Rogue Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale

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

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

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

$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

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

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

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

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)