Avery Brewing Company Old Jubilation Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Avery Brewing Company Old Jubilation Ale.

From the Avery Brewing Company website: “Our winter strong ale has a gorgeous mahogany hue, a hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee. No spices, just a perfect blend of five specialty malts."

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish brown with a large tan head leaving spotty lacing.

Aroma: Roasted malt, caramel, toasted biscuits, toffee, dark fruits and brown sugar.

Taste: Bready and roasted malts, caramel, toffee, molasses, dark fruit and a little cocoa.

Overall: Smooth and complex, Avery Brewing Company Old Jubilation Ale is an excellent Winter warmer.  This 8.3% ABV offering is great sipping on a cold night.  I’m going to cellar a couple to see how this one ages.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Almanac Beer Company Farmer's Reserve Blackberry - Ale Brewed With Blackberries And Aged In Wine Barrels

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Almanac Beer Company Farmer's Reserve Blackberry - Ale Brewed With Blackberries And Aged In Wine Barrels.

From the Almanac Beer Company website: “We love blackberries. Tart, sweet and complex but guarded by thorny branches, these alluring fruit have been a favorite of ours since we added them to our very first beer. This sour blonde ale is infused with loads of coastal Blackberries from Swanton Berry Farm in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and aged in wine barrels for many months. Pair with duck dishes and summer salads.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours dark orange with pink highlights with a tiny white head leaving no lacing.

Aroma: Funky, acidic, white wine, blackberries, bready malts, stone fruits and some oak.

Taste: Blackberries, sour stone fruit, yeast funk, oak wine barrel, citrus and a bit earthy.

Overall: Sour and fruity, Almanac Beer Company Farmer's Reserve Blackberry - Ale Brewed With Blackberries And Aged In Wine Barrels is delicious.  This 7% ABV offering is another nice sour from Almanac.  I made it a point to try all of their beers – absolutely worth trying.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout

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

Tonight’s featured beer is New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout.

From the New Holland Brewing website: “A stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear very dark brown with a tan head leaving lots of lacing.

Aroma: Bourbon, chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla, caramel, oak and a slight scent of brown sugar.

Taste: Chocolate, roasted malt, bourbon, oak, caramel, coffee, vanilla and brown sugar.

Overall: Sweet and satisfying, New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout is fantastic.  The ABV on this gem (11%) is well hidden.  I’m a huge fan of this beverage. SO good!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Firestone Walker Brewing Company Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Firestone Walker Brewing Company Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine Ale.  I picked this bottle up at the brewery…well, I bought a few…

From the Firestone Walker Brewing Company website: “You’ve been warned: Helldorado may be blonde in color, but if you take it lightly, you’ll get gunned downed by a blast of barrel–aged flavor at an ABV of 12 percent. The driving idea behind Helldorado was to create a super blonde barley wine that could still carry the strong barrel character imparted by aging the beer in retired spirits barrels. The result is an unlikely brew whose light complexion belies a full–bodied attitude and intense barrel expression.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a murky dark gold with a thin white head leaving almost no lacing.

Aroma: Bourbon, vanilla, oak, caramel, honey, coconut and a touch of earthy hops.

Taste: Sweet caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, coconut, bourbon, honey, golden raisins and a touch of oak.

Overall: Sweet and satisfying, Firestone Walker Brewing Company Helldorado Blonde Barley Wine Ale is fantastic.  This 13.2% ABV beast is absolutely worth a try. Actually, it is a must try!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Foothills Brewing Jade IPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Foothills Brewing Jade IPA.  I picked this bottle up at Stella Brew (here) in Winston-Salem, NC. They have an excellent selection and we’re very helpful helping me pick out some local “must have” beers to bring home.  If you find yourself in the area stop in, buy some beverages and tell them that Mark from NorCal Beer Blog sent you!

