Red Hook Our of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter

Red Hook Our of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter - A dark ale brewed with Pumpkin, Spices and Maple Syrup (2013)
Autumn Seasonal.

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $8.99 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter is dark chestnut brown in color and is made with pureed pumpkin. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are added to the whirlpool and maple syrup is added during fermentation. This full-bodied, rich roasty porter makes you want to eat turkey and watch football, or build a bonfire."

Thoughts: Out of Your Gourd poured a very dark brown with a cream colored head full of small bubbles.

It doesn't smell like Tazz's head towel as I had expected, but instead has a rather smooth roasted quality to it with a touch of sweetness. Not getting any hop characteristics... lots of malts though. Smells of the gourd all right. A bit like a boiled pumpkin stew and a little nutty.

Starts off with a very mild tartness, a little bit of spice splashes in then retreats, a little numbing on the tongue, whaft of dry grass, and low droning roasted malts that slowly ride out. It tastes really earthy, and a little dirty. It's got a gentle bitterness to it. There's really not too much going on here. It's got a heavy mineral water type vibe to it on top of the slightly sour mash of that puree, and I don't really know where the maple syrup is but I'm not really getting it. There's perhaps a trace of maple syrup type sweetness, but it's very faint, as are the spices. If this were more spice heavy, particularly with cinnamon and nutmeg, and had a strong dousing of maple syrup it would be a spectacular brew. As it stands right now, it's just a bit plain. Not really terribly lackluster, but just a bit uninspired.

Mouth feel is really thin on this one. Chock this one up as just another pumpkin beer out there on the shelves. You'd think with the ingredients here there would be more to it, especially with the maple syrup. But then again, nobody seems to ever get that part right. Oh well.

Southern Tier PLUM NOIR

Southern Tier PLUM NOIR - Imperial Porter brewed with Italian Plums (2013)

Blackwater Series (Bottled on 5/1/13) NEW!

22 fl. oz. / $8.79 USD / 8% ABV

About: "Plums are a diverse group of species, somewhere between 19 and 40 depending on who you ask. We’re only concerned with what we consider the best to brew with – Prunus cocomilia. The Italian plum has beautiful dark skin color and the flesh is perfect for fermentation. We’ll add puréed plums directly to the fermenter where they will add another fermentable component – their residual sugar. The beer will be dry, and have a sweetness derived mainly from the type of malts we use. A bit of the plum flavor will still be present, and it will have a slightly less roasty character than our imperial stouts have had. Hints of plum, hints of coffee from the roasted malt and a thick head. FOOD PAIRINGS: Particularly tasty with chocolate desserts, roasted or smoked foods, barbecue, Gruyère cheese. Malts: 2 Row, Caramel, Chocolate, Debittered Black, Barley Flakes / Hops: Chinook and Willamette / Puréed Italian Plums."

Thoughts: The look is black, or at least very dark... hardly any light can get through this beer. A purple-ish, dark caramel brown perhaps? The foamy two-finger head was actually pretty light of a tan color.

First scent is some gentle roasted coffee for the most part. Loads of dark malts, chocolate and caramel. It's semi-sweet smelling. Any hop characteristic is very subdued, though the brew is still cold. Am I getting plums? There's a bit of a fruitiness here, but it's ever so soft.

Taste is slightly spicy, not too bitter... it's gentle. A lot of grass on the back end of that first gulp, and not a lot of sweetness. It's got a toasty sensation to it, and tons of malt assault. The pureed plums are merely an afterthought at this point, popping up for a split second just before it settles into aftertaste. There's a lot of graininess to the taste here, but nothing that particularly pops out at'cha.

Mouth feel is really foamy, and it dissolves quickly leaving a somewhat dry feeling. It's not all that drinkable since it puffs up in the mouth and gets a little weird. It's bubbly and crisp.

Sad really, I'm about one fourth through this bottle and I'm feeling a bit disappointed. I know that Porters are probably my least favorite style aside from brown ales, but there have been some special exceptions with both. Just as with other Porters, I would have rather liked to have a Stout in its place. I'm going to let the second half of the bottle warm to room temp before I even type any further.

...

Meh. This has to be the least favorite beer I've ever had from Southern Tier. Which is really fucked up, because I have loved all of their beers. I went into this one expecting some violent flavor beatdown, but instead was greeted with blandness and unremarkable sorrow. What the fuck ST!?

Sixpoint 3BEANS

Sixpoint 3BEANS (2013)

Limited Release (Brewed Once)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $7.63 USD / 10% ABV

About: "Celtic lore spoke of a land where the beer fell in showers and the music of the gods could be heard. Brewed from beans and barley, this ale was so dark, rich, and satisfying that no gathering ever went unthankful. Prepared in cauldrons and consumed from horns, this was truly the drink of the gods. Centuries later, a towering, all-sating dark ale has been resurrected at Sixpoint. With a silken mouth feel despite a hefty 10% ABV, 3Beans is the result of myth, tradition and innovation. The collaboration of three New York City companies sincerely committed to their craft brings to you the biggest beer Sixpoint has ever canned.

