Epic Brewing Co. - Smoked & Oaked Belgian-Style Ale

We now travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to the Epic Brewing Company to have their Smoked & Oaked Belgian-Style Ale, purchased at Vintage Estates.

"You are holding something special - one of only 1800 bottles released and numbered." Our bottle says Release #5. "Smoked cherry wood malt brings a smoky sweetness to the caramel malts and a bit of peat flavor with a Belgian-style yeast. The entire batch aging in the whiskey barrels nicely dries out the perceived sweetness of the caramel malt leaving an almost scotch like taste." This is part of Epic's Exponential Series and is 9.9% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

This beer is opaque and dirty (lots of sediment floating around). It is a red amber color with an off-white, moderately diminishing head with lacing on the glass. We smell yeast, malt, a touch of citrusy hops, and nutmeg/allspice. We also get stone fruit and a dark, earthy floral - presumably the smoked cherry wood. The taste is rich, Chris compares it to a Belgian dubbel. The taste lingers on the center of the tongue and is very unique. We discussed anisette or fennel mixed with the oak with the yeast adding sweetness.

Shawn- I love how many different flavors you get. It is crisp but not completely clean, in part because it is bottle-conditioned. I enjoyed it, but I expected more smoke in the flavor, 8.25/10.
Angela- This is thick and sweet, and a very good beer for what it is, it's just not my kind of beer, 7.25/10.
Chris- I really like this, though I think it would be better aged. It was made in March and bottled in May, but I think it would be excellent after aging, 8.5/10.

Dark Horse - Boffo Brown Ale

Next, we venture to Marshall, Michigan, to the Dark Horse Brewing Co. for thier Boffo Brown Ale, purchased at Vintage Estates.

This beer was brewed years ago and then put in semi-retirement for a while. It is now a year-round beer that is a favorite to many employees at the brewery. This pushes the envelope as to what an American Brown Ale is to most people. "Flavors of malt, caramel, toffee, and a mild earthy nutty finish allow this beer to be paired with hearty food and sips of bourbon." This is 6.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.7/10

This beer is a dark coppery red color with a quick to diminish white head. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, malt, and oakiness are very present. The taste starts out rich, but thins quickly. It has a front and back tongue bite, with a hop finish and a slight metallic after taste.

Shawn- It could use a sweetness to alleviate the metallic after taste, 5/10.
Angela- This is slightly richer than the last beer, though I wish it were richer. Also, the more I drank, the less I tasted the metallic flavor, 6/10.
Chris- This has potential. It tastes like a nut brown, though I would appreciate a more nutty flavor, 6/10.

Fort Collins Brewery - The Kidd Lager

"Looks dark, drinks blonde"

Our next stop is Fort Collins, Colorado, at the Fort Collins Brewery. Their The Kidd Lager was purchased at Vintage Estates.

"A hint of smoked malt compliments [sic] chocolate malt in this Schwarzbier. Experience the Kidd's intriguing aroma and complex flavor as you enjoy this remarkable style of beer." This has about 24 IBUs and is about 4.5% ABV.


Overall average rating: 7.4/10


This beer is a translucent dark copper color with a quickly diminishing caramelly head. The aroma is of chocolate malt, caramel, and slight smoke. "This is one of the maltier smelling beers we've had so far" -Chris. The taste is thin with a front tongue bite, but has flavors of coffee, chocolate, and smoke with a slight hop finish.


Shawn- This beer smells fantastic, like Gonzo Imperial Porter. The taste is fairly spot on with the aroma, but it lacks boday, 7.5/10.
Angela- This is very delicious, though not as complex as I'd like. It is very fitting to the "looks dark, drinks blonde" description, 7.75/10.
Chris- This is a good representation of a Schwarzbier. It has crisp flavors that developed and aren't muddled, but I wish the flavors were richer, 7/10.

Victory - Golden Monkey Ale

"This Monkey's bound for glory!"

Next stop on our journey is Downingtown, PA, at Victory Brewing Co., drinking their Golden Monkey Ale, purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The magical, mystical Monkey whose golden soul glows with the wisdom of ages. This warming, flavored ale as rich in the spirited tradition of Belgian-inspired brewing. Our Golden Monkey is both playfully delightful and profoundly satisfying. Exotic spices from the East round out this global journey to joy. Get on board." This tripel ale is bottle-conditioned and brewed with spices and should be enjoyed before June 14, 2014. It is 9.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.7/10

The beer is a translucent, cloudy straw color with a moderately diminishing white, frothy head with lacing on the glass. The aroma is crisp and very wheaty with essences of Belgian yeast, giving it a light banana scent. The taste has a front/mid tongue bite with a hoppy and acidic/s;ight metallic bitey finish. We can taste the wheat and Belgian yeast, though the flavors seem muddled.

