Oz 'n' Mike's Beer (& Possibly Music) Blog

Clipper City Heavy Seas Black Cannon IPA

2011-02-13T14:59:00.003-05:00

Baltimore, Maryland's Clipper City Brewing Company has earned a special place in our stomachs. By producing their Heavy Seas line as well as their Mutiny Fleet, they have made mouths and our blood alcohol level happy. Their Small Craft Warning is one of our favorite pilsners and their Cabernet Barrel Aged Below Decks is Mike's favorite Barleywine. However, the only brew in their Heavy Seas line that is just average is their IPA, Loose Cannon. So when we saw the "black IPA" version, Black Cannon, we picked it up hoping they can redeem their subpar brew.

Black Cannon is a dark malt version based our their original Loose Cannon. The black IPA smells of citrus and floral hops and pours dark with a tan head. When the beer begins to head down the consumption vessel you immediately taste the roasted malts in what makes this IPA "black." However, the back end is all citrusy IPA goodness. Given the 7.25% ABV, this ale is light bodied and smooth. The flavors are so well put together that none stand out, which in most cases is a bad thing, but not with this brew.

Many brewers are releasing different versions of their original IPA's to keep consumers interested. By adding a different yeast strain, aging it in oak barrels, using darker malts or adding a special kind of hop, the companies market these versions as special and slightly superior to the original. However, few live up to that claim; i.e. Southern Tier's Oak-Aged Unearthly. Whether or not this a novelty or a market scheme to get you to buy their beer, it worked and it proved to be superior to the original. Heavy Seas, keep messing with your recipes and we'll keep buying them
Oz Scale: 8.0
Mike Scale: 8.2

Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale

2011-01-08T16:06:00.006-05:00

Stone Brewery knows how to make delicious beer. The are the masterminds behind Imperial Russian Stout and Ruination IPA, two of our favorite ales in their respective styles. None of their brews are below average and even the two lowest ABV beer's they've produced lately, Levitation and San Diego County Session Ale are incredibly flavorful. When we saw our sights on the 9th in the series of "Vertical Epic Ales," so we had to try it. 10.10.10 is a Belgian-style strong pale ale that is a combination of pale malt, German hops, wheat, rye and three types of grapes in the second fermentation. On this day we specifically decided to crack into this beer due to the 10" of snow we've had in the last day and a half, it seemed fitting.

10.10.10 pours a hazy, almost apple juice like color with a light white head. It smells of sweet grapes, much the same way Dogfish Head's Midas Touch does. When the beer hits the tongue, it comes out sweet AND sour. The sweetness of this Belgian-style ale hits the tongue initially but you are left with a sour flavor towards the back end. For being a 9.5% ABV brew, the body is incredibly light. The grapes seem to be a bit much as they take away from almost any other flavor.

This something that is a bit atypical from stone. Given their collaboration with DFH and Victory that produced a siason and they produce a Belgian-style IPA, Stone is not known for creating beers on this style. They are known for producing almost overly bitter, West-Coast style beers. Not that this is a terrible brew, it is a good attempt at creating something new. However, until Stone perfect's it, they should stick to the hoppy, West-Coast style beers we love.

Oz Scale: 6.6
Mike Scale: 7.0

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru

2010-12-18T12:25:00.008-05:00

Sierra Nevada has been around for 30 years. That's pretty cool. They are like pretty old and stuff. Okay, okay. Trying to watch Beavis and Butt-head and write a beer review is really hard. Huh huh huh, I just said hard. We've got to sit down and do this. Alright... episode is over so time to get productive. Grand Cru is Sierra Nevada's fourth and final beer in their 30th Anniversary series. The three previous brew have been collaborative beers with legendary brewers. However, Grand Cru is a collaborative beer of its own- a combination of three of their most esteemed ales. It is an unfiltered 9.2% ABV mixture of Pale Ale, Celebration Ale and Oak-aged Bigfoot.

Grand Cru pours a dark amber color with a thick laced tan head. The ale smells of citrusy hops with a dark malt overtones. When the beer hits the tongue you immediately taste the piney west coast hops right away. It is definitely full bodied and all three beers are tasted and make their presence known at the right time. The hops from the Pale ale kick in at the beginning and the fullness of the Bigfoot comes in during the middle as you are left with the Celebration Ale-like finish with a wood (huh huh huh, I said wood) flavor lingering at the end. The warmer the beer gets, the more complex flavors come out.

This beer is what an anniversary ale should be- a look at the past but making a step forward. It takes three of their classic and best brews and combines them into beautiful harmony. The alcohol presence is known on the tongue on the back end so when splitting a bomber, it starts getting to your head (huh huh huh, I said head.) This is a beer that would satisfy the great Cornholio and it is the TP for our bungholes.

Oz Scale: 8.9

Mike Scale: 8.8

Dogfish Head Namaste

2010-11-14T17:11:00.005-05:00

Dogfish Head is one of our favorite breweries (see Sah'tea, World Wide Stout & 90 Minute.) The brewery is probably the most innovative in the industry as they constantly push the boundaries of what a beer can be. So when we saw a new brew on the shelf, we had to pick it up. Namaste is a Belgian-style white ale brewed with orange slices, lemongrass and coriander.

The unfiltered Namaste pours a cloudy light yellow color with a frothy white head. Hints of coriander and a sweet orange tint hit the nose. The beer attacks the tongue with some sweetness but nothing too overpowering given the style. Namaste is well balanced and light bodied with a slightly tart flavor at first. As the beer flows down your throat, you are reminded of a light lemongrass flavor.

Dogfish Head keeps up their consistency by producing another delicious brew. While we might not be the biggest on the style (Oz appreciates white ales more than Mike,) Namaste is well above average.

Oz Scale: 8.0

Mike Scale: 7.7

Bell's The Oracle

2010-10-03T19:19:00.005-04:00

Bell's Brewery is a hit or miss brewery. Hopslam and Hell Hath No Fury are ridiculously delicious but Third Coast Beer was one of the most disgusting things we've ever had. Their two most recent offerings, The Oarsman and 25th Anniversary Ale were both not up to par so we took a great interest in a release of their new double IPA, The Oracle.

The Oracle is a double IPA boasting a hefty 10% ABV. It has sweet citrus and pine smell to the nose. When the brew hits the tongue, the brew tastes of a sweet pine and light malt presence with sweet and bitter hops on the back end. It has a medium to heavy body that leaves a light tinge of alcohol on the tongue.

Bell's has proven that they know how to make a double IPA. The Oracle is an amazing example of an double American IPA. While there is nothing wrong with this IPA, it isn't quite Hopslam, though it is delicious. Bell's has created a slightly less equal brother. The Oracle is their an Eli Manning to their Hopslam, Peyton. Even if it isn't THE best beer, it'll help hold us over until January when they release their flagship brew.

Oz Scale: 8.8
Mike Scale: 9.0

Green Flash Imperial India Pale Ale

2010-09-06T17:59:00.005-04:00

Green Flash, based out of Vista, CA, is a relatively new brewery to us. We have only had the opportunity to try their West Coast IPA and enjoyed it thoroughly. West coast style IPA's are a horse of a different color- a brutally bitter cousin to it's east coast counterpart. These are IPA's for IPA drinkers, something someone who usually swallows 60 Minute would spit back into their glass. We enjoy pretty much anything with the IPA name attached to it so naturally when Oz found Green Flash's Imperial IPA sitting on the shelf, he knew it had to be his.

IIPA is an amazingly bitter 101 IBU 9.4% ABV alcoholic beverage. It pours a nice light amber color and has a surprisingly sweet smell. When the happy juice hits the tongue you are left with bitter beer face. God, I love bitter beer face. This is nothing but hops and it isn't afraid to show you what it's got. This beer leaves your mouth dry begging for you to drink more of it's PineSol flavored brew.

This is a beer that is gladly merchandised in 22 oz bombers, a size best split with a good friend. A six pack or a four pack would leave you in some serious trouble as it is surprisingly drinkable for it's style and IBUs. This is a brutally bitter beer, not for the faint at heart, pregnant or nursing women or people unter the height of 60 inches. This is Slayer in a bottle- Jeff Hanneman shredding over some Kerry King licks while Dave Lombardo blasts over Tom Araya's shrieking wails.... but you know, with beer. Brutal.

Oz Scale: 8.0
Mike Scale: 8.0

Quick Sips: August 2010

2010-08-19T14:55:00.006-04:00

Here is our first entry of Quick Sips, a super condensed and brief synopsis of some beers that we've had in the last few weeks. This one will include thoughts from the last few months.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA tastes amazing fresh (less than 2 1/2 weeks old)
Weyerbacher Tiny is incredibly delicious (on our fourth bomber)
Dogfish Head SahTea isn't as good as last years (not enough cinnamon, clove and ginger spices)
Southern Tier 2XIPA is amazing (but make sure it is fresh.) Blows away most IPAs.
Bell's Hopslam wasn't as good as last years. Like most IPA's- Make sure it's fresh.
Great Lakes Holy Moses was a great choice for a spring beer. Glad to see it back.
Thirsty Dog has come out with three new crap beers (Barktoberfest, Whippet Wheat and Twisted Kilt) and one decent one (Cerberus)
Some batches of Founders Devil Dancer taste like a THC producing plant.
Heavy Seas Below Decks Cabernet Barrel Aged is probably the best fresh barleywine out there.
Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale (Pub Exclusive) is just plain gross.
Heavy Seas Smoke on the Water wasn't as generic as it's name. Worth the buy.
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale is a refreshing summer IPA.
Great Divide Brewing has some great beers out there (Colette, 16th Anniversary, Titan, Yeti.) We're excited to try more
Dark Horse has yet to come out with a beer I thought was above average (Crooked Tree, Sapient Trip, Scotty Karate)
Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster was great fresh but had a tinge too much alcohol flavor.

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Charlie, Fred & Ken's Bock

2010-08-18T18:23:00.009-04:00

Sierra Nevada is the second largest micro-brewery next to Boston Beer Co. (Samual Adams.) Both breweries are solid and are typically make beverages for session drinking. With the exception of Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot and Sam Adams Utopias, up until a year ago both breweries stayed out of the ever-growing-in-popularity "big" beer game. Sam Adams then came out with their Imperial line and Sierra Nevada has been coming out with some one-offs to compete in this ever expanding market.

Sierra Nevada's second 30th Anniversary beer is brewed with the of home-brew heroes, Charlie Papazian (author of "Joy of Brewing") and Fred Eckhardt (author of A Treatise of Lagers: How to Make Good Beers at Home) and Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman. Charlie, Fred & Ken's bock is an imperial helles bock with a surprising 8.3% ABV.

CFKB pour an amber color with a well carbonated white head and a smell much like a Diet 7-Up with a beer overtone. The taste is traditional for the style but with a light hop bitterness to it. This medium bodied brew is well balanced between malts and hops but it flows down easily given the helfy ABV.

Sierra Nevada proves once again that while they are one of the oldest ones out there, they can still come out with their own Chronic 2001 (Detox, please don't suck.) While they aren't entering a new territory with this beer, they are celebrating the style with something delicious and drinkable. After Ken & Fritz Ale and Life and Limb, we are anticipating any future Sierra Nevada collaboration. Sometimes those collaborations do not work so whatever you do, Sierra Nevada, please don't come out with a liquid version of Chris Cornell's Scream (or even Audioslave for that matter.) Stick to Bowie and Queen or Snoop and Dre. Ain't nothing but a beer thing, baby.

