Black Lightning Porter

Lightning Brewing Company, Poway, San Diego, CA

ABV: 8.5% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

HOLY CRAP, LOOK OUT!!! Poured into a perfect pint glass this imperial porter leaked silky smooth out of a 22oz bomber. I was so obsessed with the viscosity and deep color that I nearly blasted a thick chocolate brown head over the top of the glass. This jet black brew is impenetrable by light. The head has some serious staying power. While I was waiting for it to warm up a but the thick foam had subsided into something resembling the mysterious mountain Richard Dreyfuss carves out of his mashed potatoes in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Black Lightning Porter is a fall seasonal beer from Lightning Brewery here in Southern California. They consider this to be one of their brewery defining beers (on the opposite end of the spectrum is their Elemental Pilsner). This brewery is rather unique (here in SoCal, at least) as the head brewer and co-owner focusses on the power of malt. With a mantra to make better beer through science, Jim Crute (ex-biochemical engineer) has breathed life back into my waining interest in beers attenuated with bottom fermenting yeast (lagers & pilsners). There IS such a thing as craft-lager! I highly suggest you check out Lightning's website and read for yourself (Lightning Brewery)! Back to the, Porter - shame on me for drinking it in July... but the AC is on and freezin' my dangly-bits off... so I deemed this tasting appropriate (plus I just really wanted to try it).

The smell is of warm and inviting malt and alcohol. Huge wafts of caramel are pouring out the glass. Clearly, many of the 9 varieties of of malted barley used in this bill are of the roasted, caramel, chocolate, and dark crystal to obtain a seemingly Starbuck clone.

This beer packs a punch! I suppose as any hugely crafted imperial porter should. This cool brown obsidian flows smoothly into the mouth wacking the tongue and flooding it with gobs of roasted and caramel malt taste. The high alcohol carries the smokey wood flavors into the nose. The mouthfeel is smooth and oily. It is amazingly creamy. As it slides down your throat your mouth is left with a large coating of beautiful bitter hops. The bitterness reminds me of Stone's 13th Anniversary Ale - Imperial Red. Perhaps, chinook and centennial hops are used in the boil as bittering agents.

The finish is warm and sticky, presumably left over resin from the massive malt profile. The hop flavor subsides smoothly and doesn't linger, leaving only sweet coffee notes and of course the desire to take another taste of this massively complex and passionately crafted beer.

Cheers, Dr. Beer!

DRU: 89/100 (Dan's Rating Units)

Sculpin IPA

Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA

ABV: 7.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

Well guys (not that there are any.. "guys" but I gotta start somewhere), I decided to try and start writing on this thing again. I've since moved back from Dallas, TX to San Diego... thank God! I loved Dallas while I was there, the bars were fertile and provided me with libation a plenty. For that I am greatful! Now, it is back to the wonderful world of whiney actress-wannabe waitresses trying to 'make it' and 71 degree and sunny weather round the clock. I love the out doors - thank you surfing, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, hiking, running, and general activity for making my state of mind a little bit more sound. I would also like to thank Southern California for the liberal use of hops in their beer. Good Lord, I had been sitting on a gold mine of craft beer that I didn't even know about.

Let me start. This week (or today) I have an AMAZING IPA. Sculpin is a limited release from Ballast Point brewing company right here in San Diego.

See wikipedia --> A Sculpin is a fish that belongs to the Order Scorpaeniformes, Suborder Cottoidei and Superfamily Cottoidea that contains 11 families, 149 genera, and 756 species according to though these totals will likely change as more molecular work is done. The vast majority of these species live in salt water; only the Abyssocottids, Comephorids, and a few species of Cottids living in fresh water. These bottom feeders are generally not considered good to eat, and have sharp spines rather than scales. Sculpin can live for several hours out of water if kept moist. They use their large pectoral fins to stabilize themselves on the floor of flowing creeks and rivers.

Let me get to business. Sculpin pours a golden slightly copper color. It is crisp and clean looking framed with a two fingered creamy colored head. It is a gorgeous beer that looks refreshing... thankfully it is here during the late spring/early summer. As it is consumed the head leaves thick heavy lace on the walls of the glass. Wonderful!

The aroma is VERY hoppy! I would put it in between a typical IPA and an Imperial IPA. More noticeably are the strength and dominance of the other odors - sweet citrus and cloves. It smells fantastic and is seemingly very unique and unusual. I can certainly see why BP keeps this as a limited release... it is really deserving of special treatment.

The flavor is amazing! Probably one fo the best IPA's I have ever had. It is sweet, citrusy, with a big hop bang. Each of these seem to compliment each other to give a truly unique experience. It is definitely shocking as this beer seems to necessitate a beer style all on it's own.

The finish is wet yet refreshing. The mouth feel is rich and full and leaves a cool clean palate yearning for more. Definitely an awesome beer! AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!

