"Anyone there?"

So after restarting this blog I promptly got busy with real life....again. Surprise surprise. I keep meaning to finish posts I start but it never seems to get done. Well enough is enough and it's time to open the doors again. I am going to finish the dozens of half filled posts I have saved and get this baby flowing again. Expect a massive influx of posts as I complete these half filled entries and clear them out. At least those who follow the blog won't lack for Holiday reading material that's for sure heh.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Birra Peroni

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Rating: C-

So this is basically Italy's big great premium big brand lager. Sort of their Budweiser or Miller. Peroni is actually owned by SAB Miller which is the main conglomerate of Miller and all the other brands SAB Miller has. Miller has recently merged with Coors btw for a random bit of info. Apparently SAB Miller has really been pushing this beer in Europe and has gone on about how it's been refined. Well.....they need to do more refining.

Now I know many think that Bud and Miller and other beers like this are what lagers all are. For starters lagers encompass a lot more styles then just this. Your Bud and Miller and Peroni beers are pilsners mostly which are a style of lagers. Just so we clear that up. And if you want GOOD examples of pilsners I suggest you go to Bavaria, Munich, or maybe the Czech republic for good examples of pilsners. This one...not so much.

It pours to a very pale yellow color akin to a Budweiser or Coors etc. It's got a decent head when poured and you get mild aromas of peppery and lemony citrus hops, and faint graininess. Not much real aroma, it's all very subdued. The beer does have decent carbonation and a nice crisp taste. You get mostly a dry grainy flavor with some slight spicy floral hope flavor. Just enough to remind you it has some but not enough to give it any REAL flavor. More of the dry hop and grain flavors on the aftertaste.

This one really is not BAD but it's far from GREAT as well. The one thing going for it though is that it is crisp and refreshing. Good to wash down some fish and chips perhaps. It's a decent beer but there are many much better pilsner style lagers out there.

Dragonhead Stout

Orkney Brewery

Dragonhead Stout - 4.0% ABV

Rating: B+

"Dragonhead is a legendary stout: dark, intense and fully-flavoured, it is our tribute to the Vikings and their cultural legacy in Orkney."

The funny thing is I had picked this up before I decided to do my Scottish/Irish beer run for March. I picked up another from them and then realized they were both from the same brewery. Nice little coincidence. I do love my stouts so I was looking forward to this. Ok I love all beer let's be honest, but stouts are one of my favorite styles.

In terms of presentation this one pours to a nice deep brownish black with a thick mocha color head. You get the aroma of sweet roasted malt, caramel, bitter chocolate, and dry roast coffee. The aromas had my mouth watering and my taste buds praying it tasted as good as it smelled. It thankfully did but the taste was different than the aromas. It's much dryer then you'd expect given the aromas. You get a dry coffee taste up front followed by the roasted malt and a sweet and slightly bitter flavor. As it fades you get a dry roasted nut and malt finish.

This one here is a tricksy lil hobbit yes indeed. You expect something sweeter and thick and instead get a dry and thinner brew that really packs the dry roasted nut, malt, and coffee flavors. Not bad mind you, just not what you're expecting. I think it could use just a bit more balance and thickness to it but it'll still a fine beer. This stout gets a solid B+.

Fraoch Heather Ale

Williams Brothers Brewing

Fraoch Heather Ale - 5.0% ABV

Rating: A

"Brewed in Scotland since 2000 B.C. heather ale is probably the oldest style of ale still produced in the world. From an ancient Gaelic recipe for "leann fraoich" (heather ale) it has been revived and reintroduced to the Scottish culture. Into the boiling bree of malted barley, sweet gale and flowering heather are added, then after cooling slightly the hot ale is poured into a vat of fresh heather flowers where it infuses for an hour before being fermented."

This is another of the historic ales from Williams Brothers. This is actually the brew that started it all for them. I first had this one several years ago actually. At that point i had no idea how rare and unique it actually was. I knew i liked it and it was right at the beginning of when I started to crave better beer. Fast forward a few years and I get to revisit an old friend, and learn a bit about my heritage's beer brewing history. On to the beer though!

