Mexican Cake

 I'm always interested to see what breweries from other states offer in the way of new delicious beers to try. I've had my share of beers from the Northeast, so it's a new experience every time I get my hands on a beer from a state I don't normally get to enjoy beer from. Two nights ago I got to try a world class beer as classified by Beer Advocate, my favorite beer reviewing website, that received a score of 96 out of 100 and that was made by a brewery located in South Carolina. That brewery is Westbrook Brewing Company, a brewery that I recently discovered thanks to Marty at St. James Beverage who got in a selection of their beers recently.

Mexican Cake, besides having some nice hand drawn art on each bottle's label, is a very unique beer with a mix of many different flavors. It's described as an imperial stout brewed with cocoa nibs, cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans and habanero peppers. This combination of flavors is something you wouldn't normally see in most beers and is experimental by all means. Luckily the experiment turned out to be successful.

Immediately after opening the bottle the smell of all these different ingredients fight for the prime real estate in your nostrils. The cocoa and peppers stand out the most. The taste has more of a balance between the four ingredients with a slight burning sensation experienced by your taste buds with each sip (what were you expecting? It's habanero!). The cocoa, cinnamon and vanilla, masked by the spiciness of the peppers initially, will all slowly start to come out and say hello as you drink the beer more and more.

Overall this makes for a very enjoyable beer drinking experience, as long as you don't mind a little spice in your life, or throat for that matter. The burning sensation is never overwhelming, but sticks with you throughout the drinking period. You get more and more accustomed to it as you get closer to the bottom of the bottle.

Mexican Cake falls at 10.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume) and in no way should be consumed alone. I drank my bottle with the help of my two friends Tom and Dave. We're all fans of stouts and Mexican Cake was a great way to commemorate a night where the three of us were reunited after not seeing each other for awhile.

If you can find yourself a bottle of Mexican Cake at a local beer distributor or through a trade via Beer Advocate I highly recommend getting one.

Dave is concerned for my well-being after hearing of the habanero peppers in Mexican Cake

 

Founders All Day IPA

Founders left an early St. Patrick's Day present at the door of local Long Island beer distributors this week--a beer that has never been available outside Founders headquarters state of Michigan until now. Founders All Day IPA has finally made its way to the eastern United States!

It seems like I've been waiting for this beer forever

Both St. James Beverage and Lake Ronkonkoma Beverage have gotten in this new Founders brew in the last couple of days. I picked up a six-pack after work yesterday and eagerly tried it with my brother and a few of our friends last night.

Before I get into the details I'll tell you one thing, Founders All Day IPA was definitely worth the wait and complimented the buffalo chicken pizza we ate perfectly.

Right after popping the bottle cap off my first ADIPA the first thing I noticed was how fresh the beer was. With IPAs especially, the fresher they are the better. The smell of All Day IPA reminded me of Double Trouble, with the perfect balance of fresh pine smell and citrus.

The first sip was perfect and my taste buds fell in love at first touch with this beautiful beverage. I was so eager I didn't even pour myself a glass, but instead drank it straight from the bottle. 

The grainy citrusy taste got better with each sip to the point where I looked down at my bottle and there was nothing left! I opened a new one soon after to recreate the ideal beer-drinking experience I just had. 

 

All Day IPA is the kind of beer that you drink with friends, while having a good time and not noticing how quickly you get through one. ADIPA doesn't distract from the good time at hand, but rather accompanies you on your night until the very end.

At an ABV of 4.7% it won't do any major damage to you and will ensure you have a good night (as long as you don't finish a whole six-pack by yourself!).

Founders All Day IPA is one of of my new favorite beers and takes everything I love about the other Founders IPAs and creates a more drinkable alternative. One thing's for sure, I'll be drinking ADIPA up until St. Patricks Day and even after that it will hold a special place in my beer fridge.

You've done it again Founders, you've done it again!

Big Moose Ale

Seasonal beers come and go, some earning more recognition on my Beer Blog than others. For example, Sam Adams's different offerings have surprised me with how good they are, while Blue Moon seasonals have mostly been lackluster. Saranac's Big Moose Ale follows suit with Sam Adams and I consider it one of the more noteworthy winter beers available.

I'll be honest, Saranac has never been my favorite brewing company and the beers I've tried by them are average at best. That's why I was so surprised when John at Lake Ronkonkoma Beverage suggested Big Moose to me and for a cheap price too! He swore by it and so I picked up a 12 pack to try.

The label on the bottle screams Winter Wonderland from the get-go.

Who wouldn't want to drink a beer with a majestic moose overlooking a snow covered village? In all seriousness though, the beer is good.

Big Moose Ale is an American Pale Ale and pours a light orange color right out of the bottle. When poured it had a decent amount of head and looked like a real treat.

It may look pretty but does the flavor hold up?

Immediately my taste buds were met by a hoppy flavor that reminded me of some of my favorite IPAs, but less intense. This isn't a bad quality though. I also noticed a slight caramel flavor and a citrusy aftertaste.

At 5.3% ABV Big Moose Ale is the perfect social beer a good one to share with friends. The flavor won't knock your socks off, but rather the subtleness will find a place in your beer loving heart. 

