The next beer in this series takes a serious step away from the higher alcohol and robust flavors of holiday beers to explore a very complex style, Lambic.  Traditionally lambic is produced in open vats with fermentation fueled by wild strains of yeast, bacteria and whatever blows into the wort from Belgium's Senne Valley air.  There are several types of lambic or sour beers available from Belgian, but the 7th beer of this series will focus on a gueuze.  This is a blend of lambic of differing ages, typically some younger product mixed with some more thoroughly fermented and aged product.  And age here is measured in years!  Think a one year mixed with a three year and maybe some other ages mixed in as well.

The flavor and aroma profiles from sour beers is complex and a little bit of an acquired taste.  I am still wading in the shallow end of the pool with this style so there is much for me to learn about identifying flavors and aromas.  I picked up a 375 mL bottle of Hanssens Oude Gueze for this series to get some more experience with this style.  Here is what I found when I uncorked this import:

For beers 6 and 7, I decided to explore a couple Belgian imports that are new to me.  Beer number 6 in this series is 't Smisje Plus IPA from Regenboog Brewery in a suburb of Bruges.  I picked this beer up at Whole Foods for two simple reasons: it was a Belgian IPA and it came in the classic 330 mL indestructible bottle (sure there is a special name for it, but my quick Google search did not turn up a name)  I have always enjoyed Chouffe Houblon so I was glad to see another opportunity to try another Belgian version of this beer style.  The bottle itself is just a novelty for me.  Most domestic beers come in a light weight bottle with a pretty standard shape.  The 330 mL import bottle is very heavy, short and stubby.  Just something about this heavy duty bottle that I like.  In trying to research this brewery and beer, I was not able to find very much other than it is a small microbrewery in Belgian that was started by a bee keeper.  The label alludes to this possibly being a Double IPA based on the "Plus" in the name and the 10% alcohol.  Other than that, I went into this tasting relatively blind.  Here is what I discovered once I popped the cap:

• Package:  330 mL bottle
• Appearance: Cloudy; Dark gold/amber color; Thick creamy head; Sediment remains in the bottle hinting that this beer was probably primed and carbonated in the bottle
• Aroma: Mostly typical Belgian aromas with noticeable spice and clove; some candy like sweetness; A touch of alcohol; No hop related aromas which I find a little strange for an IPA
• Taste: Huge upfront hop flavor, then some quick sweetness; A metallic flavor is present and not pleasant
• Mouthfeel: Tight carbonation with medium body; Such high bitterness that it puckers the tongue

Overall this beer disappointed and held none of the charm and wonderful flavors you would find in the Chouffe Houblon.  The Smisje Plus IPA is overly weighted with hop flavor and bitterness and is very much out of balance.  Any spice flavor present in the aroma was completely overwhelmed by the hops as was just about any other flavor that was present.  I was really hoping for a great experience with this beer, but was left disappointed.  I am not sure what this brewer was trying to achieve with this recipe.  Hopefully I can find some more information to learn where things might have gone wrong.  Luckily beer 7 provided much more enjoyment!  More to come on that tomorrow.

I am finally getting back to the computer to get beers 5 through 7 up and posted!  Despite all of my time off, I seem to keep filling my days with to do lists and chores.  Since it is New Year's Eve, I decided to carve out some time and dedicate it to recording my thoughts on beer number 5, Hoppin' Frog Frosted Frog Christmas Ale.  This is a spiced seasonal offering made with Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.  When I am homebrewing regularly, I make a recipe called Christmas Pie that uses these same ingredients.  When I read the Hoppin' Frog label, I knew I had to try this beer to see how their interpretation of a spice holiday brew compared.  Plus I have not had any of their beers and I knew it was time to give them a try!

• Package: 22 oz bottle
• Appearance: Dark copper/amber color; Head was course with large bubbles and quick to disappear (may have been an issue with the glass not being beer clean); Slight cloudiness/haze
• Aroma: Cinnamon hit my nose long before I got close to the glass; Honey and brown sugar notes; Cinnamon toast and gingerbread cookies
• Taste: This is liquid gingerbread cookie; Cinnamon is front and center; Nutmeg is very mild; Not very sweet and definitely spice centric
• Mouthfeel: Carbonation a little low; A little thin for my taste in a holiday spice beer
• Finish: Cinnamon hangs on the tongue mildly; No bitterness; No lasting sweetness

Overall, I like what Hoppin Frog has accomplished with the spices and how they intermingle.  The gingerbread cookie connection is spot on and I found it enjoyable.  Based on my spiced holiday brews, I know it can be hard to get the right level of spice flavor with balance.  Any of the three ingredients can overpower a brew and I applaud the brewers of this beer for getting that right.  I would, however, like to have a little more body and creaminess with a touch of caramel sweetness.  I think some minor tweaks in the grain bill would elevate this beer to a higher level.  Just my opinion and one that will not keep me from buying this beer again if they stick to the status quo.

For the fourth beer of Christmas, I am returning to a beer that I remember trying for the first time in the winter of 2003.  Or was it 2002 or 2004?  Who knows! I can remember picking up this beer from Spec's when I was living in Houston and more importantly tasting it.  Exact flavor descriptions have not survived in my memory and really only one lasting impression remains: Avery Old Jubilationwas a very unique malt forward beer.  I have had Old Jubilation several times since, but I do not recall ever seriously examining the beer, its ingredients, and the resulting flavor profile.  When I saw it on the shelf at my local Total Wine, I knew it would make a great addition to this series. 

