Belgian Post, Part III

Obviously, we had more than 10 good beers on our trip. Next up is a rundown of the other new beers sampled (in chronological order) and a few more pictures taken along the way. Clearly, we enjoyed the trip and would recommend it thoroughly. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions if you are considering going yourself!

Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic, 9
bright color, sweet, with tangy wild yeast.


Cantillon Bruocsella 100% Grand Cru, 6
a straight lambic, the base for the other beers. more interesting than a well-composed beer.

Cantillon Faro, 7
amber, low-carbonation and watery, flavor of caramel apple.

Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus, 5
cooked vegetables and sweet cherries battle in aroma and flavor. little off-putting, as you might imagine.

 
Tilquin Lambic Blend, 7

Kerkom Bink Bloesem, 7
well-hidden alcohol, potent yeast, flavorful.

Contreras Valeir Extra, 8
an intriguing mix of Brittish Bitter and Belgian Pale Ale. unique hop usage that I couldn't place but it worked.

Drie Fonteinen Lambik, 8
very tart yet quenching.


Drie Fonteinen Beersel Blond, 7
lightly hopped, nice grain profile, and refreshing.


Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek, 8
served in bottle. wine-lambic qualities, mild cloroseptic, and tart cherries.


Corsendonk Agnus Abbey Pale Ale, 8
sweet and lively tripel.


Van Viven Imperial IPA, 6

La Rulles Blonde, 6

De Blaugies La Moneuse, 7 
earthy, barnyard yeast and hops play nice.


Louwaege Hapkin, 6
decent table beer.

Tilquin Oude Gueuze a L'Ancienne, 9
an excellent gueuze defined by sharp bitter note upfront.

De Halve Maan Brugse Zot, 6
frothy head, yeasty and grainy flavor, watery mouthfeel. served far too cold however.


De Halve Maan Brugse Tripel Bier 9%, 8
far more complexity than Brugse Zot. nice malt profile, mild tang to yeast, and packs a punch at 11%.

 
Liefmans Goudenband, 8
nose of caramel, flavor of sour dark fruit. seemed closer to Quad than Flanders. unique.

Caracole Troublette, 6
perfumey, with floral note of lavender.


Westvleteren Blond, 7
striking appearance with billowy head and shimmering brightness. yeast still dominates this self-billed "hoppy beer."


Westvleteren 10, 9
murky pour and complex fruity, alcoholic nose. big flavor, spot on carbonation, and extremely creamy mouthfeel. a little more malty than i like but an excellent beer.


De Dolle Oerbier, 7

Urthel Hop-It, 7
raw hop flavor of English-style IPA.


Boon Geuze, 6
light, fruity, mild bite.

Bockor Bellegems Bruin, 5
tart but too watery.


Verhaeghe Vichtenaar, 5
too sweet with Robitussin-like flavor.

De Koninck, 5
amber color, sweetish, watery.


Bavik Wittekerke, 5
clovey, spiced bite, thin.

 
Boon Kriek, 4
conjures images of Cherry Life Savers. too sweet.


St. Bernardus Prior 8, 8
malty double. i remember it retained the head nicely.


Timmermans Kriek Lambicus, 6
loads of cherry. very sweet.

't IJ Plzen, 6

't IJ IJ Wit, 7
barnyard yeast flavor, crisp malt.


't IJ Zatte, 6
Hefeweizen-like mesh rather than polished beer.


't IJ Columbus, 8
excellent lacing, mild hops on nose, malt backbone. well balanced.


't IJ Natte, 7
weak dubbel.

 
De Bekeerde Suster De Manke Monnik, 6
standard tripel.


De Bekeerde Suster Witte Ros, 6

De Prael Johnny, 6
Belgian Pale Ale seemed to have German influence. little dull though.


De Molen Citra Single Hop, 5
tastes entirely of Citra hops but didn't seem to have especially high IBU's.


Emelisse Triple IPA, 9
imperial IPA that is quite sweet with plenty of hops and alcohol. nicely done.

Ramses Bier Hop, 7
winey nose, oakey finish. swirling yeast thoroughly adds depth to flavor but still watery.

Belgian Beer Trip, Part II

5) Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier, 10
Traveling throughout West Flanders, Kelly and I sampled a number of Flanders Red Ale's on our trip. My favorite came at Brugges' Cambrinus Restaurant. This was a classy place with very nice ambiance but unfortunately the staff were very pushy in an apparent effort to turn over tables. Both the beer and dinner menu were pretty classic and we went with a nice cheese board. Beautiful purple color to beer with light body. Fruity, sweet, sour -- bursting with flavor. Delicious and quenching.

4) Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic, 9
One of the activities I was most looking forward to was our tour of Cantillon. The world's highest rated Lambic brewer, to say Cantillon was a traditional brewer was a massive understatement. Our tour of the facility showed the lengths to which Cantillon would go to keep their beers wild -- ancient equipment, holes in the roof, spider webs throughout. This was a fascinating tour and equally cool, low-key setting to have a couple of beers. The Kriek is bright like Kool Aid and the cherries provide both sweet and sour elements. Wine-like base to beer is still present. As great a beer experience as you can have.

3) Girardin Gueuze 1882 (Black Label), 10
't Brugs Bear is one of Belgium's truly elite beer bars alongside Brussels' Delerium Cafe (which we visited) and Antwerp's Kulminator (which we did not.) Best memorabilia we encountered and had that old pub feel I was looking for. Service was less impressive, but that was hardly unique. Sharp taste that is sour and tart. Most impressed with smooth feel and pitch perfect carbonation. This Gueuze managed to seem both aged and fresh. One of the best, no doubt.

2) Drie Fonteinen Kriek, 10
On day two of our trip we took public transportation out to beautiful Beersel on the outskirts of Brussels. It was a hike but well worth the trip considering we also got a chance to see the impressive Beersel Castle. Drie Fonteinen is a close second to Cantillon in Lambic quality and operates a popular upscale yet homey family restaurant adjacent to its brewery. The best meal of our trip, I ordered the mussels and was not disappointed. We tried several excellent beers but my favorite was the Kriek. A beautiful purple with tinged head, tart/sour element, and delicious sweet note. Having these world-class Lambics on tap was incredibly special.

