Review: Three Floyds Blackheart

I've finally done it! I've tracked down some Three Floyds! Being from such a beer deprived state like West Virginia, this made my week. I traveled roughly 30 minutes into Ashland, Kentucky to Ashland Beverage Center, which was rumored to have Three Floyds. It turns out that they had four different bottles to choose from (Blackheart, Black Sun Stout, Rabid Rabbit, and Gorch Fock). They weren't exactly the bottles I hoped to see, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to try Three Floyds. Because they were so expensive (none were cheaper than $10) I only picked up Blackheart and Black Sun Stout. After waiting only a day since I purchased them I cracked open Blackheart. My expectations for this were pretty high considering the constant praise that Three Floyds gets. I was a bit worried because this is supposedly a hoppy take on an English style IPA. I don't know why, but I've been having problems recently with beers venturing too far outside of their intended style (Dogfish Saison du Buff, Pepe Nero, etc). Nonetheless, this beer clocks in at 78 IBU and 8.5% ABV, which is pretty damn strong for an English style IPA.

Three Floyds Blackheart

Presentation: 220z bomber poured into a pint glass. The label artwork on this is just incredible.

Appearance: Yellow/orange color with a two finger off white head. Not much lacing and a little lighter than expected. The lacing was basically just a thin film that lined the glass at random. 

Aroma: This is just simply wonderful. I would have never expected this from an English IPA. There is plenty of grape, lemon, and citrus with bready malt. I also noticed a bit of spice and alcohol that stung that nose. I don't know how, but it smells like a hopped up English IPA, yet retaining that distinct malt presence. I was afraid that the aroma would focus too much on the hops, but this was very nicely done.

Taste: Wow, this is unlike any English style IPA I've ever had. Up front there is a huge smack of hops and then immediately some sweet malt and caramel come into play. As it sits on your tongue you slowly begin to notice a more complex bouquet with the bread/malt from the aroma, spice, lemon, and oak. As it warmed the flavors really started to show and the alcohol brings some warmth. I would definitely recommend drinking this at or around a cellar temperature. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation. There's only a slight prickle on the tongue and this isn't exactly the most drinkable IPA.

Overall: This is spectacular. Knowing that this was going to be a hoppy English style IPA I was worried about this being another beer that was venturing too far outside of the normal style. However, Blackheart is world class. It's hoppy, yet retaining that distinct English style. I don't know of a single English style IPA that can keep up with this. If this wasn't so expensive (I think I paid around $12), I would be picking this up all the time.

5/5

-Jeff

Review: Green Flash Hop Head Red - Red IPA

Time to review yet another West Coast beer. I was really craving something hoppy so I opted for Green Flash's Hop Head Red - Red IPA. I have absolutely no idea if this is anything like the previously brewed Hop Head Red Ale. If I were to guess, these are two completely different brews due to the fact that they are categorized under different styles on Beer Advocate. Sadly, I have never had Hop Head Red Ale so I can't make comparisons or definite conclusions about their similarity. However, I do hope this is hoppy. Green Flash has never let me down in that department.

Green Flash Hop Head Red - Red IPA

Presentation: 12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.The label states that it has been dry hopped with Amarillo hops.

Appearance: Amber color with two finger tan head. Very little lacing was left behind by the end of the glass.

Aroma: I immediately notice pine that is then followed by sweet malt and brown sugar with a little floral character. The malt sweetness is definitely the most prominent note, which is slightly disappointing. A West Coast IPA with a malt backbone? Then again, I can't really compare all of their hoppy beers to Palate Wrecker and West Coast IPA. 

Taste: A tad of bitterness and pine up front that fails to carry throughout the entire taste. It then segues into malt, brown sugar, and grapefruit. There's definitely a malt backbone in this, which made my heart sink. This is good, but it didn't exactly meet my expectations of an IPA. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation 

Overall: This just isn't complex or hoppy enough for an IPA and only slightly resembles a red ale. I really feel like this beer is going through an identity crisis. It has the characteristic malt backbone and sweetness of a red ale, but it also reminds you of an IPA due to the dry hopping. I also believe it could have been improved by using Cascade hops instead of Amarillo. All things considered, it is a decent beer, but I doubt I will be revisiting it.

