Magic Hat - Odd Notion Summer '10

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Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Magic Hat - Odd Notion Summer '10
Magic Hat Brewing Company
5 Bartlett Bay Road
Burlington, VT USA
Est. 1994
www.magichat.net

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clouded golden color.
One and a half finger off-white foaming head that leaves slight lacing.
Sweet fruity esters and ginger smell.
Fruit and spice taste.
Active amount of carbonation.
A light bodied smooth beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
When is a gingerale not a gingerale? When it's a Ginger Ale; that is an ale made with ginger!

Light and refreshing with that sumptin' special ginger added to the batch.  A very light and refreshing ale that will cure your summertime blues. Magic Hat brews the Odd Notion series each season.  So I guess that's four times a year you will see a different 'odd' style headed your way.

I found nothing odd at all with this Summer '10 release.  The ginger was refreshingly good and quite snappy in flavor.  There is a note on the bottle that says you can rate it at oddnotion.magichat.net and as soon as this review is over, I will be reaching for another while casting my ballot.

Vote for yourself.

Pike - India Pale Ale

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Pike - India Pale Ale
The Pike Brewing Company
1415 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA USA
Est. 1989
www.pikebrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper to bronze in color.
Floral smell of hops; piney with a bit of malt.
Caramel tan, two and a half finger head that lasts.
Light carbonation.
Medium malt taste and citrus pine smack of hops Good balance.
Medium bodied.  Will not weigh you down. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
From the rain of Seattle to the Sunshine State, the latest beer to "come down the pike", is now here in Florida.  Okay, that was an excruciatingly droll pun, but if you are a regular reader, you know what to expect from me by now.

Pike is here, all the way from the state of Washington. A real humdinger of an IPA at first blush.  It has 60 IBU's of hops heat and yet, it doesn't cause tongue burnout.  I could see myself sessioning this easily.  As a matter of fact, the bottle is 22 ounces, so that is going to be pretty much of a given.

My good buddy Gerard 'Tweeted' about the appearance of Pike in Florida.  Knowing that I had obtained some, he couldn't wait to see the written eulogy.  Well, I wasn't about to let him down.  In fact, it is as good an excuse as any, on a midweek night, to pop open a bomber of this IPA.

The ale's hoppiness stands up all the way to the bottom of the bottle.  The flavors open as it warms a bit and that is where you get the rich undertones of the malt characteristics.  It surely hit the spot at the end of a long grueling day at the mortuary.  It sort of "livened up" the evening at the crypt...if you catch my drift. Muahhahaahaahahaa!

Pike has quite a few beers and ales introduced to the Sunshine State and I plan to sample them all.  There was a double IPA if I'm not mistaken. I'm surely looking forward to the rest of their stuff making an appearance in my cooler for future obduction.

Welcome to Florida, Pike!  We're sure glad you're making it rain beer, here.

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager

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Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
Spoetzl Brewery
603 East Brewery Street
Shiner, TX USA
Est. 1909
www.shiner.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.9 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep black color with some ruby tones at edge of glass.
Malt and some fruit aromas.
Thick and creamy, caramel tan, two finger head that lasts and lasts.
Light  to medium carbonation.
Medium malt taste and a bit of bitterness from hops at the end.
Light to medium bodied. Surprising for a dark beer.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Sinister from the pour, this dark and lovely Schwarzbier makes a bold statement in your glass.  I was expecting a bit more pruney/coffee flavor, but none of that came through.  Not bad though.  In the end, I found it to be an overall easy to drink dark beer.

The blackness of the label and the blackness of the brew were the darkest parts.  The flavor, while tasty, didn't live up to the visual expectations.

Honey Moon - Summer Ale

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Honey Moon - Summer Ale
Blue Moon Brewing Company
Coors Brewing Company
13th and Ford Street
Golden, CO USA
Est.1995
www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Slightly cloudy, yellow in color.
Wheat, honey and grain in aroma.
Modest carbonation.
Wheat, orange and honey taste.
One finger, white fluffy head that leaves fair lacing.
Light body with lots of flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A summer ale for the good old summer time.  The Mrs. picked this one out on our latest excursion to the mega-beverage house as something she would like to try.  Of course, I sampled it too for this obit.