1) Westvleteren 12, 10
...Which leaves us with the world's number one beer: Westvleteren 12. Westvleteren is a Trappist abbey well off the beaten path, so much so we had to rent a car to get there. While the brewery isn't open to the public, I had read that you could enter by joining this silent order of monks for prayer. Our visit revealed a very simple, tranquil spot... and even allowed us to leave with chocolate truffles made with the mythical 12! Across the street at the brewery's surprisingly modern In De Verde cafe we sat on a patio overlooking the hop fields. A beautiful spot but for the exceptionally slow service, even for Belgium. We had panini's, salad, and ice cream with fresh strawberries. The 12 pours a dark brown and comes in a beautiful chalice glass. Aroma is rich and creamy and anchored by sweet malt. Tastes of raisin and toffee, malt lingers on pallet, and only perceive hint of alcohol at the back. Very smooth and you could read complexity in this beer if you wanted, but in actuality quite simple. Reputation is deserved and so good, I had to order another. The best beer, from the best brewer, on the best beer trip I have ever been on.

Belgium Beer Trip, Part I

This past August, Kelly and I took a vacation to Belgium and the Netherlands, a once in a lifetime trip. As a beer lover, there is no better place to find great beer than in Belgium. With eight days, three cities, and 59 beers sampled, we made the most of it.

It has taken a while to get this post up since I really didn't know where to begin. Ultimately, I opted for a top 10 list, not simply the 10 best beers of the trip, but the 10 best beer experiences of the trip. In a country where ambiance and glassware are as important as the quality of the beer, it only seemed right. Let's begin counting down with the first five:

10) 't IJ I.P.A., 9
't IJ was the best of the three brewpubs we visited in Amsterdam. Spectacular location with the outdoor patio's communal picnic tables spread out underneath a historic windmill. The brewery employs a seldom seen (but thoroughly practical) serve yourself counter, with heaping plates of local meats and cheeses available to nosh on. And as good as the beers were in Belgium, this hop head was definitely craving some IBU's. Hoppy nose, flavor, and very drinkable, this was the best IPA of the trip.

9) Jandrain-Jandrenouille IV, 8
Interestingly, my favorite of the ancient Saison-style came at Brussel's most modern beer bar, Moeder Lambic. Impressive bar and selection, and plenty of sidewalk seating (which is good since it was flipping hot inside...) We ordered the goat cheese plate which was one of the best appetizers of our trip. IV features a huge head with plenty of lacing, fresh nose, and the flavor of yeast and grassy hops.Very nice.

8) Timmermans Gueuze Lambic, 9
Perhaps the biggest surprise of our trip because we were stopping at La Becasse (hidden far down a Brussel's alleyway) more for the ambiance than anything else. And that didn't disappoint either as I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the bar hadn't changed a bit in the last couple of centuries. I imagine the beer was served just the same way too, in a pitcher called a "panache." This sweetened lambic was absolutely delicious: flavorful, quenching, and drinkable. A great total experience.

7) Evil Twin Russian Roulette, 9
I was going to skip Amsterdam's American beer bar, Beer Temple, since we didn't travel 3,500 miles for a Sierra Nevada. However, I am glad I didn't, because they even managed to get some American microbrews that I have not been able to find in Mass! Seating on the street was a wonderful spot for people watching. Kelly and I shared a bottle of Evil Twin from Denmark, thus named as the brewer is the brother of Mikkeller's head brewer. But here is the amazing part -- they actually copied the concept for my Naughty or Nice homebrew by making it either an IPA or Black IPA! We got the Black one, which is what we were hoping for. Burnt malt comes through first, then hops. Robust by BIPA standards with a medium body. Will buy another if I ever see it again in hopes of trying IPA counterpart.

6) Hanssens Oude Gueuze, 9
Maybe my favorite place of the trip was Brugge's Cafe Rose Red. It reminded me of Portland, Oregon in a way with a low-key, off-beat feel. We sat in a delightful enclosed patio, ensconced in ivy and classy Belgian beer memorabilia. The bottle list was very good, and the two nights we were there I focused on their lambic offerings, which were always served in the traditional basket. Gueuze itself comes in at 6%, with a sharp tang that conjures up images of Sweet Tarts. Keep an eye out for this at elite American bottle stores.

The world's new #1 beer bar?

Regular readers know that once a year a round up a few friends to soak up the Maine beer scene for a weekend. Two years ago this trip took us to remote Lovell, ME and the world's number one rated beer bar: Ebenezer's. This Belgian bar has been so successful they recently opened a sister restaurant called Lion's Pride in Brunswick, ME. This Belgian bar has been so successful that it is actually rated higher than Ebenezer's on BeerAdvocate.com.

While this wasn't my first trip (http://www.joshsbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html#3004440215689136921), it was the first chance I had ever had to sit down and spend some time with the impressive beer menu. Over the course of four hours our group of worked through many of the 36 taps and some of the rare bottles as well. To top it off, the food is very good, the beer memorabilia very impressive, and the service excellent and knowledgeable. I am not sure Lion's Pride can match the experience of Ebenezer's just yet (they will let you pitch a tent in the back yard!) this unquestionably belongs in the discussion of the greatest best beer bars in the world.

Here come the tasting notes. And I'll be coming back for the Drie Fontein Oude Guese and Lindemans Cuvee Rene.

Bahnhof Brettanomyces Lambicus Berliner Style Weisse, 6
Puckering, incredibly sour, wine-like qualities. Not as drinkable as I look for in the Berliner Weisse style.

La Rulles Triple, 8
Citrus hops (apple, pineapple), hint of medicine, with funk in back. Incredibly unique flavors.

De Dolle Dulle Teve, 8
Hoppy, yeasty concoction. Better known as "Mad Bitch".

Oude Beersel Framboise, 7
The tap kicked so this was just a sample. I found the flavor to be more musty and dry than other fruit lambics.

RepoTerrior, 2
Collaborative brew from Dogfish Head, Allagash, Sierra Nevada, Lost Abbey, and Avery. After that list of brewers would you believe that this was terrible? They opted to brew a light cucumber beer for some reason. Cucumber flavor seemed closest to watermelon to me. Poor either way you cut it.

Fantome Biere Artisinale Sur Lie, 9
I loved Strange Ghost enough to give this one a try. Sour nose, lively, citrusy, yeasty. Very fun beer.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, 10
I first wrote about this beer in a column for The Providence Phoenix about beer oddities. This is about as odd as it gets too: the beer uses coffee beans made from the droppings of a civet cat — a Vietnamese weasel! Weird, I know, but man was this good. Rich, beautiful flavor that demands to be sipped. The highlight of the night -- high praise.

