Beer of the Day thread (and ci-derp)
03-17-2014, 04:44 PM
#1422
Well, I generally haven't got the vernacular of a beer/wine critic and describing tastes in any detail; more like your basic good/bad/really good/holycrapthatsgood and so forth, but . . . I can at least recognize what they're talking about when I do read a proper description, so after looking up and reading over quite a few for this one, I chose the following one (below) which I most closely relate to my own experience; other wise summed up as "Holy crap is this stuff good!" The things that struck me most were how silky smooth and well balanced it was, considering its ABV, and how much it retained of its basic imperial stout character. I expected some harshness or overpowering influence from the Pinot barreling and all the extra sugar, but that was not he case at all; very mellow, balanced, and an absolute pleasure to sip away on. I have had quite a few barrel aged stouts, but so far only one even came close to this. Unfortunately, this was ridiculously expensive though, costing $12.99 for a measly little 12oz. bottle, but I guess that partly because the beer is imported from New Zealand.
From someone with the vernacular:
A - Pours jet black with heavy viscosity. Head retention is null. Lacing nil. Why should there be? This one rates in heavy from the start. There's a slight tease of brown froth where the surface intersects the glass, but it lies still and razor thin.
S - The nose on this thing is something. Dark fruits, plum, raisin are the first notes that hit the senses. Oak, special dark roast, Belgian candy malt are there in faint cycles permeating forward and back behind the fruit. There's a subtle spiciness that tickles, especially after a sloshing of the glass in small circles. There's the grape.
T - First moment it sloshes over one's tongue, it greets the senses with a sweet, savory, roasted malted sweetness. As it warms, the decadence is evermore pronounced. Rich flavor of dark chocolate and raspberries meld in complexity. Burgundy wine notes permeate the delicate balancing act of sweet and savory.
M - Whoa boy is it thick -- but not quite as pestering as a smoked porter would antagonize the tongue. This stout is more of silk as it unfurls across the mouth. Its pleasantly alluring texture is easily quaffable as it takes up residency on the palate. Only traces of a slight alcohol tinge are there to remind one that this is a 16-percenter. Wow.
O - Pleasantly brutal amongst the imperial stout offerings out there. This devil in disguise is keen to lure the most eager victims with its subtle complexities. Halfway through I feel the effects of its dominating attenuation, but lulled by its softer notes. Perhaps this will work towards its favor in my scoring as I am not the soundest or soberest of mind any longer. Aye.
From someone with the vernacular:
A - Pours jet black with heavy viscosity. Head retention is null. Lacing nil. Why should there be? This one rates in heavy from the start. There's a slight tease of brown froth where the surface intersects the glass, but it lies still and razor thin.
S - The nose on this thing is something. Dark fruits, plum, raisin are the first notes that hit the senses. Oak, special dark roast, Belgian candy malt are there in faint cycles permeating forward and back behind the fruit. There's a subtle spiciness that tickles, especially after a sloshing of the glass in small circles. There's the grape.
T - First moment it sloshes over one's tongue, it greets the senses with a sweet, savory, roasted malted sweetness. As it warms, the decadence is evermore pronounced. Rich flavor of dark chocolate and raspberries meld in complexity. Burgundy wine notes permeate the delicate balancing act of sweet and savory.
M - Whoa boy is it thick -- but not quite as pestering as a smoked porter would antagonize the tongue. This stout is more of silk as it unfurls across the mouth. Its pleasantly alluring texture is easily quaffable as it takes up residency on the palate. Only traces of a slight alcohol tinge are there to remind one that this is a 16-percenter. Wow.
O - Pleasantly brutal amongst the imperial stout offerings out there. This devil in disguise is keen to lure the most eager victims with its subtle complexities. Halfway through I feel the effects of its dominating attenuation, but lulled by its softer notes. Perhaps this will work towards its favor in my scoring as I am not the soundest or soberest of mind any longer. Aye.
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03-17-2014, 04:59 PM
#1423
I didn't get any sour notes out of it, nor any overpowering alcohol sense. It definitely was big assed, but the pinot melded so well it just added in a whole other palate of complexity and intrigue. If you ever run across a bottle of this one, it's well worth it for the experience, but I don't think I could justify $78 for a whole six-pack.
Last edited by good2go; 03-17-2014 at 07:08 PM. Reason: typo
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03-19-2014, 12:06 AM
#1430
Slowest Progress Ever
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
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I categorize Yuengling in the same category as cheap beer such as keystone light, rolling rock, miller high life, coors original...same principal. It's not a microbrew, but compared to other brands at the same price, I'll choose Yuengling. F anything made by AB, I'm not a coors or miller fan, Yuengling is 10 minutes from my house and it's been around since 1829. I'll stay true.
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03-19-2014, 12:11 AM
#1431
I categorize Yuengling in the same category as cheap beer such as keystone light, rolling rock, miller high life, coors original...same principal. It's not a microbrew, but compared to other brands at the same price, I'll choose Yuengling. F anything made by AB, I'm not a coors or miller fan, Yuengling is 10 minutes from my house and it's been around since 1829. I'll stay true.
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03-19-2014, 09:30 AM
#1438
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
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Really? That's odd...I only see cases of 24 here. I guess that's the difference of buying at a gas station vs buying at a beer distributor.
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03-19-2014, 09:35 AM
#1439
I wish gas stations sold beer in this communist state. Only package stores can sell beer. And I was at the big one locally. So many craft beer 6 packs and single bottles. And normally the only place I see that 24 case of corona is when I go to a liberated state and walk down the beer isle in walmart.
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03-19-2014, 10:14 AM
#1440
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: OKC, OK
Posts: 3,693
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I wish gas stations sold beer in this communist state. Only package stores can sell beer. And I was at the big one locally. So many craft beer 6 packs and single bottles. And normally the only place I see that 24 case of corona is when I go to a liberated state and walk down the beer isle in walmart.
Still have to go to the liquor store for the good stuff, and it's at room temp. I loved a few months ago when I was in Boston and could walk in and buy a cold 4-pack of Green Flash Double Stout.
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