New Belgium Rolle Bolle Review

Posted by Andy on May 17, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colorado
Beer: Rolle Bolle
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: New Belgium globe
Information: 5.5% ABV, Best Before: 18AUG13
Style: Belgian Pale Ale
Availability: Summer Seasonal

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Visit this link for extensive food pairings.

Appearance

I’ll be forthcoming; I’ve never had a either monk fruit or soursop so lets see what it’s like! Bright clear golden colored, Rolle Bolle (pronounced “roll-e bowl-e”) is crowned by a moderate stark white head that leaves thin lines of lace traipsing around the glass.

Smell

Suggestions of unique tropical fruit suggest the contributions of monk fruit and soursop and add a great, almost pear-like crisp citrus accent to the beer’s light yeasty spice and gently hopped nose.

Taste

As if the nose wasn’t quite light enough, the flavor thins out even further focusing more on the addition of the two unique fruits. A pale malt base has grainy undertones with light hints of sweetness and a complimentary, light hop profile, which adds a light trickle of floral notes on the finish. Mildly influential yeast doesn’t quite direct me towards this being a “Belgian” beer though.

Mouthfeel

Crisp, light, and quite refreshing, the balance of sweetness from the added fruits are wonderful against the mild hopping and dry, floral finish giving Rolle Bolle a terrific summer beer feel that will certainly quench thirst and refresh the palate!

Overall

Rolle Bolle is a great summer addition to New Belgium’s line up. The experimentation with two unique fruits pays off wonderfully giving the beer nice nuances of tropical fruit while maintaining a crisp and easy drinking profile, perfect for the warmer months!

Score: 85 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

3 Sheeps Really Cool Waterslides Review

Posted by Andy on May 1, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: 3 Sheeps Brewing Co., Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Beer: Really Cool Waterslides
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: 3 Sheeps pint
Information: 6.2% ABV, 60 IBUs
Style: American IPA
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Light haze forms over the beautiful golden colored beer. Proteins in the hops help keep the chunky off-white head afloat for quite some time and further encourage sticky gobs of lace to grapple the glass.

Smell

Really Cool Waterslides has an explosive aroma of hops; not too huge, not faint or underwhelming, just right. The earthy-citrus combination conjures up suggestions of mango, pineapple, and grapefruit rind with notes of lemongrass and white pepper along the finish. This ride isn’t all hops though, as it’s balanced nicely by a background of biscuit-and-caramel-smelling malt.

Taste

The twists and turns of Really Cool Waterslides continue with a citrus flavor that abandons the bolder pineapple and mango notes the nose offers for a straight forward grapefruit rind and lemon zest that works out nicely, adding floral qualities also. The malt base continues to balance this hop-forward beer very well!

Mouthfeel

IPAs are meant to be bitter, so when I say Really Cool Waterslides is fairly bitter, it shouldn’t scare you off. Starting smooth and almost soft, this beer goes down incredibly well, lingering with a mildly dry, hoppy bitter finish that almost requests another sip.

Overall

Like a great water slide attraction, this beer is worthy of coming back to time and time again, almost immediately, in fact. It rides a fine line of balance with submissive, sweet malts and forward-flowing hop intricacies for a hoppy-yet-drinkable IPA that doesn’t disappoint or overwhelm.

Score: 87 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

Ale Asylum Happy Ending Review

Posted by Andy on Apr 30, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: Ale Asylum, Madison, Wiconsin
Beer: Happy Ending
Serving: 64 oz growler
Glassware: Duvel tulip
Information: 7.7% ABV
Style: Belgian Dark Ale
Availability: Rotating on tap

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

Rusted copper-colored, Happy Ending is hazy and pours with a lasting ivory head that lingers in a densely packed ring below a rocky lace silhouette of a mountain range.

Smell

Happy Ending’s full aroma wafts out immediately and offers a bouquet of Belgian yeast esters; clay, lemongrass, white pepper, and grains of paradise. Caramel notes slowly emerge with dry biscuit following while a swirl brings out granny smith apple slices and a funky off-yeast hint that’s not quite aggressive but present nonetheless.

Taste

Soothing malty presence starts the beer with caramel and sliced warm whole wheat bread before abruptly shifting to the yeast’s relentless esters which mirror the nose’s earthiness; clay and white pepper with a mélagne of spices along the finish. Traces of molasses and dark candi sugar trail off on the finish of Happy Ending.

Mouthfeel

Happy Ending ends happily with a smooth feel yet mildly carbonated finish; the perfect balance for an Abbey brew. Spiciness trails on the tongue, gently balancing out the sweet malt which lingers in the background all while a faint trace of alcohol warms the throat and stomach.

Overall

Ale Asylum’s Happy Ending has a great base of maltiness and features quite a bit of Belgian yeast character, though somewhat forced-feeling; faintly unnatural. By no means does it distract from the overall impression, which is a soothing and delightfully balanced Belgian-style brew.

