Author Archives: Ross E. Lockhart

Believer Double Red Ale

October 16, 2010

Tonight’s adult beverage is from Eugene, Oregon, Ninkasi Brewing Company’s Believer Double Red Ale. (With the new washing machine in the background. Dryer to come.) Believer pours ruby-red with a thick, creamy head which evaporates slowly and leaves cathedral-arch lacing on the edges of the glass. Toasty malt aroma. Lots of malt up front. Some hoppy bitterness, but sweet. Robust mouthfeel with minimal carbonation. Long-lingering bitter aftertaste, but very drinkable. Not quite as impressed with this one as I was […]

Rosebud Special Ale

October 15, 2010

Rubicon Rosebud has hints of rose and molasses up front. Nice, creamy head. Heavy on the tongue; creamy and fruity, but with bright carbonation. Lacing like esoteric calligraphy. Sweet and malty, but only mildly hoppy. Cherries?

Diabhal

October 10, 2010

After a day of behaving at a dry-but-for-Fresca company picnic, this goat-legged fellow called to me from the BevMo shelf: “Thirsty, friend?”

Devotion Ale

October 9, 2010

The Lost Abbey’s Devotion Ale has a pale white head with elegant lacing. Hint of peach up front. Tangy and spicy, dances on the tip of the tongue. Malt and cloves and yeast. Clean finish, lightly earthy. Very drinkable.

SOS (Save Our Shore)

October 8, 2010

Caveat: I’m not typically a lager kind of guy, but I liked the look of this bottle. Abita Save Our Shore has a head like a big, white, fluffy cloud. It’s bitter and grassy up front, with a decent overall mouthfeel including lots of carbonation. But it doesn’t quite hit the anticipated level of hoppy spiciness and the biscuity, malty finish is spoiled by a damnable lager soapiness at the very end. Supports a fair cause–seventy-five cents from every bottle […]

Three Philosophers

October 3, 2010

Tonight’s adult beverage is feeling philosophical. Brewery Ommegang’s Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend. A true Belgian-style Quadrupel: 98% ale plus 2% ale with cherries added. Would Plato approve?

Shipwrecked Double IPA

October 2, 2010

Tonight’s adult beverage is rated “Arrrrrrrr.” Mission Shipwrecked Double IPA pours amber with a big, bonewhite head. Sweet and malty, with a solid suggestion of candied citrus up front. Smooth mouthfeel: piney and sprucey and bitter and sweet, with a long-lasting bitter finish (grapefruit?). A toasty, burnt-sugary, malty flavor manifests as the beer acclimates to room temperature, suggesting that I should try this one again soon, but unrefrigerated.

Rampage Imperial IPA

October 1, 2010

Got to love the amber-eyed elephant stomping through the hops. Black Diamond Rampage Imperial IPA is hoppy and malty, with suggestions of citrus and pine. Understated bitterness, with enough carbonation to tickle the tongue. Minimal lacing. Refreshing, but I’m not entirely convinced it lives up to the promise of the elephant on the label.

A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale

September 25, 2010

Sometimes you just need a little sumpin’ wild… Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Wild Ale is very citrus-y. Brighter and bigger than I remember Lagunitas’ Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ and Little Sumpin’ Extra being. Nice and bitter. Enough carbonation to tickle the roof of the mouth. Mouthfeel somewhere between a wheat and an IPA. Notes of malt, tangerine, and grapefruit.

Decadent Evil

September 24, 2010

Got to like a beer with a pinup on the label. Valley Brewing’s Decadent Evil Belgian Style Golden Ale is tasty, indeed. Golden and effervescent, with little-to-no lacing on the glass. Notes of caramel and honey (more honey flavor than many meads I’ve had). All-in-all, an impressive California Belgian. And, at 9.5%, it’s certainly “decadent,” though its “evil” has yet to be proven.

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