Stone Imperial Russian Stout (2008 vintage)

4.5

   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20

Chad9976 (907) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 17, 2013

I received a 12oz bottle of a 2008 vintage in a trade with "Ding" (thanks, man!). It actually had an "enjoy by" date of 1/1/2013. I poured it into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Completely opaque black of the deepest shades. Forms a small, brown, foamy head which mostly dissipates but not completely and leaves minor lacing on the glass.

Smell: An interesting combination of red grape, orange citrus and chocolate syrup.

Taste: If you know me you’d probably assume I drink "Stone IRS" every year, but I actually haven’t had this beer in quite a few years. I was definitely excited to try a 5-year-old vintage of it since I do remember it being quite an intense beer when it was fresh. The aging has definitely helped to take the edge off, though the flavors seem a tad muted as well. It’s a small price to pay because the net result is still a complex and delicious beer.

A delicious blend of chocolate, black licorice, red grape, some orange fruit and just enough bitterness to balance it out. I do remember a fresh vintage having a slightly sour/tart note, which is barely recognizable this time around. Chocolate syrup is still quite prominent, as is some black licorice or root beer flavors but without any spiciness. There’s some black cherry through the middle along with slightly dank hoppiness coupled with some orange flavor. A beer this beer needs plenty of hops to balance it out and after five years they’ve faded a bit as it’s not exactly a bitter bomb, but still retains enough hop character to maintain the balance as the sweetness never becomes cloying. The alcohol has faded to the background well, though it’s still noticeable and does tie all the flavors together. This is definitely one of the best examples of the style I’ve ever had.

Drinkability: After five years in the cellar, Stone Imperial Russian Stout has mellowed wonderfully. The mouthfeel is soft, smooth and slightly slick but not oily. It goes down remarkably easy and is only slightly dry in the aftertaste. The 10.8% ABV weight is quite efficient as the beer is still overtly strong, but its actual boozy character has mellowed and is easily tolerable. I highly recommend cellaring a bottle since the results are this good. 

Grade: 10/10

Watch Jay and I review the 2009 edition here:

Bronx Pale Ale

4

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20

Chad9976 (906) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 16, 2013

I poured a 16oz can into a tulip glass. There was a code of 0873 which I believe is a Julian code of March 28. It cost $3.50 ($0.22 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark, opaque brown (light, translucent orange in the light). Carbonation bubbles visible. Forms an average sized, ivory, frothy head which retains and laces well.

Smell: West Coast hops of citrus and candy, though mild overall. Some malty sweetness.

Taste: If you’re a new brewery you want a flagship beer that’s going to garner attention and I think The Bronx Brewery has started off on the right foot with their eponymous pale ale. The label describes it as a mixture of American, British and German malts and West Coast hops. You wouldn’t think these would pair well, but they do and surprisingly well at that.

The base malt flavor is quite European, reminiscent of a robust British pale ale or a German altbier. A mélange of toast, nuts, and biscuits lays the foundation for the palette. It’s not too strong, or cloying - just a nice balance of mild sweetness and earthy character. The hops come through quite prominently in the middle and impart a dry bitterness, but it’s nothing too high on the IBU scale (I assume). There’s a light confectionery sweetness on the finish and the aftertaste is fairly clean. Overall, a rather complex and well-balanced brew.

Drinkability: I had no trouble getting down my can of Bronx Pale Ale. In fact, I probably went through a bit too quickly. The mouthfeel is comfortable, rather soft, but still has noticeable carbonation energy. It’s easy to drink in sips or gulps and the hops don’t linger for too long (though I wouldn’t call this a refreshing beer). At 6.3% ABV it’s right where it should be in terms of body and weight and would stand up to a meal rather well. As tempting as it might be, I wouldn’t recommend sessioning this 

Grade: 8/10

Middle Ages Swallow Wit

3.2

   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20

Chad9976 (905) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 15, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a wheat beer glass. There was no freshness date. It cost $2.40 ($0.20 per ounce).

Appearance: Gold, glowing yellow hue. On the clearer side with only slight cloudiness and plenty of effervescent visible. Forms an average size, white, soapy head which mostly dissipates and leaves minor lacing.

Smell: A slightly grainy aroma more often found in lagers or cream ales. A hint of lemon, but not particularly aromatic.

Taste: Middle Ages Swallow Wit is one of those beers that starts out well enough but begins to slowly lose me the more I drink. I’m not a stickler for styles, but this doesn’t represent the witbier style all that well, it’s more of a Kolsch or some kind of generic blonde ale. Beers of this style tend to have orange and spice, but this is more of a clean, mild palette of pale grain with some lemony taste. There’s little bitterness, which makes it quite refreshing while in the mouth, but I want way more flavor than I’m getting here. I wouldn’t go so far as to describe this as watery or bland as it definitely has some flavor, even if that flavor may be rather boring. An inoffensive beer to be sure, but has to ways to go to garner a thumbs up from me.

Drinkability: While Middle Ages Swallow Wit may not be all that tasty, at least it’s an easy beer to drink. The mouthfeel is on the thinner side with some crisp carbonation throughout and a clean aftertaste. It’s refreshing across the tongue which makes it useful as a summer seasonal. At only 4.8% ABV it’s got the lighter weight you want in a beer of the type, though I’d prefer a bigger body with more flavor. 

Grade: 5/10

Chimay Bleue (Blue) / Grande Réserve (2010 vintage)

4.6

   AROMA 10/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 10/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20

Chad9976 (904) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 14, 2013

I poured a 750ml bottle (dated 4/10) into the official Chimay chalice.

Appearance: Deep shade of burgundy/brown proper. Forms a small, dark beige, soapy head which eventually dissipates and doesn’t lace the glass.

