Friday Beer O'clock Selections

 

Troegs Flying Mouflan - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 4-22-2011

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This week's Beer O'Clock Selection, as I'm told, is a very limited distribution and available only at selected locations. Brewed by Troegs Independent Craft Brewery, and having some of their other brews, I'm expecting a delicious hop-filled euphoria -  something they do well in my opinion.Troegs says - Dubbed the Flying Mouflan, this alluring ale is like "pushing our Nugget Nectar of the side of a cliff" - Tastes like hops dipped in candied sugar and rolled in dark chocolate dibs.

ABV: 9.3%

Appearance: Poured from a 1pt 6 fl.oz bottle with a brown red/amber color. I thought I had a nice controlled pour going, until the glass erupted over the rim with an explosive head before settling into a 2-3 finger thick frothy head with great retention and thick lacing that sticks heavily to the sides.

Aroma: First on the nose is a fantastic sweet floral hop aroma. Getting deeper, the aroma is is a bit more complex. There is hoppy citrus and grapefruit with a bit of pine, orange, caramel and raisin there as well.

Taste: This was a surprise and not what I expected. Not the flavor explosion I expected based on the aroma (and past Troegs experience). Right from the minute it hits the mouth, the flavors are almost subdued and mellowed., but very well balanced. It's a nice contrast to the aromas. Up front is nice caramel and raisin (fruit) flavors. Middle slides into some sweet orange and floral hop flavors and ends with more of the citrus and pine on the back finishing with a nice balance of hop and dark fruits. The alcohol is revealing and has a bit of a booziness, but I'm not put off by it here - it sort of works well.

Feel: Smooth and velvety with a heavy body and mild carbonation. Leaves a wet sticky film across the lips and coats the mouth.

Drinkability: If not for the high alcohol, I think I could throw a bunch of these back. It's a really good, casual drinking brew with great balance, aromas and delicious flavor. Initial subdued flavors really contrast with the aroma and adds a bit of a "plot twist" to the experience. Over all, I say go for this one if you get your hands on it. In the end, euphoric might be over-stepping, but it definitely has the marks of Troegs all over it - that's a good thing if you ask me. Nugget Nectar, move over!!

Hunt it down, try it out, and share your thoughts. Once it's gone, it's gone..!!

Filed under  //   Ale   Recommended   Troegs  
Posted April 22, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Belhaven Brewery - Wee Heavy Scotch Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 4-15-2011

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This week's Selection brings us back to the Wee Heavy Scotch Ale style of brews. If you've learned anything from these reviews, it's that if it's brewed in Scotland, It's probably a good bet that it going to be delicious. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Up to a couple weeks ago, I've had no personal opinions of the Wee heavy style brews. My first was the Sam Adams Wee Heavy. Not really a "true" Wee Heavy and they took som liberty with changing it up a little, but it was good. This week I wanted to get a taste of a true, classic Scottish Wee Heavy straight from the quilted lands and brought home a bottle Belheaven Wee Heavy.

ABV: 6.5%

Appearance: Poured with a dark copper color revealing lighter copper and red colors against the light. The pour formed a small one finger (or less) head that dissipated quickly leaving little evidence that one ever existed at all. Collar is broken and loose around the edge. Some lacing, but very spotty and no retention.

Aroma: Mostly barley and malts with some wood smokiness. Also getting some decent caramel but overall, a little flat on the nose. (Disclaimer: Sinuses are a bit backed today, so I am not likely getting all that is offered from this brew.)

Taste: Impressive first mouth. First on the tongue a smoky barley and malt, followed by great caramel and fruits. Most notable for me are plum, raisins, rum, and a general fruitness. Really nice all the way through with sweeter finish lingering with slight smoky rum raisin and very ever so slight hop that almost goes unnoticed.

Feel: Slightly carbonated, but still velvety smooth having some weight and body behind it with a wet finish. Like the Sam Adams Wee Heavy, the sweetness with the heavy smooth body lend it an almost syrup quality with out being syrupy. I'm guessing this is characteristic of the Wee Heavy style at this point. 

Drinkability: Drink it you got it... and if you don't got it. go get some. This is a delicious brew perfect for sipping and just relaxing - With friends, watching the game or lounging in the yard. That's what I'm talking about... Enjoy.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. What do you think? Like it? Love it? or could live without it?

Filed under  //   Belhaven   Recommended   Scottland   Wee Heavy   scottish ale  
Posted April 15, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Belhaven Scottish Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 3-4-2011

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Grab your quilt and bagpipes, this week's Friday Beer O'clock Selection comes all the way from Scotland. Belhaven Scottish Ale is brewed by The Belhaven Brewery, one of Scotland's oldest regional breweries, dating back to 1719.  This is concidered to be a fully rounded ale with a complex mix of malt producing malty and nutty flavors. So far I have become a fan of the Scottish Ales and this definitely does not disappoint.

