Yuletide drinking

Hello again, and welcome back to the near-Christmas edition of Younge's Beer Review! Today we've got a jolly brew from the likes of locally-operated Alesmith Brewing Company. The limited edition Yulesmith only comes in a Bomber (22 Oz) bottle and is listed at 8.5%, promising a hefty good time. Let's see how it stacks up!

Popping the bottle, the drinker immediately notices a strong hop influence, with a predominant Douglas Fir bouquet. Seriously, it smells like a Christmas tree, although with some caramel notes to accompany. It pours an almost-brown, dark amber and foams up quite nice, maintaining an awesome amount of head retention. The first sip brings with it a bitter dominance that singes the sides of the tongue with an edgy finish. Soon, however, the other flavors of this strong ale become apparent. Caramel first appears as indicated by the nose, followed by a dark chocolate toffee. The latter becomes more pronounced as the drinker continues, and settles into a refreshing bitter finish. The subtleties Yulesmith delivers make it a difficult beer to taste at first, but the quality shines through in the end. What really impressed me about this beer was it's toned flavor progression. For every sip, you notice the sweet caramel/toffee more and more, and the bitter hops fade into the background as your taste buds adjust. Overall, a very merry beverage, and worthy of a great score.

Score: 9/10

Happy holidays, and happy drinking!

'Tis the season for a Celebration

Hello all, and welcome back to this first holiday edition of Younge's Beer Review for 2013! Today I'll be sampling a staple of California Craft Winter Brews: The Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Always a popular choice for winter, this American IPA is provided by the fantastic Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. We'll start off with a bottle shot:

Exhibit A

As you can see, the Beer's pour is a dark, clear amber, not unlike a fine brandy. The thick head diminishes surprisingly fast, but that certainly doesn't spoil the taste...or the aroma. With a festive heady sweetness to the nose, you can tell this will be a worthwhile drink. A few sips in and I'm already feeling a bit lightheaded; at 6.8% ABV, this is definitively a heavier Beer than I'm used to trying. I would guess that pairs well with something hearty and full of meat (likely a big holiday dinner!) The taste is bittersweet, and the emphasis is on the sweet. Think if a Beehive got into of a bushel of Hops, and their Honey was dipped right into the malt. There also isn't much carbonation in the Beer either; I may have gotten a bum batch, but I rather like that Brewery-fresh smoothness. But of course, these aren't even the biggest highlights. Immediately following the sip, a warm feeling spreads into your throat, much more subtly than in stronger Beverages. The feeling lasts right up until the mouth-watering finish fades, keeping you warm perfectly in the (likely) cold weather. As the drinker continues, the bittering hops start to manifest. By the end of the glass, I was rather full (But still grabbed another!) All in all, a solid, strong, and filling IPA, from one of the more notable California Breweries. A must-buy if you are looking to spice up that Holiday party at your in-laws, and it won't hurt the Christmas dinner either.

Score: 9/10
Happy Holidays!

A (not so) Big Wave

Aloha, Beer Drinkers! Welcome back to this post-thanksgiving edition of Younge's Beer Review! This week will mark the last that I will do a lighter variety of Beer for awhile, as we'll soon be getting into the Holiday Specials and hearty styles of Winter Brews. This week, however, I have my eyes set on something for lighter weather. Hailing from the islands of Hawai'i, I present to you: The Big Wave Golden Ale, from Kona Brewing Co. I've done a previous review of the Kona Brewing Company before, from an untitled review waaay back in September of 2012. The Longboard Lager didn't fare all that well in my book, as it lacked creativity and anything to distinguish itself with. Let's see if the Big Wave can do better.

Right off the bat, you can tell this one will be light. Upon pouring, the Big Wave fails to live up to it's name, its head settling into a thin disc of foam quite quick. Unlike the stock photo I used, I found myself drinking a lightly carbonated beverage, and one a bit devoid of flavor at that. It was actually so mild, that for a moment, I could swear I was drinking seltzer water. At 4.4% ABV, it certainly won't knock you down in a hurry. Aesthetically, The Big Wave isn't bad: A light Gold body and a pleasant semisweet aroma contribute to a nice experience in sipping. There is a bit of a thirst-quenching finish to this Golden Ale, although not enough to keep me wanting more of it once I'd finished. As with many mass-market Golds, this one falls a bit short on flavor, while maintaining a good appearance to sell. It's not terrible, but if you are searching for a Craft Ale with a big personality, this simply isn't it.

Score: 5.5/10

So there it is, all around mediocre experience, but pleasant at least. Drinkable at any rate. I'll see you all next week, with the beginning of the cold-weather Brews for 2013-2014. As the Starks say: Winter is Coming. (So Bring a Coat)!

