Dead Frog's "Uber Nutter"

I was down at Hops the other day with my buddy Danny, and decided to try a new brew, in the hopes that it would be worthy of posting on the blog. Lately, things just haven't measured up -- I haven't had anything really motivating to make me want to write about it.

I looked at the draught list, and thought to myself "Had it, had it, had it, oh gross, Canadian", etc. Then, I came across the Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale (9% ABV, 22 IBU) by Dead Frog Brewery. I had no idea at the time that it was 9% -- I just wanted to drink something that didn't taste like corn fountain pop (these econo-lager jokes never get old).

So my glass arrived, and I took a deep whiff, and it really didn't seem like too complex of a nose. I got malt, and it sort of smelled like a black death of malt, with some cocoa / nutty scent.

Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale by Dead Frog Brewing @ Hops A Northwest Pub, New Westminster BC
Photo courtesy of Danny

The first sip was much different than I anticipated. It was overwhelmingly malty, as I expected more of a nutty palate, but it wasn't overwhelming to the point of disappointment. After that first sip, the taste really grew on me. The mouth-feel is textured almost like a stout, except it tastes like a burnt roasted nut ale. There isn't really much nutty flavour to it until the end-taste, but you can get a hint of dark cocoa-like espresso notes as well.

Overall, this is definitely worth a taste if you're into darker brews, or if you'd like to get into the "Imperial" side of things. This is quite an amazing tasting beer for 9%. However, I don't know if I'd jump for joy just by seeing it on a menu. Definitely on my recommended "must-try" list, but not something I'd rave too much about.

Food pairings? Gee, something to soak up that 9% ABV. How about a fresh cinnamon bun with delicious frosting? Yeah, I think that would actually go pretty well with this brew.

The Uber Nutter Imperial Nut Brown Ale gets an uberly-nutty 8.0 / 10

New Belgium's "Fat Tire" Amber Ale

Beer hipsters in the US have claimed for some time now that the Fat Tire Amber Ale (ABV 5.2%) from New Belgium Brewing is the coolest, best beer in the USA, and that I have to try it. Well, now that I see it's available in BC, I went out and bought some. It's apparently one of the most well-travelled brews in the states, and it's been well-received.

Time for your average beer appreciator (AKA Brewji) to take a sip and tell you what it's really like.

New Belgium Brewing "Fat Tire" Amber Ale @ Brewji

Here's a closer look at the label. Look for this at your local store!
New Belgium Brewing "Fat Tire" Amber Ale @ Brewji

On first sniff, the aroma reminded me of biscuits, sweet biscuits...not in a bad way. It had almost a bready-biscuit aroma, if I may. Biscuit and malt? I'm not quite sure, but definitely not a bad aroma.

So I went in for the first sip (note that I didn't snap a picture with the beer in a glass -- the first one I drank was straight out of the bottle), and was surprised at how well the flavours work together to make this a solid amber ale. The aroma of the biscuit-bread translates into a rustic, amber ale taste with a hint of sweetness and malt to brush all of the necessary taste buds on my palate.

Why was I surprised? Beer hipsters (AKA snobs) generally annoy me, and the fact that a lot of them recommended this beer to me made me have slightly lower-than-average expectations. However, New Belgium has done well with this one. I've had a couple of other brews from them as well, and have never been disappointed (yet).

Either way, take a good look at the label, and see if you can find this at your local liquor or beer store. It's definitely worth the pick-up. It stands out against most ambers on the market, and at $14 for a 6-pack (in Canada, beer is expensive), it's quite the steal.

So there you have it, the Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing. I recommend this to newbies who are trying to transition out of the econo-lager phase and into ales. This, and the Blue Buck from Phillips are great transition-ers.

New Belgium Brewing's Fat Tire gets a surprisingly-not-so-hipster 8.5 / 10

Green Flash - BarleyWine!

Why go for a BarleyWine? Because I'm feeling festive. Do you need to be feeling festive to try a new barleywine? No, not really, but it helps influence my taste buds' decision to purchase a barleywine. Danny and I headed to our local watering hole at the Hop & Vine Tap House to celebrate the job I got a few months back (we haven't had time), and crack open a special bottle for a new brew review.

We decided on the Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine (ABV 11%), because I wanted a good buzz with a little bit of beer, so I could order food and be ultra-satisfied. Now, I didn't order food to pair with the beer, because my stomach was feeling like salmon, but my taste buds wanted barleywine. So, I finished my beer first, and then proceeded to eat my grilled salmon burger (which was delicious).

Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine @ Hop and Vine Tap House
Photo courtesy of Danny Yan

On first pour, it glows with a rich, reddish amber colour, and a lacy white head top. I sniffed this beer like some people sniff flowers (I unfortunately am allergic to pollen). I took in a lot of deep malty scents, and hops, and...that's about it. But not in a bad way, this brew smelled righteous, knowing ahead of time that something big was going to happen. It's like a referee calling a penalty shot in overtime, going in for the big sip was the shot, and the overall taste determined whether or not the deke attempt worked.

Taking the first sip, I expected a train wreck of malty hops. However, I was greeted by a strong, pleasant malty tone, followed by a nice transition into an intense malty flavour, and a crisp, clean after taste. I was so impressed by the after taste, the clean-ish feeling that I got, that it made me want more. This is finally a brew over 10% that will leave you wanting more! Imagine Datsyuk with a highlight reel goal on a breakaway...naturally you'd want more (so long as he's not scoring on your team).

The first, middle, and end tastes are phenomenal. There are no complaints, as everything flows together, while still leaving a memorable taste that would definitely make me want to order this again. If you (or your friends) are new to barleywines, this is a definite first step into the world of 10%+ beers.

Danny really liked the beer, and he gives it a very strong and reputable 9.2 / 10. Overall, I agree with his decision, but as I base my ratings on 0.5 increments, I might have to round up on this one.

The Green Flash Brewing Co. BarleyWine gets a phenomenal penalty-shot-goal-in-overtime 9.5 / 10

Naughty & Spiced ... Winter Porter from Russell!

As we dip into the Holiday season, I have been wanting to sink into a good brew to get me started. I've already had the GIB Winter Ale, which is a staple to anyone in B.C., and the Whistler Winter Ale, which is the hidden gem of winter ales in B.C.

However, I have yet to taste a 2013 version of a Winter Porter, until tonight. My girlfriend brought me the Russell Naughty & Spiced Porter (6.5% ABV; 30 IBU). She bought it out of the blue...because she knows my 3 favourite things, and beer is one of them.

I popped the bottle open, and poured into my glass, only to be initially saddened by a lack of head from the pour. Honestly, it looks like every other porter under the head. You can't see through the damn glass; that's a porter for you.

Russell Brewing Co. Naughty & Spiced Porter @ Brewji's House

During the initial smell test, it smells like a black porter would, strong hints of roasted malts, and cocoa powder. However, the bottle says it's naughty and spiced. I could barely sniff a hint of something, but couldn't tell what it was.

As I took my first sip, I could immediately taste hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. It smelled like a little bit of the holidays thrown into a porter. The inital taste was surprisingly good. The texture and mouthfeel were calm and smooth. This brew is very drinkable, especially for being 6.5%.

What would I pair this with? A gingerbread cookie. Seriously.

My girlfriend's sister baked me a delicious assortment of baked goods, consisting of gingerbread cookies, among other things. The gingerbread cookie went so well with this beer. Having this beer without a gingerbread cookie would be like drinking rich hot chocolate without whipped cream.

If you get a chance this holiday season -- regardless of what you celebrate, this brew is a great addition to any stocking. If you're just in the mood for a brew, this will do, too!

The Russell Brewing Co. Naughty & Spiced Porter gets a silky, smooth, and spiced 8.5 / 10

Saison Dupont

I know the season is over, but I didn't have time to write about this particular saison, which I ended up snapping up in the early Fall.

My girlfriend and I headed to Spud Shack Fry Co. for their delicious poutine, and because they have a selection of beer that isn't a plethora of North American econo-lagers. I don't normally review food in blogs, because I would look like a disgusting pig after the first month of posts, but the fries at Spud Shack are definitely worth a go.

The best part isn't actually their poutine (which is superb), but rather their custom dipping sauces. They have their own version of bacon mayonnaise which combined with their gravy and the Saison Dupont (ABV 6.5%), makes a human feel like they're in heaven.

From Brasserie Dupont in Belgium, this seasonal brew is raved about by hipsters all over the place. I think that this time, their thick-rimmed glasses and moustaches have got something right. But my average beer-appreciating personality will put Belgium's "finest" saison to the test:

Saison Dupont by Brasserie Dupont, @ Spud Shack Fry Co., New Westminster B.C.