Shawn- The aroma makes you think you'll taste great flavors, but the taste is all one flavor. It smells crisp, but the muddled flavors almost taste dirty, 5/10.

Angela- This has a clean, crisp aroma, as well as a crisp taste, but it is a little bitey for me, 6/10.

Chris- I like the slight banana taste and the hoppy after taste, but the aroma far outweighs the taste, 6/10.

Spoetzl Brewery - Shiner Bock

We now head down to Shiner, Texas, to the Spoetzl Brewery to try their Shiner Bock purchased at Vintage Estates.

Since 1909, every drop of Shiner is brewed in Shiner. It's handcrafted in the same brewery where it was first made back in 1913, and it is a gently hopped medium brown brew that is the pride of Shiner, TX (pop. 2070). This bock beer combines old world Bavarian heritage with American handcraft brewing for a smooth, delightfully drinkable dark beer. "Prosit!" It has 13 IBUs and is 4.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.3/10

It pours a clear amber with a touch of copper. "In the very recesses of the smell" (-Chris) we get citrus hop and barley, as well as a light caramelly malt/molasses scent. The taste holds flavors of sweet molasses and a smooth, rich, caramelly maltiness. It's initially bitey with hits on the front and side tongue, but it is a well-balanced hop.

Shawn- This is reall well-balanced, and although it doesn't have much nose, I would drink this again. The brewery has perfected the flavors of this beer over the past 100 years, 7.5/10.
Angela- This is a good late fall/winter beer. It's sweet, but not in the normal "sweet" sense, 7.5/10.
Chris- This is a good fireplace beer. It's not a bad bock; it would be enjoyed on a cool autumn night. I do think the aroma and taste could be more pronounced, 7/10.

Tommyknocker - Golden Saison Belgian Style Ale

Our next stop is Idaho Springs, Colorado, at the Tommyknocker Brewery to taste their Golden Saison Belgian Style Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

This is a "bright golden, effervescent brew that is slightly tart with a pleasantly spicy aroma created by a special blend of 4 Belgian style yeasts, and Perle hops." It is brewed in the winter for summer refreshment and comes straight from the brewpub. It is 5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.25/10

It pours a cloudy dirty blonde with a slow to diminish, thick white head. The aromas are of wheat, barley, citrus, and banana. There is a front tongue bite with a sweet, robust flavor. We get Belgian yeast, citrus, and wheat.

Shawn- This has a light, beautiful flavor, although it lack depth and complexity, in my opinion, 7/10.

Angela- This is another good, crisp summer beer. The citrusy bite makes me think it would be a good appetizers beer, 7.25/10.

Chris- This is the closest beer I've tasted to an actual Belgian beer from an American brewery, 7.5/10.

Merry Christmas! Tallgrass - Halcyon Wheat Beer

We celebrate this Christmas by beginning our trek through the Central United States! We start off in Manhattan, Kansas, at the Tallgrass Brewing Company, drinking their Halcyon Wheat Beer purchased at Vintage Estates. Their beers are all canned, and you can read their "Canifesto" here.

"Our thank to Bill Mai, the wheat farmer from Wallace County, Kansas that grows our wheat!" (At last year's Big Tap In, Shawn and I met a really nice guy from this brewery. Hopefully he'll be back this year!)

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

The appearance is an opaque, cloudy blonde, with a slow to diminish, thick white head. The aroma is of sweet wheat, citrusy hops, and a hint of sea salt. The taste is clean and refreshing, with wheat and hops (citrus with a little bitter) and a side tongue bite.

Shawn- This is well-balanced with a great flavor and aroma. I'd love to drink this again, 8/10.

Angela- This is a really good, crisp beer - like a light beer with flavor. I'm not normally a wheat beer fan, but I love this. It's a great summer beer, 8/10.

Chris- I could drink a case of this over the summer. It is so refreshing, definitely something I'd recommend to someone just getting into craft beer, 8/10.

Dogfish Head - Faithfull Ale

Every once in a while we drink a random beer to break up the weeks a bit. Today it's Dogfish Head's Faithfull Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

This is "a celebration of Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary as a band and their seminal album Ten - In recognition of these milestones this Belgian style golden ale is delicately hopped to 20 IBUs and fruit-forward from 10 incremental additions of black currants over the course of the one hour boil." Faithfull Ale is the third beer in the brewery's Music Series, following their Miles Davis-inspired Bitches Brew and their beer tribute to blues man Robert Johnson, Hellhound On My Ale. This is 7% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.3/10

It pours a translucent Belgian blonde color that is partially unfiltered. We smell Belgian yeast and crystal malt. Chris thinks it smells kind of like a crayon. The taste is very subtle, with wheat, currant, and Belgian yeast (with a slight banana flavor).

