Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

This interestingly named ale is from the Lagunitas Brewing Company outside of San Francisco California. It pours out a clear amber and has a strong hop bitter nose with a sweet raisin scent. Boy the flavor is stronger than the scent. There's big hops, very strong in the middle, and again on the back end. Also we have raisin and caramels, and some herbal flavors. This is really strong on the hop, but there is other strong flavors as well as alcohol, 9.8% ABV. So there is some balance here. This is a nice beer. I like it despite it's massive hop, and I will get this again. Boy, five minutes after I finished this stuff and my mouth is still awash in hops. Give one a try. Just one.

Longshot Old Ben's Ale

This is the 2nd of the Sam Adam's longshot beers and I hope for better. Old Ben's Ale pours out a dark copper color and has a burnt sugar nose. Wow, this is a sweet beer with strong molasses and caramel. There's also hop tingling around the edges, but this ones all about the malts. Bold flavors and a strong lingering finish. It's also got a strong 8% alcohol which I fully support. For such a rich full bodied beer it's very drinkable. You could enjoy a few of these. I like this way better than the Barleywine. One more to try.

Bell's Amber Ale

The Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo Michigan is one and one with me. Their Two Hearted Ale is very good while I found their Winter White to be bad. But since I'm trying Amber's I thought I would grab their's and see which of those earlier beers was the fluke. Bell's Amber is a cloudy amber with a bit of stuff floating around in it. It's got a strong caramel nose with crisp hop and a tinge of yeast. This has nice honey and caramel with a very balanced hop throughout. The finish is really short, but this is just a nice beer to drink. Great flavors, a nice refreshing crisp bite make this a good every day beer. So far second only to the superb Railbender. I would definitely recommend picking up a sixer.

Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale

Boont Amber just drew the short straw and has to follow Railbender. Well it better be good. It's made by the Anderson Valley Brewing people from Boonville California. That would be somewhere in the northern pot growing region of the state. Alright, it's amber and it's caramelly. These amber ales all have the same flavor profile, so I'm getting sick of writing the same stuff. Well this is a decent amber, but after that Railbender this beer is lame. Oh well, better luck next time Anderson Valley Brewing.

Erie Brewing Railbender Ale

Railbender Ale is a Scottish style amber ale from the Erie Brewing Company of Erie PA. It pours out a slightly cloudy amber and has a rich, creamy, caramel scent. The flavors are ruled by smoky caramels with nice crisp hop throughout. This beer is extremely well balanced. It's very simple, but perfectly executed. This is a great beer. I love how you can taste the 6.8 % alcohol and it only enhances the flavor. This is a near flawless amber, I could drink ten more right now. But alas, for my public I must move on. I pity the amber that follows this sweet nectar.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial I.P.A.

Dogfish Head, out of Milton, Delaware, brings one of their premium beers the 90 Minute Imperial I.P.A. This stuff pours out a nice light amber color. It has a strong bitter hop that overwhelms the nose, and only reveals a faint glance at the malts beneath. Much to my surprise the opposite is true when it first hits the palate. The malts totally dominate up front bringing out a lovely mellow caramel sweetness. Then the hops come to the forefront, followed by a very balanced finish. This beer really brings it with big flavors and a big punch, 9% ABV. I would recommend it highly, but it is expensive, about 3 bucks a 12 ounce bottle. Make it a pint I'd be happier. Go Blue Hens, One of the gayest sounding college mascots ever.

4 Smuttynose hanami Ale vs #5 Blue Moon Rising Moon

Wow, we're down to the last contest of the first round. It's been an excellent tournament so far and I'm looking forward to the second round. But first we have two more competitors. In the red corner, a cherry ale fighting out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Smuttynose, Hanami Ale. In the green corner, a wheat ale with kieffer lime leaf and lime peel, fighting out of Golden, Colorado, Blue Moon, Rising Moon Spring Ale. Wait, WTF, isn't that where Coors is from, hmmmm. Anyway, the referee for this bout will be ruffles cheddar and sour cream chips. He's surely had a lot of experience dealing with many types of beers.

And the bell rings. Hanami pours out a cloudy copper to red color. While our challenger pours out a slightly cloudy dark golden amber. Hanami seems a bit week on the nose in the early stages with some yeast and faint sour cherry. Rising Moon fails to counter with it,s weak key lime pie nose. Wow, Hanami starts to deliver blows with it's cherry pie flavor, it's mild hop bitters and lingering fruit finish, which goes on for days. The ref stops the fight while he is being eaten. Rising Moon counters the onslaught with it's key lime pie flavor and a crisp hop bitterness, that really balances the sweet out nicely. This beer is crisp and creamy at the same time, interesting. Once again, huge pieces of the ref are heartily consumed. It's time for these competitors to get down and dirty, trading sip for sip.

