Sofie: Belgian style ale that rocks!

This $8.00 22oz. bottle of beer just might have been worth it.  Sofie is gold, cloudy, bubble and lively.  The bouquet has a hint of citrus/lemon, and is sweet and clean, and holds a spicey note for a long time.  It supports a 1/2″ thick head for a good long time.  It tastes tart and [...]

Read Full Post »

Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor

The confusing thing about this beer is the label, which lists the brew as both “Great Blond Ale” and “Belgian Amber Ale”.  Well fear not, because I am going to straighten everything out for you.  http://www.hetanker.be/en/beers/gouden-carolus-hopsinjoor.html Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor is gold and cloudy and pours with a HUGE fluffy white head.  Lots of fine bubbles in [...]

Read Full Post »

St. Bernardus Tripel

Apart from the poor spelling of triple (yes, I know, I’m kidding) this beer has a lot going for it.  St Bernardus Tripel is bright yellow, very effervescent, slightly cloudy and floats on big, fluffy head.  It has a tart, sharp bouquet, yeasty with a touch of carmel.  There a definite carmel note in the [...]

Read Full Post »

Tripel Karmeliet

This is good stuff.  It pours orange-gold, bubbly and produces a big head.  The bouquet of Tripel Karmeliet is sharp with sweet notes, yeasty and very complex.  I can’t exactly figure it out, maybe citrusy notes are most prominent, but there is more to it.  It has a smooth mouthfeel, is sugary and warms the [...]

Read Full Post »

Hop Rod Drinkin’

Man, here’s a real winner! Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye is made with 20 percent rye malt and it is amazing. Garnet colored with a good yeasty bouquet, a tad smoky, a bit of Carmel, some hops too, but mostly in the dryness of the finish. I’m writing from my iTouch,so that [...]

Read Full Post »

Regional Gem Discovered in Chicago

Here’s one of the best beers I’ve never heard of.  Matt Brewing Company’s Saranac Adirondack Lager.  I got this beer as a give away from Hale’s booth at the ALA Convention.  By the way, vendors who give out all the free pens, bookmarks and stale candy, please take a cue form Hale.  Hale, makers of [...]

Read Full Post »

White Beer fit for a Monarch

I’ll tell you what…it’s great to have such fine breweries in the Chicagoland area, such as 3 Floyds, Metropolitan and Two Brothers.  Brewed in in March in celebration of their anniversary, Monarch White Beer by Two Brothers is a Belgian-style witbier, and a good one at that.  It is a bit more golden in color [...]

Read Full Post »

What does Red Seal and the Sir Douglas Quintet have in common?

The anwer is Mendocino.  Ruedrich’s Red Seal Ale is brewed in Mendocino County, CA, by North Coast Brewing Co., Fort Bragg.  It is a bit cloudy and light amber, and it produces a good lacey head.  There is a strong hops and yeast presence in the nose, and it’s invigorating.  It is smooth and velvety [...]

Read Full Post »

Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale

Clear and brown with hints of garnet, the brew is vigorously carbonated and retains a good, lacey head.  The bouquet is a bit tart and ends a bit sweet.  The texture is smooth full and rich with an initial note of coffee followed by a buttery sweetness.  Hoppy dryness is noticeable on the tongue and [...]

Read Full Post »

Bell’s Amber Ale

I worried about this one at first, but it somewhat redeemed itself in the end.  Bell’s Amber Ale poured like rusty water and produced a minimal fleeting, head.  There was noticeable carbonation, so it’s not as if it is totally flat, just a little disappointing in the presentation.  The bouquet is great, being sweet, malty and [...]

Read Full Post »