On New Year's Eve

Just a quick note to wish you all a safe evening.  If you drink, don't drive or do like I do, drink at home!

I hope 2014 brings you and yours much happiness and good fortune.

I leave you this year with a song I recently wrote about pressing on.
Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Unibroue Grande Reserve 17

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 – 2011 vintage.

Commercial description: “Inspired by the great Belgian brewing tradition of Trappist monks established over the centuries, Unibroue 17 was first brewed in 2007 to celebrate our brewery’s 17th anniversary. However, the overwhelming success of this specialty brew made it obvious that we could not let such a great ale slip into the anonymity of retirement. 

So in 2011, we proudly brought back this French Oak aged, bottle refermented dark ale, with the "Grande Réserve" appellation as a fitting endorsement of it’s exceptional quality for aging. Brewed only once a year, in limited quantities, and individually numbered "brasseur" bottles, this is truly a flavorful delight for the specialty beer enthusiast.”

As testimony to it’s remarkable flair profile which increases in complexity as it ages, the original batch bottled in 2007 was awarded an international platinum medal three years in a row, and the prestigious title of "World’s Best Dark Ale" when it was well past three years in the bottle!"

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours murky brown color with a large beige head and decent lacing.

Aroma: Dark fruits, caramel, clove, Belgian yeast, toffee, slight vanilla and oak.

Taste: Sweet and caramel malts, dark fruits, Belgian yeast with a slight vanilla and charred oak flavor lingering.

Overall: Smooth and delicious, Unibroue Grande Reserve 17 is an excellent Belgian Strong Dark ale.  I have a couple of this 10% ABV gem aging right now.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Caldera Brewing Company Ashland Amber

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Caldera Brewing Company Ashland Amber. Here’s another fine beer I picked up from the brewery on my summer vacation.

From the Caldera Brewing Company website: “A crisp, well balanced, refreshing Amber.  Simplicity is the key to this recipe.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear copper color with a thin off-white head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Malty – caramel and biscuit malts, citrus hops and a touch of pine.

Taste: Sweet caramel and biscuit malts, grassy and citrus hops with a slight roasted nut note.

Overall: Nicely balanced, Caldera Brewing Company Ashland Amber is enjoyable.  With an ABV of 5.6% I could drink a few of these in a session.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Manzanita Brewing Company Night Before Christmas Mint Chocolate Stout

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Manzanita Brewing Company Night Before Christmas Chocolate Stout Brewed with Peppermint. I didn’t get a chance to drink this the night before Christmas, but rather the night after Christmas and since this is a seasonal I thought I should get this review up ahead of the tons of beers I bought over the summer.  I picked this bottle up at Royal Liquors (here) in San Jose.

From the Manzanita Brewing Company website: “This year we told Santa he could have the day off while we deliver Night Before Christmas, an American stout flavored with cocoa and peppermint. With a memorable aroma that recalls our favorite Holiday sweets, Night Before Christmas' robust, creamy body supports the flavors through to their delicate finish. We hope you enjoy Night Before Christmas as a holiday treat from our family to yours.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with a very thin tan head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Chocolate, roasted malts and peppermint.

Taste: Mint and chocolate, like a Peppermint Patty, but not overly sweet nor overly minty.  Chocolate is more on the bitter mild side vs. sweet and candy-like side.

Overall: A very nice Holiday beer, Manzanita Brewing Company Night Before Christmas Mint Chocolate Stout is delicious.  I enjoyed this 7% ABV offering from Manzanita Brewing Company and would purchase again.  This is my first time trying this brewery’s beers and based on this one I’d most certainly try their other offerings.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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North Coast Brewing Company Blue Star Wheat Beer

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

Tonight’s featured beer is North Coast Brewing Company Blue Star Wheat Beer.

From the North Coast Brewing Company website: “Brewed in the style of the American Craft Beer renaissance, Blue Star is unfiltered, the yeast adding a complex note to the flavor profile.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a cloudy pale yellow with a white creamy head.

Aroma: Smells like the perfect wheat beer with light fruit notes, citrus, yeast, sweet malt and wheat.

Taste: Crisp and sweet and balanced well – wheat and fruitiness. A perfect example of an American Wheat.

Overall: Smooth, drinkable and delicious, North Coast Brewing Company’s Blue Star Wheat Beer is fantastic and one of my favorite wheat beers on the market. At 4.5% ABV you can drink several of these in a session. I’m a huge fan of North Coast Brewing Company.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Anchor Brewing Company Christmas Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Anchor Brewing Company Christmas Ale (2013).  I have long been a fan of Anchor Brewing Company’s Christmas Ales and I typically purchase a few six packs per season to enjoy during the holidays.  It has become a tradition and I generally purchase one last six pack as the Holiday season ends to cellar.  I have bottles going back to 2006 – although I may have some older stashed away that I have yet to unearth in the cellar.