It is light and has clover honet and orange peel in it, according to the neckband label.  Two different wheat malts finish the bill, making this a good reach for the cooler.  It would especially be good on a day by the pool or at the beach, bleaching one's bones, so to speak.

Odell - Red Ale

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Odell Red Ale
Odell Brewing Company
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. 1989
www.odellbrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Amber ruddy red color.
Hops, hops and more hops smell. Wonderful.
Nice tight foaming two fingered head.
Superb rings of lacing with each sip.
Total immersion of hops with each sip. Malt does show a bit.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Fresh hops aroma and a hops kick - just right at 50 IBU's.  This was one that eluded me on previous trips to the mountains of Colorado.  I regret only bringing a sixer of this back, but there is hope for me yet.  GABF looms large in September when I will be back...with more.

Time to correct that mistake. Get some, before I bring it all back to the crypt.

Val Dieu - Triple Abbey Ale

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Val Dieu Triple
Brasserie de L'Abbaye du Val~Dieu
Val Dieu, 225
Aubel, Belgium
Est. 1997
www.val-dieu.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
Turbid golden color.
Yeasty smell.
White bright soapy tight bubbled head.
Lots of sparkling nucleation.
Amazing hanging lacing on glass.
Crisp taste with slight apple notes.
Light golden body. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
From their website, "The abbey of Val-Dieu was built 1216 by Cistercian monks. They were looking for a lone valley with a stream for agricultural and brewing activities, a haven of peace full of nature. Cistercian orders are well-known abroad for their brewing skills. The monks of this abbey made no exception to this rule." It seems that over the centuries, the Abbey fell into different states of disrepair. Thankfully, it was re-established in 1997.

As for the ale, it has the characteristics of any fine tripel.  It has an apple taste along with the yeast component.  There was also a hint of wine flavor, mmm, that's what seemed to come through.  I bought this as my third Father's Day ale, this time to honor my own dad. It may not have been what he would have drunk back in the 50's and 60's, but I would have liked to introduce him to this style.  I'm certain he would have enjoyed it a lot.

Too bad Val~Dieu didn't learn how to spell Tripel correctly. Ahh, who cares what's on the bottle as long as it's good in the bottle.

Birra Moretti - La Rossa

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Birra Moretti - La Rossa
Heineken Italia SpA.
Udine, Italy
Est. 1859
www.birramoretti.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 11.2

Postmortem Brew Review
The color of root beer.
Caramel tan head that quickly disappears.
Raw malty smell with slight hops.
Medium carbonation.
Medium malt taste and dry finish.
Mild sweet and slightly dry tasting.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Though now part of the Heineken family of beers, Birra Moretti has been around a long time. Older than my grim self by nearly 100 years, in fact.  Nevertheless, I can recall trips to the Italian food markets as a wee little reaper, and seeing this beer stocked alongside the Pabst and Bud. Way, way, back in the day, my friends.

On an odd note: Hand me a fedora and I could be the unpleasant old man with the mustache in their advertising.

So to pay respect to my mom's side of the family on this Father's Day, I tried the darker of the two Moretti's, the La Rossa. Grandpa 'nonno' Giovanni would have exclaimed, "...sono buoni!"

Look we all know that good food comes from Italy.  We all know that good wine comes from Italy.  So it should stand to reason that you will find good beer coming from Italy as well. 

Ciao bella!

Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter

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Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
The Old Brewery at Tadcaster
Yorkshire, England
Est. 1758
www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color; solid.
Malty chocolate roasted pungent aroma.
Foamy tan head that lasts to the bottom of glass.
Chocolaty taste with loads of malt flavor.
Medium carbonation
Medium bodied mouth feel. Smooth and delicious 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There is no doubt that Samuel Smith's is one of the top brewers from England. "Taddy" did not disappoint one drop.

On this Father's Day, I wished to pay honors to fathers, past and present. And presently, I drank this one in honor of my "English" roots for my grandfather on my dad's side of the family. He would have likely approved of this selection.

This was my starter for my Father's Day tribute, and I wish it had been the dessert.  It is rich and roasty.  There are wonderful flavors of chocolate and even toffee in the background.

Tip one of these in honor of your dad.

