there's a year in my beer

39 beers i never wrote about

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:22:20 -0500

As my Christmas gift to you, here’s a list of beers I (Michael) drank that I never got around to writing about! These are just copied and pasted from my “beers i drank” spreadsheet. So enjoy the typeos and half-thoughts!

Shipwreck porter - pretty good to drink on a rainy night on the cusp of fall! Kinda watery, but with roast and cocoa lingering in there.
Ayinger Oktoberfest marzen - I didn’t take notes on this. But I drank it. Tell me I didn’t. I’ve got the damn empty bottle to prove it. See?
Old Chub- A hissing beat of a beer! It stands in the corner, stalking your soul. Thick, malty, stealthy in its attack. You need to drink Old Chub.
Pickners Alt - I remember trying this on a summer night a few years ago and falling in love! I’d never had an alt before and have only had one or two since. After trying it again this time, I wasn’t quite as blown away. It was slightly cornish and papery. It’s possible I was in an off mood, a funk, and didn’t appreciate this correctly. Can any of your suggest classic, classy alt beers so I can get a real sense of what the style should be and how this ranks? THANKS!
Homebrewed Stout - From a reader of this blog/friend of my brother (Sorry, dude, I forgot your name). Black as night, with a good, lingering 1/4” head. Tastewise, this a mega beer! Insane amount of booze, with a strong lash of leather and tobacco taste. Definitely not a beer for wusses. Or people who don’t like big beers.
Saranac imperial stout - Insanely heavy booze and chocolate smell. Pours thick and dark as motoroil, Good two fingers of khaki head. Bitter booze taste, roasted grain. Sweet as all getout. A massive HELLO to the impending older season!
Peak black IPA - Was sick with fever and other junk for two days, so this is the 1st beer I’ve had! Strong molassas flavor with sharp grapfruity hops. Malt like a porter. Not bad. Pretty big. Gonna sleep like I have a flu tonight.
St Francis Breakfast stout - 3 kinds of coffee, chocolate, oatmeal. Very coffee flavor, super bitter from the coffee. Missing an essential roast flavor. Pretty good! Best sfb beer I’ve had.
Dupont reserve - nice, big carbonation. I get a cherry sweerness and vanilla at the back of the tongue. Great way to cap off 1st full dy at cabin!!!
Rush River IPA - reminds me of bitter woman. Super orange hops, with a kind of grainy, dry grain taste. Sweet aftertaste. Great for takin er easy!
Vintage 2010 henneys cider - still, dark yellow cider. Has a good granny smith bitterness, with a nice round sweetness that dries at the end
Cripsen Joan of arc - aged in sovengaug blanc barrels, one of the most mellow ciders I’ve tasted. Light and thin. Apple almost seems like an afterthought. Slightly floral. Reminds of apple blossom. Acidity of apple skin
Weizen rausch - shockingly good. Red hue in the glass. Very understanded smoke, uplayed by a tender swell of wheat flavor. A real mellow fellow. Didn’t want my beer today but glad I did after trying it. Smoke starts to dominate the deeper you get into the bottle.
Ale Asylum Happy Ending - cinnomny and pumpkiny. Clove. All on the very front of the tongue. Backed by a very fruity yeast taste.
Capital Wheat - forgot to take notes.
Sprecher Amber - forgot to take notes
Ross on Wye Rum Barrel cider - A really sweet-tasting still cider. Thin, with a kind of brooding tartness that plays out on the back of the tongue. I don’t really get much rum taste on the tongue, but between sips, the taste of hard booze starts to seep into the picture. And it kinda hits you!
Birra Artigianale Demon Hunter - WOW, this is really sweet - like a dry powdered sugar sweetness. Big pop of carbonation when I opened the bottle. Bright agave-ish syrup flavor, light body. The sweetness is what hits most. Not my favorite, but I’m glad to finally get to try an Italian beer.
Henry Weston’s Special Reserve Cider - Coulda fooled me. If someone poured this into a wine glass and told me it was Chardonnay, I would have believed them (though questioned the light carbonation). Really majorly dry, with the fruit downplayed. Love delving deeper into the world of ciders for all teh variety!
Julian hard cider – mega tart. Almost like sweet tarts. Sharp flavor. Severe carbonation for a cider. Green apple.
