Wychwood Brewery - Hobgoblin

I've talked a lot about a precious ruby ale that hails from England. I've always said "You want to try a new brew? Check out the Hobgoblin!" It gave people weird impressions, and some of them just gave me weird looks. The reason why I'm posting this is because I haven't had one in awhile, and it's definitely one to blog about.

I popped the top on this 330mL bottle, which by the way, has a really cool look on the front. Great visual art. The pour is great as well, a dark amber ale by the looks of it. They call it a "Ruby Beer", and after looking into it, it's actually part of the ESB (Extra Special/Strong Bitter) branch. I would have considered it otherwise, seeing as it didn't really taste like an ESB to me.

As seen in the picture, it pours with a solid half-inch of head, and it doesn't dissipate as other red or amber ales do. The nose gives off malty smells with hints of toffee, and perhaps even chocolate, but hardly if so.

On first sip, I immediately notice the texture before the flavour. It gets full points for mouth-feel and carbonation. I taste malts, combined with little hints of toffee and it truly is bitter-sweet on the tongue. Mainly bitter, of course. It has a nutty-malt, and lots of malt. It's not the easiest to explain, but if you had a sip then you'd understand.

The main reason why I recommend this brew is because it could be looked at as a gateway beer to determine what kinds of beers you may like in the future. I've recommended this beer to many friends, and some of them, depending on their taste buds, have narrowed down their tastes to find particular beers that they like. Some of them have found they like ESB brews, some have found Weizens (by the dislike of this brew), and some have found comfort in the red, or even dark ales.

It doesn't have the best taste in the world, but it is great. It can definitely be put in the ring as a beginner's brew. It's not going to taste like any econo-beer you've tried, but it gives that different taste which you will like at least parts of; if you like none, you'll probably like a Weizen (wheat beer, just ask for recommendations).

There you have it, solidly satisfying.

The Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin gets a classy 7.5 / 10

Hermann's Dark Lager

Usually, one of the cures that works for an upset stomach is a dark brew for me, such as a stout or a porter. The good folks at the Van Isle Brewery recommended me their Hermann's Dark Lager, and their Hermannator Ice Bock (which I unfortunately couldn't find).

So, I stopped over at the Rogue Kitchen + Wet Bar near Waterfront SkyTrain station in Vancouver, and browsed their brew menu. I got pretty excited when I saw the Hermann's Dark Lager (ABV 5.0%) from Vancouver Island Brewery on the menu, seeing as I wanted to review it. At the time, I also had a slight stomach ache, so I thought I'd test my theory on a dark lager, seeing if it would not only taste good, but help my gut at the same time.

Hermann's Dark Lager from Van Isle Brewing Co. @ Rogue Kitchen + Wet Bar

I had it poured on tap, as pictured above. It looks like a standard dark ale, or a stout/porter with no head. I'm guessing when they poured it, the head dissipated. On first sniff, I couldn't really tell if it was a lager at all. I picked up roasted malt, maybe a bit of burnt malt. I also smelled chocolate; it smelled closer to more of the dark ales I've had in the past, so I wasn't sure if they poured my brew right until I dove in.

That first sip was so smooth, I knew it was a form of lager. It felt like a mutated lager, but in a good way. Dark, roasted malts, combined with some sweetened flavouring and kind of a nutty taste too. I also picked up a slightly cocoa-like taste, maybe coffee. It's not bitter, but at the same time not sweet either. It's well balanced, and the tastes all fit together.

Maybe it was just me personally, but I felt immediately relaxed after the first few sips. The taste was impressive for a dark lager. And to make the sips even sweeter, it did remedy my slight stomach ache. I'm not really sure why, nor does it matter for this post.

This is a drinkable brew for any taste-level. Whether you're new to beers, have had a few in the past, or even a few too many, you'll enjoy the taste of this dark lager. I can't think of anyone I've met that would turn this down at a bar. If it's in season, it would probably be on my list of choices for the night, but maybe not the first choice. I tend to start off my bar visits with a heavier brew, but this one is good too!

