Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin 2016

Tonight's Beer:
Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin 2016 Vintage Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oatmeal Stout
8.5% ABV

The 2016 Velvet Merkin is a really good beer. It is . . . velvety. And delicious. It's a jet-black beer with a bourbon-y smell. While the bourbon barrel aging comes through in the flavor, it's subtle. Many barrel-aged beers punch you in the mouth with the flavor (and with a through-the-roof ABV). I'll typically tolerate the intensity, as I like the bold flavors. But there's certainly something to be said for a smooth, easy-drinking ale like the Velvet Merkin.

This is definitely a good beer to close out Advent(ures) in Beer 2016. It's delicious:. rich and flavorful, but smooth and balanced. We'll be drinking this beer tonight with some apple pie, which is a pairing I'm looking forward to. It has all kinds of delicious flavors: chocolate, roasted, and of course bourbon. I may go back to BevMo and get a couple more bottles to add to my collection. Pulling this beer out of the (metaphorical) cellar after a few years would be a real treat.

Broad Categories:
U.S.
Great
Delicious
Stout
Barrel Aged
Amazing

Aecht Schlenkeria Rauchbier Urbock

Tonight's Beer:
Aecht Schlenkeria Rauchbier Urbock
6.6% ABV

This is the only rauchbier on the panel this advent season. I like rauchbiers, but even the lowest ABV rauchbier will never be a session beer. The Rauchbier Urbock is a smokey beer -- so much so that it might be a good idea to marinate your ribs in it before throwing them on the grill. If you don't like the taste of BB!, stay away from this beer (or any rauchbier). But if you like the flavor, this beer is worth a try.

Broad Categories:
Good
Germany

Fuller's 1845

Tonight's Beer:
Fuller's 1845
6.3% ABV

The 1845 is the sister beer to the ESB and the London Pride. And like both of those beers. the 1845 is a good beer. It's got a bit of a metallic taste, but otherwise is a good, tasty amber ale. I don't know that I have much else to say about it. If you like English beer styles, give this one a try.

Broad Categories:
Good
U.K.

Weihenstephaner Vitus

Tonight's Beer:
Weihenstephaner Vitus
7.7% ABV

You may have noticed that I skipped a night. I fully intended to drink a beer and blog about it last night. However, I had an after-work dinner with some colleagues and didn't get home until quite late. In the past, I've pushed through. But looking at less than 6 hours of sleep before going into work this morning was not attractive. So I skipped a night (and a beer). I may make it up tomorrow or on Christmas Eve. Or perhaps Advent 2016 will simply be missing a day.

Tonight's beer is the Weihenstephaner Vitus. A few weeks ago I reviewed Weihenstephaner's Festbier, and in 2015 I covered the Korbinian (which is delicoius). If you took a drink of the Vitus without knowing anything else about it, you would likely assume it was a hefeweizen. It's a pale color, slightly hazy, and has the strong banana flavors frequenly associated with wheat beers of the hefe variety. However, the Vitus is not an ale but a Weizenbock. For a bock, it has a complex flavor profile with lots of aftertaste. You might call it a hefeweizen masquerading as a bock (or perhaps a bock masquerading as a hefe). The Vitus is a good beer. It won't put you under the table, but the flavor is going to demand your attention.

Broad Categories:
Good
German

Westmalle Dubbel

Tonight's Beer:
Westmalle Dubbel
7.0% ABV

The Westmalle Dubbel is another Belgian Trappist Beer. An it is delicious. It's a rich, sweet, caramelly beer. If you like Belgian beers, you'll likely love this beer. If you're a fan of IPAs, maybe consider steering yourself in the other direction. I feel like I should have more to say, but It's a good beer, and I don't really know what else to say about that.

Monks, it turns out, are pretty good at brewing beer.

Broad Categories:
Great
Belgian
Trappist
Dubbel

Primator Double Bock

Tonight's Beer:

Primator Double Bock

10.5% ABV

You know how I love a good doppelbock and have a special place in my heart for Czech beers, even though they are woefully underrepresented on the American beer market. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I have to admit tonight's selection falls short. The Primator is overwhelmingly sweet -- so sweet that I find myself wondering if the brewer had a bad batch of yeast, resulting in the fermentable sugars not being consumed by the yeast and converted to alcohol. I normally have a higher tolerance for sweet beers than many beer aficionados, as evidenced by my dislike of IPAs and love of doppelbocks and Belgian beers. But the Primator beer is so sweet, I have a hard time distinguishing the flavors imparted by the malt, hops, and yeast. 