4/5

-Jeff

Review: The Bruery-Mischief

The Bruery is one of the most popular and rapidly growing breweries right now. After only opening in 2008 they have already created a great reputation for themselves. Until recently, I haven't even been able to track down any of their brews. When I saw Mischief sitting on the shelf I had to pounce on it. Although it isn't one of their rare or hard to find beers, my anticipation for this is sky high. It's a Belgian strong pale ale that weighs in at 8.5% ABV. The label describes it as a "golden and hoppy" beer. I can't say that I've ever had a hoppy Belgian pale so I'm excited to see what this is like.

The Bruery-Mischief

I'm not sure why, but the label is really hard to see, but just trust me that it's a bottle of Mischief.

Presentation: 750ml bottle into a tulip. Being an 8.5% brew I didn't really want to drink the entire bottle so I shared part of it with the girlfriend. There's no way she could pass on an offer to share a hoppy beer.

Appearance: It has a hazy straw color. An incredibly delicate poured yielded an enormous white head.

The head retention and lacing is simply ridiculous with this. The head retention beats any beer that I've ever seen or had. There was a bulbous lump that stuck around for quite some time.

Aroma: Grassy hops, spice, coriander, lemon, yeast, and herbal elements. It's not a dominating or complex aroma, but it is certainly pleasant. The hop character in this definitely makes for an interesting take on

this Belgian style.

Taste: This is wonderful. The entire bouquet of the aroma comes through the tongue flawlessly. The way the herbal and citrus elements work together is great and the yeast character is perfect. Add the bit of hop bitterness that it has and you've got one damn good beer. Even at 8.5%, the alcohol is very well hidden.

Mouthfeel: Somewhere between light and medium body with tons of carbonation that bite the tongue. Finishes very dry.

Overall: This beats the high expectations that I had for this beer. This is by far one of the best American takes on a Belgian strong pale ale. I was somewhat worried about the hoppiness of this beer, but there was only a minimal amount. It really complimented the rest of the bouquet. I will certainly be revisiting this beer.

5/5

- Jeff

Review: Oud Beersel Oude Gueuze Vieille and Founders Red's Rye

Yes, I know. Yet another review of a sour. I've just been on an extreme sour kick lately. However, I am running out of sours in my beer stash so this might be the last one you see for awhile. I do have a bottle of Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic I plan on opening around August or September. I also have a bottle of Rodenbach Grand Cru and a couple Jolly Pumpkin sours (La Roja and Oro de Calabaza) that I'll be holding on too for awhile. So as I run out of sours and the temperature outside rises you can expect a variety of reviews from lighter styles (everything from pale wheat ales to IPAs). Having said that, that brings us to the second half of this review with Founders' Red's Rye PA. The West Coast usually dominates hoppy ryes so we'll since if Founders can hold their own.

Oud Beersel Gueuze Vielle

As far as Belgian sours and gueuzes go, this isn't exactly everybody's first option. This beer is priced right around better gueuzes like Girardin's Black Label so the obvious choice is to pass on it. However, because I have never tried it I couldn't help but pick it up. Well, let's see how it holds up against its Belgian counterparts.

Presentation: 2011 vintage 12.7 oz bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance: Hazy golden color with a huge white head and no lacing.

Aroma: A big sour sour presence with a bit of funk and vinegar. As far as the sourness goes, it seems to be focused on tart green apple and lemon. There's also the characteristic Belgian yeast aroma with a little oak and floral character, which was surprising.

Taste: Sour up front, but pretty tame as far as gueuzes go. It's sour, but hardly puckering. I also pick up the tart apple and lemon from the nose. I could even pick up the lemon after licking my lips from each sip. It's also not as dry as most gueuzes. It's actually slightly juicy/fruity in the finish, which was confusing.

Mouthfeel: Thin body with tons of carbonation. Pretty much what you would expect from this style.

Overall: This is good, but not great. It could be a bit more sour and it's not all that complex. I still can't complain much because it's under $10 a bottle, but I will take Girardin Black Label over this any day.

4/5

Founders Red's Rye PA

As far as Founders go, I certainly have the schema of dark beer, although I have had a number of their lighter styles. Their stouts, porters, and old ales (Curmudgeon's Better Half is damn good by the way) just seem to stick out more in my mind. However, I will rarely pass up the opportunity to try a hoppy beer that I've never had. Well, let's see how Red's Rye PA compares to its West Coast competition.