I don't actually think I can take off any marks from this brew for much. The carbonation could have been better, and maybe a little bit of head would have been good too. However, it was probably just the fact that I bought it on tap, and perhaps the keg was running low. Either way, it doesn't lower the rating by much.

If you're ever unsure at a bar, or the liquor store, pick up this brew, I swear it's good for you (and tastes awesome). So far, everything I've tried from the folks at Van Isle has been quite good. Personally, its reputation is high up with the folks at the Red Racer breweries in Surrey. That says a lot.

The Hermann's Dark Lager from the Vancouver Island Brewery gets an enjoyable 8.5 / 10

Lone Wolf - The Bad-ass IPA

Let's start this review off by saying that I highly recommend this IPA (India Pale Ale) for IPA-aficionados and experienced brew-lovers.

The Lone Wolf IPA (ABV 6.5%) from Fernie Brewing Company is by far the most bad-ass IPA I've ever had, bar none. This experience will explain why.

I ordered this brew with my buddy Danny at the Hop and Vine in Burnaby, and we split a 650mL bottle because he needed to try this too. Not the greatest photo snapped, mainly because I used my iPhone in a pub.

On first sip, every cell in the smelling sense of your body is hit with hops and golden citrus peel. It is a delicious yet dangerous smell. It smells like it'll be a strong IPA, and then you realize your body needs to put its guard up for this one.

Guard up or down, the first sip can be described by asking the following question: "You know Bruce Lee?" The people around you will slowly nod, confused. "Imagine him dragon-kicking you in the mouth with flavour", and that about describes it.

The IBU (International Bitterness Unit) scale rates most IPA brews between 50-80. The Lone Wolf IPA gets a 65 rating (corrected from 100+, thanks to @FernieBrewingCo for the tweet!) but this is about as bitter as it gets. This is because the flavoured are complex, but they are strong and flow well at the same time.

What did I think of the "bad-ass" flavour? Well, it was overwhelming, but at the same time, delicious. I could see Danny trying to keep a straight face, until he asked me "Why the hell did you order this??" It was too overwhelming for him; it's most-often overwhelming for anyone who tries it.

Like I say, it's for the experienced brew-goer. If you live in an area where you can buy this, I highly recommend adding this brew to your bucket list.

Would I cook with it? No. 

Would I pair it with food? No. 

It's only 6.5%, so it's not going to do as much damage as it tastes like it might. But this is definitely one you can brag to all your friends about.

The Lone Wolf IPA gets a hulk-smashing 8.5 / 10

Albino Rhino - Winter Pudding (@ Earls)

The other day I got together with my buddy Danny, and we tried to get into the FireFighter's Club near Metrotown for a beer, but they wanted to charge us $8 cover, so we bailed and decided to go to Earl's. What a great decision that was! Not only did I get to keep my $8 for half a pitcher of delicious brew, but my taste buds were quite happy too.

After a brew or two, our barkeep Aracy decided to give us both a taster of the Albino Rhino Winter Pudding (ABV unknown). Danny and I looked at each other, and immediately decided to get a pitcher of the stuff.

Albino Rhino Winter Pudding @ Earl's on Kingsway, Burnaby B.C.

Its smells were similar to a Rickard's Dark Ale or a Waterloo Dark, but instead infused with hints of vanilla, caramel, and desserts. It's much better than I anticipated, seeing as most "house" brews serve as a mediocre version of a brew that already exists. As pictured, our pitcher poured well with a solid half-to-3/4 inch of head.

The taste that hits the tongue is like taking a bite of chocolate pudding just before taking a sip of a dark ale. It works with some people, and for others it's too sweet. Personally, I really enjoyed the taste, but it felt as if there was something missing. It just seemed like it wasn't all there. It felt like a generic winter ale, but the after-taste was amazing. I love sweet, dark ale after-tastes, and this one sticks the landing.

I later found out that this is brewed by the Kamloops Brewing Company, along with all of the other Albino Rhino brews. If you're in a winter-y mood, or you're at Earl's, or both, make sure to get a taste of this Winter brew! If you're having a dessert at Earl's that's chocolate-heavy, I suggest getting a taster of this brew and having a sip of it right after a bite of your dessert!