Oz Scale: 7.7

Mike Scale: 7.9

Voodoo Brewing Co. Wynona's Big Brown Ale

2010-08-01T20:09:00.007-04:00

Do we like beer? Yes. Do we love music? Yes. Do we like it when breweries reference bands that we enjoy? Oh yeah. Do we love hairy vaginas? Umm... doesn't everyone? Enter Wynona's Big Brown Ale- from Voodoo Brewing Co. in Meadville, PA. This brewery's distribution is so incredibly limited that you can not grab your hands around a bottle if you live in Ohio (a mere 20 minutes away) or outside Erie or Pittsburgh. When searching for a bomber in its home town, all Mike came up with was a case of it for 76 dollars. However, our previous experiences with the company (Pilzilla, Gran Met & Big Black Voodoo Daddy) have all been incredibly delicious so when we saw a beer referencing a tasty Primus song, we couldn't resist.

Wynona's Big Brown Ale is a very strong American brown ale weighing in at a boastful 7.3% ABV. It pours a dark brown with a hint ruby with a frothy white head. It smells of chocolate, nuts, malt and a strong alcohol smell. When the beer enters the consumption canal you do not even taste the alcohol. This beer is incredibly smooth and well balanced. It has everything you'd expect from a brown ale (a nutty taste hanging on the tongue) and even more (chocolate and carmel.) The nose throws the whole thing off but once it is out of the equation, you have one of the best examples of an American brown ale.

It is hard to find much wrong with this brew. Voodoo Brewing Co. has entered our innards by penetrating through our brown beards to our mouths and going deep down our throats to our stomachs. This is one brown beaver that we'd show off to all our friends. We hope this beaver never tries to leave us. This is the anti-pop and we thank Voodoo for all the bad Primus references.

Oz Scale: 8.7

Mike Scale: 8.6

Williamsburg Alewerks Brewmaster's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Porter 2010

2010-07-28T18:41:00.004-04:00

Not very often do we get to taste beers from small micro-breweries outside of our distribution region. Sure, we have access to some great ones (Voodoo) and some okay ones (Erie Brewing Co.) but it is always interesting to at least try the local flavors. While the local flavors might taste like dirt, fuck it, at least it isn't our options. So when Oz's dad traveled to Virginia and stumbled upon a brew from Williamsburg Aleworks from Williamsburg, Virginia, he found a brew that he hoped would sit proudly on his son's beer wall- Brewmaster's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Porter.

The 2010 BRBBP (the bottle is numbered 1966 of 2010) pours black with a light carmel head and smells of bourbon and malt. The taste is pure malt with a strong sence of oak and bourbon with an alcohol tinge left on the tongue. There are notes of chocolate and coffee but the flavors are overtaken by the bourbon and alcohol on the back end. The tinge is not completely unwelcomed but it makes this brew much more of a sipper than we'd like- and this is coming from big fans of sipping beers and alcohol in general.

There is much complexitiy hidden beneath this small town sipper but it is disappointing that they have to be extruded out beneath the quarry of alcohol. We aren't the ones to complain about too much booze in the brews but it just hinders any flavors from coming to the spot light. In previous blogs you will notice that many times we wished for more alcohol but sometimes a big beer is just too big. Now our mouths know how white women feel.

Oz Scale: 7.4

Mike Scale: 7.4

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace

2010-07-22T17:38:00.007-04:00

Brooklyn Brewery is a company with strange stardards. They can create some amazing brews (Local 1, Black Chocolate Stout) yet let a couple slip past them and continue to be sold on the market (East India Pale Ale, Pennant Ale.) The brewery is much like the city it is from- some amazing things and some things that we'd rather not see again (another Yankee pennant or George Steinbrenner) So when we noticed a new Brooklyn 750ml bottle on the shelf, we were intrigued.

Sorachi Ace is a 100% bottle refermented saison ale. It boasts a respectable 7.6% ABV and is brewed with the rare Sorachi Ace hop and a Belgian yeast strain an re-fermented with champgne yeast in the bottle. This sounds like it could be a home run.

Sorachi Ace pours cloudy and golden with a fizzy white head with sweet lemon-y smell. SA hits the tongue with sweetness, a tarty lemon zest and a crisp hop flavor with a bit of carbonation. The alcohol is the hidden treasure hid beneath the complex and completely refreshing flavors. This brew would pair nice with a light dish and cheeses and is perfect for a summer evening split with a good friend.

Brooklyn Brewery's Sorachi Ace delived what we hoped for. It acheives where many Jolly Pumpkin beers fail, tart and sweet but that flavor does not overpower the rest of the beer. This is what a saison should be, light and crisp but with enough alcohol to encourage the purchase of an expensive brew. While not quite a grandslam, this beer is a walk off home run.

Oz Scale: 8.5

Mike Scale: 8.4

Weyerbacher Fifteen Smoked Imperial Stout

2010-07-08T18:43:00.008-04:00

Weyerbacher does not pour large sums of money into their graphic design department. Their logo was probably made with Microsoft Paint by the owner's son during study hall. However, they seem to invest their money into something worthwhile- creating new beers. Weyerbacher's Fourteen is responsible for our deeper dive into the wheatwine style and their latest imperial stout, Tiny, was nothing short of amazing. For all these reasons amongst others made us anticipate the arrival of their next anniversary brew, Fifteen.

Weyerbacher's Fifteen pours jet black with a light carmel head. An earth-like tinge hits the nose as you go in for that initial whiff. Hints of nuts with chicory as the "smoked" flavor lets it's presence be known as it flows over the taste buds. This beer is well bodied and coats the tongue with a silky yet earthy taste as it lingers until the next sip. We let this beer warm up to near room temperature and it's body went from a Baconator with a Frosty to just a Wendy's Double.

Weyerbacher knows how to celebrate their birthday. Twelve, Fourteen and Fifteen (Thirteen wasn't sold in Ohio) are all fine examples of what an anniversary beer should be. This is something a stout fan should pick up since this is a perfect example of an imperial smoked stout. At 10.8% ABV, this will get you where you should be for a birthday- intoxicated.

Oz Scale: 8.6

Mike Scale: 8.6

Great Divide Expresso Oak Aged Yeti

2010-06-26T16:37:00.006-04:00

Colorado's Great Divide is working their to our hearts. The saying goes "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" and they are doing a good job at it. We have had some delectable beverages in the recent months and given an opportunity to try a variation at their most popular beer, Yeti, we took couldn't leave the 9.5% ABV Expresso Oak Aged Yeti on the shelf any longer.

EOAY pours jet black and thick with a foamy carmel head. Roasted malts, chocolate and hint of coffee overtake the nose as you smell. First impressions become reality as it tastes almost exactly as it smells yet it is exceptionally smooth given the ABV. As the brew leaves the tongue you are left with chocolate dancing on the tongue with a tinge of alcohol to remind you that you are drinking a brew, not a dessert. As the beer warms in it's glass, the taste shifts and the oak becomes noticable on the back end of the flavor.

This is an incredibly solid brew from a company that we are becoming more familiar with. However, there is nothing unique to this brew and the word "expresso" should be removed from the label. While there are differences to this and the other Yeti brews (which are all delicious- by the way) there is nothing that sets this one apart from its siblings. Kind of like one of the Osmonds that isn't Donny or Marie.

Oz Scale: 7.9

Mike Scale: 8.0

Southern Tier Farmer's Tan Imerial Pale Lager

2010-06-14T18:30:00.006-04:00

Farmer's Tan- check. It is the season where pasty human beings get their first prolonged exposure to the sun to leave some unsightly color lines on your body. Southern Tier celebrates such an event with their new summer seasonal bomber, Farmer's Tan. Farmer's Tan is an imperial pale lager weighing in at an impressive 9% ABV. In theory, it is a perfect summer beer for the lazy- crisp and light yet higher in alcohol- best suited for an evening hanging out on the porch.

Farmer's Tan pours a slightly more carmel color than a typical pale lager yet has a floral pale ale smell. This medium bodied beer is well balanced with little alcohol taste left on the tongue. It is not a beer that typical lager drinkers would enjoy- in other words, it doesn't taste like urine. There is a bit of sweetness that lies in this brew that eventually leaves the tongue to give a more traditional lager aftertaste.

This beer lived up to the promise of a lazy summer night. Southern Tier took a traditional style and grew it into something of their own. While many breweries try to lighten their load with a more traditional pilsner or wheat ale for the season, ST took a great summer style beer and made something that could pass the piss test.

Oz Scale: 7.4

Mike Scale: 7.7

Clipper City Heavy Seas Letter of Marque 2010 Rye Porter

2010-05-01T17:22:00.008-04:00

Heavy Seas (Clipper City Brewery) has always been a solid brewery. Their beers have yet to let us down and none have ever been just mediocre (in fact, their Small Craft Warning is our favorite imperial pilsner.) Last year, Clipper City did a homebrew competition called Letter of the Marque where the winner got their brew mass produced for a one-time release. Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) has been doing these competitions for years (Longshot Series) and usually the victors end up producing better beers than many of their in-house lagers and ales. So when we got our sights on a Heavy Seas version, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to consume their Letter of the Marque Rye Porter.

LoM pours a deep amber to an almost black color with a foamy cream head. I has a sweet and citrus smell reminiscent of an IPA. When the rye porter hits the pallet you are left with a unique taste. It has hops and spices of a RyePA but malt overtones of a porter. A medium to full body coats the mouth nicely and and leaves you with a west coast IPA bitterness which is shocking at first but welcomed after the initial sip.

This beer succeeds where Nightstalker by Goose Island failed. It balances rye, malt and hops to create something that is unique and highly drinkable. If we were given this beer without a name or style, we'd swear that it was a black IPA. However, this is our first experience with a rye porter and if given the chance to try others, we'd welcome a glass or two.

Oz Scale: 8.0

Mike Scale: 8.2

New Belgium Ranger

2010-04-11T14:08:00.008-04:00

New Belgium is the third largest microbrewer behind Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. Unlike those "giant" micros, New Belgium does not have lower 48 distribution including Ohio. However, we have managed to try nine of their beers. Mike's sister-in-law's older brother works for New Belgium and Mike was able to walk away with some free cases at his brother's wedding. So when Oz was in Chicago a week ago, he noticed New Belgium's first non-Belgian style beer that they've ever produced, Ranger. New Belgium's Ranger is a 6.5% ABV American-style India Pale Ale

When poured, this beer smells of citrus, grapefruit and hops. When Ranger hits the pallete you are reminded of an American Pale Ale with a bit more bite than most APAs. It has a medium finish and the hops linger on the tongue like you'd expect from a good IPA. This beer has more of a bitter hop flavor than most regular IPA's and therefor we don't suggest this as a transitionary beer for a beginner into the style.

New Belgium's Ranger is what a pale ale should taste like. We might be a bit biased since we normally like a bit more bight when we drink an IPA as we are used to drinking their imperial counterparts in the 7.5-11% range. This brew is incredibly solid for what it is and if sitting on our the shelf of a local grocery, it'd battle our wallet with our local favorite, Commodore Perry by Great Lakes.

Oz Scale: 7.4

Mike Scale: 7.2

Goose Island Night Stalker Imperial Stout

2010-03-27T16:39:00.007-04:00

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Goose Island has always made a decent beer. Some are better than others, but we wouldn't call it one of our favorite breweries. Sure, Matilda, Bourbon County Stout & Pere Jacques were great but their year round brews are just a bit weak. When we got word that they had just released a "heavily-hopped imperial stout," our jinies tingled. A 11.7% ABV hoppy imperial stout was something we could not pass up.