Shawn- The flavor develops really well; every sip tastes better than the last, 9/10.

Angela- This is a really good Belgian-style beer. I'm glad Shawn finally decided to share it! 8.5/10.

Chris- This has a punch - it starts out mild, has a strong middle, and finishes mild. I enjoy the development, but it is too strong in one flavor, 7.5/10.

Hoppin' Frog - Frosted Frog Christmas Ale

Our seventeenth and final Christmas ale is Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The essence of Christmas is captured in this very bottle you are holding. Perfectly blended spices compliment Frosted Frog's rich malt flavors, creating the ultimate Christmas experience. Celebrate the holidays as you savor this very special seasonal offering." It has 12 IBUs, 80.1°P, and is 8.6% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This beer pours a ruby red with a good carbonation. The first aroma to hit you and a "big boy" cinnamon and then nutmeg, honey, clove, and orange zest. The taste has the perfect amount of honey to counteract the cinnamon. We constructed a "Bell Curve" for this beer. You start slowly with the hop and orange, build to an intense cinnamon, and finish slowly with honey and nutmeg.

Shawn- "Honestly, I think I smell happiness," 9.25/10.

Angela- This is a smooth beer, spicy and yummy in both aroma and taste, I love it, 9.25/10.

Chris- This is fantastic. You can taste all of the flavors. I can't rate this a 10, but I also can't tell you what it needs to improve, 9.25/10.

Gouden Carolus - Noël

Our second to last Christmas ale is Gouden Carolus Noël purchased at Vintage Estates.

This Belgian beer is refermented in the bottle, and ours was specifically bottled on 09/23/09. "Gouden Carolus Noël was brewed exceptionally for Christmas by the Anker brewery, established in Mechelen since 1369, and is one of the classic Belgian breweries. This very specific Belgian ale is brewed using traditional methods and a recipe with top fermentation. It's high gravity gives this ale its warmth and body. It improves with age and will charm you with its warm, coppery colour and its rich bouquet." It is 10.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.0/10

It is a cloudy copper reddish brown color with aromas of Belgian yeast, cherry, mint, and honey. The taste is a refreshing mint flavor.

Shawn- The mint give sit almost a medicinal finish that kills it a bit for me. They should have extracted the leaves earlier, although it is still well-balanaced with a great body, 9/10.
Angela- There are different flavors in this beer than what I'm used to in Christmas ales; the mint is unique. This is not something I personally could drink a lot of, 8.5/10.
Chris- This beer does so much from beginning to middle to end. The mint is unexpected but well-received, 9.5/10.

Tröegs - The Mad Elf Ale

"The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays."

Our fifteenth (!!!) Christmas ale is Tröegs Mad Elf purchased at Vintage Estates.



"A cheerful concotion to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. Fermented and aged with a spicy yeast, this ruby red beer delivers subtle cherries and enticing aromas." This is 11% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This pours a translucent red with sweet aromas of honey, cinnamon, cherry, and clove. The taste is cherry, honey, and slight alcohol, which is to be expected with this high of a percentage ABV. We all agree that this tastes better on tap.

Shawn- First of all, the Mad Elf is not your friend; drink responsibly. That being said, this is one of the best renditions of a Christmas Ale in the United States, in my opinion. You can taste the alcohol, but it's not overwhelming. It is truly a Christmas ale, 9.5/10.

Angela- This is one of my favorite Christmas ales, although it is uniquely flavored with the cherry added to the traditional Christmas spices. I look forward to this beer every year, 9/10.

Chris- I love this beer. It is my favorite American Christmas ale to drink every year. The way it unfolds on my palate is unlike other American Christmas ales, 9.75/10.

Thirsty Dog - 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale

Next is Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

"The name sums up the idea of bringing the best together to celebrate. It is filled with seasonal flavors from generous amounts of toasted and caramel malts, mixed with equally generous amounts of honey, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. We feel it is the perfect libation, filled with flavors of the season." This is best served between 43-49°F, has 21.51 IBUs, 18.5°P, and is 8.3% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.8/10

It is a clear light red amber color with aromas of ginger, honey, cinnamon, and clove. The taste is pretty much what we smell, with top and side tongue bites.

Shawn- I prefer this exponentially to Great Lakes Christmas Ale. This is delicious and pure and is smartly executed. I am a huge ginger fan, and it is good from the smell to the taste with a refreshing finish, 9.25/10.
Angela- This is a Christmas ale. It is spicy and drinkable, something I actually drank while baking the hundreds of Chistmas cookies I baked this year, 8.75/10.
Chris- This is a phenomenal beer, though I think the flavors could be developed a bit more, 8.5/10.

Breckenridge - Christmas Ale

"Plenty of good cheer - Good friends ever near."