So this baby pours out to a nice rich golden color with a thing but full head. Has a very nice sweet herbal and nectar like floral aroma. Slight earthy malt aroma as well but mostly herbal and floral. When you sip it you get a nice light and crisp sweet honey like malty taste first. A little sweet bread like taste as well. That fades quickly though and the herbal spice comes in. You taste the herbal spice flavor of the heather and it just warms and lingers. You get a nice slight grassy honeysuckle and peppery finish along with the herbal spice notes. Again, a nice long warm slightly bitter aftertaste. Very pleasant.

This beer is simply a treat to taste. For one thing it's just a damn fine beer with great flavor. Second you get all these flavors with no hops and from different ingredients then you'd find elsewhere. Not that beers with the traditional main ingredients are bad but it's nice to have a change every so often. This is a change you'll be damn glad you tried. Of their 5 historic ales this one is easily my favorite. I'm giving this a full blown A rating.

Alba Scots Pine Ale

Williams Brothers Brewing

Alba: Scots Pine Ale - 7.5 ABV

Rating: A-

"A traditional Highland recipe, popular in Northern Scotland until the end of the 19th Century. This "triple" style ale is spiced with sprigs of spruce and pine, harvested in the spring and brewed with only a small token handful of hops . Break out the goblets and pour with abandon. Rich, tawny and best enjoyed at Room temperature."

So this is one of the specialty beers from Williams Brothers. They do 5 brews using old original Scottish techniques long forgotten. Nice changes of pace from the traditional styles. This one is their Pine Ale. As the title says they use actual pine, along with spruce and bogmyrtal in the brewing process. How many beers have you had that do that? Got this is one of the "Historical Ales" mix packs the company does. Each one has 4 of the 5 historical brews.

As for the beer itself it pours out to a nice see through copper/amber color. When you smell it you immediately smell the earthy spice of the pine and spruce. You also get the sweet caramel malt aromas as well as a fruity aroma. It's full bodied and has a nice slight carbonation to make it crisp and smooth. You IMMEDIATELY get the spicy, earthy, and herbal flavors from the pine/spruce. The initial burst of that flavor fades to the sweet caramel matly smoothness. The slight splash of hops in the brews serves to give it just enough balance to keep the malt in check so it doesn't get too sweet. It had a nice smooth and slightly dry aftertaste with a bit more pine coming through.

As for my rating I'm giving this a very solid A- rating. The only reason I didn't give it a full A is the earthy, spicy, and herbal flavors are strong and can be a bit much for some. Overall though this is a damn good beer and it's unique as well. If you can find it in singles or in one of the Historic Ales gift sets get it. All of the historic Ales are good but this one is my second favorite of all 5 personally.

Whitewater IPA

 Samuel Adams

Whitewater IPA - 5.8% ABV

Rating: A-

"We love hops at Samuel Adams, and while we enjoy traditional IPAs, we thought we might spice things up a little bit, literally, by combining the intense hop character of an IPA with the crisp spicy wheat character of a Belgian-style white ale. The resulting fusion-style brew is Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA. The white ale and IPA combination make this crisp, smooth, yet hop-friendly beer the perfect pairing with a variety of meats and cheeses. Intensely flavored and firm in texture."

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Sam Adams. I love their brews and very rarely have a bad one. So when I heard they had 2 new spring themed brews I had to try them. Now they're new actual "spring seasonal" is their Alpine Spring Ale. I'll get to that one soon enough. This is their other new spring beer. Sam has their official season brew and then other brews that are only available readily during that season. This one is in the second category. Not the official new spring seasonal but only readily available in spring. So get it soon before summer hits.

As for the brew itself it pours a nice hazy golden color. It looks heavier then it actually is. A nice decent head and good amount of carbonation which is to be expected with an IPA. It looks like a good IPA but remember now this is a mix of 2 styles as the description says. A mix of a hoppy IPA and a fruity white ale. And it mixes well. You taste a more wheat base with hints of grassy wheat malt flavor with light spices. So more of the white ale upfront. Then the hops kick in. You get big spicy and citrus hops but with a tropical fruit flavor again. More of the white ale coming through. As the hops tailor off some you can taste the apricot flavor and you get a nice spicy earthy finish.

