Justintoxicated. - Vancouver, BC

~'cause life is too short to drink the same thing twice~
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Posts tagged "winter"
Les Trois Mousquetaires (Quebec, Canada) 1) Lager Fumée Rauchbier, 5% ABV On the label: “Voila! A beer inspired by the Rauchbier you find in Bamberg, Germany. A dark beer made partly from smoked malt unique to this region, aged slowly at low temperatures, and put in the bottle unfiltered, with a fine yeast sediment.” My Notes: My Rating: B Why I like: dark and drinkable Where I got it: Brewery Creek How much: ~$10, 750ml Do I love this enough to drink it again: No Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes Tasting Notes: pours dark brown, small dissipating head, micro-foamy CO2, ringed and some center retention, visible CO2 streams near the surface. Smoky wood and malt on the nose. Gentle start, smoky mildly 2/10 bitter malts up front, good body holds in the mid, tingly CO2 in the mids until finish. Chocolate, smoked wood, caramel malts, creamy mouthfeel. Medium-high depth, medium complexity, good carry, medium length. Excellent body for a 5% ABV beer, and good sweetness (4/10) level. 2) Festbier - Lager Brune epicee, 6% ABV On the label: “This brown lager offers sweet citrus flavors that arise from a selection of thirteen Queb3ec malts from barley, wheat, oats, and rye. It’s bouquet is caused by a blend of Saaz Czech hops, coriander seed and bitter orange peel. The result is a wonderful festive beer!” My Notes: My Rating: B+ Why I like: fruity and firm Where I got it: W. 16th (?), Feb-2012 How much: $8.20 (after 10%), 750ml Do I love this enough to drink it again: No Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes Tasting Notes: pours red-orange-brown, small dissipating head, large and small CO2, very active CO2 streams, slippery lacing. Orange hops on the nose, much like an IPA. Lots of fruity orange up front, balanced dryness in the mid, a bit of orange blossom, coriander near the end, 4/10 sweetness, 4/10 bitterness in the form of orange peels, silky mouthfeel. Medium complexity, medium depth, great transitions, good carry, excellent balance of sweet, fruity, bitter, hoppy, and refreshing. Finishes creamy.3) Weizenbock Grand Cuvée Hiver 2010, 11% ABV On the label: “A winter brew inspired by the best of Germany’s strong beers, this Weizenbock is a rich libation which will seduce you with its lush aromas. Its succulent body and flavors reminiscent of candied fruit will be a fine companion to your cozy evenings.” My Notes: My Rating: B- Why I like: dark rich yet fruity Where I got it: Brewery Creek How much: ~$10, 750ml Do I love this enough to drink it again: No Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes Tasting Notes: pours dark walnut brown, almost no head, minor CO2 ringed retention, runny lacing, some CO2 streams near the perimeter. Strong prunes on the nose. Starts off with medium CO2 bubbled carbonation, transitions into 8/10 sweet fruity prune, dried red fig, molasses flavours, followed by a bittersweet chocolate finish. Medium-high complexity, medium-high depth, medium length, good transitions, good carry. An interesting fruity dark beer, but too sweet for me to enjoy again.

Les Trois Mousquetaires (Quebec, Canada)

1) Lager Fumée Rauchbier, 5% ABV

On the label:

“Voila! A beer inspired by the Rauchbier you find in Bamberg, Germany. A dark beer made partly from smoked malt unique to this region, aged slowly at low temperatures, and put in the bottle unfiltered, with a fine yeast sediment.”

My Notes:

  • My Rating: B
  • Why I like: dark and drinkable
  • Where I got it: Brewery Creek
  • How much: ~$10, 750ml
  • Do I love this enough to drink it again: No
  • Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes
Tasting Notes: pours dark brown, small dissipating head, micro-foamy CO2, ringed and some center retention, visible CO2 streams near the surface. Smoky wood and malt on the nose. Gentle start, smoky mildly 2/10 bitter malts up front, good body holds in the mid, tingly CO2 in the mids until finish. Chocolate, smoked wood, caramel malts, creamy mouthfeel. Medium-high depth, medium complexity, good carry, medium length. Excellent body for a 5% ABV beer, and good sweetness (4/10) level.

2) Festbier - Lager Brune epicee, 6% ABV

On the label:

“This brown lager offers sweet citrus flavors that arise from a selection of thirteen Queb3ec malts from barley, wheat, oats, and rye. It’s bouquet is caused by a blend of Saaz Czech hops, coriander seed and bitter orange peel. The result is a wonderful festive beer!”

My Notes:

  • My Rating: B+
  • Why I like: fruity and firm
  • Where I got it: W. 16th (?), Feb-2012
  • How much: $8.20 (after 10%), 750ml
  • Do I love this enough to drink it again: No
  • Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes
Tasting Notes: pours red-orange-brown, small dissipating head, large and small CO2, very active CO2 streams, slippery lacing. Orange hops on the nose, much like an IPA. Lots of fruity orange up front, balanced dryness in the mid, a bit of orange blossom, coriander near the end, 4/10 sweetness, 4/10 bitterness in the form of orange peels, silky mouthfeel. Medium complexity, medium depth, great transitions, good carry, excellent balance of sweet, fruity, bitter, hoppy, and refreshing. Finishes creamy.

3) Weizenbock Grand Cuvée Hiver 2010, 11% ABV

On the label:

“A winter brew inspired by the best of Germany’s strong beers, this Weizenbock is a rich libation which will seduce you with its lush aromas. Its succulent body and flavors reminiscent of candied fruit will be a fine companion to your cozy evenings.”

