Tag Archives: beer

Feb 12 2014
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Miscellaneous

Craft Beer Connoisseurship vs. Alcoholism

“When one knows something of the history of a thing, something about its power, influence, and potential, one is (hopefully) less inclined to simply see that thing as a mere medium for intoxicant.”

Are you masking an underlying alcohol dependency under the guise of craft beer “connoisseurship?” Here’s an interesting article regarding this issue that also, strangely, promotes the virtues of low-ABV session beers:

http://beergraphs.com/bb/344-high-functioning-craft-beer-and-alcohol

Also, a discussion about it on BeerAdvocate:

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/beergraphs-high-functioning-craft-beer-and-alcohol.152700/

Men (and ladies), my hope is that you are drinking craft beer to appreciate its flavors and complexities rather than to get hammered drunk.  Of course if you do indeed struggle with alcoholism then by all means stop reading this, or any other alcohol-related blog, and please find the help and support you need to beat this addiction.

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, Stout

Maine Beer Company Mean Old Tom

Maine Beer Company Mean Old Tom Stout

NAME: Maine Beer Company Mean Old Tom
TYPE: Stout (aged on vanilla beans)
ORIGIN: Freeport, ME
ABV: 6.5%
REVIEW: Jet black pour with a creamy, khaki head. Roasty, malty smell, medium-light bodied stout. Toasty, slightl burnt taste with subtle coffee notes and just a hint of vanilla at the end. To be honest I expected a little more, but still I’d choose this over Guinness. And yes, it would go well with my wife’s delicious chocolate chip cookies.

goodwilltasting grade: B-

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, IPA

Maine Beer Company Lunch

Maine Beer Company Lunch IPA

NAME: Maine Beer Company Lunch (draught)
TYPE: American IPA
ORIGIN: Freeport, ME
ABV: 7.2%
REVIEW: Golden Brown color with crisp head. Pine on the nose, hoppy citrus notes, crisp mouthfeel, slightly more viscous than a San Diego IPA. Feels like a hybrid of English and American style IPAs if you ask me.

goodwilltasting grade: B+

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, ETC

Rising Tide Ishmael Copper Ale

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NAME: Rising Tide Ishmael American Copper Ale
TYPE: Altbier (German-style Brown Ale)
ORIGIN: Portland, ME
ABV: 5.1%
REVIEW: Dark copper color, foamy head. Bready smell, subtle hops aroma, nice biscuity mouthfeel with strong malty backbone, bittersweet caramel flavor, smooth finish with little aftertaste. Solid subtly hoppy brown ale that would go well with fried seafood and chowdah that Portland does so well.

goodwilltasting grade: B

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, IPA

City Steam Innocence IPA

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NAME: City Steam Innocence
TYPE: American IPA
ORIGIN: Hartford, CT
ABV: 6%
REVIEW: Golden caramel-y color, creamy head, sweet grassy smell with citrus notes. Pretty aggressively hop forward, kind of a palate wrecker but the bitterness mellows out as it warms and gives way to a floral sweet finish. Nice mouthfeel with good carbonation. I wouldn’t say this would be a session-able beer but an otherwise good effort on an American IPA, Hartford.

goodwilltasting grade: B

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, Belgian

Stone 12.12.12 Vertical Epic

Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12

NAME: Stone Vertical Epic 12.12.12.
TYPE: Belgian-Style Strong Dark Ale
ORIGIN: Escondido, CA
ABV: 9.0%
REVIEW: Dark color, minimal head. Sweet, roasted smell. Crisp full mouthfeel, slightly overcarbonated. Sweet on the tongue with a piney floral finish. Well done Stone!

goodwilltasting grade: A-

 

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Feb 06 2014
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Beer Reviews, IPA

21st Amendment Hop Crisis

21st Amendment Hop Crisis Imperial IPA

NAME: 21st Amendment Hop Crisis
TYPE: Imperial IPA
ORIGIN: San Francisco, CA
ABV: 9.7%
IBUs: 94
REVIEW: Golden color with frothy head, very citrusy on the nose with a hint of pine. Very smooth beer with nice grapefruit and apricot notes, medium bodied with a slightly flat mouthfeel. Sweet, caramel finish. It’s no Pliny, but that’ll do pig. That’ll do.

goodwilltasting grade: B+

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Feb 02 2014
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Beer Reviews, IPA

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

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NAME: Bear Republic Racer 5
TYPE: American IPA
ORIGIN: Healdsburg CA
ABV: 7.0%
REVIEW: The IPA that started it all… For me anyway. For real this is the beer that got me into IPAs in the first place. Fresh grapefruit, slight pine smell, darkish golden amber color, nice citrusy grapefruit notes up front, really fresh, crisp tasting with slow slightly sweet finish. Super refreshing and drinkable. This is a beautiful beer.

goodwilltasting grade: A

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Jan 30 2014
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Beer Reviews, IPA

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head 120 Min IPA

NAME: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
TYPE: Imperial IPA
ORIGIN: Rehoboth Beach, DE
ABV: 15-20%
REVIEW: This here is the elusive Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. It’s not easy to find. DFH only brews this a few times a year and releases a limited amount because it’s so time consuming and expensive to make. Crazy hoppy. It’s boiled and continually hopped for a full 2 hours (hence the name), then dry-hopped daily as it ferments, THEN aged another month over whole-leaf hops.  It’s a deep amber color, über hoppy beer with a rich, smooth mouthfeel. Slow, very sweet finish which masks it’s high ABV. Honestly I think I still prefer the 90 Minute, but definitely worth a try. Very good.

goodwilltasting grade: B+

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Jan 30 2014
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Beer Reviews, Lager

Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Über Pils

Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Pilsner

NAME: Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning “Über Pils”
TYPE: Strong Pilsner (Bock Lager)
ORIGIN: Baltimore, MD
ABV: 7.0% ABV
REVIEW: Golden brown color, sharp, bitter hop taste with a sweet malty finish, bubbly mouthfeel.

goodwilltasting grade: C+

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