Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale

Beer: Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale

Brewed by: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA

Style: American Strong Ale

ABV: % 9.75

IBUs: 72.41

Bottle: 12 oz.

Served in: Tulip glass

Place of purchase: Red Carpet Wine & Spirits, Glendale, CA

Price: $9.99 / six-pack

Well, as it happens from time to time, husband & wife drink the same exact beer and taste something completely different! This is one of those beers.

In case you were wondering, we don't actually talk to one another when we're doing the reviews. We typically pour the brew into an appropriate glass for the style and photograph it. Then, we sit down and review each category. In fact, the only time we speak is right before the "Taste" category, where we usually say "Cheers!" and clink our glasses. It's only after we're done that we share our thoughts with each other and times like these, we really wonder what the other person was thinking! We invite you to try the Undercover Investigation and see who you agree with!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Very deep brown. Looks like maple syrup, actually. Takes on a slightly more amber hue in the light but still very dark. Not opaque, however. Some carbonation is visible. Medium head when poured which disappears quite quickly to form a very slight, thin head. Leaves some lacing on the glass, however.

Jugsy: Dark copper in color. Clear, with very mild carbonation visible. Medium tan head dissipates quickly.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Slightly sweet and fruity smelling. Hints of honey and dates. Maybe even a little brown sugar, which is not uncommon with Lagunitas ales, in my opinion. The hops are there too, but they're underneath the sweeter scent. There's also a little bit of the yeast in there, which in this case, doesn't smell fantastic. Not bad but not great either. Overall, the complexity of the aroma really makes me wanna dig in!

Jugsy: Sweet malts and hops! Smells like a mix of sourdough and sweet bread with a hint of something fruity - raisins, plums, perhaps a touch of citrus. The faintest hint of piney hops in the background.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Quite sweet. Again, honey with some fig coming through. Very slight hint of maple syrup. Wow, for an IBU rating that's over 70, I expected a full-on hop assault. However, the hops are much more subdued. They're there to bite the tongue oh, so gently at first sip. But then they mix with the sweetness of the malt and the two dance delicately around each other until they hit the back of the throat, as you wash it all down. Quite complex. After taste is nice but maybe just a little too much caramel or sugar.

Jugsy: Cool, bitter hops are overwhelming initially, then the sweet malt comes through. There's definitely a distinctly soapy taste right before the hops work their numbing charm on the tongue. I would say a variety of floral and piney hops were used in this brew. The taste is at least two-dimensional. Flavors don't stand much of a chance to develop with the abundance of hops present.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Slight stinging on the tongue from the hops which doesn't last long, as it's washed away by the light feeling of the liquid in the mouth. With so much sweetness, I would almost expect it to be somewhat thick. It's not, though. It's not watery, but on the thinner side, which is a welcome surprise. However, the sweetness does leave a coating in the mouth and on the tongue after it's all gone down.

Jugsy: The mouth-feel is decidedly creamy with a fair bit of carbonation. In conjunction with the bitingly bitter hops, this brew will leave you with a tingly and then numb tongue -- at least for a few seconds. Also leaves a bitter hops coating on the tongue.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Very easy to drink. The sweetness in flavor and residue left over in the mouth might be a little off-putting for some, but that's relatively minor. Due to the flavor and the relatively thin mouth-feel, this is very easy to throw back. And that's dangerous, considering this bad boy clocks in at 9.75%! I can't say that I'm feeling it yet, but then again, I have only been sipping. ABV aside, I'd easily be able to drink another couple of these before realizing that I'm gonna need to hand the car keys over to Jugsy, who in turn hands them over to the taxi driver.

Jugsy: I'm a huge fan of hops, but the heavy-handed bitterness of this brew doesn't put it at the top of my drinkability list. This beer is to be savored, not thrown-back. And at an ABV above 9.7%, it's best to savor just one or two at most!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Very nice offering from Lagunitas. One of the most important aspects of rating beer (as my lovely lady & I opine), is coming to the decision of whether or not the first one made you want to order another one. And in this case, the answer is most definitely, "YES." The flavor is just complex enough without being over-stated, putting it high on the ranking for "the next one," regardless of whether you're at home, having dinner or just out with your drinking pals. As mentioned before, the sweetness and sweet residue for me, fall into the negatives and may end being the reason I'd only have a couple more. But after switching to something else that may be far inferior on so many other aspects, I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up going back to this one after all. By the way, I'm feeling that 9.75%. Hey, taxi! Taxi! Oh, wait - I'm on my sofa.........