All in all I find this beer to be very good. The mix of an IPA and White Ale works great here I think. It's very flavorful and you can easily drink several of these. Good one for spring. Giving this baby a strong A rating.

Bi-Frost Winter Ale

Elysian Brewing Company

Bi-Frost Winter Ale - 7.6% ABV

Rating: A-

"The rainbow bridge made from fire, air and water, used by the gods to travel from the world tree, Yggdrasil, to the heavens. Asgard. Brewed with Pale malt and small amounts of Munich and Crystal malts. Bittered with Centennial, finished with Amarillo and Styrian Goldings hops. Strong, hoppy, and smooth"

I've heard great things about Elysian and their craft beer. So I had to try them out. I started first with their Bi-Frost Winter Ale before it's gone for the season. I love winter style ales so I was looking forward to this. It poured a nice golden orange color. Lighter then I thought it would be given the description. A nice big full head as you can see. It smelled wonderful. A nice big malty and sweet honey spiced citrus aroma. Once I sipped on some I got an immediate taste of the sweet cakey flavor and honey/fruity notes. After the initial flavor burst the earthy citrus hop flavor comes right in as you'd expect. Though even they had a slight malty sweetness to them, It has a nice warm, dry, and almost toffee flavor to finish it off. A very nice warming taste at the end. The bitterness of the hops overall works very well to balance the sweet malty and fruity flavors out.

Overall this is a damn fine winter ale. A bit more sweet/malty and citrusy then many darker winter ales. Though I think that's one of it's strengths, and it still gives ya that warming effect at the end to warm ya up on a cold winter day. This easily gets a very solid A rating.

Lionshead Pilsner

 The Lion Brewery

Lionshead Deluxe Pilsner - 4.50% ABV

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

"Lionshead is a classic Standard American Lager. Crisp, clean and slightly dry with some residual sweetness, it is very refreshing and thirst quenching. We use the finest American two-row and six-row barley and corn. Domestic hops add just a touch of bitterness."

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this one yet given how often I have it. My roommate buys this ALL THE TIME so I have some rather often. It comes in bottles and cans by the way. It pours to a light golden color with a thin white head. The head dissipates rather quickly though. As for smell you get the slightly sweet grain aroma and some corn and barley aromas as well. Slightly bread like in aroma. The taste is much the same. I find it bready but light with a nice balance between the mild hops presence and the decent malt character. The after-taste is slightly sweet and bready as well. It's clean but not overly crisp or very carbonated.

All in all it's a decent brew. Nothing great or fancy but it's good. If you want something with great flavor that moves you well move on. If you want a cheap but good beer for parties and cookouts and tailgating then you've got a good one here. By me a 12 pack of cans only goes for $9-$10 bucks. Think of it as a Bud/Coors/Miller but with actual taste and no watered down piss.

I'm giving this a 3.5 out of 5.0. Honestly it probably only deserves a 3.0 on taste alone, but I am factoring in it's low cost and overall decent taste in comparison to the big brand crap beers. So being in their cheap price range but having actual taste bumps it up an extra half rating.

Kielbasa Stew

So here is an easy to make stew that will win over friends and family. It has quickly become one of my family's favorites. My dad always complains if I make it and don't invite my parents over for dinner. Or at least save him some leftovers. This will make between 4-6 servings depending on how hungry you are. Here's what you'll need for the stew:

• 1 pound kielbasa sausage (any kind you want) cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 large can tomato puree
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 cup diced green pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups bean sprouts (optional)

So most of the work with this dish  is just the prep work. Once you get cooking it's mostly just waiting. Just as a note you can sue whatever vegetables you want. These simply work for me. As for the Kielbasa you can use whatever kind you want. I've started using smoked chicken kielbasa myself to cut some of the fat. But it's up to you whatever kind you want to use. Now as for the dish itself first you'll want to cup up the onion, bell pepper, and cabbage to get them ready. Measure out the spices, use whatever you personally enjoy, into a small bowl. Once everything is ready get a large stockpot or large sautee' pan out and warm it up over med-high heat. Add the butter and once it melts add the kielbasa and bean sprouts. Cook them for about 4-5 minutes and then add the pepper and onions. Let it all go for another 5 minutes or so stirring occasionally. Then just add the spices and the broth, tomato puree, and water. Stir it all together and bring the mixture to a boil. Then add the cabbage to the mix. Stir it up some. The cabbage won't all be covered by the liquid but that's ok. Just cover the pot/pan and drop the heat. Let it all simmer for 40-45 minutes. Give it a stir every 15 minutes or so. Once it's done simply uncover it, slowly stir in the sour cream before serving, and ladle it into some bowels. I suggest serving it with some nice bread to sop up the juices.

