Beer Review: Rogue – John John Ale
Mar0
A Pacific Northwest beer in Dallas
Type of beer: Ale
Wallet thinning factor: $7ish (might have forgotten this detail)
Warm and fuzzy factor: 6.4%
Volume: 1 pint 6 oz
*Hello…* Helllloooooo????? Is anyone still out there????
You might have noticed that there hasn’t been a recent review. That is because there hasn’t been any beer in the world. At all. No really, didn’t you hear about that? Obama got involved and everything.
Whew. Good thing there is beer in the world again.
This beer actually has a story behind it. It is named after the spirits and brew masters at Rogue. Additionally, it was actually brewed with hazelnut flavor in… get this… HAZELNUT SPICE RUM BARRELS. How could you go wrong?
I decided to get back on the bandwagon with this John John Ale. I have had this beer before, and I loved it then, and still love it now. At our wedding, we had the “normal” version of this beer (Hazelnut Brown). The beer pours a golden-amber color. It looks and smells delicious. It has just a slight hazelnut taste that isn’t over-powering, just enough to remind you that it is there.
This beer is perfect after the kind of day that I had… Got up early, did a couple hours of yard work, then errands, and then squats, press, and cardio at the gym.
As the beer warms up, it takes on a bit of a honey taste that is just sweet enough.
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Beer Review: Victory – Wild Devil Ale
Aug0
Only slightly wild...
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 6.7%
Type of brew: IPA
Price: ~$6
The first thing I noticed when pouring this beer was the thick white head that occurred. I am fairly practiced at pouring beers so I am doubtful that it was a bad pour 
. Not saying that a large head makes the beer bad, it was just the first thing I noticed. The beer is a nice amber color and it has carbonation similar to Belgian beers. Looking at the back of the bottle they said they used a yeast that is commonly used in Belgian ales so go figure that the carbonation is similar .
I do find this beer to be not too hoppy. Supposedly it is an IPA but the hop taste is a bit weak for me or maybe I am just not sophisticated enough to pick up on the subtle notes. It is nice to have an IPA that isn’t crazy strong though. Since this IPA weighs in at 6.7% ABV it is a nice beer to have on a hot summer night. However, my wife thought the beer tasted exactly like an IPA. So, as with any beer review it all depends on the person’s tastes and what they normally drink.
Overall this was a nice beer and if you get a chance to pick one up I would suggest it.
The good: A mellow IPA that is a nice everyday beer
The bad: Could be really easy to pour it horribly
Beer Review: Brewdog Paradox Smokehead – An imperial stout matured in islay whisky casks
Aug0
Was that a hint of sock I tasted?
Type of beer: Imperial Stout
Wallet Thinning Factor: $16
Warm and Fuzzy Factor: 10%
Size: 330mL
I guess I should list off a few of the caveats that might affect my review of this beer.
1. Beer guy and I just moved to Dallas, Texas. Some might not consider this to be the beer/coffee/good food/nice people capitol of the world… And they would be correct.
2. Smoke beers and I haven’t really found our common ground.
3. Whisky and I haven’t really found our common ground. I think that is a losing battle.
4. Only after opening the beer and trying it, did I read the website which kindly points out that this beer is better with aging.
Other than that, this is just a plain, ol’ beer review.
The first thing to notice about this beer is the price. That is right, we paid $16 friggin’ dollars for 330mL of beer. The second thing to notice about this beer is the brewing company. Brewdog is known, and wants to be known, for making unique and non-mainstream beers. They achieved that lofty goal with this beer. The brewers also nicely made sure to tell people that this beer should be served at room temperature, unless you “live in an igloo.”
When I poured it, it was still a little cooler than room temperature. At first smell, all I could think of was Liquid Smoke. Beer guy thought about cleaning supplies. With the first taste, the first words were “smokey old socks.” Beer guy made a frown-y face and said that it had a “funny aftertaste.”
I can’t really taste any whisky notes, but I am guessing that the barrels added to the smokey flavor of the beer. Islay whisky is known for having a smokey taste because of the peat. A reasonable conclusion is that some of the smokey flavor is from being aged in the barrels.
As the beer has warmed up, it is starting to taste more like a stout and less like old socks. The smokey flavor is mellowing out. I could definitely see how this beer would taste better as it ages over the years in the bottle. Unfortunately, I just didn’t realize that it should age before I got my grubby paws on it and a glass.
Good: A great beer for someone with a specific hankering for a smoked beer.
Bad: Not for people who lack patience or that don’t like non-mainstream beers.
