De Struise Brouwers Pannepot 2011 (10/10)

While visiting the amazing Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati, I picked up a bottle of De Struise Brouwers 2011 edition of Pannepot "Old Fisherman's Ale" and brought it back to Columbus.

The brewery web site describes Pannepot as their flagship beer, and somewhere between a Belgian strong dark ale and a stout.  They say that "Each sip hits you with complex flavors of toasty bitterness and deep caramel sweetness.  With all its dark and strong complexity, this beer lends itself perfectly to all types of barrel aging, which is exactly what we've done.  We've aged it on various barrels, including bourbon and calvados."

The beer pours a nearly black color with a thin beige head that lasts mere seconds.  (I couldn't even get a picture snapped before it was gone.)  This may have something to do with its high alcohol content (10% ABV).  It leaves behind no lacing in the glass.

The aroma is loaded with dark fruit and perhaps a touch of leather.  Its every bit as enticing as any dark Belgian ale I've ever smelled.

The flavor starts sweet and malty with dark fruit prominent.  After this, the sweetness and fruit subside in favor of the malt and mild hops bitterness.  The finish is malty, and is where you'll taste the barrel aging.  Prior to the finish, there are tiny hints of it, but it doesn't come through until then.  It's not like some of the more "barrel forward" beers like Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale or Innis & Gunn.  It's much more subtle and refined.  It's a truly delicious beer and one I would be happy to drink every day if I could.

Beer Advocate readers agree, rating it a 96 out of 100 or "world-class".  Rate Beer gives it a 100.  My own rating of 10 out of 10 is right there with them.

I do need to share a bit of info, though.  Since the original bottle pictured above, I've bought other bottles of Pannepot at Jungle Jim's and a couple of local retailers.  One or two of those bottles have tasted radically different than described here.  I don't know if those bottles were perhaps mishandled, contaminated, or what may have happened - but they were not the same experience.  They had an almost vinegary tartness to them that didn't go well with the beer's other flavors.  If you decide to try this beer and find that it's not a sweet, malty, dark fruit experience, don't give up on it.  You may have just gotten a bad bottle.

When it's a good bottle, this is hands-down one of my favorite beers.  When it's a not-so-good bottle, it can be a pretty bad beer.

Pigskin Brewing in Gahanna

Pigskin Brewing Company is located in Gahanna on Mill Street, in the space pictured at the left.

They feature up to 20 taps, including a mix of their own beers and those of other breweries.

As you might expect from the company name, there is a definite football theme to the brewery, its taproom, and its beer names.

During our visit in November 2015, their Porterback, Legendary Amber, Gose All the Way, Cream of the Crop, Undefeated IPA, Saison Du Victory, Laces Out hefeweizen, Kickoff Mild Brown, Stout Defense, 12 Gauge double IPA, and Autumn Wind Russian Imperial Stout were on tap - as well as beers from a number of other breweries.  A selection of bottled and canned beers is also offered, as well as mixed drinks and wine for the non-beer-lover.

Pigskin Taproom taps

The bar has big-screen TVs, lots of seating, and free Wi-Fi

The taproom is clean, well-lit (and with plenty of natural lighting), lots of seating, free Wi-Fi, and two big-screen televisions displaying (what else?) football games.

A self-service popcorn machine near the entrance provides free popcorn to customers.  Around the edge of the table on which the machine is perched, you'll find shakers full of popcorn seasonings like white cheddar, bacon cheddar, and others.  The base "unflavored" popcorn is great, but the option of seasoning it is a nice touch.

There is a food menu as well, offering both appetizers and sandwiches.  We shared a ground beef quesadilla during our visit and found it very tasty (though a little greasy).  I'd happily eat another.

Also on the food menu, you'll find pretzel rods and beer cheese, sharp cheddar pierogies, hummus platter, beer battled pickle spears, a chipotle ranch chicken wrap, turkey bacon wrap, beer bratwurst, tomato aioli BLT, and a kids menu.

