Generik's Tap: Generik Reviews

Generik Reviews: Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:10:04 GMT

This is another review of a beer I used to drink long ago when I was first starting out on this journey of craft beer exploration. I remember many Rogue beers being easily accessible in the later 90's while I was attending Purdue University and that they really stood out in their 22oz screen printed bottles. I would reach for a different bottle every time just to see what goodness was hidden behind these unique labels. Then, similar to the Sierra Nevada story, Rogue just fell off my personal radar. It seems like the brand withdrew a bit from Indiana as it became much less noticeable during a beer run for quite a while in the early part of this decade. Of course during this time the craft beer industry was exploding and beer coolers were starting to really burst at the seams with the available choices. Maybe it was just a case of 'out with the old, in with the new' for a while. Anyway, after years of neglect I saw a bottle of Dead Guy Ale in the cooler and wanted to get re-acquainted. For one thing, I had recently read that it was a maibock, which thoroughly surprised me. When I was originally drinking it all those years ago I didn't know what a maibock was, and by last week I was under the assumption that Dead Guy was just a pale ale.

So with anticipation high, I poured the beer... into the wrong glass. Somewhere in my large pint glass collection is a true Rogue Dead Guy pint glass, which I didn't use. Anyway, even in the wrong glassware this beer pours a nice burnt orangey-copper color with a finger's worth of off-white head. That foam dissipated fairly quick but did leave some lacing on the way down. Looking through the beer, one will see solid streams of tiny bubbles blasting from the bottom of the glass up to the surface. That carbonation helps push a nice malty aroma that has just a fleeting sense of earthy hops. There is also an almost orange blossom scent, or maybe a touch of lemon, mingling in the bouquet.

Taking a drink I was hit by the big caramelized malt backbone before the hops start to kick in. Initially this beer is on the sweet side, with tons of raisin and a subtle Mandarin orange flavor lurking around. That transitions smoothly to a mellow bitterness and a semi-dry finish. I would actually say this was a bit chewy. Lots of flavors to enjoy here while either sipping it slowly or quaffing. I definitely plan to get Rogue Dead Guy Ale back into a much more normal rotation as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once again I am left scratching my head as to how this beer fell off my radar so long. Maybe there is a legitimate argument that too many choices can be a bad thing?

Generik "kind of" Reviews: Olde English "800"

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:32:20 GMT

This week couldn't have ended on a worse note for work. Major problems and in the end I wound up working late on Friday to make sure the higher-ups were taken care of. Well the weekend finally has arrived and there was only one way to kick it off that seemed right... 8-ball. O-E. a Forty. You get the idea. I had a similar day about a month ago and stopped and picked up 2 bottles of Olde English "800" Malt Liquor. It's cheap and get's the job done, and with one bottle left in the fridge, I am set.

The interesting thing with Olde English 800 is it actually tastes more like a standard beer, say a PBR or Old Style, then a regular malt liquor. Most have a definite booziness right up front to let the consumer taste the higher alcohol, where this actually tastes a little better prepared. It is by no means a great beer, but I enjoy it on rare occasions such as this. A subtle amount of hops and light mouthfeel.. ahh who the hell am I kidding.. I am not seriously going to write a review of this. It's time to drink it! Enjoy the weekend everyone, mine starts now.

Generik Reviews: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:56:30 GMT

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is most likely the beer you can point to as the start of my love affair with craft beers. When I was in school at Purdue it was readily available at most of the local bars and was probably the one standout American brewed beer at that time. I remember being enamored with the hoppy bitterness in those days and found it to be a great change of pace on a slower night at the bars with a few friends. Then for some reason it just fell off my radar for years. The last one I had was almost 3 years ago at a bar in Chicago. It was on draught and it was horrible, bland hops and just seemed weak. I basically wrote it off and honestly didn't think much of the Sierra Nevada name from that point forward. That is until my buddy Bill gave me a couple bottles of their Anniversary Ale 2007 last fall and brought over one of their Harvest Ales. I was admittedly blown away by those offerings but still skeptical that maybe it was just a couple of one time brews. Come to find out that there are quite a few seasonal offerings that got me interested in the Sierra Nevada name again, and I realized I owed it to the brewery to give the standard Pale Ale another shot after all these years.

I must say I am glad I did. The beer doesn't seem as hoppy any longer as it once did a decade or more ago, but then I factor in that I routinely drink beers in the 75+ IBU range. In fact I have homebrewed a beer that was close to 120 IBUs which will make the 37 IBUs of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale seem timid in comparison. That isn't a bad thing by any means, this is a pale ale and it fits in the style as it should. Pouring a clean golden color with a bright barely off-white head. That cap of foam is huge initially and slow to recede, but leaves some very nice lacing on the way down. Peering into those golden depths will reveal some active carbonation with steady streams of bubbles heading north.

The aroma is fairly subdued and a bit more malty then hoppy in my opinion. The flavor on the other hand does reveal some nice pine and grassy hops. A solid malt backbone evens things out and gives this a medium body. All in all a very refreshing and quaffable beer. One that I feel guilty for rushing to judgement in that Chicago bar as I realize now that I was served either the wrong beer or at best from a stale keg. Either way, the choice to write off this beer and by extension the brewery itself for a couple of years was not the proper course of action. I would definitely put this back into the list as one of the best pale ales out there. Certainly a few breweries have come along since and upped the bar in this style, but most of those aren't as suited to drinking for an entire evening as this one is.

Generik Reviews: Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:59:57 GMT

Stone is one of my favorite West coast breweries. I don't think I have ever had a beer brewed by them that I didn't thoroughly enjoy and Arrogant Bastard Ale is the beer that started this relationship. Stone Brewing is based in Escondido, CA which is a suburb of San Diego. They are known for brewing uncompromising beers with an attitude that defies criticism from the 'yellow beer drinkers'. One reading of the back of one of their 22oz bottles should be enough to rouse the passion in any fan of craft brewing. For example, this is what is printed on the back of an Arrogant Bastard bottle:

Arrogant Bastard Ale

ar-ro-gance (ar' o gans) n.

The act or quality of being arrogant; haughty; undue assumption; overbearing conceit.