We're nearing the end of our Christmas ale journey! Next up is Breckenridge Christmas Ale purchased at Havana House.

"The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and strength. Here it is. Our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire." This has 22 IBUs and is 7.4% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.5/10

This is a slightly cloudy red amber beer that smells of burnt sugar. The taste is thinner than most Christmas ales, with a side tongue bite and a back of the tongue finish.

Shawn- This has good drinkability, but it doesn't hit true Christmas notes. Sweet ≠ Christmas, 6.5/10.
Angela- This is thin but drinkable. It doesn't remind me of a Christmas ale, but it is decent, 6.5/10.
Chris- I could drink this year round, but it's not much of a Christmas ale. My lower rating is based on style representation, 6.5/10.

Three Floyds - Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

"It's not normal."

Our twelfth Christmas Ale is Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter purchased at Vintage Estates.

"Alpha Klaus is Alpha King [their flagship beer]'s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers!" It has 38 IBUs and is 6% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.0/10

This pours black with a long-lasting mocha head. The aroma is "citrus hoppy as shit," says Shawn. There is also a slight wheat scent. There is a front tongue bite with a slight back and side tongue finish. We also taste something sweet we assume to be a cinnamon/Mexican sugar combination and not honey because it's a light sweetness.

Shawn- This beer follows the Three Floyds style well with a slight Christmas interpretation, 7.5/10.
Angela- This isn't "porter" enough for me, although it's not a bad beer. There is just enough hop in it, however, for me to not particularly like it, 6.5/10.
Chris- The taste is not as hoppy as the smell, but it tastes more like a barleywine than a porter, 7/10.

Ohio Brewing Co. - Jingle Bell Ale

"Spice up your holiday season!"

Next up is Jingle Bell Ale from Ohio Brewing Company purchased at Havana House.

(I cannot find a picture of this beer anywhere. There isn't even a description of it on their website.)

"In the spirit of giving we have concocted this festive holiday brew. One sip ofour slightly sweet and spice amber ale will bring joy to your heart and peace to your senses." Interestingly, the Ohio Brewing Company was founded in 1997 in Niles, Ohio, before moving to Akron. This has 25 IBUs and is 7.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 7.1/10

This beer is a very clear red amber color. The aroma is very sweet, with honey, cherry, and a slight caramel malt scents. It reminds me of caramel candies. The taste is creamy with a slight syrupiness. It has a bubbly sweet soda finish.

Shawn- This reminds me of a cream soda, and the vanilla is a suprise. It's a little sweet for me, and I'm not sure it's truly a Christmas ale. I think the sugary richness could hold more flavor, however it is still pretty balanced, though the taste doesn't develop enough for me, 7/10.
Angela- I didn't expect the taste based on the smell, though it is a very interesting flavor. It makes me think of eating those bullseye caramels, 7/10.
Chris- It's like a red ale trying to be a Christmas ale; it should taste stronger. It's not bad, but they could do more with it, 7.25/10.

Goose Island - Christmas Ale

Our next beer is http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/beers/3.php Christmas Ale purchased at Cornersburg Party Shop.

Goose Island changes the recipe of this beer slightly each year to give its customers something to look forward to. It is an American Brown Ale best enjoyed in a nonic pint glass (where the glass bulges out a couple of inches from the top) and can develop in the bottle for up to five years. It is 6.2% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.8/10

It is an orange-y amber colored beer with a quick to diminish off-white head. There is citrus hop in the aroma, as well as a pine/evergreen scent (from the hops?) and a rich sweetness (honey?). We taste hops at the beginning, then cherry with an earthy honey finish.

Shawn- It reminds me of a honey cough drop, something you'd curl up with if you aren't feeling well. It's like the beer version of a hot toddy, 6/10.
Angela- It's an okay beer with a unique flavor, but not one that's very drinkable for me, 5.5/10.
Chris- It's alright, but I think more could have been done with the flavor because the hop overpowers whatever else there is, 6/10.

St. Bernardus - Christmas Ale

"Bringing heavenly nectar within reach."

Our eighth Christmas ale comes all the way from Belgium! It's the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

The term "Watou" is on the glass on the label, and it refers to the village in Belgium where the beer is brewed. It is a Belgian Abbey Ale that is best stored in a cool, dark place and is best served between 46-50°F. It is 10% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.25/10

This pours a rusty red color and is opaque because of being bottle conditioned with a good head and lacing. You get aromas of Belgian yeast, dark cherry, honey, a little molasses, and maybe wheat and cranberry. The taste gives flavors of honey, Belgian yeast, and cherry. There is a bite on the tip of the tongue. The guys agree that this is "simple but perfect."