From the Foothills Brewing website: “Jade. Exotic jewel of the orient. Now a gem of an IPA. Bold, citrusy Pacific Jade hops lend striking tropical fruit notes and a hint of peppery finish to this easy-drinking IPA. Dry hop additions of Chinook and Citra add heady aroma and bold flavor. A special beer to charm the hop lover in you. Go ahead. Get Jaded.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear pale golden color with a huge white head leaving good lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, pine and tropical hop scents with slight caramel and honey scents.

Taste: Tropical, citrus, pine, biscuit, honey and some sweet caramel malts.

Overall: Crisp and clean, Foothills Brewing Jade IPA is solid.  This 7.4% ABV offering is quite drinkable and delicious. Well worth trying!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Southern Tier Brewing Company Mokah - A Stout Brewed With Chocolate & Coffee

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Southern Tier Brewing Company Mokah - A Stout Brewed With Chocolate & Coffee.

From the Southern Tier Brewing Company website: “As scientists, our brewers utilize their materials to exacting standards. As artists, they couldn’t resist the temptation to combine two of our highly acclaimed Blackwater Series Imperial Stouts: Jahva and Choklat. Alone each is perfect, but together as Mokah they are an inimitable expression of two of the world’s most sought after flavors. Enjoy Mokah stout with – or as – your favorite dessert!”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with a thin tan head and leaves a little bit of lacing.

Aroma: Huge sweet chocolate aroma, roasted malts, fudgy, caramelly, bready and a hint of roasted coffee.

Taste: Sweet milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, vanilla, roasted malts, fudge and coffee.

Overall: Smooth and creamy, Southern Tier Brewing Company Mokah very enjoyable.  The alcohol on this 10% ABV offering is nearly undetectable.  Extremely drinkable and delicious. Highly recommended!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Wasatch Brewery Devastator Double Bock Lager

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Wasatch Brewery Devastator Double Bock Lager.

From the Wasatch Brewery website: “If you’re going to sin, sin big. With 8% alc/vol and a creamy richness, this brew has developed a serious cult following. Imagine that – a cult following in Utah?!”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours reddish brown with an ample off-white head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Toasted malts, sweet caramel, bready, dark fruits, nutty and some toffee.

Taste: Sweet caramel, biscuit and roasted malts, nutty, earthy and dark fruits.

Overall: Creamy and smooth, Wasatch Brewery Devastator Double Bock Lager is solid.  This 8% ABV offering is an enjoyable Doppelbock and absolutely worth a try. I’d drink another again for sure.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Alpine Beer Company Duet IPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Alpine Beer Company Duet IPA. I picked this up at Santa Clara Liquors (here). If you get a chance, head in there and tell ‘em that Mark from NorCal Beer Blog sent you.  You’ll be glad you did – they have an incredible selection!

From the Alpine Beer Company website: “Our original single IPA made with Simcoe and Amarillo hops “in harmony.’”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours golden orange with a large white head with loads of lacing.

Aroma: Tropical, pine, citrus and floral hop scents and slightly biscuity.

Taste: Taste follows the aroma with floral, pine, citrus and tropical flavors backed by grainy and caramel malts.

Overall: Enjoyable and really easy drinking, Alpine Beer Company Duet IPA is balanced and delicious.  This 7% ABV offering is a must try for fans of the style. A great beverage.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

If you haven’t already, please like the NorCal Beer Blog on Facebook (here)

Great Divide Brewing Company Hibernation Ale - English-Style Ole Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Great Divide Brewing Company Hibernation Ale - English-Style Ole Ale.

From the Great Divide Brewing Company website: “HIBERNATION ALE has been our celebrated winter tradition since 1995. This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark ruby brown with a thin off-white head leaving a bit of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Roasted malt, caramel, vanilla, dark fruits, slightly nutty and a touch of toffee.

Taste: Sweet caramel, roasted malt, vanilla, dark fruits and a touch boozy.

Overall: Smooth and well balanced, Great Divide Brewing Company Hibernation Ale - English-Style Ole Ale is delicious.  This 8.7% ABV offering is a solid winter warmer and worth trying.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

If you haven’t already, please like the NorCal Beer Blog on Facebook (here)