Mike Loves Beer

Name – Coney Island Human Blockhead
Country – United States
Type – Doppelbock

Remember how I said in my review of Karnival Kolsch that I was dreading summer arriving?  Well sure enough it seems like it has arrived.  Hot and humid days have been rolling in.  And the season for light and refreshing beers like wheats and lagers is here.  Unfortunately this lager that I am reviewing is anything but light.

Human Blockhead, from those ever fun folks at Shmaltz, is a doppelbock that weighs in at 10% ABV.  Holy crap!  And as much as the names Karnival Kolsch and Human Blockhead seem to flow into one and other by name they really don’t.  It’s a huge step up.

I pour this baby into my glass and it is a deep red color.  A sandy off white head develops on top of the brew and leaves some lacing on the glass.

The nose is a lot of what you expect from a doppelbock.  Hints of caramel, cherries, bready malts, the gang is all there.

There is a lot more of the same in the taste with the sweet caramel and cherries flavors.  There is some slightly roasted malt hints in there and then an earthy hop taste to balance things out.  The alcohol is a little hidden at first but comes out more as it warms up.

I have to say that the beer is exactly what I would expect from a 10% doppelbock.  It has all the qualities of the style just turned up a few notches.  Maybe it’s up to 11.  Or maybe they just adjusted settings to make it 10.  Who knows?

In the few of the Coney Island Lagers I’ve had from Shmaltz I am seeing that they really push the boundaries on the styles.  Whether it be a pale lager or marzen or in this case a doppelbock.  They make them new and unique.

And with the release of a barrel aged version of Human Blockhead this I look forward to even more sideshows in my life.

Grade - B+

Name – Coney Island Lager
Country – United States
Type – American Amber Lager

Appearance – Pours a pretty clear reddish color with a good sized white head that was gone rather quick but left some good lacing on the glass.

Smell – Smells were pretty subdued but could get some malt and spices.

Taste – Crisp and clean grainy and malt taste.  Slight hops and spices going on.

I thought this was a pretty well balanced all around lager.  I think it’s perfect for sitting and watching the ball games this fall (Go Phillies).  More taste than you get from a lot of lagers out there sets this one above most.

Overall Grade – B+