Smell: A veritable cornucopia of fruits, some spice, and confectionery sweetness.

Taste: When I first reviewed Chimay Blue in December of 2009 I liked it, but thought it was too intense and a bit overrated. I’ve had a lot of experience with beer over the last three and a half years and was eager to try this vintage bottle from my cellar collection. It’s amazing how my perspective on it has changed and also how well the beer itself has improved.

What was intense and spastic is now smooth and refined, yet still plenty complex and robust. I think this palette is inherently drinker-friendly, it just needs some time to ensure a smoother delivery. I can’t imagine not being amazed by these flavors. Sweet caramel and toffee flavors at the beginning with slight bitterness through the middle and a delicious rush of dark fruits to the finish line: plum, cherry, fig, raisin, red grape, etc. There is still a hint of alcohol which adds a subtle warmth and ties the flavors together like a Oriental rug to a living room. This is by far the best of the Belgian quads I have ever had and makes me appreciate the style much more now that I’ve experienced a true vintage.

Drinkability: I’ll admit that Chimay Blue and most of the bottle-conditioned Trappist beers are pretty intense when they’re fresh. After three years in the bottle, the carbonation has settled nicely. The mouthfeel is calm, on the thicker side, but not sticky or cloying. It goes down quite smoothly, though I was still getting some CO2 stuck in my throat even after all this time. The 9% ABV hasn’t completely disappeared as there’s a faint warmness, but it works well with the delivery this time. I was able to drink the entire 750ml bottle myself without any struggle.

Grade: 10/10

Read and watch my 2009 review here:
http://www.chadzbeerreviews.com/2009/12/chimay-blue-grande-reserve-chadz-beer.html

Hacker-Pschorr Weisse (2013)

3.7

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (904) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 13, 2013

I poured two 11.2oz bottles into a weizen glass. They had a best before date of September 2012. A six-pack cost me $10.99 which means each bottle cost about $1.83 ($0.16 per ounce).

Appearance: Pours to a very murky rusty orange/brown hue. Only slightly translucent, though carbonation bubbles are easily visible. Forms a rather small, off white, foamy head which never completely dissipates but leaves on minor lacing on the glass.

Smell: All the usual suspects found in a German hefeweizen: banana, clove, cinnamon bread. There is a slight sourness but that’s almost assuredly due to the age of the bottles.

Taste: I should disclaim this review by acknowledging the fact it’s based on bottles that are about nine months past their freshness date. However, I have had Hacker-Pschorr Weisse many times and I’ve found it to be one of the better German hefeweizens (though I like Schneider and Weihenstephaner much more). For bottles that are quite possibly a year old they have held up rather well.

There isn’t much to say about the palette here that hasn’t already been said about others of the style. You get the classic banana, clove and bready flavors you want in a beer of the style. Though they’re noticeably mild here (probably due to the age). There is still plenty of sweetness on the back end, which is pleasant. There’s some bubblegum flavors as well, especially at warmer temperatures. A fresh bottle would probably garner a higher rating from me, but even these old bottles are still quite enjoyable.

Drinkability: I think hefeweizen is a great style to introduce people to craft beer and Hacker-Pschorr Weisse might be the ideal of the ideal. The mild but flavorful palette is gentle on the tongue. The mouthfeel is soft and comfortable with enough effervescent to give it some zip. It finishes clean and is quite refreshing while in the mouth. At 5.5% ABV it’s about average in weight for the style, though something a little lighter would be preferable. 

Grade: 7/10

Watch my 2010 review here:

Dogfish Head Sixty-One

3.5

   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (903) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 10, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into the official Dogfish head tumbler glass. It was bottled on 2/26/13. It cost $3.80 ($0.32 per ounce).

Appearance: A light purple/dark magenta color. Dark but clear with mild carbonation visible. Forms a large, pinkish white, soapy head that retains and laces well.

Smell: And odd combination of citrusy hops and some kind of berry juice (not grape juice).

Taste: We’ve come to expect the unexpected from Dogfish Head, so no matter how strange their brews may be they shouldn’t be surprising. Sixty-One is much more interesting than it is anything else as it’s technically an American IPA brewed with Syrah grape must. I believe the intention was to create for a beer/wine hybrid, though the final product is more of a berry-flavored beer with hops. It’s not bad, but I’m not sure I understand the appeal.

Slight grapey tartness at the beginning, which quickly gives way to the base 60 Minute IPA palette. It’s a weird transition to go from a juice-like flavor to strong bitterness. I think the intention was to pair the sharp tartness from the grape must with the citrusy bitterness of the hops. In that respect it works somewhat since it’s not completely distracting, but it’s not perfect synergy. The finish is a bit strange with equal parts grape juice and IPA. I think this taste would grown on me eventually, but at $3.80 a bottle I literally can’t afford to take that chance. One serving was good enough for me, and I have a feeling most drinkers will feel the same way.

Drinkability: While the taste may be rather odd, Dogfish Head Sixty-One is at least drinker-friendly. The mouthfeel is noticeably soft and a bit thick but still crisp. The aftertaste is surprisingly clean, though I wouldn’t describe it as refreshing per se. At 6.5% it feels a bit lighter than that weight would indicate, and a single serving is definitely satisfying. 

Grade: 6/10

Adirondack Rock The Boat Ale

3.4

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (902) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 9, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a wheat beer glass. There was no freshness date. It cost $2.50 ($0.21 per ounce).

Appearance: Hazy but translucent shade of pinkish-orange. Some sediment and vigorous carbonation visible. Forms a huge, pinkish-white, soapy head which mostly dissipates but does lace the glass a bit.

Smell: A general berry-like scent, not unlike a fruit juice concentrate. Sweet and flowery.

