Beer: Trois Pistoles

Brewery: Unibroue Chambly, Quebec, Canada

Overview: Until I started looking into this beer, I had no clue that Unibroue had so many beers, but Trois Pistoles is one of the wider distributed ones, along with Ephemere, Maudite, and La Fin Du Monde.  Trois Pistoles is another classic Belgian example from this French-Canadian brewery.

Aroma: Sliced Granny Smith and Fuji apples like a fresh , some cotton candy off the side of the glass.  Candy sugar sweetness from the nose.  Thick molasses and brown sugar underneath.  Sweet fruits, plums and light grape notes underneath.

Appearance: Dark brown with ruby or plum highlights just around the edges when held up to light.  Giant three inch tan foamy head that sticks around in a foamy circle in the center of the surface.

Flavor:Extremely complex beer.  The initial flavor is like a highly carbonated port wine, with some light toast coming later.  Heavy dark fruits caramelized with molasses.  Light bitterness with some lime juice and tart apple notes.  Light cocoa.  Some raisins hiding in the finish.  A slight alcohol taste lingers, but without any heat or slickness.

Overall Impression: Overwhelmingly delicious.  I have yet to have any experience with a Unibroue produced beer that is less than positive, and this beer is absolutely wonderful.  Clearly too potent for a long-drinking beer, Trois Pistoles is a wonderful experience to finish out your evening and relax.  The large bottle is more than enough to enjoy, think about, relax, and enjoy some more.

Vitals:
Style Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Price $5.99/1 pt. 9.4 oz bottle
Found In Regional Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 9% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 15.5 IBU

Rating: 98

Beer: Leibinger Zeppelin

Brewery: Brewery Leibinger Ravensburg, Germany

Overview: Zeppelin is an unfiltered specialty beer produced by the Leibinger Brewery and imported to the United States.

Aroma: Heavy malt flavor, some light citrus with bready notes.  Slight brown sugar underneath.

Appearance: Light amber, some faint orange tones, with a grey-white sticky head that plays around the glass, with some persistence.  Light clear yellow appearance near the edges of the glass.  Slight cloudiness, but substantially clearer than a hefeweizen or other traditionally "cloudy" beer.

Flavor: Nice strong malt dominance in the flavor up front, similar to a malt-heavy European amber lager, and its Mexican clones.  Some powerful bitterness overwhelms the balance in the back end as it builds and sticks around on the tongue as you drink down the glass.  Over time changes to copper pennies and 9 volt battery on the tongue.  Extremely light body, with a long-lingering finish.

Overall Impression: Overall, this beer is not really one I would go to over and over again.  While an interesting departure from other European lagers, something about the bitterness didn't sit right with me.  Perhaps it is my lack of familiarity with this specialty style, but if all Kellerbeers taste this way, then it is probably not a style for me.  Some people may like it, but this one may be a while before I decide to revisit again.

Vitals:
Style Specialty Beer - Kellerbier
Price $1.99/single
Found In Chain Import Store
Alcohol Content 5.2% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 20 IBU

Rating: 76

Beer: Weihenstephaner Vitus

Used with permission
Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Brewery: Braurei Weihenstephan Freising, Germany

Overview: Another beer from the Weihenstephaner beer selection.  I was quite impressed with the Korbinian, and needed more validation that the oldest brewery in the world knows how to make good beers.  The Vitus is not quite what I expected, but certainly makes me want to look at the other options on their menu.

Aroma:Wheat bread, some sugary sweet with citrus blossom notes.  Mildest hints of banana and clove.  Lemon peel with raisins sprinkled on top.  Some alcohol, but not overwhelming.

Appearance: Cloudy straw color, with hints of orange in the darkest areas, reflection from bottom of glass may appear almost white.  Thick foamy white head.

