Duchy Originals Organic English Ale

An all natural beer! It has the characteristic aroma of an English ale. Bitter and thirst quenching with a hint of that sweetness at the back of the tongue. Not much more to say. It's good when you want that British flavor. My 3rd beer from this brewery, all have been great. Again I'm doing my charity work. The label lists that profits are donated to the Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation.  I love donating to a good cause! MB

500 mL bottle

Wychwood Brewery

Witney, Oxfordshire, England

purchased at Kenwood

Krampus Imperial Helles Lager

My second beer from this brewer, and another seemingly made up category IHL (isn't that a hockey league?). The first drink had a strange off flavor of butterscotch. If I learned nothing from my last brew, it is to let it breathe, maybe for a while. Even a few minutes and that was gone. Amber color and very clear. Not a pleasant smell, but nice and bitter, and a great hop flavor, but not over the edge. I am really starting to appreciate beers that taste this good that can kick at a high single-digit percent. According to the story on the bottle, whips and chains are destined for the naughty. As long as we can have a pint at the end, bring it. ID

22 oz bottle, 9% alcohol

Southern Tier Brewing Co.

Lakewood, NY

purchased at Kenwood

RUGBROD JuleBryg-Style Dark Rye Ale

The smell and first taste were a bit amateur, like one of my home brews. It has big carbonation, coming in a champagne bottle, which makes a hard swallow. I'm going to be burping like crazy the rest of the night. After reading the label, I decided to switch to the recommended tulip glass, but then I got an entire glass of foam. In fact about an inch of head stood above the rim of the glass without leaking over the edge and down the sides. The dark flavor is a good one though. Hard to describe but tasty if you can get past the gas.  Returning to my original glass, it is getting better the longer it sits out. Now, half an hour later, alot of the gas has worked its way out, the beer has warmed up, and it is really good. Very even flavor, dry, and just a bit of spice at the back of the throat. So, pour yourself a glass of Rugbrod, have another drink (I had a vodka) then pick up your beer and enjoy. ID

750 mL champagne bottle, 8% alcohol

The Bruery

Placentia, Orange County, CA

purchased at Barley & Hops

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale

A truly tasty treat. Like a citrus salad through the hop leaves. A hophead's dream. I'd live through a horror movie in the barn on the label just to get hop stoopid. This brewery seems to be becoming a thing as local bars are carrying their crafts on draft as well. It has been earned. The aroma is pure hops. The taste, smooth as all hell and hop flavor too. Did I say hops? Hopheads unite! MB

22 oz bottle, 8% alcohol, 102 IBU

Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Petaluma, CA

purchased at Kenwood

Fiddler's Elbow

A few years ago on a trip to London, I fell in love with English ales. This is another great one which is available stateside. Light in color, big on flavor. These ales are so distinct from American ales that you know them by smell. This is a nice bitter, but not in the way I'd describe an American ale as bitter. My palate is probably not sensitive enough, being honed on the overt flavors I'm used to. The label claims a "citric fruit in the mouth" which is not what I mean when I describe a hophead beer. So, don't compare this to a Hop Juice or Hopslam, but all the different, it is a perfect British product. I could drink this by the case it is so refreshing and flavorful. Do yourself a favor and get acquainted with our old overlords. This is a perfect English pint. MB

Half-liter bottle

Wychwood Brewery

Witney, Oxfordshire, England

purchased at Kenwood

Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale

I can remember, as a 21 year old kid, being at a Ashley's, a multi-tap ale house in Ann Arbor, MI when I had my first Dead Guy. With a name like that, you had to try it. I remember not liking it. So instead of trying it again to put it on this list, I happened upon its double. I'm drinking this a little warm, and it is good that way. A strong malty flavor with just enough bitterness to make it smooth. Copper color, but not opaque. I've no problems with this cadaver. ID

26 oz red-painted bottle, 9% alcohol, 72 IBU

Rogue Ales

Newport, Oregon

purchased at Kenwood

St. James Country White

This brand is our house wine. My wife loves their cherry wine, so we are club members and get a case of wine every quarter. The wines are nothing fancy, but drinkable, and I'll eventually get to each of them. The white is a bit dry, a bit sweet. Good enough for me to polish a bottle with dinner. But not such that I think we should all go out and buy it. ID