La botteresse - Made me say “holy crap that’s a lot of flavor” on first sample. Mellows w more sips. Very huge carbonation on the palate. Soy sauce, with almost a cherryish undertone. Not unlike a dopplebock!
Henneys - subtle. Again, green apple but sweeter this time. Dries the back of your throat.
Possman cider - super apple juiceish. Hmmmm.
Franks rye - maltier, didn’t have usual hoppy citrus expected of an ipa. Nice creamy head. Bitter! Sharp on first sips then mellowed. “pretty ok”
Finch cut throat - How bizaare. Maybe it’s all the green on the tall boy can this came in, but this TOTALLY tastes like it has lime in it. The label says sweet orange, but I’m getting all lime. Maybe it’s because I’ve had wrecked sinuses. I dunno. The taste seems thin beyond that prick of citrus. Could be a tad sweeter and be maltier.
Bocker Cuvee - I’d never had this before. Had already had several beers at this point, but this was a wickedly good sour. All the elements were in place. Hmmm.
alexander keith’s ipa - “it’s very…summery…tastes like a kolsch. A KOLSCH!” amy. me: “it’s apparently canada’s biggest ipa and it doesn’t taste like an ipa.” me. I sip. doesn’t taste like an ipa. tastes like a kolsch. not BAD, just not like an ipa. i could see many of these going down really smoothly!
Saki crispen - very light taste. Kinda tingly. Pineapple nuance. Acidic. Looks like pine juice.
AEppelTreow spiced cider - bizarrely amazing! Light, sparkly apple shot through w a current of spice, mainly clove. A nice cider like non I’ve ever tried! Wish it was a bigger bottle.
Sam Adams imperial white - pours w a heavy, rising foam. When it settles down it seems almost still in the glass. Taste is booze heavy, syrupy, with a wheat-hazes sweetness rising at the back of the tongue.
Paradox port dundas - drank room temperature. Big black licorice and milk chocolate flavor. Body is a little thin, reed. Not as thick and heavy or even boozy as I expected!
Alpine Nelson - Had over at BJ’s. He poured it cold and it had a rich hop profile. As it warmed, the rye weasled is way in and it started to taste, well, kinda off. Not sure if the bottle was bad or what. It wasn’t terrible, just not as great as the nerd reviewers would have you believe. BJ didn’t even finish his glass.
Smisje grande reserve - there may be something f wacky happening in my mouth but this tastes just like peanut utter and jelly to me! My wife sipped and made a face, said it tastes like smoke!!
t smisje catherine - great imperial stout - Oh my! Mega head. Getting something like plums on this fellow. Never had a Belgian imperial stout before and it def tastes more Belgiany than other imp stouts I’ve tasted. Robust, deep fruit flavors and a good malt flavor that’s no too roasty or rich. Great beer!
Gavroche french red ale - Wow, they are lying when they write on teh bottle that this has live yeast. Cracked the cap and it foamed the hell up and over! Got it into my tulip and it simmered down quickly. Phew. The taste is really dry and metallic, but at the same time fruity, puckering. I’m getting dried cranberries and cherry pie filling. Only the 2nd French beer I’ve had and pretty interesting and enjoyable!
2010 zatek - Hardy and roasty, soy sauce, with bitterness. Drinking it a little colder than room temp. This is what I think of when I think of a good stout! Nice.
The Big Smoke - I may be a more a lover of extremes than I thought, because I was looking for a big, charred BBQ tasting smokiness in this guy. Sadly, it’s not the case. It’s roasty, yeah, and there’s the slightest hint of smoke that lingers on your tongue, but mostly what I’m getting is a big wetness, if that makes sense. It rolls over your tongue cooly and doesn’t really stick around. Aftewards, you’re left with a chocolate sweetness and that little hint of smoke. Not a heavy winter porter, but a nice, lighter one.
Valeir Divers - Insaney wispy pillowy head. Urine color! Golden browned yellow. Has an almost lagerish corn flavor to it. Not a ton of spice, but a little lemony clove flavor. Warm spice.
Voisin - You have to work through a WHOLE LOTTA foam (I’m taking like 4”) to get down to brass tacks with this fella. And what’s there isn’t ALL THAT. I mean, it’s decent, but unimprssive. Just kind of limp without any crisp lemony uptick that I look for in good saisons. Kind of overly sweet.

