Almanac Beer Company Emperor Norton - Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Ale Brewed With Apricots

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Almanac Beer Company Emperor Norton - Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Ale Brewed With Apricots.

From the Almanac Beer Company website: “All hail His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Norton I, of The United States and Protector of Mexico! A beloved 19th century San Francisco denizen, Emperor Norton was best known for issuing his own currency, calling for the overthrow of the Federal Government, and for prophesying a future bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland.

Emperor Norton is an eccentric ale brewed in his honor, blending a classic Belgian-style tripel with California-grown summer apricots and dry-hopped generously with Citra and Hallertau Blanc hops. Enjoy in the company of unconventional friends!”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy orangish yellow color with a large white head leaving lots of lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, apricot, pine, sweet and toasted malts, Belgian yeast notes and some coriander.

Taste: Apricot, citrus and tropical hop notes, sweet malts, Belgian candi sugar, Belgian yeast with the spice that comes with it.

Overall: Very drinkable and enjoyable, Almanac Beer Company Emperor Norton - Dry-Hopped Belgian-Style Ale Brewed With Apricots is delicious.  The alcohol in this 9% ABV offering is well hidden.  I would absolutely drink again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Sudwerk Brewing Company Cascaderade India Pale Lager

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Sudwerk Brewing Company Cascaderade India Pale Lager.

From the is Sudwerk Brewing Company website: “Inspired by the iconic Cascade hop and named for the rugged mountain range that stretches from British Columbia to Northern California. This beer was carefully dry-hopped with the finest Cascade hops from Yakima Valley, creating a citrusy, piney and refreshing West Coast taste. Elevate your Lager experience.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a pale amber color with a dense off-white head leaving good lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, tropical and stone fruit, grainy, bready and a little grassy.

Taste: Grapefruit, tangerine, lime, orange, pine, grassy, pale, cracker and bready malts.

Overall: Crisp and clean, Sudwerk Brewing Company Cascaderade India Pale Lager is nice.  This 6.6% ABV offering isn’t something I’d tend to gravitate toward, but I’d certainly drink another one if given the chance.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter - Ale with Coffee Beans.

From the Midnight Sun Brewing Company website: “Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter combines two perfectly quintessential Pacific Northwest favorites: coffee and ale. The result is wonderfully romantic and robust—a duel-fueled porter that melds charismatic dark malt with freshly roasted coffee beans.

From mug or glass, slowly savor the comforting flavors of Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter with rich and decadent desserts—like crème brulee, carrot cake or anything chocolate—or savory dishes that include roasted meats and root vegetables, caramelized onions, or sautéed mushrooms.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours dark brown, nearly black with a light tan head leaving good lacing.

Aroma: Coffee, roasted malts and a slight dark chocolate scent.

Taste: Coffee, roasted malts, dark chocolate and a slight coffee bitterness in the finish.

Overall: Medium to light bodied and easy to drink, Midnight Sun Brewing Company Arctic Rhino Coffee Porter is tasty.  This 5% ABV offering may not be a go-to for me, but I would certainly drink it again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Alpine Beer Company Hoppy Birthday Session 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 Hoppy Birthday Session 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: “Truth is, everyone has a birthday. And when you want to celebrate, this Session IPA is a gift to the senses. Made with 6 different hops, this bold brew is refreshing enough to enjoy again and again. Now, make a wish and blow out the candles. But don’t tell anyone, or your wish won’t come true. 69 IBU 5.25%ABV”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a light golden orange color with a large slightly off-white head leaving lots of lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, pine, sweet caramel malt, toasted malt and slight peppery scent.

Taste: Sweet caramel and cracker malts, citrus, some tropical and pine notes.

Overall: Flavorful and refreshing, Alpine Beer Company Hoppy Birthday Session IPA very drinkable.  This 5.25% ABV offering is a nice choice for those seeking a Session IPA. I would certainly drink this again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Clown Shoes Beer Pierre Ferrand Billionaire - English Barleywine Ale - Aged in Cognac Barrels

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Clown Shoes Beer Pierre Ferrand Billionaire - English Barleywine Ale - Aged in Cognac Barrels.