750 mL bottle, 11% alcohol

St. James Winery

St. James, Missouri

purchased direct from the winery

Hop Rod RYE Specialty Ale

This beer is full throttle. A dark color, from the rye. I had a great rye years back and have unsuccessfully looked for it ever since. Any time I see another rye I want to try it, but haven't found a comparable model. Until now. This beer is awesome! Great hop nose and flavor. Crisp bitterness rolls into citrus. Not heavy, just a perfect flavor in the mouth. Just what I had hoped that last red to be. Take this hop rod for a cruise. It's the real deal. MB

22 oz bottle, 8% alcohol, 18% rye

Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Healdsburg Cloverdale, CA

purchased at Barley & Hops

Red Felt American Red Ale

A nice dark red.Great bitter to malt ratio: very smooth and not too sweet, just a dash of sweetness at the back of the tongue. The label says this is from the heritage collection which must mean it is only brewed occasionally? My bottle is also hold, being about 3 months beyond the 6 for guaranteed freshness after the born on date. I doubt that that is any issue. The label also claims it is a favorite among hop heads. I'm going to rate this lower since this has no hop nose whatsoever, and I just had a red that did. If you market to hopheads, I need that hop flavor as well as the bitterness. Don't get me wrong, this beer is great. Just misses the opportunity to be perfect. ID

22 oz bottle, 6% alcohol, 55 IBU

Goose Island Beer Co.

Chicago, IL

purchased at Barley & Hops

Black Sheep Ale

By the name I expected a darker brew. Very English: crisp, dry (ok I stole that off the label, but it's true) with a spicy scent and aftertaste. All adds up to a refreshing thirst quencher. My last beer was so sweet my stomach asked for no more. But this pleasant reminder of London has cleaned me up making room for more. MB

16.9 oz bottle
The Black Sheep Brewery Pic
Masham, Yorkshire, UK
purchased at Barley & Hops

Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey

Smells like Jack Black. But the comparison ends there. So exceptionally smooth, but with a spicy afterbite. Don't shoot, but drink from a wide mouthed glass so you get the flavor through the nose. Awesome. My bottle is getting a little older, but this tastes light and watery - might be getting old. Just as well, I'm ashamed to say I could probably put down a majority of the bottle at a single sitting. It is that good. To quote a saying I've heard, life is too short for cheap booze. Ditch the old No. 7 and take a stroll with the Gentleman. A perfect accompaniment for an old rerun of Dave Attell's Insomniac. MB

750 ml bottle, 80 proof (wish they could "jack" this up a bit)

Jack Daniel Distillery

Lynchburg, TN

purchased at Jewell

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Red Ale

Very hoppy, just how I like my reds. Not terribly bitter: label lists 76.92 IBU (can you measure IBU to two decimal places?). A noticeable malt sweetness, but smooth across the tongue. Heavy on the stomach. I'm tempted to rate it lower, being impressed by everything lately, but I can't pinpoint anything wrong with it. Oh hell, is it wrong to enjoy every beer?! A good 1-beer buzz too. MB

22 oz bottle, 8.3% alcohol

The Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Petaluma, CA

purchased at Barley & Hops

Bell's Hopslam Ale

It was hard to pay $15.99 for a sixer.  A setup for disappointment. Or a totally unique experience for the price of two common beers at a game. Am I glad Hopslam is the latter. The aroma is of a freshly opened grapefruit.  The color is so much lighter than any hophead oriented ale I've ever seen.  The taste? Wow! A hoppy glass of citrus.  Not too sugary, just a pleasant sweetness running a stripe up the center of the tongue. And a nice buzz too. All hopheads must try! MB

12 oz bottle, 10% alcohol
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Comstock, MI
Purchased at Barley & Hops

Pete's Wicked Ale

A classic!  This was the first ale I encountered as a teenager. You were something if you could score some Pete's.  I expected that this beer would be cheesy as are many things that seemed the world back then. But this just may be better than I remembered. Great copper color, and a dry, smooth flavor with a characteristic spice I remember, but have tasted no where else. Pete is still the man! This is not the Octoberfest as shown on the glass. This was my only Pete's glass which I thought must just enhance the flavor, right? MB

12 oz bottle, my first reason for a church key
Pete's Brewing Co.
Utica, NY
Purchased at Barley & Hops

Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Fine oak aroma with no strong alcohol off-smells.  Oaky with a sweetness on tongue's edge. Sharp and spicy at the back of the throat. Just a hint of butterscotch. A very smooth sipper given its strength.  MB

750 ml bottle, 100 proof
Four Roses Distillery
Lawrenceburg, KY
Purchased at Kenwood

Schlink Haus 2008 Qualitatswein - Nahe Riesling

I prefer sweet Rieslings, and this is not. Dry and sour, it did not complement the seafood parmesan dish I made for dinner. This did not have the sweetness I expect from this grape. It did, though pair nicely with the 88% bitter German chocolate we ate for dessert.  But, with so many wines out there this is not one to buy again. SK

750 ml blue-glass bottle
9% alc. by vol.
from the cellar, purchase place unavailable

Hobgoblin Dark English Ale

Dark but not opaque. Like Smithwicks but a clearer crisp flavor. The tiniest hint of sweetness, but not like an American brew. Really light in taste, believe me, yellow-beer-only drinkers! Terribly drinkable and would get me in trouble at a pub. Amazingly no skunk for a well traveled brew. MB

Half-liter bottle

Wychwood Brewery

Witney, Oxfordshire, England

Purchased at Kenwood

Coney Island Human Blockhead Tough as Nails Lager

That name is a mouthful and doesn't include the brewery name. The beer is quite a mouthful as well. The first taste was of refreshing aromatic hops, just as I like it, followed by a heavy malt sweetness. A little too sweet so that I could drink only one, but that is all you need given the alcohol content. The bottle art is as wild as the beer, and mentions that portions of the proceeds fund non-profit redevelopment of the Coney Island district. So drink up and do your charity work! ID

22 oz bottle, 10% alc. by vol.

Shmaltz Brewing Co.

Saratoga Springs, NY

purchased at Kenwood

Zipfer

Very pale but grainy. I've only seen Michelob in a bottle like this, but trust me this is not. Rather an authentic European treat. Similar to the Golden Pheasant, but better. Clearer, tastier. Tasty but light enough that I could drink a ton. MB

11.2 oz twisty bottle
Brau Union, Austria
purchased at Kenwood

Wipe Out IPA

Very drinkable. Light in color for an IPA. Pleasant hop nose. I have a bit of a cold, so I may be off, but this tastes more like a pale ale. I like it. ID

22 oz bottle, 7% alc. by vol.
Port Brewing Co.
San Marcos, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Moylan's IPA

A HUGE head made me think this beer was old. But the head settled rather quickly, and the cloudy orange ale filled the glass. The first two sips were unpleasant. The bottle lists many awards this ale has won. I didn't get it. But after a few more sips, the off-tastes ceased to be a bother and the bitterness of the hops came through, with even some hops on the nose. ID

22 oz bottle, 6.5% alc. by vol.

Moylan's Brewing Company
Novato, CA
purchased at Kenwood

Yuengling Black & Tan

Deep color, roasted malt flavor, but light, light. Mostly tan with a hint of black. Don't be scared off if you think dark beers have to be thick. Even the smell is of a light. Had to drive to 3 stores to find this tonight. And I am glad i did. After consulting the brewer's website FAQs, I learned the regional distribution limitations are all about production. The ole brewery just can't crank out enough for all of us nationwide. I'm home tomorrow, but Yuengling tonight! ID

12 oz bottle
D.G Yuengling & Son
Pottsville, PA
Purchased at Publix

Kronenbourg 1664

A hint of grain at first sip. Sharp, BBQ bitter, crisp, and ice cold. A tiny hint of skunkiness from the green glass bottle. I've heard raves about this brand, but this example is just okay. ID

5% alcohol
Brewed in France
purchased at Patisseries du Jour, Fake France at Disney's Epcot

Yuengling Traditional Lager

I saw this beer while getting popcorn at Disney today, and just now came from the store with a twelver. This elusive brew unavailable at home in Chicagoland, is very ight and refreshing. It is crazy dry and record cold (overnight low with wind chill in the teens!) here in central Florida and this is exactly what my body was thirsting for. The flavor is very mellow, yet robust, in a strange but perfect combination that one might expect only from our nation's oldest brewery. When you are within the distribution area (how is there still such a thing in "oh-ten"?) pick some up. You will not be disappointed no matter what you're used to drinking. 12 oz twisty. MB

D.G Yuengling & Son
Pottsville, PA
purchased at Walgreens

Iniquity Imperial Black Ale (IBA)