Night Stalker pours black with a carmel head and has a strong citrus smell. This is by far the strangest tasting imperial stout we have ever tried. It has medium body with an alcohol burn as it leaves the mouth. When it hits the pallet- citrus, fruit, toffee and chocolate dance on the tongue. This beer has us just about stumped. At first we didn't even want to finish our glasses but the following sips got better so we let the beer warm up to get a better effect. There is a fruity sweetness to Night Stalker that some would welcome with open arms but we would call a nuisance.

The beer lets its alcohol presence be known unlike a good stalker. You have to give credit to Goose Island for creating an imperial stout that taste NOTHING like what is typically associated with that style. This brew is a true sipper meant best to be shared with a friend or two but you have to have the right palette for this one. Mike and Oz can both agree on its originality, the flavors just don't come together well and the alcohol ruins what was a good concept. We are going to file a restraining order.

Oz Scale: 6.0

Mike Scale: 5.8

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary - Fritz And Ken's Ale

2010-03-20T14:42:00.010-04:00

Sierra Nevada has always been one of our choices for transitional beers. Their pale ale has helped many consumers into the world of craft brewing. Also, many of their beers stand up with the best (see our 12 Beers of Christmas.) Once any company hits 30 years, it's an great accomplishment so it's time to celebrate. To commemorate their achievement, they have collaborated with many pioneers of brewing to release four 30th anniversary ales. Having been a huge fan of their previous collaboration with Dogfish Head, Life & Limb, we couldn't resist picking up their first offering, Fritz and Ken's ale. Ken Grossman, owner of Sierra Nevada brewed this beer with the help of Fritz Maytag, owner of Anchor Brewing Company. Since this is all about working with others we have our friend and bass player Johnny V to help out with this review.

Fritz and Ken's Ale is an imperial stout weighing in at 9.2% ABV. It pours jet black with a nice carmel colored head. It smells of alcohol, roasted malts, cocoa and carmel. It has strong punch in the beginning and flows down extremely smooth. You are left with a serious alcohol warmth with nice malt and chocolate flavors lingering on the tonge. The body is a bit weak with as the alcohol finishes up the back end. It must be notated that this beer in best drank at around 50 degrees. We tried this as originally around 40-42 degrees but decided to let the beer warm up. As the beer became warm, more and more flavors awoke from behind this black beauty.

If this is any indication of what the other beers in this series will bring, then we will be sure to pick up the next three in the series. It would be great if Sierra Nevada released a year round "big" beer to introduce many others to the world of imperials. Their Torpedo is a step in the right direction and let's hope if they do decide to make a yearly four pack, they taste something like Fritz And Ken's Ale.

Oz Scale: 8.3
Mike Scale: 8.3
John Scale: 8.5

Great Lakes Brewing Company The Wright Pils

2010-03-14T16:50:00.005-04:00

Every so often, GLBC makes one of their brewpub exclusives available in bottle at their gift shop. The Wright Pils does not appear to be the wright choice. Great Lakes seems to make a great beer but they already have a Dortmunder, which is very similar in style to a pilsner. Also- what craft drinker really wants to spend the nine dollars on a pilsner? Not us but it's GLBC (we'll forgive them for Glockenspiel and Farmhouse) and we are faithful followers so here it goes:

The color and smell is typical of the style except for a light floral and sweet scent almost reminiscent of their Grassroots Ale. When the brew hits the tongue, you get a malt taste that is not so common in the style. The Wright Pils is well balanced but still has that pilsner fizziness that you'd expect. This medium bodied brew leaves you with a finish that thirsts you for more.

For a regular pilsner, you aren't going to find many beers better than this. It has all the characteristics of a great pilsner plus some malt happiness thrown in there for good measure. However, it is a pilsner- and pilsners are middle of the road and made for your average beer drinker. The craft spirit is alive in The Wright Pils so let's hope this keeps them on the wright track. How about Imperial Black and Wright Pilsner? Just a suggestion....

Oz Scale: 6.7

Mike Scale: 6.6

Rogue Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager

2010-02-20T20:22:00.006-05:00

Rogue- a brewery of greatness and of letdown. The price tags on the bottles never seem to be worth what is inside. For bottle collectors like ourselves, Rogue would seem like the perfect brewery for us to have all their neat artwork against our wall. But who seriously wants to pay twelve dollars for a 22 oz bomber of an imperial ESB that weighs in at 7.2% ABV? Rogue, you seem to have gone astray, please let your decently priced Dirtoir Black Lager win us back.

RCRFGDBL (seriously?) pours jet black with a carmel head and smells like a chocolate stout or porter. It has a light to medium body that leaves your tongue much like a porter but with a slight chalky fuzziness. It hits your pallete like a sweet stout with no traces of alcohol. The finish is just okay- it's not missing too much but there could be more on the back end. We wish there was a little more warmth to the beer. Not all beers need to be imperial, this one just begs for a bit more bite.

We are impressed by how delicious this lager is. There is no idication, other than what is written on the bottle, that this is a lager. It is very comperable to a sweeter low alcohol stout and it would battle up there with the better of those styles. We are very pessimistic towards the word LAGER, but these guys found some strange ale yeast that fermented on the bottom for some reason. Wherever these guys found this magic yeast, let's hope they can utilize it in other bombers that costs less than 10-16 dollars.

Oz Scale: 7.3

Mike Scale: 7.4

Dogfish Head Fort

2010-02-14T17:16:00.007-05:00

The worlds strongest fruit beer. It's a claim that only Dogfish Head can make with their 18% ABV brew, Fort. When brewed, they use over a ton of pureed raspberries in a Belgian-style base which is then fermented similar to the DFH's other 18% beers, 120 Minute IPA and World Wide Stout. Being a fan of Dogfish Head, alcohol and World Wide Stout (we have yet to get our hands on a 120,) Mike did not hesitate dropping the serious cash to get this single bottle. Once again, silly Ohio laws prevent such beverages from entering their borders, so he had to pick this one up in Pennsylvania.

Fort pours surprisingly smooth, and smells of fruit and spices- almost like a Riesling. Amber and slightly cloudy in color, the taste hits on the side of the tongue with a sweet and almost tart spiciness followed by some fruit flavors. The raspberries are in the latter half of flavor to hit the palette followed by an alcohol warmth. Being so high in alcohol, one would not believe that a brew like this could drink so smooth, but smooth it is. It's medium bodied and does not taste like it packs as much punch as it does.

Rating this beer is difficult. Do you rate by style? In that case, it would would be rated extremely high? Do you rate by taste? Originality? We are just going to rate how we normally do- how much we like it. The beer has some outstanding qualities and it's flaws are limited. It is NOT a session beer. Oz says: "It isn't a style that I would normally go for but the alcohol makes this yummy!" Dogfish Head keeps coming up with original beers and we will keep buying them. They could find a way to make ancient elephant excrement taste delicious or at least interesting.

Oz Scale: 8.7
Mike Scale: 8.5

Erie Brewing Company Ol' Red Cease & Desist Wee Heavy Ale

2010-02-11T17:42:00.004-05:00

Erie Brewing Company is the closest brewery to us that bottles and sells its own brew at other establishments other than its own. It's only 45 mile from the house of beer blog. It's sad that we live in such a small town that their is nothing closer to us that bottles but at least it's not Wyoming (for you Nick.)

We have tried Erie Brewing Company's beers before and have never been too impressed. Railbender Ale is okay and Misery Bay IPA is decent. There is nothing original nor anything special that makes you want to pick up another six pack of their brews.

At U-Pick-6 in Erie PA, Mike noticed a beer in their fridge that he had never seen before- Ol' Red. It looked interesting and carries a nice punch at 10.1% ABV. Could this beer save our perceptions of EBC?

Ever have first impressions that stuck? This beer is one of them. It has a good beginning with a nice malt taste, much unlike most red or wee ales. Everything goes down hill from there- it completely lacks in body. This beer is like "It" from the Addams Family. The alcohol does not seem to be too prevalent given the ABV but there doesn't seem to be any redeeming factors to it.

Erie Brewing Company- how you have let us down. Our three closest bottling brewers besides you, Great Lakes, Southern Tier & Thirsty Dog (sorry Buckeye Brewing, you don't quite have distribution to make the list) have put you to shame. They should Cease & Desist from creating beer. Keep with the brew pub for a while and let us know when you come up with something better. This beer should have been called Ol' Yeller instad of Ol' Red.

Oz Scale: 5.5
Mike Scale: 5.1

Flying Dog Raging Bitch

2010-02-07T18:49:00.007-05:00

With a beer named Raging Bitch, we could go on all day with bad puns and run-on jokes like in the past. However, we are going to do our best of keeping this one clean as possible.

Flying Dog has always presented us with some average to very good brews. Subpar performances include K-9 Cruiser, Dogtoberfest and Tire Bite. Their best selections include Double Dog & Gonzo Imperial Porter. Even if their beer sucks, you have at least some interesting Ralph Steadman artwork and a Hunter S. Thompson quote on the bottom to help you forget how awesomely mediocre that brew was.

Enter Raging Bitch: a feisty Belgian style IPA with a biting 8.3% ABV. If you are not familiar with the Belgian style IPA, then you will be soon. From Stone to Victory to New Belgium, it seems this style is gaining popularity. A Belgian style IPA is basically an IPA with a Belgian yeast strain. More or less, it's an IPA with a yeast infection.

The brew smells like a citrusy Belgian ale- the hops aren't too overpowering but it let's you know they are there. The color is a light amber reminiscent of most IPAs. When the Bitch hits the tongue, it tastes like what it promises- a Begian style IPA. However, this Bitch doesn't bite quite like we thought. The body is a little weak for the DIPA style. For being a 20th anniversary beer, maybe the Raging Bitch turned into that old dog that just puts it's head up when you walk in the door. It might growl, bark and it sure does look mean- but it just lays there thinking you aren't worth it's energy to get up.

I might have barked up the wrong tree on that run-on paragraph. It IS a good beer, it just doesn't taste like an 8.3% beer, it tastes like a session beer. Not that a session beer is bad, the Raging Bitch just didn't live up to expectations. It should have been called Angry Girlfriend Because You Forgot To Call On Time Belgian Style IPA.

Oz Scale: 6.9

Mike Scale: 6.9

*Editor's note: I failed on the bad puns and run-on jokes. I apologize.

Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

2010-02-02T18:35:00.006-05:00

It's been one hot minute since we last posted, my friends. No, we weren't hiding under a bridge or road trippin' to the Dani California nor to the other side of Michigan. We just recorded some tunes and decided that we can't stop the blog. We have to take this to a higher ground. So we present to you, the first blog of the year- Jolly Pumpkin's La Roja.

La Roja is an amber farmhouse ale aged in oak barrels for two to ten months. It smells and looks like cider. This bomber won't get you bombed, weighing in at 7.2%, but it'll get you started. Upon entry of the beer receptacle, you will instantly recognize the Jolly Pumpkin yeast strain. Much like its brothers in brew- it is sweet, however, there is a spiciness to it with warm alcohol feel left on the tongue.

Considering all things Jolly Pumpkin, this is our second favorite next to Ordo de Calbaza. It's got instant recognition just like Anthony Keidis' voice and packs a nice punch just like his heroin habit,... well, maybe not that big of a punch. While very good, it IS incredibly Jolly Pumpkin like- more or less being in a parallel universe... of beer.