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Beer Review: Stone – 14th Anniversary Imperial IPA
Jul0
A mighty fine IPA
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 8.9%
Type of brew: Imperial IPA
Price: ~$8
The very first sip I took of this beer it had a really skunky hop flavor but an awesome floral smell. However, the taste was only because I took a drink of it while the beer was still cold and had not properly warmed up. Thankfully, once the beer had warmed up the hop taste matched the smell of this beer. The taste was what you would expect from any quality IPA, slightly bitter initial taste with a nice dry finish at the end.
When I first saw this bottle I was a bit reluctant to purchase it. Stone isn’t always my favorite brewer and they usually try and go over the top with their beers. However, this beer is rather tasty and not over the top. Granted this is a strong beer alcohol wise but it is on par with many of the other Imperial IPAs I have had.
The beer as you can see from the picture pours a light golden color with a decent white head. The beer looks very approachable and could catch you by surprise if you were just handed a glass of it…hmm, that gives me an idea . Anyways, this beer matched perfectly with a hot July night down here in Texas or if you are lucky to not be in the heat some spicy BBQ should probably do the trick.
Overall this beer is a pretty damn good IPA. I am not sure if it would be my #1 choice for an IPA but it is still a damn good IPA and something I would suggest anyone try.
The good: A very tasty IPA especially on a hot summer day/night
The bad: Probably won’t be around for too long 
Beer Review: Southern Star Brewing Company – Buried Hatchet Stout
Jun0
A yummy stout!
Amount of brew in can: 12 fluid ounces
ABV: 8.25%
Type of brew: Stout
Price: ~$9 (for a four-pack)
What I really want to say about this stout is it is one of the best stouts I have tasted, ’nuff said.
But, you probably want to hear my opinion as to why I think that. I have had this stout a few times and it has been good every time (yay! for consistency). When you pour it you can definitely notice the malt that they put into the can it is pretty overpowering. Kind of like hops can be easily noticed in certain IPAs during a pour. This is like many craft beers it gets better when it is not straight out of the fridge, the can says 55 degrees but I just know it is better when it is warms up . The beer is not too sweet but still has some sweetness to it, it has a little bit of a bitter finish too it so it doesn’t stay super sweet like a barrel-aged stout. So, why do I think this is a great stout compared to other stouts? Probably because it has just the right mixture for me of sweetness, flavor, body and finish. Some stouts come off rather bland to me, others just try to over power you. Now, do I think this is the best stout in the world? No, I am not that arrogant I am sure there are better ones. Is this a good consistent one that I can drink over and over and still enjoy it? You betcha!
Of course with anything there are some things I don’t like. The ABV is a bit high for me to drink multiple ones in a day. And as far as I can tell it is only a midwest beer so my left-coast friends don’t know what they are missing .
The good: A mighty fine stout that I think anyone should try at least once
The bad: Can be hard to find
Beer Review: GDBC – Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti
Jun0
Watch out this Yeti has a bite!
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 9.5%
Type of brew: Stout
Price: ~$10
Yet another Yeti! GDBC just doesn’t stop producing different types of Yeti’s. Not that I am complaining but as my wife said “tastes like normal Yeti but with a chocolate aftertaste.” While I agree with her for the most part I want to say there is one thing that isn’t mentioned, the spice. Yes, that is right those peeps at GDBC threw some cayenne pepper into this beer. I actually kind of like it. They did a great job of balancing out the sweetness of the chocolate with a little kick from the pepper.
Another good/bad thing about this beer is that the 9.5% ABV is not even noticeable allowing people to quickly drink it. On the flip side if you tend to chug stouts (or any good quality beer) go read another blog 
. This beer reminds me of a cupcake that was recently put out by Cupcake Royale the Chocolate Scorcher although this beer is thankfully not as spicy. The beer pours nice and thick with a small amount of head. So pretty much it pours like most imperial stouts .
Overall this was another great Yeti from GDBC and I am happy that they released it. If you have a chance to pick up a bottle I would say go for it. It even works on a warm day (85 degrees @ 11:45PM as I write this). I would have to say overall the spice is the most surprising thing about this beer as most beers I have consumed rarely have a kick and it is a nice change.
The good: Another delicious stout
The bad: If you don’t like heavy beers stay away
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Beer Review: Flying Dog – Woody Creek White
Jun1
Is that bread in my glass or beer?
Amount of brew in bottle: 12 fluid ounces
ABV: 4.8%
Type of brew: Wit (a.k.a. white wheat)
Price: ~$9 for a 6-pack
I am not a huge fan of wheat beers so when the wife picked up this six-pack I wasn’t super thrilled. I do find it funny that the label says “belgian style wit beer” but usually when a beer is labelled as a “wit beer” it will be a white wheat beer that has origins in the belgian style but whatever. I am sure there is someone more knowledgeable than me that will be rolling their eyes and thinking “hello, there is an American style wit beer too” yea whatever.
