Beer 399/365 – Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 10.5%

Purchased at: Smokin Joe’s – Pittsburgh, PA

What makes this beer different: The maple. I love beers with bourbon, I love beers with maple. Therefore I LOVE this beer.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes I was lucky enough to land one bottle at Smokin Joe’s (for $35 ugh)

Grade: A+

10/25/2011: This beer was on my most wanted list, and I heard rumors that Smokin Joe’s in the South Side of Pittsburgh was getting a case. I got lucky with some insider info on when the beer arrived. By the time I got there, they were already down to 7 bottles left. They also had a sixtel of it so I got to try it on tap.

The smell is amazing, bourbon is at the forefront, coffee, some oak, and chocolate. The maple is very subtle in the nose. The flavor is amazing. Maple is much more prominent in the taste, and it does a great job of mellowing out the would-be harshness of the bourbon. Chocolate, bourbon, molasses, coffee, vanilla… So many subtle flavors going on. Seems to be a slightly different taste every sip. This beer does have some similarities to KBS, but CBS is much more drinkable in my opinion. I had a hard time not drinking this entire beer within 10 minutes. I won’t say this is the best beer I have ever had, but it is without a doubt top 3. If you are lucky enough to stumble across some of this, buy as much as you can.

Picture of the day: Stove top not working?

Beer 381/365- New Holland Dragon’s Milk

Style: American Stout

ABV: 9.0%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate Wine & Beer – Boardman Ohio

What makes this beer different: Thought this would be considered an imperial stout due to the ABV. Regardless this is one of the best affordable “big stouts” available.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes, this beer is a staple in the cellar.

Grade: A-

3/7/2011: Kind of shocked that I didn’t drink one of these during my 365. Even more shocked that this is my first New Holland beer. I tried to make it there on my Michigan Beer Tour, but ran out of time and energy. I plan on driving through Michigan again in the near future, and I plan on making it to New Holland this time around for sure.

Dragon’s Milk in my opinion isn’t overly complex, but complexity isn’t a must for a good beer. The nose is mostly chocolate, oak, and a bit of dark fruit. The flavor reminds me of a stronger version of one of my favorite beers; Dominion Oak Barrel Stout. A lot of roasty malt, chocolate, some oak, and a hint of vanilla and dark fruit. There is a little alcohol kick that you usually get with a Russian Imperial Stout, but it doesn’t bother me much. This coming from a guy who drinks his Beam ‘n Coke’s at an 80/20 ratio typically. Mouthfeel is a bit light for the ABV, which is probably why the alcohol isn’t hidden extraordinarily well. Overall a great beer for the price.

Picture of the day: Who is up for a staring contest?

Beer 371/365 – Kuhnhenn Solar Eclipse Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 18.0%

Purchased at: Sent in a trade

What makes this beer different: Very similar to dogfish world wide stout, clone maybe?

Will I be drinking this again: Would love to, but its not exactly the most widely distributed beer in the world.

Grade: A-

12/17/2010: Kuhnhenn is yet another great brewery from the great beer state of Michigan. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it there on my Michigan Brewery Tour, but next time I am going to stop by for sure. They are known for their raspberry eisbock, which I have aging in the beer cellar right now.

I opened this late on a weeknight not taking note of the ABV before doing so (18%)… Oops! The nose is not as boozy as I expected, a lot of dark chocolate and some char. The alcohol is very well hidden for an 18%ABV beer, a lot of dark chocolate in the flavor, sweet toffee, and some prune like flavor in the mix. Mouthfeel as expected is a bit heavier than average. The beer went down well considering the high alcohol content, but it got a little bit too sweet at the end. Overall very good! Not quite as good as its 18% ABV brother WWS.

Picture of the day: Not exactly the smartest idea ever.

Beer 300/365 – Bell’s Octoberfest Beer

Style: Oktoberfest

ABV: 5.5%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate – Boardman OH

What makes this beer different: Not much, just an average oktoberfest beer.

Will I be drinking this again: Maybe? depends on what else is available.

Grade: B

9/4/2010: Beer #300! Only 65 more to go, okay really by the time i got around to updating this post its more like 50 or so beers to go. This is also my first oktoberfest beer as well. I know nothing about Bell’s version so here goes!

The nose is not powerful at all, mostly a toasted malt type kick. The taste is good, but a bit underwhelming for most of the ride. Toasted malt is main-stage, and quite honestly thats all I am getting from this, maybe a little bit of hops but they are very weak. Again the flavor isn’t a bad one, there just needs to be more of it. Although this is a beer that non-beer geeks would probably enjoy as there are not any harsh flavors going on. Mouthfeel is a bit light.

Picture of the day: Someone is trying to be sneaky.

Beer 275/365 – Michigan Brewing Celis White

Style: Witbier

ABV: 3.9%

Purchased at: Vintage Estate – Boardman OH

What makes this beer different: Great summer beer. Very refreshing.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes I should have picked up a couple.

Grade: A-

8/10/2010: Thanks to Rob for recommending this beer to me. I have always seen it on the shelves but never really had a reason to buy it. I also never realized that Michigan Brewing made this beer. Which is good news because I love their screaming pumpkin beer, and had no clue they distributed into Ohio.

The smell is mostly some fresh wheat, and a little bit of citrus. The flavor has a nice bit of clove, some citrus (on the orange end of the scale), lightly bready wheat, and its slightly funky. A lot of flavor for how light this beer is. The more I drink this beer the more flavors I am picking up, now I am getting some white pepper. Celis White is pretty light on mouthfeel and very well carbonated which makes this a great summer beer. Thanks again for the suggestion Rob!