1. The first bean sprouts from tradition. Romano beans are included in the mash, their proteins giving extra body to an already rich ale. Northern brewers of yore, short on malting barley due to finite harvest times, have used the hearty beans to supplement their ales for centuries. 2. Cacao beans from Mast Brothers Chocolate, the first bean-to-bar chocolate makers in New York City, are the second of the triumvirate. Mast Brothers makes only super dark chocolate, with no milk or butter, that displays their beans’ uninhibited flavors. Using a specially-made, small-scale cacao bean winnower, they separate the fatty nib from the outer husk. While these husks are not used in their bars, they are packed with dark chocolate flavors. In the 3Beans mash, loads of the shells are included along with the beans and barley malt, accentuating them with savory chocolate flavors. 3. The final bean comes from Stumptown Coffee, a company equally committed to showcasing their product’s natural character. Post-fermentation, the beer is blended with Stumptown cold-brewed coffee, a specifically calibrated concoction perfectly intense for the process. The infusion heightens the brew with rich, roasted coffee flavors and presents another layer of complexity.

Finally, 3Beans is aged on toasted American oak, which provides woody vanilla notes and further enriches the body. Ancient brewing techniques in concert with innovative methods and the finest products have produced a brew that triangulates the spirit of the Sixpoint Motto… Beer is Culture. For more info about 3Beans, click HERE."

Thoughts: If you're going to drink any kind of porter then you better damn well make sure it's a Baltic Porter. That's what I always say. 3BEANS poured a brown sludge like color that formed into such a dense black that there's no way in hell you'll be seeing through this one. The head on the beer exploded upon the pour and featured a light tan color resembling a fluffed dessert topping.

Smells cold. You know the smell of cold right? There's a perfect balance of coffee and chocolate here. I'm also getting cherries, and tons of em. Smells of sweet cream and candy... high quality stuff too. A little bit of booze, a little bit of smoke, and some vanilla. I know I always say this but if soft serve swirl ice cream was mixed with a few of those crunched up cherry liquor chocolate candies and then poured into your morning coffee, it would be this beer.

The taste on this one is pretty intense. Not overwhelming by any means, but it hits strong and you feel it in the gut. What I like about this beer straight off is that it doesn't hit you with straight up coffee or chocolate, but rather some thick malts and a lot of dense hops which is surprising. It tastes like really dark beer, but not generic at all (like some seasonal fillers from Sam Adams for instance)... a well made brew that's up front spicy, flavorful and smokey, with a little bit of char on the end and a fruity tang. It's borderline burnt, but man does it really work out well here. Once that burnt sensation kicks in, so does the heavy haze of booze and it just covers its ass properly. When it falls back you get the true nature of the brew and it's all blended together quite well, and yet you can pick apart different things you like about it. There's a long lingering taste in the mouth that you can only attempt to fade out, but it's not going anywhere. There's a heat throughout the whole beer too. Drink it ice cold and you'll still feel a burn inside the mouth. It's spicy and instantly warms, even before you swallow, which is pretty weird.

Mouth feel is a little on the light side, yet really creamy. It swirls nicely and goes down with a flick of the ol' wrist. There's a film coating the inside of my mouth and the taste is just embedded into my inner skull. I taste this everywhere. Aftertaste gets a bit rich and salty. Starting to notice some green beans and broccoli, grass and pussy juice. No complaints here. This is some good stuff. I would have liked it slightly more if it came in tall thin 16 oz. cans instead for the same price though.

Pretty happy about not only getting a badge for this one, but also the honor of trying a brand new beer that tastes great and didn't let me down. Three things right there that I always enjoy, thanks to these three beans.

Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers slash Vanilla Beans

Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers (2012)

Limited Release (Brewed Once).

12 fl. oz. / $3.99 USD / 5.9% ABV

About: "Stone Smoked Porter w/ Chipotle Peppers is a thing of spicy glory, with the just-right heat of smoked jalapeños (aka chipotles) that combines beautifully with the beer's peat-smoked malt and roasty character. The idea came about in 2006 when Merchandise Manager Chris Carroll suggested we make a special "South of the Border Stone Smoked Porter" for Cinco de Mayo that year. One sip, and we were hooked! Malts: Pale, Crystal 75, Chocolate, Peat-Smoked / Hops: Columbus and Mt. Hood"

Thoughts: The cap popped off of this one with a high pitched hiss and the beer itself poured a dark reddish-brown with a light, almond colored head.

Aside from the base of the beer, the scent from this one is really different from the vanilla beans version. First off, it's a lot more subtle. Those chipotle peppers aren't really coming through too strong here. It's incorporated into the beer scent pretty well, but I thought it would be coming at me like that vanilla. Which came on strong and heavy. It's got a fiery flare about it overall, but while the vanilla was up front, the chipotle in this version is just an undertone. Mild chocolate and a few coffee beans back it up.

Well, the chipotle is all in the taste, that's for sure. Too bad it's not hot. There's a very nice blend of flavors here though. The peppers add a subtle spice to the whole brew and just add another really awesome dimension to it. It's not much, but definitely an improvement. Hell, anything with a little added heat is always better, that's the way I think. I just wish this one were a little hotter. Chipotles have a really unique taste, but it all seems a bit too far removed here. There's a little bit of grass on the end of this one. Weird, I didn't get that in the other one. Slightly disappointed? If I can find a bottle the day it's made next time then I'll grab it and drink it immediately. If there is a next time! Probably even drink it warm too.

Mouth is a bit watery and just a little frothy.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the vanilla bean version and honestly I thought it would be the other way around as I love chipotle peppers. Vanilla is cool too I guess though, and wins out in this beer-off.

Stone Smoked Porter with Vanilla Beans (2012)

Limited Release (Brewed Once).