From the Anchor Brewing Company website: “Every year since 1975 the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer have brewed a distinctive and unique Christmas Ale, which is available from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. Our tree for 2013 is the California White Fir. It was hand drawn by local artist James Stitt, who has been creating Christmas Ale labels for us since 1975.

Not everyone who came to California in 1849 came in search of gold. A few came in search of trees. English botanist William Lobb was one such plant hunter. As a collector of California’s exotic flora for English nurseries, Lobb (born in East Cornwall in 1809; died in San Francisco in 1864) was responsible for the introduction of fifty-eight species of California plants to English gardens, including Giant Sequoia and California White Fir.

Each year our Christmas Ale gets a unique label and a unique recipe. Although our recipes must remain a secret, many save a few bottles from year to year. Properly refrigerated, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years. Different nuances emerge as the flavor mellows slightly, much like the memories of great holiday seasons past. Celebrate the holidays with Anchor Christmas Ale, an Anchor tradition since 1975.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours very dark brown with a nice cream colored head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Dark roasted malts, dark fruit, molasses, tree sap, caramel, brown sugar and Christmas spices (mostly ginger and nutmeg).

Taste: Roasted and caramel malts, Christmas tree sap (could be spruce or pine), molasses, nutmeg, toffee and ginger.

Overall: Each year is new and each year Anchor Brewing Company Christmas Ale is a touch different, but always enjoyable.  In my opinion this is one of the best years to date.  At 5.5% ABV this is certainly a beer one could have a few of on a cold winter night.  I plan to pick up more of this one for sure.  Highly recommended. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without it!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Merry Christmas one and all!

Here's wishing you more happiness
Than all my words can tell,
Not just alone for Christmas
But for all the year as well.

Cheers! 

Mark Harvey

Knee Deep Brewing Company Belgo Hoptologist DIPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Knee Deep Brewing Company Belgo Hoptologist DIPA. I tend to avoid Belgian-style IPAs, but since I trust Knee Deep Brewing Company I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try theirs.

From the Knee Deep Brewing Company website: “Belgo-Hoptologist is brewed with Citra, Columbus and Cascade hops which give this American Belgo Style IPA enormous hop aromas of American pine & grapefruit and eccentric fruit and phenols flavors from the Belgian yeast.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a honey-orange color with a thin white head and spotty lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, tropical and pine hops, banana, honey, Belgian yeast, biscuit and caramel malts.

Taste: Sweet caramel malts, grapefruit, citrus, tropical and pine hop notes, honey, Belgian yeast and slight banana.

Overall: Impressive and highly drinkable, Knee Deep Brewing Company Belgo Hoptologist DIPA is the first of this style that I keep stocked in my beer fridge.  A great change of pace, this 9% ABV offering is balanced and a must try.  I don’t tend to gravitate toward Belgian-style IPAs, but this one is exceptional.  Once again, Knee Deep Brewing Company produces a winner!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Lagunitas Brewing Company The Hairy Eyeball Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Lagunitas Brewing Company The Hairy Eyeball Ale. I was very happy to learn Lagunitas was releasing this beer again giving me the chance to photograph and review it.

From the Lagunitas Brewing Company website: “A roasty, toasty, malty, hangover-halting beer. Especially formulated for when you wake up feelin’ like you need to shave your eyeballs to see the new day.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear reddish brown with a thick khaki colored head and lots of foamy lacing.

Aroma: Sweet and malty, bready, caramel, brown sugar, toffee and roasty.

Taste: Toffee, caramel, bready malts, brown sugar, roasted nuts and a slight pine and citrus hop bitterness.

Overall: Perfect for this time of year (or any time for that matter, really), Lagunitas Brewing Company The Hairy Eyeball Ale is tremendously drinkable and one I wish they’d keep around year-round.  This 9.4% ABV is a must try and one that I’ll stock up on before it leaves the stores. I love Lagunitas and I love this beer!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Ballast Point Brewing Company Sculpin IPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Ballast Point Brewing Company Sculpin IPA.

From the Ballast Point Brewing Company website: “A trophy beer that’s a testament to our homebrew roots.
Our Sculpin IPA is a great example of what got us into brewing in the first place. After years of experimenting, we knew hopping an ale at five separate stages would produce something special. The result ended up being this gold-medal winning IPA, whose inspired use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors, but still packs a bit of a sting, just like a Sculpin fish.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours crystal clear orange amber with a fluffy white head and excellent lacing.

Aroma: Grapefruit, pine and citrus hops and a hint of malt sweetness.

Taste: Crisp and fresh with citrus, tropical and pine hops with just a touch of malt sweetness.

Overall: Incredibly balanced and one of the best West Coast IPAs around, Ballast Point Brewing Company Sculpin IPA is exceptional.  This 7% ABV gem is a must try for fans of the style!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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