Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA (bottle) - 4.4

Posted by
On May 17, 2012
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Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
India Pale Ale
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Pasa Robles, CA
ABV: 7.5%

Jon:
4.6
Appearance
5/5
Aroma
10/10
Palate
5/5
Flavor
9/10
Overall
17/20
Holy crap this is good. As usual the bottled version is hoppier than the draft variety, but both are equally good in their own right. This is a top ten west coast IPA, no question. The only fault I can find is that it's a wee bit heavy on the malt flavors - Pliny edges this one out in terms of balance. Also a bit pricey.
Mark:
4.3
Appearance
5/5
Aroma
9/10
Palate
5/5
Flavor
9/10
Overall
15/20
Hurray for Union Jack! Love it! Nice citrusy hops, just how I like it.
Jere:
4.2
Appearance
5/5
Aroma
8/10
Palate
5/5
Flavor
9/10
Overall
15/20
Having just had this on tap last Saturday, I was afraid the bottled version would pale in comparison (pun intended), but I was pleasantly surprised. At just over $2/bottle, I'll have to savor this even more than the complimentary pint from the weekend.
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Shipyard Fuggles IPA (bottle) - 3.1

Posted by
On May 14, 2012
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Shipyard Fuggles IPA
India Pale Ale
Shipyard Brewing Company
Portland, ME
ABV: 5.8%

Jon:
2.9
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
5/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
5/10
Overall
13/20
British hops and I don't get along so well. It's interesting to get a single-hopped beer and explore the flavor of that one hop strain, but it mostly just tells me that Fuggles taste like dirt. Some say earthy, I say dirt. Maybe I should find a single-hopped Fuggles beer from a UK brewer as a comparison. Halfway through and it's growing on me a tad, but still rather Britishy.
Mark:
3.1
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
12/20
Apparently I'm not too crazy about Fuggles hops. Great light caramel pour with a soap bubble head. First sip: Fuggles! Bitter, slightly soapy, carnation, floral. Gets even more bitter toward the end. I love IPAs and I'd drink another one of these if I had it, but I probably won't seek it out again.
Jere:
3.3
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
14/20
Most unusual for an IPA, I says. Figures that it's a British hop. There does seem to be some bitter in there, but nothing like I'm used to. For only 5.8%, it has more of an alcohol taste than I'd expect, but it doesn't linger. Might've had another if we'd started with a full six pack.
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Hoptimum (bottle) - 4.0

Posted by
On April 12, 2012
0 Comments

Hoptimum
Imperial IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA
ABV: 10.4%

Jon:
4.0
Appearance
5/5
Aroma
8/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
16/20
Looks sticky. Smells peppery and flowery and bust-my-face-up bitter. But what's this? My face is only slightly busted up! All-sorts-of-hoppy this may be, but an attempt at balance can be found. There's some sweet malt backing up those hops, which really makes this brew sing. Very nice imperial.
Mark:
3.7
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
16/20
This just looks strong. Pours a medium caramel color with an almost non-existent head. I wasn't totally crazy about the aroma on this one, I couldn't smell much...but it is the height of allergy season so my smeller might not be working so well. First sip-HOLY MOLY! HOPS! Slightly sweet, molasses, with floral hops in the forefront, quickly changing to bitter white grapefruit finishing with a slightly sweet pink grapefruit. This really was quite complex for an imperial IPA. Not your every day drinker but great for a treat.
Jere:
4.3
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
9/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
18/20
What a way to get back into the beer blogging! A little goes a long way with this one. Grapefruity goodness and some other fruitiness that I can't quite identify. Its a good thing it only came in a 4-pack since I doubt I'd get through 2 full pints.
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Little Red Cap (growler) - 3.3

Posted by
On March 16, 2012
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Little Red Cap
Altbier
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
Loveland, CO
ABV: 5.2%

Jon:
3.5
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
14/20
Coppery hue, little to no carbonation. Yummy caramel nose, molasses and grain. The flavor is sweet up front, with layers of bitterness unfolding over time. The aftertaste is a bit much but otherwise this is definitely worth a try.
Jere:
3.0
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
12/20
Branching out to the German beers tonight, this one doesn't have quite as much kick as you may expect. I haven't had a German beer for awhile either. This one seems almost flat, perhaps. Keeping it in a growler doesn't sustain it quite as long as it should.
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Bigfoot (bottle) - 3.8

Posted by
On March 12, 2012
0 Comments

Bigfoot
Barley Wine
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA
ABV: 9.6%

Jon:
3.8
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
16/20
Reddish, some lengthy suds up top. Less nose than I expect, then KAPOW! This sucker is intense on the tongue. I was expecting to be dominated by raisiny barleywine-ness, but the dominance actually goes to the hops. Big, spicy hops. I like.
Mark:
3.8
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
16/20
Deep amber color with a soapy head. Amazingly strong hop aroma. First sip: bitter! Lots of floral, herbal hops hit you right in the face followed by a sweet, strong malt, then back to the bitterness for the aftertaste. Definitely strong with some alcohol heat. Half a glass and I feel it already.
Jere:
3.7
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
8/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
15/20
Friday evening beer, this be. Just opening the bottles up was enough to become inundated with the aroma, and drinking it slow is a must, thanks to that extra kick. We'll see if I make it to a second bottle.
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Squall IPA (750ml bottle) - 3.1

