The Lost Abbey Saison Blanc

The Lost Abbey Saison Blanc

Style: Saison

Alcohol Content: 5.5%

From: San Marcos, California, USA

Purchased from: Beer Geek, Prague, Czech Republic

http://lostabbey.com/

Some men dream, whilst others just brew.

A few years ago Vince Marsaglia (co founder of Pizza Port) dreamt of a brewery producing a range of authentic abbey style beers. That dream became a reality when Tomme Arthur was hired to brew a Belgian Dubbel called Overhead Abbey ale.

After many years of small scale brewing at Pizza port, the dynamic duo began formulating a plan to bring abbey style beers to the masses. As luck would have it, Stone Brewing Company announced that it was moving away from its old facility in San Marcos, California to a larger premises. Taking this as a sign from a higher power, the newly formed Port Brewing Company moved into this facility and split production between Port and the Belgium beer specialist Lost Abbey. The brewery finally opened its doors to the public in 2006 and now produce a range of six core beers and a plethora of seasonal specials including the subject of this review; Saison Blanc.

Colour: Pours a bright, straw yellow with a thin white head which lingers for the duration of the beer. As with many Saisons, a heft lump of yeast is present in the bottle. Feeling darling, I added some into my glass. The yeast not only helps to cloud the beer, but in my opinion it helps to lift the flavours of the beer onto a higher plane.

Aroma: What a bobby dazzler of a nose. Big bold notes of yeast and straw are promptly followed by notes of plums, grapes and perhaps a little pineapple. Very fruity and not what I have come to expect from a Saison.

Body: The additional yeast really helps to fill out the body because I fear that without the yeast, this beer would actually taste rather thin and lifeless. The yeast adds a slight creamy sensation that mixes very playfully with the incredibly complex flavour profile.

Taste: As I eluded to above, this beer has a complex flavour profile which I will now attempt to summarise. Rather like a glass of Chardonnay, this beer drinks dry from beginning to the end. Notes of straw, coriander, pepper and sweet raisins shine though before the alcohol rains on their parade. This strong alcohol taste is rather surprising given the low ABV. As the beer warms, hints of fresh lemons appear to add a real zing to the finish which remains warming and dry complimented with a slight hint of hop bitterness. A very well rounded package that needs a little more body thickness in order to be truly exceptional.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ikley-brewing-siberia-rhubarb-saison.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/anchor-brewing-old-foghorn.html

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Lagunitas IPA

Lagunitas IPA
Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Petaluma, California, USA

Purchased From: Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney

http://lagunitas.com/

Over the past few weeks, my liver has taken one hell of a pounding. Two beer festivals and one craft beer night later, I am constantly finding myself reaching for a daily Paracetamol. Whilst I enjoy drinking the beer at the time,  I'm also starting to feel the effects more the day after. I guess my metabolism is not the same as it once was or perhaps it’s the fact that I'm drinking stronger beers more often. After looking through my beer cupboard, I noticed the average ABV was 8%.  Lordy, I can remember a time when the highest beer I ever drank was a 5 percent Carlsberg Export. That being said, the pain is worth it. After two years of blogging  my curiosity and enthusiasm to discover new beer styles has yet to waiver. No Pain, No Gain as they say.

Founded in 1993 by Tony Magee in Lagunitas, California, the brewery quickly outgrew its original home and a year later moved to Petaluma, California.  Maintain that rapid momentum, Lagunitas has almost quadrupled its output between 2004 to 2010, rising from 27,000 barrel per annum to 106,000 per annum during this period. In 2012, Lagunitas announced plans for a new Chicago based brewery with a barrel capacity of 600,000 per annum whilst also investing 9.5 million dollars in order to  increase production at their Petaluma site to a similar level. The Chicago brewery finally opened its doors in April 2014, complete with an onsite tap-room. Great news considering I will be heading over to the States for my 30^th birthday. Cheers all!

Colour: Pours a warm orange/copper, complete with a bubbly white head. This head lingers for the duration, lacing the glass perfectly on every sip.

Aroma: Hints of perfectly blended kiwi, mango and lime present themselves instantly. It's almost like an exotic fruit salad that has been drizzled in sweet honey. The citrus notes slowly mellow to give way to delicate hints of earthy resinous hops. The perfect perfume for an IPA.