We ended our year in beer last night, November 19, 2011. Earlier...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:06:00 -0500

We ended our year in beer last night, November 19, 2011.

Earlier in the evening, we got word that our dear, sweet Aunt Mimi (pictured above) died. We spent several hours around the table with our parents & then stopped, just the two of us brothers, at the amazing Landmark 1850. We shared a few beers and talked about the aunt who had such a major impact on shaping who we are and how we treat people.

We figured such an intimate bonding experience was a perfect way to close the year out, however prematurely.

Obviously, we’re WAY behind on our blogging. We’ve still been drinking different beers each. And intending to catch up.

But BJ will be having his second baby literally any day now. And we have Mimi’s funeral. And the impending holiday season. Life’s gotten in the way and obviously takes priority!

We want to extend a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has supported (hauling or shipping beer to us, buying us rounds, sharing your homebrew) and encouraged (“Let’s have one more round, ok?” “OK!”) us this year. There is so much amazing and delicous beer out in the world and we’re glad we got to spend several months focusing on getting to know an infinitesimal slice of it!

In the coming days or weeks, each of us will post a list of our beer backlogs. We’ve been keeping track (for the most part) of what we’ve had. And while we won’t likely post full reviews, we’ll share our lists. For what it’s worth.

Thanks again, dear readers.

And Mimi, we’ll miss you like crazy. RIP.

- bj & michael seidel
11/20/2011
Milwaukee, Wisc

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Peak...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:21:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Peak (@peakbrewing)
Beer: Hop Noir
Style: Black IPA
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 8th 2011

Was sick with fever and other junk for two days, so this is the 1st beer I’ve had!

Strong molasses flavor with sharp grapefruity hops. Malt like a porter.

Not bad. Pretty big.

Gonna sleep like I have a flu tonight.

Michael’s daily beer review! Day consumed: September 7th...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:40:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Day consumed: September 7th 2011

Day 2 of this bout of sickness… Damnit.

Michael’s daily beer review! Day consumed: September 6th...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:05:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Day consumed: September 6th 2011

With a newish baby & all her germs, I predict I’ll be a sick a lot this year. I was this this day & exercised the rule we set where if we’re sick we don’t have to drink our beer for the day…

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Matt Brewing Company...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:20:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Matt Brewing Company (@saranacbrewery)
Beer: Saranac Imperial Stout
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 5th 2011

Insanely heavy booze and chocolate smell! Pours thick and dark as motor oil, good two fingers of khaki head.

Bitter booze taste, roasted grain. Sweet as all getout.

A massive HELLO to the impending colder season.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Homebrewed Russian...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:40:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Homebrewed Russian Imperial Stout
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 4th 2011

From a reader of this blog/friend of my brother (Sorry, dude, I forgot your name).

Black as a grave, with a good, lingering 1/4” of tan head.

Taste-wise, this a mega beer! Insane amount of booze, with a strong lash of leather and tobacco taste.

Definitely not a beer for wusses. Or people who don’t like big beers. And by that, I mean…wusses?

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: PinkersBeer: Munster...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:22:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Pinkers
Beer: Munster Alt
Style: Altbier
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 3rd 2011

I remember trying this on a summer night a few years ago and falling in love! I’d never had an alt before and have only had one or two since.

After trying it again this time, I wasn’t quite as blown away. It was slightly cornish and papery. It’s possible I was in an off mood, a funk, and didn’t appreciate this correctly.

Can any of your suggest classic, classy alt beers so I can get a real sense of what the style should be and how this ranks? THANKS!