Shawn- "It's just beautiful." It is extremely well-balanced, although I would prefer a little less of the Belgian yeast. For being 10% ABV, you don't taste it, so be careful when drinking this! The brewer definitely hit a homerun with this, 9.25/10.

Angela- This is a very good Belgian beer and a good representation of what a Christmas ale should be. It is a fulfilling, flavorful beer, 9/10.

Chris- "This beer leaves me speechless," 9.5/10.

Label:

"Brewery St. Bernardus was founded in 1946 in Watou, Province of West Flanders in Belgium. These exceptional quality ales are brewed by using only the finest malts, local grown hops, yeast and artesian water pumped from a depth of 500 feet. After the brewing process these traditional ales are matured in tanks for three months, before being bottle conditioned. The result is a naturally carbonated 'living ale,' which can be aged for up to 15 years and will satisfy the taste of even the most discriminating connoisseurs.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious Abbey Ales brewed by brewery St. Bernardus since 1946. This specialty ale of 10% is characterized by its deep dark color with a creamy, thick head, and a full, almost velvety mouthfeel with a fruity nose. It's a seasonal ale, brewed annually for the Holiday season. The long winter nights are perfect moments to savor this ale, with family and friends, and to enjoy its unique, complex taste."

Ridgeway Brewing - Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout

"This little coal-black gem is much more than you deserve for Christmas this year."

Next up is Ridgeway Brewing Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout, purchased at Havana House.

"Yet another bummed-out holiday? Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout is liquid consolation. It's a deep, rich, sweetly rewarding stout to take the edge off of that grim family gathering, that cheerless annual festival of alienation. This brew is as dark as it gets, as black as the lump of coal you'll be getting for Christmas. Because, let's face it, you've been pretty bad this year." It is 8% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

This beer is dark brown, almost black - Chris says a "hinch" of red as well (hint + pinch? lol). The aromas are rich malt, cherry, and honey with slight alcohol undertones. The taste gives flavors of chickory and slight coffee with a side tongue bite and a light back at the back of the tongue. It tastes richer than it smells.

Shawn- This beer has a deep, rich, complex flavor that leads toa great finish. I like how the more you drink, the more it develops. This would be good to drink by the fire at the end of the day, 8/10.

Angela- This is a fantastic cold weather beer; it's one of those that warms you up even though it's cold. I love the rich malty flavor. This is definitely a beer to be enjoyed by a fire or by the light of the Christmas tree, 8/10.

Chris- This is much better compared to the previous beer from this brewery. This reminds me of a stout mixed with a winter warmer. I like the full, rich flavor with the minimal alcohol smell, 8/10.

Bell's Christmas Ale

"A bit of cheer from the north country"

Our next Christmas ale is Bell's Christmas Ale purchased at Vintage Estates.

This beer was created to be "a sessionable holiday beer" differing from the "spiced winter warmers" standard to this time of year. It is a malt-driven beer, "made with 100% Michigan grown two-row barley malt and a mix of Michigan and Northwest hops." It has a shelf life of six months and is 5.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 6.2/10

This pours a slightly cloudy red amber color with aromas of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg - very Christmas-y, in my opinion. There is a lot of tongue bite with flavors of honey and cherry. It very crisp and refreshing.

Shawn- It is pretty well-balanced, but I wish the complexity developed more, 6/10.
Angela- It is a good and very drinkable Christmas ale, so their goal to make a sessionable holiday beer succeeded, 6/10.
Chris- I was disappointed in the aroma, but the taste made up for it. It is a delicious Christmas ale I would recommend to anyone as a good starter Christmas ale.

Great Lakes - Christmas Ale

"Savor the flavor - responsibly."

Being as close to Cleveland as we are, we most certainly had to include Great Lakes Christmas Ale, purchased at Havana House. Well, we would have included it anyway because it's good. Shawn and I have been on a couple tours of the brewery - it's really cool. (And I still have to try that Edmund Fitzgerald chocolate ice cream!)

This is brewed from all natural ingredients - barley, hops, yeast, water - no chemicals or preservatives. This is a gold medal winner at the World Beer Championship and is best served at 55 F. It is 7.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.0/10

It pours a translucent amber/red color and gives off aromas of honey, light cherry, a little nutmeg, and cinnamon. It tastes spicy with flavors of hops, a little malt, nutmeg, and light cherry.

Shawn- This beer could use a little more body, but it is complex and rich with a sweetness that lingers, not overpowers. The delicious flavors within the beer definitely beat out the taste of Cleveland water, 8.25/10.
Angela- This is very flavorful and spicy; it is a delicious go-to Christmas ale, 8/10.
Chris- It lacks some body, and I find that while you get what you smell in the taste, the flavor fades - you get it all up front, 7.75/10.

