Stillwater As Follows (6/10)

Stillwater Artisanal Ales in Baltimore, Maryland, produces As Follows.  As Follows is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

As Follows pours a clear yellow with a thin white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

The aroma is distinctly citrus and spice.

The flavor starts a bit fruity and spicy, then gives way to hops bitterness which takes the reins until the finish.  It's that bitter, hoppy finish that kills it for me.

I'm in the minority on that, however.  Beer Advocate gives As Follows a 92/100 or "outstanding" rating.  RateBeer gives it a 97/100.  For me, this one starts about an 8 and then loses 3 points on the finish, balancing out at 6/10.

I tried this particular sample at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington.  I've seen Stillwater's products in Columbus at the Giant Eagle at Kingsdale Shopping Center, Ale Wine and Spirits in Powell, The Andersons General Store near Sawmill, Kenny Road Market, and Weiland's Gourmet Market.

ABV:  9%
IBU: Unknown, but I'd guess in the 35-40 range
My Rating: 6/10

Turn Old Bottles into Beer Glasses

A post on the College Envy web site talks about how to turn old beer bottles into beer glasses by cutting off the top of the bottle and polishing the rim.  It’s actually kind of a neat way to make your own collection of beer-specific or brewery-specific glassware.  It might even make an inexpensive gift for a beer lover you know.

The “trick” they describe is to tie a string around the bottle, just above the label.  Then, soak the string in lighter fluid and set it on fire, holding the bottle horizontally and rotating it so that the fire gets a chance to go all the way around the bottle.  At some point, you’ll hear it crack.  When that happens, hold it under cold running water and the top will supposedly fall off.  Then, use use sandpaper to smooth off the edges so that it’s safe to drink from the bottle.

See the original post linked above for illustrations, including pictures of glasses made from bottles of Stone Brewing Company and Corona products.

Clipper City Heavy Seas Holy Sheet (9/10)

While I do not like every beer made by Heavy Seas (from Baltimore, Maryland), I am fond of their Letter of Marque and Plank II beers.  When I saw Holy Sheet on the shelves, they had me at the name.  I bought a bottle and brought it home.  Was I ever glad I did!

Holy Sheet is a Belgian Abbey style ale, aged in Brandy Barrels.

I'm generally fond of Belgian Strong Dark Ales, and this was no exception.

The aroma gives off some of the brandy and spice behind it.  I got just the faintest hint of bubble gum, and of cloves, in it.  These were not present in the flavor.

Speaking of the flavor, it had all the great elements of a Belgian beer.  It was slightly sweet, mildly spiced, and picked up some additional flavor and complexity from the brandy barrels.  In short, it's delicious.  The 38 IBUs would normally put this out of my tolerance level, but had I not read that on the official web site, I'd have rated this in the high 20's.

Beer Advocate rates Holy Sheet an 88/100 or very good.  RateBeer gives it an 89/100.  I think I'm inclined to agree with these folks, giving it a 9/10.

I'd like to say I remember where I purchased this, but I don't.  I believe it was at The Andersons near Sawmill, but it may have been at the Giant Eagle in Kingsdale.

ABV:  9.0%
IBU:  38
My Rating: 9/10

The Fastest Way To Cool Down Beer?

Back in December, the folks on Gizmodo posted an article detailing the fastest way to cool down a beer.

The full article is here, but a quick summary is below.

Putting a beer in an ice water bath will cool it down quicker than putting it in the freezer, at least to a point.  At some point the temperature of the ice water bath (assuming it’s out in the open air) isn’t going to get as low as the freezer.  Once that point is reached, the freezer is your better bet.

What the author didn’t test was whether putting a beer in an ice water bath INSIDE a freezer would speed up the cooling even more.  I have some suspicion it might, since an ice water bath in normal room temperature is probably transferring a lot of its coolness to the air in the room rather than the beer – while one in the freezer has a cooler ambient temperature and may draw more heat out of the beer than the room.