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Oskar Blues...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:40:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Oskar Blues (@oskarblues)
Beer: Old Chub
Style: Scotch ale
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 2nd 2011

A hissing beat of a beer! It stands in the corner, stalking your soul. Thick, malty, stealthy in its attack. You need to drink Old Chub.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: AyingerBeer:...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:05:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Ayinger
Beer: Oktoberfest Märzen
Style: Märzen
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: September 1st 2011

I didn’t take notes on this. But I drank it. Tell me I didn’t. I’ve got the damn empty bottle to prove it.

Jesus, man. Lay off.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: ShipwreckedBeer:...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:20:05 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Shipwrecked
Beer: Peninsula Porter
Style: Pale ale
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: August 31st 2011

Pretty good to drink on a rainy night on the cusp of fall! Kinda watery, but with roast and cocoa lingering in there. Probably the best of the Shipwrecked beers that my friend Steve gifted to me!

Thanks again for your kindness, buddy!

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Moab Beer:...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:40:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Moab
Beer: Scorpion
Style: Pale ale
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: August 30th 2011

This beer won’t melt your mind, but if your brain is on fire after a long day, it would do a decent job of dousing that brain fire you’ve got going on.

Solid, but not astounding. A likable fellow.

thebeerbelly: It’s more than a little ridiculous how much I...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:22:37 -0400

thebeerbelly:

It’s more than a little ridiculous how much I love my Napoleon blownapart with his light up beating heart… And this southern tier imperial pumpking.

This ones for my homies..

Prince baby. Not beer-related, but amazing.

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:05:51 -0400

Prince baby. Not beer-related, but amazing.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Schmaltz...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:26:57 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Schmaltz (@shmaltzbrewingw) & Terrapin (@TerrapinBeerCo)
Beer: Reunion Ale ‘11
Style: Dark Imperial Ale
Served: Bottle into tulip
Day consumed: August 27th 2011

Cripes. I don’t remember. Think I hid down in my cool basement, making a lame attempt to catch up on my beer blog entries while drinking this. Remember it being delicious and chocolatey in a general sense, but nothing specific about it.

Don’t recall being able to taste the chili pepper! Not sure if I was missing out on something rad by not tasting that or not.

I like peppers.

I liked this beer.

Life’s about balance.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: New Belgium /...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:10:59 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: New Belgium / (@newbelgium)
Beer: Kick
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Served: Bottle into tulip
Day consumed: August 26th 2011

Anyone who has read this blog knows I’m not all that fond of New Belgium beers. Their Lips of Faith series is usually an exception.

And this beer is a SUPER exception.

It was one of the better pumpkin beers I’ve had. Usually, the sweetness of pumpkins gets me down and turns me off. This one had a very minor pumpkin beer. What stood out was the sour KICK & the cranberry flavor. It wasn’t a grating berry. Just well-mixed, working to boost the sourness. YUM.

just here for the beer

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:25:37 -0400

just here for the beer

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Sea Level...

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:40:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Sea Level Brewing
Beer: Rojo Mojo Red Ale
Style: American amber
Served: Bottle into tulip
Day consumed: August 25th 2011

The temperature finally dropped and gave us some relief. I had my friend Jon (of Frozen Bullet beer blog) over. We stoked the fire and cracked some beers!

This one had a garnet color.

Tastewise, it had a bitter raspberry thing going on. Also, something papery and pastey. Like papier-mâché.

To be honest, this beer was sadly kinda terrible. We had a few sips each and then decided to pour the rest.

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Smuttynose...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:25:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Smuttynose (@Smuttynosebeer)
Beer: Wheat Wine
Style: Wheatwine
Served: Bottle into tulip
Day consumed: August 24th 2011

Looks: Hazy, honey leather brown.

Taste: Medicinal cherry, vanilla, vodka booze.

Definitely like a mellower washed out barleywine. Though it’s definitely more appropriate for when Wisconsin is holding onto summer than a traditional barleywine is!

Michael’s daily beer review! Brewer: Brauerei Pinkus...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:50:06 -0400

Michael’s daily beer review!

Brewer: Brauerei Pinkus Mueller
Beer: Jubilate
Style: Munich Dunkel Lager
Served: Bottle into pint
Day consumed: August 23rd 2011

Clean and clear with a little roasty malt hanging out shyly in the corner!