Corsendonk - Christmas Ale

Next up is Corsendonk Christmas Ale, a true product of Belgium, purchased at Vintage Estates.

The brewer uses roasted malts, hops, and yeast, spiced with coriander. It is a dark ale refermented in the bottle. It is 8.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 8.4/10

This has a thick, solid head, and is a cloudy/unfiltered, dark rich brown color. As Chris pours this, he is smilking from ear to ear :) The aroma is of honey, a little cherry, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The taste has the same flavors as the aroma with a slight front tongue bite and a cinnamon bite at the back of the tongue.

Shawn- This has a creaminess that coats but doesn't linger on the palate. It has an amazing complexity - the more you taste it, the more flavors you pull from it. By the third or fourth sip, you can taste the Belgian yeast, 8.5/10.
Angela- This is very delicious and not overly spicy. It is a very good and drinkable Christmas ale, 8.25/10.
Chris- "I taste 'yum!'" Belgian Christmas ales are some of my favorite beers of all time. The lacing, sediment, overall complex flavor - they are one of the most enjoyable beers to have, 8.5/10.

Ridgeway Brewing - Insanely Bad Elf

For our next Christmas ale, we went overseas to Oxfordshire, U.K. to Ridgeway Brewing for their Insanely Bad Elf, purchased at Havana House.

"'My goodness,' muttered Claus, recalling his visit to the Institute, 'the restrictive outerwear, the padded room - even padded Christmas tree ornaments. Horrifying! Yet the little chap seems happier than he's ever been.' Claus took a thoughtful sip of a most warming red ale. 'Perhaps sanity is over-rated... Ho, ho, ho!'" This is 12.0% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.7/10

It is a light straw color with a little amber hue to it. The aroma is of cherry, honey, a little cinnamon.. and alcohol. It's almost like smelling liquor. It tastes like a strong mixed drink. You can absolutely taste the strength of the alcohol in this.

Shawn- Considering the higher alcohol content, it's a little cough syrupy, almost like a simple syrup viscosity. The sweetness and alcohol stick everywhere in your mouth. I think it's a bad attempt to clone Mad Elf, 5.5/10.

Angela- Never before have I had a beer that reminded me so much of liquor. There is a slight cinnamon finish, but the thick syrupiness of it makes it too sweet, 5.75/10.

Chris- It reminds me of a honey liquour - almost like a light mead (Shawn and I agree). There's too much obvious alcohol in this, in my opinion, 5.75/10.

Abita - Christmas Ale

Our second Christmas ale is Abita Christmas Ale, purchased at the Cornersburg Party Shop.

"Each year at the Abita Brewery we craft a special dark ale for the holiday season. Each year the recipe changes so that Abita Christmas Ale is always the perfect gift." It's suggested to drink this spicy beer with traditional holiday flavors like gingerbread or spiced nuts, as well as either bleu cheese or Camembert.


Overall average rating: 6.1/10


This pours a translucent light red amber, lighter than the previous beer. This also has tons of egg white head with a lot of lacing. There is a lot of citrus hop in the aroma, with a little malt and honey as well. The hop finish in the taste is exactly like the aroma.


Shawn- Normally a Christmas ale from Louisiana would seem odd, but their Pecan Harvest was really good. The crisp bitterness of the hop in this beer is refreshing, however it doesn't have typical Christmas flavors in it. I'd classify this almost as a "red winter" more than a Christmas ale, 5.5/10.
Angela- This tastes exactly like the smell, so it's consistency is good. I actually detect an aroma of sweet potato as well as the hop. It's not my favorite Christmas ale, but I think it would go really well with Shawn's sweet potato curry soup (hint, hint), 6.25/10.
Chris- This tastes like a hoppy amber beer with a little honey added. It's not bad, it's just not that Christmasy. My rating is based on the smell/taste consistency, 6.5/10.

Penn Brewery - St. Nikolaus Bock Bier

After our trip to Market Garden Brewery, we dove right into the first of seventeen Christmas ale. Yes, seventeen. There are too many to narrow down to just a week's worth. First up, Penn Brewry St. Nikoluas Bock Bier purchased at the Cornersburg Party Shop.

"At the start of the 19th century, he was a tall, stern patriarch in bishop's robes. Today, he's a jolly globular sky-riding elf. Saint Nick may be a milk-and-cookies guy, but he knows what you want, and it's this St. Nikolaus Bock Bier. Rich, dark and full bodied, because it's brewed just like beers are brewed in Germany. With a blend of roasted barley malt and Bavarian Hallertau hops. It's fresher though, because we make it right here in Pennsylvania." This won a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and is 6.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 5.0/10

It pours a translucent red amber color, with aromas of caramel, malt, nutmeg, honey, and slight cherry. The taste gives a full tongue bite, although it's light. There's a little honey and caramel in the finish, and there is no distinct hop flavor.