Birra Del Borgo Duchessic Ale, 8
Recommended by a knowledgeable stranger at the bar. Dry and fruity. The first good Italian beer I have ever had.

10 to add to the list

Boulevard Double Wide I.P.A., Score: 7
this beer is everywhere you turn all of a sudden. sweet, strong, and flavorful. should be a good go-to option if it sticks in the market.

Fantome Magic Ghost, Score: 8
pours a crazy looking yellow-green. tart, sweet, sour, awesome. thanks, devon.

Fire Island Lighthouse Ale, Score: 4
malty and dull.

Grand Teton Lost Continent Double IPA, Score: 8
bursting with grapefruit hops. recommended.

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Score: 8
very flavorful for a lager. sweet malt, fruity hops, and incredibly smooth.

Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. Oatmeal Imperial Stout, Score: 8
over-priced as always but preferred added whiskey flavor to normal B.O.R.I.S.

Left Hand Fade to Black, Volume 2, Score: 6
a baltic porter. lots of smoke, wouldn't drink more than one.

Notch Saison, Score: 4
notch churns out another sessionable beer with this 3.8% saison. drinkable but watery.

Sixpoint Sehr Crisp Pilsner, Score: 8
german pilsner that is crisp, as promised. good session beer.

Sixpoint Bengali Tiger, Score: 6
solid ipa with a bit of a harsh bite at finish.

ProPho: Suds worth the splurge

Indulge!

By JOSH SMITH | April 27, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/food/119709-suds-worth-the-splurge/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

The proliferation of the age of craft beer means that there is now a beer for every occasion, including very special ones. While it will cost you, these four splurge beers are worth every penny.

NEBRASKA BREWING'S HOP GOD RESERVE SERIES is a beer that has been creating quite a buzz in the craft beer community. This little brewer has succeeded by selling limited quantities across the country at exclusive prices (a 750 ml bottle retails for $23). Having been aged for six months in French Oak Chardonnay Barrels, this IPA has a decidedly Belgian bend to it. Hop God colored my oversized wine glass a glowing orange and coated it with sticky lacing. Aroma is spicy and offers up a smorgasbord of fruity hops: citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, and peach all cross the nose.

Flavor is hoppy, but six months in the barrel plus time on the shelf definitely allowed the hops mellow. Instead, it is the wine barrels that really shine, imparting notes of tart white grapes and oak throughout. I wouldn't have guessed anywhere near the 10.0% ABV on this one. Mouthfeel is both textured and smooth, dry and acidic. A fascinatingly complex beer — Double IPA meets white wine.

SIERRA NEVADA'S FRITZ & KEN'S ALE is an Imperial Stout that was collaboratively brewed with Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing for Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary Series. Jet black pour and bold smell of coffee and burnt malt impress senses first. Malts in flavor are thankfully more roasted than charred and accompanied by notes of espresso, molasses, and chocolate. There is also a bitter current running throughout with predominantly piney hops. For a full-bodied beer, it has a nice silky mouthfeel and is very easy to drink. While it's no pushover at 9.2% ABV, this is the rare imperial stout that resists going over the top.

CISCO'S MONOMOY KRIEK comes from this Nantucket brewer's Woods Series. All of these Wild Ales are aged on wood, with the Kriek sitting for two years before being aged for ten more months on sour cherries. While alcohol is only 6.7% ABV, most of these Flanders-style Red Ales are sipping beers so I broke out the flute glass. Pours a dark, hazy red while a heavy dose of cherries in the aroma hints at what is awaiting you.

Extremely tart cherries and an unmistakable oakiness dominate the flavor. This is a pretty straight-forward beer with sourness strong enough to border on puckering. Drinkability is surprisingly good as I had no trouble drinking the lion's share of this 22-ounce bottle. I've seen these bottles go for as much as $25, so it almost felt like a bargain for $19 at Nikki's Liquors. I hesitated to endorse this beer since this is an acquired taste that some will hate. However, if you appreciate sour beers, this is one of America's finest.

ALLAGASH'S ODYSSEY is a barrel-aged Belgian-style Dark Wheat Ale that isn't even one of the brewer's most expensive beers at around $17. Odyssey has a deep brown color and sweet, awesomely complex aroma. The body is almost heavy, but still silky smooth. Flavors are so intricately enmeshed that it's hard to know what you're tasting at first. A pleasant sourness registers on the palate but leaves room for sweetness and bitterness too. Figs and plums, vanilla and cloves, oak and bourbon all make an appearance. And at a whopping 10.3% ABV, the alcohol is exceptionally well-hidden. In other words, this beer is perfect from the very first sip forward. It's one of the 10 best beers I've ever tasted.

That this lineup is filled with specialty series releases, barrel aging, and has a Belgian accent should be no surprise. Inevitably it's the most unique and complex styles that demand top dollar in the craft beer marketplace. But let's keep it in perspective here: these beers range from $12 to $25, still short of the average cost of a decent bottle of wine. So treat yourself the next time you see one of these splurge-worthy beers in the liquor store.

Bring on the Bock (and more)

Springing forward
By JOSH SMITH March 2, 2011
http://providence.thephoenix.com/movies/116533-bring-on-the-bock-and-more/Authors/JOSH-SMITH/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

For New Englanders, the four seasons are an inescapable reality. The good news is that each season brings its own beer with it. Light, sessionable brews for summer, Oktoberfest beers in the fall, winter warmers, and in the spring . . . . Wait, what exactly is the style for spring seasonals?

Honestly, there really isn't one. The closest to an official spring seasonal would have to be Bock beers, which were traditionally brewed in springtime by German monks for sustenance during Lent. Bocks — along with the closely related Dopplebocks and Maibocks — are very strong, decidedly malty beers. ANCHOR BOCK BEER, VICTORY ST. VICTORIOUS, and SIERRA NEVADA GLISSADE GOLDEN BOCK are the most prominent seasonal examples. The latter is my pick for its lighter color, nice balance, and good drinkability (though I still prefer their previous spring seasonal, an ESB cleverly named EARLY SPRING BEER). And NARRAGANSETT has revived its Bock brew, which is hitting stores now in green 16-ounce tallboy cans.