If you could buy this by the bottle, it might be a great choice for steak marinade, just saying ;-)

The Albino Rhino Winter Pudding gets a great-with-or-without-food 8.0 / 10

Parallel 49 - Black Christmas CDA

I know I know, Christmas has long passed - but the brews are still around! I first tried this brew just before Christmas, as I got it from a co-worker as a gift. I've been quite happy with the brews that have emerged from Parallel 49, such as their Hoparazzi IPA and Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale. Nonetheless, this is one of their Christmas brews, and it's one that I forgot to review. As a gift from my "secret Santa", I got the Parallel 49 Brewing Co. Black Christmas C.D.A. (ABV 6.5%) (C.D.A. stands for Christmas Dark Ale).

Parallel 49 Brewing Company's "Black Christmas C.D.A."

Seeing as I first got this as a gift from a co-worker, I decided to actually try it right when I got it. Hence, the photo was snapped of the bottle before I opened it.

On first sniff, there are definite smells of dark chocolate, hops, and what seems to be citrus-y pine. I'm not sure if that's just me, or if anyone else smells that too. Either way, it doesn't smell like an average winter warmer, nor does it smell like an average north American-styled winter ale.

On first sip, there are tastes of dark cocoa mixed with citrus-y hops, and a bit of pine in there too. I'm not quite sure how they managed to make cocoa, citrus, and pine all work in a brew, but all I know is that they did. Now, it's a really dark brew, unfortunately I don't have a picture, but it looks black and has a good inch of tan-coloured head when poured.

It doesn't have the most outstanding, mind-blowing taste to it, but it's a great brew to have during the winter season. It wouldn't be my first choice at a bar (because I love chocolate stout), but if I was bringing a few different brews home during the holidays, this would definitely be on the list.

The Black Christmas C.D.A. is definitely in my top 10 winter brews that I've had over the season, as it deserves a spot on the blog. That being said, it's got a very distinct taste to it, and a heavier 6.5% ABV. So if you're used to drinking crappy econo-beer, this will definitely be a change for your taste buds.

If there are any left in stock at your local liquor store, I recommend you go out and grab one before they're gone! Since it's still winter, this beer is still likely to have some stock remaining.

What I would really like to try with this beer, is cooking with it. It has such distinct tastes to it, that I would want to try cooking ground beef with it, and perhaps some stews. Even adding it to a steak marinade wouldn't be far off the list.

The Parallel 49 Black Christmas C.D.A. gets a well-deserved 8.0 / 10

Anderson Valley - "Boont" ESB

I was in the mood to try a real ESB with a bit of a punch, but from somewhere outside of BC. I figure I've sampled a lot of the ESBs from around the Lower Mainland and I figured I should venture out of my comfort zone. (To the brew-newbies, an ESB is an Extra Special/Strong Bitter; Google will explain the basics ;-) )

So what did I do? Well, I went to the Hop and Vine in Burnaby and ordered an Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boont ESB (6.8% ABV) from Boonville, California -- I got a chilled bottle on sale for $2!

The "Boont" ESB from Anderson Valley @ the Hop and Vine in Burnaby, B.C.

Of course, being at a tap house during a sale, I couldn't go alone, so I brought my buddy Danny with me (those are his hands in the background of the photo). He helped keep my opinions in check on this brew.

This ESB poured a dark yellow, and has a hazy translucent, almost opaque appearance. It actually had the visual characteristics of looking like a wheat beer. Every sip, the head had lots of lacing after every sip, just the way I like it.

On first sip, I could only smell hints of yeast-y smells and hops. It's not my favourite smell, but I figured it'd do.

On first taste, I got a full hit of bitter hops, a little grassy actually; quite tasty for an ESB. I don't know how to put it, it just tasted really yeast-like, almost like there was some sort of bread in there mixed with herbal fermented citrus. I know that doesn't paint the most delicious picture, but these are the words that come forth.

It's mildly carbonated, but at the same time very strong and crisp. This probably isn't a beginner brew, but if you want to allow your taste buds to "acquire" the bitter tastes of stronger tasting brews, this is one to go for. At 6.8% ABV, your taste buds will submit and your brain will buzz (just a bit).