Score: 84 / 100 - Very Good

Cheers,
-Andy

Ale Asylum Hopalicious Review

Posted by Andy on Apr 26, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: Ale Asylum Brewing Co., Madison, Wisconsin
Beer: Hopalicious
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Sierra Nevada imperial pint
Information: 5.8% ABV, Best Enjoyed By: blank.
Style: American Pale Ale
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

The golden-orange body shines bright even with a light particle haze but the real show-stopper is a monstrous cream-colored thick and rich head. It’s retention turned to a rocky surface is only matched in awesomeness by the incredibly thick and art-like lacing it leaves on the glass.

Smell

Hopalicious has a fantastically potent blend of fruity and floral hop aromas that’s more akin to an IPA. Mandarin orange and nectarine create a nice fruity medley around light pine and a slight citrus tang. A crystal and light malt sweetness stands strong in the background comfortable letting the hops steal the show.

Taste

Neither the hops nor malts dominate the flavor the way they do in aroma, instead they work harmoniously. The flavor starts off smooth and malty with no real flavor definition but shifts seamlessly to the hop bitterness. The hops lack the big fruity punch but retain the floral aspects; flower pedals and light pine-needle mingle with a small squirt of citrus.

Mouthfeel

Hopalicious is well carbonated but without the serious throat-bite at the end; instead, this beer is a bit creamy and smooth. Bold hopping in this pale ale imparts a dry and bitter profile that finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth in the stomach.

Overall

Ale Asylum has struck gold with Hopalicious, a delicious and round-bodied pale with a great aroma and inviting appearance. The flavor lends itself very well to a (richer) hoppy session beer that has great drinkability!

Score: 90 / 100 - Exceptional

Cheers,
-Andy

Ale Asylum Ambergeddon Review

Posted by Andy on Apr 25, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: Ale Asylum, Madison, Wisconsin
Beer: Ambergeddon
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Sierra Nevada imperial pint
Information: 6.8% ABV
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

This lighter copper amber color pours totally hazed and the turbulence creates a large bone-white, sudsy and long-lasting head. The creamy descending head shrouds the glass in thin but coating lace.

Smell

Amber malts co-mingle with hop aromas very well here; malts impart a nice and sweet caramel note with suggestions of toffee while earthy hops round out the nose. Their presence is marked by a big floral aroma with hints of pine and citrus.

Taste

Hops’ floral strength is undercut by earthy pine needle and up-rooted clumps of grass. Malt holds it own, pushing back against the hops with sweet caramel and toffee with a freshly opened loaf of white bread.

Mouthfeel

Ambergeddon is medium in body and a bit creamy, finishing with a piney hop punch of moderate bitterness and a crisp carbonation bite to really round out the feel nicely.

Overall

Better than the average amber, Ambergeddon brings a little something extra to this “catch-all” style of beer; assertive hops meet a beefy later of maltiness but neither backs down and neither overwhelms the other for a balanced and flavorful brew!

Score: 86 / 100 - Wonderful

Cheers,
-Andy

Ale Asylum Contorter Porter Review

Posted by Andy on Apr 24, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Brewery: Ale Asylum, Madison, Wisconsin
Beer: Contorter Porter
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Nonic
Information: 4.8% ABV
Style: English Porter
Availability: Year-round

Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.

Appearance

With large “glugs”, the beer was poured with vigor creating a small tan head that fades to a foamy ring of suds below wispy lacing. Clear reddish-brown highlights show some clarity through this very dark porter.

Smell

Contorter’s aroma immediately bursts fourth with really roasted, almost burnt qualities followed by bitter baker’s chocolate, dry cocoa, and a light toffee and coffee-bean nose. While the aroma is assertive, it’s also got a nice “light” feel that trails off with earthy notes of dirt and English hops.

Taste

Roasted black and chocolate malts give Contorter a strong flavor presence of dry cocoa and crumbly bitter chocolate while also bittering it significantly on the finish. Light, watered down coffee flavors are present as well but underwhelming when set next to the roasted malt.

Mouthfeel

Crisp and well-carbonated this medium-bodied porter surprisingly has a very smooth feel for it’s carbonation level, finishing a touch dry and fairly bitter from the roasted malts.

Overall

Contorter Porter is one of those sinister-looking dark beers that’s no where near as aggressive as it first appears. It might not be immediately approachable, but this is a dark beer that’s got good flavor without really packing a wallop or “being too thick”. It’s an easy-drinking porter that would fit right in with the English session ales; a few at your favorite pub wouldn’t be a bad start to the night!

Score: 82 / 100 - Very Good

Cheers,
-Andy

« Older Entries

New Belgium Rolle Bolle Review

3 Sheeps Really Cool Waterslides Review

Ale Asylum Happy Ending Review

Ale Asylum Hopalicious Review

Ale Asylum Ambergeddon Review

Ale Asylum Contorter Porter Review

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