If you're looking to try a doppelbock, I cannot recommend this beer. In fact, I would suggest you avoid it.

Broad Categories:

ugh - not good

Doppelbock

Czech Republic

Baltika 9 Extra Lager

Tonight's Beer:
Baltika 9 Extra Lager
8.0% ABV

The Baltika 9 is a Russian Lager, and it's tasty. It's got flavor, but you probably wouldn't guess that it clocks in at 8% without looking at the bottle. I'm afraid I don't have much else to say about this beer. It's good. It's a lager. Give it a try if you're looking for a good lager. But at 8% ABV, maybe don't make it your football beer.

Broad Categories:
Great
Russia
Lager

Traquair House Ale

Tonight's Beer:
Traquair House Ale
7.2% ABV

The Traquair House Ale, aged in Oak Barrels, is the sister beer to the Jacobite Ale, which I reviewed earlier in this Advent season.

The House Ale is dark brown. And while it promises a lot (at least, oak barrels imply a promise to me), it's underwhelming when it comes to flavor. Girlfriend just summed it up quite succinctly when she said 'Based on the name, I expected it to be tastier.' I agree; a Scotch Ale should demand attention. The House Ale does not. Perhaps if this were the scotch ale style representative in some American brewer's variety pack I would be more forgiving. As it is, I expect more from a beer coming from Scotland.

Broad Categories:
U.K.
meh

Andech's Doppelbock Dunkel

Tonight's Beer:
Andech's Doppelbock Dunkel
7.1% ABV

The Andech's Doppelbock Dunkel is one of my favorite beers. And when I say 'one of,' I mean 'definitely a top 10, possibly a top 5.' I've not been shy in the past about my love of doppelbocks. While I generally sing the praises of Belgian beers, Germans certainly hit on something with the doppelbock style. And, of course, like the Weissbier Dunkel I reviewed last week, this beer was brewed by the Benedictine monks on Bavaria's holy mountain.

If you've ever brewed your own beer, the Doppelbock Dunkel has that same strong, sweet, delicious smell that fills your apartment when you're boiling your wort. If you've not brewed your own beer -- it's an incredibly smooth beer. The flavors of the malted grains flood the palate as the beer glides over your tongue. After you swallow, a caramelly deliciousness lingers behind. This is an amazing beer. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Broad Categories:
Great
Delicious
Germany
Amazing

Fuller's London Pride

Tonight's Beer:
Fuller's London Pride
4.7% ABV

Previously in this Advent season, I've reviewed the Fuller's ESB. The London Pride is a the sister beer of the ESB. As an English Pale Ale, the London Pride is less hoppy than its American counterparts (which I appreciate, given that I'm not a fan of hops).

The London Pride is a tasty beer. It's not a bold beer -- it's got good flavor without trying to hard. In other words, it's well-balanced. It's another beer that could fit multiple occasions as well. I like it, and I recommend it.

Broad Categories:
Good
U.K.

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

Tonight's Beer
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
5.0% ABV

Samuel Smith's ales have always struck me as less awesome than they should be. They tend to get good ratings, but every time I try one, I tend to think, 'This beer is fine.' The Nut Brown is no exception. There's nothing bad or objectionable about it. But for an import, it feels a little thin. In other words, I don't know why I should drink this beer instead of picking up Sam Adams or a Blue Moon.

If you've liked other Samuel Smith beers, you might feel differently than I. Otherwise, give this one a pass.

Broad Categories:
meh
U.K.

Primator Maibock

Tonight's Beer:
Primator Maibock
7.5% ABV

The Primator Maibock is a Czech lager. In the US, Miller, Budweiser, and the other big breweries market their beers as descended from German lagers -- likely due to the German founders big American brewers. But both the Pilsner and Budweiser styles (Budweiser is a style that was usurped and trademarked by Anheuser Bush) they brew take their names from the Czech towns in which they were developed. Of course, the Czech (and German) versions are much flavorful and delicious than their dumbed-down, mass-marked American counterparts.