Flavor: Much smoother and maltier than the aroma would indicate.  Some alcohol warmth in the back of the throat.  Almost a light caramel sweetness at first with some darker sweet molasses flavors which the beer's color belies.  Some lemon carries through to the flavor, but almost as a dessert to the wheat and the sweet.  Hints of vanilla and perhaps cinnamon float up to the nose from the throat.  Definitely can leave a trail of hot alcohol on the tongue reminiscent of a vodka shot taken yesterday evening.  Slightly chewy mouthfeel which cuts the slickness potential of the higher alcohol.

Overall Impression: While this does not have the typical darker color expected of a weizenbock (it looks more like a witbier), Weihenstephaner beers do have that rich history that makes me think they know what they are doing.  In truth, this seems like a strong hefeweizen, and as such, it is still an enjoyable beer.  I would have to recommend trying this beer at some point, but I can't quite put my finger on when would be the appropriate time.  The higher alcohol content tends to make it slightly less refreshing for a casual beer than a standard strength hefeweizen might be and push it into a winter warming category.  Meanwhile, the refreshing flavor and citrusy tones in the beer make it more of a summer or fall selection than something you would drink in a serious conversation in a darkened pub in the midst of winter.  Still, it's an excellent beer, worthy of a taste or two when you want to kick your wheat beer up with just a little bit of punch.

Vitals:
Style Weizenbock
Price $3.99/1 pt. 0.9 oz bottle
Found In Regional Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 7.7% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 17 IBU

Rating: 96

Beer: Rahr Blonde Lager

Brewery: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company Fort Worth, Texas

Overview: Rahr is a local brew, so I had to give it a try.  The only brewery closer to me would be Franconia in McKinney, Texas, and they don't offer bottled beers.  I decided to give the Rahr blonde a try since it is their primary brew.

Aroma: Not sure what the predominant aroma is, but a definite band-aid phenol is present.  Some lemon hiding in there, perhaps.

Appearance: Clear straw, extremely thin white head.  Good amount of sandy-like suspended sediment.

Flavor: The rubbery flavor carries over dramatically to the taste as well.  Something is off in the flavor and it leaves a dryness on the tongue that carries over just an unpleasant edge of bitterness.  Finish is almost a dirt-like earthiness.

Overall Impression: Of every Texas beer I have had, this is certainly towards the bottom of the list.  I am not sure if perhaps I got a bad bottle and this just needs a re-taste later on, or if this is really just a beer that I am not a fan of.   With so many beers to try, I don't foresee getting back around to this anytime soon, particularly, but I may try to run the gamut on the other Rahr & Sons brews.

Vitals:
Style Munich Helles
Price $7.49/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 4.8% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 22 IBU

Rating: 73

Beer: Magic Hat Wacko

Used with permission
Magic Hat Brewery

Brewery: Magic Hat Brewery South Burlington, Vermont

Overview: Magic Hat, famous for its #9, has a wide selection of seasonal beers that you can occasionally pick up at your local liquor store.  I got hooked on #9's weird fruity flavors on a business trip in Herndon, Virginia, strangely also the first place I found Wacko.  This six pack of Wacko, however, was available in Texas, and, as it happened, I was sending and receiving some messages on Twitter from @magichat on the day this year's Wacko batch was being bottled.  I'm not sure I know of any other beer, by the way, that contains beet juice.

Aroma: Really clean malty aroma with some moderate sweetness from some fruit (can't for sure say it is the beets).

Appearance: Pours a pale hazy pink, like a white zinfandel or other "pink" wine.  Think white head that dissipates quickly.

Flavor: Medium malt profile with a hint of tangy flavor around the front of the tongue.  Only a slight hint of sweetness.  Some spice to the hops in the finish, but not anything overwhelmingly bitter anywhere in the beverage.  Some crisp dryness to it.

