Mike Loves Beer

This past Monday I made my return to Monday’s Social Beer Night at Coffee District (who has a new website designed by yours truly) after missing a number of weeks being sick.  So here I am with another Big Beers, Small Thoughts.  Let’s just dive on in.

North Coast Old Rasputin XII – The twelfth anniversary of Old Rasputin is aged on bourbon barrels in this one.  The nose and taste are dominated by the sweet bourbon.  Hints of cherry come through with a little boozy flavor as well.  I still find it a bit hot and think it will become incredible in a year or two.

Tampa Bay Brewing Iron Rat – Apparently there is a normal and imperial version of this beer.  Both with the same name.  That’s not confusing at all.  Kevin who brought it wasn’t sure which it was.  But it had a quite smokey nose and taste.  I got a lactose smell from it as well.

Beer Here Malus Pater – This beer must have been sent from overseas because I see no way this label was approved in the states.  It is by far one of the most out there designs I’ve ever seen.  The beer inside was a pretty standard quad.  Lots of dark fruit, Belgian candi sugar and yeast.

BrewDog IPA is Dead: Nelson Sauvin – One of the new single hop IPAs BrewDog is doing with one of my favorite hops.  The nose is incredible.  Very strong scent of the Nelson Sauvin hops.  Fruity and a little piney.  Reminds me of Funky Budda’s Don’t Try since they used Nelson Sauvin hops in that.  But I become disappointed with the taste.  Slight taste of the hops but the rest just seemed watery and bland.

Name – North Coast Old #38 Stout
Country – United States
Type – Irish Dry Stout

Appearance – Poured a jet black color with a good sized light brown head but that was gone very quickly.

Smell – Chocolate hits the nose first followed by your typical roasted malts and coffee.

Taste – Dry, roasted malt flavor with a presence of some bitter sweet chocolate and coffee.

This reminded me of a more chocolaty version of Guinness with the way it tasted.  Sure it isn’t nitro tapped and have that big white head but it’s the same style.  I enjoyed this for a dry stout which isn’t one of my more favorite styles.  If you like Guinness then give this a try and you just very well may have found something else you like.

Overall Grade – B-

Name – ACME California Pale Ale
Country – United States
Type – American Pale Ale

Appearance – Poured a pretty clear deep amber color with a good sized white head that left a little lacing.

Smell – Floral and grassy hops with a yeast presence.

Taste – Grassy type hops with the similar yeast taste as the smell.

Not bad in the way of American Pale Ales.  Better than the other ACME labeled brew from North Coast that I have had.  I would say a good straight forward brew.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Overall Grade – B