This beer has a low ABV which is awesome since many craft breweries love to make strong ass beers which is not what you need on a warm spring or summer day. You want something refreshing and easy to drink, and this beer definitely fits that bill!
The beer pours a yellow color with a very small head. It has a smell that is reminiscent of belgian beers (shocking) mixed with wheat (yet another amazing statement). The beer has a clean crisp taste that is just slightly spiced up.
If you are ever looking for a beer to help you beat the heat and don’t want to sacrifice taste I would recommend this beer as an option.
The good: Low ABV, easy to drink and would be liked by many people
The bad: It’s a wheat beer
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Beer Review: Real Ale – Sisyphus 2008
May0
Oh how I love a good Barleywine!
Amount of brew in bottle: 12 fluid ounces
ABV: ~10%
Type of brew: Barley Wine
Price: ~$5
Recently me and the wifey migrated down to Texas. We were a bit worried about the beer situation in Texas since it is known for not having that great of beer. Even though the beer situation isn’t as good as Seattle we do not have to resort to drinking Budweiser. Although it would be nice to have a few good brewpubs at least it will cut down on our expenses . Anyways, today I am reviewing a Barleywine style ale from Real Ale Brewing company based out of Blanco, Texas. These guys know how to brew beer! All of the beers I have had from them have been pretty good. This barleywine isn’t as sweet as many of the barleywines I have had but on a hot day that is a good thing! It has a smooth caramel color and smells very slightly of hops. When you take a drink of the beer it is a little thicker than a normal beer (go figure) and has an initial sweet taste followed by a hint of bitterness.
Overall this beer is a very approachable barleywine. I am always hesitant to recommend barleywines to people but this is one I would for sure. Many barleywines are kind of like IPAs either you like them or you don’t but I feel this one is very approachable. So, if you are ever in Texas or see this one sitting on a shelf make sure to pick up a bottle and give it a try.
The good: a very easy drinking barleywine
The bad: Limited supplies
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Beer Review: Reissdorf Kolsch
May0
It's beer... It's light..
Type of beer: Kolsch
Cost: $4.99
ABV: Not listed on the bottle (but didn’t feel that high)
Amount: 500mL (16.9 fl oz)
This beer was actually originally purchased as a “possibility” for our toasting beer at the wedding. We have some beautiful pilsner glasses that were actually given to us as a house warming gift when we bought our house in 2007. These glasses haven’t actually been used yet… So when we decided to get married, we thought that this would be a great time to break out the glasses. If only we could figure out a cool beer to pour into said beautiful glasses.
Hence, the purchase of this beer.
I will be honest, Mike and I don’t usually “do” light beers. Porter and stouts? Sure! Pilsners and lagers? …
This was a tough beer for me to want to purchase.
Initially, I served it a little too cold. It had that gross light beer taste that I usually try and avoid. I liken the “gross beer” taste to that of Bud Light, or something like that. However, as it warmed up, I was pleasantly surprised. The beer lost that “gross taste” and turned into something that I wouldn’t mind drinking if temperatures in Seattle ever got above 90 degrees. It was light and crisp without any kind of aftertaste (again, only after it warmed up a bit).
I drank this beer while eating some delicious steak and spinach with mushrooms. It balanced the heaviness of the steak and cream in the spinach.
Who would have thought that I would pay attention to that?
The verdict… In regards to using this beer as a wedding beer… It just won’t happen. It isn’t that this beer is a bad choice, I am just not a light beer kind of gal. Most likely, we will end up with the delicious pumpkin porter.
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Beer Review: Rogue – Dirtoir Black Lager
Apr0
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: ~6%
Type of brew: Black Lager
Price: ~$7
This is our first, first growth beer by Rogue. We (I say we because me and wifey are reviewing this beer together) usually don’t like lagers but this one is mighty delicious. It pours dark and fairly thick for a lager. The beer tastes smokey but it is still light and refreshing. At least up here in Washington this beer can be found at most decent beer stores. Personally I picked this up at Rogue’s brewpub when we dropped off the kegs from our recent wedding. If you are ever in Issaquah I would strongly suggest going to the Issaquah brewpub it is awesome and can be rather devastating to your pocketbook . The beer did pour with a thin brown head and it almost seemed like a stout but tastes completely different.
The beer is rather enjoyable and I could see it being quite good on a warm day. See, we have to think about these things as we are moving to Dallas. Which means hotter than shit weather and less tasty beer than up here in Washington.
The good: A great light lager
The bad: Umm….
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