Steenberge Bornem Double Abbey Ale (8/10)

The Brouwerij Van Steenberge products tend to be personal favorites.  This Belgian brewery seems to know what it’s doing with its brewing equipment.  Bornem Double Abbey Ale is a Belgian Dark Ale or Dubbel style ale.

It pours a very dark brown with two fingers of thick tan head on top.

The aroma is sweet, with a definite dark fruit note.
The flavor is malty, sweet, and very mildly spicy.  It’s not the most complex Belgian Dubbel I’ve ever head, but it’s a very good one and I’ll be quite happy to have it again.
Beer Advocate rates Bornem an 83/100 or “good”.  Rate Beer puts it at 81 overall.  Those ratings are in line with my own 8 out of 10.

You can find this beer at The Anderson’s General Store as part of a six-pack gift box of Belgian beers that includes Gulden Draak, Gulden Draak 9000, Piraat, and others.  That’s an excellent Belgian sample pack.  I have occasionally seen it by itself at other retailers, but none consistently enough to list here.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty, Sweet
Spice Level:  Low to medium
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, dark fruit, spice
ABV: 8%
IBU: unknown
My Rating: 8/10

Four String Brewing Taproom in Grandview

Four String Brewing was founded by Dan Cochran, a local musician.  They brew a number of beers, including Backstage Blonde (a Belgian-style Blonde Ale), Brass Knuckle (an American Pale Ale), Big Star (a white IPA), Suncaster (a summer wheat ale), and Solo Saison (a farmhouse style ale).

Not being an IPA or American Pale Ale fan, I tried only the Suncaster wheat ale and an orange peel and coriander infused version of their Saison.  I would have ordered Backstage Blonde (a personal favorite Columbus beer) but they were out of it during my visit.  I found Suncaster to be a bit too hoppy for my taste, and especially so for a wheat beer.  But recognizing that most of Four String’s fan base probably consists of IPA and APA lovers, Suncaster is probably considered “mildly hoppy” in those terms.  The infused Saison, on the other hand, was quite nice and I look forward to trying it again in the future.

The Four String taproom is literally located inside their brewery.  As you sit there sipping your beer, you can see the actual brewing equipment on the other end of the room.  A sign hanging from the ceiling warns you that if you touch the brewing equipment in this production brewing facility, you’ll be asked to leave.  The taproom features music playing over the sound system and a television over the bar.  You can buy a flight of samples, cans of their beer, pints, or growlers.  All are priced reasonably (for example, a pint is $5 and less during happy hour).  They also offer T-Shirts ($20) and hoodies.

A food truck parked out front offers edibles while you sip your favorite Four String beer.

Zauber Taste of the World, 3-8pm Today

Today only, from 3-8pm, Zauber Brewing on Fifth Avenue in Grandview will be hosting a “Taste of the World” event in the large parking lot next door to them. 

Several food trucks, including Green Meanie, Paddy Wagon, Illy’s Pizza, My Place or Yours, Junior’s Tacos, and Melty Crue will be providing things to eat.  Zauber, Homestead, Zaftig, and Seventh Son will be providing beer.  Admission, as I understand it, is free – but you’ll have to pay for your food and beer.

Sounds like a good time and I hope to make it there today.

Asahi Super Dry (7/10)

I’m far from a seasoned world traveler, though I’ve visited several nations and even lived in another one for a couple of years.  It’s a given that pretty much every country produces a mild, generic beer that’s more or less their equivalent to a macro brew like Coors, Budweiser, or Miller.  For the Japanese, that’s probably Asahi Super Dry.

This beer pours a clear pale gold with minimal white head that doesn’t last long at all.  The lacing, where it exists, is mostly small spots.

The aroma is primarily that of malt and grain.
The flavor is roasted grain with a hint of hops to it.  It’s a very easy beer to drink.  It’s only very mildly bitter, with a touch more flavor to it than a macro brew.  It’s crisp and clean with virtually nothing to it but malt, hops, and water.

The Beer Advocate crowd rates Asahi Super Dry in the 55-64 range (awful to poor).  Rate Beer is a lot harsher on it, giving it a mere 6 out of 100.  My rating of 7 out of 10 may seem a bit out of line, but it takes into account that the beer is part of a larger Japanese restaurant experience.  The beer fits well with the salty, flavorful Japanese food without taking anything away from it.  On its own, sitting in my living room… Yeah, I’m right there with the Beer Advocate folks. It’s a solid 5 in that scenario… which is “Budweiser level” for me.  So, if you’re in a Japanese restaurant and you want an authentic beer that won’t draw your tastebuds away from the food – this is it. 