Arrogant Bastard Ale: This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory --- maybe something with a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you're mouthing your words as you read this.

The Brewery: Located in North County San Diego, we are a small, honest, brewery with unrealistically high, yet cantankerously unwavering, standards. We concentrate on creating the most satisfying, big character ales imaginable, by using only the finest natural ingredients. And lots of 'em! It's an approach that leaves many bewildered, but it works for us Arrogant Bastards, and we're the only ones that are worth satisfying.

Ingredients: Nothing but the finest Barley, most aggressive Hops, clearest Water, our proprietary Yeast strain and abundant Arrogance.

Questions or comments? If you don't like this beer, keep it to yourself --- we don't want to hear from any sniveling yellow-beer-drinkin' wimps. 'cause this beer wasn't made for you.

Inspired yet? Arrogant Bastard is a 7.2% ABV hop lovers wet dream. It pours a dark brown, yet looks almost ruby red when held up to the light. Beautifully clear with a hue that I can't say for certain I have seen on any other beer and capped off by a huge pillowy tan head that sticks around forever. Lacing? Yeah, more lacing then your grandmothers doilies. The aroma on this is dominated by piney hops with just a hint of some citrus hops in there. I also detect an almost brown sugar sweetness wafting in the background and a little bit of roastiness.

The flavor is full of bitter hops and semi-sweet malt. A touch of caramel and roasted grains leads into a lingering pleasant bitterness. The hops really coat the mouth and stick with you for quite some time. Arrogant Bastard Ale is a full bodied beer that I think should be enjoyed at a warmer temperature to really let the flavors and aroma come out to play. I had this bottle in a wine fridge set to 55 degrees and it was great out of the fridge. I have since let some sit out for over an hour and at basically room temperature it is still phenomenal with an almost oaky bourbon barrel quality. Really a fantastic beer that earns the right to claim on the bottle "You're not worthy".

P.S. - That would be the Stone Ruination IPA pint glass my dad bought me when he visited the Stone Brewery based on my recommendation up there. ^_-

Generik Reviews: Sierra Nevada Summerfest 2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:20:38 GMT

I picked up a case of the Sierra Nevada Summerfest for a cookout we had this past Saturday for my dad's birthday. I figured something we could drink throughout the day that was in the mid-ABV range as well as mellow enough to not wreck your palate was in order. So having never tried Summerfest, I rolled the dice when I realized this was not your normal summer beer that has to add lemon or some other fruit to be 'summery'. According to the Sierra Nevada website, Summerfest is brewed with Perle and Saaz hops and is only 5 IBUs less than their Pale Ale. I was sold.

When you pour this into a glass, something I didn't do until there was only 1 bottle left, you get a clear golden yellow beer with a fairly robust white head that drops quickly but leaves decent lacing. There is a steady stream of carbonation even 10 minutes after the pour inviting you to imbibe deeply. The aroma is somewhat malty with hints of grassy hops which make me think of rolling hills and big blue skies for some reason. I kind of like that to be honest. The flavor is full of those grassy and earthy hops with a good amount of malt there to balance things out. Their claim that that this is a crisp beer is not far from the truth either. While there are crisper pilsners out there, mainly the Czech pilsners, this beer does have a pleasant bite before fading to a semi-sweet finish.

To me this is what every macro brewery should be striving for when they brew their flagship brands. This is an extremely well done beer that has enough hops for you to know they are there and at the same time be easy drinking enough to get you through an entire day in front of a grill. Put simply, I was drinking this from Noon on Saturday until around 11PM and never once got tired of it nor felt the need to grab for a different brand. I also didn't get knocked off my gourd since Summerfest has just enough alcohol. I want to also reiterate that I absolutely commend Sierra Nevada for brewing a summer beer that was simply a beer that was a little bit lighter then their standard offerings. Unlike most other breweries that feel the need to make a beer and add lemon flavoring or a wheat / wit beer with (once again) lemon or orange flavoring, Sierra Nevada made a beer that will make your cooler proud to keep it chilled.

Generik Reviews: New Belgian Mothership Wit

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:59:04 GMT

My buddy Bill wound up getting some beers from New Belgian, and being the nice guy that he is brought some over to share with me. This bottle of Mothership Wit from New Belgium has been hanging around in my fridge for a few weeks now waiting for me to review it. Originally when he brought it over we downed a vast array of craft beer and homebrew and this beer just got lost in the shuffle. In all honesty I didn't think too much of it and that is partially why it sat around for so long. Well the wait is over.

Mothership Wit is labeled as an organic wheat beer brewed with spices. It even has a USDA Organic logo on the bottle, which to be quite honest is not something I care one way or the other about. As long as the finished product tastes good I am impartial to what the brewer does to get there. Pouring this into a glass I found the beer to be a very pale and hazy yellow. Actually quite similar in many ways to fresh lemonade in appearance. Riding up top was a thin but bright white head that faded quickly in the middle with a slight ring at the edge of the glass.

When you raise the glass towards your face you will definitely catch the scent of citrus. More lemony then anything else as well as hints of the yeast in there. Being a wit beer there is really no sense of the hops. As with the aroma, the taste is also dominated initially by a citrus flavor. According to New Belgium's website they spice the beer with orange peel and coriander, both of which will give this a hearty citrus flavor. After the tart impression, the flavor gives way to a mild and dry finish. Mothership Wit has a pretty active amount of carbonation which keeps the beer feeling fairly light and refreshing.

Trying this beer by itself completely reversed my original opinion of it. I would absolutely by this in the summer months as a lighter thirst quenching beer. Unfortunately the closest place it is available is probably Chicago. I know New Belgium just recently began canning their Fat Tire beer, but I can't help but think Mothership Wit would be an amazing beer to pack a cooler with to take to the Indianapolis 500 if they put it in cans as well.

Generik Reviews: Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:17:58 GMT

This is one of those beers that I can't really give an unbiased review for, because before even pouring it I considered it one of the best IPAs being brewed currently. Dark Horse Brewing has a gem of a beer with Crooked Tree IPA. When you pour this the first thing you will notice is the bright but very hazy orange color with a short off-white head. Then you realize that there is small clumps of yeast parading around the glass.