Overall Impression: I am not sure what this beer is.  Magic Hat calls it a "Summer Beer" and I would have to agree, I suppose, as that category is just as fitting as any other.  I will say, in the flavor profile, the beets are not really strong enough to bring out a ton of sweetness or much else.  This is just a very easy drinking, light and refreshing summer beer.  I would definitely put this a notch above the typical American lite lagers, and probably not quite in the range of APAs for a preferred style, but it fits as a drinkable and accessible beverage with some unique qualities to it (the color, tangy flavor, bizarre fruity smell), and you can't forget the great slogans in the bottle cap.  Mine said, "Bubbles in the Bath make your toes Laugh" though I am not quite sure why my beer was discussing bathing habits, nor do I get the weird capitalization.  Still, it's Magic Hat.  So it's unique.

Vitals:
Style Specialty Beer
Price $7.99/six-pack
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 4.5% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 15 IBU


Rating: 92

Beer: Kirin Ichiban

Beautiful Design by T. Young
Licensed under Creative Commons

Brewery: Anheuser-Busch, Inc (Kirin Beers) Los Angeles, California

Overview: A typical "Japanese" go-to staple of sushi restaurants, Kirin is a light colored attempt at a full-flavored lager.   I was surprised slightly to see that in the US it is produced by Anheuser Busch, but after trying it and making some notes, it did seem to fit more of a mass market beer profile.

Aroma: Malty, like bread crusts.  Perhaps a slight hint of lemon zest buried underneath.  Some sourdough crusts on the kitchen counter with a window open to fresh cut grass.

Appearance: Clear, light straw colored.  Thick, pure white head that quickly dissipates, leaving some residue on glass but not strong enough for further lacing.

Flavor:  Not  much jumps out.  Little bitterness, some malt profile but without any complexity whatsoever.  Leaves a crisp feeling on the tongue, but one that is devoid of a particular flavor, with just a hint of hop bitterness bordering on earthy greenery.  Tastes a little bit like a copper penny sitting on the back of your tongue.

Overall Impression: Very mass-market drinkable and less than noteworthy in my opinion.  I like to pick up Japanese beers when I eat sushi, but compared to a Sapporo, the Kirin is extremely light in flavor and light in reasons for me to pick it up again.  Overall, it drinks fine, but is more akin to a Budweiser or Coors than a German Lager.  Drinkable, but not my favorite in the Japanese beer category.

Vitals:
Style Japanese Lager (German Pils?)
Price $7.49/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 4.49% by volume
Availability Year-round

Rating: 88

Scotch: The Dalmore 12 Year

While the focus of this site is primarily on reviews of beer and wine (the staples), we do occasionally enjoy other beverages (particularly Scotch), and will post reviews as well.  If you are looking for a regular Scotch whisky review, I recommend subscribing to The Scotchcast.  My regular Scotch purchase this time led me to The Dalmore, and I happened to get a Dalmore glass along with it, complete with stag's head logo and a thick glass bottom, from which I will be trying the Scotch.  The glass does have a slight tulip shape, adding to my ability to nose the Scotch a bit.

Distillery: The Dalmore Distillery  Alness, Ross-shire, Scotland

Overview: The Dalmore Distillery has been making malt whisky since 1839.  The Dalmore distills using copper stills and then ages the whisky in Spanish oak sherry wood casks. The Dalmore distillery is heavily associated with the Clan MacKenzie, sharing the stag's head on the bottle that adorns the MacKenzie coat of arms.

Neat:
Nose: Dark fruits are predominant.  Some mild spice and a hint of maple syrup in the end.  Sherry definitely is hidden in there, with a quite forward black cherry.  Mild hint of salt. A worn piece of shoe leather and a few old books round out the nose for quite a balance with the sweetness.

Appearance: Dark amber, some gold and copper highlights like a clover honey.  Does run the glass some, not too watery.

Flavor: Extremely mild up front, with a hint of sweetness.  Finish is long and leaves salt and some burn on the tongue and throat.  Dark fruits are present, but slight, perhaps mixed with figs.  Perhaps a hint of clove, cinnamon, and other spiciness in the mouth.  What's interesting is there is absolutely no burn with the Scotch in the mouth until swallowing, and the vapors of the finish provide the alcohol warmth.