Jugsy: I definitely enjoyed the Undercover Investigation by Lagunitas, as I do most of their brews. However, I can't help but feel like this beer - while catering to hop-heads (which, I confess, I am) is in essence a one-trick pony. Mugsy and I had a Little Sumpin' Sumpin' the other night and I think that was a superior brew in that there was a much more successful balance of flavors (oh, and I could still feel my tongue after drinking it!) By the way, make sure to drink the Undercover Investigation while it's still cold - warming does not improve the taste any!

SCORE:

Mugsy 7.70

Jugsy 6.80

Saison de Lente

Beer: Saison de Lente

Brewed by: The Bruery, Orange County, CA

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.5%

IBUs: 35

Bottle: 750 ML [1 Pint, 9.4 fl. oz.]

Served in: Tulip or wine glass

Place of purchase: Red Carpet Wine and Spirits

Price: $9.99

Mugsy and I are excited to be back after our lengthy hiatus - and just in the nick of time to take full advantage of all the resurrection references we can muster! Seriously though, it's good to be back. Naturally, we never stopped drinking beer, we merely stopped writing about it - but both of us agreed something was missing. It's just more fun to drink when we can share the experience with YOU! So, please, grab a cold brew and join us in toasting our return!

In honor of the season (whew, just made it in on the very last day of Lent!) we thought it would be fitting to mark our "rebirth," if you will, with a California brew celebrating Springtime, revival, fertility and the sanctity of beer. We present our review of Saison de Lente!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Saison de Lente

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Golden color. Reminds me of golden fields of wheat for some reason. Some carbonation visible when held to light. Thick, foamy head when poured, which dissipates fairly quickly.

Jugsy: Rich, golden hue - slightly opaque. Thick, frothy head takes several minutes to dissipate, leaving a thin tan head behind. No real lacing to speak of.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Very strong scent! I can smell it When it's just sitting on the table! Very fruity and sweet smelling; apricots and honey. Just a touch of barnyard hay funkiness in there, as well.

Jugsy: Initial aroma is that of sweet yeast and fruitiness, perhaps apricot. Pineapple, citrus and the slightest hint of floral hops are also present. This beer smells like Spring!

TASTE:

Mugsy: A sourness that one may sometimes expect from a saison but did not let its presence be known in the aroma. Sweet undertones are there, as well: honey is extremely prominent along with a bit of dried or jarred fruit. Not sugary, mind you. The flavors become more complex as it warms bringing the sweetness to the forefront. Begins to remind me of a bread pudding sort of flavor.

Jugsy: Just like it smells.... Yeast and sour fruit tastes hit the tongue first. Sourdough bread and bitter hops comes through next. Now, I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out whether the hops are indeed floral, as the taste is somewhat piney. Aftertaste is minimal: faint sourdough.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Rich and creamy. Not heavy at all but more like how I remember a meringue to be. However, does water down a little bit as it warms up. Nonetheless, very pleasant mouthfeel. Lets you know that a lot of care has gone into the creation of this brew.

Jugsy: Light yet creamy feel. Carbonation is mild but balanced well against the flavors. Leaves a slightly yeasty coating on the tongue.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Even with it being extra creamy this is extremely easy to drink. Just don't let it warm up too much before re-filling your glass to avoid that somewhat watery mouth-feel. And with 750 ml. at only 6.5% ABV, you could easily fill your glass several times over!

