Effervescent Refractions » American Strong Ale

Rogue Monk Madness

Stephane — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:08:39 +0000

I’ll make this one quick as it isn’t worth much time. Starts off nicely with a muddy brick body and a lasting beige cream but the nose is a stupefying imbroglio. All I can cry is, “Where are the monks?” Not terribly offensive, but you could hardly find more modern and American. Almost barleywinesque the nose stresses syrupy hops, ripe banana, caramel, soap and honey. The flavor starts off with mildly unpleasant over-steeped white tea but the dégringolade continues from there. The intense bitterness is appalling, suggesting old socks, perfume and orange peel. I opt for a quick swallow, hoping to abort the looming disaster but encounter a final burst of acridity. The aftertaste is what I imagine sucking a on a nasty old teabag would be like. My notes concerning the mouthfeel actually read “Uggh…” Rogue is generally well regarded, which is perhaps why my words are harsher than my score, but this is a flippant brew indeed.

rating: 50/100

Port Brewing Old Viscosity

Stephane — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:59:12 +0000

Announcing itself with machismo – “Definitely not your dad’s wimpy 30 weight” – Old Viscosity lives up to the preamble oozing like crude oil out of the bottle. A thin tan ring is all I can muster out of this brute. The nose incongruously breathes of light spices and shockingly subtle tonalities. Hints of armagnac, mint, ginger, and root beer extract are apparent while toffee and maple syrup add a raw malty sweetness. Plums and prunes also lend depth to the aroma but aren’t quite balanced. Though certainly viscous, the mouthfeel isn’t as dense as the color suggests. Dark chocolate and coffee, the habitual Imperial Stout duo, here combine with fruity undertones. Banana, blackcurrant, raisin and grape are particularly noticeable. The root beer aroma turns to cola on the tongue and walnuts are a welcome treat. The carbonation is hesitant, unable to overcome its tenacious milieu. Finally, the thick texture itself concedes to alcoholic heat in the aftertaste, though almondy flavors sweeten the compromise. Despite obvious potential, the complexities of this brew remain muted throughout the experience. Where they could have been emphasized, these subtle flavors disappear capitulating perhaps to the virile intentions of the brewers.

rating: 70/100

Stone Double Bastard

Stephane — Sun, 21 May 2006 07:54:48 +0000

After tasting the Arrogant, or Single Bastard, I wondered for long what made the Double Bastard indeed double. I was hoping for a second helping of malts rather than hops as I found the original somewhat bitter for my taste. The pour produced a clear but deep ruby body topped of a creamy custard head that rapidly disappeared to yield a central column of carbonation. At the nose I found my inquiries to be answered by a straightforward but complex aroma. Sweet rich malts are well balanced by the alcohol and a fruity blend of cherry, apple, berries, and syrupy orange scents mingles with a creamy coffee note. The flavor was a bit more reminiscent of the single Bastard with its strong grapefruit tonalities accompanied by slightly green coffee and chocolate notes. Some flowery bitterness is also noticeable as it joins the finishing bloom of grape juice leading to a smooth creamy aftertaste. A terrific effort from Stone, and my favorite so far.

rating: 76/100

Stone 9th Anniversary Ale

Stephane — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:30:43 +0000

Pouring the Stone 9 produced yellowish white bubble bath atop the slightly hazy pumpkin body. Gossamer lacing sticks to the sides of the glass as the head reduces. In the nose a simple hop aroma is predominant, but seems more centered on sweet citrus fruits like orange than the bitter grapefruit that often reverbates from hops. Pineapple and mango give the aroma a slightly tropical twist without dramatically increasing the complexity. In the flavor, citrus is further emphasized by lemon and grapefruit in conjunction with the familiar burnt toast. The palate and finish feel watery but ultimately transcend to a creamy aftertaste. Not the best product from Stone Brewery but would be a lovely “easy-drinking” beer if it were more commercially available.

rating: 66/100

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

Stephane — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 19:07:59 +0000

For my first Stone brew Arrogant Bastard seemed like a natural choice especially as a base for the double and aged variants. The standard Stone bottles have a great personality and attention to detail, it was a joy to crack open and pour. The hue reminds me of a dark chestnut color that shines red-orange in the light. A frothy pale yellow head sits uncomfortably above the liquid and leaves sparse bubbly lacing on the glass. The aroma first strikes as powerful and very hoppy, with grapefruit dominating the first whiff. With closer inspection a blend of cherry, red apples and banana strike the nose while coffee, cream and a slight woody note provide a soft balance. Sweet fruity malts hit the tongue initially but soon the hops override the main flavor with a touch of smoky spices. I’m not a big hop nut myself but I enjoyed the change from my usual Belgian preference. The aftertaste leaves a long Sahara-dry hop flavor that sticks to the back of your tongue forever and encourages another sip. As far as hoppy beers go, I do appreciate the complexity but it is always hard for me to enjoy the overpowering bitterness.

rating: 74/100