Presentation: 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Amber color with a one inch head. There is a constant stream of bubble rushing to the top of the glass, which is indicative of the high carbonation in this beer. There was only a modest amount of spotty lacing.

Aroma: Tons of hop and rye with a bit of fruity/citrus notes. I notice orange and maybe a bit of grapefruit. Not much complexity going on here.

Taste: Just like the aroma, there is tons of hop bitterness. It's hard to believe that this beer is only 70 IBUs. It seems a bit more bitter than that. Other than that, there is a juicy (orange) quality to it and just enough rye to tie everything together. I really expected the rye to be more present.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with quite a bit of carbonation.

Overall: This is certainly one of the better rye beers that I've had, but there are many more that are better. I realize that this is from Founders and that the expectations are high, but I don't know that I will be coming back to this. There are better offerings from the west coast that are just as affordable. I'll take Bear Republic and Sierra Nevada over this any day. I don't want to give the impression that this is bad though. This is a damn fine beer. I was really close to giving this a 4, but it seemed to open up a bit more as it warmed so I feel confident enough to give it a 4.5.

4.5/5

- Jeff

Review: Great Divide Titan IPA and Goose Island Pepe Nero

Great Divide Titan IPA

Presentation: 12 oz bottle poured into a Bridge Brew Works pint glass.

Appearance: It has an orange color with a two finger off white head that left great lacing. The lacing on this was definitely better than most IPAs.

Aroma: This has a wonderful hoppy aroma. Tons of pine/resin, orange, grapefruit, and some sugary sweetness.

Taste: Pretty balanced for an IPA. It's bitter, but not overly so. There are hops up front immediately that last through the entire taste. It slowly progresses through malt, pine, and citrus. The citrus is much harder to discern in the taste than the nose. It's also slightly floral with a hint of sweetness, which I feel like tones down the hops a bit. It keeps the hops from just being one constant note.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a high amount of carbonation. Standard IPA mouthfeel with this one.

Overall: Other than Yeti, this is my only other Great Divide beer and I would say they definitely hit the nail on the head with this one. This is one solid IPA.

4.5/5

Goose Island Pepe Nero

I picked this up last weekend due to the fact that I love saisons. Little did I know that this wasn't a traditional take.

Presentation: 2011 vintage 12 oz. bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance: Okay, this doesn't look promising. This thing is pitch black and has a fluffy tan head. This is supposed to be a saison? I can't even get light to permeate it.

Aroma: Alright, this is just downright confusing. There's spice, banana, yeast, and... chocolate? What on earth is chocolate doing in a saison? I sure hope GI knows where their doing here and the taste pulls through.

Taste: A swing and a miss. This is just a mess. It's somehow clean and dry, yet there's roasted malt and chocolate. I just can't figure this out. It gets more confusing with the spice element along with hints of chocolate and dark fruit. It's as if this beer can't find its identity. One moment I can totally see this as a saison and the next moment I feel like this could be a porter or strong dark ale.

Mouthfeel: Thin body with tons of carbonation. At least this resembles a saison.

Overall: I just don't get this beer at all. I feel like all of these breweries that are experimenting with saisons (ie. Saison du Buff) are completely missing the mark. Thankfully, this is nowhere near the abomination that Dogfish Head's Saison du Buff is, but I seriously doubt I will be revisiting this.

3.5/5

- Jeff

Review: Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux

Review: Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux

Alright, here it is! I was just too excited to try this to wait any longer.

Presentation: Boy, was there pressure under the cork of this. It was pretty difficult to take off, but when I managed to pull it out a huge pop exploded out of the bottle. As pictured, this was poured into a tulip.

Appearance: A nice golden color with a huge head that dissipates fairly quick. There was absolutely no lacing left behind.

Aroma: The aroma is great. There is a wonderful bouquet of a little funk, vinegar, apple, pear, spice, lemon and only a tiny bit of Brett. The citrus and fruit elements are definitely the major players in the aroma.

Taste: Okay, I really hate to say this, but the taste is somewhat underwhelming. Don't get me wrong though. This tastes pretty damn good, but it's just not up to snuff for a wild ale. This is more akin to a saison right now and certainly needs more age. I'm glad I tried this fresh, but it's just not there yet. Having said that, the taste basically mirrors the aroma, but certain parts of the bouquet are muted. I pick up the pear, apple, a bit of lemon and spice. There is only a slight tartness and the Brett is certainly much more hidden in the taste. I feel like it's only noticeable if you're looking for it though. It also becomes pretty warming as it reaches room temperature.