Unfortunately, my freezer is too full to test that theory right now…

Columbus Winter Beerfest 2014

I’ve attended the Columbus Winter Beerfest for the last few years, and this year they seem to have made a number of improvements that have made it a much more enjoyable event than in past years. 
For instance, the 2012 Winter Beerfest became incredibly crowded after the general admission began.  Finding the lines for beer samples, and distinguishing them from people merely standing around talking, was nearly impossible.  It was loud, very crowded, and hard to navigate.  VIP admission was an absolute must that year if you wanted to get to specific beers and breweries.

The 2013 Winter Beerfest was better.  It wasn’t quite as crowded, though still loud.  I rarely waited for a sample, and finding the sample lines was much easier. 

This year, the noise level (at least on Friday night) was tolerable.  There was no real wait to get in, there were no significant lines (even during general admission), and there was plenty of room to walk around.  It was possible to have a civil conversation there without yelling.  Having the event in a larger section of the convention center made a big difference.  Below is a shot of the crowds during the height of general admission.  As you can see, it wasn’t terribly crowded and getting around was easy.


This year, the festival offered four types of admission.  Designated Drivers had access to food and drink, but were not allowed to drink alcohol.  Connoisseur admission got you in an hour early and provided access to food and beer not available to the other admission levels.  VIP admission got you in an hour early and gave access to some samples that were not available for general admission.  And, of course, General Admission got you in at the official start time and gave access to samples not reserved for the Connoisseur and VIP levels.

Below is a photo of the Connoisseur area.  This area featured exclusive beers from Barley’s (including their incredible Barrel Aged Abbey Normal), North High Brewing (a Belgian style ale brewed with champagne yeast), Goose Island’s Lolita, a plum stout from Elevator Brewing Co., and several others.  Along with these beers, there were foods from a variety of Columbus’ best and most popular restaurants, such as The Crest Gastropub.   Food items in this area included duck pate on a plantain, habanero cheesecake, tacos, and several dessert items.  Was it worth the extra admission money?  Hard for me to say.  A couple of my favorite beers for the night were in this area, but the rest were outside in the main hall.  I sampled only a little bit of the food, but what I had was good.  My friend who went into the area with me enjoyed several of the items being served.

It was a very enjoyable evening for the four of us who went.  We got to sample some great food from local restaurants, and some great beer from around the world.

The folks in our group enjoyed the following beers (listed in no particular order):

• Barley’s Barrel Aged Abbey Normal
• Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence
• Epic Brewing’s Brainless on Raspberries
• Four String’s Firkin of Vanilla Porter
• Rivertown’s Imperial Oatmeal Cookie Stout
• Thirsty Dog’s Wulver Barrel Aged Wee Heavy
• Unibroue’s La Fin Du Monde
• Shock Top’s Chocolate Wheat

If you enjoy tasting different craft beers, or you’re a craft beer “newbie” who’s trying to figure out what you like, events like the Winter Beerfest are a great way to do this.  For newbies, it’s possible to go around and sample a number of beer styles (e.g., porters, stouts, wheat beers, Belgian style ales, IPAs) and see which styles appeal to you and which do not.  Craft beer lovers can try products from breweries whose beers they may not have tried before, without having to commit to purchasing a pint, growler, or multi-pack.  And, of course, it’s a way to socialize with other beer fanatics and even meet some of the brewers behind your favorite beers.

Portsmouth Brewing Co. Fighting Tartan Imperial Scotch Ale

I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Ohio, home of the Portsmouth Brewing Company which makes Fighting Tartan Imperial Scotch Ale.  Portsmouth Brewing Company is Ohio's oldest brewery.

This comes from the tap a very slightly cloudy mahogany color with a thin off-white head that lasts a while.

The aroma is very clean, with no outstanding scents to it.

The flavor starts a malty with a definite hoppy element to it, as you'd expect for an "Imperial" anything.  It stays sweet, slightly smoky, and hoppy until the finish, when the hops bitterness takes over.  Bearing in mind that hoppier beers tend to turn me off, I didn't find this one as unpleasant as many "imperial" style beers.

There are no Beer Advocate or RateBeer listings for this beer.  You'll have to go with my 6/10 rating for this one.  While that's arguably a "low" rating, you have to bear in mind that this isn't typically my style of beer.  That makes my 6/10 probably an 8/10 for someone who likes this particular beer style.