It's about this time that the huge citrusy hop aroma hits you full force. The scent is much more like sweet citrus, almost tangerine with some grapefruit mixed in. Hiding in the background is a bit of that malt, but it really plays second fiddle here. Taking that first swallow greets you with a refreshing hop bitterness that is dominated by the citrusy hops. This really isn't an overly bitter beer but it still has a huge hops presence. There is a nice malt backbone in this beer that helps even out the hops while still allowing them to really shine. Up front you get a good mix of malty sweetness and citrus hops bitterness that ends with a mild and dry lingering bitterness.

Crooked Tree IPA is a medium bodied beer. But all those hops almost make it seem syrupy as they stick to your tongue and really linger for a while. This is one beer that has enormous hops but is still gulpable, yet so flavorful you won't want to rush to the bottom of the glass unless you know you have another bottle. Truly only of my favorite beers in this style. I guess I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the bottle I tried is from the case I bought for my wife for her birthday.. Yeah that's right, it's the Womanizer's case.. I guess I'll keep her around. :-)

Generik Reviews: Rodenbach Grand Cru

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:30:13 GMT

Rodenbach Grand Cru is a Belgian sour ale brewed by Palm Brewery. It is a blend of an 18 month oak-aged Rodenbach (2/3) and a younger batch (1/3) that could be found in 750mL, 12oz and draft. Note the emphasis on 'could' back there. A few weeks ago Bob Mack from World Class Beverage explained that Rodenbach is currently no longer distributed in the US for at least the near future while responding to some comments about the beer at Hoosier Beer Geek. Here is what he had to say:

"The rumor about Robenbach is sort of true - Rodenbach has no more import arrangements for the US as a whole, so there is no way for World Class to order it until another import arrangement is made.
Palm Breweries, owners of Rodenbach, have just recently terminated their import arrangement with Duvel USA who also controls Duvel and Maredsous import. At this time, there are no Rodenbach bottles at Duvel USA or at World Class Beverages in Indiana. We do have a few 30 liter kegs of Rodenbach left, but that is the last of them.
Palm Breweries has a couple of friends who are former InBev execs who have started their own import company and I expect that this company will ultimately bring in Rodenbach to the US, but I have no idea how long it will take for that arrangement to be finalized.
At the moment, there is no source of Rodenbach in the US for us to order from!"

Hopefully that situation will be resolved shortly, but until then I will just have to nurse the 1/2 case of 750's I purchased, starting with this bottle. Rodenbach Grand Cru pours a dark amber that in some light almost looks like a bourbon and in other light is too dark to be seen through. With a proper pour you will get a pretty robust lightly tan head that hangs around for a while before settling back into the beer. Very minimal lacing with this one, just a few ghost images spotting the glass.

The most noticeable quality of Rodenbach Grand Cru is the aroma. It makes it's presence known as soon as you start pouring with a sharp fruity acid scent. There is hints of dark cherry that quickly gives way to a dominant vinegar aroma. The scent alone can help clear out your sinuses and maybe curl a few nose hairs in the process. There is no hiding the fact that this is going to be a fairly sour beer while you are inhaling the goodness that is Rodenbach Grand Cru. That sourness definitely makes it's presence known immediately when you take a drink.

An interesting thing to do is swirl a mouthful around inside your mouth and feel how your tongue processes the flavors. I have always heard that different parts of your tongue process individual flavor types, and this beer can actually demonstrate this exceedingly well. Sour comes in loud and clear on the sides and a very subtle sweetness is there up front. A mildly oaked and tart finish leaves the palate feeling clean and refreshed... and ready for more. Another interesting thing to note is that the beer displays no real carbonation while sitting in the glass but there is a very distinct effervescence once it is on the tongue.

Rodenbach Grand Cru is not at all for everyone, and is probably about as sour of a beer as I would want to handle. It is only 6% ABV so if you can handle a tart beer, you can drink a few glasses without getting knocked down by excessive alcohol. I personally enjoy this tremendously and think there is a ton of possibilities if one were inclined to cook with it. I am certain one amazing vinaigrette could be made with this, but with the uncertainty of when it will be available again I am not offering any bottles for experimentation!

Generik Reviews: Fauerbach Amber

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:06:01 GMT

My dad came down for the Indiana Microbrew Festival and paid for use of the guest room with some beer from Fauerbach Brewing. I had never heard of this brewery before I was handed a bottle each of their Amber and Export beers. A quick look around their website indicates they have been brewing for 121 years now and are located in Madison, WI. But the bottle itself states that the beer is brewed and bottled by Gray's Brewing in Janesville, WI. Well I have had Gray's before at a Wisconsin microbrew festival held yearly in Chilton, WI, so I figured this was a good sign.

So I cracked the bottle of Fauerbach Amber tonight and it poured a fairly dark reddish brown with about a finger's worth of cream colored head. Within moments that head was dissipating quickly and there was really no lacing to be found on the glass. The aroma seemed just a bit musty and actually reminded me more of what I would expect from a canned beer then a bottle, but then a subtle nuttiness emerged. I am still fighting off the remnants of a summer cold, so I don't really trust my judgement on how the aroma of this beer really was.

Taste on the other hand has been working fine. And this beer definitely had some nut flavors mingling around with a mild bitterness from the hops. I actually got a fairly strong citrus presence towards the end of a swig, more like lemon then anything else. This gave the beer an overall dry and semi-bitter finish, but not at all unpleasant. For as dark as the beer was, this has a nice light body and is surprisingly refreshing.

All in all I enjoyed this beer, but I won't be making any special trips to Chicago to buy any, which is as close as it is distributed to Naptown. Depending on the cost of a sixer, this would make a pretty nice session beer.

Side note.. dig the old Indianapolis Brewing poster in the background. :-)

Generik Reviews: Celis Pale Bock

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:59:15 GMT

Tonight I tried the lone bottle of Celis Pale Bock that my dad brought down from Michigan for me. This is another beer from the Michigan Brewing Company in their Celis line-up. This beer is a fiery copper color when held up to a light and is very clear. A very solid stream of carbonation bubbles drifts to the top and there is a huge pillowy tan head that dissipates at a nice but not too fast pace.

