Bruton di Bruton.

A sale beer from WF. That last Italian beer I had was Peroni. That was in 2006 or 2007. It was that bad. This was on sale and had a more respectable look to it so I decided to give Italian beers another shot. This beer is refermented in the bottle and includes wheat on the grain bill. Heatshrink around the cap which is fitted over a fatter lip and makes a nice pop rather than a hiss.

I accidentally poured some of the yeast cake because I was thinking that the color was extremely pale and not foaming at all. I didn't get many impressions of it so the short version below is the long version, and I don't have much else to say about this one. It's supposed to be a Belgian pale ale, but they forgot the pale ale part. It reminds me a bit of Ephemere but much milder. Actually, I just took a big sip, and it reminds me of a nice, spicy witbier but not as spicy and maybe a little bitter. while I still don't trust Italian beers very much, this one is ok.

• Appearance: Pour looked really pale but darker in the glass. Bit of a lager-y head which dissipates and leaves only a moss.
• Smell: Grannysmith apples.
• Taste: Super mild and nondescript. A touch of Belgian spice character, light hops, more on the floral side. A bit of apple juice from concentrate.
• Mouthfeel: Low carbing, extremely smooth. Finishes with a bit of astringency.
• Drinkability and Overall: Drinkability is good, though a bit strange. Overall, as a pale ale, it's not very prominent. I can see this being enjoyable from time to time though. So it's not terrible, not outstanding, but only mildly memorable.

Deschutes Black Butte Porter.

Managed to pick up a single at WF the other day. By the way, I finally made it to a bonafide bottle shop today: BevMo. It's a chain, and they're around but they have a solid selection of craft brews despite being a wine and liquor store. While they don't have nearly the variety as BotW, they make up for it in quality and comprehensiveness in representing the regional breweries' lineups. I ended up getting 4 bottles of PSes (no Peltier Station), and 5 bombers, and learned the names of a few more breweries in the Bay Area. They also have a spread of glassware for all drinks so that's great. Might have to spring for some Reidel glasses finally. I took a quick look through the gin section as they were closing but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I'll have to take a closer look next time and check out the whisky and bourbon.

I can't really remember the last time I went for a porter, but here it is. To be honest, I don't have a lot to say about it because it's not really in my preferred styles, as evidenced by me having to use 'stout' to tag this post. I simply don't buy enough porters to warrant a 'porter' label. Maybe one day, I'll go back and fix that. Anyway, it's good for what it is though.

• Appearance: Very dark brown but not black. Creamy head with lacing.
• Smell: Bits of coffee and cola.
• Taste: A cold weak coffee, a bit stronger than a solid brown ale. A little burnt on the back end and finish. Kind of hollow, vacuous.
• Mouthfeel: Open, light-medium to medium in both weight and viscosity, most noticeable on the first sip.
• Drinkability and Overall: As a porter, I think it's pretty good. I would have liked a little more depth to its flavor, but maybe I'm expecting more intense beers these days. The flavor-weight ratio is good so it is drinkable.

Bison Brewing Organic IPA.

I had been planning visiting Bison Brewing this weekend, but their website says they don't do tours or have anything open to the public really. So I made sure to pick up a Bison brew at the store. Bison Brewing is a USDA organic brewery. I was never big into the organic movement but having been eating some organic food somewhat regularly, I might be inclined to say I feel better; it certainly tastes better in many cases.

BIson's Organic IPA is brewed with four malts and three hops for a 6%ABV brew. I had one last night after finishing off that Telegraph Obscura Arborea. I thought it tasted great then, but I was a little boozy and was ready for a change of taste after finishing the whole 750mL myself. A proper pour and taste tonight, it still tastes pretty great. A good hoppy, strongly grassy nose. It's nice to find IPAs that do pay some attention to aroma and not just IBUs. Taste is solidly IPA, good bittering without being overpowering. It would work well with some spicy or sweet Asian cuisine like Thai curries. A little bit of astringency leaves a nice mouthfeel on the finish without being drying. Overall, it's a nicely balanced beer that can suit many occasions. It's a bit of a west coast analog of GI IPA, all the bases are covered without blowing out in any one dimension. I'd like to put it up next to a Stone IPA and see how that goes.