12 fl. oz. / $3.99 USD / 5.9% ABV

About: "Stone Smoked Porter w/ Vanilla Bean was the brainchild of Small Batch Brewer Laura Ulrich, who had a stroke of genius after trying Stone Smoked Porter poured over a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream. The complex flavor of Madagascar vanilla beans melds perfectly with the chocolaty  malty, coffee-like character of the beer, making it almost like a liquid dessert, but without an overbearing sweetness. Malts: Pale, Crystal 75, Chocolate, Peat-Smoked / Hops: Columbus and Mt. Hood"

Thoughts: Smoked Porter VB poured a dark reddish brown color with a huge light tan head on top. The bottle didn't make any noise when I popped the cap, but it poured out lookin' quality.

Holy shit this smells awesome! It's like straight up chocolate milk with a touch of vanilla, and a hint of the booze man. It's like, chocolate and vanilla soft serve with marshmallows on top. Or a chocolate milkshake. Damn, that's badass. Minor hint of coffee. Lay back coffee... lay back.

The taste is definitely smokey right off the bat. I'm thinking on first sip that this is one of the best, in not thee best Porter I've drank thus far, though I haven't had many. It's got a certain rawness to the taste. Those vanilla and coffee beans are just mingling in harmony here, then there's that blast of smokiness that comes rushing through the middle. Mild and slightly bitter chocolate notes ride this beer out and there's nothing at all unpleasant about it. Hops take a back seat but start to show about halfway through. Bottom line is that this one is just downright enjoyable.

Mouth feel is pretty watery, there's a lot of froth, and I do wish it could be a little thicker, but it's not a problem. Aside from that it feels like a pretty solid beer. Nicely done. Low bitterness, chocolaty, and that vanilla swirl just takes it to the next level.

Firestone Walker's Reserve Porter

Firestone Walker's Reserve Porter (2012)

Brewed and Bottled by Firestone Walker Brewing Co., in Paso Robles, CA. USA

Limited Reserve Series.

22 fl. oz. / $2.99 USD (Sale) / 5.8% ABV

About: "A singularly distinctive beer that represents our finest brewing efforts, Walker’s Reserve is a elegant dark ale featuring robust flavors of toffee, caramel and bittersweet chocolate. This brew employs five specialty malts, as well as oat and barley flakes, for added complexity and flavor. Malts: Premium Two-Row, Maris Otter, Crystal 77, Crystal 120, DH Carafa, Chocolate, Wheat, Oat Flakes / Bittering Hops: U.S. Goldings / Late Kettle Hops: East Kent Golding / Whirlpool Hops: Cascade. Winner of four Gold Medals, two Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals."

Thoughts: The beer poured a dark and impossible to see through brown with a huge light tan head full of extremely small bubbles. Nice. Tons of sticky lacing. The massive head eventually died down to a one finger thick fluffy glop atop the brew, and now it's going nowhere.

I'm getting a really clean watery profile on this. There's a bit of spice that comes through, a nice bursting of hops, black cherries, and a low flow of cold chocolaty malt.

On first gulp I was hit with a bit of tartness up front, a peppery spiced flow, some sticky candy, and a little bit of grass on the back of the tongue. There's a sticky sweetness that comes bouncing through, and a lot of roasted toasty notes all around. It's pretty smokey too. Very low coffee rumblings, mostly just a charred woody taste, like oatmeal, and minor bitter chocolate. It's got a pretty heavy hop characteristic, which I think is what I'm liking about it more than some other porters I've tried. It's fruity, tart and a bit leafy.

Mouthfeel is very crisp, clean and just a little watery. It's strange, like there's super carbonation in this... but it doesn't expand in the mouth and puff out. Only tingles with tons of mini bubbles. Cool stuff.

This is a pretty strange one. Definitely interesting. Best porter I think I've ever had.

Stone Bottleworks 13th Anniversary Ale

Stone Bottleworks 13th Anniversary Ale (2012)

Limited Release (Brewed Once).

22 fl. oz. / $7.19 USD / 11.4% ABV

About: "Bottleworks, Seattle's legendary craft beer store captained by Matt Bonney and Matt "Vern" Vandenberghe, celebrated their 13th Anniversary in March of 2012. Since bottle shop owners can't make their own beer, "The Matts" commission a different brewery each year to help them create their anniversary brew. This time they wanted an especially big beer (they were aiming for 13% abv), so naturally they turned to us for help. Here you see the delicious fruits of our collective labor: a 13-grain, 13-hop imperial porter that packs a wallop. Cheers!

Funny enough, with all the specialty malts used, there were less fermentable sugars than anticipated, so it “only” got up to 11.4% abv, but we’re all still really happy with how the beer turned out. If for whatever reason, you’re upset that it’s not 13% abv, we suggest you take a sip, as it will immediately help you get over it. Hops: Bravo, Target, Columbus, Cascade, Delta, Warrior, Magnum, Apollo, Calypso, Perle, Galena, Chinook, Mt. Hood / Malts: Pale Two Row, White Wheat, Aromatic, Weyermann Chocolate Rye, Light Munich, Brown Crisp, Oats, Crisp Light Crystal, CaraMunich, Baird's Chocolate, Lightly Peated, Simpsons Dark Crystal, Crisp Amber."

Thoughts: Word of advice first off. Be careful when you pour this!

I tilted my glass and poured this brew out very gentle and slow when I got to the point where it looked as if a nice one and a half finger head had formed I set the glass down and it exploded all to hell on me!