The aroma was really difficult to nail down. Seems to have a really malty, almost sweet bread scent with a touch of maybe brown sugar and nutmeg. Really very unusual to get this type of aroma from a beer this color that didn't have 'Holiday' somewhere in the name. I am dealing with a touch of summer cold so I could be a bit off on this too.

Celis Pale Bock is a semi-sweet beer that has touches of maple syrup, raisin and maybe even the barest hint of cinnamon all floating around. There is a bit of lemon peel bitterness on the tail end of a swallow to round this out. I found it to be medium bodied with a somewhat dry finish. Interestingly enough, that steady stream of carbonation that you can see seems to disappear during a drink. This didn't feel flat, but it was fairly light on the carbonation which went against what the eyes tell you.

All in all, not a bad beer but it didn't do a whole lot for me. I personally think the other beers I have had in the Celis line-up are better then this one. Specifically the Celis Grand Cru and the Celis White. If I had another bottle I would actually like to compare this to the JW Dundee's Pale Bock that is routinely in the Dundee's Craft Pack sampler. I think they would probably be fairly close to each other.

Generik Reviews: Victory Prima Pils

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:52:02 GMT

New to the state of Indiana is beers from Victory Brewing Company based in Downingtown, PA. I have had a few of their offerings and have yet to be disappointed. So it is with great pleasure that I can review the Prima Pils and gleefully say I didn't have to trade to get this, it is now here in Naptown!

One of my bigger complaints with the craft beer industry is the lack of pilsners. It's almost like the industry as a whole has seen what the big 3 have done to the style and they are content to let them get away with it. Well Victory has decided to fight back with their Prima Pils which is an outstanding pilsner that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest from Europe. Prima Pils pours a bright golden yellow and in the right lighting, it almost gets a neon glow to it. It is really something to behold, with a gorgeous bright white and thick head gracing the top. Eventually that head will slow drop out but continue to leave lacing all the way down the glass.

The first thing you notice when you raise the glass up to your face is the hops aroma. Very distinct noble hops layered on top of fresh cut grass.. oh so inviting! Taking a sip and you realize that the flavor lives up to the aroma. The beer has a clean and crisp hop bite that really demands that you to take another swallow. The hops are somewhat grassy in nature and leave the beer with an outstanding balance between bitterness and malt. On the tail end, that bitterness lingers lightly on the back of the tongue to remind you that you still have more in the glass.

This is an absolutely world class pilsner beer and would compare well with brands from Europe like Stiegl, Warsteiner, Radeberger, etc. So for those of you out there that have shied away from that pale pilsner style, either because of what the macros have done to the style or because many times imports have that 3 months in a cargo hold taste, give this one a try. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Generik Reviews: Three Floyds Brewing Blackheart English Style IPA

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:55:41 GMT

Once again that little brewery in Northwestern Indiana that Chicago likes to claim as it's own has brewed up a gem of a beer. Blackheart English Style IPA comes in 22oz bottles with some amazing but disturbing imagery on the label. In truth I am still undecided how I feel about the artwork, but really, I don't think I have ever based my beer purchase solely on the label. According to the label:

"Blackheart English India Pale Ale is a throw back historic ale brewed when English IPAs were hopped up to last the long voyage from England to colonial troops in India. Using English malts, English hops, English yeast and aged slightly in oak for a 19th century taste. Amazing artwork greatly contributed by Tim Lehi and Jeff Rassier."

This beer pours a stunning burnt orange color that is exceptionally clear and well carbonated. The photo below doesn't accurately depict the head as that was about the 10th picture taken as I repeatedly attempted to get the lighting to display better and thus had to keep topping off. So in reality you can expect a fairly large head that is just slightly off-white and dissipates slowly. As you drink this, that head turns into some nice lacing, but then even that slowly fades away.

You can definitely smell the oak aging in the aroma of Blackheart. A light toasted oak mixed with a touch of semi-sweet malt, just barely obscuring dark fruits and booze. An aroma as complex as a high-end single barrel bourbon that I found to be very enticing. The bottle I opened had been chilled in a wine fridge at 55 degrees, so it didn't take long for these aromas to really open up. If you start out colder, I would expect this to be much less pronounced until the beer warms up some. In fact, I really wish I had drank this from a snifter style glass instead of my FFF's shaker pint glass, but the photo op dictated brand specific glassware be used. Rest assured, the other 5 bottles I have will be properly served.

Drinking this beer is a true pleasure as you get a distinct creamy vanilla flavor from the oak that counterbalances the mildly bitter hops. The finish has a touch of boozy hotness which again calls for comparisons to a bourbon or cognac. Drinking this at a slightly warmer temperature will definitely produce a warming sensation from the alcohol. The flavor could be described as semi-sweet to start, reminiscent of dark fruits like raisin and plums, giving way to an appreciable hops bitterness that in no way overwhelms the palate. Blackheart has a medium to almost light body, but with an oily tongue coating quality. The flavor will stay with you for some time in other words. The hops, while bitter, are by no means overly bitter and really play nicely with all the other flavors present in this beer.

According to Ratebeer, Blackheart is 9% ABV, and while it hides it reasonably well initially, it's true colors show up fairly quick. I found myself feeling somewhat warm about 2/3 of the way through the bottle and around the same time could definitely tell I was drinking a big beer. This is not going to be a beer you want to pound down, but one that would probably be best enjoyed shared with a few friends who can appreciate a truly world class beer. I wish I could state whether this is going to a be a standard offering from Three Floyds or if it is just a one off batch that will be gone soon. What I can say is that it is one of the very best beers I have had out of Munster, IN and I truly hope it is here to stay.

Generik Reviews: New vs. Old Schlitz

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:46:24 GMT

A while back I posted that Schlitz was attempting to revitalize the brand by bringing to market a re-brewing of the recipe that was used in the 1960's when the brand was one of the biggest in the US. Tonight I had the opportunity to try that new version against the old version to see which is really superior. First I want to mention though, that the new packaging for bottled Schlitz is really pretty awesome with a fantastic retro look.