Jugsy: This is a very drinkable Saison! At 6.5% ABV, seasoned drinkers may be able to enjoy a few more than your "average Joe." This brew is light and bright in flavor and seems like the perfect way to usher in Spring!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Wonderful job by The Bruery. Great care has been taken to get this to be remarkably like a true Belgian Saison Ale. Perfect for Spring! Would pair well with lighter dishes, such as salads, light pastas, etc. Would be a fine accompaniment to a night-time Spring dessert during Lent. Just imagine, sitting outside in the Spring air with a light dessert & a Saison after your supper! (Hopefully not your Last Supper....)

Jugsy: I was pleasantly surprised by the Saison de Lente. Whenever I see "Saison," my mind conjures up images of a cornucopia of fruit that is starting to go off, resting in the middle of a barn. Is that weird? In any case, I'm thrilled that the words "barnyard funk" were not necessary for this review! The Saison de Lente is so light and bright in flavor that it may have resurrected the style for me altogether! It definitely feels like Spring, in the best sense. It's light, but full of delicate flavor and whimsy - if you don't believe me, just ask the little green bunnies adorning the bottle's label!

SCORE:

Mugsy 7.5

Jugsy 7.25

Dogfish Head Midas Touch

Beer: Midas Touch
Brewed by: Dogfish Head
Style: Traditional Ale
ABV: 9%
IBUs: 12
Bottle: 12 fl.oz.
Served in: Wine glass or pint glass
Place of purchase: this was a birthday gift for Jugsy (Thanks Ara & Leon!)
Price: unknown

Mugsy and Jugsy hope that this Memorial Day finds you relaxing, enjoying a good brew, and perhaps contemplating the finer things in life. To that end, we bring you a review inspired by the legendary King Midas, who had the ability (or so the story goes) to turn everything he touched into gold!

Dogfish Head touts this brew as the "actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world!" They followed an ancient recipe using the original ingredients from the 2700 year old drinking vessels discovered in the tomb of King Midas and by their own admission, this brew lies "somewhere between wine & mead... and will please the Chardonnay or beer drinker alike."

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Darkish yellow color. Very slight amount of carbonation visible. Thin head that dissipates to an even thinner head. Looks like a lager. No lacing left on glass.
Jugsy: Amber in color with a very slight murkiness. Practically no head to speak of, but very visibly carbonated during pour, although now appears normal.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Sweet scents of honey come to the nose first. Sweet, dessert wine aroma is next. Extremely sweet smelling, almost like candy.
Jugsy: Smells fragrant and sweet, like a spicy, perfumed essential oil. Floral smells and honey -- smells like mead! Sweet malted barley and light orange blossom scent permeates throughout. If this brew has any hops, I can't smell them.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Sweet! The muscat grapes predominate this. Almost tastes like a very mild, slightly carbonated muscato wine. There is a slightly sugary after taste, but it's not overwhelming. Doesn't taste at all like other beers from any other styles that I can think of.
Jugsy: Yeast and barley flavors hit all at once, but in an unexpected way. Tastes more like wine than beer. Yeast and muscat grapes are strong middle-notes along with the spices (the label says it's saffron).

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: The sugary content of the beer makes for a bit of a coating on the tongue. Goes back easily, if not somewhat watery.
Jugsy: This beer is neither rich nor watery. Has a tongue-numbing effect after a few sips, though.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: The 9% ABV would keep you to drinking only a couple before moving on to something else. Also, the high sugar content coupled with the high ABV would make for a pretty nasty hangover!
Jugsy: Definitely not a brew you can continuously throw back, and not merely due to its 9% ABV, but its sheer overpowering taste! Really drinks more like wine than beer.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Definitely a neat concept. Not bad overall. May be a little too sweet and little too watery for me. Drink this one cold and finish before it warms up to any degree! Would purchase again at least once, just for fun.
Jugsy: I was really excited to try this beer after finding out about its ancient recipe and heritage. The beer smells amazing and unlike anything I've smelled before, but the actual taste is somewhat disappointing. There's a sharp taste to it, more reminiscent of wine, which nearly always gives me a stomach ache, as this beer is doing now. It's possible the bottle was mis-handled and the taste spoiled; I can't be sure. Definitely should not be drunk on an empty stomach!