My Notes:

  • My Rating: B-
  • Why I like: dark rich yet fruity
  • Where I got it: Brewery Creek
  • How much: ~$10, 750ml
  • Do I love this enough to drink it again: No
  • Would I recommend this to beer afficianados: Yes

Tasting Notes: pours dark walnut brown, almost no head, minor CO2 ringed retention, runny lacing, some CO2 streams near the perimeter. Strong prunes on the nose. Starts off with medium CO2 bubbled carbonation, transitions into 8/10 sweet fruity prune, dried red fig, molasses flavours, followed by a bittersweet chocolate finish. Medium-high complexity, medium-high depth, medium length, good transitions, good carry. An interesting fruity dark beer, but too sweet for me to enjoy again.

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Speciale Noel - Brasserie Artisanale La Binchoise (since 1836), 9% ABV, (Faubourg, Saint Paul, Belgium). First brewed in 1993, serving temp, 10C. Bottle condition, unpasteurized, and unfiltered. My Rating: C+ Why I might like it: spiced winter beer Who I recommend it to: full-bodied with huge ABV Where I got it: Brewery Creek (?) How much: <$5, Summer 2011 Tasting Notes: pours chestnut brown, largish high-retention head, lots of sticky lacing. Some malts on the nose. Tastewise, very smooth, highly spiced of nutmeg and cinnamon, honey, creamy velvet CO2,. Malted honey 5/10 sweetness up front, spices in the mid, minor bitter metallic finish. Medium complexity, med-high depth, short-medium length. The spices don’t particularly carry on, mainly the maltiness.

Speciale Noel - Brasserie Artisanale La Binchoise (since 1836), 9% ABV, (Faubourg, Saint Paul, Belgium). First brewed in 1993, serving temp, 10C. Bottle condition, unpasteurized, and unfiltered.

  • My Rating: C+
  • Why I might like it: spiced winter beer
  • Who I recommend it to: full-bodied with huge ABV
  • Where I got it: Brewery Creek (?)
  • How much: <$5, Summer 2011

Tasting Notes: pours chestnut brown, largish high-retention head, lots of sticky lacing. Some malts on the nose. Tastewise, very smooth, highly spiced of nutmeg and cinnamon, honey, creamy velvet CO2,. Malted honey 5/10 sweetness up front, spices in the mid, minor bitter metallic finish. Medium complexity, med-high depth, short-medium length. The spices don’t particularly carry on, mainly the maltiness.

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Snow Cap seasonal ale (2009) - Pyramid breweries, 7% ABV, (Seattle, Berkeley, Portland) My Rating: B- Why I might like it: good body, solid flavours Who I recommend it to: Belgian lovers Where I got it:&#160;??? (W.16?) How much: &lt;$10 , Q4,2010 Tasting notes: pours beer bottle brown, small head, some lacing. Tastes quite nutty, malts, caramel, 5/10 sweetness with a low-med bitter finish. Medium depth, medium complexity, medium length, great balance. Definitely warming, crisp and satisfying.

Snow Cap seasonal ale (2009) - Pyramid breweries, 7% ABV, (Seattle, Berkeley, Portland)

  • My Rating: B-
  • Why I might like it: good body, solid flavours
  • Who I recommend it to: Belgian lovers
  • Where I got it: ??? (W.16?)
  • How much: <$10 , Q4,2010

Tasting notes: pours beer bottle brown, small head, some lacing. Tastes quite nutty, malts, caramel, 5/10 sweetness with a low-med bitter finish. Medium depth, medium complexity, medium length, great balance. Definitely warming, crisp and satisfying.

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Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale (Seasonal), 1 Pint 6 fl oz, 7.6% ABV, (Seattle, WA &amp; Ft. Collins, CO) On the side of the label: Winter Ale &#8220;Bifrost is our lively winter seasonal - bold with citrus and earthy hops and balanced with smooth malt character.&#8221; My Rating: C+ Why I might like it: good medium body, bold and complex Who I recommend it to: IPA lovers Where I got it: Brewery Creek / W.16th How much: &lt;$10 , Q1/2011 Beer Tasting Notes: pours cloudy orange, semi-thick lasting head, sticky lacing, micro carbonation, and a plethora of champagne bubble strands. Subdued malty orange nose. Velvety mouthfeel, predominantly bitter orange peel citrus mixed in with a bitter dry hopped finish (reminds me of a med IPA). Long lingering bitter finish, medium-high body, medium complexity, medium-high depth. A well-crafted solid beer but not the flavour profile I particularly like. But it is something I can definitely appreciate.

Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale (Seasonal), 1 Pint 6 fl oz, 7.6% ABV, (Seattle, WA & Ft. Collins, CO)

On the side of the label:

Winter Ale

“Bifrost is our lively winter seasonal - bold with citrus and earthy hops and balanced with smooth malt character.”

  • My Rating: C+
  • Why I might like it: good medium body, bold and complex
  • Who I recommend it to: IPA lovers
  • Where I got it: Brewery Creek / W.16th
  • How much: <$10 , Q1/2011

Beer Tasting Notes: pours cloudy orange, semi-thick lasting head, sticky lacing, micro carbonation, and a plethora of champagne bubble strands. Subdued malty orange nose. Velvety mouthfeel, predominantly bitter orange peel citrus mixed in with a bitter dry hopped finish (reminds me of a med IPA). Long lingering bitter finish, medium-high body, medium complexity, medium-high depth. A well-crafted solid beer but not the flavour profile I particularly like. But it is something I can definitely appreciate.

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