• Appearance: Dark golden, orange tint. Head starts out looking nice but dissipates a bit quickly.
• Smell: Awesome grassy, weedy hop aroma.
• Taste: A little malty intro to the hop backbone. Consistent uniform hop presence, decent bittering with a mildly astringent finish.
• Mouthfeel: Carbing is a nice level, expected weight and viscosity.
• Drinkability and Overall: This is a nice IPA with enough presence to make it pleasant but without so much complexity to demand your full attention. Definitely good for a sit-back-and-have-a-few session.

Telegraph Brewing Co. Obscura Arborea.

Got this the other night at WF when I was having trouble deciding what was interesting. I saw the "lactobacillus" on the label and thought it might be a lacto-stout so I picked up one. Turns out it is actually an oud bruin, AKA Flanders brown ale. I've never actually bought a Flanders, never having seen it in a store but only trying it at bars. The name keeps reminding me of Camera Obscura, of which I was neither a lover nor hater, but that's really beside the point. Label has a sweet-looking tree on it, and the font is nice too. I don't normally care much for labels, but this one is actually quite nice. It indicated that Obscura Arborea is an "Ale aged with oak and lactobacillus/unfiltered, bottle-conditioned". I had read some reviews on it, and they warned that it was violently carbed. One guy said the cork started working its way out on its own after removing the cage. Danger from exploding bottles. Painful carbonation in the mouth. Wow, exciting.

I gave it as gentle of a pour as I could, down the side at a very shallow angle into a willi because I don't have any flutes. Here is the resulting head: wat. I could see many streams of continuous bubbles coming up, the head churning and growing. The color was pleasant, though, and reminded me of fall. At 9%ABV, the first taste seemed a bit hot. It wasn't as sour as I've known Flanders ales to be. Tart in an unripened fruit kind of way, but it wasn't too unripe. Cherries, apples, crabapples smashed on the sidewalk. Tart, not sour. As the beer warmed up, it because more and more enjoyable as the carbonation became more subdued. At the end of the day, I liked it. It's like a gentle beginning for sour/wild ales. I'll try to pick up a few extra bottles to bring home.

• Appearance: Murky dark brown, cider-y brown. Head is off the wall.
• Smell: Tartness, sour cherry, apple, apricot.
• Taste: Tart and bitter, but certainly palatable. It does taste a bit apple cider-y without much sweetness. For a wild ale-family brew, it is easy on the palate.
• Mouthfeel: Highly and finely carbed. It is like drinking a can of soda in a single sip. After some time to breathe and mellow out, it is less violent.
• Drinkability and Overall: I'm not familiar enough with the style to be a very good judge but I do find it enjoyable, especially after some time to vent. At 9%ABV, it is not sessionable, but a bottle or two shared with a friend would make a nice conversation piece as you note the development.

Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale.

I've been enjoying my experience with Deschutes, more or less, but I didn't want to focus too heavily on it. After some hemming and hawing, I just went for the sixer, found a loose bottle of the Black Butte and called it good. I also got a Rogue Creamery Anniversary Ale. BA was 504 when I tried to look it up to figure out what it was so I just went for it. I want get a better handle on it and decide whether to review it now or later, depending on what it is and if I want to get extra bottles. Not seeing that Stone Anise around anymore, so I'm glad I bought two when I did. (See this awkward time warp post about it here.) Normally, I'm not one for summer seasonals, but I have a drinking directive, I wanted to round out my Deschutes experience, and a visit to the brewery might find it unavailable.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Summer ales are usually some weird, underwhelming brew, which could be construed as refreshing but most things are when they're cold. There are some exceptions like GI and Sam Adams summer seasonals. And there are those that can be made into seasonals like a hefeweizen or witbier with that citrus fruit wedge. So I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but the color against the light was quite pleasant with an orange hue and exceptionally clear. Hm, looks refreshing already. First taste: initial impression on the palate was tame with the expected flavor but the hop kicked in and I was pleasantly surprised. The hop flavor had some simple development which was even nicer. So here's a summer ale that's not afraid to deliver some flavor and even do it in a civilized, cultivated manner. The bottle I had was only lukewarm; I think it had only recently gone into the cooler at the store, but nevertheless, it was quite good. At a proper temperature, I expect it will only get more crisp. As a bonus, this means the beer will still be good as it warms a bit under the summer sun.