Taste: Fruity wheat beers are the legitimate flavored malt beverages or "alcopops" of the beer world. They usually taste pretty good, though they don’t often taste like real beer. Adirondack Rock The Boat Ale is a perfect example of what I mean since it tastes exactly as advertised: raspberry and watermelon, but not much else. It’s a fine palette even if it’s a bit repetitive.

I get the fruity flavors right away, especially tart red raspberry. A generic, familiar wheaty taste throughout the middle with slightly sharp/tart watermelon tanginess on the finish. Not quite as candy-like and delectable as a lambic or a genuine fruit beer (I believe this is a pale wheat ale with fruit and not a fruit ale per se). Its taste is on the lighter, more deliberately refreshing end of the spectrum rather than going for authentic fruit flavor. It tastes fine, reminiscent of juice, but isn’t especially delectable though I can find no real "flaws" to the beer. It’s exactly what it’s supposed to be and you can’t fault it for that.

Drinkability: I was amazed by how quickly I downed my serving of Adirondack Rock The Boat Ale. The mouthfeel is thin, slightly water, but the effervescence remains consistently high throughout. It’s easy to drink and leaves a clean aftertaste making it quite refreshing for warmer weather. I couldn’t find an ABV for this beer anywhere (why don’t they just put it on the label!?), but I’d estimate it’s probably <5 anyone.="" be="" but="" div="" drinker="" enough="" for="" good="" much="" nbsp="" non-beer="" one="" pretty="" probably="" sessionable="" should="" the="">

Grade: 6/10

Berkshire Mountain Brewers Alt

3.9

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (901) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 8, 2013

I poured a 22oz bottle into a nonic pint glass. Its best before month was notched August 2013. It cost $4 ($0.18 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark, hazy shady of copper with barely visible sediment floating in suspension. Forms a large, off-white, soapy head which retains and laces fairly well.

Smell: Reminiscent of an English-style brew with a fruity notes plus overt maltiness.

Taste: I’ve always been surprised that the altbier style is inherently German since it drinks like a British pub style ale. Berkshire Mountain Brewers Alt is a good example of this as its quite close to being an ESB with its pure malty flavors and under attenuated sweetness. It’s quite tasty for such a light bodied brew and satisfying for sure.

Right away I get a flavor of wet grain and toasted malt. If you’ve ever homebrewed, it’s akin to tasting the vapor of wort boiling in the brew pot. There’s some tasty fruit flavors to be found in here as well, especially red apple and a hint of cherry. Very mild caramel/toffee or other confectionery sweetness on the backend with some dry, biscuity bitterness as it finishes. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this, and actually found the palette became more enjoyable the more I drank.

Drinkability: It’s small beers like this that show how much can be done with less. Berkshire Mountain Brewers Alt is only 4.5% ABV and while it’s palette is fairly complex, its robustness is mild but strong enough not to bore you. The mouthfeel itself is quite comfortable with calm carbonation, but is not a thin or watery beer at all. I was able to drink the entire bomber myself quickly and easily. 

Grade: 8/10

Lindemans Pomme Lambic (2013)

4

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (900) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 7, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into the official Lindemans flute glass. There was no freshness date. It cost $6.39 ($0.53 per ounce).

Appearance: Lager-like appearance of clear pale straw color. Slow, persistent carbonation visible. Forms a large, bright white, soapy head which laces and retains extremely well.

Smell: Intense green apple aroma, plus overt candy-like sourness.

Taste: When it comes to lambics, they seem to be the kind of beers you either love or hate - there’s little gray area. My friend Jay and I reviewed Lindemans Pomme Lambic three years ago and that’s the exact reaction we had. He couldn’t get past the cloying tartness, but I thought it tasted like a liquid Sour Patch Kid. As much as my palate has refined in the last few years, my opinion of this beer has not changed. It’s liquid candy and it’s delicious.

You get a strong, sweet flavor of green apple right away. It’s reminiscent of the "natural flavors" found in candy and other artificially sweetened/flavored products. It does seem a lot less authentic to me this time around. I also get a lot of raw sugar flavor as well. The palette doesn’t change much throughout the swig. Light, tart apple flavor up front, and even sweeter, slightly sour green apple taste on the backend. There’s really not much "beer" qualities to it as far as malts and hops go (are hops even used in this brew?). It does become a little cloying after a while, but by the time it is does the beer is almost gone anyway. This is probably the most acquired taste of the Lindemans lambics, but if you like green apple candy you’ll like this beer.

Drinkability: With a thin, calm body and soft, smooth texture, Lindemans Pomme Lambic is a highly drinkable beer. The taste might take some getting used to, but the actual delivery process is easy. At only 3.5% ABV it’s almost like drinking something non-alcoholic. Technically it’s sessionable, though 12oz is probably all you’ll need. 

Grade: 8/10

Watch my 2010 video review here:

Top 10 Best Beers Under 5% ABV

A fellow beer blogger named “Ding” recently complained on Twitter that there are few (if any) good beers under 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) readily available in America today. I disagreed and said there are plenty of good sub 5% beers, you just have to look a little harder for them. Ding is a British ex-pat who’s used to seeing session beers on cask in every corner pub back home. So, for him to be used to smaller beers is nothing unusual. Pedantically arguing with him over beer is as productive as arguing with a wall. However, this time I think I can make a pretty compelling case, or at the very least turn it into a good blog post.

I’ve kept an Excel spreadsheet of every beer review I’ve written in the last five years (just over 1,000 at this point) and used it to compile this list. I was surprised how many beers I’ve rated pretty highly that were under 5% ABV, many of which I want to revisit soon.

Here’s the guidelines I went by when making this list:
•    Only beers I’ve actually had are eligible.
•    The beer must be fairly widely distributed, so brewpub-only beers and those sold only in one state aren’t eligible.
•    It must be 4.9% ABV or less, but doesn’t have to be a “session beer” per se.
•    Ties are allowed, but only if the beers are of the same style.
•    Brewer is irrelevant. Macros and craft are equally eligible.