I tried this particular sample at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington.  I've not seen this beer available in bottles at any of the local retailers I've visited, but I suspect you will find it on draft a few places in town. You could also try it at the brewery's location in Portsmouth, Ohio.

ABV:  9.0%
IBU:  Unknown, but I'd guess about 28
My Rating: 6/10

Savor Market

 Savor Market, located on Indianola down the street from Savor Growl (its companion store), offers a selection of wine, cigars, and beer.  This being a beer site, you know what I dropped by to check out.
From the outside, it’s a simple and unassuming shop.  Inside, you’ll find one of the rare gems of the Columbus craft beer scene.  Savor Market offers the usual brands you’ll expect in most craft beer shops, like Rogue, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Dogfish Head, and the like.  But you’re also going to find quite few beers here that you won’t see on other retailers’ shelves around town – or at least I haven’t seen them.

Individual bottles and make-your-six-pack section

For example, I’ve never seen Zywiec beer (from Poland), Scaldis Peche Mel, Yeasty Boys (of New Zealand) Rex Attitude, Coniston Brewing Special Oatmeal Stout, Williams Brothers Scottish Midnight Sun, Thornbridge Halcyon, Cisco Brewers Lady of the Woods, several varieties of mead from B. Nektar, Olvisholt Brugghus Lava (a Russian Imperial Stout), Evil Twin Justin Blabaer, and several more I won’t list out.  Suffice it to say that I could make many trips to this shop before I ran out of new and interesting beers to try.

In addition to the beer in bottles, you’ll find eight taps from which you can fill a growler.
If you’re looking for a rare or unusual beer, you’ll want to check out Savor Market.
Savor Market does keep a pretty up-to-date beer menu online, which can help you find a good selection there before you arrive.

Savor Market
4400 Indianola Avenue
Columbus, OH 43214

(614) 261-7756

Below is a list of the many breweries whose products I saw on the shelves at this retailer during my visit.  This is not meant to be a complete list, nor is it being kept current.  It’s intended to give you a rough basis for comparison between this shop and others you might be visiting. The best source for accurate, complete inventory information is always the shop itself.

5 Rabbit
Abbaye de Saint Bon Chien
Ace Cider
Adnams
Alesmith
Angry Orchard Cider
Artesienne (France)
Atwater
Aventinus
Avery
Ayinger (Germany)
B. Nektar
Ballast Point
Baltika (Russia)
Bard’s Tale Beer Co.
Bear Republic
Bell’s
Bison
Blue Moon
Boulder Beer
Brasserie Caracole (Belgium)
Brasserie d’Achouffe (Belgium)
Brasserie Dupont (Belgium)
Breckenridge
Brew Dog
The Brew Kettle
Brooklyn Brewing
Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal
Brouwerij Bockor (Omer beer, Begium)
Brouwerij Roman
Cisco Brewers
Cismontane
Clown Shoes
Columbus Brewing Company
Coniston Brewing (UK)
Coopers Brewery
Coronado Brewing
Crabbie’s
Crispin
Dark Horse
Deu de Ciel
Dogfish Head
Dos Equis
Dubuisson (Belgium)
Elevator Brewing Co.
Epic Brewing (New Zealand)
Evil Twin
Fat Head’s
Fort Collins
Founders
George Bateman and Son Ltd. (UK)
Goose Island
Great Divide
Green Flash
Guinness
Heavy Seas
Hinterland
Hitachino Nest
Hofbrau (Germany)
Hoppin’ Frog
Indigo Imp
Innis & Gunn
Iron Fist
Ithaca
Jackie O’s
Kasteel
Kentucky Ales
La Trappe
Lagunitas
Left Hand
Lion Brewery (Sri Lanka)
Mad River
McEwan’s
McKenzie’s Cider
Meantime
Mission Brewery
Modelo
Morland (UK)
Mt. Carmel
Monchshof (Germany)
New Belgium
New Holland
New Planet
North Coast
North Peak
Olvisholt Brugghus (Iceland)
Orkney
Pacifico
Portsmouth (Ohio) Brewing Company
Revolution
Rivertown
Rockmill
Rogue
Samuel Adams
Samuel Smith
Scheldebrouwerij (Belgium)
Shiner
Sierra Nevada
Sixpoint
Smuttynose
Sonoma Cider
Southern Tier
St. Ambroise
St. Bernardus
St. Feuillien
Staropramen (Czech Republic)
Stift Engelszell (Austria)
Stillwater Artisanal
Stone
Thirsty Dog
Thornbridge (UK)
Tommyknocker
Trappistes Rochefort
Troeg’s
Trois Dames (Switzerland)
Verhaeghe (Belgium)
Victory
Weihenstephaner
Well’s
Westmalle
Weyerbacher
Williams Brothers (UK)
Woodchuck
Wychwood
Wyder’s Cider
Yeastie Boys (New Zealand)
Young’s
Zywiec (Poland)