From the Clown Shoes Beer website: “What could be more distinguished than our Director of Operations, Matt Smith, gracing a billion dollar bill with a smirk and a neck beard? You! With this rich beer in your belly. The Billionaire is an English Style Barleywine Ale, aged for six months in 30 year old Cognac barrels we got from friends at Pierre Ferrand. Here's to rare beer wishes and caviar dreams!”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours dark reddish brown with a thin tan head leaving lots of lacing.

Aroma: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, dark fruits, oak, earthy hops and a slight scent of cognac.

Taste: Caramel, toffee, dark fruits, vanilla, oak, earthy and spicy hops, brown sugar and cognac.

Overall: Smooth and creamy, Clown Shoes Beer Pierre Ferrand Billionaire - English Barleywine Ale - Aged in Cognac Barrels is very good.  The 12% ABV is well masked.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Evil Twin Brewing Christmas Eve At A New York City Hotel Room Imperial Stout

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Evil Twin Brewing Christmas Eve At A New York City Hotel Room Imperial Stout.

There’s no commercial description on the Evil Twin Brewing website, but there’s a photo (here).

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours like thick black motor oil with a mocha colored head leaving lots of spotty lacing.

Aroma: Dark chocolate, roasted malt, coffee and hints of pine and cinnamon.

Taste: Dark chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, hints of caramel, vanilla and a very slight anise flavor.

Overall: Thick and creamy, Evil Twin Brewing Christmas Eve At A New York City Hotel Room Imperial Stout is tasty.  This 10% ABV offering is yet another beverage from Evil Twin Brewing that’s absolutely worth trying.  So good!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer.

From the Rahr & Sons Brewing Company website: “We take American oak barrels and refill them with our Winter Warmer English-Style Dark Ale. We then barrel age this majestic ale for 12 weeks. The result is balanced, yet bold blend of dark malts and English hops with a sweet, smooth vanilla and oak finish.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a clear dark brown with a thin off-white head leaving spotty lacing.

Aroma: Bourbon, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, caramel and toffee.

Taste: Bourbon, toasted malts, caramel, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, spicy and earthy hops.

Overall: Smooth and drinkable, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer is good.  This 9% ABV offering is a nice seasonal and worth a try for fans of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Community Beer Company Mosaic IPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Community Beer Company Mosaic IPA.

From the Community Beer Company website: “This is not your average IPA.  From the incredible nose, to the amazing finish, this IPA is one that both session drinkers and beer nerds alike will love.

We’re full on board the hopwagon with this big American-style IPA.  However, it is not designed to blow your head off with overpowering hop bitterness.  Instead, Mosaic IPA is an extremely well-balanced brew that showcases its unique hop aroma and flavor.

This beer gets its name from a new hop variety named “Mosaic,” which is predominantly where the immense, raw hop aroma and flavor is derived.  Mosaic IPA has a noticeable malt backbone to help soften the high level of hop bitterness and flavor, while keeping the body fairly light.

The word "Mosaic" is also representative of the diverse range of individuals that make up our community.  It's perfect in every way!”  

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a golden honey color with a dense beige head leaving tons of lacing.

Aroma: Citrus and tropical scents, honey and some caramel.

Taste: Citrus and tropical hop flavors, honey, toasted bread and some caramel malt sweetness.

Overall: Crisp and balanced, Community Beer Company Mosaic IPA is delicious.  This 8.6% ABV offering is something I would drink regularly if it was available in CA.  This one gets an A+++!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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The Bruery Couverteur

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

Tonight’s featured beer is The Bruery Couverteur - Belgian-Style Ale With Cacao Nibs And Vanilla Beans Added.

From The Bruery website: “Couverteur is our spin on the classic Belgian-style dubbel. A beer rich in the monastic tradition of the Belgian countryside, our take on this robust brown ale has an addition of raw cacao nibs and fresh vanilla beans for a little extra fun. Couverteur is earthy with notes of dry cocoa, dark prunes and dried cherries, all nestled within the drawers of a fine piece of antique furniture.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark orange with a foamy tan head leaving some lacing.

Aroma: Toasted malt, caramel, dark fruits, cocoa, vanilla and brown sugar.

Taste: Bready, toasted and caramel malts, vanilla, dark fruits and cocoa.

Overall: The Bruery Couverteur is unique.  Certainly drinkable, this 8% ABV offering is medium-bodied and probably something I’d seek to try on tap.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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