With those restrictions in place I was still able to put together a list of over 30 individual beers, though trying to narrow them down to the ten best was quite a challenge. I had considered making a list of ten groups (i.e. general styles), but decided to pick the best of the group and listed the others as “comparable alternatives.”

NOTE: Most descriptions are excerpted from my reviews. Click on the links to read the full review of each beer.

10. Tröegs Sunshine Pils (4.7%)
I don’t think I’ll ever find a standard all-malt pilsner that will blow my mind, but finding one that’s just plain good is a rarity that I appreciate. That’s Tröegs Sunshine Pils in a nutshell: a true pilsner that’s flavorful and highly drinkable; and that’s good enough for me. There’s a slight starch or cracker-like flavor throughout the palate. Also riding shotgun is a dry bitterness, the kind found in old world pilsners. I taste a subtle lemon character on the back end, which makes for a nice change of pace and adds some hop flavor without distracting from the main palette or deviating from the style.

Comparable alternative: Paulaner Original Munich Lager (4.9%)

9. Tie: Murphy’s Irish Stout (4%), Guinness Draught Stout (4.2%), Beamish Irish Stout (4.1%), O’Hara’s Irish Celtic Stout (4.3%)
When it comes to Irish Dry Stouts the name Guinness always comes to mind. However, I always preferred Beamish  among the big three nitro-charged lightweight stouts. Many people naively believe Guinness and these type of beers to be big and heavy, bust most have the same ABV as Bud Light. Beamish is remarkably sweet and complex when compared to Guinness (Murphy’s is too, but to a lesser extent). O’Hara’s isn’t as well-known as the others, but has a little more stout flavor to it with roasted barley and coffee notes (but isn’t nitro-charged). None of these beers really excite me, but they’re easy to drink and satisfying – especially if you don’t have any other options.

Comparable alternative: Victory Donnybrook Stout (3.7%)

8. Dogfish Head Festina Pêche (4.2%)
While plenty of breweries of all sizes from around the United States have made fruity wheat beers (especially for summer), Delaware-based Dogfish Head decided to make a truly unique beer with Festina Pêche – an American take on the Berliner-Weisse style. It’s an overtly sour beer as soon as it crosses the tongue. The sourness is rich enough to notice, but mild enough to easily tolerate. This beer is literally made with peach juice, and there is something of a peach, apricot and white grape taste to the palette. The body is thin, slightly watery, and finishes extremely clean (the sourness lingers for only a moment or two, but I find it quite pleasing).

7. Wolaver’s Wildflower Wheat (4.25%)
Usually, I’m not a fan of honey, but combined with the chamomile and the natural banana-bread flavor of the wheat, it makes for a great combination. The flavor and aroma go hand-in-hand in creating for a sweet, pie-like palate – similar to the syrup and crust of an apple pie rather than the apples themselves. Slight cinnamon notes provide the palate with some zip, but the honey sweetness dominates. There’s a mild citrus taste in the finish, but next to no bitterness. The sweet taste isn’t cloying and the relatively flat, thinner body makes for a comfortable mouthfeel and super smooth finish.

Comparable alternatives: Ithaca Apricot Wheat (4.9%); Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat (4%); Southern Tier Raspberry Wheat (4.5%)

6. Samuel Adams Boston Lager (4.8%)
When compiling this list I realized that Samuel Adams has brewed quite a few good beers under 5% ABV. This is a great “transition beer” for macro drinkers looking to get into craftier, more robust styles without sacrificing the familiarly of lager. Though I’ve always said this beer could be mistaken for a pale ale if drank blind. You don’t encounter too many lagers with this much flavor, especially when it comes to hops. It drinks like a heavier beer than it actually is, which makes its relatively light weight all that more impressive. A great go-to beer when you’re at a venue with no craft options.

Comparable alternatives: Anchor Steam Beer (4.9%); Samuel Adams Belgian Session Ale (4.3%); Samuel Adams Black Lager (4.9%); Sam Adams Light (4%)

5. Breckenridge Vanilla Porter (4.7%)
I had this beer on tap and it was as robust as many imperial stouts, but when I tried the home version it was quite different. It’s a porter in pretty much every aspect. Mild, toasted dark malt through the palate with sweetness in the background the entire time. Minute taste of dark fruits, but nothing not found in most other porters. The finish is what gives the beer its uniqueness with a burst of vanilla flavor and a quick kiss of bitter dark chocolate. These candy flavors linger momentarily, but then the palate fades away cleanly. Get it on tap if you can, but the bottle is pretty satisfying, too.

Comparable alternatives: Saranac Vanilla Stout (4.8%); Captain Lawrence Brown Bird Ale (4.8%)

4. Blanche de Namur (4.5%)
I thought for sure some of my favorite German hefeweizens and dunkelweizens would make this list, but in researching it I realized all the good ones are over 5% ABV and thus weren’t eligible. However, I did find plenty of good witbiers (or “Belgian Whites”) that qualified with Blanche de Namur being the best of them. The beer begins with a noticeably fizzy, slightly lemony taste. Nothing tart, but a dry candy-like sweetness (think Smarties or Sprees). Orange begins to come through towards the second half with a strong burst of licorice on the finish. As it warms, I begin to notice the licorice at the beginning as well. It’s amazing how well it blends with the palette as it seems totally authentic and is not cloying. This is a really tasty, enjoyable beer. I’m surprised it’s not more popular around here.

