Category Archives: Beer Reviews

Coedo Kyara Review

 

When I purchased several, quite overpriced import, Coedo beers, each bottle had a little label attached. The label touted that their beers had received a superior taste award in 2008 from Monde Selection, which appears to be a consumer testing organization in Brussels . I agree that Coedo makes an above average beer, especially when compared to most Japanese beers, their beer doesn’t blow me away. It is drinkable, refreshing, crisp, pairs well with salty food, and has flavor. Coedo Kyara, along with Coedo Ruri, which I also reviewed, both fall along these lines.

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Baird Red Rose Amber Ale Review

When I reviewed Rising Sun Pale Ale from Baird Brewing Company, I also purchased a few more of their offerings including Red Rose Amber. This is a delicious amber ale with an inviting aroma and malty yet hop-spicy flavor. I actually enjoyed this amber ale more than their Pale Ale. Continue reading

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Buckbean Tule Duck Red Ale

I received a special can of Tule Duck Red as a sample from Buckbean Brewing Company before the official cans were released so my photos of the can may not represent what you’ll find in the stores. This red ale is refreshingly different from other West Coast breweries in that it is not super-charged with the 3Cs (Cascade, Centennial, Chinook), instead the hops reveal themselves as more herbal and floral. The malt of this beer also gives is a sweeter flavor. Continue reading

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21st Amendment Monk’s Blood Review

Monk’s Blood is a special release beer in a can from 21st Amendment that was available during the winter of 2009-2010 and it may no longer be available. This must have been one of the most unique beers that I ever had from a can. It is a bold complex beer with many layers of flavors and aromas. It was truly a delightful winter season beer and I hope it comes back to cans again soon. Continue reading

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Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale Review

The Napa Smith Brewery is a fairly new brewery out of Napa, California. The brewery was started by “The Smith Family” who was able to hire a master brewer of 30 years, Don Barkley, with the simple premise that the beers they produce should pair well with food. Their core offerings are Pale Ale, Amber Ale, and Wheat Beer. The beer that I reviewed is either a seasonal or special release called Lost Dog Red Ale and is quite delicious. Continue reading

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Brasserie d’Achouffe N’Ice Chouffe 2008 Review

Brasserie d’Achouffe is a brewery located in the Ardennes region of Belgium and produces N’Ice Chouffe as thier winter seasonal beer brewed with thyme and curaçao. This brewery was founded in 1982 and produces wonderful Belgian beers including La Chouffe, a Belgian blonde ale, and Houblon Chouffe, an excellent Belgian IPA. This brewery also has a very distictive gnome-theme for their brewery and beers. Continue reading

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Full Sail LTD Series 3

Full Sail Brewing Company, of Hood River, Oregon, produces 4 seasonal selections each year, three of which are branded as LTD, which stands for both limited edition and also “Live The Dream.” LTD 3 is the summer offering and is a pilsner-style beer perfect for warm summer weather and BBQs. It is also an award winner with a silver medal in 2009 at the World Beer Championships. Continue reading

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Duke’s Big Ass Bock Weizen Bock Review

The brewery origin of this beer called Duke’s Big Ass Bock are a bit convoluted. First, the brewery is not “Duke’s” it is listed on the bottle as “The Wheat Beer Company.” The beer itself is actually brewed by the Jack Russell Brewing Company in Camino, CA (which is now under new ownership) for “The Wheat Beer Company,” which doesn’t seem to have it’s own home page or any other presence for all that I can gather. So is it contract brew or just an alias for Jack Russell Brewing? Whatever the case may be, I pick up a 1 liter bottle and enjoyed it. Apparently there are mixed reviews so I must have lucked out with a decently produced bottle of this beer. Continue reading

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Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA Review

Deschutes Brewery is the number 6 craft brewery, by sales volume, in America (as of 20008 and 2009) and they continue to produce excellent products such as Hop Henge Experimental IPA. Hop Henge is part of Deschutes Bond Street Series, which features hop-forward beer that are inspired by the original Deschutes Brewery & Public House on Bond Street in downtown Bend, OR. Continue reading

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Rubicon IPA Review

Rubicon Brewing Company is a small brewery in midtown Sacramento, CA. It seems that the only beer that the distribute in bottles in their Rubicon IPA and a good choice at that. This IPA was a Gold Medal Winner in 1989 and 1990 at the Great American Beer Festival. Continue reading

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