 |
| I'm Judge Dredd |
We figured it's time to get back to our roots here at Chopbiscuit and continue the reviews of The World's Best draughts. We're often seen walking our pints throughout town and cuddling with our favorite Belgium's at the Cinema. Beer is our canvas and we paint that canvas by drinking more beer. We have poked fun at our favorite canned beers in the past, but ultimately we love the best in craft beer brewing. Whether it's a Belgium White, American Brown Ale, Japanese Rice lager or an oatmeal stout - We enjoy a good beer and a firm hand shake. So, let's continue the exposition with our reviews.
*Special Honorary Review*
Outside of my normal day job, I like to think that I'm the luminary of craft beer tasting. Even though I know I'm not at that level yet, I'm bound and determined to go down as the "Super taster of all Super tasters".
A few days ago I participated in The Local Pub and Tea house's - 12 Beers of Christmas. Since I was in town and thirsty, I figured it was common courtesy to grace this establishment and perform the 12 Beer written exam. I was ready, both mentally and physically. I've felt as if I've been prepared for this my entire life. Everything I've done prior - has led me to these shot glasses.
 |
| If I pass, I can get into a Private Beer School |
The script was easy - just drink 12 beers from lightest to darkest and rate them. Easy enough. They made the evening extremely non cerebral by giving the folks a nice little beer list (seen above). To make this much easier in terms of reviewing, I'm going to create the list below and tell you what I thought.
The Twelve Beers of Christmas
Ridgeway Bad Elf - Shelton Brothers, England.
Light Golden Color with mild malt and hop flavors and a biscuity citrus nose.
Beer: English IPA
Rating: 2 Biscuits
Review: A nice mild malt. Not enough citrus or acidity notes.
Clipper City Yule Tide - Clipper City Brewing, Baltimore, MD
Clear Golden Ale with grassy flavored aromas and fruity notes
Beer: Tripple Belgium Ale
Rating: 3 Biscuits
Review: I believed I wouldn't like this Tripel. I was proved wrong.I loved the subtle fruit and mouth feel. I will bath in this Ale relatively soon.
Abita Christmas Brown Ale - Abita Springs, LA
Medium body with hints of toffee and roasted dark malts with a dry finish
Beer: Brown Ale
Rating: 2 Biscuits
Review: Meh. I'm a big fan of their Purple Haze, but this one is very ordinary.
Full Sail Wreck the Halls - Full Sail Brewing, Hood River, OR
Dark Amber with piney citrus scent and a spiced bitter finish
Beer: American IPA
Rating: 2 Biscuits
Review: A nice spiced IPA. That's it.
Rogue Mogul Madness - Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Dark Ruby Ale with sweet pine and malty notes with a bitter hop finish
Beer: Winter Ale
Rating: 3 Biscuits
Review: In standard Rogue fashion, a hoppy, full aroma ale. I'm a Rogue fan.
Breckenridge Christmas - Breckenridge Brewery, Denver, CO
Medium Brown with yeasty spiciness, warm malts and mild bitterness
Beer: American Style Strong Ale
Rating: 2 Biscuits
Review: I liked the yeast notes and had a good malt structure. Full and strong - like Serbian woman.
Jenlain Noel - Duyck, France
Deep Amber with sweet honey and clover. Malty and sweet.
Beer: Amber Ale
Rating:1 Biscuit
Review: No Sir, I didn't like it.
Hoppin Frog Frosted Frog - Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Akron, OH
Medium bodied rub-brown ale with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and clove.
Beer: Winter Warmer
Rating: 4 Biscuits
Review: Best Christmas beer in America right now. If you like Winter warmer's - this is your beer. It has bold Xmas spices to get your groove on under the mistle toe.
St. Peter's Cream Stout - St. Peter's Brewery, England
Dark black stout with milk chocolate, coffee nose and slightly sweet finish
Beer: Milk/Sweet Stout
Rating: 2 Biscuits
Review: I was picking up a lot of hops and was wondering why it's called a cream stout. But, that's apparently the old benchmark for those mates across the pond
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale - Belgium
Dark brown with yeasty toffee aromas, bittersweet chocolate and mild hops
Beer: Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Rating: 3 biscuits
Review: This bastard had a huge mouth. 10% ABV will surely get you there. Nice coffee, chocolate overtones and finish.
Victory Storm King - Victory Brewery , Dowington, PA
Jet black stout with coffee notes, smokiness and strong hop bitterness
Beer: Russian Imperial Stout
Rating: 1 biscuit
Review: Not my "thang". A bit smoky and I didn't like the bitterness. I'm a fan of Victory though, just didn't like this stout.
Sierra Nevada Life & Limb - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, NV
Full bodied collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish
Beer: Strong. Strong. Strong. Beer.
Rating: 4 biscuits
Review: This is a one and done beer. Nice maple and birch flavor with a huge punch. No funnels here kids.