Mouthfeel: It's not quite thin, but it's not medium bodied either. There is tons of carbonation that bites the tongue. A pretty crisp beer.

Overall: This beer needs age. This can't be stressed enough. The tartness isn't there at all and the Brett needs time to develop. I'm gonna wait another year on the other bottle and see where it goes. As a fan of sours, this kind of let me down. Thankfully, I love saisons, which this seems to resemble more so I suppose I give it a 4 out of 5 with all things considered.

- Jeff

Bell's, Brux, and Laughing Dog: Craft beer is looking up this summer

Well, it looks like craft beer received a little push here recently in WV. It appears that Atomic Distributing is negotiating with Bell's. Yes, the same Bell's that puts out Hopslam and Expedition Stout. This is surprising considering I contacted Bell's last January and they told me that they had absolutely no plans of increasing distribution any time soon. However, it is possible that things can change in six month. Having said that, you might want to hold your breath and take this with a grain of salt. Atomic is predominantly an InBev distributor. The rumor is that Bell's is hesitant because they feel that they would be an after thought with the focus on Budweiser products. There have also been rumors of Bell's being bought out by InBev too. I suppose we'll just have to keep our finger's crossed.

In other news, Idaho's Laughing Dog should be here anytime. I'm kind of kicking myself for splurging on The Dogfather (Russian imperial stout) a few months ago, but I suppose that's how the cookie crumbles. It'll be refreshing to see Alpha Dog (IIPA) and Sneaky Pete (IIPA) on the shelves. I really hope some of the bars here in Huntington pick them up, but that's probably just wishful thinking. Sadly, there still isn't any word on Caldera, North Coast, Troegs, and Ommegang. If I were to guess, we'll be seeing Caldera and North Coast before the others due to the fact that Caldera has been in the works for awhile and North Coast has just recently gone through label approval. I have absolutely no idea what is happening with Troegs and I haven't heard anything new from Ommegang since I talked to them a few months ago when they let me know that they were aiming to get here by the end of the year.

Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux and Sierra Nevada Ovila Belgian-Style Golden

 And here is Brux, everybody! Somehow, both Brux and Ovila Golden have made their way to WV. I just spoke with somebody on Beer Advocate and they haven't seen either one of these yet in CA so how they've made it here already is beyond me. Nonetheless, I rushed down to Bottle and Wedge here in Huntington earlier today to pick them up. I initially went in to just purchase Brux, but I couldn't help but pick up Ovila too.

Anybody who is up to date on new beer releases and collaborations knows that Russian River and Sierra Nevada have been collaborating for the past two years on a wild ale. Just earlier this month they had a tasting party in Philly for the final product; Brux. They made the announcement that Sierra Nevada would be working with the distributors on carrying this beer, which means this would be widely available. However, it was unknown how available it would be. Well, WV only received 6 entire cases, if that tells you anything. Although the state did get a little slighted, I can't help but be pleased that it is somehow here before anywhere else.

According to label, Brux is "a dry and complex Belgian-style ale refermented in the bottle with Brettanomyces bruxellensis." I'm somewhat worried about the kind of reception this beer is going to get here due to the Brett. Other than Orval, there aren't many beers here with a focus on Brett. Fellow West Virginians, prepare yourself for that characteristic band-aid aroma and flavor that Brett yeast imparts. The back of the label states, "Refermented in the bottle with Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Brux will change and develop over time. Copper-colored, dry, and complex, with slightly tart notes of green grass, pear, spice, and lemon-this ale will progress in the bottle for many years." It also comes in at 1 pint 9.4oz and 8.3% ABV. Just like with most wild ales, I usually try to purchase more than one in order to try it both fresh and aged. I currently have one bottle chilling in the fridge to be opened tonight so expect a review in the near future.