SCORE:
Mugsy: 5.5
Jugsy: 6.0

Wolaver's India Pale Ale

Beer: Wolaver's India Pale Ale
Brewed by: Otter Creek Brewing, Middlebury, Vermont
Style: IPA
ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 55
Bottle: 12 fl.oz.
Served in: Pint glass
Place of purchase: Wades Wines, Thousand Oaks, CA
Price: $1.50 / per bottle

In celebration of American Craft Beer Week, (May 17-23, 2010) we thought it would be nice to review a craft beer from a small brewery in Vermont. Wolaver's takes beer back to its basics, and by that we mean organic and unadulterated beer!

Not only do they use a minimum of 98% organic ingredients to make their beers, but they also have a laundry list of sustainable "green" practices: everything from feeding their spent grain to local livestock, to treating their wastewater themselves with an in-house management system! 'Don't know about you, but we were impressed!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Wolaver's India Pale Ale

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Medium golden color. Creamy head that dissipates quickly, however, leaves lacing on glass.
Jugsy: Amber and copper hues, slightly murky with a medium, frothy head -- no visible carbonation whatsoever.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Lots of sweet malt with a subtle hint of hops. There's a little bit of yeast in there, too. Sweet malt definitely dominates here. As the beer warms, there's a slightly funky smell that becomes noticeable. I can only imagine it's from the yeast.
Jugsy: Incredibly yeasty and rich smells hit the nose first. Something approaching "funk" but more distinctive. Aromas of apricots, licorice, dried cherries and vanilla beans combine for a striking fruitcake aroma. Slight scent of hops, but not as much as I would expect from an IPA.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Bitterness from piney hops hits the tongue first, followed by sweetness from malt. There is an unpleasant aftertaste, however. Almost chemical (ridiculous, of course, as this is organic!) I think it's from the yeast but it's hard to tell.
Jugsy: Initial taste is yeasty, like the aroma. Middle-notes include dried apricot and light citrus-orange(?) taste. Hops come through near the finish. Hint of piney hops appears and disappears, leaving a bitter finish.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: Sting on tongue from the hops remains in the mouth for a little bit. Very watery finish.
Jugsy: Feels very creamy going down. The lack of carbonation makes for smooth and easy drinking. Bitter coating on tongue is only mild and dissipates quickly.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: 6.5% ABV makes this easy to drink all night, but I wouldn't necessarily want to. The unpleasant aftertaste, smell and watery finish ruined it for me.
Jugsy: From a taste perspective, this brew is bold and flavorful -- maybe too much so for a typical session beer. And at 6.5% ABV, that might be for the best. All in all, a pleasant and drinkable beer.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: The more subtle bitterness level reminds me more of a British style IPA as opposed to American style. That's fine with me, however, I just can't get past the aftertaste and smell. I really do believe that it's coming from the yeast. Maybe this bottle had seen too much light or become too warm in the store. I can't be sure, but I do know that this is not a very enjoyable beer for me. I wouldn't purchase it again. I've had other beers from Wolaver's that I don't remember being at all bad. This one surprised me.
Jugsy: While this isn't at all what I would expect from and IPA, it isn't a bad beer! The funk is kind of growing on me! However, since Mugsy just mentioned that he doesn't even want to finish this beer due to an awful aftertaste (words I seldom hear!) it occurs to me that the bold funk of this brew is not everyone's cup of... well, beer! Proceed with caution.

SCORE:
Mugsy: 2.9
Jugsy: 5.75

(Hey, they can't all be winners, right?)

Happy AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK from Mugsy and Jugsy! Click HERE to sign the Declaration of Beer Independence!

Beers at the Toronado Pub in S.F.!

For some time now, whenever Mugsy and I would mention San Francisco in the vicinity of beer lovers, they would invariably ask, “Have you guys been to the Toronado? They have an amazing beer selection!” We heard this over and over – and wondered to ourselves, “What is this fabled Valhalla?” and “Will it actually live up to our expectations?”

In a word, friends, YES.

