Tag Archives: beer

February 13, 2014 · 12:31 pm

Pliny the Younger (beer)

Pliny the Younger is a triple IPA brewed by the Russian River Brewing Company and it’s only available for two weeks every February. It’s not just a beer, it’s an event. People line up for hours for the chance to get a six-ounce glass of this liquid gold. It’s been consistently voted as one of the best beers in America and for good reason. It’s a perfectly balanced beer, hoppy and bitter with a good amount of hops. It has a spicy citrus scent that carries over into the flavor. I taste spice, honey, citrus, and piney hops. It’s also 11% alcohol, so your head will start to buzz pleasantly. There’s a lot of hype behind this beer so it’s easy to be unsatisfied. You won’t like it if you’re not a fan of IPAs. But everyone should try this beer just to say that you’ve tried it. You can’t say that you’re a beer aficionado if you haven’t had Pliny the Younger. I woke up early for it, I waited in line for hours for it, and I enjoyed every sip of it. I was actually sad when I finished it. Now I have to wait another year to get it again.

Critically Rated at 17/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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February 12, 2014 · 1:12 pm

Payback Porter

Payback Porter is an American Porter from San Francisco’s Speakeasy Ales & Lagers brewery. It’s a fairly typical porter: it’s very dark brown in appearance, almost black with a mild amount of carbonation. It has a rich malty aroma, with chocolate and coffee undertones. The taste is of roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, smoke, and piney hops. It’s very well rounded and has a pretty decent 7.5% alcohol content. If you’re a fan of porters and stouts than you’ll probably like this brew. If you like Budweiser, I wouldn’t recommend it. This is a beer for beer buffs, not for amateurs. You should try it, especially if you’re lucky enough to find it on tap somewhere.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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February 5, 2014 · 12:05 pm

Worthington’s Red Shield (beer)

One of the perks of being a beer guy is discovering a new beer. I went to my local liquor store the other day and the clerk told me to try a bottle of Worthington’s Red Shield. It’s an English Pale Ale/Blond Ale from England. It’s a nice golden color with a mild amount of carbonation. It has a bready malt aroma primarily with hints of grass, earth, caramel, and toffee. It tastes like it smells, it’s malty with some earth tones and a little bit of caramel and grains. It’s kind of bland, but in a crisp and refreshing way. It still has more flavor than Budweiser and other domestics. It only has an alcohol content of 4.2%, which makes it a great beer for day drinking. I would get this beer again, but I wouldn’t go to England to get it.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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January 29, 2014 · 12:14 pm

Pouring Beer Into a Glass

There’s a lot of debate over whether bottles or cans are better for beer. Cans are easier to transport, they take up less space, and they don’t let any light in so the beer won’t get skunky. Bottles are traditional, classier, and they make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. A bottle of craft beer has more credibility than a can of a cheap domestic. But it doesn’t matter if you’re a bottle guy or a can guy, because we can all agree that beer is good and that pouring beer into a glass makes it taste even better. Pouring beer into a glass wakes it up and revives it. When you pour a cold beer into a chilled glass, the beer gets bubbly and foamy, and ideally you’ll get a nice thick head. The head is an important part of the beer. It broadens the flavor and aromas of the beer, it opens up the flavor gates. It’s how you’re supposed to drink beer. If you buy a ten-dollar bottle of beer and chug it straight from the bottle, but that’s a waste of precious booze. If you don’t taste it and savor it, then you wasted it. So pour your beer into a glass, enjoy it and enjoy life. Head makes everything better (remember that, ladies).

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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December 16, 2013 · 8:28 am

Corona Familiar

Did you know that Corona Extra has a more sophisticated older brother called Corona Familiar? Because I didn’t until about ten minutes ago when I discovered it at the corner store. It comes in 32 ounce brown bottles and apparently it tastes more like the Corona that they make in Mexico. There’s a lot of internet debate about whether or not it’s the same beer as Corona Extra, and I can’t tell because I don’t have a Corona Extra to compare it to. I think it tastes better than a Corona Extra, but that might just be because the brown bottle keeps the light out so it doesn’t get skunky. It has a 4.5% ABV, which is pretty standard for a crisp lager. It’s extremely drinkable and smooth, and perfect for a hot day at the beach. Too bad it’s a cold day in the city. If you like Corona Extra, you’ll like this beer.

