short, short-lived white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: banana and clove, bready yeast, orange peel. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light peppery spice. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

A decent, easy-drinking witbier. Pleasantly light, with a little citrus bite in the finish. Not memorable, perhaps, but OK. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Southern Star Brewing Company Walloon Saison at 5.25% ABV (US$2.09 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 2-Feb-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium gold with a short, short-lived off-white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: floral, banana and clove, bready yeast, burned rubber. (4/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, light peppery spice. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry lightly spicy finish. (3/5)

Well, if that’s representative of the extinct (or nearly so) grisette style, I think I know why it went extinct. It’s not bad, as such, but it sure isn’t good. Hard to say whether it’s age or not, since the can isn’t dated. In the absence of a date code telling me this thing is past its best-by, all I can say is, don’t waste your time. (10/20)

5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com