Sam Adams – The Vixen *

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Dec 062011
 

This one was saved for last because just from the label I was thinking that it was the one that I was least excited to drink 22oz of when compared to the other three.  I think that was mostly because the chili thing is tough to get right in a beer, at least for my palate.  Within the first few sips of this one I knew that wasn’t going to be an issue and I actually found myself wanting a little more heat to balance everything else out.

The last of what is now four . . .

Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA)

Name: The Vixen

Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer (based on a Doppelbock)

ABV: 8.5% (on bottle)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge before being served in a pint glass.  Batch No. 1

Aroma: Light sweetness with some faint roasted malts with maybe a bit of spice.  Relatively mild and clean overall. – 7.5/12

Appearance: Dark, dark brown with garnet tones at the edges when held to light.  One finger plus light brown head with small bubbles, good retention, and leaving a very slight trail.  Appears opaque though clear at the edges with rising bubbles when held to light. – 3/3

Flavor: Smooth roasted malty sweetness with a touch of chocolate and also some notes of vanilla.  A very low heat comes through in the back of the throat with some faint cinnamon-like spice toward the finish.  Finishes quite smoothly and pretty cleanly with some lingering sweetness on the palate. – 13/20

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with a moderate to low level of carbonation.  Very smooth and somewhat creamy on the palate. – 4.5/5

Overall Impressions: The chili heat is very, very faint and kind of a letdown – really kind of pointless and unneeded in this beer.  Very easy drinking with a bit more cinnamon and chocolate as it warms a touch.  Wouldn’t mind having again especially if paired with the proper food.  The clean finish is very nice after the sweetness fades.  Does not taste like a beer with 8.5% ABV (hides it well). – 6.5/10

Overall: B (34.5/50)

6466353891 fca0a36075 Sam Adams The Vixen *

Sam Adams - The Vixen

 Posted by Lucas at 11:30 am  Tagged with: , ,

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub – Butt Head Bock *

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Oct 252011
 

In trying to look at the more positive option I like to think that the Tommyknockers were actually trying to warn miners of cave-ins rather than actually causing them.  Having not ever been a miner in my life who am I to say that they don’t exist?  Perhaps they retired from mining and simply make beer in Colorado now.

So off to Colorado we go . . .

Brewery: Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub (Idaho Springs, CO)

Name: Butt Head Bock

Style: Doppelbock

ABV: 8.20% (on bottle)

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge before being served in a pilsner glass.

Aroma: Sweet, somewhat caramelly malt aroma with light notes of dark dried fruit (raisins, prunes, etc.).  Seems to be a bit of alcohol warmth in there as well.  Nice aroma overall but not much depth to it. – 8/12

Appearance: Deep amber to brown color with slight tones of red.  One finger tan head with pretty good retention and leaving a slight trail on the glass.  Very clear with rising bubbles visible. – 2.5/3

Flavor: Full malt flavor that is sweet and somewhat brown sugary.  A very, very light hit of fruit (raisiny) though the overall flavor fades really quickly.  Finishes nicely dry and pretty clean without any real lingering sweetness. – 13/20

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation (though with some sharpness).  Clean and pretty smooth with some creaminess on the palate. – 4/5

Overall Impressions: Clean and relatively easy drinking for a beer with a somewhat higher ABV.  Really one note in flavor (kind of as expected) though is does open us just a bit as it warms.  Much better when cold.  I enjoyed the finish of this one more so than the overall flavor profile . . . could easily argue a B- for this one. – 6.5/10

Overall: B (34/50)

6280144796 9269dd480d Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub Butt Head Bock *

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub - Butt Head Bock

 Posted by Lucas at 10:15 am  Tagged with: ,

Bell’s Brewery – Consecrator

 B Notes  No Responses »
Apr 182011
 

Most often I will drink a beer that I have never had before if given the option, but at this point in my beer drinking life I am also often drawn back to those I know that I like.  Figuring out what beers I enjoy was really the whole reason I started writing all this stuff down in the first place.  In this case though I remembered that I had already reviewed this beer at home, I did not remember many of the details other than liking it enough to drink it again.  It turns out that these shorter notes are very similar to those in the full review.

Kicking this week off with a B Note . . .

Brewery: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. (Kalamazoo, MI)

Name: Consecrator

Style: Doppelbock

ABV: 8.00% (brewery website)

Location: Eola Wine Company (Winter Park location) – Jeremy behind bar

Tasting Notes:

  • One finger cream color head with good retention and leaving an awesomely solid trail along the glass.
  • Dark amber in color with tones of red.
  • Clean, crisp aroma with notes of spice and raisiny fruit.
  • Light sweetness up front in the flavor followed by some grapey, raisiny fruit character.
  • Medium body and finishing somewhat crisply and a little dry.  A bit creamy on the palate before that.
  • A quite enjoyable cleanly flavored beer.
5631370574 945cf13d36 Bells Brewery Consecrator

Bell's Brewery - Consecrator

 

 Posted by Lucas at 10:30 am  Tagged with: ,
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