According to Avery's website, Old Jubilation is an English Strong Ale brewed with two-row barley, special roast, black, chocolate, and victory malts.  Special roast and Victory malt are both created by employing specific techniques during the kilning process.  Victory malt imparts a toasty flavor that can sometimes include some nutty flavors while Special Roast adds a strong biscuit flavor that I have even heard described as tangy and sour dough like.  It is the addition of these malts in the brewing process that I am sure leads to the "hint of hazelnuts, and a finish reminiscent of mocha and toffee" flavors described by Avery on their website.  Here are my thoughts:

• Package: 12 ounce bottle
• Appearance: Mahogany color that shows deep ruby when held against the light; slight haze; thin head with creamy texture
• Aroma: Toffee; Bread; Toasty; Some darker sweetness like that from dried fruits such as raisins; Alcohol
• Taste: Dark fruit more towards a date or a fig; Caramel malt flavors; Nutty but not apparent as hazelnut to me; Hops come through in an earthy manner
• Mouthfeel: Well carbonated; medium body; warming from the alcohol is subtle
• Finish: The hop flavors and bitterness continues after swallowing and gives way to a roast flavor that lingers for a while

After a closer examination this Christmas, there is certainly more to Old Jubilation than I remember from my first encounter.  The Bullion hops contribute their fair share and help provide a wonderfully balanced beer that is not so malt forward as to be disgustingly sweet.  The end result is a beer that provides similar flavors and aromas as a barley wine but in a slightly more sessionable form.  At 8% ABV this may be a bit of a stretch, but I was definitely ready to tackle another bottle when I finished this one!  I think I might have to venture back out to the beer store to pick up a 6 pack before this seasonal disappears. 

A little late getting notes up on my second tasting of the vacation.  I am finding plenty of time to taste but the last two days did not provide a lot of time to sit down at the computer and post. That and most of the beers I picked are higher alcohol making it a little more difficult to blog after drinking a large bottle!

The second selection for this series is Weyerbacher Merry Monks, a Belgian-Style Golden Ale at 9.3% ABV.  I thought this might be a holiday offering but discovered that this is actually a year round offering.  I was also surprised to see that the website lists this as an Abbey Tripel and the label says a Golden Ale.  Sounds like there might be some tweaking going on in the presentation of this beer.  Both styles have similarities and actually fall under the same Belgian Strong Alecategory in BJCP guidelines.  As the guidelines point out a Tripel "strongly resembles a Strong Golden Ale but slightly darker and somewhat fuller-bodied. Usually has a more rounded malt flavor but should not be sweet."  As you will see in my notes, I definitely think this beer would be classified as a Tripel by most who taste it.  Here are my thoughts:

• Appearance:  Dark gold with some orange hues; Cloudy and lacks the clarity typical of the style but that may just have been a pour issue as this is a bottle conditioned beer with yeast sediment; Low level of head despite a rigorous pour.  Again not typical of this style. 
• Aroma: Candy sugar with notes of fruit including banana and pear; Some citrus and some mild spiciness
• Taste: Candy sweetness and low levels of fruit; A little too sweet for the style but not over the top; Pepper and spices
• Mouthfeel: Carbonation level is high and appropriate for the style; tight small bubbles compliment the slightly creamy texture.
• Finish: Pepper spice lingers slightly along with some hops bitterness; Gives way to clean dry finish; Nothing over powers

Overall this is an enjoyable beer.  Not the perfect example of the style but I had no problem finishing it.  The mild banana and fruit aromas combined with the sweetness nicely without overpowering and ruining any sense of balance.  The alcohol is well hidden and left me feeling a little merry myself.  I think next time I grab a Merry Monk I think I will have to put it right next to a true Belgian Triple and further explore all of the nuances that make this such a wonderful style of beer.

Yesterday I ventured out to my local Total Wine and Whole Foods to gather the 12 beers for this special Christmas series.  Unfortunately everyone else was out as well and the seasonal offerings were picked over with few left to choose from.  I still found plenty of good options as people seemed to overlook the winter warmers, barley wines, imperial stouts, and Belgians.  I think that I ultimately ended up with a nice eclectic selection to review over the break.

The first beer out of the gate is Life & Limb, a collaboration between Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada.  Both breweries turn out some great beers but usually at different ends of the spectrum.  I was immediately intrigued at how this would turn out.  Here is what their website has to say about the beer:

"Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong, dark beer that defies style characteristics- brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman 'farm' at the brewery in Chico, CA. The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries' house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska."

This unique combination of ingredients has Sam Calagione written all over it and I definitely expect this beer to follow the off centered mantra of the East Coast brewer.  Enough reading, let's get to tasting this beer. 

18 months or so since the last post.  Amazing how busy life can get.  During that time I also began to realize that I will never be able to keep up with all of latest news, trends, new releases, etc.  Especially not as well as many of the other blogs out there.  So tonight, I am announcing a slight re-branding and re-launch of this blog.  I have been drinking beer for 15 years now.  And there is still so much about this fantastic beverage that I do not know.  (Granted I have to write off 5 of those years since I was in college, but that is a whole different story.)  All those years of beer drinking and still things I do not know?  Yeah...beer has so many dimensions including those beyond the senses.  Plus there are still breweries I have not visited.  Beers I have not tried.  Tasting skills I have not mastered. 

So tonight I sit here drinking a bomber of Three Floyds Dreadnaught I brought back from Chicago and I am inspired to get back to recording beer through my eyes.  I am re-purposing this blog.  Taking it back to one of the original reasons I started it in fact.  From here on out this is all about my journey through beer.  This is my outlet to capture my thoughts, learnings, impressions, and opinions.  Shared with all of you.  My friends, family, and random internet acquaintances. 

Here's to sharing a few great beers together!