Pause

Dear Faithful,

I am putting my beer blog on pause due to lack of fundage. Lately I have only been drinking beer about once a week and usually it has been a 40 or 3 of 211 or high life. That is certainly not the proper protocol for ciceronito status. I will erase this post and start dropping new reviews when I start getting mas pay. Until then check out some of the other beer blogs out there (there are tons of awesome beer blog links in the right hand column) and please do not despair, no need fi shed tears over mi lackin’ beers, capiche?

Te Quiero,

El Ciceronidore

Hop Head Red by Green Flash Brewing Company

Brewery Name and Location: Green Flash Brewing Company of San Diego, California, USA

Name of Brew: Hop Head Red

Style of Brew: Red Ale

Purchase Info: $9.99 for a six pack of bottles.

ABV: 6%

Ingredient Info: Caramel malt. Amarillo Dry Hopped. Other varieties not listed.

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Big Glass Mug.

Aroma/Olfactory: Unexpectedly weak nose of caramel malts, grass/ hay and metallic.

Visuals/Appearance: Moderately cloudy reddish brown with a small but lasting khaki head and thick, spotty lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Up front there is a sweet, malty caramel which is soon overpowered but the lengthy, bitter finish.

Palate/Tactile: Very, very smooth and somewhat flat. There is a balance between the sticky maltiness and the resinous hoppyness in the mouthfeel that make it very drinkable.

Tasting Backstory: It would be a great session red if it were not a bit expensive. My expectations coming into this tasting were that it would be overpowering but it is not. It is a well balanced and there is excellent interplay between the hop and malt profiles. This is one of the best red ales that I have sampled. It is quite difficult to make a balanced ale that is also distinct AND highly drinkable, usually it is one or the other. I say that from a drinking perspective and not a brewing perspective. Maybe it is super easy to do but since it is not done very often so … this stands out.

Rating: 8/10

Value Rating: 6.5/10

Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing Co

Brewery Name and Location: Russian River Brewing Company of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA

Name of Brew: Pliny the Elder

Style of Brew: DIPA

Purchase Info: $4.50 for 16.9oz bottle.

ABV: 8%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: First Tasting- Pint Glass. Second Tasting- Bottle.

Aroma/Olfactory: Very distinctive and pungent nose of West Coast hops: pine, grapefruit and floral.

Visuals/Appearance: Clear light-amber with an off-white head and great lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Pine, grapefruit and grass flavors. The taste increases in intensity from sip to swallow and finishes bitter. Very fresh hop taste.

Palate/Tactile: Light bodied and smooth drinking. Slightly oily, resinous. Weak carbonation.

Tasting Backstory: I tried this at the Russian River Brew Pub in Santa Rosa. It was so incredible that I had to get a bottle to go. This is easily one of my favorite beers. Incredibly fresh and amazing hop profile. This is the fourth 10 rating that I have given and 3 of the 4 are beers from Sonoma County. That struck me as interesting. Maybe it is the water up there?

Rating: 10/10

Value Rating: 9/10

Taster Sampler from Russian River Brewing:

Stone 13th Anniversary Ale

Brewery Name and Location: Stone Brewing Co of Escondido, San Diego County, California, USA

Name of Brew: 13th Anniversary Ale

Style of Brew: Strong Ale, Imperial Red Ale

Purchase Info: $5.99 for 22oz bottle

ABV: 9.5%

Ingredient Info: Pale, Crystal, Amber and Chocolate malts. Chinook, Simcoe and Centennial hops.

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Big Glass Mug

Aroma/Olfactory: Black cherry, toffee, alcohol, grapefruit and pine notes. A roasty or burnt aroma permeated as well. Very pungent.

Visuals/Appearance: Dark reddish brown with a huge, fluffy, tan head and lots of lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Flavorful with the same notes as the nose. A strong malt profile that finishes with an even stronger hop bite.

Palate/Tactile: Full bodied and sticky/ syrupy.

Tasting Backstory: Stone always makes big ales and this definately qualifies. I gave my buddy a sip and he said, without knowing what it was, “Tastes like a Stone Brew.” It is unique and I enjoyed that. However, the flavors did not mesh well in this. It had an excellent hop profile that would have made an amazing DIPA. The malt profile would also stand up by it self. Combined, however, the flavors do not work. It is supposed to be an Imperial Red Ale according to Stone. I think that style is incredibly difficult to nail proper. A good red ale has balance and interplay of flavors. This has a wobbly balance and conflict between flavors. I had huge expectations for this and was a bit let down.