Comparable alternatives: Blanche de Bruxelles (4.5%); Long Trail Belgian White (4.7%); Hoegaarden (4.9%)

3. Fuller’s London Pride (4.7%)
British pub-style beers are rarely my first choice, but when I have a good one I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. This is true of a lot of beers, but only a few that qualified for this list (the Brits make >5% beer too, Ding!). As for Fuller’s London Pride it’s pretty much the epitome of the English-style pale ale (as far as I can tell). The palate is remarkable in that it’s so authentically flavored, but not over the top. It begins with a sweet, slightly acidic flavor much like apple juice. Its accompanied by caramel and toffee notes – making for a delicious candy apple palate overall. It doesn’t change much from beginning to end, although there is slightly dry, biscuity malt component throughout the second half. The bitterness is noticeable, but tame. The finish returns to the apple flavors and leaves a pleasant, subtle aftertaste of fruit.

Comparable alternatives: Well’s Bombardier (4.7%); Newcastle Brown Ale (4.7%); Goose Island Honkers Ale (4.3%)

2. Tie: Lindemans fruit lambics (2.5% – 4.75%)
I’m sure I’m going to take a lot of heat for including these beers so high on my list. I don’t care, I really enjoy these beers. To me, they’re basically liquid Jolly Ranchers – a delicious mixture of fruit flavor, sweetness and tartness. A lot of Belgian beer nerds chide these for not being authentic lambics since they’re brewed with added sugar (and some allege they’re brewed with fruit juice or natural flavoring and not actual fruit, but I’ve yet to see any definitive evidence of this).

So while these beers may not drink like most “beer,” they’re quite tasty and light bodied. Their ABV ranges from as low as 2.5% for the Framboise to 4.75% for the Faro. I find them to be great educational tools for showing non-beer drinkers what can be done with beer. They’re also quite drinker-friendly because of their candy-like taste (and the fact most people like fruit). Some may find the sweetness and/or tartness cloying, and that’s understandable. There are more refined lambics available, though they’re quite expensive, rare and too heavy in alcohol to qualify for this list.

1. Founders All Day IPA (4.7%)
We Americans sure love our India Pale Ales, but they tend to be on the bigger side (>6%). Isn’t there a way to get the hop flavor and bitterness we want in an IPA, but in a smaller, more sessionable body? Apparently there is and Founders figured it out with their fairly new “All Day IPA.” There’s an interesting combination of tropical fruit flavor, along with a hint of garlic and some pine. The bitterness isn’t too strong, but it certainly is noticeable (42 IBUs according to the bottle). There’s an ubiquitous earthy/piney character making it rather complex as far as the hop profile goes. Not much in the way of malt, though, just a standard pale ale base without much sweetness or distinct character. The mouthfeel is on the thinner side with a smooth finish and relatively clean aftertaste. At only 4.7% ABV, this is one of the few IPAs you can drink in large quantities without getting bored or overwhelmed.

Comparable alternatives: Saranac Session IPA (4.7%); Stone Levitation Ale (4.4%)

Labatt Blue Light (2013)

2.8

   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 10/20

Chad9976 (899) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 5, 2013

I poured a 24oz can into a one liter mug. There was no decipherable freshness date. It cost $1.81 ($0.08 per ounce).

Appearance: Crystal clear, pale white gold hue. Plenty of carbonation visible. Initially pours to a large, fluffy, bright white head, but it fizzles away almost completely and leaves little lacing on the glass.

Smell: Muted, mild aroma of generic lager with some corn presence.

Taste: I probably should rate Labatt Blue Light a little lower than I’m going to since it’s woefully bland. However, I prefer bland to offensive, and for a beer to score a 3 or worse for me, it has to be a struggle to drink. While there really aren’t many redeeming qualities to this beer, it’s at least easy to get down. I think I’ve built up a tolerance to adjunct macro lagers, as this flavor profile doesn’t repulse me all that much (well, maybe the first swig or two).

This seems to have a smidge of true pilsner quality to it than most light beers of the caliber. Slightly sweet taste of pale grain throughout the swig. I do detect some toasted corn and a hint of metallic flavor in the aftertaste, but it all homogenizes quickly. What this ends up tasting like it exactly what it is: light fizzy yellow beer. The most prominent flavor here is its lack of flavor, or maybe an actual watery taste. While that may sound repulsive, I found it to be tolerable.

Drinkability: I thought it might be a challenge to get through an entire 24oz serving of Labatt Blue Light, but I found myself slugging it down rather quickly. It’s a thin body for sure, with a flat, watery texture. Though bubbly at first, it calms down fast and leads to a smooth finish. At 4% ABV it’s exactly what you’d expect on all accounts. If there’s nothing else available this would at least would be drinkable. 

Grade: 4/10

Watch my 2009 video review here:

Berkshire Mountain Brewers Black Bear Stout

3.7

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (898) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 4, 2013

I poured a 22oz bottle into a tulip pint glass. Its best before date was notched at August 2013. It cost $4 ($0.18 per ounce).

Appearance: Opaque dark black with no highlights. Forms a large, dark tan, frothy head which laces and retains well.

Smell: Plenty of roasted barley, hints of vanilla and milk chocolate.

Taste: I’m so used to drinking large, imperial stouts I sometimes forget what can be done with smaller versions like Berkshire Mountain Brewers Black Bear Stout. This is a by-the-book brew in the sweet stout style. It has everything you expect and nothing you don’t. So, yes, it’s good, but it’s been done.

Light, sweet maltiness at the beginning of the palette. Slight milk chocolate flavors with perhaps a dairy flavor often found in stouts brewed with lactose sugar (not sure if this one is or not). Slight tanginess through the middle with hardly any bitterness, finishing with a short, but noticeable, burst of roasted malt or coffee-like bitterness. It fades away almost completely clean and rather quickly, making this a beer that’s satisfying, but a bit too fast for its own good. Not quite robust enough to be a dessert beer, it’s a stout for the sake of drinking stout. I can live with that.