Even with my gentle and cautious pour this beeer exploded once I set the glass down. The head furiuosly grew in less than a single second into an uproar and spilt over the top of my glass. The brew is dark brown during the pour and settles into a pitch black in the glass. The light brown kahki colored head that eventually settled down into a two finger showed no signs of going anywhere.

It pours like a Pub Ale with a Widget inside the can, and the forming head greatly resembles a Guiness pour. As I poured it I noticed it wasn't a smooth liquid, but had several clumpy bundles that fillled the glass with fun times to be had.

The smell on this one is pretty crazy. It stars out as a sweet almost barleywine type scent with dark fruits, the candy coated dried and sugared kind, plums and apricot mostly, maybe a little bit passion fruit and raisins, and a tingly boozy feel about it. Give it a few more whifs and some beautiful earthy hops start to mingle in. It smells strong and sweet, like a brandy... but doesn't go far from a recognizable strong ale. There's a heavy caramel candy tone to the whole thing, and luckily for me, it's light on the chocolate malt. After a while the scent of this brew reminds me of Southern Tier's OAT Imperial Stout. My stomach is growling.

Taste is a haze of grainy alcohol at first that starts to spike but slowly falls back before blinding. I'm getting a strong boozy caramel, very full flavored and followed by some grassy notes. It's very rich and flavorful. Nothing weak at all about this one. Pretty damn dense too. After getting used to the hops in the scent and the first few gulps, a roasted malt characteristic slightly takes over. It happened right when that puddle of foam left from the head right in the middle of the brew slid down my throat. Of course, the creeping hops are not far behind. There's a spicy tingle to each swallow followed by a cloudy haze that I can only describe as a state of exhaled joy. There's a high point to the sweetness in this one, but aside from that it's not really bitter at all or overly-sweet. It maintains well, even with that haze of booze and that sharp stabbing sickle of candy. It gets very peppery around the last gulp.

This is one sticky ass beer! Very syrupy and thick.

Overall this was a fun and interesting beer for me. I'd rank it pretty high, but I don't know if it would go on my favorites listing. The taste didn't blow me away or anything, but I'm tellin' ya, this beer was savory and just downright good. It's really hard to describe actually. Supposedly this is an "Imperial Porter", but it's got shades of Barleywine, Stouts and Smoked Ales. It really is an enigma of beer, but I'm not going to fault it for that. In fact, I think it's pretty damn cool. I must have experiecned about six different stages with this one and it made for a hell of a time. Especially on my empty stomach. Dinner has just been served.

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero and Pecan Pie Porter

Clown Shoes Chocolate Sombrero - Mexican-Style Chocolate Stout (2012)

Year Round Brew.

22 fl. oz. / $8.49 USD / 9% ABV

About: "Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chile plus cinnamon plus vanilla extract plus a chocolate loving, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi-limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for a Chocolate Sombrero!"

Thoughts: I feel like for this beer, it would be the perfect time to have a mug shaped like a boot. Don't know why.

Poured a dense black(!) with a slow forming thick and frothy caramel colored head. 

Smells pretty damn good. Chocolatey, sweet and spicy. There's a roasted tone lingering throughout, a bit like coffee but not really... and there's a hint of cinnamon rolls and dark chocolate.

It's pleasant and only a slight hint of grassy hops around the back end. The taste first off isn't overwhelming in any area other than strong alcohol though, so I'll let it warm and get back to it in a second to see if I can differentiate any flavors. The ancho chiles and vanilla extract really give it a distinct flavor that's pretty nice, and once that and the malty flavors die down there's a calm and gentle hop profile. Nothing here is taken to the extreme. This kind of reminds me of Wachusett's Milk Stout, only with added vanilla and ancho chiles. Last few gulps are peppery than the rest.

This beer is really smooth. Incredibly smooth even. You'd be amazed. It feels light enough in the mouth, but medium on the way down and heavy in the belly.

I know this isn't really a Chile beer, but man, whenever I hear that a beer is brewed with chiles I always hope that it's going to be strong and spicy. The chile flavor here, while noticeable at first, gets overwhelmed by the earthy hops once the brew starts to warm. The cinnamon and vanilla add to the flavor at first, but both of those things always blend in once consumed in this form. The cinnamon isn't strong to begin with and the vanilla is pretty laid back too. Overall this brew is a very tasty, smooth and fun... though, not terribly exciting in any way.

Clown Shoes Pecan Pie Porter (2011)

Year Round Brew.

22 fl. oz. / $6.49 USD / 7%  ABV

About: "Pecans suck. That’s what I thought as a kid. Now I love them. So much so that I decided to go create a beer in homage to the pecan as it finds the perfect home: a pie. Our Pecan Pie Porter balances sweet and nutty porter flavors with the subtle addition of all natural and organic pecan concentrate and butter pecan extract. The result is mouthwatering goodness."

Thoughts: Popped the cap and there was this strange fruity cereal buzzing around. Very strong. Pecan Pie poured a dark dark brown into a pitch black with a light tan head that exploded out of the bottle.

Smells kinda like fruity pebbles. As I lean in further I get a lot more of a chocolate malt, plums, and a slight hint of booze. It smells interesting, and pretty good. 

Huh. Taste isn't as exciting as the scent unfortunately as I was hit with somewhat of an instant blandness, chalky smoke and minor grassy hops. Holding it in, it's mostly a roasted malt flavor. The pecans and oil add a nice little touch, but I'm not really finding anything remotely exciting about this brew. The flavor fades extremely fast, leaving only a little bit of watery chalk behind. Once it warms it becomes even more of a one note brew.