Up until the mid-1970's, Schlitz was as big as the number 2 brewery in the United States. Nowadays, it is safe to say it is far from that, and even safer to say that it is next to impossible to find. The reasons for this dramatic decline are many, but one is said to be a change in the recipe to lighten the beer up and reduce the cost. Consumers felt they were getting an inferior product and in droves switched to other brands. So we get to today, where I sampled side by side the version that is supposedly using a recipe from the height of the Schlitz empire vs. the bastardized formula that drove the brand into the ground. Which will come out on top?

First thing to notice is the canned version produces a noticeably larger head that was much longer lasting. Held side by side to the light, the canned version was distinctly paler in color. The 1960's formula was a pale but somewhat rich straw color while the can produced a very pale straw. The other thing to note is that the new version was visibly more active in terms of carbonation, which was odd considering how much less head was produced.

In terms of aroma, the new version was so subtle that I can't even begin to describe it. As soon as I could start to smell it, it would just fade away. On the other hand, the canned version has a bit of a metallic presence in the nose along with trace amounts of hops. Side by side, I personally liked the canned aroma a bit better, maybe just for the fact that the aroma lingered long enough for me to determine there was one.

The taste of the new one is definitely maltier and fuller bodied then the canned recipe. It finishes on the sweeter side and is ultimately a refreshing macro lager. The canned beer on the other hand had distinctly more hops present in the flavor. Craft beer fans may scoff at this, but compared to some of the other macros available, the canned version actually does have a respectable amount of hops flavor, which unfortunately appears to be missing in this reintroduction of the 1960's formula. Interesting to note that the cans actually have a logo written on them that states "Just the kiss of the hops", which is not present on the bottles at all. So maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that the canned version is a touch hoppier.

Finally, I had the womanizer mix these up so I could blind sample them and decide which I liked better without any preconceptions weighting my decision. Doing that I found it very hard to distinguish between the two, but wound up picking the canned variety as the favored. All in all, I still applaud Pabst for making the attempt and actually producing a classy looking product. But in the end, I think this recipe could still be improved on. If the canned and new bottled variety could be combined, so that the hops from the canned were married to the fuller mouthfeel of the bottled, this would be a pretty outstanding beer from one of the macro breweries. Instead I am told it is selling for around $6 per 6-pack, which is just out of sight for what is unfortunately a fairly ordinary beer. I guess this is the point that I should mention I got the canned for about $6.50 for a 12-pack, by far a better value.

Generik Reviews: Cricket Hill Hopnotic IPA

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:32:16 GMT

This is the last beer I have to review from our trip to the East coast and comes from Cricket Hill Brewing in Fairfield, NJ. One of the main reasons I grabbed a 6-pack of this is because we were staying in Fairfield while we were in New Jersey, so it just seemed appropriate to try a beer from there. The Cricket Hill website declares that Hopnotic IPA is an English style IPA, and that is exactly what I wrote down when I took some notes while tasting. What that means is this beer has a definite hops presence, but is a full flight of stairs below a traditional West coast IPA.

When poured into a glass, Hopnotic is a nice looking golden straw color, with an off-white head that produces significant lacing. There is also a fair amount of carbonation present to observe in the glass. Unfortunately, I didn't get much out of the aroma. There was an extremely mild hops presence there and maybe just a touch of straw.. but all in all, almost non-existent. Now, let me mention we were sitting outside, so it may not have been the ideal place to be performing a smell test. Smell isn't everything though, we drink craft beer for the flavor more then the aroma. I found this IPA to be very easy drinking and would actually say this would be a good IPA for the uninitiated. I have actually had standard pale ales with more bite than this, so for the newbies to craft beer, this would be a good non-offensive starting point. The beer was slightly sweet and malty and the hops were more on the earthy and grassy side of the spectrum. Very mild hops bitterness that didn't really leave a lingering impression on the palate.

This was a pretty decent beer, but in the grand scheme doesn't really stand out at all, especially in the crowded IPA market. I also think it is going to be a bit disappointing to those who really enjoy the American IPAs that are much higher in IBU's. While I generally enjoy getting to try an English-style IPA, I usually find them a bit boring compared to their younger American-style siblings.

Generik Reviews: Champale Golden

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:12:43 GMT

For years, really closer to decades to be honest, I had been curious what Champale tasted like. It all started when I saw it at a liquor store in Bayonne, NJ during one of my many trips to see relatives during my youth. New Jersey isn't anal like Indiana about minors being in a liquor store, so I would go with my dad when he would pick up some beer, and every time we went to this one particular store, I would see cases of Champale stacked up. Unfortunately those trips slowed down around the time I came of drinking age and I never did get to try this stuff. Years pass when one day I am checking out the Pabst Brewing website and what do I see... Champale. The Pabst website has one really nice feature where you can check the availability of any of their brands and lo and behold, Champale is supposedly being distributed in Indiana. Well I have yet to find it here, and my review is actually from a 4-pack bought in New Jersey a couple months back. But enough with the convoluted history.

Check out more Champale ads of old here

So what exactly is Champale? Good question. According to Wikipedia, Champale is actually a beer fermented with a yeast more suitable for champagne, thus the more champagne like flavor. For one thing, it really isn't anything remotely resembling an ale. I would say this could easily be the beverage that spawned the malternative (Or alcopop) industry years later. At least the Golden version I had. The taste is pretty sweet and somewhat fruity with no indication that hops were ever introduced to the brew. It does actually have a wine-like quality, and in some ways reminds me of the original formula for Zima but with a subtle fruity flavor. Since I drank it straight out of the bottle I can't attest to what kind of head this would produce, but we can assume it would be very quick to dissipate and leave no lacing.

In truth Champale Golden was actually pretty enjoyable. As I recall it is about 6.4% ABV, and goes down easier then a soda with a very mild carbonation that really allows you to pound it back. This is not something that is going to appeal to the majority of craft beer fans, but was a fun diversion for me. Being sold in 4-packs, I could see myself picking up some of this maybe once or twice a year just for a change of pace. It would actually be pretty nice on a hot summer day when your refrigerator full of IPA's just doesn't sound as tempting. It was also cheap where I picked it up in New Jersey, so assuming it is actually available in Naptown you should be able to try it on the cheap.