Shawn- I can't wrap my head around a beer with a great bouquet where none of those aromas make it into the flavors, 4.5/10.
Angela- I expected more flavor/richness based on the smell, so I am a bit disappointed, 5/10.
Chris- The problem is that it has an incredible smell, but the taste dies off. They could have done a lot more with this beer, 5.5/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Viking Pale Ale

Our final beer at the Market Garden Brewery is the Viking Pale Ale. It was a new brew, so there is no description on the beer menu. It is 5.5% ABV.


Overall average rating: 5.0/10


This is a light amber/yellow beer with citrusy hop and wheat aromas. The taste gives flavors of citrusy hop, wheat, and malt, with a side tongue bite and back of the tongue lingering.


Shawn- It's crisp and refreshing with a hop finish, which is a bit overpowering, 6/10.
Angela- It has a little too much of a hoppy bite for me personally, but I think it's crisp and refreshing as well, 5.5/10.
Chris- The only reason I'm rating this lower is because it is more of an IPA than a true pale ale. It's an excellent beer that I would drink on a hot summer day - delicious flavor!, 6.5/10.

Repeal Day!!

Shawn and I were able to score some last minute tickets to The Brotherhood of Appreciating Repeal Day's annual event at The Corinthian in Sharon, PA. People dress in costume, there's a live band, good food, and a ton of beer. It's a really good time, and I highly recommend it to everyone.


Highlights

• We were excited to have Hoppin' Frog's Frosted Frog Christmas Ale for the first time this year - so delicious. They're B.O.R.I.S. Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout was also really tasty.
• Dogfish Head's Chicory Stout is always a delicious choice if you like coffee flavors.
• Atwater - Vanilla Java Porter. Wow. Tastes just like an iced coffee. It has a thin mouthfeel for a porter, but this was really, really good. And it was a brewery we hadn't heard of before.

Last year, my favorite beer of the night was a homebrewed porter. This year, our favorites were also homebrews. Gregg Wormley from The Pumphouse Homebrew Shop in Struthers, Ohio, had a really good coffee porter (are you sensing a trend in the beers we tried? haha). He likes hops and roast together, and this beer is a really good balance of the two.


We also met two really cool guys - Colin Mann and Jeremy Palermo - who brought some amazing homebrews with them. These were so good, they tasted like beers ready to be bottled and sold commercially, not just two guys playing around with flavors and ingredients. They had four beers: Bourbon Barrel Porter, Red Scare Smokescreen, "The Glorious Lord Mirtock's Breakfast Stout," and Strangely Supernatural Fall Brown Ale.


Bourbon Barrel Porter- I am not a huge fan of bourbon barrel beers. This reminds me of a light Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, but I enjoy the flavor. Shawn found this to be very silky with a light, delicate bourbon finish - very well done, in his opinion.
Red Scare Smokescreen- This was a very good beer - very smooth with a subtle smokiness. Very drinkable, very well done.
Breakfast Stout- It "smells like happiness" and is something I could wake up and drink. It is dark and roasty with a nice hop finish - a really good balance. This is a really fantastic beer.
Fall Brown Ale- I have in my notes two words: holy amazing. The aroma is truly that of fall - it instantly makes you think of colorful, crunchy leaves. There are cinnamon overtones, but it's smooth. The more you drink of it, the more it develops. Really well done.




All in all, it was another fun time. Food, drinks, dancing.. costumes next year..? :)

Prohibition has ended!!

Happy Repeal Day everyone! Make sure to celebrate :)

Market Garden Brewery - Wallace Tavern Scotch Ale

"Tradition never tasted so good!"

Our eleventh beer is the Wallace Tavern Scotch Ale, which is 6.5% ABV.


"The Scots love their malt, whether it be in whiskey or in beer, and our Scotch Ale follows suit- with plenty of deep, caramelized malt flavor that makes this beer oh-so-smooth. Named for Cleveland's Wallace House Tavern, opened in 1809."


Overall average rating: 8.0/10


This deep red beer gives off aromas of coffee, chocolate, caramelized malt, and a little wheat. When drinking, you taste chocolate, caramel, coffee, malt, and molasses. Yum.


Shawn- This is a nice, medium-bodied beer with coffee overtones and chocolate undertones. It is very drinkable on a cold day, 8/10.
Angela- Chocolate, caramel, coffee..yum. How can you go wrong?! It reminds me of eating a dark chocolate bar, 8.5/10.
Chris- In terms of a Scotch ale, I expected it to be much maltier, but it is an excellent beer, 7.5/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Progress Pilsner

"crisp and clean!"

Our tenth beer from Market Garden is the Progress Pilsner, which is 5.5% ABV.