We tried several of the beers during our visit.  All of them were good, and I'd be perfectly happy if a friend shared a growler of any of them with me.  The Cream of the Crop cream ale was nicely balanced between malt and hops.  The Laces Out hefeweizen was a good example of the style.  Kickoff Mild Brown lived up to its name.  We eventually settled on a glass of Autumn Wind Russian Imperial Stout and Saison Du Victory.

(A word about the pictures here.  We arrived on a Saturday, just after the taproom opened.  Many of these pictures might make it seem like Pigskin is deserted, but that's not normally the case.  As we finished our beer and left, the place began to fill up with fans eager to watch the Ohio State football game that would be on the air in a few hours.)

Pigskin Brewing's Saison Du Victory

The Saison Du Victory is a typical Belgian-style Saison (Farmhouse Ale).  Unlike many Saisons, it didn't have the sometimes-unpleasant "funk" you find in the style.  It did, however, deliver everything else you'd want from a Saison.  It was well-balanced between malt, fruitiness, and hops bitterness.  I'd describe it as one of the most drinkable Saisons I've encountered.

Pigskin Brewing's Autumn Wind Russian Imperial Stout

Autumn Wind pours a nice black color with thick layer of creamy tan head that lasts a while and leaves behind spotty lacing.  The aroma is malty, chocolatey, and carries a hint of coffee.  The flavor is a nicely balanced mix of coffee, roasted malt, chocolate, hops bitterness, and mild sweetness.  It's a very nice stout.

Pigskin offers its beers on draft as well as by the glass, so you can enjo2y them at home.

This is where the magic happens...

A cool feature of the Pigskin facility is the ability to see the brewhouse from outside and within the taproom.

The Pigskin Brewing taproom has a welcoming but upscale feel about it that makes for a pleasant visit.  If you have the time, I recommend checking it out.  You might also check out Actual Brewing's taproom, too, which is about ten minutes away.

Pigskin Brewing Company
81 Mill Street, Suite 150
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 944-9311

Actual Brewing Taproom Visit

Actual Brewing's Taproom Entrance

Actual Brewing's Taproom is located near the Greater Columbus International Airport in an industrial park.  The signage is confined primarily to the windows and doors, and a small "Actual Beer" sign on the end of the building.  If my wife and I had not been actively seeking it out, we would probably have missed it.  The lighted "BEER" sign in the window was our first clue we were at the right place.

Step through the right-hand of the two doors in the picture, and you'll walk right into the taproom.  To your left, you'll find the bar and beer taps.  In front of you, tables and chairs to sit and enjoy your Actual beers.  To your right, a second room with seating.

The main bar offers 5 taps.  Four of these serve Actual Brewing's beer.  The fifth serves a non-alcoholic root beer.  The bar is clean, nice looking, and pleasantly decorated.  The server is friendly and engaging, knows the beers on offer, and can help patrons pick out one to their liking.

Actual Brewing's Taproom Counter/Bar

Once you have your beer, the taproom offers some fun and interesting options.  The room adjacent to the bar has a shelf full of books along with tables and chairs.  Music is also being played over a stereo system.

Walk past this room and you'll find a room with a single table and chairs, a shelf filled with interesting board games, an old-school video game console hooked to a television (for visitors to play on), and a number of old 80's style video game arcade machines.  Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac Man, Dig Dug, a bowling game, and Galaga were there.

Video game console and Donkey Kong machine in the back room

Board games available for patrons to play

Whiteboard in the back room of the Actual taproom

I found the Actual taproom to be a comfortable, welcoming space.  There were certainly enough entertainment options (reading, music, video games, board games, and of course the company of good people enjoying good beer).  That being said, some of the furnishings have a "thrift store" feel to them.  There are dingy ceiling tiles, and it feels a little like you're hanging out in a friend's basement.  I can imagine some people being put off by the fact that it's not a gleaming, brightly-lit space loaded with designer furniture and so forth.  As I said, I personally like the space and felt very at home in it.

Enough about the taproom itself.

While there, we sampled the Photon Light Lager, Saison Du Poincare, and Fat Julian beers.

The Photon Light Lager is bright and clear pale gold with a nice balanced aroma and flavor.  It's a great example of the light lager style and a beer I can imagine being popular with the macro brew set while still having a good enough flavor to entice craft beer fans to drink it.