Critically Rated at 10/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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December 7, 2013 · 8:43 am

Weihenstephaner Vitus

Weihenstephaner Vitus is a weizenbock from Germany’s Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan. Weihenstephan was founded in 1040, and they claim to be the World’s Oldest Brewery. Weihenstephaner Vitus is one of their flagship beers, and for good reason. This is one of the best wheat beers I’ve ever had. It has a rich banana aroma complimented by citric, coriander, and spice notes that tantalize your nose. It tastes like it smells. I get hints of banana, cloves, citrus, wheat, coriander, and sweetness. It has a 7.7% ABV, which is higher than I expected. You can’t even taste the alcohol. This is a very satisfying beer, perfect for cold December nights like this one. I would get it again, but I need to learn how to pronounce it first.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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December 4, 2013 · 11:17 am

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

Dogfish Head was one of the first craft brewers to really explode and kick off the current beer renaissance that we are enjoying today. Their 90 Minute Imperial IPA has won them awards and recognition from beer drinkers from all over the world. A lot of people say it is a perfect IPA. You can’t consider yourself a beer buff if you’ve never tried it. It has a well balanced aroma of hops and malt, flowers and honey. The flavor is pine and citrus hops, bready malt, and hints of coffee and caramel. It goes down clean, creamy, and smooth. It’s very well-rounded and you can’t even notice the 9.0% alcohol content. This is a gateway beer. Once you try a premium craft beer like this, you can’t go back to that mass-produced lager bullshit.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 13, 2013 · 6:27 pm

Heretic Evil Twin

Evil Twin is a bold West Coast Red Ale from Pittsburg, California’s Heretic Brewing Co. I just cracked it open and my nostrils were instantly hit by a strong whiff of grass, grapefruit, and hops. It tastes malty, with caramel, banana, toffee, and bitter hops to balance it out. You can also get a bit of grapefruit and apricot flavor as well. It has a crisp, creamy, and smooth mouthfeel, with a moderate amount of carbonation. It’s a nice red ale, with a decent 6.8% ABV. It would be better if it was stronger, but it’s still a very well-rounded brew. They should rename it though. It’s nowhere near as malicious as it sounds. It’s quite approachable and very drinkable. Give it a chance if you can.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 10, 2013 · 2:20 pm

Discovering a New Bar

People like to drink, especially in social settings. That’s why there are multiple bars in almost every single city and town around the world. There are classy bars, dive bars, sports bars, bars that you frequent, and bars that you avoid. Most people have a default bar or two, a place where you know the bartenders and they know you. The problem with being a regular is that you don’t bother going to other bars that you aren’t familiar with. Sometimes you have to take a chance and go to a different bar, you have to see what else is out there. I went to a going-away party for my friend’s last night in the city, and we went to a bar of his choice. It was a bar that I’ve never been to or even heard of. They had about fifty beers on tap, all microbrews. They even had Pliny the Elder. You know it’s a good bar if they have Pliny the Elder. It blew my mind that I had never been there before. Discovering a new bar that you like is a wakeup call, a reminder that you’re missing out on things by sticking to a routine. Discovering a new bar means forgetting an old one.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 10, 2013 · 2:19 pm

Pliny the Elder (beer, not the Roman philosopher)

Pliny the Elder is the flagship beer from the Russian River Brewing Company. It’s widely considered to be the best Double IPA on the market. It’s proof that God loves us and wants us to drink. It’s a perfect beer. It has a fresh pine scent, with grapefruit and floral notes. Upon the first sip, you’re hit by piney hops and bready malt flavors, with hints of grapefruit. It’s got an 8% ABV, but you can’t tell because it’s so refreshing and easy to drink. People go crazy for this beer, and for good reason. It’s hard to find, so consider yourself lucky if you ever come across it. Don’t hesitate to buy it, it will change your life. I would consider it the best beer of all time, but Russian River also makes a magical beer called Pliny the Younger. It’s a Triple IPA with a 10.5% alcohol content that is only available on draft at a few select locations near their brewery, and it’s only available for two weeks in February. It’s on my bucket list. Until then, I’ll just have to settle for Pliny the Elder, but I’m ok with settling on perfection.

Critically Rated at 17/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 24, 2013 · 1:15 pm

Stone Suede Imperial Porter

California’s Stone Brewing Co. presents Suede Imperial Porter, a limited batch ale brewed with calendula flowers, jasmine and honey. I don’t know why they call it Suede. It doesn’t smell like leather and it doesn’t taste like leather. It has a roasty and chocolaty aroma with fruity floral scents. It has a roasted malt flavor, and I can also taste chocolate, coffee, brown sugar, jasmine, lavender, and hops. It’s kind of a sweet porter with just little bitterness thrown in to balance it out. I’ve had better porters, but not many. It also has a hefty 9.6% alcohol content, enough to put a couple of hairs on your chest. I wouldn’t recommend chugging it, this is a beer that you sip on and savor. I would get it again. Too bad it’s only around for a few more weeks.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 19, 2013 · 9:56 am