You would think the Hanami could take down his opponent with his big flavors, but instead the flavor, balance and hop bite of Rising Moon is starting to impose it's will. This is incredible, Hanami has been a spring favorite for years. But Rising Moon could be an anytime beer and would pair great with many foods and our referee, CRUNCH. This has been a great match-up but Rising Moon's excellent balance is really starting to tell. Hanami is stumbling. Oh, a big shot of crisp refreshing beer and Hanami is down. Down goes Hanami. Wow, an amazing contest between two worthy competitors, I would gladly drink again. Looks like Rising Moon will be appearing in my belly every Spring, and moves on to the second round to face Anchor Bock.

Smuttynose

Blue Moon

New Belgium 2 Degrees Below

Here we have the first up of our non North Carolina beers, 2 Degrees Below. This is a winter ale from New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins Colorado. 2 Degrees pours out a nice classic amber color. It really hits you on the nose, with toffee, tootsie roll, and spice. One of the more intriguing smelling beers I have experienced. Let's have a taste, shall we. Oh my, It's a bitter blast of hop up front, way more than I expected. There's an awful lot on the finish too. Luckily, there are also some nice flavors in here. There's a nice sweetness and a slightly burnt toffee flavor. After a couple sips the jarring bitterness up front tends to fade, which makes it smoother and easier to drink. This is a nice beer, but a little disappointing. I got so much on the nose, but the hops tended to overwhelm the other flavors. I sense a rant in my future, but not yet, not yet. This is obviously quality stuff ,but they missed the mark a bit here. they need to change the hop ratios or bring some more malt up to meet them. I hope to see more from these guys next time. Oh yeah, we just found those shells on the beach today, never seen so many perfect shells.

http://www.newbelgium.com/

#1Sam Adam's Noble Pils vs #8 Otter Creek Spring Ale

The last two match-ups both involve the North-East region. The first is the #1 seed Sam Adam's Noble Pils, a lager Brewed with five different hops. You all know where it's from, but the competition is a bit more obscure. The #8 seed from Middlebury, Vermont is Otter Creek Spring Ale, A German kolsch style ale. The palate cleanser will be, tacos. The pils is a fairly clear gold, while the kolsch is a slightly cloudy pale gold. The Noble Pils has all kind of bold hop nose you can really distinguish a few different hops. The Spring Ale has quite the yeasty nose with a bit of citrus. Tasting the Noble Pils brings a cavalcade of hops, up front, in the middle, on the finish and everywhere else. Shell, Meat, cheese, lettuce, etc, chomp. The Spring Ale is smooth and crisp, light on the hop with a honey, floral flavor. Tacos nice and crunchy.

Let's go head to head with these two contenders.

I really thought the Noble pils was a bit too much. That much hop needs more to balance it out, but it does kind of grow on you. There are at least a bunch of different hop flavors, rather than one overwhelming hop wall, like other hop monsters. The Spring Ale is a really easy drinking beer with nice flavors. It's good, but one sip is just like any other. The Sam Adam's may escape with this one, but just barely. The Pils is just not balanced , but it has just enough intrigue to take it past this kolsch. I can't see how this pils is gonna get very far, it did not deserve this high a seed. This Spring Ale is worth a look if you like kolsch style beers. Noble Pils moves on to the second round to face the surprise #6 seed Garde Dog.

#3 Spring Buck vs #6 Copper Hook

Going to the Mid-East bracket we get the #3 seed Dominion Spring Buck versus #6 seed Red Hook Copper hook. Spring Buck is a blonde ale brewed with honey, chamomile, and orange peel Made by Dominion in Dover Delaware. Before Dominion got bought out they were a stones throw from me in Ashburn, Virginia. Copper Hook is a spring ale made by red hook in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The palate cleanser will be bacon. The Spring Buck, even with a slow pour, heads up very aggressively, but calms down to a cloudy pale straw. The copper hook is nearly identical in color but has a normal head. The Spring Buck has a lot of citrus and a tinge of yeast, while the Copper hook is very light on the nose with just at trace of hop and caramel. You know, it's impossible to overrate bacon. Wow, the Dominion throws a lot of flavors at you shifting from tea, to citrus, to hop all with this mellow herb at the bottom. Bacon is really good. The Red Hook has some mellow caramel and I swear, bubble gum, that disappears when the underwhelming hop comes through on the finish. This beer lacks excitement unlike this bacon. Time for the head to head match-up.

The Spring Buck is good stuff, really interesting, and strong. The Copper Hook does seem to be getting a bit better, there's decent body to this beer. The one thing that could turn people off to Spring Buck is it has some mead tones to it as it is brewed with honey. Surprisingly, the glass of Copper Hook is much lower right now but there are two good reasons for that. It's so weak you can drink it like water and you have to pour a bunch down your throat to get any flavor at all. The Spring Buck continually gives you more flavors to contemplate. Wait, must have more bacon. This might be the biggest blow-out so far in the tournament, Spring Buck dominates buzzer to buzzer. After this massive win Spring Buck moves on to face Aprihop in a very interesting second round match-up. Red Hook really needs to step it up next year. Damn you Delaware for stealing my brewery.