The beer pours a beautiful golden colour, and has a crisp 1/4 inch of head that does not dissipate quickly. The aroma of citrus, and maybe melons? Maybe even banana peel? I don't know, but it's quite the mix.

On first sip, a little malt at first, then a little spice, and then the fruit kicks in. It's a smooth curve of tastes that flow one into the other. None overpowers the other, but each is just right. It's a delicate balance, and it's done quite well.

I thought that Granville Island did a good job with their saison, but then I tried this. This wins, hands-down. Comparing this brew to the saison from Granville Island is like comparing Pavel Bure to Mason Raymond. To each their own, right?

In the end, the suspender-strapped, vinyl-wielding hipsters were right. The Saison Dupont is the home-run of the Saison class. If you haven't had a chance to get your hands on one this year, stick around for next year's run! It's worth a bottle or two.

The Saison Dupont gets a cooler-than-cassette-tapes 9.0 / 10

Russell's Angry Scotch Ale

Wouldn't ye like a wee bit o' scotch in yer ale?

Okay, I'll stop typing like I'm crazy. I really liked everything I've tried so far from Russell Brewing, especially the Blood Alley Bitter, which I have a review on if you scroll back far enough in time.

Lately, I indulged in the Angry Scotch Ale (ABV 6.5%; 30 IBU).

On first pour, it has an amazing dark, rich, cocoa-caramel colour, with a 1/4 inch of head. It dissipated before I could take my picture, but it poured well. It smells sweet, with toasty malt notes and caramel. At some angles, it looks like I poured a stout, and some angles (with bright light behind it), you can see the dark reddish-tan colour of the beer.

On first sip, my smelling senses confirmed the tastes. Delicious hints of smoke, oak, caramel, malt, toffee, mmmm tasty! It's complex, layered, but it is decadent and not cluttered. The flavours flow together and bring a richness not found in many other brews.

As an experiment, I paired the beer with my friend's home-made chocolate syrup topping. It brings out the richness and compliments the flavour of the beer. We mixed this flavour combination up a little bit, but I think a spoonful of that syrup is the best fit solution for this beer so far.

Overall, the Angry Scotch Ale is by far a brew that makes me an antonym of Angry. This melody of flavours melds into one solid beer to appreciate. If you have never picked this up, do it.

The Russell Brewing Angry Scotch Ale gets a not-so-angry 9.0 / 10

GIB - Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse

Hey all, I've been occupied with my new full time position at a local chocolate company (mainly eating chocolates and getting fat), and I haven't been able to post a quality review for some time now.

That aside, the fine folks at Granville Island Brewing sent me their Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse, and at 2.8% ABV, with an IBU of 8, I was sceptical to say the least. I have had sour beers before, but none were even close to the lightness in alcohol content or bitterness. What was it like? Let's see.

Granville Island Brewing - Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse @ Brewji's House

As you can see, the label design on the bottle has a similar graphical theme to the Thirsty Farmer Saison label. I quite like it, but I'm here to drink it, not to fancy the look of the label.

The brew poured a hazy, orange-yellow, with a generous enough carbonation to it. It's got a little bit of white head, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch worth. It smells great too, as there's almost no strength to the alcohol content to the beer, it allows the other ingredients to come across in the aroma. I smell citrus zest, overall citrus-y smells and a hint of something that reminds me of a yogurt-like drink. It must be the lacotbacillus bacteria content (the same stuff that's in yogurt).

This is what it looked like when poured in a glass. Mmm...beer.

On taste, it was much, much lighter than I expected. I guess I've never had a beer with an IBU of 8 before, and there was virtually no bitterness. The citrus-y taste kind of died down after a little bit, and I was left with an after taste of the slight tartness. I've had sour beers before, and they focus on that puckering gross taste, where this one is light and fresh.

This is most definitely my choice for introducing someone to the sour beer family, as it's light in ABV, a very weak and almost non-existent bitterness palette, and it's got that light tartness to it, which overall flows well together and makes for an easy-drinking beer.

Overall, this was something that I've never tried, and unless it was asked upon me to drink this, I probably wouldn't have risked it. But you know what? Sometimes going out of your comfort zone to try a beer pays off in a good way. This is one of those times.

The Pucker Meister Berliner Weisse from Granville Island Brewing gets a newly refreshing 8.0 / 10