ABV: 5.2%

Appearance: Poured with a ruby amber / copper color forming a thick 3 finger head. Retention is good but eventyal dissapears leaving behind a nice consistent collar and good lacing. Some slow bubbling can bee seen and turbidity is low.

Aroma: Good hearty boquet of fresh malts and wheat. I also get some nutty cinnamon and vanilla with slight yeast and hop in there as well.

Taste: GREAT balance of malt and hop flavors. Sweet malts upfront giving way to a roasted nuttyness in the middle and all blending with slight hop bitter in the back. All very well balanced. I love the bold roasted malts in this.

Feel: A medium mouth. Smooth, creamy and leaves a clean semi-dry feel behind. Just enough carbonation to tickle the tongue.

Drinkability: Very drinkable brew here. Appearance, Aroma, Taste and Feel all come together as you would expect producing an enjoyable brew. Try this one if you get a chance.

That's my opinion, what do you think about this week's selection?

Filed under  //   Ale   Recommended   imported   scottish ale  
Posted March 4, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Troegs Nugget Nectar Imperial Amber Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selections 2-25-2011

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This week's selection is one that came with high praise and recommendation. Troeg's Nugget Nectar seasonal Imperial Amber Ale.

ABV: 7.5%

Apparance: Poured with golden amber with orange hughs forming a small head that dissipated quick leaving behind a decent collar and spotty lacing. Turbidity is high and cloudy.

Aroma: Right away is a punch of super fresh pine and citrus. Nice lemon with earth and grassy scents. There is an aroma of sticky hops, but with slight sweetness. Most notable is the big pine citrus.

Taste: Wow! Lots of citrus, with nutmeg and spices. Uncertain sweetness up front and I can't nail it down, but it's there - Tropical fruits? I expected much more bitterness, but it reminds me more of sweet ripe citrus (bitter sweet). Citrus pine tops the finish with a pleasant bitter aftertaste and rounds out across the tongue and back of mouth. Nicely balanced.

Feel: On the lighter side with good refreshing character. Clean and wet with nice carbonation.

Drinkability: Overall great drinkability. Crisp clean and refreshing character with a fantastic balanced hop bitterness and sweet citrus. There are a handful of brews that have made me reconsider my opinion of hoppy bitter beers. This is definately one of them.

If you consider yourself a hophead, you have to try this!

Thanks to @jimstorer and @m70 for convincing me not to wait on this one.

Filed under  //   Ale   Recommended   imperial ale   imperial amber  
Posted February 25, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Brooklyn Brown Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selections 1-21-2011

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This week's Friday Beer O'Clock Selection is Brooklyn Brown Ale brewed in Brookly, New York by a brewery known as ... wait for it ... Brooklyn Brewery!  I've also heard that they sell bridges, but have not been able to confirm that fact.

ABV: 5.6%

Appearance:

Poured with a rich dark brown color with amber highlights and formed a loose two finger brown-ish head. The head didn't last very long, but managed to retain a decent collar. Lacing covers the sides well, but dosn't hold very well. Turbidity appears to be pretty clear but the color gives it an opaqueness that makes it hard to see much. There is some carbonated bubbling, but hard to see.

Aroma:

Aromas are delicious and pretty much what I expect from a good brown ale. Lots of rich malts, molases, chocolate, brown sugar, coffee, and rounding off with some hops. All working together nicely.

Taste:

YES! Just as the aromas suggest. Flavors are very well balanced here, in my opinion, and all come together nicely moving from front to back. A collection of roasted and caramel malts, coffee and chocolate with a mellow bitter hopiness in the finish.

Feel:

In large, this is a smooth brew with medium to medium-heavy body. Carbonation is just right for my taste with a dry finish.

Drinkability:

I rate this pretty high on the drinkability chart. Great flavor and mouth. Hearty but refreshing. It makes a great session beer at 5.6% ABV, and would be appropriate in any season.

Overall:

Thumbs up from me. In fact, I believe I'm going to add this to my favorites list. I have a feeling this would be great with a nice steak or a rack of babyback ribs.

Tried this one yourself or have another Brown Ale Suggestion? Leave a comment and share.

 

Filed under  //   Ale   Brooklyn Brewery   Brown Ale   Recommended  
Posted January 21, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Unibroue's "Terrible" - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 1-7-2011

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After a three week hiatus, Friday Beer O’Clock Selections are back!!! Seriously, I need to talk to whoever is in charge of scheduling these major holidays to make sure they don’t fall on a Friday in the future. That really puts a kink in Friday Beer O’Clock Selections.

With that out of the way, after three weeks of waiting, I am finally here to tell you that this week’s selection is Terrible! Yup, that’s right. I said Terrible!! Or as they say in Canada, “La Terrible”, Unibroue’s winner of 11 international gold medals.