The Toronado is not a fancy bar. You wouldn’t take a woman there on your first date (unless she was a devout lover of quality beer). It’s not the kind of place where you casually meet up with co-workers after a hard day. No. The Toronado is a beer bar for beer aficionados. The walls are adorned with old beer advertisements from around the world along with a bumper sticker proudly proclaiming, “No Crap on Tap.” Indeed! The lighting is dim… the seats, not terribly comfortable, but what it lacks in atmosphere, it more than makes up for in the sheer variety of tasty craft beer selections.

For your reading pleasure, we’ll include a mini-review of some of those brews here.

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Beer: Death and Taxes

Brewed by: Moonlight Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA

Style: Black Lager

ABV: 5.0%

Bottle: On draught

Served in: Pint glass

Place of purchase: Toronado, San Francisco, CA

Price: $5

Death and Taxes

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Black, opaque. Very thin head. Some lacing on glass.

Jugsy: Dark brown with little to no head and not

much carbonation.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Roasted malt, coffee – almost chocolaty, like Quik chocolate milk mix.

Jugsy: Sweet chocolaty malts, possibly even the sweet smell of dates. Very light scent of roasted coffee; overall scent is of chocolate and fruit.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Sweet roasted malt with a fair bit of hops. Slightly chocolaty with a nutty finish.

Jugsy: True to its smell, chocolate malts hit the tongue first. Taste of hops in the finish and hops / yeast aftertaste. Also some dried fruit flavors, prunes, perhaps.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: Bit of sting from bitter malt and hops. Goes back quite easily, like a lager should.

Jugsy: Drinks light – a bit on the watery side with a thin mouthfeel.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Could drink all night. Not too heavy. Quite refreshing, actually.

Jugsy: This is a drinkable “everyday” beer.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Would order again in a heartbeat. Tasty and refreshing. Don’t let it get too warm, though. Savor, then throw it back!

Jugsy: The taste reminds me of Black Hart Irish Stout, only fruitier. I wouldn’t seek this out, but I wouldn’t turn it down, either. It’s a good beer, but with a name like Death and Taxes, I expected something slightly more bold and creative.

SCORE:

Mugsy: 7.7

Jugsy: 6.5

Naturally, with such an extensive selection of brews from which to choose, Mugsy and I wanted to try all sorts of different things on our own as well! So, we’ll break with tradition a little bit here and include some solo reviews. You’ll notice that one of us had a few more brews than the other!

Beer: Grand Cru

Brewed by: Brouwerij Rodenbach, Belgium

Style: Flanders Red Ale

ABV: 6.0%

Bottle: On draught

Served in: Tulip glass

Place of purchase: Toronado, San Francisco, CA

Price: $6

According to its website, the “Award Winning Rodenbach Grand Cru is a blend of ‘young’ beer (33%) and an older beer (67%) that has matured in oak vats. It is the high percentage of the older ripened-in-oak beer that gives it the complex and intense bouquet with a very long aftertaste like a Grand Cru wine. This is a complex beer with lots of wood and fruity esters, wine-like and with a balsamic vinegar aroma. A sharp taste, fruity, refreshing and with a balanced Madeira-like sweetness.”

The late Michael Jackson bestowed upon this beer the titles of “World Classic” and “the Burgundy of Belgium.”

Grand Cru

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Dark, coffee brown with a very thin head. Thick lattice-work of lacing.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Malt vinegar! Slight scent of alcohol and a slight hint of citrus; sweetens as it warms.

Jugsy: I can vouch for the strong vinegar smell – whoa!

TASTE:

Mugsy: Malt vinegar! Extremely sour. Slight hint of sour cherries, sour blackberries..

Jugsy: Okay, I had a sip. Just one. (That was all I could handle.) Who put vinegar in my lambic and why?!?

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Little sting from the bitterness, otherwise goes back easily. Aftertaste is quite overwhelming and stays in mouth for a long time.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Only in small doses. Far too sour for me.

Jugsy: Saying this beer is “sour” is actually being kind. I love vinegar, but not in my beer glass!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Interesting to try but otherwise far too sour for my palate. Wouldn’t say no, but probably would not order again. Not complex.

Jugsy: I don’t really understand people who think this brew is drinkable. After one sip, I absolutely refused to have another taste.