Avery's White Rascal

Hello all, and welcome back for another edition of Younge's Beer Review! It has been well over a year since I've lived Colorado, but I still miss the places and people I left behind there. This week, i'll be reliving a few memories, with a local favorite from my college town of Boulder. Avery Brewing Company's White Rascal is a light yellow Belgian-style wheat, which has proven especially popular and prompted it's widespread release around the country. Pouring easily, this beer settles into a nice light head atop the glass, crowning a body so thin you can see quite clearly through it. Don't let that scare you away, however, as this imp has a few tasty surprises up it's sleeve.

White Rascal is best served at just below room temperature. It opens into a nice tangy nose which tantalizes the taste buds. Upon tasting, the drinker is greeted with a sweet and sour, almost grapefruit-like body, with hints of lemon. As the first taste fades, it is replaced with an ephemeral sour and bitter finish. This mildly stings the tongue, before disappearing entirely. White Rascal is a beer that gets stronger the longer you drink it, but this has a limit as well. By the end of the bottle, you end up with a full flavored Belgian White, which cleverly produces a mouthwatering effect. It's a nice package all together, and worthy of some admiration, despite my general misgivings with wheat beers.

For a pleasant experience produced in a fine city, I give White Rascal an 8/10.
Cheers!
-Devin

Wexford Creme Ale

Hello Beer drinkers, and welcome back to another edition of Younge's Beer Review! Today I am sampling an interesting Beverage that was recently given to me as a gift. Wexford Creme Ale is a delightful Irish-style Red, with a creamy head and an unbeatable smoothness. I say Irish-style, of course, because the Beer itself is actually Brewed in Suffolk, UK. Wexford comes in a can, and uses a nitrogen widget, similar to popular stouts like Guinness. Popping the top and taking a whiff reveals a mellow sweetness, characteristic of English Pub Ales (my favorite!). It also shares a common pour with stouts: as if flows into the glass, the head billows out and slowly ascends to the top, forming a very creamy crown atop the golden body.

Tasting Wexford is a pleasant, albeit simple experience. There isn't much depth to it, like most English Goldens and Reds. Instead, the drink is smoothly imbibed in either sips or gulps, refreshing and leaving the thinnest of finishes. The hop profile is nearly nonexistent, more of a nip than a bite. Honestly, I could drink this stuff instead of water, it's so refreshing. At the end of the day, there isn't anything particularly exciting about Wexford, but it sure is satisfying.

Score: 8/10

Seeya next week!

Red Tail Amber Ale

Hello again, this is Devin, and welcome back to another edition of Younge's Beer Review! Mid October brings with it the first sign of changing weather around San Diego, prompting all its residents to wear more than sandals and a t-shirt for a change. In the same spirit, I thought I would try something slightly different as well. This week's selection is from the Mendocino Brewing Company, whom I previously gave glowing ratings to for their Eye of the Hawk creation. Today, I will be reviewing the flagship entry in their line, the Red Tail Ale.

Houseplant not included

Red Tail is a nice American Amber with a few surprises. Some of them are quite good, while others are not so much. To start, the opening pour produces a dark, dirty gold body, and a short head that quickly dissipates. Not my personal favorite presentation, but not a deal-breaker, either. The first taste is that of copper earth tones, with a bitter bite from a California style hopping process. What's not so nice here is that all this changes to an astonishingly mild finish that leaves much to be desired. It pairs reasonably well with food, although given the IBUs and the alcohol content (~6%), i'd recommend nothing too salty or dry. One nice thing that can be said for the Red Tail Ale is its utility as a palate cleanser. In between every bite of food, a decent gulp from this Amber will clear away the taste with its own domineering experience, before settling into nothing. And at the end of the day, that deserves some merit.

For a beer that delivers substance but lacks in style,  I give the Red Tail Amber Ale a 7/10.

Until next time, Happy Drinking!

-Devin

Oktoberfestive

Hey all, welcome back to this fall edition of Younge's Beer Review. I have been absent form this blog for a bit, due to sickness (see: Antibitoics + Alcohol), but I'm back just in time for an excellent entry. It's October the 3rd, making this officially the last day of a very special holiday, Oktoberfest! The Bavarian tradition has years of history behind it, so today's selection will pay homage to it. Today I am sampling the Oktoberfest-Marzen from Ayinger, a medium sized private Brewery in Aying, Germany. According to Wikipedia, this is technically not on the short list of official Oktoberfest brews, but since I'm in the states, I'll give myself a pass (although you really should try some of those, they are delicious!)

Ayinger's offering opens up with a nice full bodied smell that nips the nose a bit. It pours into a yellow-amber colored body and keeps a stable thick foamy head for a bit. The taste is very malty, as expected of a German festival lager, and not too heavy on the alcohol (5.8%). Very traditional as I understand it, Ayinger makes a solid beverage in this category. Sipping it leaves little finish, so It's recommended to take it in big, tasty gulps. Overall, the beer is nice and refreshing, and far better than standard festival fare offered on this side of the pond. Ayinger earns high marks for that alone, although it would have been nice to see something stand out out about it. Oh wait, it comes in a half Liter bottle...that'l do!

Score: 7/10

Happy Oktoberfest, and see you all again soon. Happy Drinking!
-Devin