The list of beer styles associated with spring doesn't end there. Wheat Beers, Fruit Beers, and more hoppy offerings all represented in the ranks of spring seasonals. Consider two of my other favorites: DOGFISH HEAD'S APRIHOP is an IPA flavored with apricots, the fruitiness both checking the hop bitterness and providing supreme drinkability. And SAMUEL ADAMS NOBLE PILS has a surprisingly assertive herbal hoppiness without scaring away those crossover drinkers that Boston Beer Company always appeals to.

So while they may be an eclectic bunch, many spring seasonals are worthwhile.But the very title spring seasonal is a bit of a misnomer. In a couple of weeks when the first day of spring rolls around (March 20), these specialty releases will have already been available for months!

In the uber-competitive craft beer marketplace, it's hardly surprising that an arms race of sorts takes place between brewers competing to debut their next seasonal offering. After all, there is only so much shelf space to go around. And to be fair, I've spoken with several liquor store representatives who swear they get calls inquiring about the release date of popular seasonals weeks in advance. So it makes sense that most spring beers debut in the dead of winter.

What really puzzles me is why the season itself is so short. Consider craft beer goliath Samuel Adams, from which many of their competitors take a cue. I saw their previously discussed spring seasonal, the Noble Pils, on shelves in January. If history is any guide, its run will be complete before the end of March. Compare that to the blockbuster SUMMER ALE which will run for five months, from April all the way to August.

Of course, brewers are looking forward to stretching out that summertime drinking as long as possible. But I would argue that people want a good flavorful beer during the spring months just as much. After all, nothing cures the winter blues like an easy-drinking beer outside on the patio! I cannot help but wonder if spring beers might hang on a little longer if there was a little more cohesion and character to the release.

Which begs the question: what style would taste best during the springtime? As a card-carrying hop head, an IPA with some grassy hops sounds awfully tempting. Ultimately, though, release as a seasonal might be redundant since most brewers make some shade of IPA as a year-round offering. Lighter, darker, and maltier seasonals are already in place, so my choice for a spring seasonal is simple — yeasty, Belgian-styled beers.

Outside of a handful of Belgian-inspired brewers like ALLAGASH and OMMEGANG, these extraordinary styles are underrepresented in the American craft marketplace. Yeast, for its part, is often overlooked despite being the catalyst for beer and imparting much of its aroma and flavor. Saisons are one of my very favorite styles for their earthy yeast, fruity flavor, and dry nature. And Witbiers (like SAMUEL ADAMS' WHITE ALE, their former spring seasonal) are cloudy, spiced, and can be enhanced with a lemon. So come on, brewers! Next spring, bring on the yeast!

The Beers of 2010, Revisited

As noted previously, I was sufficiently shamed over how few of 2010's top beers I had actually tried. Here are the targets that I've been able to track down to this point. The others have been warned... I'm coming for you next.

21st Amendment Back in Black IPA, Score: 6
you know the cascadian dark ale style is here to stay when they start arriving in a can. good, if somewhat watery -- like many of 21sts beers.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, Score: 6
there was a note of liquorice here that i couldn't get into... i suppose it was coming from the yeast. a good beer but certainly not worth the $16.50 i paid for it...

Pretty Things Babayaga, Score: 7
description from dann and martha says it all: "Our winter seasonal beer, Babayaga is a 7% export-strength woodland stout. The mash contained over 4000lb of malt (the biggest beer we've done) and there were also rye, oats and wheat in the grist. Fermented with a mix of English and Belgian yeast strains." a little thinner than hoped, but tasty.

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards, Score: 5
first barleywine i have had since i swore them off, so take this rating with a grain of salt. while i thought it was a well constructed beer, at 13.5% it was a chore to drink the whole bottle.

Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, Score: 7
a good, hearty brown. not that i would expect anything else from sierra nevada.

Cambridge beer bar reviews

Lord Hobo
92 Hampshire St, Cambridge
One of the few highly acclaimed beer bars in Boston that had alluded my grasp, up to now. Not much to distinguish it from the outside, but you are met with a classy, polished bar, and bright red walls adorned with bright canvas paintings. Comfortable atmosphere and good spacing. Service was good, if slow for a Saturday afternoon. We are started with water, receive proper glassware, and are treated with a perfect beer menu. This is a real beer bar. There are bigger selections out there but everything was of top-notch quality. I had the cheese platter made up of three of the chef's choices: cow, goat, and sheep cheese with honey, blueberry sauce, and crostini bread alongside. It was exceptional. I did think my wife's calamari was undercooked, but she enjoyed it nevertheless. Lord Hobo immediately joins my list of the elite beer bars of Boston.
Score: A

Green Street
280 Green St, Cambridge
I had sought out this bar once before during a pub crawl, but couldn't find it tucked down a quiet alleyway. It didn't help that this looks like a total dive bar from the outside, replete with giant Budweiser billboard. Fortunately, that was no indication of what would be on tap. I wasn't overly excited with any of the selections and was definitely hoping for a larger number of options. Quality was good though. We were there at dinner-time, but it definitely seemed more upscale with an older, more well-heeled clientele. Very nice interior, but quite crowded and lacking in character. Makes for a nice stop on a Cambridge pub crawl, but I wouldn't consider it a beer-destination.
Score: B+

Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter, Score: 8
chocolatey and smooth. downing a bomber of this would be no problem.

De La Senne Stouterik, Score: 9
it's refreshing to find a stout with the appropriate 4.5% abv. flavorful and lovely to drink.

Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale, Score: 7
a little spicy for my taste in saisons.

Mikkheler Red and White, Score: 6
described as a blend of their english red and wit. to my surprise it turned out far more like a hopped-up red IPA.

Stone Lukcy Basartd, Score: 9
one of the new beers of 2010 i wanted to seek out. huge piney hops that you have come to expect from the bastard's.

Ebenezer's sister

My experience at the world's number one beer bar - Ebenezer's in Lovell, ME - has been well-documented on this blog. Not surprisingly then, the recently opened sister bar of Ebenezer's, The Lion's Pride in Brunswick, has ranked high on my to-do list. Last week on our way home for Thanksgiving, Kelly and I got the chance.

For starters, this was a sizeable place with a pretty big bar and even bigger eating area. Much like at Ebenezer's, beer paraphanalia lines the walls, albeit with more representation from American brewers. But what really caught my eye were the apparently hand-blown, illuminated, glass tap handles. I've never seen that before!

The tap list was as great as expected. Lots of great Belgian beers that I have never seen on tap anywhere else. I will say, however, it wasn't close to the quality of the taps in Lovell - I didn't see anything vintage on tap. My biggest problem with this place is the fact they don't have a single written list of their abundant supply of bottles. Get your act together guys!