SCORE:

Mugsy: 3.5

Jugsy: 1.0

Partly to get rid of that awful vinegar aftertaste and partly because we were getting pretty hungry after drinking our beers and watching patron after patron bring in what looked to be utterly delicious sausage sandwiches from the place next door, we decided to take a little food break. If you find yourself at the Toronado, we highly recommend getting a sandwich from Rosamunde Sausage Grill. They have everything – including vegan sausages – you can add sautéed onions and mustard and it comes in a warm & toasty sourdough bun. Heavenly!

Beer: Blind Pig IPA

Brewed by: Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA

Style: American IPA

ABV: 6.0%

IBUs: 72

Bottle: On draught

Served in: Tulip glass

Place of purchase: Toronado, San Francisco, CA

Price: $5

Blind Pig IPA

APPEARANCE:

Jugsy: Golden amber with some carbonation visible. Thin head dissipates quickly.

AROMA:

Jugsy: Nothing but an influx of fresh, piney hops! Smells like an Evergreen forest in a glass!

TASTE:

Jugsy: Smooth and bitter, with an overwhelming hops punch. Can’t taste much else when it’s cold, but as it warms, an apricot flavor emerges. Hops aftertaste.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Jugsy: Very smooth. Not watery at all. Fair amount of carbonation present. Leaves a bitter hops coating on the tongue. Tastes like it has a higher ABV than it actually does.

DRINKABILITY:

Jugsy: Very drinkable, but only for pure hopheads!

OVERALL:

Jugsy: I really enjoy the beers I’ve tried from Russian River Brewing, Pliny the Elder being my favorite so far. Blind Pig is not a balanced brew by any stretch of the imagination, but I don’t think that was ever its purpose. It’s difficult to taste anything but hops. I really like it, but it’s definitely not for everyone!

SCORE:

Jugsy: 7.2

And… possibly saving the best for last (of the beers at the Toronado, that is) – Mugsy ordered another fine brew and, as always, offered me the first sip (ever the gentleman!) The Dubuisson Scaldis Quadrupel. Oh, so good!

Beer: Scaldis

Brewed by: Brasserie Dubuisson Frères, Leuze-Pipaix, Belgium

Style: Belgian Style Quadrupel Ale

ABV: 12.0%

Bottle: On draught

Served in: Tulip glass

Place of purchase: Toronado, San Francisco, CA

Price: $7

Dubuisson Scaldis Quadrupel

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Golden amber, tan. Thin head, lacing on glass is a lattice-work

AROMA:

Mugsy: Lots of yeast, fruity scents: passion fruit and figs

TASTE:

Mugsy: Honey drizzled on top of sweet fruit. Slight hoppiness comes through. Passion fruit and ripe fig strong aftertaste.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Delicate. Balance is sweet with slight hint of hoppiness.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Like drinking fruit juice. Could get you in to trouble very easily. Easy to drink. Watch out for the hangover.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Beautiful balance of honey, fruit, yeast and hops. Fruitiness may be a little heavy-handed, though. If anyone hasn’t bottled the Greek God’s gift ‘Ambrosia’ as of this writing, then Scaldis may be able to take the copyright.

SCORE:

Mugsy: 8.90

Beer Run for the President!

Beer run for President Obama!

According to one of the many news articles on the subject, Obama "kiddingly" asked for BEER during a visit to Maine.

Kiddingly?!?! We think not!

From the podium, while addressing a large crowd, President Obama mentioned Bill Milliken, a small business owner -- that business being Maine Beer and Beverage -- and said that he hoped he'd get some free samples in exchange for the publicity!

Way to use your position of power, Obama! Mugsy and Jugsy approve!!!

El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale

Beer: El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale
Brewed by: Stone Brewing/ 21st Amendment Brewery/Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Dark Ale
ABV: 9.5%
Bottle: 12 fluid oz.
Served in: Tulip glass
Place of purchase: Stone Brewery, Escondido, CA
Price: $5.00 (or so - we weren't counting at this point....)

