John's Beer Blog: July 2009

Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier

beer, Germany, Hoffbräuhaus, marzen, München, Munich, Oktoberfest | Posted by John at 12:00 PM

Date:	12/7/2007
Brewery:	Staatliches Hoffbräuhaus
Beer:	Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier
Origin:	München (Munich), Germany
Style:	Märzen
Container:	12 oz. green glass bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:	$1.49 per single bottle
Alcohol:	ABV
Brewer's Description:	Munich specialty. Brewed according to the German Purity Law. The Oktoberfest originated in 1810 in Munich, Germany, as a wedding celebration for the crown prince Ludwig of Bavaria. This product was created especially for this event and is brewed usually for the Oktoberfest, one of the biggest party events in the world. Hoffbräu München (HB) is one of a selected group of breweries granted the privileges of supplying the Oktoberfest with their products. Using the highest quality ingredients, HB's Oktoberfest specialty has its own distinctive and unmistakable taste.
Appearance:	Light golden yellow in color. Poured a small head but did not retain it long at all. Random bubbles rising throughout the glass.
Aroma:	Smells like a good version of a Bud or something similar. Can't really smell specific hops or malt.
Taste:	Tastes very good. Much better than an American style macro-brew.
Mouth Feel:	Feel is good with barely enough carbonation for my liking.
Drinkability:	Excellent. This one is delicious.
Score:	8 / 10

Other links:

Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier scored a B- on
Hofbräu München Oktoberfestbier scored 2.86 on

From Beer

Smithwick's

ale, beer, Ireland, irish red, Kilkenny, smithwick's | Posted by John at 3:22 PM

Date:	12/6/2007
Brewery:	E. Smithwick & Sons Ltd. (Guinness & Co.)
Beer:	Smithwick's
Origin:	St. Francis Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
Style:	Irish Red Ale
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle with regular cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:	$0 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	4.50% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	The brewery at St. Francis Abbey in Kilkenny, Ireland has been in operation since 1710. Smithwick's is Ireland's oldest ber, inspired by John Smithwick's original recipe. This beer delivers a distinctive amber color, full bodied taste and ultra-smooth finish.
Appearance:	Dark amber/brown color, somewhat similar to a Shiner Bock. Poured a nice head and retained it for a few minutes. One visible bubble trail.
Aroma:	Smells good, but I couldn't pick out anything specific.
Taste:	Good balance, with not too much bitterness or sweetness. I can taste the malt more than the hops.
Mouth Feel:	Smooth feel with just enough carbonation for my liking.
Drinkability:	Smithwick's is a very drinkable beer. I'll definitely get some more of this one.
Score:	7 / 10

Other links:

Smithwick's scored a B on
Smithwick's scored 3.06 on

From Beer

Anchor Porter

american porter, anchor, anchor porter, beer, california, porter, san francisco, USA | Posted by John at 12:33 PM

Date:	11/18/2007
Brewery:	Anchor Brewing Co.
Beer:	Anchor Porter
Origin:	San Francisco, California
Style:	American Porter
Container:	12 oz. Brown Glass Bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:	$8.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.60% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	San Francisco's famous Anchor Porter brand is made in one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world by the brewers of Anchor Steam beer. Our old-fashioned porter is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. We use 100% malted barley, generous amounts of fresh, whole hops, entirely natural carbonation and a simple, natural brewing process which is like no other in the world. The deep black color, the thick, creamy head and the intensely rich flavor of Anchor Porter, made in San Francisco since 1974, have earned this delicious and unique brew a worldwide reputation for outstanding quality. It is aesthetically pleasing and wholly superior in every respect.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Head is dark tan. Poured a nice head. Retention was short. Too dark to see any bubbles.
Aroma:	Heavy malt smell - very coffee-like.
Taste:	The heavy malt smell carries over to the taste. Can definitely taste a coffee likeness.
Mouth Feel:	It has a good feel and carbonation level. It’s thicker (more viscous) than something like an Anchor Liberty or Steam.
Drinkability:	This one is pretty decent, but I prefer an Anchor Bock or London Porter.
Score:	6 / 10

Other links:

Anchor Porter scored an A- on
Anchor Porter scored 3.85 on

Shiner 97 Bohemian Black Lager

beer, schwarzbier, Shiner, spoetzl brewery, texas, USA | Posted by John at 1:30 PM