The food was good and reasonably priced. I got a lobster roll and Belgian frites for $14. The beers are substantially more pricey, but worth it. I ordered the Sinebrychoff Porter (9) from Sweden. Much like the menu promised, this is one of the best porter's I've had with tasty charred coffee making up the backbone of this beer. My wife went for the BFM Tarry Suchong (3) sold to us as a sour beer with tea as an ingredient, but labeled as a smoked beer by BeerAdvocate. I didn't enjoy this beer for the note of antisceptic within.

This was a quick trip but there will definitely be a return visit. Of particular interest, other beers on tap included: Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge a Flanders Red Ale, Jan de Lichte a 7% Witbier, De Glazen Toren Onkineke Oilsjtersen Tripel, Van Steenberge Biere du Boucanier Golden a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, and De La Senne Stouterik an Irish Dry Stout. Talk about a to-do list!

Armsby Abbey

Armsby Abbey is a much recommended restaurant / craft beer establishment in Worcester. This past Saturday saw myself and a few friends finally make the trip out. I am glad we did.

This is not a big place by any mean, with maybe a dozen tables inside and a few out. The bar itself is pretty classy with plenty of glassware on display. The bottle list is comprehensive, and the tap list, while hard to see from some booths, is completely up-to-date. Being able to order sampler trays is a huge plus, and their menu is filled with interesting local options. (The pulled pork wasn't my favorite but their cheese platters were excellent.) I thought the service was quite good, starting with water on the table and his ability to keep straight some complicated orders. Having a TV but refusing to put on the Sox-Yankees game was a little pretentious, but I understand they are trying to create a certain environment here. Overall, very high marks.

Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale, 9 is an American Pale Wheat that registers at a shocking 7.3%. Hoppy and smooth, I was blown away by this beer. De Ranke XX Bitter, 7 is a beer I have had but never rated. The grassy bitterness is good, but it is far mustier than I remembered. Victory Helios, 5 was a sufficiently dumbed down saison, with little of the funkiness you would hope for. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, 8 is a beer that I have been searching for for some time now. It is usually hard to match those high expectations, and this was no exception. The sweetness was a bit too much for me, but very well put together overall. (I prefered the Smuttynose Big A IPA that followed with all of its grapefruit hops. I had to try North Coast's Old Rasputin on tap too. It was as fantastically smooth and flavorful as you would hope.)

Mikkheler Texas Ranger, 7 these guys have figured out how to name beers. They started with Beer Geek Breakfast and now this is what they come up with for their Chipotle Porter. Nice. Very roasty with the pepper working in the background and leading to a slightly spicy mouthfeel. Far more delicate and well placed than the chipotle peppers I used in my own homebrew... The Bruery Mischief, 7 poured surprisingly light colored for a beer with 8.5% abv. Surprisingly dull too though. De La Senna Taras Boulba, 5 was alright but had a funny note of antisceptic at the end. De Dolle Bos Keun, 9 was the beer I chose from the Abbey's extensive bottle menu, mostly for its semi-reasonable price of $10. Great aroma and complexity in this Belgian Strong Pale Ale, with a very well hidden 10%. Nice way to end a very enjoyable afternoon of drinking.

Moules et Frites

This past weekend we took in a new Belgian beer bar in Syosset, Long Island. My father-in-law had been excited to try this place ever since it was opened, and his excitement was entirely justified.

Moules et Frites is a nice looking place with open, upscale dining room and bar, and a couple of patios outside. Requisite Belgian paraphanalia up on the walls... although my favorite was actually some of the German stein glasses on display on the way in. Most all of the best known Belgian beers are on tap... which makes me wonder how often they rotate taps? Prices are not cheap but not unreasonable either -- flights of four 2.5 oz pours (which end up being much closer to 2 oz) are available for $8, while most pints are $9-10. Bottle list is very small for a Belgian bar with a few German bottles thrown in for good measure.

Palm Amber (6) seems to be everywhere I turn all of a sudden. Light, dry, mainly citrusy, and rather uninspired... Tripel Karmeliet (9) seemed to be the consensus favorite from our party of seven at the table. I couldn't disagree at all: fruit, hops, and funk are well-balanced and crisp... Het Anker Lucifer (6) was much more simplistic, with the yeast taking over... Chimay Tripel - White(7) had some bitterness and sweetness (from the raisins) present... Gouden Carolous Tripel (10) was my hands down favorite... and the one I ordered a snifter of, as opposed to the mini-sample, at that! Very fruity yeast and the alcohol is extremely well-hidden. Fantastic.

Menu is limited, but very interesting. Of course, I had to go for the mussels, which were as excellent as you would expect. Not sure I have had a better pairing than mussels and Beglains. Taken together, this place is a definite keeper. And big thanks goes out to our gracious hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Warch!

ProPho: Beer Heaven

A pilgrimage to Ebenezer’s Pub
By JOSH SMITH March 24, 2010

http://thephoenix.com/Providence/food/99086-beer-heaven/

Beer heaven does exist. And it’s in the backwoods of Lovell, Maine.

I love beer trips. They are an opportunity to discover a new favorite brewer and chase that perfect pint. At this point, I’ve covered most of New England and even took a Beer Trip/Honeymoon — in that order — to Portland, Oregon! (That joke only works in certain company.)

The key to a successful beer trip is a little research up front. I always create a Google map with points of interest en route. Even more important is finding that friend willing to step up and be the designated driver for the day. (Thanks, Nate!)

Our destination was Ebenezer’s Pub, the brainchild of restaurant veterans Chris and Jen Lively. The couple relocated from Los Angeles in order to live out their dream of opening their own restaurant. But this wasn’t to be a run-of-the-mill eatery; Ebenezer’s extensive collection of Belgian beer led it to be voted by Beer Advocate as the number one beer bar in the world!

In the craft beer universe, Belgium is renowned for brewing some of the most complex, diverse, beautifully presented, and just plain tasty beers known to man. Many of these beers are bottle-conditioned (whereby the yeast sediment remains in the bottle during fermentation) and brewed using centuries-old traditions. This tiny country is home to 125 breweries . . . and even the monasteries make beer!

I had convinced three friends to join me on a weekend excursion to the town in western Maine. Although to call Lovell a town may be an exaggeration; we passed a general store, bait shop, a quilting store . . . and not much else. We were not the first beer geeks to make this trip, and a couple of wrong turns along the way seemed a rite of passage.