"Inspired by the Pilsners of the Rhine region, this lager is a tribute to the spicy, crisp and clean character of German noble hops and has just the right malt body to balance. Named aptly for the Cleveland slogan 'Progress & Prosperity'."


Overall average rating: 6.3/10


This straw yellow beer gives off aromas of citrus, wheat, and barley. There is a front tongue bite, with flavors wheat, barley, and a light malt in the taste.


Shawn- This is clean, refreshing, and delicious with great drinkability, 7/10.
Angela- This beer has an interesting flavor, and I think would be a good beer to drink with appetizers, 6/10.
Chris- This is a very bitey pilsner, which is not what I expected. I would drink this again cold (reminder: we were brought all 12 beers at once, so they have been getting warmer as they've sat out), 6/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Pearl Street Wheat

"highly refreshing on a beautiful fall day!"

Our ninth beer in the progression is the Pearl Street Wheat, which is 5.5% ABV.


"If you've ever spent time in a German beer garde, you know how much they love their wheat beer. Our Bavarian style Hefeweizen is a satisfying blend of sweet wheat and pale malts, clove and banana aromatics, and the zesty tang of wheat beer yeast."


Overall average rating: 5.8/10


This is a translucent yellow beer, reminiscent of lemonade or a shandy. There is a lot of wheat in the aroma, the guys detect two different kinds. The taste is a summery wheat/lemony beer.


Shawn- This reminds me of Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, but more hoppy. It's hard to rate this higher because it's a summer beer and it's snowing outside, 4/10.
Angela- This is a good summertime beer - a lawnmower beer, really. It is light and refreshing, perfect hot weather beer, 6/10.
Chris- In comparison with a German Hefeweizen, this is a really wheaty summer ale, 7.5/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Cluster Fuggle IPA

"for the love of hops"

Our eighth beer is the Cluster Fuggle IPA, which is 7.0% ABV.


"Pale ale's not enough? Jump into our India Pale Ale, which has more malt, more hops, more of everything. Named for two of the oldest and classic English and American hops, our IPA brings this historic beer style into the 21st century."


Overall average rating: 5.25/10


This beer is a clear straw yellow color with a hint of amber. There is A LOT of citrus hop in the aroma with a little malt. There is a side tongue bite with a back of the tongue linger. You can taste the two distinct hops - the flavors aren't muddled together.


Shawn- This reminds me of Sierra Nevada Torpedo, and I don't care for the way it develops. This is very hop forward, while I prefer fruit forward, 4/10.
Angela- I am not a fan of citrusy hops, and this is very hoppy for me. To be fair, Shawn and I both agree that this isn't a bad beer, we just aren't hoppy beer fans, 4.25/10.
Chris- This is one of the few IPAs I've had where it says there are two types of hops and I can actually taste both of them. It's fairly smooth for an IPA, 7.5/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Forest City Brown Ale

"vintage is new again!"

Our seventh beer is the Forest City Brown Ale, which is 5.5% ABV.


"Dark, malty and delicious- but also dangerously quaffable. This style ale began in 18th Century Britain, but died out as pale malts became more economial than their darker counterparts. We're reviving the tradition and hope you enjoy it as much as we do!"


Overall average rating: 6.3/10


This deep copper red beer is not very aromatic, but gives of hints of wheat and malt. There is a front tongue bite and a nuttiness in the flavor. To us, it's a brown ale that drinks like a lager.


Shawn- It lacks complexity, but the flavors are good, 5/10.
Angela- I get a roasty, chocolate taste from this beer, and I find it to be very drinkable. I just wish it had a little more body, 7.5/10.
Chris- It's not an impressive taste, but I like it better than the porter. My rating is based on this as a brown ale; it would be lower if I was rating this as a beer overall, 6.5/10.

Market Garden Brewery - Fall Porter

"a party in your mouth"

Our sixth beer from Market Garden is their Fall Porter, which is 7.0% ABV.


"Rich and roasty toasty, but also mellow at the same time. This beer is a celebration of the seasonality of beer. SOmewhere between a Brown Ale and a Stout, this Porter will provide warmth to counter the growing nip in the air."


Overall average rating: 5.6/10


It pours a translucent light brown with a reddish hue. There is not much aroma, although it reminds us of crunchy leaves outside in the fall. The taste is thin overall with flavors of caramel, molasses, and malt.


Shawn- When I hear "porter," I think of a rich, robust beer, and this isn't. I've been a bit disappointed in the progression since the first beer, 5/10.
Angela- I think this has an interesting aroma and is very drinkable, although it isn't particularly memorable or thick and rich. It is a good late fall/early winter beer, in my opinion, 6.25/10.
Chris- I would classify this as more of a brown ale than a porter. It's not bad, but I'm not greatly impressed, 5.5/10.