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout

Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout is a beary good beer. Sorry about the obligatory bear pun, I had to say it. Now on with the review. This is a delicious and ideal stout. It has a rich roasted malt aroma with chocolate, coffee, and caramel notes. It tastes even richer than it smells. It has a roasted malt backbone with bittersweet chocolate flavor as well as caramel and coffee. It finishes slightly hoppy which gives it a nice balance. You can’t really taste the alcohol, but the label assures me that it’s 8.1%. It’s more drinkable than most stouts. It’s smooth and creamy, and it will warm you up on cold nights. This is another great beer from the Bear Republic Brewing Co. Good job brewmasters, keep it up.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 14, 2013 · 1:38 pm

Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale

Believer is a Double Red Ale from Eugene, Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing Company. It’s a delightfully creamy, full flavored ale that stars with a rich, bready malt taste and is followed by sharp, piney hops. There are some hints of vanilla and caramel, but it smells sweeter than it is. It has a slightly bitter aftertaste. Red Ales aren’t for everyone, but this is a good starter beer. See if you like this one, and then you can branch out into other Red Ales from other breweries. It has a decent 6.9% alcohol content, which is on the lower to middle end of acceptable for a decent microbrewed ale. This is a decent beer. It’s not remarkable, but it’s not boring or anything either. I would get it again, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it. If they renamed it Belieber, it would probably outsell Budweiser.

Critically Rated at 11/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 28, 2013 · 12:36 am

Leffe Blonde

Leffe Blonde is a Belgian Ale from Belgium. It’s also considered an Abbey Ale because it’s based on an abbey recipe that has been brewed for hundreds of years. It has a rich golden color, and it smells of bananas, cloves, spices, and doughy bread. It has a bready malty flavor with a light hop kick at the end. I can also taste banana, cloves, and honey… it’s a fairly sweet beer with hints of fruit. It’s a good stepping-stone to see what lies beyond the world of Budweiser. I bought the big bottle with the cork. Any beer that has a cork instead of a bottle cap just seems a little more classy. It’s 6.6% alcohol and that’s good but not great for an ale. It’s on the lower-middle end of acceptable. It’s a good beer for day drinking, but I wouldn’t play drinking games with it.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 25, 2013 · 12:42 pm

Black Diamond Fracas Red

Fracas Red is a Red Ale from Black Diamond Brewing Co. It has an aroma of hops and caramelized malts with citric undertones. I can smell grapefruit, oranges, and orange peels. It tastes of floral/herbal hops with a roasted malty backbone with caramel and citrus flavors. It starts bitter and finishes sweet. It says on the label that there are also hints of raisins. I’m pretty sure that they are lying. I taste no raisins. It has a solid 8% alcohol content, and it’s pretty drinkable so you might need to watch out and pace yourself. It has a cool label design. There’s a picture of a gnarly looking bull with eyes of flame staring directly into your soul. The bull knows your secrets. The bull knows your thoughts. He challenges you, daring you to try Fracas Red, to tame the beast. And you should. It’s a damn good beer.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 20, 2013 · 8:43 pm

Speakeasy Butchertown Black Ale

Butchertown Black Ale is a limited release brew from San Francisco’s Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, one of the better microbreweries in the city by the bay. It’s full flavored American Black Ale, full of malty and hoppy goodness. I can really taste the malt and piney hops, and it has a bit of a burnt smokey flavor as well. The Speakeasy brewmaster says that flavors of grapefruit, pine, currants and red wine come through before overturning to a malt depth intricacy of dark, toasted bread, pumpernickel, subtle notes of dark fruits and hints of dark chocolate, tobacco and leather. Try as I might, I can’t taste the leather and that’s probably a good thing. I think a lot of people would be put off by the bold taste, especially if you usually drink Bud or Coors. But if you like microbrews, this is a great choice. It’s 8.2% alcohol, a fairly typical amount for a good microbrewed ale. It has a cool name too. It was inspired by San Francisco’s Butchertown district where they used to slaughter livestock back in the day. Now it’s where the Speakeasy brewery stands. It’s worth buying. Look for the beer with a picture of a happy cow on the bottle. I don’t know why the cow is so happy. It’s almost as if it doesn’t know that it’s the mascot for a beer named after a slaughterhouse district.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 8, 2013 · 1:03 pm

Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA

Stone Brewing Co. has a habit of making amazing beers that you fall in love with. Unfortunately, they also make a lot of limited brews that you can only cherish for a little while before they disappear. 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA is one of their limited batches, brewed to celebrate their seventeen years in business. It has a great name. Götterdämmerung. It sounds angry and delicious, and it rolls off the tongue with a poetic ring to it. It has a hoppy, peppery scent, with citric notes of lemon and grapefruit. It has a zesty, tropical fruit taste with a malty backbone, and peppery/earthy/wooden/herbal undertones. It’s very bold and strong, but it’s still very drinkable and slightly sweet. It has a 9.5% alcohol content, so you’ll be ready for a nap after a couple of glasses. It’s a very enjoyable beer; I only wish that it were available all the time.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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