Crafted Drafts

I first learned of Crafted Drafts several weeks ago in an article published in one of the local “free newspapers”.  As a craft beer fanatic with a blog that features regular beer reviews, it can be hard to balance the desire to review as many beers as possible against the reality of a limited budget for beer purchases.  That makes a shop’s selection of single-bottle options a very enticing proposition.
Crafted Drafts features 600 different beers, approximately two-thirds of which are available as single bottles.  That’s a much larger single-bottle selection (at least percentage-wise) than you’ll find at most Columbus retailers – especially for standard-size bottles (large “bomber” selections are commonplace).

Crafted Drafts also offers a large collection of ciders and gluten-free beers, including products from New Planet, Omission, McKenzie’s, Woodchuck, Aspall, Sonoma Cider, Crispin, Thistly Cross, Wyder’s, B. Nektar, and others.  There are even some root beers and ginger beers in stock.
The single-bottle selection includes many beers you might have seen at other local retailers but were hesitant to try because of the price tag on a four-pack or six-pack.  No one wants to spend $25 on a four-pack of a beer like Thirsty Dog’s Wulver Wee Heavy Ale without knowing whether they’ll really like it.  (Hint:  That one’s actually a great beer…)  Crafted Drafts is a great place to find and try individual bottles of beers you might have been afraid to try elsewhere.  Not only that, but the staff knows its beer and can help you get the most from the dollars you spend.  For instance, I was advised not to chill one of my selections too much or it would taste unpleasantly bitter, and received recommendations of other beers I might like based on some I’d purchased.

Something that will also catch your attention about Crafted Drafts is how well curated the selection is.  Many of the beers on its shelves are “best of breed” or “best of brewery”.  I saw many personal favorites on the shelves, and virtually none of the similar beers I thought were marginal or poor.  This wasn’t just a coincidence. I actually overheard the owner discussing the available brews with his distributor.  He was excited to get certain beers back in stock, and turned down some popular brews that he didn’t think his customers would like.  (That’s good business to a certain extent, but turning down a popular beer that sells well just because you don’t care for it shows integrity.)
If you’re looking for a wide selection of beers to try without getting stuck with multi-packs you find later that you dislike, you’ll want to check out Crafted Drafts.  Not only will you find a great selection of individual bottles, you’ll also get good advice on other beers you may want to try.
Crafted Drafts5245 N. Hamilton Road
Columbus, OH 43230
(614) 656-7302

Open Monday through Saturday 12pm to 8pm

(More pictures and information below)