Oz Scale: 7.5

Mike Scale: 7.7

Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

2009-10-05T19:10:00.006-04:00

Stone Brewing Company from Escondido, California, has been known to rock our bodies like the Neptunes produced track. None of their beers have ever been less than good and often they have been great. Russian Imperial Stout, Ruination IPA & Double Bastard are among our favorites and last years Vertical Epic Ale (08.08.08) was quite tasty as well. All these reasons justified our purchase of this year's Veritcal Epical Ale, 09.09.09.

09.09.09 is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale weighing in at 8.9% ABV. Initial smell is earthly and quite potent, perfect for a fall evening. It pours dark and as it flows down the feed hole, it is full bodied as you taste some chocolate then some hidden fruit flavor come to light on the sides of the tongue. The finish is lacking considering it is a full bodied brew; this being our only large complaint about the brew.

Stone's 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale is a perfect example of what many American brewing companies are achieving. It is a twist on a classic style, however that twist makes the brew much more interesting and complex. This brew left us a little punch drunk and love Stone-ed. It's sad we had to say bye bye bye to the beer in the glass.

Oz Scale: 8.1
Mike Scale: 8.3

Southern Tier Pumking

2009-10-01T19:30:00.004-04:00

Though it's brewery is only 80 minutes away from the house of beer (blog), Southern Tier has not become one of our top breweries to try. Unearthy was delicious but the oaked aged version tasted like a tree with hops somewhere in the middle. Since it is now October, we have decided to get more festive than a Governor Mark Sanford hiking trip. We are infected with the fall spirit like it were crabs. It may itch a little but we decided to give Southern Tier Pumking a try.

With a basic amber color, it is Pumpking's smell that foreshadows what lies ahead. If you ever wondered what beer pumpkin pie would taste like, this would answer it. The essence of this brew is far more present than other, watered down versions of this style. It has more body than Jessy Ventura. The 9% ABV is not completely hidden but balanced as part of this complete breakfast.

This brew is great for what it is, a spiced fall seasonal. It conveniently comes in a 22 oz bomber, as a six pack would be too much of it. At the end of the glass, it became a little too sweet for our liking. This being said, two bombers a year (and possibly one to cellar for nostalgia) would be sufficient for our needs. It holds its place as one of the best pumpkin beers we have tried, but still less superior to Dogfish Head and Weyerbacher's versions. It may have been the first sip, but we we got punk'ed.

Oz Scale: 7.2
Mike Scale: 7.3

Oz 'n' Mike's Top Beer of the Year

2009-09-07T20:18:00.006-04:00

It's been (just over) a year since the birth of our beer blog. I know the title promises beer AND music, we just happen to play music together so when we beer, we music too. Don't think about that one too much. Anyway- here are our top picks for the year (in this list only Oz & Mike's scores count.)

Average Score:
1. Bell's Hopslam - 9.90
2. Dogfish Head Sah'tea - 8.95
3. Jolly Pumpkin Ordo de Calabaza - 8.90
4. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - 8.75
5. Unibroue Trois Pistoles - 8.55
6. Heavy Seas (Clipper City) Winter Storm - 8.45
7. Brooklyn Brookyler-Schneider Hopfen Weisse - 8.40
8. Dogfish Head World Wide Stout - 8.30
Stoudts Winter Ale - 8.30
Rogue Santa's Private Reserve - 8.30
11. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - 8.25
12. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - 8.15
13. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - 8.00
14. Lagunitas Brown Shugga - 7.95
15. Great Lakes Christmas Ale - 7.90
Stoudt Double IPA - 7.90
Dogfish Head Immort Ale - 7.90
18. Rogue Dry Hopped St Rogue Red Ale - 7.85
19. Dogfish Head Punkin - 7.70
20. Troegs Mad Elf Ale - 7.65
21. Great Lakes Oktoberfest - 7.55
Bell's Christmas Ale - 7.55
23. Weyerbacher Zotten - 7.25
Corsendonk Christmas Ale - 7.25
25. Founders Centennial IPA - 7.20
Sierra Nevada Torpedo - 7.20
27. Jolly Pumpkin Lucienrnaga - 7.15
28. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Bière - 7.05
29. Founders Old Carmudgeon - 6.90
30. Great Lakes Glockenspiel - 6.90
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles - 6.90
32. Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale - 6.85
33. Bell's Expedition Stout - 6.75
34. Heavy Seas (Clipper City) Holy Sheet - 6.70
Blue Moon Full Moon - 6.70
35. Bell's Sparkling Ale - 6.50
36. Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner - 6.40
37. Summit Winter Ale - 6.35
38. Three Floyds Brian Boru - 6.25
39. Dogfish Head Midas Touch - 6.15
Dogfish Head Theobroma - 6.15
41. Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale - 5.8
42. Avery Old Jubilation - 5.65
43. Weyerbacher Winter Ale - 5.60
44. Sam Adams Winter Ale - 5.55
45. Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale - 5.50
46. Abita Christmas Ale - 5.40
47. Michelob Winter Cask Ale - 5.35
48. New Holland The Poet - 5.15
49. Breckenridge Christmas Ale - 4.95

Black & Tan Recipe - N/A
Old Milwaukee Beer - N/A
Atwater Block - Atwater Hell - N/A

Double Dogfish Head: Sah'tea & Theobroma

2009-09-07T18:18:00.005-04:00

Dogfish Head takes more risks than having unprotected sex with fifty partners. Their beers, though not alway good (see Golden Elixir post,) are at least interesting and stampworthy. The company keeps pushing the boundaries of what a beer can be. Recreating ancient recipes, creating multiple ales that are 18% ABV and crafting a brew with ingredients from every continent are just some of the interesting things this brewery is doing. We know that it might seem that we review them a little more than the rest, so our last review of Dogfish Head this year is a double one: Sah'tea & Theobroma.

First released this May, Sah'tea is a "modern update on a 9th century Finnish proto-beer." It smells and looks just like a Belgian ale. Though it does have a decent amount of body and mouth feel to it, it is still easily drinkable (even at 9% ABV.) Cinnamon, clove and ginger spice up the palette and makes us miss Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This brew would best be drank on a cold winter day with a couple of good friends... or on a Monday night in September as you watch your roommate play Call of Duty 4 for hours on end. That kid is addicted, seriously.

Oz Scale: 9.0
Mike Scale: 8.9

First brewed in 2008 (our bottle dated 2009) is Theobroma. Per DFH Website: "This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions." It pours an almost amber color with a sweet smell. With all the hype about chocolate flavor, this beer has very little if any at all. A slight chili taste on the back brings together a sweet, almost nutty taste. High drinkability or as Oz puts it- "I'd pound a six-er of this. You know, just drink this to get drunk and forget feelings. Our UAV is online!" I'm sure you would get there with its high, 9% ABV. There is a lot here- but nothing seems to stand out.

Oz Scale: 6.0
Mike Scale: 6.3

Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

2009-08-30T18:56:00.008-04:00

Pilsner- the Webster's dictionary defines this style as "a dumbed down beer for frat kids and rednecks." It is not the preferred style in any beer drinker's book but what drew us to this brew were two words - "Rogue" & "Imperial." Fifteen dollars for a bomber seemed a little excessive but any imperial brew from Rogue can't be that bad, right? Joining us today, for the first time, is the newb x-Tina.

The brew pours a cloudy light honey color and a citrus smell. Upon delivery to the beer hole, you experience a different mouth feel than that of an American pilsner- much heavier as it leaves an almost chalk like trail when it drains down the throat. Smell and taste collide when lemon undertones come out from hiding. The alcohol taste is hidden, though hops are definitely prevalent on the back end of the brew.

In the end, Morimoto Imperial Pilsner would be better classified in with classic European-style pilsners. It is, however, overpriced. Fifteen dollars for a 750ml bottle could better be spent on a four pack of Founders Breakfast Stout or it is almost enough money for a six-er of Hopslam. For what it's worth, it is a good brew. If we weren't the snobs we were, it would rank higher. It's hard to get over the negatives this style brings to our palette. Even a TV Chef couldn't help us overcome these convictions.

Oz scale: 6.4
Mike scale: 6.4
x-Tina scale: 5.6

Weyerbacher Zotten

2009-08-10T21:25:00.007-04:00

Weyerbacher has long caught our eye when it comes to beer despite the subpar labels on the bottles. From our very first sip of Double Simcoe IPA, we grew ever eager to try more from this brewery. Many have dominated our taste buds (Heresy, Blasphemy and Imperial Pumpkin Ale to name a few) so we were excited that these kind brewers would bless us with yet another beverage. Weyerbacher's newest creation, Zotten, is a Belgian Pale Ale. At 6%, this "session beer" still beats any of the ice domestics you can get at your local NE Ohio grocery in ABV.

Zotten, Belgian for "joker," pours a clear amber color with a Belgian Ale style smell and frothy white head. The brew has a creamier taste than what the label promises with hops hidden beneath its classic Belgian fruit flavor. The brew flows freely down the throat making it incredibly drinkable given the style.

Zotten is an every day style beer. Given the drinkability, its shocking that the brew comes in just four packs. There is nothing too innovative about it, just a slight different take on a classic. We would like more of a bite on the back end of the brew. The hops are promising but lead to a dead end street. This could be a great trasitionary brew to get someone into the style, i.e. Mike's girlfriend. Now if he could only get her to swollow something else frothy and creamy...

Oz Scale: 7.2
Mike Scale: 7.3

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout

2009-06-30T21:15:00.007-04:00

Hi, Mike here. Oz and I have taken back the blog from those blasted good ol' boys. However, today we have a special brew so I decide to roll solo for a one time, one night only review:

Oh, Ohio and your pointless laws! Two of my least favorite Ohio laws are the limit to what percentage of alcohol beer can not be over (12%) and the illegalization of intoxicating ducks with alcohol. Why do you have ruin all the fun? I had to put my ducks in a row and lined up a beer trade with JoeyBeerBelly on Beeradvocate.com to trade for Dogfish Head World Wide Stout. Weighing in at 18% ABV, this brew is not for the novice and definately not for the faint of heart. A single 12 oz bottle retails for more than most craft six packs and around the same price as a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee. Being a dollar an once, this is liquid gold (only if gold meant an insane amount of barley.)

The brew pours a thick black solid color with a brown foamy head. Smells of alcohol, raisins and smoke let you know you are about to be taken for a ride. First sip reminds me of a strong rum & coke with chocolate swirled in. WWS is as full bodied as expected but nowhere near as syrupy or thick as I was anticipating. The imperial stout flows surprisingly smooth down the throat as it leaves alcohol on the tongue. As I continue operation 'Move Beer from Glass to Stomach,' the brew becomes more drinkable and more sweet.

This is nowhere near a session beer and I had to clear out a night in my schedule to fully appreciate something so high in alcohol. I would not reccomend this to pregnant women or everyday Guinness drinkers. There is so much barley and an incredible completity to the brew that I would not dare share a brew with someone who would not appreciate. Dogfish Head is known for their creativity in craft beer and maybe it's the alcohol talking, but this beer is fucking sweet.