Drinkability: I had considered rating Berkshire Mountain Brewers Black Bear Stout a little lower because of the mild palette, but then I realized its drinkability is quite impressive. The mouthfeel is quite thin, but then again it’s a deliberately lighter bodied beer. It’s soft and smooth across the tongue and glides down the gullet with ease. At 4.9% ABV it’s perhaps a bit too big to be defined as a session beer, though drinking it in large quantities should not be a burden on anyone. 

Grade: 7/10

Shed Mountain Ale

3.6

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (897) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 3, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a goblet. It was bottled on 1/8/13. It cost $2.35 ($0.20 per ounce).

Appearance: Brown with burgundy highlights. Opaque. Forms a small, off-white, foamy head which mostly evaporates but does lace the glass a bit.

Smell: Strong malt aroma plus significant hop presence.

Taste: I didn’t know what to expect out of Shed Mountain Ale. The bottle label describes it as a "rugged brown ale," but the major beer websites classify it as an old ale and others say it’s an English Strong Ale. I could see this beer falling into any of those categories. It has the basic characteristics of each with some noticeably boozy character and a slight astringency.

Up front I get mild maltiness with subtle caramel or toffee flavors. Almost no bitterness to be found, though there is a prominent alcohol presence, which is a bit odd considering the beer isn’t all that big. The finish has more malty flavor than the beginning, with some confectionery sweetness and is reminiscent of a doppelbock. Though the alcohol is there as well is a bit distracting. As the palette stands it’s fine, though I could see more being done with this such as upping the candy flavors or maybe adding some smokiness as well.

Drinkability: For a relatively big beer, Shed Mountain Ale is surprisingly thin and tepid in the mouth. There’s a slight slickness to the texture, though I wouldn’t describe it as oily per se. It goes down smoothly with a bit of warmth from the alcohol. It feels hotter than its 7.4% ABV body should be, but doesn’t have the weight or density of beer that big. 

Grade: 7/10

Berkshire Mountain Brewers ESB

3.5

   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (896) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 2, 2013

I poured a 22oz bottle into a nonic pint glass. Its best before month was notched at August 2013. It cost $4 ($0.18 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark copper to brown proper hue. Hazy but translucent, not opaque. Forms a large, white, soapy head which retains and laces quite well.

Smell: Standard British pub ale aroma of cereal and a hint of spicy/citrusy hops.

Taste: No beer is more difficult to review than those that conform to their style and don’t have anything particularly unique to them. That’s how I feel about Berkshire Mountain Brewers ESB - it’s a good beer and it exemplifies the style quite well (especially for an American version), but going into detail about it will be challenging.

This is the type of beer I would pair with breakfast. It has a lot of flavors that would be perfect in that setting. Firstly, there’s a cinnamon toast flavor present. British pub style ales tend to have a bready or toasty character, and this one does too. I swear I get a wisp of cinnamon in the aftertaste. Secondly, there’s an orange marmalade taste as well. It’s brewed with Fuggles and East Goldings hops, which might account for a hint of citrus, though the malts are definitely doing most of the work here. There’s mild bitterness on the second half, along with some dryness, but despite the style’s name these beers aren’t intended to be of IPA or even pale ale-level hoppiness. This would be a good introductory brew of the style, but those looking for excitement and pizzazz might be disappointed.

Drinkability: There’s no challenge in drinking Berkshire Mountain Brewers ESB, though not that there should be. The mouthfeel isn’t too heavy, but is noticeably soft and a bit tepid, but it goes down easily. Drinking one bottle alone is satisfying with its relatively light weight of only 5% ABV. 

Grade: 6/10

Peak Organic IPA

4

   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 16/20

Chad9976 (895) - Albany, New York, USA - JUN 1, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. It had a best before date notched at August of 2013. It cost $2.50 ($0.21 per ounce).

Appearance: Opaque rusty copper/light brown hue. Forms a small, white, soapy head which almost completely evaporates and leaves minor lacing.

Smell: An interesting, but odd mix of orange citrus, pine, and tea leaves.

Taste: I’ve often said the IPAs that overlooked and underrated are those that don’t fall into simple East Coast or West Coast style. Peak Organic IPA is a great example as it has a little of each (pine and citrus, respectfully), but also contains a significant herbal character akin to sweet iced tea. Yet it still remains plenty bitter to conform to the IPA style. I was surprised by how much I liked it.

A slight orange juice flavor up front with a strong iced tea or green tea herbal character through the middle. The citrus from the Amarillo hops complements this character quite well. There’s a strong, slightly dry, bitter bite at the apex of the swig. I get a quick burst of coffee flavor that subsides as more orange flavor approaches to finish off the palette. This is a satisfying, surprisingly delectable brew that’s worth drinking for its uniqueness alone.

Drinkability: While Peak Organic IPA does have a fun, enjoyable taste, what makes it even better is the fact it’s remarkably easy to get down. The mouthfeel is crisp, but not intense, sticky or heavy. It goes down easy with no carbonation lingering. The hops do leave a slightly pasty, dry aftertaste, but it’s easy to look past. It’s tempting to drink in large quantities, because the 7.1% ABV weight is well hidden and efficient. 

Grade: 8/10

Berkshire Mountain Brewers Pale Ale

3.7

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 14/20

Chad9976 (894) - Albany, New York, USA - MAY 31, 2013

I poured a 22oz bottle into a nonic pint glass. It had a before date of 8/2013. It cost $4 ($0.18 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark gold/copper hue. Mostly clear but slightly cloudy with suspended sediment. Forms a large, eggshell, frothy head which laces and retains very well.

Smell: Light malty notes, almost cereal-like with hints of orange citrus.