Concerning Ovila Golden, it is the newest addition to the Ovila collaboration series between Sierra Nevada and the Abbey of New Clairvaux. It is a Belgian pale strong ale that weighs in at 8.5% ABV. The back label describes this beer as a "brilliant golden...with notes of summery apple and pear and peppery spice from the use of a traditional Belgian yeast strain." If you noticed in the picture, there is also a sticker wrapped around the cork and cage that warns that the contents are under high pressure and to open with care. I certainly haven't seen this on any of Sierra Nevada's beers. Anyway, other than Ovila Saison, I've been pretty pleased with the series and definitely looking forward to opening this one pretty soon.

- Jeff

Stone IPA/Girardin Gueuze 1882 (Black Label)

I was able to pick up both of this during a weekend trip with a friend to attend Jungle Jim's Beerfest just outside of Cincinnati. I somehow have never had Stone IPA, which prompted me to pick it up. As soon as I saw Girardin Black Label for under $10 I made a mad dash to snatch it off the shelf. I also made sure to pick up some other gems that aren't available here in WV (Jolly Pumpkin La Roja, The Bruery Mischief, Weyebacher Double Simcoe IPA, and other various sours and Belgians). I really regret not picking up Barrel Aged Boris for only $14, but I really don't need another RIS to collect dust. Anyway, you can expect reviews on some of these brews in the near future.

Stone IPA

Presentation: 12oz bottle poured into Stone IPA pint glass. I had just purchased a 4 pack of Stone pint glass so I jumped at the opportunity to use one.

Appearance: Light orange color with a 1" head and minimal lacing. This looks like the prototypical IPA.

Aroma: Tons of hops and pine up front with lime, lemon, and maybe a bit of grapefruit, which makes for a really juicy/fruity aroma. The bouquet is just wonderful.

Taste: Hops up front followed closely by malt. This is just so close to beingbalanced, but the hops are a bit more prevalent. There's an appearance of grapefruit and a bit of lemon/citrus-like notes. I also notice a tad bit of caramel so this might have been slightly oxidized, but it doesn't really detract from the bouquet. I scanned other tasting notes on this beer and none mentioned caramel so I'm glad I opened this when I did so it didn't get worse.

Mouthfeel: The body is somewhere between medium and light. There is tons of carbonation, which makes it really crisp and pretty easy to drink.

Overall: This is wonderful. This is what an IPA should be like. I really wish I had purchased more than just a single. I may be the minority in this opinion, but I think I might like this a bit more than Ruination.

2011 Girardin Gueuze 1882 (Black Label)

Presentation: 37.5cl bottle poured into a tulip. 

Appearance: Hazy orange with two finger off white head. I know that there isn't a head pictured, but I was a little slow in getting to my phone to take a picture. Anyway, there was very little lacing was left behind by the time I finished the glass.

Aroma: Tons of funk and sourness. There's also vinegar with a bit of straw. I basically only detect general citrus aroma and can't really pinpoint anything. Overall, this seems pretty standard for a gueuze.

Taste: Good lord this is sour! Tons of lemon-lime sourness that is pretty puckering. I'm pretty new to the sour game, but this puckering quality is just great. I also pick up some floral notes and a bit of oak to a lesser extent. This is simply wonderful. I could drink this everyday for the rest of my life.

Mouthfeel: Thin, yet a little creamy with tons of carbonation. This is pretty much par for the course with a gueuze.

Overall: This is one damn good gueuze. It instantly became one of my favorites upon my first sip. Now only if this was available in WV... I pray for the day that WV gets a gueuze that isn't Cuvee Rene. Anyway, I will certainly buy this beer again. I really wish I would have purchased another to age.

-Jeff

Yeah, I Know What You're Thinking

You don't even have to say it. "Not another craft beer blog..." Trust me, I am just as sick as you about everybody and their dog having a craft beer blog. However, I am hoping to possibly create more interest in craft beer here in West Virginia. This state is by far the least craft beer friendly. West Virginia ranks dead last in the amount of breweries distributed here. Even states like Utah with much more strict liquor laws get better distribution. I don't know if it's the fault of distributors here, the lack of consumers, or the lack of interest in craft beer, but I hope to bring more awareness to these issues and craft beer in general with this blog.
I'm hoping to write something every few days about what is going on here in the state with craft beer. This could be anything from limited released beers being offered at certain stores and restaurants to news breweries being approved by ABCA. I also plan on writing plenty of reviews for beers. Because my craft beer obsession is so ridiculous you can expect at least one review a day.
With all things considered, I really hope to generate some great discussion. If there's enough interest, I might look into creating a message board.
-Jeff