Saranac's Big Moose Ale is brewed by Matt Brewing Company and is available only during the winter. Here is its description on Beeradvocate.com:

Saranac Big Moose Ale is an American Pale Ale with a kick. The medium-bodied malt sweetness is balanced by a nice crisp bitterness from hand selected centennial and cascade hops. Look for a vibrant citrusy hop aroma that will leave you craving another swig! 

Lake Ronkonkoma Beverage is currently offering this delicious winter beer for a discounted price. You can grab a 12 pack for $7.99 and a case for $14.99. Get it while you can!

 

Gulden Draak Ale

Oh Gulden Draak. Where do I even begin?

This was one of my favorite new beers that I tried in 2012. I even got to have it on tap at Croxley Ales in Farmingdale. This Belgian beer has so much going for it, the taste, the smell...everything is phenomenal about it.

If I had to describe Gulden Draak I would say it's like a very flavorful piece of banana bread with a whole slew of fruits thrown in. Raisins, Cranberries, a caramelized flavor; all so good. The beer is sweet, but never once lets the drinker forget that it is a Belgian Ale, and a good one at that.

I've enjoyed Gulden Draak so many times and last night I decided to drink it out of one of my golden-rimmed goblets (I thought it was appropriate). The flavor never once lets up in this finely made beer.

At 10.5% ABV Gulden Draak is a lot stronger than most regular beers and the alcohol taste is obvious, but never overpowering. Everything used in the brewing ofthis beer balances out perfectly and the result is one of the best beers I have ever had.

Gulden Draak is great and anyone who wants to have a more fancy beer in their life should look no further than this Belgian masterpiece. I love Gulden Draak and you should too!

"The Perfect Crime" (Evil Twin / Stillwater / Stone)

While visiting Shoreline Beverage in Huntington, NY with my good pal Tom, I came across a third Stone Collaborations beer for 2012; "The Perfect Crime."

I was surprised to say the least and picked it up immediately. The Stone Collaborations are always something I'm interested in, especially since they are only brewed once and never again.

"The Perfect Crime," brewed by Evil Twin, Stillwater and Stone is a black smoked saison and a good one at that. After pouring it into my glass this is the beautiful sight I was met with:

This dark brown saison had the perfect amount of head when poured into my Ommegang glass. The first few sips were frothy and reminded me of a Guinness poured on tap. Definitely enjoyable.

As for the flavor it was mostly bitter (not too bitter!) with a smokey aftertaste that I enjoyed throughout drinking this 6.8% ABV beer.

I didn't care much for the last saison collaboration beer I tried, Saison Du Buff, but this one went down easily and I was never turned off by its flavor or smell. Overall a great beer and one I would drink again given the chance.

"The Perfect Crime?" More like the perfect beer!

 Evil Twin's Brewmaster Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergse's statement on "The Perfect Crime"

Anchor Steam Beer

Tonight's new beer to try is Anchor Steam Beer courtesy of Erica. Anchor Steam is a California Common/Steam Beer with an ABV of 4.9%. This type of beer is an American style lager that was originally brewed back in the 1800's when refrigeration wasn't as common it is today. During the brewing process shallow fermenters had to be used, which resulted in a very particular flavor.

I poured this one in my Three Philosopher's glass (one of my favorites!) and this is what I was greeted with:

The appearance of Anchor Steam Beer is a light orange/amber color and had a modest amount of head. The smell of the beer had a very pleasing malt aroma. I took a sip.

Right as Anchor Steam met with my tongue I experienced a grainy/malty flavor that reminded me of some of the first American lagers I tried as a younger Phil (Yuengling anyone?) except with a more refined taste.

As I continued to drink it I enjoyed the subtleness of it, but wasn't blown away in any regard. Anchor Steam is good, just not great. It also goes down easy.

If you're a beer drinker who loves the taste of beer, Anchor Steam is a good choice, whether you're expecting company of if you just want to enjoy a beer by yourself. For anyone else looking for something completely different than what they're used to, Anchor Steam is not the beer to fill that desire.

Looks pretty, the taste is just okay

Kona Pipeline Porter

This is my first Beer Blog post of the new year. I know what you're saying: "It's about *&%#^%$ time!" Well one of my resolutions for the new year is to write more often which includes posting as many beer blogs as I can! This includes trying more delicious beers and offering suggestions to any one of my readers in search of a new beer in their life. That being said here is my post on the first beer I decided to discuss this year: Kona Pipeline Porter.

Pipeline Porter is brewed with 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee beans and pours a dark brown color bordering on black. Out of the bottle, Pipeline Porter is filled with the aroma of coffee and has a very pleasant smell to it. The taste is even more endearing.

Pipeline Porter proudly displayed in my Three Philosophers Glass

Pipeline Porter doesn't taste like most beers. From the very first sip you know Kona has come up with something special. As I drank it the coffee taste wasn't overwhelming nor underwhelming. Every gulp of Pipeline Porter was enjoyable till the very end. 

Like I said it didn't even seem like I was drinking a beer, but instead a delicious iced coffee beverage. Out of all the coffee beers I have tried this is one of the best to enjoy with friends who appreciate light beers. It in no way compares to the richness of Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout, but it's a nice go to beer to have at social gatherings, especially if your friends like coffee.

Pipeline Porter has an ABV of 5.4% and is made my the Hawaiian brewing company Kona.