Taste: We Americans tend to forget that you can actually get plenty of flavor out of relatively light beers. Berkshire Mountain Brewers Pale Ale is a good example, as it seems to be brewed in the traditional British pub style with its prominent malty character, but does have a slight American hop presence as well.

There’s a general cereal-like character at the beginning of the palate. Reminds me of Cheerios or some kind of wheat flakes. A slight nutty flavor as well, though nothing particularly toasty or overly sweet. At the apex there’s a quick hop bite with residual orange citrus flavor on the backend. More biscuity malt character as well. It’s not all that robust of a palette, nor complex. But what’s here is pretty tasty with no off flavors.

Drinkability: What really sells me on this beer is how easy it is to drink. The mouthfeel is quite comfortable with a light-to-medium body, moderate carbonation and smooth finish. At only 4.5% ABV, Berkshire Mountain Brewers Pale Ale is indeed an American session beer as it would be ideal to sip on for hours on end since it doesn’t fatigue the palate or feel heavy on the system. 

Grade: 7/10

Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss-Dunkel

3.5

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 13/20

Chad9976 (893) - Albany, New York, USA - MAY 30, 2013

I poured a 500ml bottle into a weizen glass. It has a best before date of May, 2013. It cost $3.29 ($0.19 per ounce).

Appearance: Opaque brown body with a glowing ruby red aura. Forms a large, white, frothy barm which mostly dissipates and leaves only minor lacing.

Smell: Mostly just banana, no spice notes. Also quite mild.

Taste: I’m a big fan of wheat beers. It seems to me that they’re a hard style to get wrong. Even if you make one by the book it may be unoriginal, but it’ll be good. For some reason, Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss-Dunkel comes up a bit short. While not a bad beer at all, it’s a little too mild for its own good.

The palette doesn’t have a lot of distinctive character to it. Similar to most German wheat beers with the usual notes of banana and clove, but this time they’re mild and contained. I prefer cinnamon bread character from a dunkelweizen, but this one is just plain bready. There’s a faint sweet taste right as it finishes, but it’s not a beer that I would consider robust. Thankfully, there’s no off flavors, and those that are present become more prominent as it warms. Maybe it’s just an old bottle, but the fact remains this is an okay beer at best.

Drinkability: I deliberately bought and drank Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss-Dunkel for its performance value. I had just come back from a long walk on a hot, humid day and this was the refresher I was seeking. It was comfortable in the mouth with noticeable carbonation, but with a smooth finish. It’s definitely refreshing and at only 4.9% ABV it’s ideal for hot weather in a large quantity over time.

Grade: 6/10

Mendocino Black IPA

3.7

   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (892) - Albany, New York, USA - MAY 29, 2013

I poured a 12oz bottle into a goblet. There was no freshness date. It cost $2.25 ($0.19 per ounce).

Appearance: Opaque black body, no visible carbonation. Forms a small, beige, foamy head which laces and retains well.

Smell: Light pine and citrus notes. Pretty typical nose for the style.

Taste: Mendocino is a brewery located right up the road from me in Saratoga Springs, yet I rarely review their actual products (they do contract brew a lot of beers I’ve reviewed, though). I saw their new black IPA at the beer store and the fact it was brewed with orange peel intrigued me. While the beer itself is pretty good, it’s nothing particularly special. Though it’s probably the best beer I’ve had from this brewery.

Mendocino Black IPA drinks like a pretty standard IPA. Only on the first few swigs did the "black" component actually come out. The rest of the time it drinks like a classic East Coast style IPA with a lot of pine notes. Nothing sticky or full of resin, just pine needles throughout the first half with a hint of orange citrus on the finish. I’d imagine this is due to both the hops and the use of orange peel in the brew, though there is nothing spicy about it. I did pull some pleasant roasty, stout-like flavors on the first few swigs, but they homogenize to general dry bitterness with a slight coffee aftertaste. A few tweaks to this recipe could make it really unique and memorable, though as it stands it’s pretty good (if that’s good enough for you).

Drinkability: I find that Mendocino tends to make deliberately pedestrian brews, and their black IPA is no exception. The body and mouthfeel are both medium all around with a fairly soft texture, mild carbonation and smooth finish. A slight drying sensation on the tongue afterwards, but easily tolerable. It’s quite flavorful for 6% ABV and makes an ideal accompaniment to a strong meal or with dessert. 

Grade: 7/10

Berkshire Mountain Brewers Not Your Father's Dortmunder

3.6

   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20

Chad9976 (891) - Albany, New York, USA - MAY 28, 2013

I poured a 22oz bottle into a pilsner glass. Its "enjoy by" date was notched at August. It cost $4 ($0.18 per ounce).

Appearance: Dark gold hue, almost completely clear but slightly cloudy. Plenty of spastic carbonation visible. Forms an average sized, white, soapy head which retains and laces well.

Smell: Similar to that of a typical pale lager, but with more grass or hay.

Taste: You don’t see too many American breweries putting out a Dortmunder these days. Probably because it’s a very specific, niche style of lager. In fact, I can’t really say how well "Not Your Father’s Dortmunder" conforms to the style, but as a craft lager it’s pretty good. It has a little more character than most beers of the ballpark, with significant hop and malt presence.

I usually drink lagers like this for their performance value, but this time I actually enjoyed the taste. There’s a strong presence of Noble hops, hay or straw, and some cracker or biscuit character throughout the palette. Slightly dry bitterness right away with a subtle lemony flavor throughout the first half. Bitterness increases at the apex with some starchy notes and a hint of black pepper. The finish has a trace of garlic or onion, which is a taste I’m more used to finding in an IPA than in a lager. While not absolutely delicious, I find this beer to be anything but boring and an interesting brew for sure.