#1 Aprihop vs #8 Vinyl

In our first look at a #1 seed, it's Aprihop versus Vinyl, in the battle of the weird names. The #1 seed is Aprihop, an I.P.A. brewed with apricots from the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware. The #8 seed is Vinyl, a spring Lager from Magic Hat in Burlington Vermont. By the way, I don't read the small print on bottles till after I do tasting notes, so I don't get their ideas of what the flavors are into my head. That said, I read the bottle and there is bizarre rambling about "mysterious melange" and "chaotic Chemistry", but no explanation as to why you name a beer vinyl. They smoke a lot of pot in Burlington. The palate cleanser is 6 hour slow roasted shredded pork. Alright time to actually get to the beer.

They both pour out a dark amber, but the Vinyl is pretty cloudy, while the Aprihop is clearer. The Vinyl has a nice hop bitterness, and sweet caramelized pear on the nose. You can smell the apricot in this Aprihop, but it's not too strong. There's also loads of bitter hop and grapefruit that all balances out nicely. Let'stake a sip, but first some pork. Wow, this does not taste at all like vinyl, it's a very traditional amber lager. There's light malty caramel and really nice balanced hop bitterness. Chomps down some pork. The Aprihop has a significant apricot flavor up front which intensifies before you get this rush of bitter hop. There's also a slight burnt flavor that's kind of pleasant. The Aprihop is amazing with this pork.

Now to get serious with the head to head match-up. First, a bit of pork cooked it's own juices with just a dry spice rub. The Aprihop is really concentrated and delicious, it also serves up a nice 7% abv. Damn, I wasn't supposed to eat another piece of pork, but I couldn't help it. Start again. The Vinyl has great balance it's a near perfect amber lager. I was afraid of this. I gave the Magic Hat an eight seed, because of it's stupid, inexplicable name and the hit or miss nature of their beers. But this is a real hit, it should have gotten a higher seed. However, they did give their beer a weird name, and how is this a spring beer, it tastes more like an Octoberfest. More pork. The aprihop is a bit of a novelty beer, but it goes great with pork. The Vinyl is ahead late in this game. Oh my, the glasses are at the same level, it's going into overtime. Still no winner and the glasses are almost empty. There it it goes the last sip of Aprihop. The winner on a questionable call is Aprihop. There's some controversy here,I really think Vinyl got jobbed. Aprihop moves on to the second round, but of all the losers Vinyl is by far the best, go get some now.

#3 Gordon Biersch Maibock vs Flying Dog Garde Dog

Back to the North-East bracket we have the #3 seed versus the #6 seed. The three seed is Gordon Biersch Maibock, out of San Jose California. Maibock is surprisingly hard to find, but is one of the best styles ever. Flying Dog's Garde Dog is a French farmhouse ale brewed right up the road from me in Frederick, we usually say Fredneck, Maryland. The palate cleanser for this match-up will be plain crackers. The Maibock pours out a nice redish amber, while the Garde Dog is a very cloudy pale straw. The bock has sweet caramel and mild hop bitterness on the nose. The dog has some bitterness and a sort of not unpleasant funkiness. A sip of Garde Dog brings total balance of hop, malt, sweetness, and bitterness. Now to enjoy my delicious plain cracker. Wow, that's an amazing cracker, orgasmic. The Maibock is loaded with caramel malt, a nice light hop throughout, and a sweet finish. Oh god this cracker is so memorable and amazing.

Now let's go to the head to head match-up. Must have more cracker. The Maibock has a nice body and strong flavors, but the Garde Dog has a nice body and balanced flavors. I'm really shocked by how well the Garde Dog holds up against a strong style like this Maibock. Wait, hold on, I can't wait to enjoy another one of these incredible crackers. Wow, these crackers are better than doing rails of blow off a strippers ass. This contest is really close. I can't help but think the Maibock should be pulling away, it's very good, but I keep reaching for the Garde Dog. Seriously, Maibock is a great love of mine, but the Garde Dog finds my hand again. Oh my god, Garde Dog drains a three at the buzzer. GARDE DOG WINS, GARDE DOG WINS. A stunning upset as the # 6 seed advances. A stellar match-up, but not as great as that plain cracker.