The Primator Maibock is a delicious light bock -- it pours a pale copper color and has a very beery flavor. In other words, if you have a friend who's not a big fan of beer, this is probably not the style to try to convince them otherwise. Like some of the other lagers we've covered, the Maibock could be both a session beer (something to drink while watching football) or a nice flavorful beer to pair with a good meal.

Either way, I strongly recommend it.

Broad Categories:
Great
Czech Republic
Lager

Rochefort 8

Tonight's Beer:
Rochefort 8
9.2% ABV

The Rochefort 8 packs less of a punch than the Rochefort 10, but it's a bit more approachable. It's got the same richness of flavor, but dials back the intesity. If given the choice, I'd happily take the over the 10 most days. The 10 demands your attention. The 8 has enough confiedence in itself to trust you to pay attention to it without issuing any ultimatums.

I reviewed the 8 last year as well, so if you're so inclined, feel free to go back in time to see what I had to say a year ago.

And, because I can't resist, here's another picture from my recent vacation to the Rochefort region of Belgium.

The caves at Han-sur-Lesse

Broad Categories:
Great
Delicious
Belgian
Trappist

Bad Elf Winter Ale

Tonight's Beer:
Bad Elf Winter Ale
6.0% ABV

Tonight's beer (which was supposed to be last night's beer) is the final of the series that included the Seriously Bad Elf, the Very Bad Elf, and the Lump of Coal Stout. While nowhere near on par with the beers I've labeled 'great' during this advent season, the Bad Elf might be the best of the series. Unlike the others, this beer is a true-to-style winter ale that doesn't seem to be trying too hard. It's still got a bit of a metallic after taste.

Broad Categories:
Good.
U.K.

Stone Xocoveza

Tonight's Beer:
Stone Xocoveza
Winter Spiced Mocha Stout
8.1% ABV

The Stone Xocoveza wasn't initially on my slate of beers for Advent 2016. However, I'm staying over at my girlfriend's place tonight. And unlike previous nights, I forgot tonight's beer before I came over. Tonight's beer was originally supposed to be the 4th beer in the Seriously Bad Elf, et al, series. I have to admit, forgetting the Elf beer turns out to have been a happy accident, as the Xocoveza a delicious stout.

It's a smooth beer, full of flavor and with a rich mouth feel. It hits the tongue the way a foaming hot chocolate might and finishes with just a bit of a spicy kick. The Xocoveza was more than worth picking up. If you see a bottle, I strongly recommend giving it a try. This certainly won't be the last time I drink it.

Broad Categories:
Delicious
Great
Stout
U.S.

To Øl Jæmes Braun Imperial Brown Ale

Tonight:
To Øl Jæmes Braun Imperial Brown Ale
10.5% ABV

I'm not sure how I feel about this beer. It's certainly a rich, brown ale. It's got a chalky bitterness to it, a bit like a coffee porter might. There's a little chocolateyness in there. It's by no means a bad beer, but it's certainly not amazing, either. The flavors feel disjointed and forced into the beer -- which I'm attributing to vehicle of a brown ale rather than a stout. I'm not claiming that every stout is phenomenal, but perhaps stout is a style that can take these big, bold flavors and meld them together into something cohesive.

If you want to try something different and you're willing to drop the coin, go ahead and pick up a bottle. But if you're looking for something you're looking for a sure thing -- for a delicious beer to savor and enjoy -- pick up a Belgian Dubbel or one of the Andechs beers.

Broad Categories:
meh
Brown Ale
Denmark

Fuller's ESB

Tonight's Beer:
Fuller's ESB
5.9%

Tonight's post will be short, as it's late. ESB stands for Extra Special Bitter. But don't let the name deceive you -- ESBs are less bitter than IPAs. In other words, if you're not a fan of hops (like me), you may still like an ESB.

The beer is tasty! It's a beery beer, so if you're not a fan of that strong beer taste, this beer may not be for you. But if you do like beer, this is an excellent beer -- both true to style and straight-up good. This beer also sits in that unique place where you could treat it like a session beer or not. In other words, if you want to drink it while watching football, this beer won't be offended. But it certainly will not bore if you if you choose to give it more attention.

Broad Categories:
Great
Tasty
U.K.