Drinkability: While "Not Your Father’s Dortmunder" has more flavor than your typical fizzy yellow lager, it still has the same easy drinkability you expect of the genre. The mouthfeel is on the lighter, thinner side. Plenty of noticeable carbonation, but still easy to drink in large quantities quickly. It finishes clean, though I would not consider this to be refreshing per se. I could see it pairing nicely with a meal, though. I’m not sure of the alcohol content as it’s not listed on bottle or the brewery’s website, but I’d estimate it’s around 5-5.5% ABV (UPDATE: 5/31/13 the brewery reports it's actually 4.8% ABV). A tad big to session, though drinking an entire bomber solo is no challenge at all. 

Grade: 7/10

Hosting a beer tasting panel… at a wine festival

If you know me you know I’m a beer guy, not a wine guy. So I was pretty surprised when I was asked to host a beer tasting panel at the Hudson Berkshire Wine and Food Festival on Sunday, May 26 (Ben was invited too, but he was out of town). When I first received the invitation from Carlo De Vito, the head organizer of the event, I panicked a little. I’ve never done any presentations for a live audience and it’s been about 15 years since my last Public Speaking 101 class. He assured me it would be a casual, friendly crowd who just wanted to try some good local beer and I had nothing to be anxious about.

Carlo and I spent a few days trying to come up with a selection of beers from breweries located in the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. We wanted to exhibit dark and light beers, as well as showcase as many breweries as possible. Trying to narrow down the list down to only one beer per brewery was quite a challenge. I gave Carlo a ridiculously long list of beers to procure, and he was able to come through with some pretty good ones.

“Chad’s Weeknight Wheat” (my homebrewed hefeweizen)

We thought it would be fun to include a homebrew in the lineup just for fun and variety. This is a beer I’ve made several times and it’s a pretty good example of the authentic German style as I used Bavarian yeast which gives it a lot of banana and clove notes in both the aroma and the taste. I was delighted to see so many people not only enjoyed it, but were surprised by how much they did. After the panel ended, many people came up and asked for refills and I was glad to oblige. Many asked for recommendations on a beer they could buy in stores that tasted like this. I recommended Weihenstephaner, Schneider Weisse, Franziskaner, Paulaner, and Hacker-Pschorr. A few people joked they’d never be able to remember those names.

Barrington Brewery’s “Not Your Father’s Dortmunder”

Dortmunder is a niche German style of lager that not a lot of American breweries attempt. This one had a lot of notes of hay and grass. Not particularly clean, but mild enough that it was drinker-friendly. This was my first time trying this beer as Barrington is not sold in Albany, though they did have a booth at the festival. I agreed with the crowd’s general reception that it was decent to good, but nothing amazing. I did buy a bottle of it (and all the beers they had for sale at the festival) to review over the coming weeks at my beer review blog.

Brown’s Pale Ale

Obviously there had to be a pale ale in this lineup somewhere, so why not Brown’s? It’s not a beer they’re well known for, but it is a solid example of the style. It has a classic British influence, but uses American hops to make it interesting. Pretty much everyone seemed to enjoy this. A few people remarked they’re not used to beers with a lot of hops, but this was quite satisfying to them.

Discussing Captain Lawrence’s Imperial IPA with the audience.

Captain Lawrence Brewing’s “Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA”

We skipped over the regular India Pale Ale style and went for a much bigger beer instead. At 9% ABV and 80 IBUs, this came as quite a shock compared to the previous beer. I had the crowd take a good sniff of the beer to really appreciate the aromatic qualities of the hop, which everyone seemed to enjoy. This beer has a lot of lemon, candy, and pine notes to it. I find it to be rather tame for its size, though a few people said it was a challenge to drink. I held up my 4.9% ABV homebrew (a hazy orange/brown color) next to the Captain Lawrence (which is clear and golden) to show how color really has nothing to do with a beer’s strength in terms of alcohol potency or flavor intensity.

Chatham Brewing’s Maple Amber

A nice transition from hoppy to malty beers. This is an amber use infused with fresh maple syrup from trees in Chatham. Slightly sweet, but not cloying, with a strong smoke flavor on the finish. This one seemed to throw people for a loop, especially coming off the last beer. Many said they enjoyed the maple sweetness, while others remarked that they’ve never had a beer with a smoky character before. Fortunately, Chatham was at the festival pouring several of this beers. I think this beer sent more traffic to their booth.

Crossroads Brewing Black Rock Stout

You might remember from my last blog where I took a trip down to Crossroads and discovered that this is actually their best beer (though their “Outrage IPA” is really good, too). Not quite an imperial stout per se, though a strong, robust one that’s drinker friendly. It was a great way to end the tasting as the rich maltiness coupled with bittersweet chocolate and some coffee notes made for a liquid dessert. I could see a few people wince at it, probably because of their preconceptions of “dark beer,” but those that enjoyed it REALLY enjoyed it.

While six beers may not sound like a lot, I think we were able to demonstrate what craft beer is all about and what breweries in this region are doing. I would have preferred to include a few more beers among the panel, but time was limited. It was fun interacting with people and answering their questions about beer. I’d imagine these are the perks professional brewers get to deal with often.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the casual and relaxed atmosphere. I’d never been to a wine festival before, so I was expecting clientele from that Paul Giamatti movie “Sideways.” Fortunately, it was everyday people who just wanted to try some good food and drinks. After my discussion ended I checked out the entire festival. I tried quite a few wines and found some that were tasty, but none that I enjoyed as much as beer (though there was a pumpkin wine I liked enough to consider buying). I had a similar reaction to the mead and the distilled spirits that I sampled; they were good, but I don’t feel the need to drink them more often.

I’m already looking forward to next year and have plenty of ideas on how we can improve it. Thanks to everyone that came out. I’ll see you in 2014!