Generik Reviews: Bell's Hopslam Ale

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:15:39 GMT

Ah Hopslam, how I love thee! This would rate as one of my favorite beers in the hopbomb category so I don't know if you will be able to say this is an unbiased review. Bell's Brewing is up in Michigan, which is becoming one of my favorite brewing states, and has a wide variety of great beers. Hopslam is a 10% ABV beer that is absolutely jammed with hops goodness. From the pour you can really smell a combination of citrus and pine. Speaking of the pour, this beer looks great in the glass with a yellowish orange glow and a thin offwhite head. The head dissipates to a thin glazing fairly quickly that leaves some lacing, but even that seems to disappear before too long.

The flavor makes me think that this is what it must be like to chew on a hopcone. There is a bit of up front sweetness and a burst of orange and grapefruit hop flavors. That evolves into a somewhat oily mouthfeel ending with a touch of piney hops. I actually just noticed for the first time tonight that the label says it is brewed with honey, which may explain a bit of the sweetness. Generally honey should almost completely ferment out, but using the right varieties can leave behind some of the natural flavors. I would recommend sipping this beer and allowing it to warm up to really experience how complex the interaction between the flavors and the aroma are while drinking it from a tulip glass. And I would also recommend that you avoid this if you don't like hops.. it wasn't brewed with you in mind. With 10% ABV and a fairly hefty price tag, this isn't going to be a session beer for too many people, even true hopheads. But given the right opportunity this is a true delight to savor. With the hop crisis currently going on, and news that Bells is potentially going to have to change the recipe of their Oberon and Two Hearted Ale because of this, I worry that we may have seen the last of Hopslam for a while. Time will tell.

Generik Reviews: Long Trail IPA

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:55:09 GMT

This is the second beer I am reviewing from Long Trail Brewing out of Vermont. The first you may recall from my review of the Double Bag Ale. Obviously given the name, this beer is an India Pale Ale. According to the brewery website it is 5.9% ABV. Long Trail IPA pours a fairly pale and hazy straw color with a fingers worth of head that dissipates somewhat quickly but leaves a nice lacing on the glass. The aroma is really subdued for an IPA but there is a tart grapefruit scent there and just a hint of a metallic presence. I guess I should mention at this point that while traveling with this beer back from the east coast it went from warm to cold and back to warm again, so the possibility is there that it is a bit off the norm. With that said, let's dive into the more important aspect... taste.

I found this ale to have a somewhat light profile in the body compared to other IPA's I have had. The hops are somewhat piney with a tartness, kind of like biting into a lemon peel, leaving a fairly dry finish. It's interesting because this beer isn't what I would really think of when I envision an IPA. I think I have gotten so used to some of the West Coast offerings as well as the Three Floyd's style that are truly hop bombs and this is probably much more true to what an IPA would have been like 20 years ago or so. This isn't at all a bad thing as I found this beer could easily be a nice session beer, which is something that is a little harder to say about the more modern American IPAs. All in all this is a pretty solid offering and I would definitely drink more if I had it.

Generik Reviews: Celis Grand Cru

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:47:22 GMT

I swear I do plan to review beers that don't have Celis in the title somewhere. Just not tonight. This is the Celis Grand Cru and is referred to only as an 'Authentic Belgian Style Ale' on the label. No idea what the alcohol content is, but judging from the taste, I am going to guess in the upper 6% range as a good place to start. This beer pours very clear and has a nice golden hue with a steady stream of bubbles slowly drifting up. The head on it is negligible with what little there is disappearing quickly and leaving no traces on the glass.

The aroma is somewhat faint but there is a mild fruitiness there intermingling with the scent of fresh grain. The flavor is what one would typically expect to find from a Belgian beer. A good dose of tart to semi-sweet citrus followed closely by a pinch of spiciness from what I would guess is coriander or grains of paradise. There is a noticeable alcohol flavor trailing behind everything else, not too much, but enough to know it's there. That alcohol finish also gives the beer a nice complexity. I would say this beer starts off a bit oily, coating the tongue and inside of your mouth, but then the ending dries out nicely leaving your thirsty for more.

This is another fine beer from Michigan Brewing under the Celis name. I am not sure if this particular beer is available in Indiana yet but can say it will be by the end of the year when Meijer should be stocking it. I would honestly say this drinks as well as some of the premier Belgian ales out there that run $8-12 a bottle, but is available in 6-packs like a common beer. Not trying to knock any brands here, but when this is readily available around here, it will be a cheap way to keep a nice quantity of Belgian goodness in the fridge without busting the wallet.

Generik Reviews: Three Floyd's X Anniversary Fantabulous Resplendence

Mon, 19 May 2008 14:31:04 GMT

My buddy Bill gave me a bottle of this quite a few months ago and I have been waiting for an opportunity to open it and share it with someone. So this weekend I cracked it and my dad and I drank it while celebrating the boy's 4th birthday. I must say, it was well worth the wait!

I had this beer stored in a wine fridge at 55 degrees, so it was ready to drink immediately after opening. Pouring this fairly vigorously produced a medium off white head that dissipated fairly quickly and really left no lacing on the glass. There was a strong citrus hops aroma that wafted up during the pour to really get the sense into it quick. Along with the hoppy citrus was a caramel, maybe even toffee-like scent to greet your nose. In many ways, the aroma was very reminiscent of some of the more well respected barleywine's I have had.

On the palate, this beer is a handful. Very oily hops and a bit of a sticky sweetness all blended together. It's a tough beer to really describe, especially after drinking half a glass. I forgot to mention that this is a 10.5% ABV beer, so it will sneak up on you. But with that said, it doesn't hit you over the head up front like some beers in that same range. The flavor isn't real boozy, but you slowly feel your faculties going numb as you work your way to the bottom of the glass. I would imagine drinking the whole bottle solo would be an evening ender for most mortals. It is one of the most complex beers I have tried in quite a long time, yet with that said, it was still surprising smooth. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Fantabulous Resplendence was close to 100 IBUs, yet the hop flavors were so well matched with the malty caramel goodness that I would say it would be a pleasure to drink for almost any fan of high gravity big big big beers.

If you can find a bottle somewhere, I would definitely recommend picking it up. As far as I know this was a one time brewing and it is probably very scarce now.

