Beer Review: The Men’s Room Original Ale by Elysian
Oct2
A damn fine ale
A local radio show here in Seattle paired up with Elysian – one of the micro-breweries in Seattle – to brew a beer. I happen to be a fan of the show so I thought I would give it a whirl.
What can I say? For a bunch of drunks it is actually a damn fine ale. Granted they didn’t make but helped create the recipe so I guess it would turn out since the creation of the beer was left in the capable hands of the Elysian brewers. The beer is golden brown like an ale is supposed to be and is pretty smooth. This beer has a very prominent floral taste which was surprising to me. The beer is 5.4 abv and is really not bitter and has a very nice finish. It was damn easy to drink and I could see how it would be easy to drink a few pints without even noticing it. Some of the proceeds of this beer go to a charity so while you drink you can have a warm fuzzy feeling without actually getting buzzed.
Unfortunately this beer isn’t being bottled yet and is usually fairly quick to go. I don’t think Elysian is brewing huge batches of it either and with the radio show pimping the beer it sounds like a recipe for a beer to go quickly.
The good: Easy to drink ale some proceeds go to a charity
The bad: Limited quantities
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Beer Review: Ommegang – Chocolate Indulgence
Oct2
Yummy, yummy chocolate
Type o’ beer: Ale
Warm-and-Fuzzy Factor: 7%
Wallet/Purse-Thinning Factor: $13
Anyone want to guess why this beer caught my eye? The beautiful design of the label ensured that it would be an absolutely delicious beer that was worth every penny I paid for it.
Right.
It said “chocolate.” It also said “Ommegang” and I have liked their beer before. It also said “Cooperstown, NY” on the label. Only close friends will know the importance of that town. 
Originally, I wanted a pumpkin beer. It is fall and I usually don’t like fruity beer but pumpkin beer is just up my alley. I am having issues finding a pumpkin beer that isn’t too pumpkin-y or one that also doesn’t leave me asking Mr. Beer Guy if I bought the wrong beer. Instead, I found a new chocolate beer that I hadn’t tried before.
A disclaimer. I was making this lovely chili recipe when I was drinking this beer. The seriously intense steam and flavor coming out of the pot o’ ingredients MAY have changed how my taste buds feel about the flavor.
Mr. Beer Guy had to make sure things were correct, so he let the beer warm up a bit before serving it up. Out of the bottle the beer had a nice, creamy looking head to it. It looked pretty dark for an ale, but I figured that would be due to the chocolate.
And the taste? A bit like chocolate, a lot like…
kalamata olives.
You think I am joking? I tried it a few more times. And then waited until I was done cooking, and tried it some more. It still tasted like kalamata olives in a much stronger way than chocolate. What I can’t figure out is why Mr. Beer Guy doesn’t like this beer. He usually really does not like olives. So I guess that leaves two options…
One – This beer doesn’t really taste like olives
Two – He actually likes olives but just wants to make things interesting for me
I am thinking that two is more likely.
The Good: Easy to drink, flavorful, not too crazy with the ABV, and a good dinner beer
The Bad: Not a good beer to finish the night with, not what I was hoping for in the flavor category, and I felt like I expected more from Ommegang
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Beer Review: Pugsley’s Signature Series Imperial Porter by Shipyard Brewing
Sep0
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 7.1%
Type of brew: Imperial Porter
Price: ~$6
With the rolling in of fall darker and more bodied drinks seems a little bit easier to drink. Call me crazy but drinking a heavy beer in 90+ degree heat is just not my thing. On my weekly grocery shopping trip I noticed this beer, not because of the flashy gold foil wrapper (which you could see if my camera didn’t die on me at the time I drank this beer) on the top but rather the fact that I have not seen this brewer yet. Shipyard Brewing is from Portland, Maine which is interesting only because I have never had a beer that was brewed in Maine. I have been feening for some porters and stouts so I grabbed this one before my conscious could yell at me to put it back. Enough babbling on to the review!
This beer pours a little bit lighter than what I was expecting, don’t get me wrong it is still dark but it doesn’t pour like syrup. The smell of the beer is a bit sweet and reminds me of chocolate. However, the taste of the beer is not that sweet on first taste it has a touch of sweetness to it followed by a dry bitterness, it is quite good and refreshing. It has a touch of carbonation but nothing crazy just enough to give a little buzz on your tongue. The beer is a great sipper and very easy to go down. As the beer gets a bit warmer the taste starts to get sweeter but still it is nothing crazy and the backend of the taste is quite refreshing.