I'm not sure if IBA is an official beer category, as I've never seen one before, but it should be. The label describes it as "the antithesis of unearthly" which I thought might be a creative way of saying it tastes like dirt (would that be antithesis of unearthy?), but not so. It is opaque, black, sweet, but not overly thick and with good carbonation. Probably an idoiotic comparison, but after two sips I thought this tastes a lot like the Guinness 250 which I've only had on draft (future post on that when I'm next at the Joyce). I like it, but I think I'll need to brush my teeth (or drink a bud light) to clean the sugar from my mouth when I finish. ID

22 oz bottle, 9% alc. by vol., $5.79

Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Lakewood, New York
purchased at Kenwood

Hop Juice Double IPA

A lot of brewers are putting out double IPAs these days (I've even seen a triple). And I am eagerly trying them. I should preface, I am a hophead. You can't scare me away no matter how high the IBU, and I know to some people these don't taste anything like what they identify as "beer". If this is your kind of thing, this beer is fabulous! I was surprised to find little hop aroma, but the hop flavor is huge and delicious. Unlike some IPAs, the bitterness in Hop Juice is not overwhelming on the sides of the tongue. You just have great flavor, and a hint of citrus. I came to my last few sips of the 22 oz bottle and found I had a good buzz. I checked the label and was surprised to find it was nearly 10% alcohol! And you could not taste an unpleasant "barley wine" liquor level. I can't get enough! Unfortunately, this is a limited run from a small local brewer, so it will be hard to find. In fact, I leave town in the morning for a week, but will probably buy the store out when I get back. MB

22 oz bottle, 9.9% alc. by vol., 100.1 IBU, $5.89

Two Brothers Brewing Co.
Warrenville, IL
purchased at Kenwood

Moosehead Light

It used to be that I would taunt a light beer, comparing it to what I would piss out after drinking a "real" beer. But I have mellowed in recent years. And this light definitely deserves consideration. It is very light, perfect for 90+ degree weather, with just the tiniest hint of malt sweetness on the back end. I got this on a huge deal, $7.99 for a case of pry-top bottles that included a free hat! I have never seen this beer before or since. I became an instant fan (not just because I'm a cheap ass) and would gladly purchase this again, if I could only find it. If you can find it, even at normal Moosehead prices, treat yourself if you are thirsty. I highly recommend it. Even old at this point, it is still refreshing. 12 oz bottle MB

Moosehead Breweries, Limited
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
purchased at Kenwood

Berghoff Sundown Dark

I'm not sure if this is exactly the same dark beer that I used to drink on draft at the Berghoff Restaurant downtown, but I know I enjoyed them both. This is dark enough to have a real roasted malt flavor at first sip, but yet light enough in body so I can easily drink it in quantity. There is just more than a hint of sweetness at the back of the tongue. I got this batch at a real sweet deal as the cases were approaching an expiration date (I bought 5 or 6 cases, enjoying it through the end of summer into winter, now). Great out of the bottle on a hot day (i drank much while painting my garage) or ideally served out of the 10 oz mug as they did at the old Chicago home. A 12 oz twisty bottle. MB

Berghoff Brewery
Monroe, WI
purchased at Kenwood

Golden Pheasant

A Slovak lager with a grainy nose and flavor you might expect in this style of European beer. Consistent flavor all across the tongue. A pleasant drink which I do buy from time to time. But, conscious of my tendency to give high ratings, I'm calling this ID mostly because the grainy nose is a bit unpleasant in my current glass (a tall Pilsner, not the short shown in the picture from earlier today).

5% alc. by vol., 11.2 oz bottle (seeing this too much now)

Heineken Slovensko
Slovak Republic
purchased at Fairplay

Toast

What no New Year's post? Must have been a good night! Eh, mellow actually. And I've been mostly stuck on the same beers for a few days, except the quick Okocim I had at a buddy's house. Forgot how good that was, but that will be another post. Anyway, for a New Year's, or any toast, I'm a fan of Ballatore Gran Spumante champagne (er, sparkling wine to be legal). Cheesy and mainstream I'm sure, but it is the only champagne I buy. This year I stole an idea from a magazine my wife had to freeze some strawberries and put two in each flute. The flavor was a subtle but spectacular edition, and the bottle lasted only a few minutes for two! MB