RJ Rockers Bell Ringer Ale

RJ Rockers Brewing Company, out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, brings us Bell Ringer Ale. Ah, South Carolina, home of the Gamecock's and starter of the Civil War. How did that work out for you. Bell Ringer pours a nice cloudy amber. There's quite a bit of caramel on the nose as well as a little orange and yeast. There are strong bitter hop and caramel flavors up front along with the roasted malt flavor. This stuff has very bitter hops on the, maybe a bit to much. I have to say this beer warms you up quick, probably thanks to it's potent 8.5% A.B.V. I tried it with some very spicy asian food and that seem to tone down the bitterness so I can see this pairing well with strongly spiced foods. This is well crafted stuff with excellent ingredients, but they could have toned down the hops a little. Of course, you could always tone other stuff up. Recommended for those who crave the hop.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Two Hearted Ale is an India Pale Ale style beer made by the Bell's Brewing Company of Comstock Michigan. I have a bunch a bunch of friends from Michigan, which is a lovely state. As long as you stay away from the gaping maw of hell which is Detroit. Bell's pours a cloudy pale gold.I would not have thought this was I.P.A. by looking at it. This has an overwhelming bitter hope nose with a little spiced apple. Wow, it tastes not at all like I expected, in a good way. The hops are there, but they balanced out by the toasty malt, and this fruity caramelized apple\pear flavor. I found the hops to be strong on the finish, but pleasantly so. This is a truly unique tasting ale, unlike any other I.P.A. I've had. I strongly recommend that you seek this out. I can't help but think how much better this is than the Jackman's Ale I just had. This probably has more hop to it, but it has balance that makes them shine not overwhelm.

Left Hand Jackman's American Pale Ale

The Left Hand Brewing Company out of Longmont, Colorado, brings us Jackman's American Pale Ale. Jackman's pours a lovely golden amber color with a nice creamy head. There's a little bit of fruit on the nose along with hop bitterness. There is a lot of bitter hop up front which sort of mellows out to reveal a little lightly toasted malt and yeast. My first impression of this beer is that it's over-hopped. That isn't necessarily about quantity, but about balance. And this beer is a little unbalanced. But, hop crazy beers seem to be in fashion, so if you like those you would like this. Otherwise this is a straight up well crafted ale. O.K. but not exciting, this is really what a standard mass market beer should be but isn't. The name is a little suspect to me .Jack man, Than a left hand reference, weird.

Southampton "Publick House" Double White

Not content just to check out some white beer, I went for double white. Specifically, Southampton bottling's ( bottling instead of brewery sounds like a red flag to me. ) " Publick House" Double White, from La Crosse, Wisconsin. This is a wheat beer with coriander, orange and lemon peel in the Belgian white style. This pours a pale cloudy yellow, but a bit clearer than the Allagash, hopefully a good sign. A lot of citrus on the nose, with some spice and a hint of caramel. Up front you get some citrus, a tiny bit of spice and yeast. Almost no hop initially then it overwhelms and dominates the finish. I guess it might be o.k. to have one of these, but I don't think I"d want more than that. Also, I fail to imagine any food this beer would pair with. I'm struggling to find a place in my heart for this beer, and I turned to the darkside when I read the back of the label. " Take one taste and you'll agree, Phil ( The Brewer) got it "white"". Wow, that's clever. Actually, it's not, it's fucking stupid and I hate you and your double white horse piss. I want to fly to Wisconsin and kick Phil in the nads.

I'm sorry you all had to hear that. A couple more things . First, the Wisconsonites review of this beer. Hey dehr, we love dis here bier, Cause it's nice and white dehr just like all us, don't ya know. Second, I will return to investigate these white beers further another time , but I think it's time to cleanse the palate. So I'm going back to black. Here's to some Bigger flavors and some Longer finishes.

Sam Adam's Irish Red

Irish Red is the second of the three beers in the Sam Adam's Brewmaster's Collection. This red ale pours out a lovely Dark amber red color, and when you hold it up to the light it shows very orange. Two colors in one, cool. The first sniff brings very little, but start pouring it down your gullet and the situation improves. This is a malt heads beer. Yes, there is a little bit of hoppy bite to balance it out, but it has that malted flavor to it. I,m just fine with that, but some thing is lacking here, almost like it's not quite finished. I could put down a few of these, and I think they would be good with complex spiced food. Yes it's better than the coastal wheat, but I hope the last entry can kick it up a notch.Oh, I tried to get an Irishman to give me his perspective on this , but they all either too drunk or engaged in some sort of fisticuffs.

Anchor Merry Christmas 2009

The full title is Merry Christmas Happy New Year 2009. This is a dark brown ale with secret ingredients. It's the 35th year they've made an x-mas beer and they are all supposed to be different. This stuff pours a lovely chocolate brown color and those rich roasted malt scents are heavy on the nose. The flavor is delightful, rich in coffee and brown sugar flavors as well as hint of baking spices. Damn, this stuff is good. I got it for 6 bucks a six pack at a Seven-11 ( clearly an error on their part) well worth it. I will be hunting this down next year and keep a few from this year in the back of my wine fridge to try next year.