Picture of the day: Irony much?

Beer 250/365 – Bell’s Batch 9000

Style: American Strong Ale

ABV: 12.5%

Purchased at: The Headkeeper – Greensburg PA

What makes this beer different: Super sweet and needs some time to sit for sure.

Will I be drinking this again: Have a few more bottles in the basement

Grade: B

7/16/2010: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think Bell’s is a little overrated. Other than Hop Slam they don’t offer much that is very unique. Of course there is a market for above average “staying in the lines” craft beer, so I can’t say I blame them for pretty much staying on the straight and narrow. I love breweries who think outside the box, and try to push the limits. Bell’s is a little more on the conservative end of the brewery scale.

I have been reading reviews on this beer and see that it is still a little hot, but that didnt stop me from trying it. I am also confused how this is categorized as a Strong Ale, it hits me more as a stout. The smells is VERY boozy and sweet. The flavor is all about sweetness, molasses, and dense fugdeyness. The booze are far too prominent for me at this point. I rarely ever thing a beer is too boozy, as I am the type of guy who drinks my whiskey and cokes with only a splash of coke. Very full mouthfeel, with little to no carbonation. I am sure this will be a solid beer in a year or two, but for right now I will avoid drinking another one.

Picture of the day: Keep your kids away from this guy.

Beer 232/365 – Dark Horse Rod

Style: Amber Ale

ABV: 7.2%

Purchased at: On Tap at Vintage Estate – Boardman, OH

What makes this beer different: The most herbal tasting beer ever.

Will I be drinking this again: Not sure if they are bottling it, but I would drink it again sure.

Grade: A-

6/28/2010: Dark Horse is hands down my favorite brewery for three main reasons. One, they brew awesome beer. I have tried almost a dozen different beers of theirs, and all were a B+ or better. Two, they turned down being in a Nickelback video (hate their music). Three, they don’t take themselves too seriously and have an good sense of humor when naming/describing their beer. For instance check out the sexual innuendo’s going on here in the description of the beer.

“Rod is a refreshing, medium bodied red ale brewed with aphrodisiac herbs for woman and men alike. Brewer Russ Beattie was working on his own version of Sex Panther, using passion flower, epimedium, damiana, and ginko to elevate the levels of spring time friskiness and brewmaster Aaron Morse decided that the best way to spread the love was via Rod.”

Rod smells toasty and herbal. The main event as far as flavors go, is no doubt some herbal funk. Can’t tell you what herbs exactly, but its herbal, almost like tea made with real tea leaves. A good bit of caramel malt going on, and finishes a little bit dry. Mouthfeel is a little heavy for an amber, but I think it needs the heaviness for the herbs to lay in. Very unique, but no it didn’t get me excited in that type of way hah.

Picture of the day: WOW, this girl has reached an entirely new level of stupidity.

Beer 223/365 – Dark Horse One Oatmeal Stout

Style: Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 8.0%

Purchased at: Maybe Siciliano’s in Grand Rapids Michigan? I can’t remember ha.

What makes this beer different: One of the heaviest Oatmeal Stout’s I have ever had.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes, I hear they are selling in PA soon so thats a plus.

Grade: A-

6/19/2010: I think its official; Dark Horse is my favorite brewery. Every single beer of theirs that I have tried has been very unique, and very tasty. Plus I love the whole rustic/rural setting of their brewery/brewpub. If you haven’t seen what it looks like check out my brewery tour write up for some pictures.

This beer smells very very roasted, lots of coffee smell going on here. The taste is intense for an oatmeal stout. Almost a neck and neck race between dark roast coffee, and bittersweet chocolate, with vanilla lagging way way behind in last place. This beer is very sweet, but its kept in check by the burnt/roast flavor that the coffee is giving. Very heavy mouthfeel for an Oatmeal stout, but thats perfect for me because I love heavy beers. Not sure if you get Dark Horse beer in your area, but if you don’t be sure you try to trade for some. It will be worth it.

Picture of the day: Digging up the past.

Beer 91/365 – Founder’s Double Trouble

Style: Imperial IPA

Purchased at: Regional Food and Drink – Washington DC

What makes this beer different: One of the hoppiest beers I have had yet.

Will I be drinking this again: Probably not

Grade: B

2/07/2010: We went to Regional Food and Beverage before the Pens/Caps game Sunday, and we literally saw people with cross country skis on hoofing around the city. First time I have ever witnessed skiing inside a city in my life. Anyways back to the bar. Very cool place with a ton of beer on tap. They had Brooklyn Cookie Jar Porter listed as one of their beers on tap so I was pretty pumped to try that, but of course we order it and she comes back telling us they just ran out earlier that morning. Argh.

So lately I have actually been enjoying imperial IPA’s, but Double Trouble was a little too intense for me at 86IBU. The smell was flowery, and some tropical fruit. The taste was all hops, and not a lot of malt to balance it out. I can take a ton of hops but for me it needs a malt backbone to stand on. Moutheel was thick and sappy, and almost had a weird resin ganja like feel to it (odd I know but thats the only way I can describe it). Props for hiding the 9.4% ABV, but overall just too much hop smacking you in the mouth for my tastes.

Funny Picture of the day: Those vegans take the fun out of everything.