Tag Archives: Ale

Delirium Nocturnum

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huyghe-delirium-nocturnum

 

Delirium Nocturnum is another Belgian Strong Pale Ale from the Huyghe Family Brewery, also the makers of Delirium Tremens which I’ve reviewed before. This is a fabulous Belgian brew that doesn’t have the huge rich dark fruit of many other strong dark ales. Not that it isn’t huge and rich, it just has a flavor profile that goes in a different direction. The nose is yeasty, with licorice and aniseed, and it is fruity, but the fruits are more along the lines of pear and apple rather than the plums and prunes and raisins that are typical of the style. The middle continues this theme with tart apple and sweet pear followed by a bit of herbal bitterness, and then a hint of chocolate. The finish is dry, big, boozy, and spicy with a bit peppery heat. The body is medium to heavy and the alcohol level is significant at 8.5% ABV. This is a really nice, and somewhat different example of my favorite style.

I give it a 4.6 out of 5.

Firewater India Pale Ale

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catawba-firewater-ipa

Firewater IPA is a product of local North Carolina brewer, Catawba Brewing Company. It is what they call an “East Coast IPA” which is their interpretation of a an IPA using six varieties of British hops, and six different malts, including wheat and five barley malts. This all leads to a relatively mild, balanced IPA that has the appropriate hoppy characteristics but that is also still relatively understated. The nose is floral and slightly bready. The middle has a bit of very mild lemon citrus and a dry wheat backbone. There isn’t much new in the finish. A bit more lemon, but it’s pretty simple. The alcohol is fairly average as well, at 6.0% ABV.  All in all, this is a nice interpretation of an milder IPA, but nothing particularly stands out.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

No-Li Born & Raised IPA

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No-Li Brewhouse has been around for awhile in their home territory of Spokane, Washington, but I’ve only seen them recently hit the shelves here in Charlotte, and though I’d give a couple of their brews a whirl. The first I’m tasting is Born & Raised IPA, a dry-hopped American IPA with a big balanced flavor. The head is meringue-like and sticks around, and the malts play a big role in the nose with raisins and prune notes in addition to a some citrus from the hops. The middle has a blast of orange and toffee and the finish has a bit of pine and more citrus. The body is medium and the alcohol is a generous 7.0% ABV. This is an IPA that isn’t overly bitter, so it may appeal to some folks who aren’t generally IPA fans. It is a big beer though, with a lot of body and flavor, not a typical summer lightweight.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

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sierra-nevada-torpedo-extra-ipa

I was sure I had reviewed Torpedo Extra IPA at some point in the past, until I looked back through the archive, and realized that I hadn’t. So here goes. When Sierra Nevada first released Torpedo Extra IPA a few years ago, it showed up on the shelves of my local store and I decided to pick up a six-pack and try it out. Sierra Nevada makes good beer, but I honestly wasn’t expecting anything more than a run-of-the-mill me-too IPA. I was wrong. This is an excellent, hop-forward, full-bodied American IPA and it was immediately added to my regular rotation list where it remained for a year or more. It pours a dark gold, with a nice thick head. The scent is of grapefruit, pine, and honey. The middle is heavy with citrus, both grapefruit and orange. The finish is a bit bready, with a little more sweet orange and bitter rind right at the tail. It’s a pretty substantial beer at 7.2% ABV, but it hides it fairly well. Since the first time I tasted it, this has been one of my favorite every day American IPAs.

I give it a 4.6 out of 5.

Lower De Boom

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21st-amendment-lower-de-boom

A barleywine style ale from California’s 21st Amendment Brewery, Lower De Boom is a big beer in a small can. A Red Bull® sized 8.4oz can to be exact. I can’t say for sure, but I speculate that the smaller can size is in consideration of this brew’s equally massive alcohol level of 11.5% ABV. The overall character of this beer is big, heavy, and boozy. The nose has licorice and fruitcake, and alcohol. The middle has toffee, a lot of citrus, both orange and lemon, and a ton of alcohol. The finish is sweet and it has a bit of toast, raisins, more licorice and a bit of heat right at the end from, you probably guessed it, the alcohol. This is a beer that you want to use as a digestif, and sip it slowly. When you do that, you get the chance to savor all of the rich and varied flavors, and enjoy a particularly excellent beer.

I give it a 4.7 out of 5.

Dogfish Head Sixty-One

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dogfish-head-sixty-one

Lest the poor quality of my photography deceive you, let me assure you that yes, this is yet another pink (or at least pink-ish) beer. After a string of malt-forward reviews, we’re back to an IPA today. An unusual IPA, as one has grown to expect from the off-centered folks at the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. In this specific case, it’s another beer/wine hybrid, as this is Dogfish Head’s signature 60 Minute IPA but it has been brewed with the addition of Syrah grape must. The nose is piney with a bit of yeast. The middle is tart, and the grapes have a significant presence. Citrus also comes to the fore here, predominately grapefruit. The finish is more of the same. There is a bit of citrus sugar and grape sweetening it up, and some rind and pine bitterness balancing it out. For all the sweetness, the finish is also quite dry. This is a not an every day brew, but it’s definitely a fun interpretation of the IPA and well executed.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Bell’s Porter

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bells-porter

Bell’s Porter is interesting in that it isn’t as heavy as a typical porter. They describe is as being somewhere in between a brown ale and a stout, and I’d agree that this is the target they’ve hit. The body is medium weight, and the flavors are not overly strong, but the profile is definitely in-line with a porter or stout. The nose has chocolate and toast. The middle is roasty had has a bit more chocolate at the end, and the finish is slightly metallic with some savory grain notes. It’s on the lighter side alcoholically as well at 5.6% ABV. A very pleasant interpretation of a porter.

I give it a 4.2 out of 5.

Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale

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samuel-smith-nut-brown-ale

This is a brown ale I really enjoy. It’s a typically brown ale in that it’s malty, not hoppy or bitter, but it’s also not sweet. It has a very nice dry malty character that I particularly enjoy. It’s a nice rich brown in color, and has a sticky meringue like head that doesn’t dissipate. The nose has some caramel, licorice, and raisins. The middle is grainy and nutty, and has a bit more licorice, but isn’t sweet. The finish really dries out, and has heavy walnut flavor. This is a really nice example of a malty ale that isn’t sweet.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Full Sail Amber Ale

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Oregon is known as a bustling hub of craft brewing, and tonight’s review is from Hood River in that fine state. Full Sail Brewing Company’s Amber Ale is a relatively ancient brew in the craft beer world, having been introduced in 1989 as the first Amber Ale in all of Oregon, and they’ve been brewing and bottling it ever since. Over the years it has one 14 gold medals and for good reason. It’s malty, slightly sweet, and quite delicious. The nose is grassy and has a lot of toasted grain. The middle is sweet with some sugary orange citrus, caramel, and some slight chocolaty undertones. The finish is a bit spicy with cinnamon and pepper and slightly metallic. The body is medium weight and the alcohol level is a moderate 6.0% ABV. All around a very nice ale.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Pinstripe Red Ale

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ska-pinstripe-red-ale

 

Pinstripe is a Red Ale from Ska Brewing of Durango, Colorado. The coloration is a medium copper and the nose is toasty. There’s very little bitterness here, and in the middle I get caramel and quite a bit of fruit in the form of peach and apricot. The finish is grainy and slightly metallic with just a little lemon. There’s not anything particular special about this beer, but it is a great example of the style and would be a wonderful post-lawn mowing beer.

I give it a 3.7 out of 5.