• Appearance: Super clear, orange hint, fluffy head, taller due to an overzealous pour.
• Smell: Wheat-y but clean, a bit of citrus to match the orange.
• Taste: Starts typical for a summer seasonal but the hop kicks in with some citrus and then some nice bittering, not too strong but present.
• Mouthfeel: Body is smooth, carb is refreshing and even, not too effervescent. Weight is light and good for hot weather.
• Drinkability and Overall: For a summer beer, all the essentials are there: bright color, light in the mouth without skimping on taste, strong enough on the palate to make it enjoyable to drink. Highly drinkable and would be great for outings, barbecues, sunny weather, and the cooler evenings.

English Ales Dragon Slayer IPA.

We stopped by English Ales after spending the afternoon in Monterey's aquarium which was pretty nice, I found this place on Google Maps and appeared to be well rated. English-style ales are often either not English-style at all or labeled as such because it's subpar sugar water, so if an entire American brewery was going to dedicate itself to English beers, it was worth checking out. As it turns out, English Ales is a small operation residing in a very small commercial strip, occupying two or three spaces, one for the brewing, one for the bar, and one for some additional dining tables. There is only one guy at the front, presumably the owner, manning the bar and the floor, serving and busing plates. The ambiance is ok, if a bit out of place with the overall location, with British paraphernalia all over the walls. The ceiling was lined with mugs marked with number, date, and name of the mug's owner. $30 gets you in, but it wasn't clear what you get other than a pricey mug.

Menu was half sandwiches, half British fare with some appetizers and salads. I ordered the "fish, bangers, and chips" which actually only came with one lukewarm but generically tasty banger. The Dragon Slayer IPA was an English-style IPA certainly. If they would call that a Dragon Slayer, an American West coast IPA must be the Devil himself. Nose is a pleasant, mild hop but taste is more on par with the average (not Dale's) American pale. Lingering bitter on the finish and sessionable. There isn't much to say about it.

It's not often that I walk away from a brewery or brewpub without any swag, but nothing here really caught my eye nor did I feel compelled to get anything. There were some bumper stickers and apparel along with a sold-out "Women of English Ales" calendar for sale. As far as glass, only a standard pint glass and a standard brown growler were available, neither of which interested me. Usually, I at least walk away with a coaster, but no coasters here, just napkins.

Moutai Yingbin.

Moutai liquor is apparently quite renowned and well-known among Chinese liquors. The classic Moutai goes for over $100 a bottle, but the proprietor at my favorite Chinese corner store suggested this one which runs for $14. I had been looking at some interesting "White Gold" bottles which had a VSOP rating but was not a brandy or cognac but some sorghum-based liquor. The wife said it smelled bad and was 15 years old; supposedly, these particular bottles were worth more than their $15 price tag indicated but she had simply never bothered to adjust the price because no one ever wanted them. In any case, I had been planning on trying this Moutai eventually and there are several very similar looking packages with widely varying prices, so I figured now was as good as time as any to try this fairly cheap version I had been offered. It was still the standard 53%ABV, but I suspect much of the price difference arises in the refining and aging processes. This must be the quick version to be produced for the masses.

The bottle of a solid white with plastic gold cap, sticker sealed over the breakaway plastic ring. The label indicates it's distilled from 80% sorghum and 20% wheat. The first thing that comes to mind when sorghum is mentioned is Redbridge which was fucking awful. I also apparently never reviewed and posted it because it was that bad. Redbridge, by the way is a gluten-free beer brewed from sorghum. It is terrible, and you should probably just have soda water.

Back to the Moutai:

• Appearance: Clear.
• Smell: Obviously a strong alcohol component but a bit of sake and a lot of sweet.
• Taste: A sharp punch at the beginning but if you can hold on to it for a bit, there is a strong plum sweetness, an wide assortment of sweetness, apple, raisin, fig, prune, very pleasant despite the ABV. Finish is naturally intense.
• Mouthfeel: Oily.
• Drinkability and Overall: I think this would be a great drink to have in small half shots with friends over spicy foods and Korean BBQ to close out a night of drinking with lots of friends.

Primo Island Lager.