Hidden down a dirt road, it isn’t hard to imagine how Ebenezer’s was once a dive bar. The Livelys had put in a beautiful bar and lined the walls with some very cool beer paraphernalia. We settled into a table overlooking the adjacent golf course, our home for the next five hours.

The tap list, with its 35 options, can be a bit overwhelming at first . . . and that isn’t counting the coolers full of bottles behind the bar or the cellar with even rarer beers downstairs. Fortunately, the staff is very knowledgeable and seemed to have tried every beer we ordered. Then the beer is not only brought to you in proper glassware for the style, but often from the very brewer you ordered!

I felt like a kid in a candy shop. My first pick was a CANTILLON GUEUZE, a lambic-style beer with many white wine qualities. Even better were the darker and complexly flavored VAL-DIEU GRAND CRU and a 2007 version of PANNEPOT OLD FISHERMAN’S ALE. The DUCHESSE DE BOURGOGNE was a perfect beer in my opinion, a Flanders Red Ale where the sour cherries and candy-like sweetness wrestled for supremacy.

Fittingly, this was the night where I would rate beer number 1000 on my beer blog. DE PROEF’S SIGNATURE ALE seemed appropriate as a collaboration with California’s legendary Port Brewing and billed as “a hybrid of American and Belgian brewing techniques.” The distinctive yeast, biscuity malts, and healthy dose of hops all shined through in this delicious and balanced brew.

Most wouldn’t consider the beer cheap at $8-$9 per glass (the De Proef bottle cost $25), but it was very affordable considering many of these beers can’t be found on tap anywhere else. Besides, Ebenezer’s isn’t just a bar, it’s an event, a destination. Dinner is a must, with an impressive menu ranging from massive burgers to my choice of mussels cooked in Witte Bier.

Ordering perfect beer after perfect beer was almost surreal and certainly one of the coolest beer experiences of my life. And while I highly recommend making the trek to the greatest beer bar in the world someday, you can start by getting to better know the joy of Belgian beer.

Guy's Weekend, Part 2 of 2

Back in January, I posted an article about the Number 1 beer bar in the world (according to BeerAdvocate.com.) Ebenezer's Pub is a Belgian beer bar located in the backwoods of Maine, in the town of Lovell. And I can say, it was possibly the greatest beer experience of my life.

With three friends in tow, we made the drive (thanks to our Designated Driver Nate) and settled in for the next five hours. Below are the results and note the high marks.

Cantillon Gueze 100% Lambic
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
i had never had a beer from cantillon and was anxious to get started with this one. ebenezer's did a short pour on this one since it has such a strong taste. pours a translucent amber with a pretty sour nose. taste is closest to apple cider and very acidic. as dry as a white wine too. interesting, but probably ended up being my least favorite beer of the night.
Score: 7

Val-Dieu Grand Cru
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
planning for a session of drinking, i ordered what i thought would be a relatively light drinking beer. instead, i got a murky brown, 10.5% quad. i never would have guessed the abv though. all i could pick in the flavor was sweet molasses, and a note of coconut / vanilla. silky smoothness made this a pleasure to drink. the fact that the tap kicked 3/4 of the way through and this was on the house made it that much sweeter! thanks, guys!
Score: 10

Avec Les Bons Voeux
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
a saison from dupont. and just what you would expect: yeasty aroma and fruity taste. 9.5% doesn't prevent drinkability at all. nice if somewhat simple.
Score: 7

Duchesse De Bourgogne
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
a flanders red ale. has that sour cherry taste and is balanced by some candy sweetness. medium bodied. my friends weren't feeling it; too salty they thought. i'm going to have to agree to disagree on this one though -- i thought this was amazing.
Score: 10

Pannepot - Old Fisherman's Ale (2007 Version)
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
served quite cold, which was a little sad. dark fruit materializes as dates. burnt malt also present while hops are in mouthfeel more than flavor. nice texture.
Score: 9

Kasteel Tripel
Tap -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
has 11% of most tripel's, but fruity overtones dominate. a very good tripel that dan fell in love with.
Score: 9

De Proef Reserve Signature Ale (w/ Tomme Arthur)
750 ml -- Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME
this will go down in history as my thousandth beer. i chose this beer since it was a collaboration between two legendary brewers: De Proef and Port Brewing. it being "a hybrid of American and Belgian brewing techniques" just seemed appropriate. brettanomyces flavor, biscuity malts, and healthy hopping make this a tasty brew. well-balanced too. a little steep at $25 for the bottle, but it was a special occasion, after all!
Score: 10

Beer number 1,000 ushers in a new era here at Josh's Beer Blog. First off, after writing the words malts and hops at least a thousand times, I am ready to cut back on my descriptions in ranking each beer. I will still keep scoring beers and adding them to my Complete Rankings, but will only do a full write-up on the most interesting beers.

More importantly, I have been offered a position to write a regular column about beer for The Providence Phoenix! What's Brewing will be printed every-other week in The Providence Phoenix and on their website. My first column debuted last weekend and can be found at: http://thephoenix.com/providence/food/97663-mix-the-ultimate-six/ I will put up the whole article shortly. And you can look for a little more info on this epic trip to Ebenezer's on The Phoenix in the coming weeks...

Some amazing Belgians

In preparation for a trip to the #1 beer bar in the world, I am starting to fill in the numerous gaps in my Belgian beer knowledge. Expect for a few more of these entries upon my return from Ebenezer's. Lovell, Maine, here we come!