Body: Lordy, this drink is oh so smooth it's almost like you are drinking a pint of pure velvet. The carbonation is perfectly balanced against the sweetness of the hop oils to ensure a refreshingly pleasurable drinking experience.

Taste: Hints of beautifully fresh mangos are promptly followed by notes of a dry, hobnob biscuit. Hints of smooth honey and warming alcohol will become more prominent as the drink warms. These flavours add to the refined smoothness of this beer and the mildly bitter aftertaste helps to round out the flavour perfectly. In my opinion, this is one of the most polished IPAs on the market. Perfectly balanced in all areas, ensuring that both novices and beer connoisseurs go home happy. Great stuff!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-celt-brewing-experience-seven.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/alken-maes-judas.html

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Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

Alcohol Content: 10.2%

From: Chico, California, USA

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.sierranevada.com/ 

Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States, behind the Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It is currently the sixth-largest brewing company in the United States.The brewery produced 786,000 barrels of beer in 2010.

The brewery was named "Green Business of the Year" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 for its practices in sustainability.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was founded in 1979, with founders Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi expanding their homebrewing hobby into a brewery in Chico, California. Along with the brewery's location, Grossman claims the company's name comes from his love of hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.With $50,000 in loans from friends and family, Grossman & Camusi rented a 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) warehouse and pieced together discarded dairy equipment and scrap yard metal to create their brewing equipment.They later were able to acquire second-hand copper brewing kettles from Germany before moving to their larger, current brewing facility in 1989.

Colour: Pours a jet fuel black with a densely packed, tan coloured foam. It looks so thick in the glass you could mistake it for tar. The head will slowly die away after a few minutes in the glass but what's left will cling to the glass as if it's life depends on it. So far, so good.

Aroma: Rich, dark cocoa notes present themselves as soon as you pop the cap. Subtle notes of yeast or beefy marmite are also present and add a real sense of depth to the aroma profile. You certainly will love or hate the perfume that's for sure.

Body: As I eluded to in my above colour description, this drink is as thick as Paris Hilton. As soon as you take a gulp, your mouth will be flooded like an oil slick. Every crevasse of your palate will be covered like a bird near the Exxon oil slip. Luckily, this sensation is surprisingly brief as due to the lack of bitterness and lack of any clogging sensation at all. Very smooth and a true pleasure to drink.

Taste: Subtlety is the name of the game with this beer. There are no big, bold flavours in this beer, just a subtle yet complex set of tastes that have been blended perfectly together. A real melting pot of coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice and marmite are all present. The ABV is masked beautifully by both these flavours and a pleasant sweetness I have yet to come across in an imperial stout. For me, this is one of the best imperial stouts I have ever tasted. A true sipper without a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. Well worth a repeat visit.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anderson-valley-barney-flats-oatmeal.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/nogne-o-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Style: Oatmeal Stout

Alcohol Content: 5.8%

From: Boonville, California, United States of America

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond-Upon-Thames

https://avbc.com/

Whenever I drink a stout, I am always reminded that we are currently in the depths of winter.  If you live in the UK, I am sure you can see and hear the wind lashing down outside, effecting everyone’s journey home for Christmas (Emma’s included). I however, am tucked up nicely in the flat, drinking craft beer. Hopefully, the alcohol will warm me up whilst I dream about my upcoming holiday to Cuba and another Christmas jumper from my auntie Christine. Oh it’s a hard life!!

Anderson Valley Brewing Company was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen. At the time, it was one of just 20 craft breweries in the United States. The original 10-barrel brew-house was designed and installed by owner and original brewer David Norfleet (and the 10 barrel brewery is still used for R&D brewing today). The original brewery was located in the lower level of the brew pub, The Buckhorn Saloon.

In 1996 when the demand for the award winning beers exceeded the capacity of the 10-barrel brewery below the pub, a 30-barrel facility was installed just a mile from down-town Boonville at the corner of Highways 128 and 253. This brewery saw them through a dramatic period of growth, which included the introduction of a 12 ounce bottling line. By 1998 production had reached 15,000 barrels annually and construction began on a three-story Bavarian-style brew-house. The new brew-house went on-line and started producing beer once again in August 2000.