Rating: 6.5/10

Value Rating: 5/10

Bottle Conditioned IPA by BridgePort Brewing Co.

Brewery Name and Location: BridgePort Brewing Co of Portland, Oregon, USA

Name of Brew: Bottle Conditioned IPA

Style of Brew: IPA

Purchase Info: $6.99 for 6* 12oz bottles.

ABV: 5.5%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Big Glass Mug… Brought out of retirement (which was holding change) and recommissioned back in rotation.

Aroma/Olfactory: Smells a bit like a UK IPA. Unexpected. Grain, yeast, honey and floral in the nose.

Visuals/Appearance: A bright orange-yellow and a bit cloudy. Thick, creamy white head and nice lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Fairly complex. There are honey, caramel, floral and tangerine notes. The hop bitterness is muted. It has complexity and balance in both the hop and malt profiles. Plus, a balance between the two.

Palate/Tactile: Very smooth and drinkable. The bottle conditioning gives it a great freshness and crispness.

Tasting Backstory: I had very high expectations. This is an Oregon beer and I hold the Pacific NW (Oregon and Washington) in high esteem with regards to craft brewing. Almost as much as Cali. …. Anyways, a first sip this brew seemed lacking in overall flavor. It is pretty much a session brew and not a hop bomb. However, once I slowed down and really tasted it it made an impression. The complexity is incredible. A true taster’s session ale.

Rating: 8/10

Value Rating: 8/10

White Hawk IPA from Mendocino Brewing Company

Brewery Name and Location: Mendocino Brewing Company of Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, USA

Name of Brew: White Hawk Original IPA

Style of Brew: IPA

Purchase Info: $6.99 for 6 pack of 12oz bottles.

ABV: 7%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Glass Beer Mug.

Aroma/Olfactory: Caramel malt, sour citrus and slight hop flower nose.

Visuals/Appearance: Clear amber with dispersive off-white head and nice lacing.

Taste/Flavor: A little too balanced for an IPA in my opinion. The caramel malt profile almost overpowers the hops which are sort of an after note. Slightly bitter and slightly sweet. A bit of a roasty flavor.

Palate/Tactile: Medium body and fairly carbonated. A bit syrupy in mouthfeel.

Tasting Backstory: This IPA just does not do it for me. Mendocino Brew Co keeps their prices in check so I end up getting their beers somewhat often. None are awful but none are all that. I’m quite undecided on the bird motif.

Rating: 4.5/10

Value Rating: 5/10

The Czar Imperial Stout by Avery Brewing Company

Brewery Name and Location: Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Name of Brew: The Czar Imperial Stout

Style of Brew: Royal Imperial Stout

Purchase Info: $6.99 for 22oz bottle.

ABV: 11.03%

Ingredient Info: Hallertau and Magnum hops. Two-row, black, chocolate, carafa, cara and honey malts.

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: White wine glass.

Aroma/Olfactory: Alcohol, black currant, chocolate, caramel and coffee aromas. It has a complex nose.

Visuals/Appearance: Dark, opaque brownish-black with khaki head and weak lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Flavorful and rich with all the flavors that are in the nose. Reminiscent of a liqueur.

Palate/Tactile: Flat with a medium body. It drinks like a medium bodied red wine.

Tasting Backstory: I was intrigued by Avery’s website. This is one of three beers that make up their “Dictator” series, the others are Maharaja and The Kaiser. Dictator was my net handle back in telenet days so there was a tiny bit of psychological motivation to try the line. I cannot find The Kaiser but they brew it in August so I think it will come around. Anyways, The Czar… Interesting. Unique. Distinctive. Glad I tried it but it did not knock my socks off or anything. Pretty good but not great. Plus waaaaaay too expensive.

Rating: 7/10

Value Rating: 4/10

Kirin Ichiban Special Premium Reserve

Brewery Name and Location: Kirin Brewery Company of Japan

Name of Brew: Special Premium Reserve

Style of Brew: Lager

Purchase Info: $6.99 for 6 pack bottles.

ABV: 5%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info: 145 cal, 12.1 g carbs,

Vessel Used for Tasting: Glass Beer Mug

Aroma/Olfactory: Sweet, corn, grain and malt aromas.

Visuals/Appearance: Pale, clear straw-golden with dispersive white head and minimal lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Slightly sweet, corn flavor. Possible adjunct taste.