Heavy Seas - Small Craft Warning Über Pils

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Heavy Seas - Small Craft Warning Über Pils
Clipper City Brewing Company LP
Heavy Seas Beer
4615 Hollins Ferry Rd. Suite B
Baltimore, MD USA

Est. 1994
www.hsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.0 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark yellow to gold color.
Grain and malt smell with slight grassy scent.
Bubbly, two fingered white head that dissipates slowly.

Good amount of lacing on glass.
Taste is a bit bitter, leaning towards the hops.
Above average amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied. Slight alcohol presence.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Definitely not a typical pilsener, but then again, it is listed on the label as an "Über Pils". I am not sure where I stand on the style. Pilseners by definition are considered light and refreshing for the most part, but this adds a hoppy twang; a bittering twang at the end of each sip.  This beer is listed as an Imperial Pilsener, so the over-the-top dry hop notes may be where the style leads in its taste and body.

It will drink heavier and hoppier and alcoholic-ier (7.0% ABV) than any pils you may have had before.

Reap one for yourself and let me know how you feel.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

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Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Brewery Inc.

8938 Krum Ave.
Galesburg & Comstock MI USA
Est. 1985
www.bellsbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 7.1 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant gold color.
Noticeable hops aromas that will zip to the farthest reaches of the nose.
Bubbly, foamy, two fingered near-white head that dissipates very slowly.

Super clingy lacing on glass.
Aroma and taste mesh perfectly and balance with the malts.
Citrus and piney, sticky hops throughout.
Moderate amount of carbonation.
Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
What a tidy little IPA!  I have had several of these, both on tap and in the bottle and have become a huge fan.  I have been enjoying them so much, I never got around to writing it all down.  Let's correct that right now.

Not too much hops and not too little. But they make their presence known.  Easy to session.  It seems all the right balance of brewing goes into making this sleeper of an IPA.  If you are an IPA fan, it won't disappoint.

Hook one now.

Brooklyn Lager

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Brooklyn Lager
Brooklyn Brewery
#1 Brewers Row
79 North 11th Street
Brooklyn , NY USA
Est. 1988
www.brooklynbrewery.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear, amber gold color.
Carmel malt and some floral hops brightness in aroma.
Off white foaming head goes to about one finger high.
Great streaked lacing up and down the glass.
Malty taste mixed with a slight hint of citrus; very tasty.
Light carbonation.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Good basic, solid lager.  Better than the majority of most other lagers. It will not treat you like the typical 'yellow' beer. After all, what would you expect from any beer out of the Brooklyn stable?

If you are not sure that lagers are for you, or even if you know that you dislike lager beers, give this one a try.  Its Vienna lager style might just win you over and make you love lagers again.

Black Sheep - Riggwelter

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Black Sheep Riggwelter
The Black Sheep Brewery

Masham, North Yorkshire, England
Est.1992
www.blacksheep.co.uk

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark amber with some copper hues.
Sweet malty nose with hints of hops bitterness.
Tan head that is almost non existent after five seconds.
Very little lacing.
Sweet malty taste without being overtly sweet.
Lightly carbonated.
Light to medium body. Smooth and delicious.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy

Here's the second Black Sheep I've had.  I'm still impressed by the artwork on the bottles and caps. This label sports a "black sheep" on the front with the word 'Riggwelter'.  The reverse of the label goes on to explain the Old Norse meaning.  A Riggwelter is made up of two words; rygg - black, and velte - to overturn. When a sheep is on its back and cannot get up without help, local dales dialect says it's 'rigged' or 'riggwelted'.

Okay, so we can all sleep soundly at night with that knowledge...and a pint or two of this magnificent ale in our bellies!

Hofbrau Hefe Weizen

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Hofbrau Hefe Weizen
Hofbrau Brewery (Staatliches Hofbräuhaus)
Platzl 9
80331 München (Munich), Germany
Est. 1589
www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de
and 
www.hofbraeuhaus.de/en

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 16.9 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden hazy color.
Aroma of grain, malt wheat and a bit of yeast.Some citrus also present.
Crisp white, everlasting fizzy, three-fingered head.
Tastes as great as it smells. Wonderful mellow hops finish.
Abundant bubbly carbonation.
Light taste; not filling. Very refreshing and easy to drink.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Any beer that has been brewed for over 400 years in Munchen, knows a little sumptin' sumptin' on how to brew a good beer.  And they do it with the German purity law of Reinheitsgebot.