Generik Reviews: Long Trail Double Bag Ale

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:29:28 GMT

This is a brewery we discovered on our East Coast trip that is from Vermont. This beer is classified as a strong ale and comes in at a fairly hefty 7.2 % ABV. In the glass you get a dark caramel color with no trace of haze. This is actually one of the clearest beers I have drank in quite some time and would probably put a macro light beer to a good test in that category. That isn't usually an important factor to myself, but sometimes a beer can just have a striking appearance in the glass, and this one does.

The aroma has a nice toasted grain with a hint of caramel and really reminds me of some of the better dopplebocks I have had. The flavor on this is hearty and full, with a mild sweetness balanced very nicely with a roasted and just slight bitter malt flavor. I could almost imagine brown sugar being added in to the brewpot to help make this. The flavor lingers on the palate for a while after a swallow, almost coating the back and roof of the mouth with just a hint of hops bitterness. As it warms up there the beer does get a touch boozy, which is somewhat expected from a higher alcohol brew.

I found myself always ready for the next drink with this beer and would love to find something equivalent for the fall or winter months available locally. If you find yourself in the New England area, I would recommend sampling this or one of the other beers from Long Trail. Kind of wondering how this brewery was completely unknown to me, yet seemed to have a pretty strong presence in many of the places we stopped.

Generik Reviews: Celis White

Fri, 02 May 2008 01:11:00 GMT

I scored a couple of bottles of this fine brew from the Cavalier rep when I volunteered to work at the Wines Over the Wabash event in Lafayette for World Class Beverage. At that time I had no idea this was even available. This beer is brewed by Michigan Brewing Co in Webberville, MI reviving the classic recipe that Pierre Celis made famous when he started his brewery in Texas.

Celis White is a Belgian Wit style beer reminiscent of Hoegaarden. Of course I would be remiss to not mention that Pierre Celis had a huge part in Hoegaarden, so there should be no surprise there. The beer pours a light hazy straw color with almost no head. What little head there is dissipates quickly to a thin patchy smear of white that leaves no lacing. Definite aromas of citrus and yeast greet the nose of the imbiber inviting you to take a quaff. Flavor-wise, this beer is good year round but will truly excel in the warm summer months. It is light and crisp with some lemon zest and a bit of orange in there. A very understated hop presence leaves the beer allows the beer to showcase the tart semi-sweet citrus flavors, which linger on the palate after a swallow. No need for a fruit garnish unlike some other Belgian style wheats (I'm looking at you Blue Moon).

This is supposedly available in the Indianapolis area, but with the homebrewing going strong and an already overstocked beer fridge, I unfortunately haven't gone looking to prove that yet. On a positive note, I read on the brewery website that they just inked a deal with Meijer Superstores to stock Michigan Brewing brands at all of the 180+ stores by this fall. My dad was just in Michigan this week and confirmed that Meijer there already had the beer, so hopefully soon if not already it is here.

I would recommend this to anyone to try and think this could be an easy sell to friends or family members that don't know if they like craft beer yet. It's light enough and yet complex enough to easily draw the uninitiated back for another bottle.

Generik Reviews: Duchesse De Bourgogne

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:58:09 GMT

Up for review today is Duchesse De Bourgogne, a Flanders red ale from Belgium. Personally I believe this is one of the ultimate beers in the world of Belgian beers and have consistently stated that it would be THE beer chosen if I could only have one more for the rest of my life. Bold words to be spoken in this day and age of endless choices and huge array of styles to be sure. First things first though.. let's get the pronunciation right. I used to believe it was to be pronounced 'dutchess' and have actually used that as a nickname for it, but was actually corrected while in Belgium last fall with a proper pronunciation. So impress your friends with your worldly abilities to pronounce bizarre foreign names with this one: Doo-shay Day Boor-GON-Yuh..

According to the bottle, this is a blend of 8 and 18 month old cask aged ales. It is on the lower alcohol side for a Belgian, weighing in at only 6% ABV. So feel free to buy the 750 ml sized bottle, and if you don't have someone to share with, go ahead and crack it for yourself.

What you'll get when you open it is a nectar of the gods which pours a rich reddish brown with a medium off-white head. Hold it up to the light in a proper glass and it will radiate an almost ruby red color from deep within, really pretty spectacular. The aroma is mildly acidic and semi-sweet. Hints of wood from the cask aging waft in there as well. I find it more reminiscent of a fine wine then a beer to be honest. There is no hint of hops to be smelled here.

There is a wide range of flavors to be found all over the tongue in this one. It seems to me that this beer was crafted to really stimulate every taste bud, and in that end it definitely succeeds. There is a sweetness that morphs to a tart cherry and a pinch of pucker, followed by a bit of mellow oak. When it is still on the colder side, you will find it to have an active carbonation across the tongue, which adds a little to the tartness. While this is technically classified as a sour ale, it is on the very bottom of the sour scale. So if you have had a bad experience with that style, give this one a try at least. The truly remarkable aspect is you will swear that cherries were used in the brewing process, which from all my research is not the case at all.

If you happen to like this beer, I would also recommend the Rodenbach Grand Cru and the Kasteel Rouge. The Rodenbach is a bit more sour then this, and the Kasteel has a more pronounced cherry flavor. In fact, the Duchesse could almost pass as a blend of those two beers.

Generik Reviews: JW Dundee's IPA

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:22:53 GMT

I have mentioned this brand on various beer blogs as being one of my favorites for a combination of reasons. Chiefly the price is outstanding and the quality is right up there with big boys of the craft beer scene. So today we are sampling JW Dundee's IPA, brewed by High Falls Brewing in New York. I can generally find this at the local Marsh Supermarket for around $4.50-5.50 per sixpack, depending on what weekly specials they are running. Again, I point out the price is outstanding. The first time I tried this was when I picked up a JW Dundee's Craft Pack.. a mixed 12 pack with 4 different varieties of their beers. What drew my eye to it that day was that the IPA was prominently displayed on the packaging as being the special seasonal beer included. As I walked around the store finishing my shopping, my eyes kept going back to that case packaging until I noticed a blurb on one side regarding the IPA itself. Specifically that it was brewed with Amarillo hops. I am an Amarillo junkie and will point out now that they are the same hops that 3 Floyd's uses in Gumballhead.