Palate/Tactile: Light body and wet finish.

Tasting Backstory: Not particularly good but at least not foul. Japanese export beers (as a generalization) work best when they are super cold and go well with sushi or other foods with delicate flavor since they are not overpowering.

Rating: 4.5/10

Value Rating: 4.5/10

Tripel by St. Bernardus

Brewery Name and Location: Brouwerij Sint Bernardus of Belgium

Name of Brew: Tripel

Style of Brew: Tripel

Purchase Info: $4.99 for 11.2oz bottle.

ABV: 8%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: White wine glass

Aroma/Olfactory: Classic tripel aroma. Banana, coriander, Belgian yeast… Smells nice.

Visuals/Appearance: A cloudy, bright yellow-orange with an extremely pillowy white head and decent lacing. Pretty.

Taste/Flavor: Banana, mineral, belgian yeast and notes of bubblegum. Very interesting and unique.

Palate/Tactile: Medium body and fuzzy carbonation.

Tasting Backstory: This came highly recommended by a couple different Belgian beer aficionados. It was a great experience but waaaaay too expensive for regular consumption. Luckily there are a couple of American breweries that have really great tripels that are a bit more affordable. Do not get it twisted. This is unique. Especially the mineral profile from the water. Very distinct. However, I personally could be fine with a New Belgian or Victory tripel to satisfy my Belgian craving. Although, it certainly is a great beer despite the price tag.

Rating: 8/10

Value Rating: 4/10

Longshot Double IPA by Samuel Adams

Brewery Name and Location: Boston Brewing Company of Boston, Massachusetts

Name of Brew: Double IPA

Style of Brew:

Purchase Info:

ABV:

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Wine Glass

Aroma/Olfactory: Citrus and pine…. Westsiiiiiide hops yo.

Visuals/Appearance: Hazy bright amber with white head and nice lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Wow!!! It is a very good DIPA… In the vain of Green Flash Westcoast IPA. Complex hop profile.

Palate/Tactile: Medium bodied, oily and resiny.

Tasting Backstory:

Rating: 7.5/10

Value Rating: 7.5/10

Brewery Name and Location: Boston Brewing Company of Boston, Massachusetts

Name of Brew: Double IPA

Style of Brew: DIPA

Purchase Info: $8.99 for Long Sampler 6 * 12oz bottles.

ABV: 9.6%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Wine Glass

Aroma/Olfactory: Citrus and pine…. Westsiiiiiide hops yo.

Visuals/Appearance: Hazy bright amber with white head and nice lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Wow!!! It is a very good DIPA… In the vain of Green Flash Westcoast IPA. Complex hop profile.

Palate/Tactile: Medium bodied, oily and resiny.

Tasting Backstory: This was the highlight of the Longshot Sampler for me. A very nice DIPA with a great hop profile. Me likey.

Rating: 8/10

Value Rating: 8/10

Longshot Traditional Bock by Boston Beer Company

Brewery Name and Location:

Name of Brew: Traditional Bock

Style of Brew: Bock

Purchase Info:

ABV:

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Wine Glass

Aroma/Olfactory: Malty, brown sugar…

Visuals/Appearance: Reddish brown with khaki head and lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Malty, nutty and metallic (nickel?)

Palate/Tactile: Medium body and creamy.

Tasting Backstory:

Rating: 6/10

Value Rating: 6/10

Brewery Name and Location: Boston Beer Company of Boston, Massachusetts

Name of Brew: Traditional Bock

Style of Brew: Bock

Purchase Info: $8.99 for Longshot Sampler 6 * 12 oz bottles.

ABV: 6.8%

Ingredient Info:

Nutritional Info:

Vessel Used for Tasting: Wine Glass

Aroma/Olfactory: Malty, brown sugar…

Visuals/Appearance: Reddish brown with khaki head and lacing.

Taste/Flavor: Malty, nutty and metallic (nickel?). Interesting malt profile. Not hoppy.

Palate/Tactile: Medium body and creamy.

Tasting Backstory: Sam Adams selected three home brew recipes and put two bottles of each in a box. Overall, it was a neat little sampler. This beer was a solid malty brew. I tend towards hoppy offerings but can appreciate a nice malt profile. With this malty offering plus a hoppy brew and a flavored wheat beer the Longshot Sampler was about as varied in styles as you can get.

Rating: 6/10

Value Rating: 6/10