Mouth is absurdly watery with a gentle fizz, and that's about it.

I'm not much of a porter fan to begin with, but I was actually looking forward to trying this. It really sucks that once this beer is swallowed there's an aftertaste of the smell of extinguished cigarettes. Oh, and no, I don't smoke. Sorry Clown Shoes, but this beer is boring! Consider me disappointed.

Samuel Adams Dark Depths

Samuel Adams Dark Depths - Baltic IPA (2012)

Limited Release (1'st Batch)

22 fl. oz. / $5.59 USD / 7.6% ABV

About: "Dark, Fierce and Blustery. Across the cold and brackish waters of the Baltic, the English porter was transformed, from a mild ale to a dark and complex later that confounds definition. Immersed in dark, roasted malts and a bold citrus hop character, these big and contrasting flavors are brought together with the smoothness of a lager for a brew that's bold, mysterious and full of flavor."

Thoughts: Poured a very dark raspberry color that I've never seen before in a beer, and it was pretty cool. The head was thick and foamy right from the build, with a cream color and around the edges, a bit of light brown and a yellowish tint. Very strange and interesting look to this beer.

This smells pretty damn good. It's cold, heavy and tangy. It's mainly a tingly citrus attack, and it's a bit sweet.

Starts off with a instant sweetness and then suddenly an ultra bitterness rushes in, attacking facial nerves. There's a peppery alcohol fume after the swallow, and an almost unnoticeable caramel background once that fades.

Mouth is a medium, very bubbly... yet easily swallowed and leaves a clean trace.

I liked the initial smell of this beer more than the taste. I let it warm and the malts start to come through a lot more, not that the hops were standout or anything when it was cold. It tastes a bit soapy to me though. I've read reviews where people describe a soapy taste, but I've only experienced that one other time (with Dogfish Head Hellhound - Review on the way). That was a bit of a dish soap taste though, and this one is more like a bar soap like Dove. I don't know if I would say that it tastes "better" once it warms, but the taste is more obvious.

Sadly, I'm not really a fan of these two new brews that Sam Adams put out. The tastes of both are well, unique, but they didn't make me happy so I'm leaving them for other beers. It would have been cool if they had four new Batch 1's instead of just two and Batch 2's of Griffin's Bow and Tasman Red... but those two were the best of all six of these so I can see why. It still should have been four new ones this time, and then 2n'd Batches of the other two. Meh.

The rest of the Samuel Adams Winter Pack.

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter (2011)

Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)
12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: I couldn't choose a quote I liked and didn't feel like combining them, so here's two: "In total, four types of malted barley are used in the brewing process including a variety of German malt called Carafa. This specialty malt, along with a bit of flaked oats, gives our Holiday Porter its smooth, roasted malt character. Add generous portions of imported hops to the mix and one has a brew that is both robust and drinkable."

"Samuel Adams Holiday Porter is a full-flavored porter inspired by the famous drink of London's Victorian era luggage porters. Brewed with generous portions of Caramel, Munich and Chocolate malt, this hearty porter finishes with traditional English Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. Cheers!"

Thoughts: Poured a very dark amber that turned to an almost non-transparent brown.

Scent seems pretty uneventful. Little bit of sour hops slowly find their way through the Munich and light caramel malt. It's a pleasant experience, but still, things seems a little light.

Taste fares quite a bit better. Nice blend of hops and malts here. It's a little heavier than their standard stuff thankfully. This porter has a pretty cool smokey flavor to it, there's minimal bitterness and it tastes quite good. Only problem is that it's a bit tame. I'm halfway through and not excited at all, nor half-way interested even. 

Feels like a medium-thick. It's creamy and mouth coating.

I'm not much of a Porter guy. And even then, some of the Imperial Stouts seem to test my patience. Also, it seems I'm one of those Keep Giving Sam Adams Another Chance guys. That, on top of my declining Most Beer Is Nothing But A Chaser attitude, this doesn't bode well at all does it? The lack of kick here just doesn't do it for me. Or was "lack of kick" what they were aiming for? Perhaps I've been spoiling myself lately and just fail to see the silver lining anymore when it comes to "normal" brews. Maybe I should be eating some kind of meal while I'm drinking this one. It only seems fit.

This beer is not unpleasant, don't get me wrong... It's actually pretty decent. Will I buy it again? Well, I was forced to this time around you see - as it was sold only in the "Winter Classics" 12 and 24 packs. If I could have I would have preferred to just drink a 22 or 40 oz. of Fezziwig and leave the rest to my imagination. I don't mind it all that much however. I'll just chalk it up to another Porter for the experience of learning more about this style. Hey! There it is. The silver lining. Well fuck me silly with a crutch and call me Tiny Tim.

Samuel Adams Black and Brew Coffee Stout - Ale With Coffee Added (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release?) - New Style

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "We use 1.5 pounds of Sumatran coffee beans per barrel, roasted to nearly an espresso level roast to ensure the strong coffee character, added late in the brewing process to provide the most flavor possible."

Thoughts: Poured a very dark brown, almost blackish, but you can still see the dark auburn brown tones in the pour and the swirling. The head is a chocolatey tan that's a bit frothy and beautiful like a milkshake. It's taking a while but the head is slowly bubbling itself away.

Smells pretty sweet at first, almost like Wachusett's Milk Stout. Let it warm for a minute or two... sweet coffee comes through a little stronger. Just sneezed. It smells a bit malty, and the head is clinging to the glass.