Lindemans Kriek Lambic
Bottle -- Blanchard's, Brockton
"malt beverage with black cherries added." well, that makes it the most expensive malt beverage i have bought. has a pleasant sourness that i am starting to really enjoy in my beers. i liked this quite a bit better than their framboise lambic.
Score: 8

Orval Trappist Ale
Bottle -- Luke's
fascinating billowy head. smell is very funky, acidic, tart, and wine-like really. one of most unique aromas i have ever encountered. flavor is much softer than expected: lemon, tart, and phenolic. incredibly smooth. the kind of beer you could write a 1,000 words on, no problem. but i will spare you and just say you have to try it.
Score: 9

Saison Dupont
Bottle -- Luke's
different sort of yeast for sure, but tasty. lots of flavors happening here, which makes for a very bold beer. refreshing too.
Score: 8

St. Bernardus Abt 12
Bottle -- Luke's, Rockland
this quad comes in at #24 in the world, according to beeradvocate. cherry-alcoholic smell lasts from start to finish. dark fruit, vanilla, and alcohol, but i actually enjoy the taste of it. a beer that lives up to the hype.
Score: 10

St. Bernardus Witbier
Bottle -- Luke's
beautiful pour with good ammount of carbonation. spicy with a dry yeast. very crisp -- one of the things i like best about witbier's. this beer inspired me to brew a wit next. two perfect scores in a row... that is impressive.
Score: 10

St. Feuillien Tripel
750 ml -- Maine
i was starting to become biased against tripel's for its in your face alcohol levels and sometimes heavy maltiness. this was a tripel how it was meant to be though: bright gold with a thick head, spicy, bitter, and fruity (in that order), and light drinking. excellent.
Score: 9

Trappistes Rochefort 10
Bottle -- Cork's, Mansfield
another quad that comes in at number 18 overall. lots of dark flavors: plums, raisins, and caramel malts. drinks pretty smooth too. warming alcohol takes its toll. gotta say, i preffered st. bernardus' abt 12...
Score: 8

Westmalle Trappist Tripel
750 ml -- Luke's, Rockland
fruity, yeasty flavor. 9.5% abv is well-placed. chalky mouthfeel makes a real impression, very textured. as good as advertised.
Score: 10

Julian's

Julian's
318 Broadway, Providence
Julian's is a highly recommended beer bar that has escaped me until now. I suppose "eclectic" is the first word that came to my mind upon entering with its brightly colored tapastries, purposely chipped mirrors and worn floors, the odd chandelier, and huge neon sign exlaiming OPIUM. The bathroom, however, is downright bizarre with its collection of GI Joe's and cartoons playing on a small TV. Very Portland, Oregon. They even played the same sort of hippster and trance music I would hear out west. The food was leagues beyond pub food, with interesting ingredients and an obvious focus on presentation. Most importantly, the selection on tap was a great mix of foreign and domestic, and clearly rotated regularly. A cooler behind the bar had some pretty intimidating rare Belgian beers going up as high as $60! I am a pretty simple guy though and they had me at proper glassware and our own water pitcher at the table.
Score: A-

Oskar Blues Gordon
Tap -- Julian's
not from a can today -- i jumped all over this when i saw it on tap. served in a tulip glass, but too cold. very hoppy and sweet, without being cloying.
Score: 9

Offshore Hop Goddess
Tap -- Julian's
called a belgian pale ale. probably wasn't a fair comparison coming from the gordon, but i found the hope to be quite pungent and the malts to be somewhat skunky. i liked this as much as any of their other offerings though.
Score: 6

Baladin Elixir
Sample -- Julian's
this was very tart, to the point of wincing as you drink. absolutely unpleasant. have to say, i haven't had a good beer from italy yet.
Score: 3

Delirium Nocturnum
Sample -- Julian's
alcohol and liquorice on the nose are what i remember best from this beer. bears unmissable similarities to a shot of jameson. not bad though.
Score: 7

Gouden Carolous Noel
Sample -- Julian's
malty and alcohol are kind of all over the place. meh.
Score: 5

Best in show:
St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition
Sample -- Julian's
oh, i liked this a lot. slightly sour nose while flavor is very tangy, spicy, and hoppy. 5% abv was a welcome contrast to those other monsters. fantastic.
Score: 9

Countdown to 1,000

I have alluded to this point already, but we are nearing a big milestone on the beer blog: 1,000 beers rated! A countdown has been added so stay tuned. To aid us in our march, here are a dozen new beers that cover the spectrum.

Bear Republic XP Pale Ale
22 oz -- Luke's, Rockland
i only have access to the most basic of bear republic products, so any time i have a chance to try another, i do. this had the prominent floral hops you would expect and is well balanced with nutty / biscuity malts. good not great.
Score: 7

Brown's IPA
Bottle -- Minogue's, Saratoga Springs, NY
a pretty raw beer. eric warned me against it and he was right. not reccommended at all.
Score: 2

Genesee Cream Ale
Can -- Minogue's, Saratoga Springs, NY
not sure how it started but i have kind of taken to trying the local equivalent of bud where i travel. genesee is one of those beers that have been around forever, but now is pretty much limited to upstate new york. kind of fun to drink, and slightly better than i expected.
Score: 4

Hair of the Dog Adam
Bottle -- Corks's, Portland, OR
barleywine or old ale, either way i wanted to age this beer as long as possible (it is left over from my honeymoon in may.) i finally broke down but eight months was a pretty good run. smokey, hoppy, with a hint of liquorice. does remind me of a scottish. creamy and drinkable. worth the wait.
Score: 9

High & Mighty Home For The Holidays
22 oz -- The Lighthouse, Manchester, ME
my first high and mighty beer didn't go over too well, which made exceeding expectations doable. while its a holiday ale, there is no spice, it is a straight up brown. alcohol was high, but drinks pretty easy. not bad, but wouldn't rush back.
Score: 6

Liberal Cup For Richer or Porter
Tap -- Liberal Cup, Hallowell, ME
roasty and smooth. i like most all porter's, but this was good. heavy enough though that i had to switch over to their backhouse bitter after just one...
Score: 7

Ommegang Witte
Bottle -- Julio's Liquors, Westboro
a very light translucent color. spicy, yeasty, almost musty smell. taste is unmistakably tart lemon. thin and chalky mouthfeel. good not great. victim of high expectations to be sure.
Score: 6

Southern Tier Cuvee Series 2 (Oak Aged Series)
22 oz -- Cork's, Mansfield
a strong ale. tons of vanilla here. all kinds of sweetness. unlike anything had tried before -- never a bad thing.

Score: 6

St. George Summer Ale
Bottle -- Rick's Wine and Gourmet, Alexandria, VA
the last beer remaining from my dc trip. biscuit malts provide more body than you would expect in a summer. not bad.
Score: 6

Victory Yakima Twilight
Bottle -- MA
i saw this referred to as a double ipa, but beer advocates designation as a strong ale seems much more on point to me. a bold beer with 9% abv, plenty of hops and malts. pretty good, i thought. thanks, dan.
Score: 8

Weyerbacher Insanity
22 oz -- Luke's, Rockland
i am kind of off of barleywines right now so this bottle sat on my shelf untouched for over a year. didn't exactly mellow in that time though. big sweetness and definitely warming.
Score: 6

Wild Goose IPA
Bottle -- Luke's
product of maryland. i knew this was an english ipa before i looked it up because it definitely has those distinctive biscuity malts. didn't meld together especially well though.
Score: 5

Randomness

You'll see these beers came to me from all over the map. And the march to 1,000 beers continues...

