Bell's The Oracle

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

Quick Sips: August 2010

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.

Bell's Hopslam

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.

Bell's Sparkling Ale

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

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

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

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

Oz 'n' Mike's Beertoberfest '08

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:

1. Founders Breakfast Stout- 8.3 ABV (Tasting)
   
2. Barbar Blonde Ale - 8.0 ABV
3. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA - 9.0 ABV
4. Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre - 8.0 ABV
5. Great Lakes Blackout Stout - 9.0 ABV
6. Great Lakes Commodore Perry - 7.5 ABV
7. Delirium Tremens - 8.5 ABV
8. O'Hara's Celebration Stout - 6.0 ABV (Tasting)
   
9. Flying Dog Dogtoberfest - 5.3 ABV
10. Bells Hell Hath No Fury Ale - 7.5 ABV
11. Kulmbocher Eisbock - 9.2 ABV
12. Victory Golden Monkey - 9.5 ABV
13. Paulaner Salvator Double Bock - 7.9 ABV
14. Northcoast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout - 9.0 ABV
15. Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard - 7.2 ABV
16. Stone Smoked Porter - 5.9 ABV (Tasting)
    
17. Stone Ruination IPA - 7.7 ABV (Tasting)
    
18. Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA - 9.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
19. Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale - 6.0 ABV
20. Samuel Smith Taddy Porter - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
21. Golden Draak - 10.5 ABV (Tasting)
    
22. Tommyknocker - Butt Head Bock - 8.2 ABV
23. Tommyknocker - Jack Whacker Wheat Ale - N/A
24. Tommyknocker - Ornery Amber Lager - N/A
25. Tommyknocker - Maple Nut Brown Ale - N/A
26. Tommyknocker - Pick Axe Pale Ale - N/A
27. Tommyknocker - Alpine Glacier Lager - N/A
28. McEwans Scotch Ale - 8.0 ABV
29. Leinenkugels Oktoberfest - 5.1 ABV
30. Sprecher Black Bavarian - 5.9 ABV
31. Hitachino Nest Weizen - 5.0 ABV (Tasting)
    
32. Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca - 4.8 ABV (Tasting)
    
33. Wittekerke Belgian Wheat - 5.0 ABV
34. Chimay Peres Trappist (Blue Cap) - 9.0 ABV
35. Warsteiner Premium - 2.9 ABV
36. 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....