I saw this in the cooler at the Chinese corner store that sells scratch lotto tickets and Asian nude magazines but has a nice selection of Chinese liquors and various Asian snacks. At first, I thought it was a Greek beer since the logo looked something like centurion or hoplite feather-crested helm (and it was blue and white). Upon closer inspection, the islands were not the Greek islands but were, in fact, the Hawaiian islands. The label also said, "With a hint of Hawaiian cane". Ok, cool, so it's from Hawaii. Ok, still doesn't really make sense. Maybe the feather guy is a Hawaiian tribe king. Later at home, another inspection indicated that the Primo Brewing and Malting (not a good sign) Co. is based in Hood, Oregon. Ok, so not Greek, not Hawaiian, Oregon. And "First brewed in 1897" which is kind of cool, and "Proceeds Help to Preserve the Environment and Culture of the Islands".

• Appearance: Darker than a lager ought to be. Pretty crystal clear, lots of bubbles on the glass. Head faded entirely.
• Smell: Doesn't really smell like anything. Maybe rice cake but that might be some environmental smells.
• Taste: Noticeably sweet, almost cloying. Didn't temper as the beer went on. A taste on a different night, didn't notice hardly any sweetness, but that might be due to having eaten some strong food for dinner.
• Mouthfeel: Feels like a lager. Meh.
• Drinkability and Overall: Mildly more flavorful than a macro but not much better.

Mate Veza Yerbe Mate IPA.

Hailing from Mateveza Brewing (Mate + Cerveza) in Ukiah, CA, this beer is marked as an organic (USDA) IPA brewed with yerbe mate. Yerba mate is apparently used as a tea and has some nice health properties as an antioxidant and lowering cholesterol. Yerba mate also apparently makes this brew caffeinated. Though it sounds a bit gimmicky, I had never seen this particular twist so I had to pick it up. I wasn't sure how it would mix with the IPA component (which damn well better be good since this is California). It was disappointingly disappointing.

• Appearance: Hazy, light brown, almost an orange tan color. Standard head which dissipates.
• Smell: Slight herbal, maybe some sweet spice, tones in the nose, but I get some apple without the sweetness. No real hop presence to speak of. Slightly medicinal.
• Taste: No real hop flavor, a minor bitterness on the back end but more of an afterthought. More malty than anything but even then not particularly malty. If anything, it is dominated by black tea that has been steeped for too long but without the blown out tannins.
• Mouthfeel: Slightly creamy, heavier in the mouth than I would expect. Steady stream of bubbles leave too much volume in stomach.
• Drinkability and Overall: It's fairly drinkable in that it's light enough and the taste isn't going to overload your buds. But other than that, the novelty wears off quickly. As an IPA, I can't give it very high marks. As an amber, it fares slightly better but the body and carbonation is off for the style. Interesting beer but that's about as far as it goes.

Six Rivers Kona Moon Coffee Porter.

I added Six Rivers to my list of breweries to consider for a visit this summer, so I wanted to get a bottle to see if it would be worth my time or not. The Kona Moon Coffee Porter took gold at GABF 2005 in the coffee flavored beer category. It's a silly category to think about but the space is quite crowded these days so gold at one of the largest beerfests in the world is no small feat. I must say that I'm generally fairly cool towards porters as I'm more interested extreme and unique stouts like GI BBC, but I made an exception for this one, given the circumstances and context. I was at Whole Foods looking for my next beer to try. I had told myself that I would only get new, unavailable-back-home beers. Nothing interesting on sale. I had to whip out the phone and start BA'ing some breweries to see what was nearby, decently rated, worth trying, etc. Six Rivers in McKinleyville, decent reviews, within range for a visit. So I picked up this bomber along with two others that looked interesting at the time.

• Appearance: Standard porter color, black, opaque. Held up to the light, coffee brown. Head is fine, about a finger.
• Smell: Mild coffee notes, bark, slight chocolate. Very pleasant and aromatic.
• Taste: Well-balanced coffee tones, good coffee too. Solidly coffee, not too many distracting flavors, with a agreeable astringency. Dirt and wood on the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Solid porter body, weight, mouthfeel. A little too eager to release carb in the mouth though, leaves the tongue a little tingly.
• Drinkability and Overall: In terms of flavor intensity to body and weight, this is an impressive beer. Finish is quite clean so it goes down easily. Despite being such a dark beer, it's very drinkable for its class. It's flavorful without being so complex that you have to think about it but worth noticing. 6%ABV.