Posted by
On March 09, 2012
0 Comments

Squall IPA
Imperial India Pale Ale
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
ABV: 9%

Jon:
3.3
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
5/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
15/20
Light carbonation, lightly colored. Big caramel notes pervade, this kind of tastes like a hoppy barley wine. The citrus hops are a nice balance to the sweetness. This might be a bit too meaty for my taste.
Mark:
3.2
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
13/20
This one pours cloudy (unfiltered) with a sparse creamy head. Definite "sour" aroma - reminds me of a farmhouse ale. Farmhouse carries through to the first taste. Tastes sour and slightly sweet with a hint of lemon hoppiness. There's also a drying (alum) note that puckers you up at the finish.
Jere:
2.9
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
3/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
13/20
No mistaking this 9%-er for anything weaker. It's a good thing we split this three ways; I doubt I'd be able to finish a full pint otherwise. The carbonation itself seems stronger than usual.
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Lucky Bucket IPA (bottle) - 3.1

Posted by
On March 06, 2012
0 Comments

Lucky Bucket IPA
India Pale Ale
Lucky Bucket Brewing Company
La Vista, NE
ABV: 6.3%

Jon:
3.1
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
12/20
Dark, cloudy, reddish, sudsy. Smells of floral hops, a hint of honey, and... yogurt? Interesting. Really bitter taste, like strong tea. Plenty of malt but the bitter tea flavor lingers and takes over. Makes the tongue tingle.
Mark:
3.1
Appearance
2/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
13/20
Pours cloudy amber with a soapy head, lots of great hop aroma. First sip - starts out biscuity malty, then nice and bitter. There is an odd mediciney aftertaste. Ditto on the tongue tingle.
Jere:
3.1
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
6/10
Overall
12/20
I was expecting more from the taste based on the aroma, but sadly I was deceived. Perhaps my palate was colored by some previously consumed beverage, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.
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Angry Orchard Apple Ginger (bottle) - 3.6

Posted by
On November 30, 2011
0 Comments

Angry Orchard Apple Ginger
Hard Cider
Angry Orchard Cider Company
Cincinnati, OH
ABV: 5.0%

Jon:
3.4
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
15/20
I think I'm spoiled from Mark's homemade cider, this stuff is just a tad too sweet for me. But really, it's the least sweet commercial hard cider that I've had, so just a "tad" too sweet is actually a thumbs up. The ginger is a nice touch, I'm a big fan of that.
Mark:
3.4
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
5/10
Overall
14/20
This is one of the better commercial ciders I've tried. The ginger is a great idea. It's really reminiscent of ginger ale. I do think this cider could have been dryer and a bit less sweet. The ginger and apple flavor meld fantastically, but there is an overpowering, sickly sweet aftertaste. It's crisp, but still too sweet. Maybe they added more apple juice at the end or didn't let it ferment completely? But there's a bit too much sugar for me. I will, however, be adding some ginger to my next batch of homemade cider...Thank you, Angry Orchard:)
Jere:
3.9
Appearance
4/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
16/20
Kicking off our first official cider review! This one's got the apple-y goodness that you'd expect, with a touch of the ginger ale fused in. The 5% means I could probably down a few before they really started to hit me. Perhaps one of these weeks we'll have to swallow our pride and review some apple-tinis.
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Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA (bottle) - 3.4

Posted by
On November 27, 2011
0 Comments

Latitude 48 IPA
India Pale Ale
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA
ABV: 6%

Jon:
3.4
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
4/5
Flavor
8/10
Overall
12/20
Dark and foamy. Smells sweet, like brown sugar. Some tame bitterness in the nose. Tastes unique, definitely getting both the English and American hops. Nicest thing I've had from Sam Adams. Ever.
Mark:
3.4
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
6/10
Palate
5/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
13/20
I do have to agree that this is the best offering I've seen from Sam Adams. Dark copper color with a light cream head, which dissipates almost immediately. First sip - floral bitterness with a bit of resinous aftertaste. Very slightly sweet in the middle. Nicely hopped for Sam!
Jere:
3.3
Appearance
3/5
Aroma
7/10
Palate
3/5
Flavor
7/10
Overall
13/20
Pretty dark and bitter, although I probably shouldn't expect too much from Sam... This one blends American, German, and English hops, which seems to have the effect of quite an increase in hoppiness.
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Writing down what we drink since 2007 (because it's easy to forget the next day)

Posted by
On November 25, 2011
0 Comments

We've kept a beer blog over at Blogger for quite a few years now, and we've been discussing moving it to our own website for nearly as long. The time is now! We're way too lazy to transfer our old entries over here, but you can find our drinking archive at mestizorocks.blogspot.com.

Why do we have a beer blog? Writing, rehearsing, and performing all usually happen with a beer in hand, and that's the way we prefer it. The blog usually ends up just being a repository of our beer history for our own reference, but has been known to get a little more in-depth on rare occasions. Cheers!

Beer is good for you
If you drink responsibly
So drink the good stuff 

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