Buffalo Bill's Brewery Alimony Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Buffalo Bill's Brewery Alimony Ale. Buffalo Bill's Brewery is the closest brew pub to my house and I feel REALLY fortunate to have such a fantastic place so close to home. We have a couple of growlers from Buffalo Bill's and we enjoy getting some of their goodness to bring home from time to time. We enjoy everything about the restaurant as well – good food, music, ambiance and the kids like it too. In February Buffalo Bill's Brewery announced the re-releases of its historic Alimony Ale in bottles. Needless to say I picked up my first case immediately (I think I might be on case #3). Alimony Ale has been my go to beer when visiting Buffalo Bill's Brewery so I was really happy that I could take some home and not in a growler.

From the Buffalo Bill's Brewery website: “Twenty three years ago Buffalo Bill’s Brewery, then owner Bill Owens created Alimony Ale to celebrate a patron’s divorce. Today, owner Geoff Harries has re-released this vintage brand to commemorate the history of one of America’s first brewpubs, started in 1983 and located in downtown Hayward.
By 1987 Alimony Ale had quickly become one of the most exocentric brews in America with a reputation as the “Bitterest Beer In America”. Today it’s no longer one of the bitterest, but certainly one of the best. Alimony Ale is an IPA with 6.8% alcohol and strong hop flavor with 80 IBU’s.
The packaging continues to read, “Steve, newly single (and paying alimony), is looking for a full-bodied woman who can enjoy an honest, full-bodied brew, and knows the meaning of parsimony, 510-886-9823 operators standing by.
Let’s face it - good beer, like true love, doesn’t last long. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a golden amber copper color with a fluffy off-white head and excellent lacing.

Aroma: Mostly citrus and a slight scent of pine hops followed by biscuit pale malts. Nnnnnice!

Taste: Well balanced with citrus taking center stage, a little pine and sweet caramel malt.

Overall: I am so incredibly happy they decided to bottle Alimony Ale. It is extremely drinkable, well balanced and there is a reason I keep buying case after case of this terrific beer. I love to drink local and thanks to Buffalo Bill’s Brewery I can!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA. I’m a huge IPA fan and Dogfish Head makes an assortment of fantastic IPAs. Since I’ve been drinking Dogfish Head beer for some time now (previous post here) I thought it was time to review this exceptional beer.

From the Dogfish Head website: "Esquire Magazine calls our 90 Minute IPA., "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." An Imperial I.P.A. brewed to be savored from a snifter. A big beer with a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate.

90 Minute IPA was our first continually-hopped beer, which is a method of hopping that allows for a pungent, but not crushing hop flavor. Since introducing the world to the continual-hopping method with our 90 Minute IPA, we've since released a continually-hopped 60 Minute IPA, 120 Minute IPA and even a 75 Minute IPA (a cask-conditioned blend of 60 & 90 Minute IPAs).
In addition to the continual-hopping 90 Minute IPA recieves during the boil, we also utilize our 'Me So Hoppy' device to dry-hop the beer during conditioning (check it out in the video below)"

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours deep golden amber with a creamy bone colored head and incredible lacing.

Aroma: A mix of hops (pine and citrus) and fantastic malt (toasty caramel and biscuit) scents.

Taste: Fantastic balance between hops and malts with a bit of spice. Not too malty sweet and not too hoppy bitter. A perfect amalgamation of flowery piney tastes and the rich flavors of fig, raisin, caramel and sweet malts. Terrific!

Overall: This rates near the top of the Double IPA heap. Balanced and extremely tasty I don’t think this beer can be improved on in any way. At 9% ABV it is very drinkable and nursing a 4-pack isn’t a stretch. I thoroughly enjoy this beer!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

North Coast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw Pilsner

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner. Keeping with the “my wife’s favorite beers” theme I thought I should next review Scrimshaw. North Coast produces some of the best beers around. I always have Scrimshaw in the beer fridge since it is a go to beer for my wife and I like to have beers on hand that make her happy.

From the North Coast Brewing Co. website: “Named for the delicate engravings popularized by 19th century seafarers, Scrimshaw is a fresh tasting Pilsner brewing in the finest European tradition using Munich malt and, Hallertauer and Tettnang hops. Scrimshaw has a subtle hop character, a crisp, clean palate, and a dry finish.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours an effervescent golden color with a smooth white head, good lacing and head retention.

Aroma: Clean, crisp and sweet with just a touch of hops. Fresh grain and biscuit notes.

Taste: Crisp and clean with sweet honey malts and hop balanced to perfection. Finishes dry and a little bready.

Overall: Certainly one of the best of this style – whether Czech, German or American, North Coast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw is truly an exceptional Pilsner. It is HIGHLY drinkable and very sessionable due to the low ABV (4.4%). This beer can ALWAYS be found on hand at my place.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Lost Coast Brewery Great White

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Lost Coast Brewery Great White. Great White is one of my wife’s favorite beers and I always keep it on hand. Although I don’t drink it all that often I figured I needed to review it. Lost Coast beers are always good so having a Great White (or two) isn’t a stretch for me.

From the Lost Coast Brewery website: “A crisp beer with a hint of citrus, made with two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water and ale yeast.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy orangeish golden color with a thin white head.

Aroma: Citrus with a hint of spice. Very pleasing aroma.

Taste: A wonderful blend of flavors. Citrus, spices, light malts and a bready finish. Crisp and fresh.

Overall: A refreshing beer, incredible drinkability. A perfect summer session beer at 5% ABV. For my wife, this is a four season beer. Well done (again) Lost Coast!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Back at it...

Greetings my fellow beer lovers...

This is just a quick note to re-engage the blog and get back at it.  Life has a way of getting in the way of blogging and although I've had many beers since last I posted, I have not written about them. As I pour over the photos and notes I have I'll get the reviews done and posted in an effort to share my thoughts and opinions about the beers I've tried.

This artwork was created by my buddy, Jay...check out his incredible art and toys!

Thank you for reading...

Cheers!

Mark Harvey