Avery White Rascal
Bottle -- Julio's, Northborough
kelly purchased this after realizing that she liked most witbier's, not just allagash white. powerful yeast, but i have had tastier. fruitiness makes up for it in flavor. certainly goes down easy.
Score: 5

Capital Blonde Doppelbock
Bottle -- Julio's, Northborough
medium brown color... lighter malt profile, albeit with a slight skunkiness. better than your average doppelbock, i thought.
Score: 6

Coney Island Sword Swallower
Tap -- Prezo Grille and Bar, Milford
solid citric bitterness on nose and flavor. not bad. have to say though, george ordered one of these later in the evening and it was awful. dregs of the keg? i'm not sure.
Score: 6

Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale
Tap -- Prezo Grille and Bar, Milford
first off, classy name. i just don't like these guys. beer itself has rather rawish hops with maltiness in center of taste. meh.
Score: 6

Founders Double Trouble
Bottle -- Prezo Grille and Bar, Milford
i actually had to send back an incorrectly delivered founders breakfast stout in order to get this beer -- seems like a crime. this was very good at least. pungent nose... sweet peach flavor... excellent.
Score: 8

Kona Wailua Wheat
Bottle -- Brickskeller, Washington D.C.
off-putting aroma... formaldehyde? not sure. flavor is equally bad. don't order this beer.
Score: 1

New Holland Mad Hatter IPA
Bottle -- Brickskeller, Washington D.C.
not the hoppiest ipa you'll ever find with a solid malt profile. my really complaint was that it was a little watery. pretty good overall though. i'd still like to try another one from this much respected brewer.
Score: 7

Otter Creek Helles Bock
Bottle -- Peabody
malty, blah.
Score: 3

Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen
Bottle -- Brickskeller, Washington D.C.
little cloudy. apricot and wheat flavor. easy enough to drink but not especially well-constructed.
Score: 5

Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina
750 ml -- Shoreline Beverage, Huntington, NY
the bottle calls this an amber ale. beer advocate lumps it in with belgian strong pale ales. all i know is i have never had anything like it. big pop once the cork comes off. raisins and a candied sugar sweetness dominates. alcohol was kind of strong too. not my favorite.
Score: 6

Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale
Bottle -- Luke's
don't think i have had a biere de garde before. sustained head... subdued aroma with slight twinge of yeast... slight sourness and fruity. interesting.
Score: 7

One to seek out:
Caldera IPA
Can -- Brickskeller, Washington D.C.
never found this beer while out in oregon. comes in very bright can. hops are closest to grapefruit and quite nice. this may have been my favorite beer of the weekend.
Score: 10

Homebrew: It Must Be Wedding Saison

I can hear it already. My success has gone straight to my head! Yup, Mr. Cedrone is going to tear me apart for rating my homebrew higher than those in the same style put forward by such reknowned brewers as Jolly Pumpkin, North Coast, and The Lost Abbey. Here is the thing though: mine is better. I can't think of a saison that I didn't enjoy, but this did happen to be a pretty lackluster bunch. And while there is a special place in my part for my homebrews, this was an excellent beer.

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
750 ml -- Lighthouse, Manchester, ME
very light color with frothy head... nice aroma of fruit and yeast... taste is of white grapes... very, very dry. a very odd farmhouse, for sure. has a delicate, champagne-like taste i have come to associate with jolly pumpkin. not neccessarily a good thing either. i think i may have gotten ahead of myself with this brewer...
Score: 6

North Coast Le Merle
Bottle -- Chris Gasbarro's, Seekonk
very active head... very spicy aroma paired with funky yeast... quite sour, not altogether pleasant either... fruitiness is present, but not as dominant as in some farmhouses... liveliness in mouthfeel is kind of distracting to be honest... not the best saison i have ever had, but this style is always enjoyable.
Score: 5

The Lost Abbey Carnevale
22 oz -- Luke's, Rockland
pretty light for the style. yeast was missing desired level of funkiness too. kind of simplistic too. being a belgian from lost abbey i had pretty high expectations... i suppose a little too high.
Score: 5

It Must Be Wedding Saison
Bottle -- Brockton
so this seemed like the perfect style for a wedding brew: light and sessionable, flavorful yet accessible to non-craft beer drinkers. the style has a springy-feel to it too. unfortunately, i wasn't able to serve it at the wedding itself, but honestly, i had to ration it even though it was just available before and after the reception. anyways, it seemed to go over well. pours ruby-orange color, opaque, with big head and tight bubbles... spice, yeast, hint of alcohol, and cherry cough syrup... banana and yeast hit taste buds first, center of taste is nutty malt and earthy, fresh hops, with building bitterness at end... taste is quite fruity, while yeast dominates -- funky and tart... dry, textured, and lively. a lovely beer to drink. without a doubt my favorite homebrew yet and the first beer i would consider brewing exactly the same the next time around... high praise.
Appearance: 4/5, Aroma: 9/10, Flavor: 8/10, Palate: 3/5, Overall: 15/20, Total: 4.0
Score: 8

Pretty Things Baby Tree

Pretty Things Baby Tree
22 oz -- Wine Palace, West Bridgewater
there is this little wine store in neighboring west bridgewater that i really want to like, but just can't. it's called the wine palace and they have set aside a nice little area for craft beer. and as much as i want them to, there is never anything more exciting than dogfish head. until now. another beer from pretty things! i see the jack d'or regularly now (which i love) but i haven't found any of their other five beers. until now! this is a "quadruple with dried plums." great hook. i kind of like their painted labels, and interestingly, this has a band-aid looking seal over the top of the cap. for some reason i am always surprised at how dark the quads pour. could swear it has a purple tint to it. doesn't produce much of a head, but what is there really lasts. the plums definitely make their mark in the aroma, as it is very fruity. the sugariness tastes entirely like gumdrops to me. taste is lots of dark fruit, closest to prunes and raisins, i think. brown sugar plays prominently (perhaps too prominently...) bitterness registers in both flavor and mouthfeel. it also drinks unusually smoothly for a quad, to the point that the 8.7% goes right to your head. with a lot of new brewers going straight for the drinkable styles, it is refreshing to see such a challenging and well-executed beer as a second offering.
Score: 8