Stone Levitation Ale

Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Levitation Ale - 4.4%ABV

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

"It's been said that "Gravity Sucks." Simple enough. Well, we at Stone have identified gravitational forces in the beer world. And we have come to the conclusion that they, well, see above. So we avoid these less-than-desirable gravitational forces. We avoid dumbed-down flavor profiles and the vigorous pursuit of the lowest common denominator. We avoid big dollar marketing mentalities. We avoid additives, cheap adjuncts, stabilizers and chemical preservatives. So in the defiance of gravity we bring you Stone Levitation Ale. This deep amber ale has rich malt flavors, a big hoppy character, citrus overtones (courtesy of the hops and our special brewers yeast) and modest alcohol."

I'm starting to really like Stone Brewing and their beers. I've had 3 now and have enjoyed them all. I chcked out their website and there are some really nifty sounding ones they've done as collaborations with other breweries. Want to see if I can track some of them down, especially that Japanese Green Tea IPA. As for their Levitation Ale another winner. It pours to a nice dark amber/brownish color. It has a very nice thick head that lingers and a good amount of carbonation. Hell I'm writing this 30 minutes after pouring it and the little bit still in my glass STILL has a thin head on it. Nice. It has a slightly more mellow aroma of citrusy hops and floral/earthy notes. As for tatse it's got flavor and backbone. It has a slight bitter taste up front and at the end. Not unexpected with the big hop flavor in this beer. You taste the citrus and earthy hop notes all throughout but they aren't overdone I think. It's nice and constant but not overly so. Honestly a bit more hoppy for an Amber Ale than I expected. Almost IPA or American Pale Ale in taste in my opinion. Plus you'd expect a higher ABV with the strong hop prescnece but it sits at a 4.4%ABV. That means you can drink several and still walk which is nice heh. What does keep it an amber ale though is the slight malt presence. It's there but more subdued and blends in with the earthy and floral hop flavors. Just enough there though that you pick it out.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. If you like Pale Ales/IPA's and Amber ales this is a good one. It's got a very distinct and strong taste without being overly bitter or strong. Plus with it's lower ABV you can enjoy several at a time. This one sort of makes me think of it as a slightly more subdued version of Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale (also good). This would be good with grilled or spicy foods I think. As for my rating I'm giving this one a strong 4.0 out of 5.0.

Stone Pale Ale

Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Pale Ale - 5.40% ABV

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

"Our flagship ale, Stone Pale Ale is our Southern California interpretation of the classic British pale ale style. Deep amber in color, Stone Pale Ale is robust and full flavored. A delicate hop aroma is complemented by a rich maltiness. This is an ale for those who have learned to appreciate distinctive flavor. Stone Pale Ale is great by itself, or with food that requires a beer of character."

So I had heard good things about Stone Brewing Co. so I wanted to eventually get to some of their brews. I decided to start with their flagship beer, their pale ale. I figured if your flagship beer is't good there's not much reason for me to try the rest and hope they're better. Well they lucked out heh. They'll continue to receive my money heh.

Now I love Pale Ales because I think they're one of the best beer types in terms of diversity. Flavor profiles, color, smell, etc all can vary a lot brand to brand. I like that. This particular pale ale pours a nice copperish red with a thick head. Sometimes you're just in that mood where a beer just looks good and you know it'll taste good too. This was one of those moments. After enjoying the appearance I took a big ole sniff or two. I instantly got aromas of ripe fruit and citrusy floral hops. A little caramel floral smell too. As for taste it's very smooth and the hops assert themselves very quickly. Strong hop flavor that lingers and just sits on your palate. In a good way though. The fruity undertones come through and balance out the hoppy bitterness. You get the lingering malty floral taste as it sits in your mouth for a second. Overall I really liked this one. It's a definite more assertive brew so if you want a pale ale that's a bit more mellow/balanced you may want to shy away. If you want some nice big flavors though check this one out.

