Wynkoop Brewing Company

In a recent visit to the mile-high city, we visited some old friends at the Wynkoop Brewing Company at 18th & Wynkoop in downtown Denver.

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Accompanying my very good BBQ ribs, I sampled their Railyard Ale and B3K Schwarzbier.

From Wynkoop's website:

B3K Schwarzbier
This German-style black lager has a deep color and gently roasted flavors balanced by an understated hoppiness. A thirst-quenching version of dark beer. A 2008 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner in the German Schwarzbier category. ABV 5.3%

Railyard Ale
Our flagship brew is a smooth, amber beer that combines the malty goodness of an Octoberfest lager with the slight fruitiness of an ale. Hearty but refreshing. ABV 5.2%

BBQ Ribs
1 1/4 pounds of smoked and chile beer braised porks ribs glazed with our homemade BBQ sauce served with pub fries and coleslaw. $15.95 Chef's beer selection: Railyard Ale

Both were good, but I preferred the schwarzbier. It had a sweetness to it, oddly like that of a root beer. Not that it was like drinking alcoholic root beer, it just had some similarities in the taste. Quite interesting, and somewhat different from the only other schwarzbier that I've tried, Shiner '99 Bohemian Black Lager. The food and beer were good and a grand time was had by all at the Wynkoop. I'd definitely recommend it if you have a chance to visit.

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New Glarus Crack'd Wheat

Date:	8/4/2009
Brewery:	New Glarus Brewing Company
Beer:	Crack'd Wheat
Origin:	New Glarus, Wisconsin
Style:	Hefeweizen
Container:	12 oz. brown glass bottle with normal cap
Purchased:	Keg N Kork, Chetek, Wisconsin
Price:	$8.39 per 6-pack of bottles
Alcohol:	5.95% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	This is Dan's bold creation. You hold the international marriage of a sophisticated Bavarian Hefeweiss and an assertive American Pale Ale. Amarillo dry hopping drives Wisconsin Red Wheat. Traditional open top fermentation cultivates our proprietary Bavarian Weiss yeast in our own Wheat Beer Cellars. Absolutely 100% natural bottle conditioned. This is a living beer. Expect to pour a thick creamy head into your glass. Savor the fierce onslaught of clove, cinnamon, and citrus nose. Our very popular Imperial Weizen ratchets down for the session. Drink to adventure and friends in Wisconsin. We are the state of beer. Style: Wheat Flavor: Clove, cinnamon, and citrus Alcohol: 5.95% by volume Available in 6 packs, Cases, 1/2 Barrels, and 1/4 Barrels
Appearance:	Poured a huge head and retained it for several minutes. I think this one had the longest head retention I've seen. Head eroded into a mound in the center of the glass, sloping downwards from the middle towards the walls. Color is light copper. It's unfiltered and is quite cloudy.
Aroma:	Smells more like a pale ale than a traditional Hefeweiss. I can definitely smell hops like those in a pale ale.
Taste:	Taste is a pretty good mix between the two styles. It's unlike anything else I've tried, so far. If I had to pick something else I've tried that might be in the ballpark, I'd say a Boulevard Lunar Ale, but there are significant differences there.
Mouth Feel:	Feel is fine. The frothy head wasn't an indication of low carbonation as I thought it might have been, per the widget can trials I've had.
Drinkability:	This one got better as I got through it. It was a little harsh at first, but became more and more appealing. I think I'd rather try some other brews from New Glarus instead of getting more of this one.
Score:	5 / 10

Other links:

• Crack'd Wheat scored an A- on
• Crack'd Wheat scored 3.8 on

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Smithwick's

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

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Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter

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

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Turbodog

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

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Rogue American Amber Ale

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

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Don De Dieu

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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Boddingtons Pub Ale

Date:	9/17/2007
Brewery:	Interbrew UK Ltd.
Beer:	Boddingtons Pub Ale
Origin:	Magor, Caldicot, UK (Whales)
Style:	English Pale Ale
Container:	1-pint aluminum can w/ pressurized widget
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$0 per 4-pack
Alcohol:	4.7% ABV
Brewer's Description:	Since 1778 when it was first brewed at the Strangeways Brewery in Manchester, Boddingtons has been renowned as a unique, pale-gold ale. In English pubs, Boddingtons is served using the traditional hand pulled method which mixes air with the ale as it pours, producing a distinctive creamy head and smooth body, with little gassiness. Ordinary packaged ale cannot match this quality, but the new Draughtflow system does. By releasing millions of tiny bubbles when opened, Draughtflow cans give the creamy head and authentic fresh taste of Boddington’s Pub Ale. The Draughtflow system employs a small recyclable device which floats in the ale.
Appearance:	Very fine bubbles in creamy white head. Color is light amber. Bubbles were down in glass before head settled. Small bubbles lead to good head retention.
Aroma:	Typical beer smell. Somewhat mild in smell. Nothing, in particular, sticks out.
Taste:	Tastes OK. Nothing special.
Mouth Feel:	Very smooth. No detectable carbonation, much like Wexford's. I want more bubbles!
Drinkability:	Not very good because of lack of carbonation. Taste is ok, but poor feel means I won't get it again. Taste alone is better than Wexford's, so I will rate it +1 over the Irish Cream Ale.
Score:	2 / 10