Alright, enough history, how is the beer? Well it pours a very nice coppery burnt orange color with no cloudiness present at all. Nice thick white head that lasts for a while and leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass. You can get a sense of the hops as you get a whiff of the aroma, but it is not overpowering. I would venture a guess that this beer is not dry-hopped, which is neither a good nor bad thing.. just an observation. In terms of flavor, this beer does something most IPAs don't. It has a nice amount of hops bitterness, but it is quaffable enough that you could easily drink this as a session beer. Most IPAs being brewed today seem to get a little heavy handed with the hops, and that is great in my opinion, but you can only drink so many of those before your taste buds are overwhelmed. Not the case with this particular brew. Along with the hops is a pretty strenuous malt backbone with hints of caramel to even things out. JW Dundee's IPA finishes fairly dry and crisp, and overall has a thinner mouthfeel than most other IPAs out there.

In the end, I highly recommend this beer to anyone that enjoys a hoppy beer but wants to drink on the cheap. While I will fully disclose that a beer like Stone IPA or Three Floyd's Alpha King is going to be superior to this, it is not $4 per six pack superior. If this was available at a bar I would envision drinking one or two of the 'rockstar' brands and then switching over to this for the long haul. Less palate fatigue and much less strain on the wallet makes this a winner in my book.

Generik Reviews: Grotten Brown - Pierre Celis Signature Selection

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:05:13 GMT

This session we are reviewing a beer that is quickly becoming one of my favorite Belgians. That being Grotten Brown from Brouwerij St. Bernard. This is labeled as being from the mind of Pierre Celis who is quite the rockstar of Belgian brewing. He opened the Hoegaarden Brewery and almost single handedly revived the Belgian witbier style. Later he opened Celis Brewing in Texas, which was popular for quite some time. Basically anything the man touches turns to gold, and this beer is no different.

So what do we have here? This is a Belgian brown ale which is reminiscent of Chimay to me. I poured this into a Chimay goblet and got a very nice 2 finger high puffy white head above a very rich brown elixir. There is a zesty floral note in the aroma. The nose is a bit astringent and I am guessing that would be from some bitter orange peel and possibly some coriander or other spice being added to the brew. The first sip gives you a hint of sweetness, but more like how dark chocolate is sweet. After the sweetness there is a moment of very mild hop bitterness that quickly translates into a dry finish. This beer is a bit hoppier then most Belgian ales, with the exceptions being the very very few Belgian IPA's such as Urthel Hop-It. The label even mentions that with aging the hop bitterness will mellow out and soften, which is why I currently have a bottle put away to see how it changes with age.

The mouthfeel on this beer is very active at cooler temperatures. You get a very effervescent effect on your tongue similar to champagne. As the beer warms up this effect decreases, or my tongue is just losing the ability to sense that sensation. It is a bit heavy and a little oily, almost coating the tongue and mouth as it goes down. That's not a complaint either, as the flavor lingers for quite some time.

As I drink this at a bit warmer temperature I can say the semi-sweet nature is still present, but the bitterness decreases. There is almost a sense of some kind of flowery spice added. Like a jasmine or rose petal. I am assuming there is actually none of that in the brew and it is just from the hops, but it is interesting how this beer evolves as it warms up.

This beer comes in a corked and screen printed 750ml bottle. Very nice presentation with a satisfying pop from the cork upon opening. For around $9 a bottle this is a beer that warrants a try. It is on the lower alcohol side, weighing in at only 6.7%. But that just means you can justify to your spouse (or yourself I guess) the fact that you opened the bottle with no intention of sharing with anyone else. Having recently been to Belgium last year, this is the closest thing I have found to some of the truly remarkable beers I was drinking over there. Along with Duchess de Bourgogne, this beer is probably always going to find a spot in my refrigerator. I Highly recommend it.

Generik Reviews: Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:43:27 GMT

My buddy Action Jackson brought over a bottle of Stone Imperial Russian Stout, among other things, to watch the Colts - Chargers playoff game in early January. Well we drank quite a few great beers watching the Colts lose and this one got left behind by the end of the day. In the end, he left it for me even after I tried to mildly insist he keep it for himself. So a couple months later of cellaring it in my wine fridge at 55 degrees, it is time to crack it open and see what this bad boy is all about.

First off, this beer weighs in at a whopping 10.8% ABV, and is pouring out of a 22oz. bomber. So doing the math this is basically the equivalent of 4 standard macro beers crammed into 1 bottle. Of course it tastes much better then 4 standard macro beers and assuredly costs more. The front of the label states that this beer is a "Limited Spring 2006 release", so we can assume it is getting very close to 2 years old now. Reading the back of the label, Stone recommends purchasing a case (Marketing genius if you ask me) and cellaring it, only opening a bottle every three to six months. In other words, this beer is still plenty good two years after it was brewed.

So how is it? Thick and oily for one thing. It pours with a very deep chocolaty tan head, maybe about 1 fingers worth. That dissipates fairly quickly and leaves no traces on the glass. Did I mention this stuff is kind of oily? I would say the color is like a midnight brown, not quite to black, but so dark it's almost not brown anymore either. It smells intriguing, with a definite alcohol presence in the aroma along with a lot of other things going on. There is a distinct sweetness to the aroma to somewhat blunt that alcohol aroma. The flavor is much more complex though. I can taste some notes of coffee here, but not at all enough to make you think it is a 'java stout' or anything of the sort. There is some fruit going on, maybe aged plum and baked raisins, more then a hint of molasses or some similarly thick syrupy flavoring. The label on the bottle mentions anise and I would agree with that assessment, but it is mild and if anything found more on the after taste then anything else. By the end of the bottle it was getting on the warmer side and that made things a bit interesting. At that point this beer displayed an almost bourbon quality with hints of vanilla and a mouth warming effect after every swallow.

All in all, this is a very well put together brew. It isn't something I would want to drink often, and I think the 3-6 month recommendation on the bottle would be an adequate schedule for me. Unfortunately I don't know off-hand if this was brewed after spring 2006 or not, so I may be trying my first and final bottle. If that be the case, it was worth the wait.