Saison Du Poincare is a very nice beer as well.  It's closer to amber in color with a white head.  The aroma has the usual Saison "funk" to it and a hint of fruitiness as well.  The flavor and aroma are perfectly matched.  Hops bitterness is present but subdued, as it should be in a Saison.  I would rate it as one of the better Saisons I've had.  I'll be sure to watch for this one on tap or in bottles.

My wife and I split a glass of Fat Julian, Actual's Imperial Stout (dispensed with nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide).  This is a very impressive beer.  The aroma is chocolatey, with hints of coffee and roasted malt.  It's slightly sweet, but in no way cloying.  Hops bitterness is present but doesn't dominate.  The 10% alcohol content is well hidden.  The use of nitrogen ensures that the head is present from the minute it's poured until it's finished, and helps to keep the chocolate aroma alive.  It's an excellent stout.

Actual Brewing Company
655 N. James Road
Columbus, OH 43219

Brasserie D'Achouffe N'Ice Chouffe (7/10)

This week we'll look at a beer from Belgium's Brasserie D'Achouffe.  N'Ice Chouffe is is described as "a strong, brown beer that will warm y ou in the depths of winter. Spicy (thyme and curacao) and tinged with hops, this is a very balanced beer.  N'ice Chouffe is an unfiltered beer which is refermented in the bottle and in barrels."

N'Ice Chouffe pours a slightly cloudy mahogany color with a finger-thick beige head that lingers a little while.

The aroma is malty, fruity, and sweet.

The flavor is not betrayed by the aroma. It's malty, sweet, and slightly dry like a red wine.  The finish is mildly bitter. and there is a lot of carbonation. This is another Achouffe beer that should be among my favorites, but it just isn't.  I want a little more sweetness, a little less bitterness, and more of the usual Belgian spice and fruit.  This beer doesn't really have that.

Beer Advocate and Rate Beer disagree with me on this beer as well.  I rate it a 6 out of 10, leaning a bit toward a 7.  Beer Advocate gives it a 91-93 (outstanding).  Rate Beer rates it a 98 overall.  When I had the draft version around the holidays last year, I did like it a bit better than the bottled version reviewed here.  I still don't think it's "outstanding" when compared to Belgian beers like Gulden Draak, Karmeliet Tripel, and the like.

I found this particular beer at Palmer's Beverage Center on Indianola.  During the Christmas season, you may find it there or in other area retailers.  There's also a good chance The Winking Lizard Tavern will feature it during the winter months as their Achouffe draft that month.

Buckeye Lake Wee Heavy Ale (8/10)

Buckeye Lake Brewery is, unsurprisingly, located in Buckeye Lake, Ohio.  They produce a wide range of beers in a variety of styles.  In this review, we'll look at their Wee Heavy ale.

The BJCP Guidelines call the Wee Heavy Ale a Strong Scotch Ale.  The style originated in Scotland.  The guidelines say a wee heavy should be deeply malty with caramel often apparent.  There may be peaty, earthy, or smoky aromas as well.  Hops are very low to not present in the aroma.  The flavor should be richly malty with caramelization often present.  Roasted malt or barley may also be there, along with nutty characteristics.  Hops flavors and bitterness should be low to medium-low, so that the malt can dominate.

Buckeye Lake's Wee Heavy pours a dark, clear mahogany with an off-white head.

The aroma is malty and toasty.

The flavor follows the aroma.  It starts with a burst of roasted malt, followed by a mild sweetness.  The finish is a touch bitter, but not out of line with the style.  It's one of the better examples of the wee heavy style I've tasted, and Buckeye Lake should be proud of it.

There's nothing on Beer Advocate or Rate Beer for this one, so you'll have to take my word for it.  This is a very good beer, and well worth trying if you like the malty styles as I do.  I'm rating it a solid 8 out of 10.

I was able to try this beer in 2014 at The Daily Growler in Upper Arlington.  You'll want to check Buckeye Lake's Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as BeerMenus.com, if you're looking to try it.  Better yet, you could visit the brewery and try it right from the source.