Other links:

• Boddingtons Pub Ale scored a B- on
• Boddingtons Pub Ale scored 2.82 on

Anchor Liberty Ale

Date:	9/20/2007
Brewery:	Anchor Brewing Co.
Beer:	Anchor Liberty Ale
Origin:	San Francisco, CA
Style:	American Pale Ale
Container:	12oz. Brown glass bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$8.99 per 6-pack
Alcohol:	6.0% ABV
Brewer's Description:	First introduced in 1975, Liberty Ale® is brewed strictly according to traditional brewing methods, and, like all Anchor Brewing Company products, uses only natural ingredients — water, malted barley, fresh whole hops and yeast. Give me Liberty A special top-fermenting ale yeast is used during fermentation and is responsible for many of Liberty Ale's subtle flavors and characteristics. Carbonation is produced by an entirely natural process called "bunging," which produces champagne-like bubbles. Dry-hopping (adding fresh hops to the brew during aging), imparts a unique aroma to the ale. It is a process rarely used in this country today.
Appearance:	Light amber in color. A little cloudy. Poured a nice head. Retained it shortly. No bubbles rising while it sits on the counter.
Aroma:	Very mild smell. Hard to pick up anything at all. Maybe citrus?
Taste:	Definite hop flavor. Not too strong. I like this flavor. Not sweet. Maybe a little bitter. Good overall.
Mouth Feel:	Very good feel. Carbonation is good. Once it’s released, the beer is smooth.
Drinkability:	Very drinkable. I like Liberty a lot. One of my favorites so far.
Score:	7 / 10

Other links:

• Anchor Liberty Ale scored a B+ on
• Anchor Liberty Ale scored 3.61 on

Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale

Date:	10/16/2007
Brewery:	Black Sheep Brewery
Beer:	Monty Python's Holy Grail
Origin:	Marsham, Yorkshire HG4 4EN
Style:	ESB (per RateBeer) / English Pale Ale (per BeerAdvocate)
Container:	500 mL Brown Glass Bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$3.49 per Single bottle
Alcohol:	4.7% ABV ABV
Brewer's Description:	Another fine addition to the Black Sheep Brewery range of premium bottled ales, our Holy Grail was specially commissioned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Pythons. It has a distinctive taste with plenty of fruity hops, and is full flavoured with a dry and refreshing bitterness. "Tempered over burning witches."
Appearance:	Cloudy. Light amber in color. Very small bubbles. Poured a nice head and retained it pretty well.
Aroma:	Smeel some hoppiness. Smells a little bitter. Otherwise it smells like a run of the mill ale.
Taste:	Not a very strong flavor. Not bad, but maybe a bit bland.
Mouth Feel:	Fine feel. Carbonation is pretty good. Small bubbles make it pretty smooth.
Drinkability:	It's alright. Should be pretty good with a meal.
Score:	4 / 10

Other links:

• Monty Python's Holy Grail scored B- on
• Monty Python's Holy Grail scored 38 on

Firemans #4 Blonde Ale

I couldn't find many pictures on the net other than on flickr, so here are some links to pics.

• Firemans #4 - by "winter valentine"
• Fireman's 4 Cask conditioned - by "jgk79"

Date:	9/14/2007
Brewery:	Real Ale Brewing Company
Beer:	Firemans #4 Blonde Ale
Origin:	Blanco, TX
Style:	American Blonde Ale
Container:	12oz. Brown Glass Bottle
Purchased:	Kegs & Barrels, Plano, TX
Price:	$0 per 6-Pack
Alcohol:	5.1% ABV
Brewer's Description:	This refreshing blonde ale achieves a perfect balance between the smoothness of the malt, the subtle fruitiness of our house ale yeast, and zesty citrus notes from Crystal hops. Fireman's #4 is a great way to beat the heat - enjoy it on a Texas summer day, or pair it with spicy foods to help put out the fire. ABV: 5.1%, IBU: 21, OG(plato): 12
Appearance:	This beer is clear, golden yellow in color. There are multiple streams of bubbles effervescing. It poured a nice head, but did not retain it for very long.
Aroma:	I can detect definite citrus notes.
Taste:	This tastes a little sweet. I can barely pick up the taste of citrus. They are more pronounced in the aftertaste, but they’re not real obvious.
Mouth Feel:	This has a good amount of carbonation. It finishes smooth.
Drinkability:	I like this beer. It’s good, overall. It’s easy to drink and I could drink it for effect if I chose to. I would buy this one again.
Score:	6 / 10

Other links:

• Firemans #4 Blonde Ale scored 82 on
• Firemans #4 Blonde Ale scored 2.97 on