Rogue Ales Public House and Cherry Voodoo Tripel.

Took a stop by the Rogue Public House again after spending the day in SF by Fisherman's Wharf. The aquarium is SF in not as great as the one in Monterey which we went to/are going to a couple weeks later. (Starting drafts, filling them in much later and backposting is trippy. Hold onto your butts.) From left to right:

• Red IPA: Red, scotch ale-y on the finish, mild hop throughout. Seems unbalanced or unsure of itself unless it's going for wishy-washy.
• Younger's Special Bitter: smooth, milky bitter, balanced and bitter backbone. Finish evaporates. Sessionable with a hint of malty sweetness.
• Creamery Anniversary: Cream porter, Hershey's chocolate, cocoa finish, slight raisin, lots of volume. NOTES FROM THE FUTURE: I bought a couple bottles of this from WF, not knowing what it or Rogue Creamery was, but now it makes sense. I had bought one, holding off until I knew what it was, and then bought another one. And now it turns out I've already had it so I'll probably just hold onto both bottles for later. Bottom line: I get these sweet, swing-top jugs.
• Single Malt: low, tight carb, thin body. Hop bitter with an alcoholic finish and aftertaste. Palate is smooth and slightly sweet, very reserved.

I thought cherry tripel sounded interesting. I'm not really sure why, actually, because I'm not very fond of Three Philosophers which has too strong of an acetone likeness for me. But get this, I did, and it wasn't bad. It was a bit cherry cream soda-like. Definitely creamy. I remember the waitress coming around and asking what I thought and telling her I had expected something more tripel-y. Didn't really hit the tripel spot but was still enjoyable.

I also spent a few minutes to go to the liquor store around the corner where I was recommended to go after asking if they sold the Rogue Distillery spirits at the Public House. Turns out they had all (I assume all) the Rogue spirits: Spruce Gin, Pink Gin, Dead Guy Whiskey, and Hazelnut Rum. I've had the Spruce and while it was great, I wanted something new. The Pink is aged in pinot noir barrels. They were $45 apiece so I went with the whiskey and rum and the guy sold them to me for an even $90 at the end of the day. Not sure if I'll crack them open here or wait until I get back home. Depends on if I find better prices on them.

Deschutes Inversion IPA.

I'm thinking about starting a dedicated beer blog where I actually make sense and try to be thoughtful. I figure I should get some good practice out here on the West coast. The plan is to be standard and more rigorous in my evaluation. It would also be cool if I could be funny.

This is my first beer from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR. I've been putting off buying Deschutes from the store because there's been some other, more interesting beers that have been catching my eye, but this 6-pack was on sale (a whopping 50 cents off). Good enough for me. I was pumped to try it out as Deschutes has been one of those fabled West coast breweries that don't have distribution back East. I also picked up a 4-pack of something interesting but I wanted to get into the Deschutes tonight.

Poured into a standard pint glass and got a nice, thick head, something that I've been missing from many beers lately. A deep inhale gave some interesting aromas. It wasn't the West coast hop bomb with which I'm familiar. Instead of aroma, it was more like scent, mild and fleeting at times. They weren't kidding when they said "Inversion".

• Appearance: Dark but transparent copper with a hint of red. Two fingers of fine head.
• Smell: Sweet berry tones, hot summer grass.
• Taste: Smooth and mild hop, conservative bittering. There are some sweet melon notes but stays clean, doesn't descend into too much malt. Alphas come into play on the finish without staying for too long. Maybe a little paper-y at very tail end.
• Mouthfeel: Low carb, maybe too low. Body is light to light-medium weight. Clean finish.
• Drinkability and Overall: This is a very drinkable, sessionable even, IPA. Alpha acid content won't blow out your tastebuds, and it has some different, interesting complexities than other IPAs. For an IPA, I wish there were a little more bitter and better aroma. It might make a good introductory IPA.

Widmer Nelson Imperial IPA.

