Taproom Talk

There are some beers that were brewed to be sipped and Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout is certainly among them. Drinking this imperial stout commands your full attention as you notice a significant chocolate taste blended with bold hints of espresso. Its light head disappears into the darkness as you pick up the distinct aroma of malty alcohol. As you sip it, you can feel its warming taste all the way down to your stomach and this beer’s superb aftertaste leaves you looking forward to another sip.

I’ve aged a case of this fine beer over the past year and have enjoyed pairing it with chocolaty desserts (especially ones that contain Oreos). Brooklyn Brewery’s winter ’04 – ’05 Black Chocolate Stout is certainly a treat.

White bottle. Pink Elephant. No, I’m not having an LSD flashback, I’m drinking a fine Belgian Ale: Delirium Tremens. Brewed by the Huyghe Brewery, which has been around since the 17^th century, this gold ale bursts with flavor. While it has a lofty 8.5% alcohol content, you wouldn’t know it from its taste. This sweet ale has subtle hints of grapes and apples with a nice bitter bite, which doesn’t come across too strongly in taste or aroma.

Don’t let the fantasia-like images on the bottle fool you either- this is a serious beer, which was proudly dubbed the best beer in the world in 1997. Also note- this is a bottle fermented beer so don’t run away if you see floaties – that’s yeast, which provides an excellent yeasty taste with a light white head.

This is a great beer- just be careful not to drink too much- you may end up with alcohol withdrawal or delirium tremens.

I’m Irish; therefore, Guinness is Mother’s milk. If, however, I wasn’t Irish, I may consider Dogfish Head’s Shelter Pale Ale Mother’s milk. This coppery ale has a smooth, malty, non-overpowering taste that makes it one of my most favorite beers. Its head is extremely light and its smell has hints of caramel- when I drink it, I feel like there is a party in my mouth and everyone is invited!

Dogfish Head is a fabulous brewery that makes some wild beers. I haven’t had one from this brewery that I didn’t enjoy, but the Shelter Pale Ale is by far the standout among giants. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Pale Ales.

Harpoon’s Winter Warmer is a spicy beer with a phenomenal cinnamon & nutmeg taste that leaves you wondering why you have to wait for winter to enjoy it. This ale has a medium to dark color and smells good enough to be the scent of an air freshener. This is a commendable beer worthy of a tasting.

This is the only beer from Harpoon that I’ve tasted; however, judging by its excellent showing, I’m eager to taste others by this Boston brewery.

Visit Harpoon.

When I think of the greatest times I’ve had while drinking beer, I can’t help think of old friends, old times and Old English “800″ Brand. It didn’t matter if it was 40 ounces or the rare 64 ounces, “OLDE GOLD” was the stuff of greatness. Inspiring relaxation, stimulating conversation and living room wrestling, “Eight Ball,” has all the smoothness of a baby’s bottom, while having a malt liquor punch like the 24″ pythons of Hulk Hogan. Glory, freedom, bald eagles, patriotism: Old English.

Allow me to explain- I’ve almost never had a bad beer from the great state of Maine. This past summer, I happened to obtain a case of Geary’s Pale Ale and I have since enjoyed every bottle. This hoppy ale is a coppery color with a nice bite. It is quite a crisp drink that is by far the best pale ale I’ve had from the land of blueberries and lobsters.

Come to think of it, I have actually had a bad beer from Maine: Blueberry Beer. For some odd reason, the folks in Maine decided to brew a beer and add blueberry taste to it. I love blueberry muffins and even blueberry pie, but blueberry beer is just plain bad. I’ve only found this beer when I’ve gone to Maine, so hopefully it’s just a local thing.

Bottom line: Geary’s Pale Ale is a top notch barley sandwich, worthy of a beer snob’s indulgence. Blueberry beer isn’t.

Bananna nut bread.  That’s what I think of when I try to descibe this unfiltered wheat beer.  The label mentions, “wild, fruity flavors and deep, spicy aromas.”  It’s a dark bock beer, with a lot more character than most wheat beers, which is complex, but easy to drink.  This ‘Autumnal elixir,’ has a pleasant aroma and flavor but a mildly bitter aftertaste like fruit rind.

Visit Victory.

Alcohol content 9%. This is everything that I want out of a winter ale (and no I don’t mean the high alcohol, although it doesn’t hurt when you’re on the East Coast). I really like all the offerings from Mendocino because of their zealous attention to quality ingredients. Their beers rely on just the basics and have a crisp and consistent taste. This seasonal offering is no exception. If you don’t like a “robust, full-bodied Imperial Pale Ale,” like this, with, “a rich blend of luscious malts paired with enormous amounts of Cascade, Amarillo, and Simcoe hops” then bah humbug to you and be on your way!

Iron City beer causes me to re-evaluate what I think of the beverage- beer. With its bitter undertones, I am forced to imagine one of my favorite passages from Oliver Twist:

“Oliver Twist has asked for more!”

Oh Charles Dickens, did they have Iron City in your time? If not, I should not want to to be there, no matter how pretty the narrations.

“But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble’s soul; his heart was waterproof.”

I should have wanted to be waterproof if there was no Iron City to quench my longing thirst. Did Oliver ask for more? I would like to ask for more Iron City, and may it never hasten its trip to my mouth.

My favorite beer is Milwaukee’s Best. The smooth taste and bold character gets me every time. My favorite way to enjoy this fine lager is through a funnel tube. Called a bong by some, I like to think of it as my IV to heaven.

If you have the chance (and you can find it) Milwaukee’s Best Ice is so good, it deserves it’s own word……scrumtrulescent.

Now, what I can’t believe is this.