A Seditious November - Part 1

Hiya Everybody! It's been a long while since the last update, though I've not lost interest in continuing Blogging the Booze. This week I'll kick off another series fro ma rather new Microbrewery here in Southern California, ironically named Legacy Brewing. It's a different kind of SoCal Brewpub, given the propensity of over-hopped and Over-the-Top beverages on selection. Today's choice is the Sedition Pale Ale, a 6.8% Bomber bottle with a surprisingly mild bite.

As a Pale, Sedition isn't too heady from the first. On opening, the nose comes fresh from a pine forest, with a sweet and crisp promise like maple sap. This is enhanced while it's cooled, making the whole beverage smell unexpectedly (but awesomely) like a Christmas tree. The Ale pours a very nearly transparent golden orange, leaving the thinnest disc of a head on top.

On the first taste, the biggest surprise is how mild this beer really is. It starts Malt-forward, but also seems rather watery. Continuing with the forest theme, the pinefresh hops make an appearance, but overall don't seem to last. They do coat the tongue just a bit, so the more you drink, the more hoppy this Ale appears. It's very crisp, like springwater, and also makes light on the carbonation. After a bit of a while, you can taste a few other notes, including Grapefruit and Honey.

Overall, Sedition reminds me of an English Pale, with it's light, alternating malt-and-hop forwardness, and it's sessionability. At 6.8%, it hits rather quickly, but it's more of a heady buzz than anything, and adds a warm feeling to the drinking experience. While it isn't incredibly diverse, the Christmas-y feel of the Beer and a pleasant overall feel gives it some decent marks.

Final Score: 7/10

Thanks for reading! Tune in next time for another creation out of the Legacy Brewing Company!

Cheers,
Devin

A Wyching esperience - Part 2

Hiya again, Beer Drinkers!

For the second entry in this two-parter, I'll be reviewing the signature brew of Wychwood Brewery, Hobgoblin Dark English Ale. Just like it's somewhat-magical cousin, Hobgoblin comes in a flamboyant bottle, promising all sorts of treats to any who dare pop the top. Promptly doing just that, we immediately notice a sweet, chocolaty smell, with a bit of copper tones to accompany.

Upon pouring, the drinker will notice a dirty, ruddy red color, as if the brew is liquid ruby. It settles into a thick frothy head, which retains better than Wychcraft. After about 5 minutes, however, it too dissipates into a thin disc. The opening flavors are a combination of bittersweet chocolate (minus much sugar). It is rather reminiscent of a burnt amber ale, on first thought. Typical of a dark English Ale, it's nice and dry, resulting in a crisp, yet heavy finish. It actually hits rather quickly, although I am a bit full from dinner at the time of writing. On that note, Hobgoblin makes quite the nice dessert beer! Overall, this year-round staple makes a much better impression than our first entry.

Score: 8.5/10, for devilishly good taste, complex tones, and a pretty sight inside and out.

Until next time, Happy Drinking!

A Wyching experience - Part 1

Hiya guys!

It's been a long while since I've put another entry in here, which means it's high time for another! Starting today, i'll be doing a two-parter, with a nice English selection I dug out of a local bottle shop. Wychcraft, from Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire, UK creates a number of Halloween themed beverages, and this Blonde Ale fits with the menagerie. It comes in a rather ornate bottle, describing such attributes as "Thrice-hopped and Golden" and some of the supposed flavor profiles.

Popping the bottle results in a sweet honey nose, complete with some sour, citrus notes. It pours a dark (hazy) golden, springing a frothy medium head, which mostly dissipates in a few minutes. The flavor profiles are varied and interesting. Starting a bit bittersweet (with subtle hops) the brew grabs hold of your senses, albeit not in an incredibly strong way. From there, the promised citrus comes out, in the form of a grapefruit taste, coupled with the initial sweetness, which makes it feel like a full breakfast. Transforming into the sweet & sour finish, which fades away into a light maltyness. The beer gets much easier to drink over time, and eventually settles quite heavily (like a full meal in and of itself) Overall, it isn't too bad, and rather more complex than I expected. I am a little bit disappointed in the overly-subtle notes, and I think more could have been done to make the brew live up to it's Wychcrafting roots. Not too bad, however, and I would certainly try it again.

Score: 7.5/10

I'll see you guys next time, and Happy Drinking!

New Belgium Trippel

Hello again, and welcome to the first April edition of Younge's Beer Review! It has been awhile since I've put another one of these out, as i've been rather busy with eSports stuff, and pursuing my shoutcasting/ journalism career. I finally got around to browsing the liquor isle at my local Grocery store, and came upon an interesting bevy of New Belgium creations. As you seasoned Beer drinkers will know, the Fort Collins, CO based Brewery is a favorite of mine. Adding to the list of my NB reviews today is the aptly-named Trippel. An Ale Brewed with Coriander, according to its label, the Belgian-style is lightly smooth, flavorful and filling, while not going overboard on spices as some similar drinks do.