Date:	11/16/2007
Brewery:	Spoetzl Brewery
Beer:	Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97
Origin:	Shiner, TX
Style:	Schwarzbier
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle, screw cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$6.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	4.9% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	Don't be afraid of the dark. Here in Shiner, Texas (Pop. 2,070), we've been handcrafting beer since 1909. The passion of our original brewmaster, Kosmos Spoetzl, continues to inspire our efforts today. First brewed to commemorate our 97th anniversary, this Bohemian black lager remains true to the old-world heritage of the German and Czech immigrants who settled Shiner. Imported Czech Saaz and Styrian hops, and select roasted malts make this "Schwarzbier" our darkest brew yet. PROSIT! This rare and delicious style of beer is referred to in Germany as a "Schwarzbier", or black beer. This handcrafted Bohemian black beauty is brewed with select roasted malts and imported hops.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Can barely see a light through it when held up to a light source. Poured moderate head but did not retain it very long. Too dark to see bubbles. Similar in appearance to a porter or an Anchor Bock.
Aroma:	Can smell some spice. Not much else, but I am getting a cold so my nose isn't at its best.
Taste:	Has both a sweet and spice note. More taste after its swallowed.
Mouth Feel:	Has a good feel. Not as thick/viscous as a porter. Carbonation level is good.
Drinkability:	This is a good beer. I like it more now than when I tried my first bottle of it. It grows on you.
Score:	6 / 10

Other links:

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97 scored a B on
Shiner Bohemian Black Lager - Shiner 97 scored 2.98 on

From Beer

Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter

ale, beer, england, english porter, porter, Samuel Smith's, Tadcaster, united kingdom, Yorks | Posted by John at 1:00 PM

Date:	11/8/2007
Brewery:	Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer:	Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter
Origin:	N. Yorks, England, UK
Style:	English Porter
Container:	1 pt. 2.7 oz. brown glass bottle, normal cap covered in foil
Purchased:	SuperTarget, Rowlett, TX
Price:	$2.78 per single bottle
Alcohol:	5.00% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	History: Porter was the first commercially brewed beer. It was named for the train porters who were its original servers and consumers. Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, Yorkshire’s oldest, reintroduced authentic porter to the British beer scene in 1979 after an absence of more than 50 years. Taste: Very dark, fairly full in body and packed with flavor. Intense, dry tangy character of roasted barley. Serving Suggestions: Oysters on the half shell, Rockefeller or Cajun style; clams, mussels, crab cocktail, lobster bisque and other shellfish, smoked mackerel pâté, veal with green peppercorns, porterhouse steak and of course chocolate. Serve at 55 degrees in nonik or tumbler. Alecolade: Platinum Medal, World Champion Porter - World Beer Championships "One of the world’s five best beers." -Michael Jackson Product sizes and quantities: Twelve 18.7-ounce "Victorian Pint" bottles. Twenty-four 12 ounce bottles.
Appearance:	Very dark brown in color. Poured a huge head and retained it pretty well. Head is a tan color. Too dark to see bubbles.
Aroma:	Smells rich like other porters. Can pick up chocolate and coffee smells.
Taste:	Definitely taste the coffee malt. First drink was kind of a shock. Got better after that.
Mouth Feel:	Not much carbonation. More than in a widget can, but still not much. Just a bit more would make it quite a bit better. After I poured the rest of the bottle, it was a bit better.
Drinkability:	Decent. I like Fuller's London Porter better, but this may be better than the Anchor porter.
Score:	4 / 10

Other links:

Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter scored an A- on
Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter scored 3.71 on

From Beer

Turbodog

abita, abita brewing, Abita Springs, ale, english brown ale, Louisiana, turbodog | Posted by John at 1:00 PM

Date:	11/6/2007
Brewery:	Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Beer:	Turbodog
Origin:	Abita Springs, Louisiana
Style:	English Brown Ale
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle, twist-off cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$6.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.6% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	From label: Abita's turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with a combination of pale, crystal and chocolate malts, dry-hopped with the finest Williamette hops, and fermented using a unique, German Alt yeast. Each batch is hand crafted using the pristine Artesian waters of Abita Springs, Louisiana, resulting in a rich body and color, and a sweet-chocolate-toffee like flavor. Guided by our principle of "quality before quantity," Turbodog is cold filtered and brewed in small batches using no additives or preservatives. Like all of our beers, Turbodog is prepared with the attention to detail upon which we have built our reputation as one of the country's finest breweries. From website: Turbodog is a dark brown ale brewed with Willamette hops and a combination of pale, crystal and chocolate malts. This combination gives Turbodog its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate toffee-like flavor. Turbodog began as a specialty ale but has gained a huge loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews. This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild game dishes. Turbodog is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and Blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!
Appearance:	Dark brown color, tan head. Poured a nice head, but didn't retain it for very long. Too dark to see any bubbles. I've read that beer loses its head if you don't properly clean your glassware. Maybe most beers are doing that quickly for me because I put my glassware in the dishwasher. I don't have the drive or time to wash all my beer glasses by hand. I'd rather be doing something else.
Aroma:	Smells rich. Can smell the toffee-like malt.
Taste:	Tastes good. I detect a small amount of sweetness. Can also taste a hint of coffee.
Mouth Feel:	Good feel. A little more viscous than a pilsner or light lager. Just enough carbonation.
Drinkability:	A very good choice. Will definitely get more of this.
Score:	7 / 10