Mike Scale: 8.3

Dag Gum Beer Re-View: Old Milwaukee Beer

2009-06-23T18:54:00.008-04:00

Hey y'all. We done stolen our sisters virginity, this web site and a 30 pack of old milwaukee Beer. We got tired of them thar prissy beers and decides us to drink a real man beers. We got these here beer cuz it have red and white on the box. hAlf the American flag. Dya no what? Whuts better than cornholin yar old yeller behind the barn, some Capps pizza and old Milwaukee.

First wed like to note the smell. It smell like steel. the steel that my great granpappy used to build the best nation in the world. America. Drinks like mississippi. clearer than. sounds like a roarin Leonard Skinner concert. Great for beating your wife. You can drink a lot and it dont make you no fool. You can mov e real kwicke like. My favorite things about it is how it tastes. America. Glad no goddam japs aint ruined no American pastime. This be the old milwalkee. even our coondog otis loves it two. i tell you whut.

Its one of them beers where you drink one of them beers and then you drink another one of them beers before anutter you done drank all them beer and aint even know it. That good. like AMerica. just like my cousin bobby james said 'if it looks like your sister- fuck it. if it looks like your wife[ beat it. if it looks like old millwalkey- drink it.' i'm done bringin a case to my next Brick Stonewall & the United States of Awesome show. real merican values for real amercans.

on a ten chart. ten being papst blue ribbons- the best. zeros being genny cream ale.

Ozzy James Dio skales - Flat 6 LIKe my cuz
Mickeys Malt Fister slakes - like the age of my dream girl 7
Nicky Jo skales - 7 like the fingers i's gots

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

2009-06-21T20:15:00.009-04:00

The Escondido, California based brewing company, Stone, has yet to let us down. They have produced some of our personal favorites, Russian Imperial Stout & Ruination IPA. So when we saw their new limited release, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, we had to pick it up. Being sublimely self-righteous ourselves, it seemed fitting that we had to review this beer.

SSRA is an American strong ale weighing in at 8.7 ABV with 90 IBUs. First impressions can be decieving and this brew proves it. It pours an almost black color with a head similar to a chocolate stout and smells like other Stone brews, but tastes nothing like it's brothers and sisters.

This brew has more kick than its Belgian counterparts. However, the earthy tones remind us more of the dirty hippies in California compared to the Arnold Strongs. While this beer is above average, it does nothing for us like the 08.08.08 Epic Ale or even the Double Bastard. In our sublimely self righteous opinion, it does not smoke our taste buds and it's not the arrogant bastard we were looking for.

Oz Scale: 6.8

Mike Scale: 6.9

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

2009-06-08T21:34:00.006-04:00

Check video posts below:

Brooklyn Brewery's Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse

2009-05-31T19:44:00.008-04:00

A collaboration between two different breweries brings us the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse. Brooklyn Brewery and Schneider Brewery's brewmasters collaborated on this weizenbock that is similar to Schneider's weisse with a Brooklyn's EIPA hop kick. This is a one time collaboration, so Mike didn't mind dropping $12 on a single bottle. By New York standards , this beer is reletively cheap.

With a surprisingly light color, hazy to the eye, the brew pours from the 25.4 oz. with a frothy head and a floral, yet hoppy smell. Given the higher alcohol percentage (8.5%) it is surprisingly light bodied. Tastes of citrus and fruit, it slivers down the throat to welcoming stomach. This brew has the best of both worlds, the light bodied drinkability of a weisse bier with the hop flavor of an IPA the tongue desires.

Brooklyn Brewery has had a couple beers that tickled our fancy (Black Chocolate Stout & Winter Ale) and a couple that were average (Lager & Octoberfest) but this once scores on the former. We could rip on New York apart all day, but after sipping on this brew, we don't want to even make a smart ass remark on their accents or annoying attitude or some other John Travolta Saturday Night Fever joke. That Nanny TV show sucked as well. Anyway...

Oz Scale: 8.2

Mike Scale: 8.6

Great Lakes Brewing Co. Glockenspiel

2009-05-24T15:39:00.004-04:00

Since the discontinuation of Moondog ESB and Holy Moses White Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) has introduced two new brews to the masses, Grassroots Ale (a siason) and Glockenspiel (a weizenbock.) Grassroots did not catch our hearts like Holy Moses or Moondog so we had high hopes that Glockenspiel, 12 oz bottles sold in a four-pack, would deliver us for mediocracy. With us today is our good friends as well as our part-time beer blog collaborators, Nick and Jason (aka J-Glock,) to give their spiels as well.

Glockenspiel chimes in at 8% ABV and pours a copper color with Jello brand banana pudding smell. With its full body mouth feel, this GLBC beverage hits the oral orifice with citrus-y hops and spices dancing on the tip of the tongue. The brew starts out bitter then becomes sour. As it swims down your throat, you are left with a sweet banana aftertaste with hints of clove and fig.

This is not an everyday brew, as it would best pair with bratwurst and other sausages than by itself. Compared to the other big brew four packs by GLBC, we would not drink this until we blacked out, nor would be stock it in a vampire's cellar. It does however, mow the grass of the fore mentioned farmhouse ale. It promises hell's bells, but all we are left with is some Australian band that only knows four chords and one drum beat.

Oz Scale: 6.8
Mike Scale: 7.0
Jason Scale: 6.8
Nick Scale: 7.2

Heavy Seas - Holy Sheet (Über Abbey Ale)

2009-02-22T19:16:00.006-05:00

Holy sheet! It's been a while since we blogged. After a couple of concerts, we are back. It's been some time but we are ready to get our sheet together and write. With us today is our good friend Jason (who has helped produce wines at a local winery) to help us examine an abbey style ale in his second appearance in our blog. Holy Sheet is a 9% Belgian Abbey style ale by Heavy Seas (Clipper City Brewing) that is only produced in February. Holy sheet, our timing is good.

The first thing you notice from the brew is a sweet, fruity boquet. As Jason puts it, "It smells like Niagra grape jam." The dark burgundy red color hints a darker, stronger abbey ale than we are used to. The taste is almost true maple syrup-like with little to no hop flavor. When the brew finishes, you are hit with an slighty coffee taste then progresses to a foamy, light alcohol ending, slightly tart in flavor.

Holy Sheet is an abbey ale, with an American micro brew twist. Using something new on an old standard,... kind of like drinking Falco's 'Rock Me Amadeus.' The flavors don't quite unite harmoniously and it seems to be lacking for this style of beer. This is a brew that you'd have to be in the mood for.... and we were in the mood for love. Enter, Hopslam!

Oz Scale: 6.6
Mike Scale: 6.8
Jason Scale 6.6

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

2009-02-08T13:17:00.006-05:00

Sierra Nevada brews are more widely available than most that we drink. Still, nothing has completely struck out with us. Their Celebration Ale this year ranked surprisingly high on our blind winter beer tastings. So when we saw an American style IPA by them in the cooler at World Wines & Liquor in Mentor, we couldn't pass it up.

The first thing you notice from their Torpedo IPA is the rich amber color and a deliciously frothy head. Upon first taste of the 7.2% ABV brew you are reminded of the 70 IBUs but it is immediately overtaken by a floral and citrus arrangement. These hops don't quite wallop but at the finish, you are reminded of them as their taste lingers in your mouth.

There is nothing quite outstanding in this brew. It's got hops for a hophead, but not enough. Also, it's too hoppy for a beginner. This would be an intermediary brew for those not used to American IPA's. What won us over for this beer is the surprisingly high drinkabilty, much like Great Lake's Oktoberfest. If you want a sipping IPA, this isn't it. If you want to be floored by 4 PM on a Sunday like we will be, pick yourself up a 6-pack or two.

Oz Scale: 7.2

Mike Scale: 7.2

Three Floyds Brian Boru

2009-02-02T20:01:00.005-05:00

Brian Boru. Yeah, I think I know that guy. I'm pretty sure he used to come to our shows. He was the guy from Ireland that is flying out to check out This Dust Was Once the Man at Peabody's in Cleveland February 12th and February 20th at the Cove. Well, after he conquers vikings in Ireland. Enough of that shameless self promoting, let's talk about the beer!

A strong smell deceives the smoothness and light body feel of this red ale. Quite shocking given the description and label on the bottle. Who knew warriors could be so soft? The finish gives a red ale familiarity but not before the complete lack of substance.

The flavor is unique given the circumstances and gives a new twist on a classic. The smell and color give you a false sense that you are in for something serious but in the end, this viking forgot to sharpen his axe. He died and so did our faith in Three Floyds. Well, this is strike one for them. We hope they live up to their reputation, it is just hard for us to get our hands on anything else from this brewery.

Oz Scale: 6.1

Mike Scale: 6.4

Bell's Hopslam

2009-01-28T18:08:00.006-05:00

This is a blog of passion. Having tried this brew a year ago, we decided to pick up an eighteen dollar six pack of it this Sunday. It didn't last a mere two hours once we got it home. So this Wednesday, Mike drove thirty miles in a snow storm to get more. Was it worth risking his life for? You're goddamn right it was! We have had a great many Bell's and a great many IPA's but today, we have never been more proud to present our official review of Bell's Hopslam Ale.

The pour is an orangish golden color and the smell is pure imagination. The taste, heaven. We can not express our love for this beer in full detail in just one blog. Let's just put it this way: If we were Harry, this is when we met Sally or as Oz would say, "When Noah met Allie." Honey overtones soften the hops but in a tasteful way to not discourage hopheads like ourselves. Bell's Hopslam has just the right amount of kick and alcohol flavor while the hops linger the way an IPA should.

This 10% IPA has one major downfall, it's limited release. Seriously, even the hefty price tag isn't the issue. We could drink Hopslam all year round. This March, when the beer markets and liquor stores stop selling this fine IPA, we will be like Rose from the Titanic, we'll "never let you go." Hopslam, you will alway have our hearts as well as our stomach's. We will enjoy you as much as we can this year and only hope Bell's brings you back next.

Oz Scale: 9.9

Mike Scale: 9.9

A new high for the blog.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch Golden Elixir

2009-01-25T18:27:00.009-05:00

Midas can turn objects to gold and Dogfish Head can turn beer into wine. Midas Touch is a recreation of the actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world. It is made with honey, saffron, papaya, melon, biscuity and succulent. Interesting. For a worldly brew, we brought in a worldly friend, Allison, to help us today in judging if Dogfish Head made this beer into gold.

There is a grape taste throughout. There isn't a strong start and the beer plateaus to the weak finish. Fruity overtones cast upon this brew with a light body tingle and a slight alcohol burn. The flavors linger like a wine but it doesn't feel like a 9% ABV.

Dogfish Head put it's own magic touch on this brew, which we are pretty sure it isn't a golden one. They have struck gold with many other brews, but Midas failed to touch our hearts. An interesting mash-up of wine, beer and mead, it should have been named it Catholic Priest Touch.

Oz Scale: 6.1

Mike Scale: 6.2

Allison Scale: 6.0

New Holland The Poet

2009-01-22T19:06:00.004-05:00

Raven on the bottle. The Poet. Sounds like New Holland styled their bottle to the likings of a drunk who married his thirteen year old first cousin. "Art in Fermented Form" the bottle claims. Hmm. We think they might be missing a 'F' somewhere but not at the end. Lame as that joke may be, the beer equals this.

The beer has the slightest kick and trails off into what a Guiness Light would taste like. The oats and chocolate charicteristics are hidden behind a creamy watery mess. In the bottle holds all things that make an oatmeal stout great but in our opinion, New Holland's Poet has the taste most Michigan fans have had lately. Shitty. We wear our Tressel vests.

