Mike Loves Beer -

Thomas Hardy’s Ale 2008

January 15, 2010

Name – Thomas Hardy’s Ale 2008
Country – England
Type – Old Ale

Appearance – Poured a bubbly ruby red color with no head at all.

Smell – Sweet dark fruit and a bit of alcohol burns the nose.

Taste – Sweet malts, dark fruit and a slight alcohol bite at the end. Very syrup like consistency.

I bought two bottles of this back in November and decided I have to at least try one now. It is at least a year old already and maybe a year and a half depending on when it was actually bottled in 2008. As the Brits would say this brew was absolutely proper. Wonderful sipping beer for after dinner. If I knew what sherry tasted like I might be able to agree with what so many people tend to compare this to. But definitely an absolute thrill to drink and I am very glad I have the second bottle that I will just keep for another couple years to see how it changes.

Overall Grade – A

Fade to Black Volume 1

January 12, 2010

/ Beer Review /

9 Comments

Name – Fade to Black Volume 1
Country – United States
Type – Export Stout

Appearance – Pours very jet black with a big light brown head.

Smell – The nose is primarily roasted malts, coffee and a bit of nuts.

Taste – The roasted malts are back and a coffee and chocolate taste mix together well. Smooth creamy consistency make it a very easy drink. Not heavy like you would think from a stout.

I had a couple of these on my birthday celebration last month at the Coffee District in Delray Beach and really enjoyed it there so I knew I had to pick it up for a proper review. This is a brilliant beer that borders between a stout and a Belgian Strong Dark I think. I just went with the classification that BA gave it. But this series will be meant to be aged similar to Stone’s Vertical Epic series. And if the next ones are anything like this then I am really looking forward to the series. Also let’s hope that metal band that use to be really good and now is nothing but a shell of themselves doesn’t find offense to this name.

Overall Grade – A

Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA

January 10, 2010

/ Beer Review /

12 Comments

Name – Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA
Country – United States
Type – Belgian IPA

Appearance – Poured a very clear amber color with a big foamy white head that left some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Belgian yeast dominates the nose but grapefruit type hops come through.

Taste – Grapefruit hops and the Belgian yeast were really what I picked up the most. It was very crisp and refreshing

Only my second Belgian styled IPA and both have been American made. If anyone wants to offer me the names of some real Belgian IPAs I would appreciate it. But this was good. It reminded me of Stone’s Cali-Belgique quite a deal. I would have to imagine that if I was given them blindly I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. So I guess with so much similarities I have to give it a similar grade.

Overall Grade – B+