Asahi Super Dry is served at most Japanese steak houses around town.  You can also find it at a number of retailers.  I’m fairly sure I’ve seen it at Kenny Road Market, and perhaps at Weiland’s Gourmet Market.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, Bitter, or Sour: Malty
Spice Level:  Zero
Hops Level:  Very Low
Dominant Flavors: There are none, it’s pretty generic
ABV: 5%
IBU:  15
My Rating:  7/10 (with a hibachi dinner, 5/10 without

Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout (8/10)

Solar-powered Anderson Valley Brewing Company of Boonville, California, is the birthplace of this Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout… so named because it’s aged for three months in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels.

It pours nearly black with a finger-thick tan head that lingers a while, leaving thin lace-like lacing behind.

The aroma is a delicious combination of chocolate and bourbon.

The flavor is an excellent balance between dark-roasted malt, oaky vanilla, bourbon, and hops.  It’s quite delicious.

The Beer Advocate folks don’t care much for this one, perhaps because it’s much less hoppy (at 14 IBUs) than they typically prefer.  They rate it an 85.  The Rate Beer crowd seems to love it, giving Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout a 97 out of 100.  My own rating is 8 out of 10, which is probably closer to the Beer Advocate score.

This is a hard one to find around town.  I’ve encountered it randomly at shops like Weiland’s Gourmet Market, The Andersons General Store, Ale Wine and Spirits of Powell, and others.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, Bitter, or Sour: Malty
Spice Level:  None
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors: Bourbon, hops, oak, dark-roasted grain
ABV: 6.9%
IBU:  14
My Rating:  8/10

Zauber Taste of the World on June 21, 2014

Earlier, I told you about the Zauber Brewing Company on Fifth Avenue.  They are one of my favorite Columbus breweries, although their products are a bit hard to get at the moment.  (Last time I was there, they only had their own beers on tap on Thursdays – which may or may not still be the case…)
On June 21, from 3-8pm, in the Goodwill parking lot next door to their brewery on Fifth Avenue, they’ll be hosting an event they call Taste of the World.

Taste of the World will feature food trucks like Paddy Wagon, Junior’s Tacos, My Place or Yours, Green Meanie, and Illy’s Pizza.

They’ll also be serving beer from their own brewery, as well as Homestead Beer Company, Seventh Son Brewing, and Zaftig Brewing Company.

The Week in Beer News–June 8, 2014

The following interesting beer-related news items have appeared recently:

• How to turn a Raspberry Pi computer into an Automatic Beer Brewing controller
• How England’s Yeast Vault saved a brewery after a disastrous flood
• Turn a wine bottle (or a bomber) into an automatic plant waterer
• (Assuming you actually HAVE any…) How to clean and polish pots with leftover beer
• Drinking experimental hops in the Sixpoint Beer of the Future
• Ladies love their beer and love making it
• The World Beer Festival in Cleveland is Saturday June 14
• A device that uses dirt to cool beer?
• The top 7 cruises for beer lovers
• See Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” played on beer bottles
• 10 Father’s Day presents for a beer-loving Dad
• $1000 for a lifetime of free beer?

Abita Select Mayhawk (7/10)

Louisiana-based Abita Brewing Company produces this Belgian Strong Ale, named Mayhawk.

It’s brewed with pilsner and wheat malts, noble hops, and “large amounts” of candy sugar.  The yeast strain used is Belgian and “provides a bright blend of subtle fruit and spicy notes” to the beer. Louisiana Mayhaw berries are added to give it a tart finish.

It pours a cloudy yellow with thin white head that lasts a while, leaving behind rings of white lacing.

The aroma is a combination of citrus and fruit.

The flavor starts malty, but then develops a citrus sourness with some Belgian spice and fruit notes to it.  The finish is midly bitter.  It’s not my favorite Belgian style ale, but it’s not bad.

Rate Beer gives Mayhawk a 48 overall.  Beer Advocate is a bit kinder, giving it an 83 or “good” rating.  For me, it’s not quite worthy of an 8, but is solidly in the 7 range.

This is a draft-only brew, so you’ll have to look around to find it, or visit the brewery.  I had this particular sample at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington in 2013.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, Bitter, or Sour: Malty, sour
Spice Level:  Low
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors: Citrus, malt, spice
ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 24
My Rating:  7/10