Weak front to finish

A ligheter version of Guinness

Stumbles on its face

In someone else's cooler is its place

More lame than FDR's legs
A better beer, our lips do beg

Something that's flavor is heroic

Something that is not New Holland's The Poet

Nevermore will we drink this again.

Oz Scale: 5.1
Mike Scale: 5.2

Bell's Sparkling Ale

2009-01-18T15:16:00.005-05:00

A taste of the bubbly in a beer? How can you make a champagne style beer? Bells is brave enough to attempt the challenge with their American style Tripel. While our Champagne knowledge is limited, our proficiency of beer is great enough and we are up for the challenge for this winter seasonal.

The color and sediment is missing for a tripel. The punch hits in the middle and leaves a tingling feeling on the mouth. It is a little bland for a 9% ABV brew. The kick is reminiscent of a barleywine but doesn't have the negatives it is associated with. The taste lingers on the tip of the tongue with a sweet, fruity taste. However, it feels like a light ale that someone dropped some vodka into the barrel.

It is a unique style brew but doesn't seem to convince anyone of it's superiority. The brew could be more reminiscent of a Belgian Tripel but it decided to take matters upon its own hands and that is where things could have worked. In appreciation of everything that is and could have been:

Oz Scale: 6.7
Mike Scale: 6.3

Founder's Old Curmudgeon

2009-01-12T18:37:00.006-05:00

How does one finish a great weekend?... One gets too drunk to even attempt at beer blogging. While this may be the first sign of a problem, we promise to humbly deliver our Sunday beer blog on this Monday. I guess we could say that we gave the Lord a rest. However, on a goodwill mission to a local bar, Oz craftily arranged for an outside opinion for a future review. A*is*n and B**ky (the names have been edited to protect the innocent until we can take away their beverage innocence) have promised to give their American commercial brew opinion on our page. We pretentiously add in advance that their opinion doesn't matter... Just kidding. We value everything a woman has to say. No, we aren't bitter. However, we like our beer that way.

Today, we knew we were in for a challenging beer. Old Curmudgeon... wow, the name even sounds tough. Curmudgeon is another word for a stubborn asshole... hmm... how could we ever relate to this beer? The bottle only warns of a 9.3% ABV and a drinking during pregnancy. Please reference the video below of our first tasting to get an idea of the true power of this beast.

The brew starts strong like a low Db power chord and ends in a tremolo picking blaze. Nick, where are you at when when we need you? Flavors similar to brown sugar, molasses, plum and Noni juice hit the pallet harder than if Mike Tyson fronted a Henry Rollins tribute band. There is a TV Party in my mouth. This is not a gateway beer, it is for full blown drunks, I mean... connoisseurs.

We were challenged and we conquered. We might have lost a battle or two but we won the war of two beers apiece. There were a couple taste bud casualties along the way but in the end, General Lee surrendered. It was not easy to finish all four beers, we could have took the King Edward Van Halen way and whammy ourselves out but we did the Jimi thing and just bent the note until it was right. We scored higher for originality over personal preference on this brew due to the complex uniqueness of the flavor.

Oz Scale: 7.0

Mike Scale: 6.8

Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale

2009-01-08T19:23:00.010-05:00

When one has an immaculate journey to the inn at the last home, it is essential to try Oz's (Otik's) World Famous Spicy Potatoes. The best way to cleanse your pallet is a dry hopped red ale from Rogue. Three good friends from This Dust Was Once the Man and their fellow journeyman & guest judge, Jason, sat down to tackle such a feat in a low lit basement.

The brew starts out like a typical red ale and continues this to middle. However, unlike most red ales, the hops begin to take over and leaves a distinct bitterness as the beer finishes. Essentially, red ales are associated with their lingering aftertaste, the St. Rogue Red Ale accentuates the epic plateau of the latter half setting you up for a rather atypical coastic finish.

Even though Moses composed Genesis 2000 years before any known written language, it's obvious Rogue has produced a better crimson product, namely this ale. We crossed the red sea, but in beer form.

Oz Scale: 7.7
Mike Sclae: 8.0
Nick Scale: 8.3
Jason Scale: 6.7

Lagunitas Brown Shugga

2009-01-04T15:45:00.003-05:00

California is super cool to the homeless. They've got some tasty brews as well. However, living in Ohio limits the amount of west coast brews accessible to us. The most common being Sierra Nevada followed by Stone, Anchor and Lagunitas. Between us, we have tried two or three different Lagunitas with generally positive reviews. Our good friend Nick has come to help us with our review (also to be a grammar Nazi-- we didn't listen to him once.)

Today we sample Brown Shugga, a strong seasonal ale consisting of just five ingredients: barley, hops, brown sugar, yeast and water. It kicks in with a punch and doesn't let you down to the finish. As the glass becomes less full, the flavor only improves. The box claims a 9.9% ABV and 52.1 IBU while the bottle claims 9.5% ABV and 51.1 IBU. Regardless, this beer has a unique flavor that leaves us excited to try others from this brewery.

It does get style points for uniqueness but the hops inevitably eclipse the initial taste. This six pack is best enjoyed with friends because it is difficult to consume alone. In case you catch someone stealing some out of your fridge, please feel free to sing some Rolling Stones.

Oz Scale: 7.8

Mike Scale: 8.1

Nick Scale: 7.8

So This is the New Year: Battle of the IPA's

2009-01-01T18:01:00.001-05:00

By now, everyone should know that we are hopheads. The rare breed of beer drinker that likes their brew more bitter than a North East Ohio winter and with more hops than the king, LeBron James. Our bitter beer faces are all smiles.

With a new year brings new challenges, you know, remembering to write an 09 instead of an 08 on the rent check. It also brings us to our first challenge of the year: The battle of the IPA's. Since we wanted to start out the new year strong, today we sample two of our favorite IPA's for yet another blind taste test: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. Both IPA's are double hopped and have a 9%ABV but the Double Simcoe is bottle fermented. This poses a problem: How do we keep this a blind tasting when one has yeast floating in the bottle? Simple. Turn off all lights-- after all this is a blind tasting. To help keep things fair today is Mr. Johnny V.

Fist Brew: The start is not as strong as one would expect from the style but we are okay with that. It has a unique taste that somehow still adheres the the IPA formula. The brew finishes well with an obviously high ABV but not as bitter as we would have hoped. This delicious brew seems to lack something we can't put our finger on, but it sure as hell gets two thumbs up anyway.

Oz Scale: 8.0

Mike Scale: 8.3

Second Brew: This brew has an incredible hoppy aroma. With a slightly slow start that crescendos to almost an overpowering taste that leaves you with two hands in the air plummeting down to a climatic finish. Some beers have a stairway to heaven, this brew has a glass elevator to eternal bliss (at least until the 4-pack is done.)

Oz Scale: 8.8

Mike Scale: 8.7

It was later revealed to us that the Dogfish Head lead off our tasting followed by the Weyerbacher. I guess the rare simcoe hops seem to have our a-card. If you are a hop enthusiast, we recommend trying both these delectable brews on your search for the perfect IPA. In conjunction with this review, Blood of Christ Winery has added both of these brews on tap.

Dogfish Head Immort Ale

2008-12-15T19:31:00.001-05:00

$14 for a four pack? 11% ABV Dogfish Head? Our we that big of label whores? The answer to all three of these things is "yes." The blind beer tastings only slightly disproved our whorish ways, so here we are again. Tonight's journey brings us to Immort Ale, a strong ale aged in oak barrels and bottle fermented brought to us by one of our favorite breweries, Dogfish Head.

It kicks harder than Christopher Reeve's horse from start to finish. The flavors come in waves as the initial taste sends you in a different direction than the beer ultimately leads to. It is a strong ale; so those who can not take punch need not attempt.

In no way does the hop characteristics take over the flavor. The initial smoke flavor is layered on by a slight sweetness as the beer finally balances between hops and barley. With a strong ale, you do expect a kick in the ass and it delivers that. However, we would prefer a little more hop bitterness to the finish but beggars can't be drunks. Then again, I guess they can be.

Oz Scale: 7.9
Mike Scale: 7.9

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Luciernaga & Ordo de Calabaza

2008-12-13T18:54:00.001-05:00

Label whores. Yes, we know, but have you seen our beer bottle collection? We drink to complete our set. Yes, that is how we rationalize our drinking. Also, we love their artwork and our two previous encounters with their beers. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales seem to have our card but not the A-card or V-card, of course. The holy, most sacred B-card.

Two different Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, both 1 Pt, 9.4 Oz bottles, Luciernaga & Ordo de Calabaza, sat in the cooler at World Wines & Liquor in Mentor, OH. Rather than waste one and blog another, we decided it was combo time. Fresh off of our seasonal blind tastings and our Blood of Christ Winery review, we seem to be on quite a roll. Today is our "Pumpkin" roll.

The first beer poured in our glasses tonight was Lucienrnaga, a spiced, bottle fermented ale brewed in the "tradition of the Grand Cru." It has a sweet, almost wheat taste that is purely originated in the Belgian tradition. After the long wait of the large amount of head to settle, this beer immediately hits with a coriander kick similar to most wheat beers but still retains a Belgian overtone. The beverage slides down the throat to a sweet finish. Though the spices are known, it doesn't have the kick this 6.5% ABV should. It promises but doesn't quite deliver, not that the delivery isn't bad.

Oz Scale: 7.2
Mike Scale: 7.1

The next brew to settle in our glasses was Ordo de Calabaza. It is oak barrel aged and refermented in the bottle. Unlike the seasonal Luciernaga, Ordo de Calabaza is a year round golden strong ale. In taste, it reminds us of both Victory's Golden Monkey (a Belgian style tripel) and Duval but the sweetness gives it a uniqueness unmatched by both. It has a cohesive start and finish with a slight kick letting you know that you are dealing with an 8% ABV brew. The smell gives false illusions of a floral scented wheat beer but when it hits the tongue, you have yourself heaven in a glass.

Oz Scale: 9.3
Mike Scale: 8.5

Stoudts Double India Pale Ale

2008-12-09T20:55:00.002-05:00

After a failed attempt Monday night at finding a decent IPA (seriously, the only one we found in this town was from Sleemans,) we made an journey to our favorite beverage shop. Lena's in Painesville is only 31 miles away, after all. Sitting proudly in the third cooler sat Stoudts Double India Pale Ale. Having great memories of the only Stoudt we have every tried, we picked up a 6-pack. Helping us with the pivotal third opine today is Mr. Johnny V.

This (D)IPA floats like a mist through your mouth, whispering in every delicate flower's ear. This brew bites initially like a Doberman but pulls back and leaves you with a Maltese. This beverage has a sweet overtone which is quite uncommon in most American IPA's. Strong, yet subtle, the smooth ale finishes without the kick you would come to expect from the style.

However, extra points have to be awarded for the individuality of this brew. This 90 IBU, 10% ABV, bottle conditioned brew could be transitional to some but not to Mr. Bud Light. This Pennsylvanian brewery has batted 1.000 with us and keeps us excited to try more.

Oz Scale: 7.7
Mike Scale: 8.1
Mr. V Scale: 7.1

Unibroue Trois Pistoles

2008-12-07T19:30:00.001-05:00

Oh, Canada: Wild uninhabited forests, snow, moose, Prince Edward Island and a just aboot as beautiful scenery as Alaska. However, Canada does have horrible things: Nickelback, Celine Dion, Eskimos, premises to John Candy movies and shitty breweries. Redemption comes from Unibroue, a microbrew from Chambly, Quebec, that has opened the minds of beer lovers since 1993.