Andech's Weissbier Dunkel

Tonight's Beer:
Andech's Weissbier Dunkel
5.0% ABV

Typically, the Trappists get most of the attention when it comes to monastic brews. However, Cistercian monks aren't the only ones making beer. Kloster Andechs is a brewery run by Benedictine monks in Bavaria -- and it's definitely worth a visit if you ever have the opportunity. As much as I love a good Trappist beer, the Benedictine's know what they're doing.

On top of that, the dunkel is one of my favorite styles. It's a dark beer (hence the name) with a tinge of red. It's a delicious, delicious beer. Smooth. A rich malty sweetness. It's like heaven has been captured in a beer. There's only so many superlatives I can use to describe this beer before it becomes ridiculous. Instead, I'll simply advise you to pick up a bottle and try it yourself.

Broad Categories:
Great
Germany
Delicious

Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout

Tonight's Beer:
Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout
8% ABV

This beer is from the same makers as the Very Bad Elf and Seriously Bad Elf. The Lump of Coal is a jet black stout. It's tasty, but it's got a flavor I can't quite place. The beer itself it's good, but it's got a bit of a metallic aftertaste. It's definitely worth trying this beer if you've never had it, but I wouldn't buy multiple bottles.

Broad Categories:
Fine
Stout
U.K.

Rochefort 10

Tonight's Beer:
Rochefort 10
11.3%

I suppose it's only fitting that I review the 10 this year, as I reviewed both the 6 & 8 last year. Trappist beer holds a special place in my heart. The proceeds from Trappist beers support the monasteries that brew them and those monasteries' charitable works. Drinking a Trappist beer isn't just about drinking something delicious, it's also about putting a little bit of good back into the world.

The Rochefort 10 is a delicious beer, though at 11.3%, it's not for the faint of heart. It's a Belgian Quad, making it sweet, caramelly, and rich. It goes down smooth but lingers on the palate. It's a beer that demands your attention. It pairs well with chocolate -- potentially not surprising given that Belgium is also known for beer & chocolate.

I was recently in Belgium on vacation with my girlfriend, and we spent a couple days in the town of Rochefort. It's a cute town, and a beautiful region. If you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods, I highly recommend giving the town a visit. Here are a couple of pictures our trip:

Shop cat gives zero fucks about what you're thinking.

The Rochefort 6, served to us before dinner at our B&B.

Broad Categories:
Belgian
Trappist
Great
Delicious

Prairie Artisan Ales Merica American Farmhouse Ale

Tonight's Beer:
Prairie Artisan Ales Merica American Farmhouse Ale
7.5% ABV

Farmhouse Ales are unique in the beer world. while most styles have a clearly defined meter, Farmhouse Ales are composed in free verse. Personally, I like the style. But I'll be the first to admit, it's not for everyone.

The Merica, in particular, is a cloudy golden ale. It smells like a wild beer -- just a hint of old leather on the nose. That smell translates into a leathery taste combined with a good dose of sour (not punch-you-in-the-mouth sour, mind you. But certainly a notable sourness).

If you like Saison's and Farmhouse ales, pick this one up, it's worth a try. If, however, you prefer iambic pentameter, it's probably best give it a pass.

Broad Categories:
Farmhouse Ale
Sour & Funky
Good

Very Bad Elf

Tonight's Beer
Very Bad Elf
7.5%

I'm going to be honest right out of the gate: I'm underwhelmed with this beer. In theory, it's an English Pale Ale. But it has a metallic flavor that just doesn't hit me right. I think it's the hop profile that disagrees with me. Anyone who knows me well knows I"m not a fan of hoppy beers.

The Very Bad Elf claims to be a special reserve ale. However, if you want to treat yourself to something special, I suggest you do so by skipping this beer.

Broad Categories:
Meh
U.K.

Weihenstephaner Festbier

Tonight's Beer:
Weihenstephaner Festbier 
5.8%

I should start tonight's post by saying that I really like the Weihenstephaner beers. The Festbier is tasty Bavarian beer. It's not a big beer like many of the others I've reviewed, nor is it going to be as smooth as a Doppelbock or a Dunkel (my favorite German styles). It's got a bit of a zip imparted by the hops, but nothing that I would call 'hoppy' (certainly nothing rising to the level of what we consider 'hoppy' here in the U.S.).

Broad Categories
German
Good

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Tonight:
Young's Double Chocolate Stout
5.2% ABV

The Young's Double Chocolate Stout is a delicious beer. I hear it's even better over ice cream, though I've never tried it that way myself. It has a bit of a chalky mouth-feel -- which I think is a result of the chocolate -- but that translate to a chalky flavor.

