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)

PranQster

North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, CA

ABV: 7.6% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 20 (International Bitterness Unit)

Kick ass! It's Friday and I have plans to drink beer now and tomorrow! Just hanging out tonight after a long week of work. You know... resting up for a holiday beer tasting at The Gingerman. It ought to be a good time. But that is neither here nor there. What's on my plate right now is a Belgian style golden ale from North Coast Brewing company called, "Pranqster".

Yeah, I'll admit it... I've wanted to try this simply because of the sweet spelling and the awesome mural of a bunch of old fat guys sitting around drinking beer. If only I had aspirations! It does also claim to be a Belgian Style Golden Ale (alert: Duvel and Leffe Blonde fans)! Let's get down to it. P.S. Screw you Central Market for having such an awesome beer selection.

Pranqster pours a rich deep golden color. Conveniently the bottle conditioning yeast are nicely settled and stay nested at the bottom of the bottle. I'm liking that I don't have to worry about dumping it into my glass. The head is white, weak, and short lived. In my opinion I am okay with that. Heads are over rated!

The smell coming out of the glass just screams Belgian golden ale! It seems that some of the folks up at Fort Bragg may know what they are doing. This beer has a flowery nose that is very reminisce of those traditional ales such as Duvel and Leffe Blonde.

True to form the taste is bready and biting with a nutty undertone. You're left with almost the sensation of wanting to chew. Is that a pleasant sensation you wonder? It sure is especially when its followed by a crisp, clean, and refreshing finish that preps your pallet for a bite of food or another swig of this fine brew.

If I had to point out anything wrong with this beer it would be that it might be slightly over carbonated and that it tastes somewhat... American? It tastes delicious... but as I have become accustomed to the imported bottle conditioned Belgians, I feel like this one is too crisp, it's too refreshing, it's finish is too clean... it may almost be over engineered.

If you're looking for a great tasting Belgian Style beer that you can get at a reasonable price then this is definitely the beer for you. It's probably the best American stab at the style that I have had to date. I'm happy with the purchase and I won't hesitate to get it again. Enjoy, and happy drinking!

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

Racer 5 IPA

Bear Republic Brewery, Healdsburg, CA

ABV: 7.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 69 (International Bitterness Unit)

I have more beer than I can fit in my fridge... more than any bachelor should have in his apartment at any given time. Despite this, I can't go grocery shopping at The Central Market without picking something out. Entering the store my mind is telling me, "You just need some bread and fruit for breakfast." Then I see that shrine that the Market has constructed to this beverage-of-the-Earth and I can't help but stop and browse. Every time my eye catches something that I've been wanting to try. This time is was Racer 5 India Pale Ale.

I have to give another shout out to my co-worker, "Thanks for the suggestion, Terry!" Terry is another fellow hop-head who is always looking for delicious pales and IPA to imbibe while relaxing on Saturday afternoons. He heard about this one on a radio show, believe it or not. So there I was in the Market and *SMACK* there was on the top shelf with the rest of the 750's calling my name. SOLD, Central Market!

I busted out the bottle open and as soon as I heard the *pssss* of the CO2 escaping from the cracked bottle cap I could smell the sweet bitterness of hops! This was an awesome surprise because after having Stone's Ruination IPA (which I believe to be the IPA to end all IPAs) I was a little skeptical of other competition.

This IPA pours a refreshing clear light golden color. I great white head forms on top of this golden goddess with surprisingly long head retention. All the while the hoppy aroma is just pouring out of the glass.

If you haven't been able to gather thus far there is no need to bury your nose in this beer to catch a whiff. The Cascade and Columbus hops just billow out of glass with an amazing floral aroma. The potent aroma is actually quite inviting and does not impart a dooming intimidation of the assumed face-contorting bitterness that may or may not follow the first sip.

This beer tastes delicious. Because the head retention is good you get to dive through the thick foam into the delicious smelling beverage. The beer is hoppy and there is a huge perception of bitterness. It is properly conditioned and refreshing. Swallowing this brew gives a rush of hoppy flavor. Just about everything you want in an IPA. Hey, I'll say it! This beer is a lot like Stone's Ruination. By that I mean it is DAMN GOOD! Is it AS good? That; I am not so sure. Racer 5 uses a hybrid Columbus hop for bittering and Cascade hops for aromatic affects. This IPA truly instills some finish of bitterness. The perception and aroma of hops nicely compliments it making it a truly delightful experience.

I'll leave you with some of the brew masters comments which I believe to perfectly describe this beer. "Racer 5 is an aggressive styled India Pale Ale. Handmade from a brewery whose motto is 'Bigger is Better'. This golden, well hopped, bottle conditioned ale demands your attention. Try the next generation of I.P.A. Racer 5... Go... Go.."

For the homebrewer... this would be an interesting style of beer to re-create as its ingredients should be readily available at your local home brew market.

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

Chimay - Grande Reserve (BLUE)

The Chimay Brewery, Scourmont Abbey, Municipality of Chimay, Belgium

ABV: 9.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

Yeah... I'm wearing a t-shirt that says, "Beer is my Life"! It seems that ever since I moved to Dallas it seems quite apropos. I won this t-shirt in a raffle at a Belgian beer tasting at The Gingerman. Only irony can explain why I am wearing it now, drinking a Chimay Blue, and writing about it.

This is the first of many Trappist beers that I will be writing about. I'm not going to dive into a detailed history but I will say a little bit. There are only 7 trappist abbeys in the world, 6 of which are in Belgium. These beers are brewed by monastic monks in said abbey's for the purposes of raising funds for the abbey and various charities. Chimay is the most commercialized and widely distributed trappist beers. With that said... down to the beer!

Chimay Blue is a dark strong ale that pours a dark brown hue with a frothy tan head. It is cloudy due to the yeast still in the bottle for bottle conditioning. It is definitely rich looking and my mouth waters at the site of it.

The aroma is rich and malty with a strong aroma of bready yeast. There is a slightly sweet flowery smell that is really nice. Thus far Chimay Blue is a very inviting dark ale.

While nicely carbonated that first sip is chilly and stinging to the tongue. Malty sweet yeasty flavors rush the taste buds as it is swallowed. It has a great flavor with a bready lingering finish. This beer would be a great beginner's introduction to Belgian dark ales. What it lacks in hopped aroma and perception it makes up for with a malty richness which is surprisingly refreshing and pleasant. It is clear that I truly enjoy drinking this beer. I am amazed by how the aromas, spices, malts, and yeast undertones entirely mask the whopping 9% alcholol content. Three Cheers!

I will definitely continue to keep this beer available in my refrigerator and cellar. I am interested to see how age affects this beer. It is said that with age (years) the flavor improves as the yeast continues to ferment the malts and transform the composition.

My final suggestion would be to drink this beer out of a signature Chimay chalice or wide mouth glass. Take your time and "taste" the beer, DON'T drink it. I know it sounds snooty and lame but really try to taste the complexity. I don't believe that there is a question that the Scourmont abbey and it's monastic monk inhabitants truly did invent and perfect the trappist style beer.

DRU: 96/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)