Other links:

Turbodog scored a B on
Turbodog scored 3.2 on

From Beer

Victory Prima Pils

downingtown, lager, pennsylvania, pilsner, USA, victory brewing | Posted by John at 4:34 PM

Date:	10/31/2007
Brewery:	Victory Brewing Co.
Beer:	Prima Pils
Origin:	Downingtown, PA
Style:	Pilsner
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$ per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.3% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	Prima! An exclamation of joy. A recognition of accomplishment. Though it's spoken in German, it's felt in all languages. It's what escaped from our lips as we sampled the first brew of this mighty pilsner beer. Though we'd been through a few in our years with other breweries, finally, with whole flower european hops and fine German malts we had achieved what we'd sought for so long. Prima… An exclamation of victory! Prost! "A refined pilsner beer for natural enjoyment."
Appearance:	Light, golden yellow. Poured a nice head, but retained only a short time. Random bubbles rise slowly.
Aroma:	Smells pretty good. Like a typical light-colored beer. Maybe a little yeast smell. A little like bread, but not nearly as pronounced as in a Pyramid Curve Ball Kolsch.
Taste:	A little bitter for me. That's kind of what I thought of the Urquell that I had, which may have been skunked. This does not taste skunky at all. It's getting better as I drink it.
Mouth Feel:	Has a good feel. Nice carbonation level that's just a bit higher than perfect.
Drinkability:	Not bad, but not my favorite. I guess I like them sweeter than this.
Score:	5 / 10

Other links:

Prima Pils scored an A- on
Prima Pils scored 3.58 on

From Beer

Rogue American Amber Ale

ale, amber, amber ale, american amber ale, rogue | Posted by John at 11:37 AM


Photo by Sonnet found here.

Date:	10/17/2007
Brewery:	Rogue Ales
Beer:	Rogue American Amber Ale
Origin:	Newport, Oregon
Style:	American Amber Ale
Container:	1 pt., 6 oz. brown glass bottle w/ oxygen fixing cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, Texas
Price:	$5.29 per Single Bottle
Alcohol:	ABV
Brewer's Description:	American Amber Ale - A Rogue product since 1989. Tawny amber in color with a coffee aroma and a tight head. A delicate flavor with a roasted malt accent, generous use of hops and a smooth finish. 13 °Plato, 53 IBU, 73.1 AA, 33 °L Food Pairing: Beef, Seafood Tasting Notes: Tawny in color, with a coffee aroma, tight head and a delicate roasted malt accent. Generous use of hops and a smooth finish. 9 Ingredients: Malts: Northwest Harrington and Klages, 95-115 and 135-165 Crystal. Hops: Kent Golding and Cascade. Yeast & Water: Rogue's Pacman Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water.
Appearance:	Dark amber color, cloudy, nice head with good retention. Too cloudy to see bubbles.
Aroma:	I can smell the coffee they eluded to. Can also smell some hops.
Taste:	As with most beers, I can taste more after swallowing. Taste is quite pronounced. Lots of hops for a slightly bitter taste. Only small difference in taste from a pale ale, to me. Perhaps they only differentiate it based on color? I'm not sure.
Mouth Feel:	Feel is good. It's quite a smooth beer. Barely enough carbonation for my liking. Bubbles are very small.
Drinkability:	Not my favorite, but not bad. A little bitter for my taste, I think. This one sprayed out of the bottle and onto the floor when opened. Is that what "oxygen fixing caps" do? Next time, I'll open it over the sink.
Score:	5 / 10

Other links:

Rogue American Amber Ale scored B+ on
Rogue American Amber Ale scored 3.47 on

Anchor Bock Beer

anchor, anchor bock beer, beer, bock, california, san francisco, USA | Posted by John at 8:42 AM