To help you gauge the selection of this store relative to others you may visit, below is a (partial, point-in-time) list of the breweries whose products were in stock during my visit in January 2014.  (This should not be taken as a complete or up to date list but merely a representative sample.)
5 Rabbit
Abita
Alesmith
Anderson Valley
Avery
Ballast Point
Bear Republic
Bell’s
Bitburger
Black Diamond
Breckenridge
Brew Dog
The Brew Kettle
Brooklyn Brewing
Chimay
Clown Shoes
Coopers
Coronado
Crabbie’s
Dogfish Head
Epic BrewingFat Heads
Finch’s
Flying Dog
Flying Monkeys
Fort Collins Brweing
Founders
Great Lakes
Green Flash
Guinness
Harviestoon
He’Brew
Heavy Seas
Hinterland
Hitachino Nest
Hoegaarden
Hoppin’ Frog
Huyghe
Innis & Gunn
Ithaca
Jolly Pumpkin
Kapuziner
Kwak
La TrappeLager HeadsLagunitas
Leffe
Left Hand
Leinenkugel’s
Lindemans
Mackeson
Magic Hat
Maredsous
Meantime
Modelo
Murphy’s
New Holland
Nogne
North Coast
O’Fallon
Ommegang
Oranjeboom
Orval
Oskar Blues
Paulaner
Pilsner Urquell
Portsmouth (Ohio) Brewing
Red Hook
Reissdorf
Revolution
Rivertown
Rodenbach
Rogue
Samuel Adams
Samuel Smith
Schneider & Sohn
Shiner
Sierra Nevada
Sixpoint
Smuttynose
Southern Tier
St. Ambroise
St. Bernardus
St. Peter’s
St. Stefanus
Stiegl
Stone
Stoudt’s
The Bruery
Thirsty Dog
Trappistes Rochefort
Troeg’s
Two Brothers
Uinta
Unibroue
Van Steenberge
Victory
Weihenstephaner
Westmalle
Weyerbacher
White Bird
Wychwood
Yuengling

How to Properly Open a Case of Beer

Admittedly, few craft beers come in cans – but the number of such beers is increasing.  With that thought in mind, I share with you the proper way to open a case of beer, especially if you intend to be carrying it around with you.

Most cases of canned beer ship in a cardboard box with a handle built into one side.  It’s not uncommon for people to open these at the end of the box, or near the bottom, especially if they plan to empty the box and put the beer in a cooler or refrigerator.

But what if, for instance, you’re taking the case to a party and expect to take the leftovers home?  Opening at the end of the box or on the bottom means that cans will fall out if you pick the case up by the convenient built-in handle.  How do you avoid that?

Simple.  Tear a rectangle of cardboard away near the handle, large enough to enable you to reach in and grab a beer (or put one back when the night’s over), but not so large that the cans fall out.

See this post on “Guyism” for photos and more-detailed instructions.

BJ’s Annual Grand Cru (10/10)

Being a fan of Belgian-style beers, I was immediately intrigued when I learned that BJ’s Brewhouse at Tuttle Crossing Mall had a Grand Cru ale on tap.  According to their web site, this beer was “First brewed to celebrate the new millennium” and “has been an annual tradition ever since.”

The official description says that “This strong Belgian-style ale is brewed with imported Belgian malts and some secret ingredients, resulting in a malty character with a whirlwind of fruit and spice flavors.”  The beer won the silver at the 2011 North American Beer Awards, at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival, and the 2000 World Beer Cup.  And now that I’ve had it, I can see why.
It pours a clear golden color with a thin white head that doesn’t last more than a few seconds. 

The aroma mixes bananas, cloves, other spices, and fruits.  It’s a very sweet aroma as well.

The flavor matches up to the aroma.  It starts fruity, sweet, and malty. This gives way to a groundswell of Belgian spice flavors, and finishes with a perfect mix of sweetness, malt, spice, and fruit.  It’s got to be one of the best American-made Belgian-style ales out there.  It’s better than some of the actual Belgian ales I’ve had.

The beer is only available at BJ’s restaurants during January and February, so be sure to get there while you can.  This is a great Belgian-style beer and one not to miss.  It’s available by the glass and by the growler.  Happy hour pricing is $4 for a glass.  A growler will set you back about $18.

Rate Beer gives BJ’s Grand Cru an 87 out of 100.  Beer Advocate gives it an 85.  I’m giving this one a full 10 out of 10.  It’s a really delicious beer.  It’s mildly sweet, has a great malt/spice/fruit balance, finishes clean, and unlike many craft beers these days, isn’t over-hopped.  It’s the best beer I’ve had at BJ’s to date, and one of the best American-made Belgian style beers you’re likely to encounter.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, Bitter, or Sour: Sweet
Spice Level:  Moderate
Hops Level:  Extremely Low
Dominant Flavors: 
ABV: 10%
IBU:  11
My Rating:  10/10

Alcohol Doesn’t Kill Brain Cells?