Overall, it's an ESB that stands out in its own way. It's no Red Racer, but it scores points in its own categories. I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new ESB and don't know where their taste buds want to be.

The Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boont ESB gets a special-in-a-good-way 8.0 / 10

Espresso IPA? I think so!

Let's face it, we've seen espresso put into all sorts of stouts, porters, hard liqueurs, coffee liqueurs, and the list goes on. What about any other type of beer? Well, the folks at Tree Brewing Company in Kelowna have created one of the most unique and delicate beers that I've come across.

I was at the checkout of the liquor store on Willingdon and E. Hastings when out of the corner of my eye I spotted the bottle of Molto Bella Espresso IPA (ABV 4.8%). I couldn't resist exiting the store without picking this up, and I'm even skipping all the brews I had in queue just so I can review this one tonight.

I'm guessing this is a limited brew, so I may as well review it now and let you know about it. I'm excited, can you tell?

Photo Credit: Mark Burnham / MarkBurnhamPhotography.com

I popped the top of this beautiful bottle, poured it into the glass (as pictured), and even before sniffing this brew up close, I could smell hints of espresso. Seeing that this isn't a stout or porter, I wasn't sure how it would actually turn out. I put the brew up to my nose, took a small sniff and made out a strong espresso overtone, with slight hints of grapefruit, citrus-y scents, and other standard IPA smells. I don't know how to describe it, other than delicious.

Without hesitation, I took my first sip and the flow between espresso and IPA was flawless. I didn't even think this was possible, but the two flavours worked in harmony. There is a feeling of surprise, ever so delicately when you discover this taste. It's a good feeling - just don't chug this baby.

I'll admit, I drank it pretty quickly myself. It's too bad it only comes in a 650mL bottle, because I'd buy a size bigger any day.

This IPA is nowhere nearly as bitter as other IPAs, keep that in mind. This is a flavoured brew, so the bitterness level of citrus and hops is instead replaced by the strong fusion of espresso flavouring. It's a great mix, but if you're into the Fat Tug and Lone Wolf IPAs, then you might not enjoy this as much.

This goes down as my new favourite flavoured non-Stout/Porter. It comes up huge and delivers on all fronts. A solid brew for a thirsty you!

The Tree Brewing Co. Molto Bella Espresso IPA gets a surprisingly-delicious 9.0 / 10

Tin Whistle - Scorpion Double IPA

Have you ever dug up a compost pile full of citrus fruits, grabbed the nastiest, mouldy piece of citrus peel, and just taken a bite out of it? Welcome to the "Big, Bold, Extreme" taste of the Tin Whistle Brewing Co.'s Scorpion Double IPA (8% ABV).

On first smell, this beer hit really hard. I could smell very, very strong citrus. It smelled like the taste of accidentally biting into an old orange peel, along with hops, lots of hops and some strange confusing smells. I couldn't dissect the smell because the strength was so overwhelming. Either way, I still wanted to try it.

On first sip, I coughed a lot, the flavour was so overwhelming. It wasn't good. Then the after-taste kicked in. Why would anyone brew something like this and try to sell it? I've tasted home-brews with more merit.

This beer tastes like a rotten grapefruit decomposed into fertilizer, and was poured into an IPA that could have been drinkable. I'm sorry to say, but the guys at Tin Whistle should just stay away from anything to do with an IPA. I felt immediately nauseated after about 3 sips of this beer.

I've had my fair share if IPAs, and double, even triple IPAs. None have ever been so nausea-inducing. This honestly tastes like I left a grapefruit, orange, and perhaps a baby mandarin in my locker for a full school year before I decided to nibble on them.

The best positive remark about this beer? Before I opened the bottle, I still thought it was cool. Like a poorly written book, the further you go into it, the more disappointed you are.

Maybe it was just my bottle, but you must really not judge this beer by its label. I made a newbie mistake by seeing a cool-looking scorpion on the label, followed by the words Big, Bold, and Extreme. I then looked and found the Tin Whistle Brewing Company signature - I figured it'd be good because I like some of their other brews.