Many of the bold flavored beers I drink (and review) are very high in alcohol content. The Double Chocolate Stout proves that you can get a flavorful, complex beer without jacking up the ABV or dumping in a ton of hops.

Broad Categories
Great
Delicious Stout

Delirium Nocturnum

Tonight's Beer:
Delirium Nocturnum
8.5% ABV

Not that long ago, girlfriend & I were at a local establishment, where I had ordered this beer's sister beer, the Delerium Tremens. As I was sipping my delicious, delicious beer, I was contemplating the bottle and asked 'who puts not just a pink elephant, but also a dancing alligator . . . ?' Before I even finished the question, she answered 'someone on acid.'

Brouwerij Huyghe's Delirium beers are delicious. But one too many can easily lead to pink elephants and dancing alligators. Consider yourself warned.

The Nocturnum has all the trademarks of a Belgian Dubbel -- dark brown, sweet, caramelly. This is a very tasty beer, but neither for the faint of heart nor for a casual situation.

I should also note that this is my first Belgian beer of the 2016 Advent season. I love Belgian beers, so it's easy for me to go to them as a default. But I've found, over time, that it's wise to make sure I can give a Belgian beer the time and attention it deserves before committing to it. The Nocturnum is, without a doubt, worthy of such a commitment.

Broad Categories:
Great
Belgian

Seriously Bad Elf

Tonight's Beer:
Seriously Bad Elf
9% ABV

Tonight I'm drinking the Seriously Bad Elf. It's a bit sweet, but certainly a tasty beer with notes of caramel. It almost tastes like the U.K. tried to make a Belgian Tripel. That said, it's a good beer, and I would drink it again.

I would write more this evening, but there's a very bitey puppy trying to share the couch with my girlfriend & I. Said puppy keeps trying to take a bite out of my computer. Until tomorrow . . .

Broad Categories
Good
U.K.

Traquair Jacobite Ale

Tonight's Beer:
Traquair Jacobite Ale
8% ABV

Tonight I'm drinking the Traquiar Jacobite Ale. Fun fact: when describing a session beer, I frequently say 'this is a beer you could drink while watching football.' The Jacobite Ale is not a session beer by any means, but I am drinking it while watching the 4th quarter of the Packers game.

The Jacobite Ale pours jet black, with a relatively thin head. The bottle states that it's brewed with coriander and fermented in oak barrels. I can definitely taste the bourbon barrel aging, but coriander? Either my palate is not subtle enough to pick it up or the bourbon barrel aging overpowers it (or a bit of both).

I like the flavor of the Jacobite -- it fills the mouth with each sip. However, it's neither complex nor multi-dimension, which I find a bit surprising. I find myself uncertain if bourbon barrel aging overpowers the other flavors or if I've had so many bourbon barrel aged beers that it's hard for one to distinguish itself.

That said, I would certainly drink this beer again. I suspect it would pair nicely with a good steak.

Broad Categories
Good
Bourbon Barrel Aged

Advent(ures) in Beer 2016! And the Samuel Smith Pure Brewed Organic Lager

Advent 2016 is upon us, and my personal advent calendar, chronicled here, is back! For those of you who didn't follow along last year, this is how it works: I count down the days to Christmas with a beer every day. And then I blog about it!

I've attempted to diversify my slate of beers this year. I was a bit heavy on Belgians last year, and as much as I love a good Belgian beer, by the end of Advent 2015 they started to blend together.

I'll also be refraining from stack ranking the beers this year, which begins to lose its meaning after about 10 beers. Instead, I'll throw the beers into broad categories, which I'm sure will evolve over the next month.

Tonight's beer:
Samuel Smith Pure Brewed Organic Lager
5% ABV

The bottle touts the organic ingredients and gives a brief history of lager beer. The beer pours with virtually no head. It's a clear, golden liquid that hits the middle of the tongue with a heavy dose of pilsner malts. This is a clean refreshing beer with little aftertaste. It's not demanding. You could easily drink it as a companion to a nice meal. But you could also drink it when you want to drink a beer without giving it your attention.

I'm not a person who drinks a lot of lagers. However, I would definitely drink this beer again.

Broad Categories:
Good
Light & Refreshing