You’ve heard the old adage that drinking alcohol destroys brain cells.  There’s just one problem with that. It’s a myth.

Pure alcohol will kill brain cells.  However, even excessive binge drinking (so long as it doesn’t kill the drinker) won’t introduce enough alcohol into the body to kill brain cells.  This has been shown in multiple research studies, according to this post on Gizmodo.

Excessive drinking does have its share of problems, though.  It causes vitamin B1 deficiency, can damage the connections between dendrites, and lead to problems like hallucination, memory impairment, confusion, coordination, and other problems.  Worse, the excessive drinking of alcohol over time will inhibit the growth of new brain cells.

As the Gizmodo article tells us, “Bottom line, alcohol consumed in moderation, such as a small glass of wine a day, can be very good for you.  On the other hand, drinking excessively won’t kill your brain cells directly, but is still bad for your brain.  Although your body can compensate to a certain extent, and repair the damage in most cases… so long as you don’t make a regular habit of it.”

St. Feuillien Brune (8/10)

St. Feuillien Brune is made in Belgium.  It's a Belgian Abbey Dubbel style beer.

It pours from the bottle a cloudy coppery brown with a thick, coarse beige head.

The aroma is sweet and spicy.

The beer's flavor is sweet, with spices and a very light touch of hops. Some dark fruit can also be picked up in there. All things considered, it's a very good beer.

Beer Advocate rates St. Feuillien Brune an 86/100 or very good.  RateBeer gave it a 96/100.  I'm giving it 8/10.

I purchased this bottle at Palmer's Beverage Center on Indianola Avenue.  I've seen the beer at Ale Wine and Spirits in Powell, The Andersons near Sawmill Road, and a different beer by the same brewery at The Barrel and Bottle in the North Market.

ABV: 8.5%
IBU:  Unknown, certainly under 30
My Rating: 8/10

See Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Wort Ferment

There’s a video on Digg right now, showing 12,400 gallons of Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine being fermented in open-air fermenters.

It’s neat to see this time-lapse recording showing how the wort kind of oozes, rises, falls, and spills over the sides of the fermenters before being drained and made ready for the next batch.

If you’ve ever had Bigfoot, you may find it interesting to see this step in its brewing process.  If not, it’s still a neat video to watch if you’re a beer fanatic.

Egyptian Brewer’s Tomb Found

In this BBC article, it’s reported that archaeologists have found the tomb of a brewer who lived more than 3,000 years ago and served an ancient Egyptian court.

Beer was a common part of daily life in ancient Egypt, just as it is today.  It was treated as food, used as part of religious ceremonies, and even as a currency for paying slaves, tradesmen, priests, and public officials.

If you think that’s interesting, check out the documentary “How Beer Saved the World” for more interesting beer facts.

Bavik Petrus Winter #9 Ale (8/10)

You might know Bavik of Belgium as the makers of the Wittkerke beer.  They also make Winter #9 Ale, a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

The beer pours a coppery mahogany color with thick off-white head that leaves behind little lacing.

The flavor starts with a mildly bitter malt, a light alcohol warmth, and strong carbonation.  The finish is mildly bitter, as though too much nutmeg, or not-quite-fresh nutmeg was used during brewing.  If this flavor element was dialed back a bit, this might be a better beer.

Beer Advocate gives this an 88 or “very good” rating.  Rate Beer gives it an 83 overall.  Both of these are in the ballpark of my 8 out of 10 rating.  If the unpleasant nutmeg element was reduced, this could easily become a 9 out of 10 or perhaps even a 10. 

This beer has been found locally at The Andersons General Store.  It’s probably available elsewhere in Columbus, but I’ve not seen it anywhere else yet.

This is a winter seasonal, so it’s unlikely to be available for much longer.