Let's taste it. Yep. Tastes like coffee. One more time. It's decent. Little bit flavorful, malty, and there's those semi-bitter roasted coffee beans on the second try. Not that I was searching, but it seemed as if the sweetness was toying with my emotions.

Thin and watery. It's a bit tickling after a while. Not really dry, but drying. It's coating around the whole inside of the mouth.

Never really goes too bitter, and it never really gets too sweet. Of course, I should have expected that. I'm enjoying the beer somewhat, even though I'm not much of a coffee fan. It tastes just good enough that I feel as if it's being deceptive. It's just too light for me. Like if this beer were music, it would be a catchy pop song that you know fucking sucks total balls but is repetitive enough that it tricks your brain into thinking it's enjoyable. Remember Britney back in the day when she was doing all that teasing shit? That's this beer.

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock - Ale with Cocoa and Natural Flavor (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "The flavor of the chocolate is developed by aging the beer on a bed of rare dark cocoa nibs.  The cocoa nibs, a primary ingredient in chocolate, impart an aroma and flavor of fine chocolate to the beer.  As the beer matures, the flavors are released into the liquid to give the brew a complex, full bodied taste and velvety finish. A hint of vanilla is added, also used in making chocolate, to meld the combination of flavors together.  This combination of flavors results in a malty, chocolaty, and wonderfully complex bock beer. Hops: Noble Tettnang Tettnanger and Spalt Spalter / Malts: 2-row Harrington and Metcalfe, Munich 10, and Caramel 60."

Thoughts: Poured a dark brown with shades of deep mahogany, with a thin and rapidly diminishing tan head.

Little bit of a chocolate scent. Something kinda spicy about it, like black pepper but not really.

Tastes pretty standard I guess. Not really diggin' it all too much. Not malty enough, that kinda spicy thing I was smelling sure ain't in the taste. It all seems very clouded. Getting very subtle hints of roasted malt that thankfully doesn't remind me too much of coffee, and some weak cocoa powder. Tastes kinda like a warm, dingy soft serve ice cream from a buffet. You know, one where the vanilla and chocolate don't taste "quite right"? Especially when compared to the gourmet shit.

Goes down like water. Starts to tingle on the tongue if you don't gulp it down right away.

Pretty bland overall. Sam Adams really need to step up their game with their normal brews. This is the last of my Holiday 12'er and I've got to say that I'm pretty disappointed with the pack as a whole. Porter, Coffee and Chocolate were just too similar of styles, feels and tastes. Their Boston and Winter Lager are pretty similar too, with Winter being a slightly superior version; Winter and Fezziwig especially being the standouts, but let's face it: People are being forced to buy what I feel isn't necessarily horrible, but rather mediocre brews, just to get a few beers that are slightly above average.

I don't give a fuck if these are packaged as "incentives" to get you to buy the "variety". It's bullshit(!) because their "variety" needs to be of a higher standard than this. Huh, I guess it's official. I've drank way too many awesome beers. I can't drink this normal shit anymore. It's not cuttin' it for me! Put Old Fezziwig into Holiday 12 Packs of their own, because I'm not doing this Ever Again.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager - Malt Beverage Brewed With Spices (2011)

Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.5%  ABV

About: "To put our own twist on the classic bock style, we created a dark wheat bock brewed  with holiday spices of ginger, cinnamon and orange peel. For Samuel Adams Winter Lager, we came to a blend of Vietnamese and Indonesian cinnamons grown in Southeast Asia. The spices for Samuel Adams Winter Lager are fresh ground just before brewing adding character and depth to the generous quantities of malted wheat. Malts: Two-row Harrington, Metcalf, and Copeland pale malts, Caramel 60, malted wheat, Weyermann Carafa Malt, and Munich 10 / Hops: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops / Special Ingredients: Orange peel, Ginger, and Cinnamon"

Thoughts: Poured a pretty rich looking darkish red amber, or light brown, with an off-white head that stayed puffy for a while.

Smells pretty neat. Frosty and inviting. Little mellow. The tiniest bit peppery.

Cinnamon and zesty hops. I'm so used to cinnamon and malt lately that this one (being the first beer of the day) just crept up the sides of my tongue and attacked my pucker sense. Little bit roasty and maltly once that hop bit fades. The taste is pretty mild. The cinnamon and ginger are decently represented and the whole beer has a pretty good flow about it. Orange peel hops dominate, with the cinnamon backing it up and a low roasted malts flavor with a pinch of ginger.

It's a light medium with a bit of froth.

Bitter citrus aftertaste. Roasted malt finish. Decent enough brew, but it suffers a bit from being a little too similar tasting, like their other beers.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager (2011)

Year Round (Standard Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2)  / $2.50 USD / 4.9% ABV

About: "Samuel Adams Boston Lager uses only the finest ingredients including two-row malted barley and Bavarian Noble hops. The sole use of two-row barley not only imparts a full, smooth body but also gives the beer a wide spectrum of malt flavor ranging from slightly sweet to roasted. The Noble hop varieties of Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Tettnang Tettnanger add a wide range of floral, piney and citrus notes, which are present from the aroma, through the taste, and all the way to the lingering smooth finish."

Thoughts: Poured a fairly light yellow amber with some orange shades in the shadows.

Not really getting much of a scent at first. After a while it's got a bit of a spicy tone that's pretty nice.

Light hops and malts, blended quite well. Little more hop than malt, which originally made this beer stand out. Compared to other lagers, this one is a bit stronger in the taste department and certainly in the hops. It's slightly bitter but still pretty good. Overall a nice blend with no real downside taste-wise, aside from some a grassy after bite.