The good: easy to drink and great for a rainy and windy fall night
The bad: probably not the easiest beer to find
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Beer Review: 15th Anniversary Double IPA – GDBC
Aug0
Amount of brew in bottle: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 10%
Type of brew: IPA
Price: ~$7
This was one of the two wood-aged double IPAs I recently purchased. I have to say I like this beer more than the other one. This beer has just a hint of sweetness and is a bit smoother than a typical double IPA. But you can still taste the hops which is what I tend to like about IPAs . The beer pours a rich amber color with pretty much no head and small amount of carbonation. The bottle is pretty cool too I like how the label is designed and there was a “cool” foil top on it that just screams “premium” 
. There is not tons to say about this beer it is damn good, it is semi-sweet but not over the top, a bit hoppy but not crazy, not too bitter and easy to drink. I am not sure if I could drink a whole 22 ounce bottle by myself though (I usually split these bottles).
The good: a damn fine beer, easy to drink and not an over the top (i.e. only extreme hop-heads will like it) IPA.
The bad: It took them 15 years to come out with this beer .
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P.S. There is no picture because my camera died, le sigh
Beer Review: Consecration by Russian Review
Aug0
Yumminess in a bottle
For my birthday my fiancée bought this bottle of beer for me.
Amount of brew in bottle: 750ml
ABV: 10%
Price: $23
Type of brew: Sour beer
This sour ale is brewed with currants and is barrel aged. Which made the brew fairly fruity and pretty sweet with a slightly bitter aftertaste that quickly vanished. I shared this beer with some friends and they where wondering if it was even beer and not wine. What does that mean to you? Mainly that the beer is a good beer for people who don’t like beer. Granted at the price we paid for this beer you can get a pretty decent bottle of red wine! The beer is pretty carbonated, very darkly colored, super easy to drink and really enjoyable. One thing you might have noticed is that this beer weighs in at a hefty 10% ABV which is no slouch of a beer. However, you could not even taste the alcohol in the beer which would be very dangerous if you wanted the whole bottle by yourself. The flip side to that though is that with many beers with alcohol levels in the double digits you have to be ok with tasting alcohol, so this beer was a nice change of pace.
The real question for me though is the beer worth the price? Personally I don’t think so. Even though it was a great beer I just couldn’t see dropping that kind of money on this beer. Granted it someone was to give me this beer I would greatly appreciate it .
The good: Easy to drink and not overpowering
The bad: A bit too expensive.
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Beer Review: ESG – Terminal Gravity
Aug0
Perfect for a warm summer day
Amount of brew in bottle: 12 fluid ounces
ABV: 5.4%
Type of brew: Rye beer
Price: $8 for a six-pack
Recently the place I live had a heat wave and I was in need of a lighter more refreshing beer. So, I just “had” to go to my local grocery store when I got there I saw a beer from a brewery I haven’t had yet, the brewer was Terminal Gravity. I had two choices an IPA and an ESG, I picked the ESG as I wasn’t quite sure what it exactly was. This beer turned out to be quite good; especially on a hot day. It was light, a little bit bitter and pretty darn refreshing. ESG stands for extra special golden which based off of Terminal Gravity’s website it is an “american golden ale.” Sure it doesn’t beat water for hydrating but it sure tasted better . It is a pretty light beer but not as light as a pilsner and with a ton more flavor. Overall I thought this beer was perfect for a hot day and one I would definitely buy again.
The good: a super easy to drink beer
The bad: can be too easy to drink
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Beer Review: Burton Baton – Dogfish Head
Aug1
An IPA for everyone
Amount of brew in bottle: 12 fluid ounces
ABV: 10%
Type of brew: Oak-aged Imperial IPA
Price: $4.50
I am a huge fan of Dogfish Head so I was looking forward to trying this beer. I was curious as to how it would taste since I have never had an oak-aged Imperial IPA. The first thing I noticed upon drinking this beer was that it was a whole lot sweeter and a lot less bitter/hoppy than a normal IPA. Dogfish Head is known for having high alcohol content beers and this beer is not an exception it weighs in at 10% which is pretty dang strong. The beer poured a golden caramel color with a decent head. The beer is slightly carbonated and does have a bit of bitterness to it which is what you would expect from an IPA. This has to be one of the easiest IPAs I have ever had to drink. This would be one of the few IPAs that I would offer to my friends that hate IPAs.