Colour: On the pour you will be presented with a thick, dark, ink black liquid topped with a luscious leather coloured head. This beer looks extremely thick and the head will stay around for the duration of the beer.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap, rich milky chocolate notes will swam over you. Also present are subtle notes of coffee which develop as the drink warms in the glass. That being said, the nose on this beer is not overly pronounced which is a real shame.

Body: Very smooth and thick as a good stout should be to start with but once brought up to room temperature, the beer seems to become thinner taking on a more watery complexion.  Each sip will coat the mouth nicely which in turn leads to an extremely enjoyable drinking experience.

Taste: Your first sip of this beer will be one you will remember. Rich, silky milk chocolate juxtaposed with bitter coffee grinds dominate this beer. The sweetness delivered from the oats helps to add a real sense of depth and richness to this beer. The slight burnt, mild bitter espresso finish provides a sumptuous end to each sip. This all helps to mask the strength of the beer .To be honest, this drink reminds me of a lighter version of Glastonbury Ales Thriller Cappuccino Porter, which I reviewed earlier in this blog. 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/glastonbury-ales-thriller-rare.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/moor-beer-company-merlin-magic.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Stone Brewing Company Levitation Ale

Stone Brewing Company Levitation Ale

Style: Amber Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.4%

From: Escondido, California, United States

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://www.stonebrew.com/

Stone Brewing Co. is a craft brewery headquartered in Escondido, California. Founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, it is the largest brewery in Southern California. As of 2012, it was the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States and 17th largest brewery overall, based on sales volume.

Established in 1996, the brewery's first beer was Stone Pale Ale, which they consider to be its flagship ale.Most of their beers are characteristic of west-coast craft brews, meaning that they have a high hop content. Stone beers are bottled in 22 ounce bottles, 12 oz six packs, and occasionally 3 liter bottles (thats one big beer). The beers available in six-packs are the Stone Pale Ale, Stone IPA, Stone Levitation Ale, Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, and Stone Ruination IPA. Stone uses 22 ounce bottles to feature their "bigger character" beers and Stone Special Releases. Compared to most brewers, many Stone brews feature alcohol percentages that are well above average. The alcohol-by-volume content of Stone brews ranges from 4.4% to well over 11%.

Is the devil in the glass?

Colour: Pours a rich chestnut brown. If you have tried Meantime's Yakima red, then you will be familiar with the colour. There's a dense white head which stays around for the duration of the drink. So far so good.

Aroma: Once poured, you can pick out notes of elderflower mixed with grapefruit cut with sweet lime. When you take your first sip, you are bombarded with fresh pine needles and gooseberries. As the drink warms you will be able to pick out hints of smoky peat which helps to add an earthy quality to this beer.

Body: Surprisingly light to drink with excellent lacing in the glass. Very smooth in the mouth and this liquid will leave a light coating on the back of your throat that will make you beg for more. Pure bliss!

Taste: This drink has a rather complex flavour profile. First, you will be presented with the tastes of sweetened citrus fruits such as lime, grapefruit and orange. These are then held together by a robust chestnut. As with most ales in this style, there is a very bitter finish with just an edge of sweetness and a hint of saltiness. This will help cleanse your palate after each sip. I really enjoyed this beer and will certainly be going back for more.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/brewdog-dead-pony-club.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/partizan-brewing-ipa-bobek-amarillo.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale

Anchor Brewing Company Liberty Ale 

Style: American Indian Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.9%

From: Portrero Hill, San Francisco, California, USA

Purchased From: Utobeer, Borough Market London
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

Anchor Brewing Company is an American alcoholic beverage producer, operating a brewery and distillery on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, California. The brewery was founded in 1896 and was purchased by Frederick Louis Maytag III, in 1965, saving it from closure. It moved to its current location in 1979. It is one of the last remaining breweries to produce California common beer, also known as Steam Beer, a trademark owned by the company.

Anchor began during the Gold Rush when Gottlieb Brekle arrived from Germany and began brewing in San Francisco. In 1896, Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law, Otto Schinkel, Jr., bought the brewery and named it Anchor. The brewery burned down in the fires that followed the 1906 earthquake, but was rebuilt at a different location in 1907.There is no record of what Anchor did during Prohibition, but it resumed serving steam beer after Repeal, possibly as the only steam brewing company still in operation. However the brewery burned down yet again within the year, and it relocated once more, this time to a building a few blocks away.