A light medium with a bit of froth. Somewhat watery. Mild tingle.

Personally I've never had a problem with Sam Adams lager. Never particularly loved it either. For what I'm getting, their year round six packs are just too expensive for this (which is why I don't buy them normally). Is it better than some of the other lagers out there? Yeah, sure. After all, there's only a few good ones out there anyways. But a Lager is a Lager, and a Lager is a Chaser. If I want to buy beer for the taste I'm not going to buy an everyday Lager, it's a simple... as... that.

So people, including myself, should just shut the fuck up 'bout it. Hey, I buy beer for the taste too! Not that I've got an issue (it can't not be brought up when you review this particular staple of everyday beer), but a lot of people talk down on Budweiser or Natural Ice when there are far worse beers out there. If it's all about taste, then buy something that tastes Exceptional. As far as I'm concerned, Lager wars are about as pointless as The Scary Snowman's Third and subsequent videos. You're still going to watch them all, but the joke gets old fast.

I can't count the times I've imagined taking a flamethrower to my own nuts while listening to some arseholes going on about Bud Light vs. Coors Light. They're Light beers for fuck's sake. And for me, Regular 4.9% through 5.9% ABV beers are Light! Personally, I'm looking forward to more of the higher ABV special releases that Sam Adams will hopefully be putting out next year. I had a really great time with their 4 Batch #1's (Man, I wish I had bought and saved one of those Griffin's Bow bottles for later), and hope the next batch features all new stuff.

Shipyard Pugsley's Signature Series Porter, XXXX IPA and Barleywine

Shipyard's Imperial Porter (2011?)

Brewed and bottled by Shipyard Brewing Co., in Portland, Maine. USA.
Rotating Schedule (Limited Release)

22 fl. oz. / $8.49 USD / 7.1% ABV

About: "Imperial Porter is a full bodied, very dark, malty beer with a good roasted character coming from the Crystal, Chocolate and Black Patent Malts used in the mash. Warrior, English Fuggles, and East Kent Goldings Hops balance the malts with a good hop bite. The beer has an OG of 1.070, rounding out after fermentation with just a slight residual sweetness and cutting dry at the finish."

Thoughts: Poured a super dark near black with a seven inch tan fluffy head that exploded violently out of the large mug! What the fuck!! Whoa... this thing is all head. The package store just moved these from the shelf into the cooler, and I don't know if the guy shook each one up beforehand just for shits and giggles or what. I poured it lightly into a tilted glass about halfway up and the foam just seemed to unexpectedly expand and triple in size. Then I let it calm for a while so I could finally get all the brew into one single glass. I just hope it doesn't explode in my gut and I start foaming at the mouth!

Smells very rich and hearty. Yep, this is dinner. Smells more chocolately than anything else. Major malts... after the way this one poured I'd say that it fits the definition of a Malt Bomb. Ha Ha Wow. I kill me!

Coffee, dark fruit and after swallowing and breathing in, a light amount of booze. It's got a very roasted flavor that lasts throughout every sip, every gulp and even in the aftertaste. After a short while, say about half-way through, the hops start to linger around the back of the tongue. It's got a really grassy undertone to it as if you licked the ground at the old park's football field (not that AstroTurf shit). Yeah, there's a little funk going on there. Hidden by the extreme malt of course, and it probably would have been masked by high alcohol if this one had a stronger presence. It doesn't though. The little bit of booze is fading into the backdrop quite rapidly. 

The small head that's on the brew now, even as I drink it, never fades away until the very end. That's cool. This one is thick, and heavy... but my throat feels very dry once it's gone.

I'm going to say that this is my least favorite out of the whole Shipyard Imperial series that I've tried thus far (five of them). This one is a little funkier than the rest. It's just not terribly exciting when all is said and drunk. Not counting the explosion of course. I'm not really much for Porters anyhow, but I'm not disappointed by this really. Simply not impressed. It's OK. In fact, the whole series of Shipyard Imperials has been pretty good to me I'd say. I hope they come out with something new in this line actually.

Shipyard XXXX IPA: India Pale Ale (Pugsley's Signature Series) (2010?)
Brewed and bottled by Shipyard Brewing Co., in Portland, Maine. USA.
Rotating Schedule (Limited Release)
22 fl. oz. / $8.49 USD / 9.25% ABV

About: "XXXX IPA is a non-traditional American IPA with a brilliant copper color and the classic citrus nose of Cascade hops. This beer demonstrates a unique balance of malt-inspired, delicate red grapefruit sweetness and lingering hop dryness. Cascade, Warrior, Summit and Glacier hops are used for bittering and Cascade hops are added for dry hopping after fermentation. This hop blend is well balanced with malted wheat, pale ale, crystal, and caramel malts. To full enjoy all the flavors, this ale is best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This beer pairs well with Cajun dishes, blackened fish, and BBQ."

Thoughts: Poured a fairly dark golden amber with the usual Shipyard bubble clusters that cling to the side of the glass. The foamy light tan head dissipated quickly as expected.

Got a huge whiff of strong citrus as I was pouring this. Seriously hoppy with a lingering grapefruit tone. As I lean in for the second time, there's some major malt coming through. Almost a little bit like a stout, but not quite. It's strong malt but very light chocolate tone.