Flavor Profile:

Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Moderate
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt and slightly nasty nutmeg
ABV: 9%
IBU:  Unknown, but I’d estimate in the 18-20 range
My Rating: 8/10

The “Christmas Past” Experiment

In 2012, I saw a message from Dogfish Head Brewing that cellaring beer can alter and enhance its flavor.  I’d also heard from a representative of North Coast Brewing that the original India Pale Ales contained high hops levels because this helped preserve the beer for its long journey from England to India, but also because the hops level in the flavor tended to decline over time.  While Dogfish Head didn’t recommend cellaring IPAs, I had to wonder if doing so would “mellow” the hops bitterness in a hoppier beer style.  As long-time readers of this blog know, I’m not a fan of hoppier beers.

With these thoughts in mind, I hatched an experiment.  I purchased two bottles of the Christmas 2012 vintage of Rogue Ales’ Santa’s Private Reserve ale.  Rogue’s site says “Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops—including Hops and Barley grown and harvested at Rogue Farms.”  By default, this is a beer with a 74 IBU rating out of the gate.  How would it taste after  year of cellaring?  And how would that compare to a fresh bottle?  Would the hops level decline?  Would the flavor change dramatically?  Would it gain any complexity or subtlety?

To begin the experiment, I chilled the 2012 bottle after cellaring for a year and purchased a fresh 2013 bottle which was immediately chilled.  I poured both bottles into serving glasses at the same time.

The aroma of the 2013 bottle was definitely hoppy, with a strong pine note to it.  The 2012 bottle had a sweet, malty aroma to it.  The pine aroma was almost completely gone from the 2012.
Both bottles poured to the same reddish-brown color with a beige head.  The head on the 2012 seemed to last forever, and seemed somewhat more coarse than that of the 2013.  The head on the 2013 bottle dissipated fairly quickly, leaving behind a bit of sheet-like lacing that evaporated to dots.  The 2012 left behind a thick sheet of foam-like lacing that slid down into the beer occasionally like an avalanche down a mountain side.  It’s almost a disturbingly thick layer of lacing.  I remember the 2012 bottle I had (when it was fresh and not a year old) having so much head that it came out the top of the bottle before I could get it poured.  That was the case with this bottle as well. The 2013 bottle did not have that problem.

The flavor of the 2013 matches up well to the Rogue description.  It’s primarily hoppy, with a pine-like bitter finish that lingers long after you stop drinking.  If you’ve tasted anything Rogue makes, you know that their products are generally very hop-forward.  There’s not much complexity to the 2013.  It’s primarily hoppy, with a sweet malt in the far background.  The flavor is also crisp and clean.  It’s not a particularly complex or nuanced flavor to me.  I would liken it to any other IPA or overly-hopped Red Ale I’ve ever had.

The flavor of the 2012 is different.  It’s primarily malty.  I’d describe it as maybe a 60% malt, 40% hops flavor.  The 2013, in contrast, is probably a 90% hops, 10% malt flavor.  For someone like me who prefers a less-hoppy beer, the year-old Santa’s Private Reserve is easier to drink and more pleasant.  It’s still hoppy, no doubt about it, but nothing like its fresher cousin, the 2013.  The 2012 also seems to have a mineral note to it that reminds me of well water (versus municipal tap water).  The finish is still bitter, but less intense and lingering than the 2013.  The 2012 is a bit creamier and less “clean” on the palate than the 2013.

So, the bottom line here is that cellaring does seem to lower the hops level of a beer significantly over the course of a year.  It took this 74 IBU beast down to something noticeably lower.  If I had to estimate, I’d put it in the 35 IBU range, or maybe even as low as 26-30.  That’s quite a difference.
I cellared a second bottle of the 2012 vintage.  I’m planning to pick up a 2013 bottle to cellar, and then compare it to a fresh 2014 vintage later in the year.  I’ll plan to report on it around Christmas time.

I’ve cellared a few other beers, too, to see how those fare after a year or so.  I’ll report on them when they reach the one-year mark.  I’m going to think about this as I encounter beers that, for my taste, are a touch too hoppy.  Would cellaring a beer that I find too hoppy take down to ideal levels?  Maybe.  It’s worth a try, especially if I’ve already bought the beer or think it’s just “that close” to perfect.

Have you cellared any beers?  How did that turn out for you?  Share in the comments.