Their complex beers have yet to fail us and Trois Pistoles is no exception. Dark, fruity and complex flavors dangle on your tongue well after the brew has slipped down the throat. The flavor has a Belgian style overtone with the best, sweet properties of good wheat beer. This would be a great jump for someone who adores Hoegaarden and its imitator Blue Moon.

High in alcohol and rich in taste, this four-pack has us seeing stars like a juke box hero. This 9% ABV beverage is well worth the price and I'm sure it will cover our pallet at least once more. This has renewed our faith in Canada (did we ever though?) The only downside to the bottled fermented ale is that we didn't have more.

Oz Scale: 8.7
Mike Scale: 8.4

Oi! Here Comes Chanukah... Beers

2008-11-30T12:51:00.003-05:00

Disclaimer: No Jewish jokes. We promise. We are big fans of the Jews: The potato pancakes, the killing of Jesus, clay toys and Spaceballs. What is not to love? Let's celebrate! We know we are a little early but 'tis the season for holidays (and winter seasonals.)

This is the third of our holiday blind beer tastings. However, today we are doing things a little different. Rather than just a third of a beer, we are feeling a little saucy. Eight full beers. God jul us all. C'mon, on paper Judas f'ing ruled.

With us once again is our good friend Nick to keep us from cheating. The main rule for this tasting stated that there should be no Christmas ales considering this is Chanukah. However, since Christmas happens to fall on one of the days of Chanukah this year, we have just one Xmas brew. The choices of the day were: Abita Christmas Ale, Avery Old Jubulation Ale, Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout, Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Michelob Winter Cask Ale (Their first of our knowledge to not have a twist top,) Samual Adams Winter Lager, Stoudts Winter Ale and Weyerbacher Winter Ale.

First Candle: Unfiltered, possibly bottle fermented. Well balanced taste with slightly more hops than malt. Nice copper color, pours easily down the throat but finishes weak compared to the taste. Could work as a yearly IPA.

Oz Scale: 8.4
Mike Scale: 8.5
Nick Scale: 9.0

Second Candle: Dark in color, slightly tart in taste. Surprisingly chugable. An accessible brew. Nothing above average but not terrible.

Oz Scale: 5.8
Mike Scale: 5.4
Nick Scale: 5.3

Third Candle: This is a brew that promises but does not deliver. It is hoppy, sweet and has no balance. What are we supposed to be drinking? "It creates flustrations deep down inside of me." says Oz. This is a bisexual brew, it dabbles into the extremes but doesn't make any decision either way. "It is like a chick who says she is into bondage," Nick adds, "but only uses scarves."

Oz Scale: 5.7
Mike Scale: 5.6
Nick Scale: 5.0

Forth Candle: Rich and full bodied, similar to a porter without the full malty bite. More drinkable than most stouts with a complex, rich delectable taste.

Oz Scale: 8.5
Mike Scale: 8.1
Nick Scale: 8.3

Fifth Candle: See video post:

Oz Scale: 5.4
Mike Scale: 5.4
Nick Scale 5.7

Sixth Candle: Dark, robust, lavishes on your tongue. Satisfying finish that surprisingly lingers for more.

Oz Scale: 7.9
Mike Scale:8.1
Nick Scale: 8.4

Seventh Candle: This is a safe beer. Average color and taste. The drinkability is there but it was probably because of the gaps between brews. "Naps are great!" adds Mike. The other two puked in various places.

Oz Scale: 5.3
Mike Scale: 5.5
Nick Scale: 5.0

Eighth Candle: Slightly dark. Once again, a safe beer. Above average taste that gets mad props for its high drinkability. Afterall, this is our eighth beer.

Oz Scale: 5.5
Mike Scale: 5.6
Nick Scale: 6.7

The actual brews:
1: Heavy Seas Winter Storm (averaged 8.6)
2: Weyerbacher Winter Ale (averaged 5.5)
3: Avery Old Jubulation Ale (averaged 5.4)
4: Stoudts Winter Ale (averaged 8.3)
5: Michelob Winter Cask Ale (averaged 5.5)
6: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (averaged 8.1)
7: Abita Christmas Ale (averaged 5.3)
8: Sam Adams Winter Ale (averaged 5.9)

This brings our winter season ranking to this:

20: Breckenridge Christmas Ale (averaged 4.6)
19: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale (averaged 5.0)
18: Abita Christmas Ale (averaged 5.27)
17: Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale (averaged 5.33)
16: Avery Old Jubulation Ale (averaged 5.4)
15: Michelob Winter Cask Ale (averaged 5.5)
14: Weyerbacher Winter Ale (averaged 5.53)
13: Sam Adams Winter Ale (averaged 5.9)
12: Blue Moon Full Moon (Average 6.3)
11: Summit Winter Ale (Averaged 6.7)
10: Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Averaged 7.2)
9: Magic Hat Roxy Rolles (Average 7.3)
8: Troegs Mad Elf Ale (Averaged 7.8)
7: Bell's Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.0)
6: Great Lakes Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.07)
5: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (averaged 8.13)
4: Stoudts Winter Ale (averaged 8.3)
3: Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (Averaged 8.57)
2: Heavey Seas Winter Storm (averaged 8.63)

and the winner thus far:

1: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (Averaged 8.8)

It's the Most Wonderful Time For Beer: The 12 Beers Of Christmas (Part 2)

2008-11-23T18:12:00.001-05:00

It's that time again: December has not yet hit and we decided to finish the Twelve Beers of Christmas. Snow is on the ground and did we mention that we like Christmas like beers? Well, anything is a decent excuse to drink the tasty beverages of the season. Once again we have our good friend Nick with us to help with the blind beer tasting and to make sure we wouldn't pass judgement on the brew because of the label on the bottle. Our choices of the night were: Magic Hat Roxy Rolles, Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale, Troegs Mad Elf Ale and Breckenridge Christmas Ale.

The ratings and guesses:

Sample 1: Smells festive, starts well and finishes well but lacks body.
Oz Scale: 5.5 (Breckenridge)
Mike Scale: 5.5 (Breckenridge)
Nick Scale: 5.0

Sample 2: Strong smell, great head. Sweet but not overpowering. The light tingle to the tongue leads to a great finish.
Oz Scale: 7.2 (Corsendonk)
Mike Scale: 7.3 (Corsendonk)
Nick Scale: 7.2

Sample 3: Starts weak, finishes with a strong unsatisfactory aftertaste. Dark in color with hits of spices.
Oz Scale: 4.8 (Magic Hat)
Mike Scale: 5.1 (Thirsty Dog)
Nick Scale: 3.9

Sample 4: Strong smells, hint of pine in the taste. Strong hoppy flavor, finishes like an IPA but doesn't linger quite as long.
Oz Scale: 7.1 (Troegs)
Mike Scale: 6.7 (Troegs)

Sample 5: Well balanced beer: taste, smell and color come together well. Initially sweet, but when you get the actual flavor, it will appease most enthusiasts.
Oz Scale: 7.9 (Rogue)
Mike Scale: 7.4 (Corsendonk)
Nick Scale: 8.0

Sample 6: MMM hops, hop pa MMM hops dib it dat ta MMM hops. Whoah! Great smell, taste and finish. Would work well as a year round IPA.
Oz Scale: 8.2 (Rogue)
Mike Scale: 8.4 (Rogue)
Nick Scale: 9.11 ("There's an emergency in my mouth!-- Too soon?")

Actual Brews:
Sample 1: Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale (Averaged 5.3)
Sample 2: Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Averaged 7.2)
Sample 3: Breckenridge Christmas Ale (Averaged 4.6)
Sample 4: Magic Hat Roxy Rolles (Average 7.3)
Sample 5: Troegs Mad Elf Ale (Averaged 7.8)
Sample 6: Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (Averaged 8.6)

Oz and Mike did worse this round with only guessing correctly twice. Oh well, even the titans lose sometimes. Then again this is beer; you are always a winner when you drink good beer.

This finishes our Beers of Christmas blogs and leaves us with the final rankings:

12: Breckenridge Christmas Ale (Averaged 4.6)
11: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale (Averaged 5.0)
10: Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale (Averaged 5.3)
9: Blue Moon Full Moon (Average 6.3)
8: Summit Winter Ale (Averaged 6.7)
7: Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Averaged 7.2)
6: Magic Hat Roxy Rolles (Average 7.3)
5: Troegs Mad Elf Ale (Averaged 7.8)
4: Bell's Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.0)
3: Great Lakes Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.1)
2: Rogue Santa's Private Reserve (Averaged 8.6)

and the best seasonal we have tried this year:

1: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (Averaged 8.8)

Here is another look at this blogs contestants:

Founders Centennial IPA

2008-11-16T17:28:00.001-05:00

India Pale Ale (IPA:) A special type of pale ale originated in England. It is brewed with extra hops therefor it is more bitter than most styles of beers. Hops are a bittering agent as well as a preservative that the English used when exporting their beers to India beginning in the late 18th century. American craft breweries typically make their IPA's with higher alcohol content (7.0+) and IBU's (International Bitterness Unit) above 40 where Bud Light has an IBU of just 6.2.

When one drinks an India Pale Ale the first thing you would notice is the hops. With Founders Centennial IPA, the hops are well balanced for a good introductory IPA. Not that IPA's are an introductory beer at all, this is a good gateway beer to the ways of the hops. After all, several of our fellow beer connoisseur friends still fear the hops. With only 46 IBU's it seems weak to us hopheads (last night at the Willoughby Brewing Co., we drank two pitchers and brought home a growler of their Daisycutter IPA with a remarkable 115 IBU's.)

The unfiltered brew might scare away those not used to seeing yeast in their brew, but a 7.2% ABV might calm their nerves. Its flavor is above most IPAs in balance, where the finish does not cover up the aftertaste. This is a beer for everyday, any occasion and a six pack would not be that difficult to incinerate through.

Oz Scale: 7.1
Mike Scale: 7.3

It's the Most Wonderful Time For Beer: The 12 Beers Of Christmas (Part 1)

2008-11-10T17:59:00.001-05:00

The first snow of the year and six
blind tasting beers sat before us. The colder it becomes outside, the better the seasonals seem to be. Ah, yes winter. Thicker, more robust ales come our way and we couldn't wait to share some with you. Being the label whores we are, we wanted to prove to our beer knowlege was up to snuff with a good old fashioned taste test- wine style. Our choices of the night were: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Ale, Blue Moon's Winter Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co's Christmas Ale, Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale Summit Winter Ale and Bell's Christmas Ale. Our good friend and guest judge Nick helped us make sure we did not pass judgement because of the logo on the label.