Super easy to drink, even in the one pint size. This is also available in 12 ounce, but what the heck...go for the half liter!  Whatever you do, don't dunk any fruit in it!  Just enjoy it the way the brewers made it.

Wunderbar!

Fort Collins Brewery - Z Lager

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Fort Collins Brewery - Z Lager
Fort Collins Brewery
1900 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. ????
www.fortcollinsbrewery.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.4 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep amber color with very slight cloudiness.
Malt and an earthy smokiness present in the nose.
Foamy off-white head leaving decent amount of lacing.
Slight carbonation; enough to make its presence.
Rich full taste, very much like a Märzen style.
It has a malty lead with some sweetness in the finish.
Medium bodied.  Malty, smoky flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This beer is amazingly like a Märzen , but with a more earthy feel.  It has an interesting smoky taste; think smoked meats here.  It's an old style of German brewing that 'smokes' barley malts over beechwood to impart the flavor into the beer. Perhaps the fire branding on the attractive labeling?

I love the Märzen style of beer and find this amazingly close with the added curiosity of the complex, but direct smoky flavor.  It's unique and I give it a Grim Reaper 'bony' thumbs up! I had it with some sausage pizza which was chance for my afternoon dining, but discovered it was a great pairing as it complimented the meat and cheese of the dish.

More, more, I want more!

Fuller's ESB

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Fuller's ESB
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
The Griffin Brewery
Chiswick Lane South
London, England 
Est. 1845
www.fullers-ales.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.9 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear brown color.
Deep toasted malted barley; hint of hops aroma.
Tan colored foamy head goes to about one finger high.
Coated lacing down the glass.
Rich malt sweetness coupled with bitter hops characters.
Soft carbonation.
Full bodied mouth feel; creamy. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
I actually wrote YUM as my first note after tasting. Sometimes one word can say it all.  Fuller's produces some of the finest ales on the other side of the pond.

Simply stated, I haven't met one by Fuller's that I have not liked.  Session some of this today.

Phuket Lager

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Phuket Lager Beer
Tropical Beverage Company

216/3 Lake View Songkha Tower

Bond Street, Bangphood

Pakred, Nonthaburi, Thailand 
Est. 2002
www.phuketbeerusa.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Straw color yellow, yet clear.
Hops, malt and grassy sweetness in the nose aromas.
Two fingered, white head that slowly dissipates to a cover.
Some scant, stringy lacing down the glass.
Drinks like most 'yellow' beers but has a delightful sweet finish (vanilla?).
Light bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
It was the beer of the month at my local watering hole. Sometimes you gotta say, "Phuket"!  We all thought we were adding the funny to this little beer from halfway around the globe. But then you visit their website and find out the joke's on you.  They already have done all the self effacing jokes.

Truth be told, it is actually pronounced Poo - ket.  Phuk that.  But hey, the beer is pretty good.  If you want to yuk it up at your next backyard BBQ, replace your regular suds with this tropical beer and wait for the laughs.

Phukin' okay beer.

Brooklyn - Local 2

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Brooklyn Local 2
Brooklyn Brewery
#1 Brewers Row
79 North 11th Street
Brooklyn , NY USA
Est. 1988
www.brooklynbrewery.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 9.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 25.4

Postmortem Brew Review
Deep brown color with a ruby red tinge.
Belgian yeast and fig/prune aromas.
Tan colored foaming head goes to about one finger high.
Great rings of lacing up and down the glass.
Honey in the taste along with the Belgian yeast. A bit dry at the end of the sip.
Good amount of carbonation without going overboard.
Slight note of alcohol but mellow finish.
Medium to full bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another great Brooklyn brew, the sibling to Local 1.  Unlike its brethren, Local 2 is a darker, maltier ale.  Notably Belgian in style and notably high in ABV.

We definitely took note as three of us shared this magnificent ale and all found the alcohol by the bottom of our glass.

Pick 1 or 2 and you'll have a winner of an ale.