Sorry to say, Tin Whistle, but you've come up a bit rusty on this one. Maybe it's time to stick to what you're good at. Either that or give me another one to sample, to make sure it wasn't just a bad batch.

The Tin Whistle Brewing Co. Scorpion Double IPA gets a "donate-this-to-the-sink-it-must-be-thirsty" 2.0 / 10

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout!

Now, the holiday season has just wrapped up, but I need to get this out. I don't care if you're still in the mood for winter beers, if you're still on vacation or you just love dark chocolate! I recently went to the liquor store and found a bottle of the Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (10% ABV) for under four bucks!

I didn't expect much of this stout, I'll admit. The price didn't really intrigue me, and I'd never really heard of a stout over 8.5% that actually had any taste left in it that didn't make me want to vomit everywhere. Well, this is one of those "exception" brews. 

Do you like dark chocolate? I'm not talking 70% dark chocolate, I'm talking at least 85%, maybe even 90%+ dark chocolate. If you do, just smell this brew. You'll smell dark death and dark chocolate. This is the sign that you should dip your lips in for a sip.

As pictured, the bottle looks harmless, and the beer pours dark like a normal stout, with a little bit of tan-coloured head. Beware, brew-lovers, this stout packs a hit.

The instant flavours, which remain through to the after taste, are strong stout mixed with 90% dark chocolate. There's nothing much else to it, simple and to the point. For the class of beer it's in, where there is almost no competition that will come close, this beer ranks among the finest.

Foods? Pair this brew with strong-tasting vanilla desserts. If you have a cheesecake, ice cream, or something sweet that will counter-balance the taste of this brew, go right ahead and enjoy it! I'd recommend this taste with or without dessert. It's a good choice all on its own.

What other chocolate stout out there ranks with dark chocolate as the main flavour, and has a well-respected balance of super dark chocolate with flavours encapsulating a delicious stout? None, so far as I've seen.

This beer is one you'll want to sip until it's over, and then tell your friends about. It's the "Hey guys, I just tried this 10% stout beer and it was great!" beer that you'll love to brag to your buds about. Even if you're not in a winter mood, it's worth it to bust a bottle of this stuff open and share it with whomever you wish.

The Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout gets a commendable, honourable 8.5 / 10

Russell's Blood Alley Bitter

First off, I'd like to say Happy New Year to all readers :)

I figure I've been having a lot of stouts and winter ales lately, seeing as it was just the holiday season, but I wanted to post a review of a beer I had on tap recently. I was eating at StackHouse in Yaletown, and I decided to grab the Russell Brewing Company Blood Alley Bitter (Alc. 5.5%). It's something I've seen in BC Liquor Stores, but never bothered to pick it up for some reason. I mean, I really liked their cream ale, but I guess I just wasn't in a bitter enough mood at the liquor store to pick one up (get it?).

Nonetheless, I must have looked like a weirdo, but I picked up my glass in the restaurant, gave it a sniff, and smelled lots of hops. I was expecting an overpowering bitter flavour, so I looked my girlfriend in the eye, and said "Here goes!"

I took a sip, put down my glass, and realized there wasn't too much bite. The high tastes were pleasant, the medium was full of bitter, and the end taste was sharp and crisp. It reminded me a lot of the Red Racer ESB, but smoother and a bit more of an after taste. This brew is definitely a contender in the top 5 bitters I've had in the lower mainland.

As you can see in the picture, I took more than a sip before I realized I should take a picture of what it actually looks like so I can share it with you.

The overall taste is what you'd expect from a bitter; you get hops, something a little floral/fruity, something very slightly citrusy, and even a slight hint of caramel in there somewhere. Somehow, the fine folks at Russell Brewing Company have done a swell job with this one, making it stand out in comparison to the rest.

If you're a newcomer to bitters, I'd recommend this one to you. It's a little hard to get into at first, but it satisfies the taste buds. If you like this beer, you might also like the Red Racer ESB.

So overall, if you're in a bitter mood, grab a blood alley and make the bitter better!

The Russell Brewing Company Blood Alley Bitter gets a delicious 8.0 / 10