As with most oak-aged beers it is pretty sweet and leaves a tacky feeling on your lips. Since it is an IPA there is a slight bitterness to it but it is not that bad more like a light-colored porter than a hoppy IPA. However, like most oak-aged beers I couldn’t drink many of these in one sitting I think my limit would be one.
The good: A super easy drink IPA that would turn off most hop-heads
The bad: A bit sweet
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Beer Review: Avery’s The Reverend
Aug0
Respect the Reverend
Amount of brew: 22 fluid ounces
ABV: 10%
Type of beer: Belgian-style Quadrupel Ale
Price: ???
A few weeks back my awesome neighbor texted saying he had a “present” for me. I decided I would take the 10 foot walk over to see what it was and what a lovely present indeed, it was this beer! I finally decided to crack open this beer and give it a go. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of a quadrupel ale but I found it to be fairly good. Since it was belgian-style I was expecting a fairly light and refreshing beer that still had a fairly high alcohol content. Well, two out of those three characteristics was true . Don’t get me wrong this was a good beer it was just a lot sweeter than I was expecting. When you read the label it says it was made with “dark Belgian candy sugar” which is a sweetner for beers to make the body of the beer lighter and increase the alcohol content. All very interesting but what does this beer taste like? It is pretty sweet, has a caramel color to it and is slightly carbonated.
Burgers & Beer Yummy!
Overall I thought this was a good beer but a bit different from the normal “belgian-style” beers I drink. It was a little bit smoother and a whole lot sweeter. I enjoyed this beer but I think I would have enjoyed it more on a winter night instead of on a 90 degree summer day .
The good: A tasty, sweet belgian and goes well with mushrooms
The bad: It isn’t refreshing on a really hot day
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Brewery : Black Raven Brewing Co.
Jul0
Today I decided to take a trip to Black Raven Brewery in Redmond, WA. Black Raven serves up 7 brews including the classics, Hef Pale Ale, IPA, Porter and Stout. However they have a couple extras that are a little more unique. On the lighter side they have a Kristallweizen, which is a nice filtered wheat beer, light in color and alcohol. And to finish up, there is La Petite Mort. Meaning “The Little Death” in French (which is an innuendo FYI, in case you mention it in France) it is a strong Abbey Ale, running 8.8% ABV.
Kristale Wheat:
I began my journey with the lightest. The Kristale is a cross between a pilsner and a Hefeweizen. Very light and crisp, its light palate still contains some distinct flavors including light honey and banana undertones. Generally I’m not a big fan of light beers, but I would definitely take another look at this one.
The Good: Light and refreshing. For a Light beer I would drink it again.
The Bad: A bit too light, and the banana undertones (though prevalent in many beers due to the type of yeast) can be distracting.
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Hefeweizen:
Hefeweizen’s are a classic; Black Raven’s however, is an unfiltered version of the Kristale. Their differences are slight but noticeable. The Hef has a bit more of a bite, and a little fuller bodied. With a choice between the two I would take the Hef.
The Good: Same as the Kristale but with more body.
The Bad: The unfiltered version ends up with the same issues as the Kristale.
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Totem Pale Ale:
The Totem is a light amber ale. On first taste, it’s bitter, with the ESB malt smoothing out in the end. I’m not a big fan of bitters, but this Pale Ale might be worth a shot for IPA fans. The bartender tells me their IPA is even bitterer. The Totem Pale Ale rates a 38 IBU while the IPA pulls 68. *shiver*
The Good: It’s smooth and has some good flavors.
The Bad: A bit bitter, with a little too much hops. (But I’m biased)
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Obligatory beer sampler shot
Tamerlane Brown Porter:
I’ve moved past the lights, and entered the darks. My Expectations are high. The Porter… meets them. With a slightly smoky, nutty taste, this is a smooth brew. Not very sweet, there are Northwest hops and coffee undertones. Very enjoyable, and as my second favorite (and it’s not nitro) I’ll be taking this home in the growler.