The ratings and guesses:

Sample 1: Malty, Toffee flavor. Finishes average, taste does not linger.
Oz Scale: 6.0 (Summit)
Mike Scale: 6.7 (Summit)
Nick Scale: 7.5

Sample 2: Hints of ginger and cinnamon. Slight hops aftertaste. Swims down your throat.
Oz Scale: 7.9 (Great Lakes)
Mike Scale: 7.9 (Great Lakes)
Nick Scale: 8.4

Sample 3: It hits well but fails to finish close to expectations. It's a blue balls beer (you get all excited on the first sip but in the end you just find yourself holding yourself for comfort.) Could pass as a fall seasonal.
Oz Scale: 6.2 (Sierra Nevada)
Mike Scale: 5.4 (Blue Moon)
Nick Scale: 3.4

Sample 4: Sweet smell, average finish. Could pass as a spring seasonal or even a year long brew. Has a surprising slight kick. Slight malt finish.
Oz Scale: 6.8 (Blue Moon)
Mike Scale: 6.6 (Sierra Nevada)
Nick Scale: 5.4

Sample 5: Great kick, powerful finish. Sweet but sour. Malt and hops are balanced. Spices are subtle but welcomed.
Oz Scale: 7.7 (Flying Dog)
Mike Scale: 7.4 (Bell's)
Nick Scale: 9.0

Sample 6: Powerful taste in all the right ways. Hop aroma and taste. Slight sweetness.
Oz Scale: 8.2 (Flying Dog)
Mike Scale: 8.3 (Bell's)
Nick Scale: 10

Actual Brews:
Sample 1: Summit Winter Ale (Averaged 6.7)
Sample 2: Great Lakes Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.1)
Sample 3: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale (Averaged 5)
Sample 4: Blue Moon Full Moon (Average 6.3)
Sample 5: Bell's Christmas Ale (Averaged 8.0)
Sample 6: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (Averaged 8.8)

Both Oz and Mike guess correctly on half the six beers. Surprisingly Flying Dog (being one of Oz and Mike's favorite brewing companies) did not live up the their standards.

Here is a look at the brews resting on the fresh snow:

And here is a look at them as the snow starts to melt (20 hours later, the next day and the following day)

Death By Beer: Bell's Expedition Stout

2008-11-03T20:10:00.001-05:00

What will $16.99 get you? A trip to the seventh layer of hell thanks to Bell's. 10.5% of pure Beelzebub's ball sack. Or rather a hefty kick to Beelzebub's ball sack. Bell's Expedition Stout is (to quote Winking Lizard) "not for the faint of heart." Therefor those with a heart condition or pregnant women must consult a physician before attempting to drink.

Once you begin the pour, you know you are in for some serious business (check the video below.) The color and texture are reminiscent of motor oil that should have been changed 5,000 miles ago. The aroma foreshadows the 10.5 ABV kick. We both agree that this brew should be enjoyed out of a bottle so that you don't get the full on wind-knocking-out-of flavor. The taste isn't bad, just a bit much. Maybe a lot bit much.

If you are a six-pack drinker, godspeed. We wish you the best because we couldn't kill this monster between the two of us. This is the little rabbit that could. Expedition Stout is a brew to start a night or to finish a night. If you aren't careful enough, then this brew will finish you.

Considering this got us drunk,.....

Mike scale: 6.6
Oz Scale: 6.9

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Bam Bière

2008-10-26T16:27:00.001-04:00

While eighty-four miles away for work, Mike entered a fine beverage establishment seeking enlightenment. Glowing on the first shelf sat Bam Bière. Having fond memories of Calabaza Blanca from Beertoberfest and Winking Lizard's World Tour of Beers, Mike purchased the 6-pack of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Bam Bière.

Upon opening this beer one must be careful due to the high carbonation and bottle conditioning. It is to be poured like a fine bottle of wine. This beer will give you a great amount of head... and it is great head. With a sweet smell and a slightly tart taste, this Farmhouse Ale only has a 4.5 ABV. This beverage is meant to be sipped and a six-er can be split between a friend with ease. It is a borderline dinner/desert beer that could be easily paired with white sauce pastas. Oz suggests a mango demi-glazed pork chop accompaniment. The finish is delectable but weak, it does not linger, however, bubbles chase the brew down your throat to a racing finish in your stomach.

Mike suggests that the brew could have more of a kick and a stronger finish. Being an Artisan Ale, one would expect more punch for the buck. Oz agrees that the finish lacks but feels that the sweetness and wheat taste pairs well with the kick.

Men's Journal ranked this beer 21 of their top 25 best beers in America:

Mike Scale: 6.8
Oz Scale: 7.3

P.S. Check out Adam Forman (the artist behind the labels) website Oliphanthouse.com

Oz 'n' Mike's Beertoberfest '08

2008-10-19T08:45:00.001-04:00

36 delictable beverages of health and happiness overflowing two fridges kicked off our first annual Beertoberfest. Good friends shared good times, good food and good beer. Spirits rang high as we offered beer tasting of ten select brews as the rest were fair game for our guests to try on their own.

An estimated $350 was spent on the chosen varieties and our money was well worth the effort. Founders Breakfast Stout, Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, O'Hara's Celebration Stout, Stone Smoked Porter, Golden Draak Ale, Hitachino Nest Weizen and Samual Smith Taddy Porter went over the best amongst our friends. While all of these brews were shared and enjoyed, Oz and Mike found the following to be the highlights of the evening: Bells Hell Hath No Fury, Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Founders Breakfast Stout, Stone Ruination IPA, Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre, Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA and Hitachino Nest Weizen.

We'd like to thank everyone who came out and helped contribute to the enlightenment of our taste buds. We hope to continue the tradition of Beertoberfest for many years to come. Who knows, maybe a Marzenfest is in our future. Expect more in depth reviews of the aforementioned beers. Many thanks again to those who helped make our Beertoberfest a success.

Our 36 Selections:

Founders Breakfast Stout- 8.3 ABV (Tasting)
Barbar Blonde Ale - 8.0 ABV
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - 9.0 ABV
Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre - 8.0 ABV
Great Lakes Blackout Stout - 9.0 ABV
Great Lakes Commodore Perry - 7.5 ABV
Delirium Tremens - 8.5 ABV
O'Hara's Celebration Stout - 6.0 ABV (Tasting)
Flying Dog Dogtoberfest - 5.3 ABV
Bells Hell Hath No Fury Ale - 7.5 ABV
Kulmbocher Eisbock - 9.2 ABV
Victory Golden Monkey - 9.5 ABV
Paulaner Salvator Double Bock - 7.9 ABV
Northcoast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - 9.0 ABV
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard - 7.2 ABV
Stone Smoked Porter - 5.9 ABV (Tasting)
Stone Ruination IPA - 7.7 ABV (Tasting)
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - 9.0 ABV (Tasting)
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale - 6.0 ABV
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
Golden Draak - 10.5 ABV (Tasting)
Tommyknocker - Butt Head Bock - 8.2 ABV
Tommyknocker - Jack Whacker Wheat Ale - N/A
Tommyknocker - Ornery Amber Lager - N/A
Tommyknocker - Maple Nut Brown Ale - N/A
Tommyknocker - Pick Axe Pale Ale - N/A
Tommyknocker - Alpine Glacier Lager - N/A
McEwans Scotch Ale - 8.0 ABV
Leinenkugels Oktoberfest - 5.1 ABV
Sprecher Black Bavarian - 5.9 ABV
Hitachino Nest Weizen - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca - 4.8 ABV (Tasting)
Wittekerke Belgian Wheat - 5.0 ABV
Chimay Peres Trappist (Blue Cap) - 9.0 ABV
Warsteiner Premium - 2.9 ABV
Unibroue Quelque Chose - 8.0 ABV (Tasting)

Here is a look at the aftermath:

And check out our beer wall prior to the festival. 180 bottles of import and microbrew beers on the wall, 180 bottles of import and microbrew bottles of beer. You take one down and pass it around....

Atwater Block Brewery's Atwater Hell

2008-09-16T18:14:00.001-04:00

Hell..... Well, hell, it caught our eye. How the hell could we resist? Sitting in the top righthand side of the north wall of Harbor Beverage sat our destiny. The bottom of the box read "Atwater Block Brewery is located in the heart of Detroit's Rivertown district on the banks of the Detroit River (at-water, river, get it?) It's full of good food, good people, (sic) and the best beer anywhere." LIARS! Well, at least the latter. We can not attest to the former.

The color looks like Mike's urine during a full blown stomach ulcer (coming soon to the color wheel at your local Home Depot.) Before we get to the bad stuff, i.e. the taste: let's get to the pour. More like the poor (hey-o!) If you want a proper pour, you'll have to go slower than the fermentation process. This brew will give you more head than Heather Brooks could ever imagine, I wouldn't touch this beer again with an 8-mile pole. Finishing the 6-pack was a chore, the only way we could justify about drinking the brew was "At least it's not Bud Light."

With a sweet start and no finish, this brew makes you want PBR for salvation. You will sip on this beer as if you were recovering a hangover. Seriously... THAT slow. The only thing postive we could say about it was at least it wasn't a d-12 pack. With that said, here is our ranking:

Mutual:
Better than Budlight
Worse than PBR

enought said.

Great Lakes Brewing Company's Oktoberfest

2008-09-04T21:00:00.001-04:00

After a disappointing trip to Guitar Center, our mission had become clear: We needed to contribute to the beer and music blog. Our choice was marred by two delectable brews: Flying Dog's Dogtober Marzen or Great Lakes Oktoberfest. The choice soon became clear as the Oktoberfest was cold and it was a long journey home.

After a kiss to the lips, the dark amber lager crashes the deepest palettes of the tongue and lingers with malty sweetness on the sides of the tongue. The beer tastes clean and finishes so smooth that you are left with a difficult decision: Should I drink more or savor.... and then drink more? Let us be the first to tell you that drinking more always wins. We haven't ran into a brew that begs to be drank beer after beer in quite some time (see previous blog, we lie.)

Having been brewed under the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, (Reinheitsgebot) this brew is not without flaw. Its flavor begs the question: Why can I not relish this beer slowly? Is beer not meant to be enjoyed to its fullest extent? (Bud Light drinkers need not apply this question.) In our never ending quest to bring knowledge of fine brews, we are sad to say that the drinkability of this beverage outweighs the taste. Not that the taste is bad, it is just WAY too easy to guzzle. It is 6.5% ABV, by the way.

Overall:
Mike Scale: 7.5
Oz Scale: 7.6

Introduction & a New Black & Tan Recipe

2008-08-24T17:42:00.001-04:00

Oz and Mike like to call themselves beer connoisseurs. The beer authorities in a Bud-Light town. Hell, if you were to go to a bar in Ashtabula, OH, the most "exotic" beer you'd find is a Killians. If you asked for an import, the bartender would respond "Corona or Labatt?" We, being the well versed enthusiasts we are, like to expand our knowledge and expand our taste buds any chance we get. Today, if you looked in our fridge, you'd find nine different types of beer.
In our thirst for thirst quenching knowledge, we have cuddled many a six packs to sleep and kissed the mouths of strange bottles in stranger places. Throughout our journeys we have sipped the standard black and tan (Guinness and Harp) but it wasn't until August 22nd that we realized the formula was wrong.
Over some vinyl Cat Stevens and Donovan, Oz and Mike separately bought Goose Island Oatmeal Stout and Harp. After a sipping down some Summit Octoberfest, we had an epiphany: Why not mix the two beers?
The beer gods were great to us that night- they blessed us with a flavorful beverage that could not be touched in its class. We had invented a new black and tan. Guinness is Guinness, Oatmeal Stout is great on its own but it was meant to breed with Harp to produce its tasty children to slide down your throat. It sings with goodness, shouts its color (does not separate the way Guinness and Harp do) and dances on your tongue. This is a beverage that can be enjoyed daily or on occasion. It will warm a cool night and can be drank in pairs (or more.)
With the utmost greatness of the combination of two excellent brews:
Overall---
Mike Scale: 8.5
Oz Scale: 8.3

Let it be know--- While we have to yet to give any a perfect score, you should comprehend a score above 8 will assure you a brew worth your dollar, time and taste.