Lost Dog Red Ale

Napa Smith Brewery

Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale - 7.20% ABV

Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

I had never heard of Napa Smith brewing before trying this beer. If anyone would have mentioned them I'd have assumed they were a winery given the "Napa" part of their name. So when I saw it at the store I was intrigued. Especially since it's rocking a 7.2% ABV.

As you can see it pours a nice amber color with a decent head. In terms of smell it's mostly malty with a light hop aroma. There were some earthy/grassy notes with some fruitiness as well. It was actually more mild smelling overall. As for the taste it starts out sweet with flavors of fruit, honey and caramel/mall. A lingering bready malt character comes in after the initial flavor burst. The hops presence is mild and really comes out with the sweeter aftertaste. Helps balance it some I thought. I had let mine sit out a bit and as it warmed I tasted the hop presence more as well.

Overall not a bad beer. Not exactly great but pretty solid. I'd buy it again. I'm gonna give this one a 3.0 out of 5.0 for now.

Köstritzer Schwarzbier

Köstritzer Brewery

Köstritzer Schwarzbier - 4.80% ABV

Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

"Specially finished malted barley give the beer Köstritzer her unique specialty of fine malt flavor. With the lively and elegant character creates a unique taste experience. Enjoy Germany's favorite black beer."

The picture came out a bit fuzzy but as you can see this is a dark black beer. Picked this up a while ago when getting some Octoberfest themed beers at the store. My gf actually saw this and picked it out. A good German girl would know a good German beer. And indeed it was quite good.

As I said this baby pours a nice dark DARK brown. So dark it might as well be black. You only really see it's not pitch black when by a good light source. Came with a nice thick tan head on it. Took me a bit to find my camera so the head has dissipated some but trust me, it pours thick. As expected with such a dark beer you smell the dark roasted malt right away. You can also get hints of dark chocolate, coffee, and a faint caramel like sweetness. It smells damn good. I often am scared when a beer smells so good as I get higher expectations for the taste and worry about being disappointed. Not so here.

It's silky and balanced and very easy to sip on. Tasted the roasted malt up front with some mild sweetness. Tasted touches of cocoa, dark bread yeast, and faint nuttiness. Bready malted notes with very faint sweetness. It's very smooth and a great example where the flavors are kept in balance and not overpowering. If you like dark beer this is a good one to try.

I'm gonna give this silky and smooth brew a strong 4.0 out of 5.0.

Saranac Pomegrante Wheat

Matt Brewing Company

Saranac Pomegranate Wheat - 4.70% ABV

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0

"This wholesome combination of unfiltered wheat beer and real pomegranate juice makes a smooth refreshing beer with all the goodness of pomegranate. Look for a light body with a slight tart finish and golden straw color."

Now I love Pomegranate anything. Have long before it became the hip new super fruit of choice. Pama is one of my favorite liquors to mix with other items at parties. I also love wheat beers. So when I saw a pomegranate wheat beer I was all over that like white on rice. Now for me personally Saranac is often hit or miss with their brews. Often I find the brews sound good on paper but at times fall short in reality of what it promises. They're not bad per se but just don't live up to their own hype sometimes. I was hoping for something refreshing, fruity, and just a good summer thirst quencher. I was not disappointed with this one.

As you can see it pours a nice hazy golden color. Not a lot of head and it does dissipate rather quickly too. It's got a more mild scent but you can smell the pomegranate. As for taste it is a bit mild but that's actually a good thing. Neither the bitterness of the hops nor the sweetness of the pomegranate outdo the other. I tasted the wheat maltiness up front which I expected. Then you get the mix of the hop flavor and pomegranate. The best feature about this beer is again the balance between the two. Often I find Saranac beers are middle of the road but this one for me was a bit better. Then again I do love wheat beers and pomegranate so maybe I'm just being nice.

While not an exceptional beer this one was quite good and very refreshing. So it does make for a good spring/summer thirst quencher. If you want a wheat beer that's a bit different I would at least give this one a try. So I'm giving this one a 3.5 out of 5.0.