ABV: 10.5%

Appearance:
Poured into a mug with a very dark opaque color, like a black abyss, forming a huge light brown head with spotty, but consistent lacing. For the record, the recommended serving glass is a chalice, the mug was all I had available.

Aroma:
First up is a roasted sense of malted chocolate or dark cocoa with molasses and brown sugar,  followed by dark fruity and spiced aromas.

Taste:
Right away, there is a sense of good balance. Starting in front with sweet tart fruits. More sweet fruity tartiness than the aroma implies. The middle,leading to the back reveals more of the cocoa and spice expected from the aroma, with a dark fruity finish that rounds out the complexity of this brew with characteristics of a wine.

Feel:
A nice smooth lighter-side-of-medium body with a wet finish. Moderate carbonation reminds you that this is a beer and not some expensive wine. Some warmth is presented by the alcohol, but well blended.

Drinkability:
A well rounded brew with fantastic drinkability. Fun complexity, surprisingly refreshing, great flavors and smooth. Proceed with caution, at 10.5% ABV, you could easily find yourself “accidentally” inebriated.

Validation: My wife was quoted -
“This isin’t terrible .. it’s freaking delicious” … “How can anyone name a beer this good “terrible”?

There you have it folks. What do you think?

 

Filed under  //   Ale   Recommended   abby-style   unibroue  
Posted January 7, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

La Fin Du Monde - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 4-30-2010

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First a note. I had this on Friday evening and it was so good, I took my time and relaxed with it a bit. Before I realized it, it was getting late and I was too comfortable to turn on the computer to write up a review. I guess that's a testament to the quality of this brew (or the 9% ABV).

Appearance
This one poured with a light clear golden color from the bottle, but once in the glass carbonation kicks into high until it settled into a hazy opaque yellow ochre and developed a beautiful thick full head 2-3 fingers. The head had long retention and the lacing blanketed the sides of the glass. (Note: be careful with the pour on this one or you'll easily end up breaching the rim)

Aroma:
Picking up a nice bouquet of  bready aromas with sweet malts, light spices (clove) and some fruity / floral hits (apricot?) Aroma is big and inviting.

Taste:
We have a winner! Just as expected from the aromas, this is a delicious brew. Flavors are balanced across the tongue from front to back picking up the fruity and malt sweetness on the front, bready yeasts and spices in the middle and subtle hops on the back all blended and balanced nicely together.

Feel:
Body is full and has some weight to it, but is not filling. The high alcohol is evident, but overall feels velvety. It leaves a nice warmth much like a wine.

Drinkability:
Contrary to expectations of the high alcohol content, this is an easy drinking brew tempting you to indulge with great flavors and aroma.

Overall:
I really like this and put it at the top of my list up there with the Heather Froach. It reminds me of the Sam Adams Tripel, but better!  BUT.. be careful with it. It is delicious and easy on the tongue, but at 9% ABV, it will put you to sleep. Take this one slow and enjoy it.

La Fin Du Monde - Tripel Fermentation
Brewed by Unibroue
Chambly (QUE) Canada
9% ABV
1 Pint. 9.4 FL. OZ.

Filed under  //   Malt   Recommended   canadian   imported   top-pick  
Posted April 30, 2010 by Ed Stafford 
 

Friday's Beer O'Clock Selection for 12-04-09: Fraoch - Heather Ale

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Friday's Beer O'Clock Selection for 12-04-09: Fraoch - Heather Ale

From the label:

Fraoch is Scotland's native Ale

Heather ale has been brewed in Scotland since 2000 b.c. Brewed using heather flowers and Scottish malt, it has a distinctive floral aroma, full malt character and a dry wine-like finish. As one of the oldest styles of ale in the world ther are many legends and folklore surrounding it.


Opinion/Review

Appearance: The color is a medium clear light golden amber and poured with a creamy stable head that has good retention. Carbonation is steady but not over-active.

Aroma: First impression - Sweet, Floral, Caramel and a hint of Spice. Over all, the aroma was very pleasant. I could almost taste the flavors just by smell...and it was GOOD!!

Taste: First impression - Smokey sweetness, hint of spice or floral tones, woody? Reminded me of a campfire. The flavors all come together nicely with a smooth light malty dry finish.

Mouthfeel: SMOOTH! This was a very smooth brew. There is a little carbonation bite but it fits well with the rest of the characteristics of this brew. Not over done and not under-done, just a nice balance. It's got a light and smooth body.

Drinkability and Final Impression: WOW.. This is a delicious brew. Full flavored brew with fantastic characteristics. Easy to drink. Not something to "pound", but definately worth taking some time with and enjoying every last drop.

Did I mention it was Delicious?

Price: $5.49 1 pt bottle - Kappy's Liquors, Medford MA

Filed under  //   Ale   Beer O'Clock   Recommended   Scottland   imported   top-pick  
Posted December 4, 2009 by Ed Stafford