Date:	9/16/2007
Brewery:	Anchor Brewing Co.
Beer:	Anchor Bock Beer
Origin:	San Francisco, CA
Style:	Bock
Container:	12oz. Brown glass bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$8.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.50% ABV
Brewer's Description:	Anchor Bock Beer, released in celebration of the coming of spring, is an ancient and mysterious part of the brewing tradition. Over time, the term "bock" has come to mean a beer darker and stronger than the brewery's "regular" brew. We hope you will find Anchor Bock to be a rich and flavorful addition to our other offerings. San Francisco's Anchor Bock Beer is virtually handmade by the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer, in one of the most traditional small breweries in the world. It is brewed from a complex blend of the finest barley malts, wheat malts, and fresh, whole hops.
Appearance:	Dark brown. A little lighter than the London Porter, but not by much. Poured a large head. Retained for a short time. No visible bubbles rising. Head was tan-colored.
Aroma:	Smells rich, like the porter did. Pick up a bit of coffee scent.
Taste:	Similar in taste to porter as well. Rich taste for beer. Probably a little milder than porter.
Mouth Feel:	Nice amount of carbonation. Not quite as thick as the porter.
Drinkability:	This is pretty good. I like the fact that it's milder than porter, but still quite similar. This is probably a good beer to drink to get into dark brews if you're not used to them.
Score:	7 / 10

Other links:

Anchor Bock Beer scored a B+ on
Anchor Bock Beer scored 3.48 on

More horrible beer photography, courtesy of yours truly.

From Beer

Spaten Premium

beer, Germany, Helles Lager, lager, Munich, Munich Helles Lager | Posted by John at 2:19 PM

Date:	10/25/2007
Brewery:	Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu GmbH
Beer:	Spaten Premium
Origin:	Munich, Germany
Style:	Munich Helles Lager
Container:	12 oz. green glass bottle, normal cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$5.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	5.20% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	This beer is our speciality. In 1894 Spaten became the first brewery in Munich to produce this brand of light lager.
Appearance:	Golden yellow color. Minimal head with no retention. A few bubble trails rise quickly.
Aroma:	Smells a little skunky. Once you get past that initial skunkiness, it smells like a Budwesier, only a little stronger.
Taste:	Can only taste a little skunkiness. It's not too bad. Taste a hint of nuts. Otherwise, it tastes somewhat similar to regular Budweiser. Maybe less sweet, but not too far off.
Mouth Feel:	Feel is good with a carbonation level that is just right.
Drinkability:	It's pretty good. Would be better if it were a little more fresh. I had these bottles in the fridge for a while before I drank them. Not the best, but definitely not the worst.
Score:	5 / 10

Other links:

Spaten Premium scored a B on
Spaten Premium scored 2.86 on

Another horrible picture. They'll get better, I promise.

From Beer

Don De Dieu

ale, belgian, belgian strong ale, Canada, Chambly, don de dieu, Québec, unibroue | Posted by John at 9:52 AM

photo by Wickenden found here.

Date:	9/15/2007
Brewery:	Unibroue
Beer:	Don De Dieu
Origin:	Chambly, Québec, Canada
Style:	Belgian Strong Ale
Container:	12oz. Brown glass bottle with foil on neck and cap
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$0 per 4-pack
Alcohol:	9% ABV
Brewer's Description:	The Don De Dieu in Tadoussac, June 3, 1608, under the command of Samuel De Champlain de Brouage, commissioned by the King of France to pursue the exploration of this vast and inhospitable land called America. From website: This smooth, exceptionally strong triple wheat ale offers a complex flavor that is slightly fruity, malty, nutty and yeasty, with a hint of unfiltered sake. We recommend pairing it with grilled game meats, spicy Asian or Latin cuisine, ripened cheeses and charcuterie.
Appearance:	Cloudy, dark golden color. Floaty bits of whitish yeast.
Aroma:	Smells odd. Almost a sour smell similar to that of apple cider. Not very pleasant smelling.
Taste:	Tastes about as bad as it smells. Bad enough to not finish the bottle. Is it supposed to taste so bad?
Mouth Feel:	Quite a bit of carbonation. Taste is bad enough to not want to examine it further.
Drinkability:	Not drinkable. Tastes & smells horrible. Looks gross with the yeast floaties in it. Eww. For the beer's sake, I hope this had gone bad. Pretty unlikely though, since it's 9% ABV.
Score:	1 / 10

Other links:

Don De Dieu scored an A- on
Don De Dieu scored 3.65 on

Here's another feeble attempt at indoor photography of the beer bottle that I tried.

From Beer

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