Pour produces a slightly creamy head. Mouthfeel is slightly low carbed for an IPA, higher than for an imperial. Body is light for an imperial. Nose is slightly citrus-y. Not too malty with a solid hop backbone. Hopping is primarily for bittering, initial taste is leafy, a bit of corn sweetness, a little malty on the finish, maybe some caramel. Finish is creamy, mild and evenly persistent.

Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout.

Black pour without being viscous, coffee head and aroma. Good-looking RIS. Rich coffee and oak tones with a little bit of heat in the nose. Up front, it has a good RIS taste and body. The licorice of the anise comes in the middle, a little bit of spice and barkiness and cola. Have a really hard time picking up the Belgian influence, maybe on the finish with a little bit of tang but I might just be looking for something to pin. Finish lingers, a little sticky on the lips but not much. At 10.5%ABV, the other flavors cover very well.

I had picked up two bottles of this since it was new to me and in case it turned out I like it and it sold out in the mean time. It is, indeed, a 2011 Odd Year Release. It is certainly more complex than their regular RIS. Excellent beer for a tasting session, will try to grab more.

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA.

So after much hubbub about this beer (voted best IPA in America by a readers' poll), I saw it in the store and picked up one. It poured slightly lighter in color than I would have expected. It taste correspondingly less malty than other IPAs. Head is a fine moss, persistent with curtains down the side. Nose is certainly hoppy but has a decidedly bottle tinge to it. Taste is classically hoppy but balanced. Initial hop bitter fades quickly into a more biscuit-y English-style but that note is fairly mild. The finish is clean, not excessively drying or bitter. It might be a bit too assertive for sessioning. Overall, it is a good IPA but I fail to see it as outstanding. Maybe some side-by-side comparison would help draw distinctions, but on its own, it is just a good IPA.

Pyramid Apricot Ale.

I pulled this beer out of the box and said, "This beer is going to be terrible." I assume this is brewed from the same base as their hefeweizen, and this is also unfiltered, not that there is a terrible amount of solids in it. Nose is a a overripe, sitting-in-the-sun melon smell. Apricot is definitely present on the palate, would be almost sweet, if not tempered by the wheat. Finish is a bit too persistent, leaving a cloying, candy feeling. Color and mouthfeel are the same as their hefe. Not the worst fruit-based beer I've had and better than Ithaca. Might be an ok beer to have at a barbecue but only one.

Pyramid Thunderhead IPA.

This is only a pale ale. I shudder to think what their pale ale tastes like. Nose is nonexistent, maybe a bit like detergent but also maybe because a load of laundry is in the wash. Taste is an initial impression of an IPA but very quickly fades into pretty much nothing. Finish is mild but stays on the tongue. Not much malt impression so overall feels and tastes relatively light. I would expect more from an IPA, but this would be an ok pale.

Pyramid Haywire Hefeweizen.

It's been a really long time since I've had a hefeweizen a long time since I've had anything from Pyramid. I think it was Curveball that I had a many years ago. Haywire is an unfiltered wheat. Nose is nondescript, white bread. Taste is typical wheat but mild, a bit of banana; smooth, low carb mouthfeel. A nice change of pace for me, but nothing special.

Karl Strauss Brewing Co.

I went to LA with some folks over Fourth of July weekend and wound up at Universal Studios. I managed to get them to take lunch at the Karl Strauss nearby so I could give their beers a whirl. I wasn't expecting a very good spread from something hanging around Universal, but their tap list was pretty decent. I got a flight to start off.

From left to right:

• Off the Rails: The imperial version of their Red Trolley, maltier with a charred finish, creamier head, sweet bread.
• Pintail Pale Ale: Heavy citrus, grapfruit, floral, tea notes. Light body and mouthfeel. A session beer.
• Red Trolley Ale: A Gold Medal at WBC 2010. Too sweet for a red. Saliva and hop on the finish. Low head and a bit milky. After tasting the wit, I also got toffee.
• Too Legit Wit: Reminded me of Middles Ages Swallow Wit. Not too spicy in that Hoegaarden way but I did find some nutmeg on the finish.

I also got the Tower 10 IPA to go with my meal, which was a French Dip, I think. It was pretty good, but maybe that's just because I haven't had one in a long time. I apparently didn't write anything down about it. I guess it was only ok then.