With Water:
Nose: Salt is gone, but still a very nice balance of roasting dark fruits in a library lined with dark woods and old books. 

Appearance: Water does not really change appearance at all.  Perhaps lightens the gold characteristics.

Flavor:A little more smoke is present with the water, which is strange (or perhaps I didn't notice before), but the burn is entirely gone.  The flavor, however, is not.  Some honey sweetness starts to come out of the flavor. Very creamy feel in the mouth.

Overall Impression: My preference is always for the lighter Scotches, which tends towards the Speysides, but occasionally drifts to the Highlands, Lowlands, and last the Islays.  The Dalmore was, as are many of my Scotch purchases outside of my preferred small set of "standards," an impulse buy at the store, but it was a very good choice nevertheless.  This Scotch has a wonderful complexity to it, but is not overwhelming with any particular flavor, and its balance carries over well to the addition of water, which, with this whisky, is my preference.  The complex flavors are there, but with substantially less burn in the finish.

Vitals:
Style Highland Single Malt
Maturation Age 12 Years
Price $44.00
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 40% by volume

Wine: 2009 Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc

Vineyard: Arbor Crest Winery Spokane, Washington

Bouquet: Fruity with light butter.  Some lime, apples, light fruits.

Appearance:Clear, extremely pale yellow, perhaps a light corn silk, with a slight greenish tint.

Flavor: Sweet in the mouth, with some bitterness in the finish.  Leaves a slight astringency on the tongue as it goes down.  Grows on you as you drink, with Granny Smith apples and hints of citrus.  Not overly bitter, and extremely well balanced.

Overall Impression: This white is immediately refreshing and extremely deceptive.  I picked this up, to be honest, because it was a "select manager's special" at the local liquor store, but it turned out to be excellent, and really complex for a young white wine.  When it first hits your tongue, it carries with it a sweetness that seems almost out of character and more in line with a Riesling or Gewurtzraminer, but upon swallowing, the dryer finish balances out the sweetness almost perfectly, making this a wonderful drinking wine.  If you like Sauvignon Blanc, this is definitely worth picking up to try.

Vitals:
Vintage: 2009
Varietal Sauvignon Blanc
Price $13.99
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 13.2% by volume

Beer: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Used with permission
Dogfish Head Brewery

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Milton, Delaware

Overview: Dogfish's "session IPA" boasts 60 hop additions over 60 minutes and is the most tame of their three IPA brews - junior kid to the 90- and 120-minute versions.

Aroma: All hops.  Some sweet citrus hop flavors fronted by fresh grapefruit notes.  Hints of greenery with an undertone of lemon punching through the grapefruit.  Slight candy sweetness underneath the hops (I only find this once my nose starts to get fatigued).  Some possible fresh cut grass.

Appearance: Rich gold color with a giant foamy white head potentially requiring a staged pour.  Some light hints of orange in the color, but primarily a deep, rich gold, reminiscent of a Scotch whisky.  Crystal clear.

Flavor: Hit with a quick malt that instantly disappears into typical hop bitterness.  Grapefruit lighter in the flavor that in the nose but still present.  Bitterness lingers well past the finish to hang on to the sides of the tongue.  There is a slight undertone of malty sweetness, perfect for balancing the IPA without detracting from the dominant hoppiness.

Overall Impression: The brewery describes this as their "session IPA," and while I am not sure I could consume six or eight of these without being worse for wear from the alcohol, I definitely agree that this is an easily drinkable "party IPA" that will not knock you down halfway through the first one.  Overall quite enjoyable and with a good hop profile which does not overwhelm with a particular grapefruit or other flavor but still maintains the excellent blend of bitter flavors.  While this beer primarily makes me want to go find the 90- and 120- minute versions for a try, it also has staying power on its own as something to keep around as a "go-to" for IPA flavor without an immediate punch in the skull.

Vitals:
Style American IPA
Price $8.99/six-pack
Found In Regional Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 6.0% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 60 IBU

Rating: 95