Ridgeway Bad Elf (3/10)

Ridgeway Brewing of the United Kingdom produces Bad Elf, an English IPA.  Their web site says “A little malt, a little hops, and lots of holiday trouble-making; this Elf is so bad, it’s way good.” They reportedly brew it by using a “generous amount of famous English malt” with “45 ounces of hops per barrel”.

The aroma is less hoppy than an American IPA like Dogfish Head 90-Minute, but more so than you expect for a holiday beer with an elf on the label.

The thin white head lasts a few seconds after it’s poured, and leaves behind rings of interconnected lacing.

The flavor starts with a fair amount of hops bitterness, primarily the grapefruit flavor with some pine in the back.  Roasted malt does come through in the middle, but the aftertaste is decidedly bitter.

Beer Advocate, with its many IPA fans, rates Bad Elf an 81 or “good”.  Rate Beer gives it only a 45 overall.  I’m on their side here, but that’s primarily because I dislike IPAs and overly hopped beers.  I’m giving it a 3 out of 10 overall.


Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Bitter
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Moderate
Dominant Flavors:  Hops, followed at a distance by malt
ABV: 4.5%
IBU:  Unknown, probably around 35-40
My Rating: 3/10

Hinterland Bourbon Barrel Aged Doppelbock (7/10)

Green Bay, Wisconsin, is home to Hinterland Brewing, the makers of this Bourbon Barrel Aged Doppelbock.

It pours a clear mahogany with a beige head.

The aroma is caramel with a hint of bourbon, and sweet.

The flavor backs up the aroma.  The bourbon hit is stronger than the aroma betrays, but not at all unpleasant.  You'll get the oak from the barrels as well.  The finish is bitter.

Beer Advocate rates Hinterland Bourbon Barrel Doppelbock an 84/100 or "good".  RateBeer also gives it an 84/100. My own rating is 7/10.  I like it, but there are Bourbon barrel beers and doppelbocks I like better.

I purchased this beer at Savor Growl on Indianola.  I've seen other products from this brewery at  Ale Wine and Spirits in Powell and other Columbus area retailers.


ABV: 7.5%
IBU: Unknown, but I'd estimate around 27
My Rating:  7/10

North Peak Blitzen Festivus Ale (6/10)

North Peak Brewing Company of Traverse City, Michigan, produces this winter warmer style beer.  It’s brewed with several kinds of malts and hops. 

It pours a clear dark brown, looking much like a cola. 

The aroma contains coffee and mild hops.

The flavor follows the aroma, also consisting of coffee and hops, and ending with a dark roasted grain bitterness. There’s not much of the spice or fruit flavoring you might expect from a holiday ale, and the usual sweetness of the winter warmer style is more than offset by the hops load in this  one.

Beer Advocate rates it 81/100 or “good” with 27 ratings.  Rate Beer gives it a 71 overall.   I give it only a 6 overall, as I think the beer is too bitter for the style.

I tried this beer on draft at The Daily Growler, but the bottled version should be available from local retailers (though I’ve not seen it yet).



Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter: Bitter and slightly dry
Spice Level:  Minimal
Hops Level:  Medium
Dominant Flavors:  Coffee and hops bitterness
ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 55
My Rating: 6/10

Great Divide Hibernation (7/10)

Great Divide Brewing Company of Denver, Colorado, produces Hibernation, a dry-hopped English Old Ale with what the brewery describes as “a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.”
It pours a deep coppery brown with with a thin beige head that seems to last for a long time.

The aroma starts with coffee and chocolate, then adds what seems to be a subtle spice element (although Great Divide doesn’t indicate that it’s brewed with spices).  Some nuttiness comes through in the aroma, too.

The flavor has a strong malt character to it.  Coffee and nuts play a small role, and there even seems to be a bit of vanilla in there.  The hops presence is detectable but mild.
Rate Beer loves Hibernation, giving it a 98 overall.  Beer Advocate gives it a 90, with over 1,800 ratings recorded by visitors.   I like it also, but not quite as well as they do.  I’m giving it a 7/10

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Coffee, chocolate, caramel, vanilla
ABV: 8.7%
IBU:  Unknown but probably mid 20’s to low 30’s
My Rating: 7/10