Let me leave you with a quick soliloquy about why I hate Ballast Point! I've bought a majority of my homebrew equipment from Ballast Point's HomebrewMart. The guys who run the specialty location and Homebrewmart on Linda Vista Road are a bunch of a-holes. The minute you start asking detailed question in hopes to get some good advice about brewing from the pros they view you as a threat/potential competitor that is suddenly not cool enough to deserve their beer. Upon speaking to several co-workers and friends who have had similar run-in with the aforementioned staff of Ballast Point I decided that it was time to move along. A week ago I bought three 22 oz bombers of Sculpin to commemorate my final business transaction with this brewery. With this review I declare my boycotting of this brewery. It truly is a shame because they make delicious beer (Sculpin IPA, Dorado IIPA, Seamonster Stout), but they do not follow or foster the ideals of the recent craft brewing boom... those being "passion, collaboration, sharing, fun, and the persuit of better beer."

Thanks for reading, folks!

DRU: 95/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Hop Rod Rye

Bear Republic Brewery, Healdsburg, CA

ABV: 8.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

I usually enjoy the commentary written on the bottles of these specialty ales and so I will continue to share them with you. This is the latest from Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye specialty ale.

"Hop Rod Rye is a high performance, turbo charged, alcohol burnin' monster ale with dual overhead hop injection, made with 18% rye."

I poured my first glass into my Unibroue tulip glass. It is a gorgeous amber mahogany color. The head is tan and thick. This glass was able to retain the head for quite some time. As it subsided while I was letting it warm the head sat stout like Richard Dreyfus had carved it out of mashed potatoes in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The beer has an unbelievably dense and flavorful appearance. I'm super excited to drink it because I have never had a beer partly comprised with rye malt.

This tulip glass concentrates the nose. I am glad I chose this glass because burying your nose over the fading head is bliss. The hops aroma is explosive! The bitter aroma is a little humbling and give sooth to the saying on the bottle. There is a balancing floral aroma and notes of warming alcohol which are not a surprise with a high alcohol content ale. The rye counterparts are unmistakeably accountable for pine and peppercorn punch. Lets take a sip of this bad boy!

"Wooooooooaaaah!" was an audible utterance from my jaw dropped chomper despite my undeniable solo performance of drinking beer and watching superbowl Ex-El-eye-eye-eye. The mouthfeel is cleansing and dense. It coats the mouth cleanly and comfortably. I would typically expect a biting and stinging carbonation from a hoppy IPA. This part-rye ale brings a hop perception and powerful bitter flavor with delightfully smooth and creamy taste. The rye malt adds the sweet unique peppery flavor of glorious (who-du-thunk) rye bread. This is certainly a fun and complex beer to drink. The finish is of hops and malt. This beer moistens the mouth rather than leaving it dry and chapped. Fortunately it is as if you are left watering and craving more. Perhaps this is the case.

This bear is truly unique. It is delicious, creamy, and fun for those hop heads looking for some other way to torture their taste buds. Bear Republic does it again in my book and I am beginning to believe that they are truly some form of Samurai paying homage to the hop. Enjoy and let me know what you folks think! P.S. I need to give a shout out to Mr. G's Beverage company for having a rad beer selection!

DRU: 96 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Flying Dog, Snake Dog IPA

Flying Dog Brewery, Denver, CO

ABV: 7.1% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 60 (International Bitterness Unit)

"Tired of those annoying 3AM hang-ups from your crazy, stalking EX? Turns out the same qualities that make your EX so damn annoying make our Snake Dog IPA so attractive. Chock full of bitterness bite and attitude, it slaps you in the face with flavor. Just like your psycho EX did at the bar last weekend."

You have to appreciate a fun brewery with a good sense of humor, hilarious art work, and an uncanny ability to brew delicious beer!

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA sports your typical fun Flying Dog art work which consists of a Picasso style dog with a long snakey neck. It pours a beautiful rich amber with reddish a reddish hue. The head is a fluffy white that has a decent amount of retention for an IPA. It subsides slowly leaving nice lacey ruminants and a nice frothy slick on the surface of the beer.

The aroma is a wonderful thing! Thick bitter hops emanates from the glass. It smells rich and flowery and with an IBU of 60 it tickles the nose and promotes mouth watering anticipation.

The story on the bottle, written above, says it all. This beer smacks you in the face with cool crisp betterness. Some of the sweet flower aromas manifested in the form of dry fruits. The finish is long and rich with hoppy bitterness coating your mouth.

This is an amazing IPA, and to be expected from Flying Dog. Hop Heads look out... this is a delicious beer that can be enjoyed at any time.

DRU: 89 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Orval Trappist Ale

Orval Brewery, Guame, Belgium

ABV: 6.9% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

So it's Friday... It's been a long week of overhaul inspection standards, overhaul repair standards, dealing with emissions issues, and developing repairs. In other words... it's a perfect night to crack open a beer, and not just any beer. Granted, writing these opinionated reviews take some presence of mind, I'm happy to do them... after I am occasionally drinking some of the best beer in the world. This week I am going for an Orval Trappist ale made at the Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval monastery. Thank you Central Market in Dallas for once again providing me with a beer selection that just won't quit. Lest I begin...

Orval pours a light reddish amber that is cloudy and seemingly mysterious. There is a pronounced, creamy, off-white one-finger head that settles quickly so a nice thick sheet of icing on the surface. I would have to say that it is unique and unexpected coming from the unusually shaped Orval bottle.