The brewery continued operations into the late 1950s, but suffered heavily from the country's increasingly strong preference for the light lagers produced by the megabreweries. Whereas there had been more than 4,000 breweries at the turn of the twentieth century, only 70 remained by the 1960s. In 1965, Frederick Louis Maytag III bought the brewery, saving it from closure. Maytag purchased 51 percent of the brewery for several thousand dollars, and later purchased the brewery outright. It moved to its current location near Potrero Hill in 1979. In 1971 the brewery began producing its now famous Steam beer. However for this review we will be focusing on their lesser know Liberty Ale.

Colour: Once poured you are presented with a glorious orange/tan coloured beer. There is a fabulous thick white head which luckily lingers in the glass as you drink. This beer is also very lightly carbonated with champagne style bubbles running throughout this beer.Truly a beautiful beer to behold.

Aroma: Thanks to the size of the head, you get a lovely bouquet which will bombard your senses. Freshly cut grass and pine needles are the dominate smells but you can also pick out a sweet smell of caramel. These flavors mix extremely well and are not to over powering.

Body: As I mentioned previously there is a very low level of carbonation in this beer. This helps to create an extremely light ale that is extremely refreshing to drink. Left long enough these bubbles will die down creating one of the smoothest drinks I have ever tried. The dry hopping of this beer also helps to create a crisp/dry mouth feel after every sip.

Taste: The primary hops used in the making of this beer are cascade. These hops are know for there grassy pine flavors and are one of the primary hops used in creation of American pale ales. You can also pick out hints of sweetened gooseberries/grapes and orange peel. These fruit notes are very fair and you will need a couple of sips pick these out of the beer. All these flavors are very subtle and inter play with each other beautifully. There is an after taste of worthers original in this drink but this does not linger long.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/sierra-nevada-torpedo-extra-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/robinsons-dizzy-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on Twitter @beefsbrewery
 

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 7.2%

From: Chico, California, USA

Purchased From: Tesco

Located in Chico, California,Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States, behind the Boston Beer Company's Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It is currently the sixth-largest brewing company in the United States.The brewery produced 786,000 barrels of beer in 2010.

The brewery was named "Green Business of the Year" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 for its practices in sustainability.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was founded in 1979, with founders Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi expanding their homebrewing hobby into a brewery in Chico, California. Along with the brewery's location, Grossman claims the company's name comes from his love of hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.With $50,000 in loans from friends and family, Grossman & Camusi rented a 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) warehouse and pieced together discarded dairy equipment and scrapyard metal to create their brewing equipment.They later were able to acquire second-hand copper brewing kettles from Germany before moving to their larger, current brewing facility in 1989.

In January 2012, Sierra Nevada announced it will build a second brewing facility with an attached restaurant in Mills River, North Carolina. It is scheduled to open in early 2014.

I have sampled Sierra Nevada's pale a couple of times but this is the first times I have tried there Torpedo. Lets hope the Torpedo hits its target! Damn that's cheesy. 

Colour: A beautiful golden brown colour. Once poured you get a luscious think white head that temps you into the beer. This head dissipates after a couple of minutes in the glass but leaves a little foam for you to play around with. The colour is warm and inviting, it makes you want to dive right in.

Aroma: Once in the glass you can pick up notes of freshly cut grass and newly fallen pine needles. This has to be the first beer I have reviewed that smelled likes pine. Maybe my nose is developing and I can pick up new scents or I'm just becoming a beer snob. I hope it's not the latter as that's the last thing I want to become. Smelling deeper, you can pick up notes of fresh pink grapefruit and tropical fruits. These amazing aromas come from the three hops used in the making of this beer. These hoppy buds of love are Citra, magnum and Crystal.

Body: This is a lovely easy to drink beer. However, It can be a little sticky in the mouth and it has a semi bitter after taste which comes from the three hop combination used in the making of this beer.

Taste: Just like the nose, you can pick up notes of grass and pine. After swallowing the beer, you will receive a slight caramel and biscuit after taste in your mouth. This is extremely tasty and satisfying. There is an outstanding balance of flavor and bitterness from the hops. this comes from the dry hopping technique employed in making of this beer. In summary a very fresh beer and the ABV is extremely well hidden. A real treat for the senses and well worth a second visit or five.

Sink the Ship!

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