Mike Loves Beer -

HeBrew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah 13

October 12, 2009

Name – HeBrew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah 13
Country – United States
Type – Belgian Strong Dark Ale

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

Smell – It has a boozy smell to it with hints of smokiness, wood and vanilla.

Taste – Vanilla, cherries, wood, caramel and a bit of smoke is what I’m picking up. There is definitely a big alcohol bite at the end but it doesn’t linger very long.

The 13th anniversary ale from another brewery this year, Stone and Lagunitas were this year as well, and 13 was the theme for the beer. Thirteen different malts used, thirteen different hops and big 13% ABV on it and slap the name Bar Mitzvah on it and the great folks a Shmaltz came up with another beer that is cheeky in name but nothing but quality in it’s beer. I enjoyed though couldn’t see myself having more than one in a night with the big ABV on it. It has a sort of stout like quality to it as it is quite heavy as well.

Overall Grade – B+

Nøgne Ø Brown Ale

October 11, 2009

/ Beer Review /

2 Comments

Name – Nøgne Ø Brown Ale
Country – Norway
Type – English Brown Ale

Appearance – Poured a very dark brown with a big tannish head.

Smell – Rich roasted malts and slightly sweet caramel smell.

Taste – Roasted malts, coffee, caramel and toffee.

Another new one to our area, I decided to go with the Brown Ale as my first venture since I haven’t had one in the style for a long time. It was pretty on to what the style should be and I enjoyed it. I look forward to trying their other brews that we got too.

Overall Grade – B

Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale

October 7, 2009

/ Beer Review /

5 Comments

Name – Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale
Country – United States
Type – Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Appearance – Pours a dark brown with dark red highlights. A nice light brown head that left some lacing on the glass.

Smell – Dark fruits are predominant with some smokey qualities to it as well.

Taste – A lot seemingly going on here. Picking up dark fruits, roasted malts, some slight smokiness and a bit of chocolate.

I had been waiting for this for awhile as this is my first of the Stone Vertical series. I really wish I would have been into beer earlier to collect all of them and age them to the right point for the epic vertical tasting but alas I can not. But I did pick up a few extra bottles with the hopes of aging them and see where they are at over time. Overall I thought it was a good beer. Nothing absolutely amazing stood out but nothing fell flat either. A good example of the style.

Overall Grade – B