Figs and Fennel and Chia - oh my! Just some of the ingredients in the latest Stone Brewery collaboration. This time it's Stone Brewing meeting up with 21st Amendment Brewery, in San Francisco, CA, and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, CA.

Jugsy and I tried this one on tap when we were at the Stone Brewery. However, we decided to just enjoy Jugsy's birthday and not concentrate on reviews. We purchased bottles of this collaboration and reviewed them at home, once we were sober!!!! As mentioned on the bottle, "(We) tried to capture some of the historic flavors of the old El Camino Real by brewing this beer with fennel, chia, peppercorns and mission figs. It was a fun beer to brew, and in some ways took us back to the 4th grade, when our schoolteachers first introduced us to the history of California and its Missions.

Jugsy and I are both very proud NATIVE Californians. You don't find much of our kind around these parts. Let us review the kind of beer that famous Brother and Monk Junipero Serra may have enjoyed (at least we hope they let him drink beer!)

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouthfeel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Black, as the name would imply. Completely opaque, even when held to the light. Medium sized, beige colored head that dissipates somewhat quickly, leaving a thinner but lasting small head. Very little lacing left behind on glass.
Jugsy: Brown/Black with a hint of dark red. Medium tan/pink head dissipates relatively quickly, leaving lacing behind. Dark and completely opaque in appearance.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Strong nose of piny hops mixed with coffee. Smells woodsy. Ever so slight scent of anise or licorice. Begins to smell fruity as it warms.
Jugsy: Initial aromas are of multi-layered hops, coffee and roasted malts. Sweet black licorice comes through as the beer warms a bit. Overall smell is fresh (slightly piny) with rich coffee, chocolate and herb sweetness.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Hops and roasted malt come first. Next on the palate is light taste of chocolate and then fruit. The fruit flavor intensifies as the beer gets warmer. Fruits like prunes or sugary dates. Very complex. Definitely becomes sweeter and less bitter as it warms.
Jugsy: Bitter hops and roasted malt hit the tongue first, then quickly give way to a bittersweet chocolate flavor. Definite taste of licorice and something herbal - lavender, perhaps? Complex flavors reveal something different in each sip. Aftertaste is of bitter hops, coffee and licorice.

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: Very light on the tongue. I wouldn't describe it as watery, due to the sweetness, but definitely not heavy like a stout or porter. Quite refreshing, actually.
Jugsy: The flavors make for a bold mouthfeel, neither heavy nor light. Carbonation is significant and the bitter, numbing hops only add to the sensation.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Very easy to throw back, especially when on the colder side. As it warms, the sugary taste of the beer may become a little off-putting. Also, at 9.5% ABV, this is one that you would want to sip and not slug.
Jugsy: While the El Camino (Un)Real is a very enjoyable and drinkable beer, both the complexity in palate and high ABV (9.5%) make this a specialty rather than a session beer. It's clearly meant to be savored and sipped to be properly appreciated.

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Complex, especially when it's colder (mind you, not right out of the fridge cold - ales should be enjoyed between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the ale). The sweetness becomes dominant as the ale warms which is unfortunate, as I really liked the original mix of hops, malt and fruity, chocolaty sweetness. Whatever the case, would I drink this beer again? Absolutely. I would just drink it quicker! Is this my favorite Stone collaboration? No, but that's not my point here. It's obvious that the guys at Stone, Firestone Walker and 21st Amendment had a blast coming up with this fabulous concoction that includes mission figs, fennel and chia (ch-ch-ch-chia!) seeds. This is a great example of the kind of fun, out-of-the-box ideas about brewing that we get from Stone (and their collaborators) that make their beers stand out above so many others. Nice work, folks! This would pair well, with rich foods like roasts, stews, or saucy dishes.
Jugsy: El Camino (Un)Real? Named so perhaps because the flavors take you on a journey that's familiar yet mysterious at the same time. The taste can best be described as kaleidoscopic, as new flavors jump out unexpectedly and dance for a moment on your tongue. I can't imagine what food would be able to hold its own against this beer. I say, drink it on its own (but on a full belly!) and allow yourself to explore the dark.

SCORE:
Mugsy: 7.65
Jugsy: 7.77