Taste is a little hoppy, then really malty, then really hoppy. Interesting! Medium alcohol vapor after the second gulp when I breathed in. Some dark fruits, kinda like plum, floating around. Little bit like a rum fruit cake. It's a wee bit bitter, but really sweet and savory at the same time.

A little watery, smooth, goes in with a fizz, leaves a tingle on the tongue, and a slightly bitter mini-bite at the end.

I really liked this one. It was smooth and great tasting but didn't supremely impress me in any major way. It's definitely worth the cash, but with so many other brews out there that I haven't even tried yet, I'm not bound to go buy this one again unless there's some special deal or it's been a few years and I start over.

So far I've quite liked every Shipyard brew that I've tried (aside from Pumpkinhead unfortunately). Though, all of the other brews of theirs I've tried have been Imperials, and I have found myself most partial to the taste and feel (and after-feel) of Imperials. Their high gravity specialty brews have not disappointed me, not once! I'm hoping to round out all of their other brews before trying pumpkinhead once more for the third time next year. Maybe.

Shipyard Barley Wine Style Ale (Pugsley's Signature Series) (2010?)
Brewd and Bottled by Shipyard Brewing Co., in Portland, Maine. USA.
Rotating Schedule (Limited Release)
22 fl. oz. / $8.49 / 8.5% ABV

About: "A big beer made with six different malts: Pale Ale, Crystal, Caramunich, Wheat, Chocolate and Roasted Barley, and balanced with a very full hop charge of Summit, Challenger and Fuggles. With a complex fruity nose, a very full body, it's an interesting balance between grains and hops which ends with a pleasing dry taste. Best drunk at 55 degrees Fahrenheit."

Thoughts: Beautiful looking label with a round gold sticker with a white star that reads "Cellar Aged". It's got that nice gold foil that I like about this series.

Poured a rich mahogany color with a short, tan head that left some clouds in the beers top.

So sweet. Smells like a sweet, malty chocolate milkshake with cherry flavored whipped cream topping. It's a little wheaty, and there's a hint of roasted coffee, but the chocolate malt is the predominating factor.

Prunes. Dates. Raisins. Essence of dark fruits. Smokey wheat engulfs. Very strong, and well balanced hops and malts. A slight alcohol tinge permeates throughout the mouth. After swallowing there's an instant sweet tingle.  There's no real harshness to it, but a little bit of a grassy after bite. It's really like a candy for adults. Goes down smooth. There's a slightly dry, crisp bitterness to the finish. It's full, not too foamy or frothy, but it becomes so when sneaking back up. 

This one isn't overly intense, in fact, it's pretty subdued for something of its kind. Drinkability is off the charts. This is some very dangerous stuff. Just the way I like it. So far I haven't met a Barleywine that I didn't like. I'd say that Shipyard scored again with this one. Their 22oz Bombers have so far all been excellent (there are some I haven't tried yet). The price is just right, the content is totally worthwhile, it's fairly strong stuff, and it comes in a pretty bottle. What's not to like? Final: I'm not completely 100% blown away, but I went away a very happy man.

Shipyard Smashed Blueberry

Shipyard Smashed Blueberry (Pugsley's Signature Series) (2011)

First Brewed: May 2011 (Seasonal?) (First Year Beer)

Brewed and Bottled by Shipyard Brewing Co. in Portland, Maine. USA. 

22 fl. oz. / $8.39  USD / 9.0% ABV

About: "This beer is a hybrid between a Porter and a Scotch Ale. This beer has a rich mouth feel and a body of complex intensity. Upfront, there are distinct flavors of coffee and chocolate beautifully accentuated by the aroma of fresh blueberries. The finish features a delicate balance of sweet fruit and dry hops. Malts: Pale, Crystal, Chocolate, Roasted Barley, Light Munich, Torrified Wheat / Hops: Summit, Tettnang, Cascade / Yeast: Top-Fermenting English Food Pairings: Glazed Duck, Ribs, BBQ, Chocolate, Blueberry deserts."

Thoughts: Well it's not blue as I had previously worried it would be(!), so that's a good sign. Dark tan head that wasn't much of a build and faded out just as quickly as it started to form. Color is dark, dark brown. Can't see through this brew at all.

First thing I got hit with was the high alcohol level. Then it was somewhat like a strong ale, but kinda reminescent of a not-so-bad malt liquor. Gave it a few seconds and then that blueberry really started to come through. I'll start this one cold and let it warm while I drink it to witness the effects.

A high alcohol haze surrounds slightly burnt toast flavors that come through later like a blueberry bread or a jam smear. This doesn't taste like a blueberry muffin at all so don't go in expecting that. It's not sweet at all, but rather bitter instead like a spiked coffee. "Malt Beverage with Natural Flavor" is the description. This brew makes me happy, but it's a child-like happiness... that later slugs you in the face with harsh reality! And that's the way I like it.

Heavy mouth feel with a tickle and a pucker up. Leaves a feeling in the mouth that isn't a film, nor a slickness... it's somewhat dry, but not drying. If you're into wine, you may like this. But I wouldn't suggest being into wine.

Aftertaste is very pleasing actually. Better than I would have expected. The bitter and semi-sweet both work together quite nicely.

It's not an immediate go-to re-buy beer for me, but I just may try it again once or twice in the future. I'm not really much of a blueberry fan to begin with. They're like the WTF fruit of the berry universe. I much prefer blackberries actually. Drinking this makes me dream of that the label would read SMASHED BLACKBERRY instead. Damn, that would have been sweet. This is on par with their smashed pumpkin, they're both quite similar actually, but with the different headlining flavors.