Let's start with the nose. Sweet, but mildly sour, it is apparent that this is a lighter beverage than the typical Belgian-Style American Ale. I drank this straight from the bottle, so I didn't get a profile of the pour/head. The first taste is quite pleasant, a burst of almost salty malt, a touch of hops, and a small finish that fades in under a minute. In all honesty, I was expecting something a little more exciting out of New Belgium, considering this was even in tune to their namesake. Ah well, not every drink can measure up to the hype.

Overall it's a nice Beer, but does little to be adventurous. I'd give it a 6.5/10 overall for satisfying and filling me up, but giving only a touch of satisfaction. Join us again next time, for another NB selection!

In a Cold Snap

Hello all, and welcome back to another winter edition of Younge's Beer Review! It's the dead of winter here in San Diego, and I've gotten a hold of a rare package of winter Brew (wink wink) that I found quite sustaining in this cold time.

This weeks selection is none other than the Samuel Adam's seasonal, Cold Snap. The winter white Ale is brewed with a medley of spice, which lend it some interesting flavors and tones. And at 5.3% ABV, it isn't too heavy to have a few of.

Starting off, the popped bottle reveals a crispy, and mild fruit nose. This would indicate apricots or figs, and smells simply wonderful. Pouring results in a dirty golden-orange body, topped with a thick head of foam. this layer maintains for a nice time, and adds a touch of cream to the finish.

Now, for the tastes. I noticed grapefruit, apricot and orange peel tones prevalent throughout the drink. A hint of plum could also be detected, but all the flavors came out towards the finish. This is not quite as fruit forward as a drink like a Belgian would be, but it packages all the flavors well nonetheless. The finish is a subtle bitterness, combined with a honeysweet-sour that could be the same grapefruit note. The hops in this beer are mild, and at only 10 IBU this is no wonder. Still, it provides a nice combination for the palate that earns it high marks.

In the end, it all comes down to what you are left with, and Cold Snap provides a crisp, refreshing reason to stay indoors while it's still cold outside. Or hell, take one with you while you're shoveling the snow off the driveway.

Score: 8/10


We'll see you again soon!
-Devin

Josephs BrauFEST: part 4

Hello all, and welcome back for the fourth and final installment of Younge's Beer Review! This week, we have the likes of Joseph Brau Winterbrew, the bitchin' winter Doppel-bock. This is the 'seasonal' portion of the seasonal variety pack, and it packs the biggest punch.

The nose off the bottle is that of semisweet chocolate, not unusual for a Doppel bock. Pouring results in a crimson body, with a thick head that settles nicely into a thin disc of foam. In fact, the WinterBrew has the thickest head of each of the JB selections thus far. The first taste brings some interesting bittersweet to it. Dark chocolate, caramel tones, and English toffee are all present. There is a light bitterness to it as well, accentuated by the rather high alcohol content. At 7.5% ABV, this beer is one of the stronger one's I've sampled in awhile. The finish is mostly caramel, but the hops really come out as the temperature rises. It's not a bad combination, overall, and the WinterBrew deserves marks for creativity and flavor profile. However, the beer can fall a bit flat in places. The finish is a bit lighter than it could be, and the combination of dessert flavors tends to clash a bit at times. Even so, it is a very drinkable after-dinner beverage.

Score: 7/10

Until next time,
Happy Drinking!
-Devin

Josephs BrauFEST: part 3

Hello again everyone, and welcome back to the 3rd part of this special edition of Younge's Beer Review! This time we'll be doing another of the Joesphs Brau variety pack, the aptly named PLZNR. A Czech-style Lager (see: Pilsner, this beer boasts a solid combination of taste, appearance and complexity. Let's have a first look.

Pouring out of the bottle comes a Golden body with a nice medium-foam head. This dissipates in a matter of minutes, depending on the glass and the pour angle. The nose off this one is quite sweet, somewhat like a biscuit with honey. The first sip is complex. I noted a strong bitter finish, and some earth tones. With 32 IBUs, the finish felt much stronger than it was. This is a bit typical of the Pilsner style, but I was still surprised at the impact the hops left.

As more of the body opened up, I got distinct notes of grapefruit and rye. The carbonation in the PLZNR is not particularly strong; in fact the beer appeared nearly flat at times. A minor fault, but it is a tad disappointing. Other than that, there aren't too many issues with the Czech-style Pils. Not particularly creative, but why mess with a winning formula? Overall, this is a nicely complex, bitter beer that earns higher marks than both the others thus far in the JB variety pack.

Score: 8/10

Until next time,
Happy Drinking!

-Devin