The Good: Very tasty Porter. I love the full palate of flavors.
The Bad: Could be a bit smoother, and there is a touch of light bitterness.
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Morrighan Stout
This Nitro stout is yummy. A bit smoky, there is definitely a coffee flavor, with light mocha undertones. This nitro stout pours like a Guinness, and settles down into a beautiful head. The stout is smooth enough to drink all day, but still has the dry Irish stout satisfaction of a Guinness. Since I’m comparing to Guinness, I should state that the Morrighan has a solid, more flavorful set of tastes than a Guinness. Unfortunately because it’s Nitro I can’t take a Growler of this with me, shucks.
The Good: It’s Nitro. Lots of flavor. Would take over a Guinness any day
The Bad: I can’t take it home!
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La Petite Mort
This Abbey ale is also very tasty. The Belgium yeast leaves a bit of a spicy taste to this dark amber ale. Cloves, honey and banana are all light undertones. Additionally there is a very light tobacco flavor, which reminds me of my father smoking a cigar, while playing golf. I’m not sure if the innuendo of “The Little Death” quite compares to this brew as I was expecting a little more kick. As it stands you can barely even notice the 8.8% ABV, and honestly any more would be too much.
The Good: Enjoyable Abbey ale. Lots of flavor and a little more kick than the other Black Raven brews.
The Bad: The banana yeast is back, and it was a bit sweet. Still very good.
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Black Raven Brewing Co.
With 7 beers on tap made in house, only 1 of which is a seasonal (La Petite Mort) there is a beer for everyone here. The wait staff was friendly in the tap house, and overall the service was good. I was very satisfied with the sampler, and I shall go home and enjoy my Growler.
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Beer Review: Dick’s Imperial Stout
Jul0
Yummy deliciousness
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by my fiancee so please don’t think I started to carry around a man-purse or something stupid like that .
Amount of brew: 12 fluid ounces
Warm and fuzzy factor: 7.5%
Type of beer: Read the title
Purse-thinning-factor: $2.49
I hardly ever post a beer review. My usual role on this website includes the very amateur photography. My secondary role includes picking beers for Mr. Beer Guy to review. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t that I am averse to sharing my opinion (about beer)… It is just that putting my opinions down on “paper” means that I have to really think about them first.
So why am I doing a review now? Did you happen to notice the lovely textbook that is in the background of the picture? Um, yeah. That would be a review book for my next big fat test in a series of big fat tests that I will be involved in for a while. I figured that procrastination is definitely a part of studying, and this beer review is helping in the procrastination department.
Oh yeah, I should start talking about the beer.
As the title indicates, this is an Imperial Stout. Please refer back to Mr. Beer Guy’s info post on Imperial Stouts if you want more technical information about that. Mr. Beer Guy chose this beer partly because he had not seen it before and partly because Dick’s Beer has consistently produced delicious beers. As another side note, before I actually get to reviewing this beer, Dick’s Beer makes a GREAT variety pack that we actually buy pretty often. They have a good spread of brews that have never disappointed. FTW We are actually thinking about using at least one Dick’s beer at our wedding.
Okay, so the beer… Out of the bottle and from the fridge, this beer smells pretty rich and smokey. It tastes just as mouth-watering as it smells. The beer is not over-powering in taste or intensity of the stout. I would recommend this beer to people that are wanting to try a stout but don’t want something that is going to knock them off their feet (or USMLE studying chair). The stout definitely went quickly and Mr. Beer Guy kept making his way from the office to the dining room so that he could get sips of the beer before I finished it off.
I don’t think that I would have like this beer if it had been hot and muggy outside. But then again, I don’t know too many people that like to drink heavy drinks while it is that warm outside. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what happen to this beer as it warms up. I think that it does start getting a bit stronger, but I happen to have finished off the beer before it got too warm.
The bottom line is that Dick’s Beer has brewed up yet another winner. It is great for people who want delicious beer, and it is even better for people who want delicious beer while procrastinating for studying for a test.
The Good: A good imperial stout that lives up to the Dick’s Beer label
The Bad: I don’t have more of these in my house to help me procrastinate further.
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