The aroma wreaks of Belgian abbey ale. The malty spiced cloves balance a typically bready nose. Finally, amongst the sweet spice is a hint of bitter hops. I can't wait to finally get into a nice Belgian with a detectable bitter perception.

This is a beer with a medium bodied mouthfeel. The carbonation is nice and slightly nips at the tongue. Overall it is smooth and calming. There is an instant shot of winter spices complimented by nutty yeast remnant from the bottle fermentation sediment. The finish is where the bitter hops come out and land the back of your tongue. After spending so much time focusing on the dubbles and tripples of the Trappist beer population and glad to finally find one that has a hoppy perception. It is really quite fantastic.

Well, overall, a delicious beer that should be enjoyed one or two at a time. I would not recommend this beer as a third or fourth sitting at the bar. If I could I might classify this beer as right in the middle between the double and the tripple. It has the malty richness of a dubble and the light spicy citrus flavors of the tripple style. Truly interesting, and truly enjoyable.

DRU: 94/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Brugse Zot

Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Bruges, Belgium

ABV: 6.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

I got rogue text from my Dad while he was in Bruges with Mom on a business trip said, "We tried this beer called Zot, even Mom liked it!" This is something to be said since my Mom swore off beer back in college after a run-in with Colt 45. Regardless, I looked for the beer and I couldn't find it. I gave up and thought that maybe it didn't make it to the US on a large enough scale to find it in stores in Dallas. Picking up a bottle of Jameson at Siegles got me browsing their beer selection, BAM - there it was! A nice little four pack plastered with cartoon jesters.

I'll get down to it. Zot is a Belgian Pale Ale. It pours a golden to dark-golden color. It's hue is darker than that of Duvel. *Warning* This beer produces an almost stark white head that is almost uncontrollable. You have to know what's coming before the first drop hits the bottom of the glass. The head is foamy consisting of strangely large bubbles and the retention is surprisingly good. In a few minutes it settles to a thin top layer. As I drink the beer there is very little lacing on the glass. Unibroue 0.3L tulip glass.

The aroma is familiar to the of a lighter Belgian ale. Floral and clove odors erupt from the glass with notes of grainy yeast compliment. It perception is light and cool and I am pretty excited to down this Belgian import. At this point I would equate it to PranQster or Duvel.

The first taste is really nice. I can honestly say that is is smoother and much more manageable than the taste of Duvel. It has a much more easy a homey mouthfeel compared to PranQster. While both PranQster and Duvel are great... I just want to point out that the differences are noticeable. The carbonation is moderate and not overwhelming giving a very nicely balanced and frothy mouthfeel. The initial taste is sweet and mildly fruity with the malty breads coming out on the swallow. The finish is bone dry while a hint of yeast (presumably from the bottle conditioning sediments) remain and the floral aromas remain dancing in your throat.

I would characterize this beer as a nice Belgian Golden/Pale Ale that is comparable to Duvel - minus the Devil qualities. From the art work on the bottle to the malty sweet flavors and the hysterically uncontrollable head it's just a fun beer. It is easy to drink and with a small amount of bittering hops coming out in the end it might be a good starter for someone seriously interested in Belgian beer culture. Enjoy and drink up!

DRU: 92/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Full Moon Winter Ale

Molson-Coors Brewing Company, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and/or Denver, CO

ABV: 5.6% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

Note: Aged sharp white cheddar made with Irish whiskey is awesome! Anyway... it's winter... it's cold... it's icy... I got stuck on Woodall Rogers for four fricken hours 'cause douche bag "Ice Force One" are a bunch of a-holes! Ha! Can you believe Texas called there sand/salt trucking fleet, "Ice Force One"... Holy Gay... not that there's anything wrong with that.

So, Full Moon is Blue Moon Franchise's seasonal winter ale. It's cheap, fun, and it tastes pretty decent. The pour is a filtered icy clear dark amber - booya, adjectives. The head is uneventful and it does not last. For some reason I don't get excited about it. Probably because it's from the makers of a beer (Blue Moon) that even your froshest of froshes feel cool ordering at the bar because it doesn't taste like beer and it comes with an orange slice... didn't you guys watch the Men of the Square Table commercials? When Burt Reynolds (a.k.a. Bandit) tells you, "Don't fruit your beer!" Damnit, you listen to him! Anyway...

The aroma is malty and sweet with only a small hint of hops. There's nothing here to really get excited about. I'm glad it doesn't boast nutmeg, cinnamon, and holiday joy... 'tis the season for all of that business.

The first sip is cold and refreshing. The carbonation is moderate and seems to be appropriate for this style of beer. I will say it is the exact opposite of a winter warmer. Yeah the alcohol content is low... but it seems to chill my bones, even while I am sitting here in my toasty warm apartment. It's strange but I am not opposed to it. The malts and "Dark Belgian Sugar" are evident in the taste. There are some bitter hops in the aftertaste which compliment the sweet aroma.

Nothing about this beer is overwhelming or defining. It is what it is... a mass produced filtered Belgian-wannabe for the masses. I like it... I'll drink it again... A delightful and forgettable brew.

DRU: 84/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)