Chin Chin's 2012 Oktoberfest Challenge

Tonight's challenge was conducted using only authentic Octoberfest beers. These amber marzen brews were imported from Munich, Germany, home of Oktoberfest. These offerings are from 3 of the 6 major breweries that offer Oktoberfest beers. These breweries all have rich traditions and have been brewing their craft beverages for centuries. All of the beers reviewed below were brewed following the German Beer Purity Law. Germany doesn't mess around with brewing traditions!

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest 

Pours a chestnut brown with 1 finger's worth of white head. Carbonated bubbles constantly rise from the bottom of the glass - It‘s kind of mesmerizing. Aromas of malt and caramel, slightly floral. Sweet caramel flavor with some nutty tones. Medium body light carbonated mouth feel. Slightly dry finish with notes of raw grain.

Hofbrau Oktoberfest 

Pours a pale gold with a short lived thin white head. Has the deliberate skunky aroma that is typical with beer poured from a green bottle - think Heineken. Honey sweet flavor with hoppy bitterness.  A light body with bright carbonation. The finish has notes of grain and is a little on the harsh side. What's unique is how mild the skunky (again, a deliberate technique) flavor comes through in the taste despite the overwhelming aroma. 

Spaten Oktoberfest 

Pours amber is color with a short lived white head. An almost absent aroma, just a hard to distinguish hint of floral perfume and slightly skunky. Green bottle. Flavor notes of malts and caramel, slightly nutty. Light body, light carbonated mouthfeel, dry finish with notes of grain.

The Winner of Chin Chin’s 2012 Oktoberfest Challenge is - Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest. While Spaten Oktoberfest was a close second with many similar qualities, Hacker-Pschorr's full body and big flavor gave it the edge. A glass raised to all these fine German brews and the importers who make the enjoyment of these beers possible in the USA. 

                                      Prost!!!

Stone Smoked Porter

Stone Brewing Company is located in Escondido, California. They’ve been brewing quality craft beers since 1996. Their mascot is a wicked looking beer drinking gargoyle. The descriptions of their beers on their website and bottles are legendary. 

This porter pours a beautiful dark brown and is capped with an equally attractive sugar cookie colored head of froth. The aroma has notes of molasses, and beech wood. The head recedes slowly leaving behind thick globes of lacing. I smiled after my first sip. I'm not kidding. Delicious. Notes of chocolate malt and toasted almond make for a delicious flavor. This porter is also complimented with hints of coffee and caramel. This brew has a velvety body that turns creamy when the carbonation flares on the pallet. The finish is smokey and helps set up a nice relaxing finale.

Personally, I thought this brew was fantastic. A great blending of flavors, but not too heavy or strong. Sitting pretty at a mere 5.9% alcohol-by-volume, this porter is very drinkable and goes down easy. On the variety of brew styles, I think porters serve as a nice bridge between the light and fruity ales of summer, and the heavy stouts of winter. Stone’s Smoked Porter is perfect for autumn weather and activities. I’d recommend this brew during chilly nights around the campfire, tailgate BBQ’s (GO LIONS!!!), or in a chilled glass after a long day. Luckily for us all, Smoked Porter is available all year round.  

Cheers!!!

Jim Beam Red Stag Spiced

When making a beer run for a recent review I was surprised to see Red Stag Spiced (with cinnamon) on the counter. Excited even. I like bourbon, and I like cinnamon. 

Fingers Crossed. Glass. Ice. Pour.

The aroma gives off only a subtle hint of cinnamon, which is promising. The first sip confirms the cinnamon is not very dominant. I like this because it lets the bourbon speak for itself. What's unique is the cinnamon flares a bit during the end, creating a nice spicy finish. What I also like is this flavored whiskey tastes very natural , as if before aging, a few cinnamon sticks were dropped in the barrel. This is where Red Stag Spiced exceeds over all other cinnamon flavored liquors I’ve tried, which usually suffer the artificial Red Hots candy flavor. I could see this being a nice drink to sip around the holidays, or a nice kick to add to Grandma's spiced holiday punch or cider. Regardless of the season, Red Stag Spiced is a welcomed addition to the flavored whiskey family. 

Black Velvet Toasted Caramel Flavored Whiskey

Tonight's glass is brought to you by our neighbors from the north. Canada's own Black Velvet Toasted Caramel Whiskey. Black Velvet is as traditional to Canada as maple syrup, and has been just as successful as an export to the US as well. Lets put this new variation to the test.

Glass. Ice. Pour Three Fingers High. 

This whiskey smells like someone dropped a bag of butterscotch candies in the barrel before aging. The taste has a bit more of the advertised caramel flavor. This got me wondering. What exactly is "toasted" caramel suppose to taste like? Is it even possible to toast caramel? Wouldn't it just melt? My wife has a Toasted Caramel candle, which ironically was the only other item to come up besides Black Velvet when I Googled "Toasted Caramel. Anyway....

This is pretty good, but the whiskey flavor does seemed to be masked by the butterscotch flavor, and at times it seems a bit too sweet as a result. In fact, it really tastes like Buttershots Schnapps mixed with Whiskey. Overall, its not a bad thing, but I think this would be better suited in hot apple cider or mixed with some maple syrup and drizzled over pecan covered waffles for a Sunday brunch. It could also make for a nice shot, but as for on the rocks, its a bit too sweet to tolerate for a long sipping session. 

Cheers!!!

Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Wee Scotch Ale

Scotch Ales are heavy ales that originated in Scotland. This style is brewed with a generous amount of malts, while only using a small amount of hops. Wee Heavy brews traditionally have a longer brewing/ boiling process, which caramelizing the wort. This produces a sweeter full bodied beer, and a higher alcohol content as a result. Hooray for nature!!!

Lienekugel’s Big Eddy series produces limited full bodied craft style brews. The name was inspired by the Big Eddy Spring, which has been the company’s water supply for over 140 years. 

Pours a cherry cola brown with a small amount of toasted biscuit colored head. The aroma is malty, with some toasted grain coming through. I'm also getting a hint of plums, and other dark fruits.

Right of the bat, you can tell this is pretty complex brew as several flavors entices the pallet. This ale is sweet with notes of chocolate and caramel. The eight varieties of malts makes this Wee Heavy a comforting experience. Think of a bearded Will Ferrel enjoying this brew with his lov-ah on the hearthside of the fireplace. The flavor notes continue as hints of toasted almonds and raisins also become apparent during enjoyment. Wee Heavy has a thick syrupy body and very little carbonation. This ale has a long bittersweet molasses finish with a thick malty ending. 

A very nice heavy style ale. The alcohol content is nicely masked and makes a subtle appearance during occasional pleasant *warming effects. With its big body, and plethora of distinguishable flavor notes, Lienenkugel’s Wee Heavy Scotch Ale would be a great brew to breakout and discuss with friends and beer enthusiast. 

*Warming effects  (as defined by Chin Chin) - that little enjoyable flush of warm comfort that happens when the alcohol your drinking decides to define itself. I’d imagine it’s similar to being gently hugged by a bear who’s been laying in the sun.  

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

Whiskey Wednesday 

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

While going up north this past summer I was introduced to two things: a board game called Dirty Marbles, and Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey. I’ll admit, when I first heard the name “Bird Dog”, i didn’t immediately think of a quality whiskey. It reminded me of all the cheap booze that collects dust on party store shelves. After one look at the handsome cork stopped bottle, I became optimistic.  

Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey

Served on the rocks, of course 

Immediately noticeable is how nice blackberry pairs with whiskey. The blackberry is refreshing and isn’t overly sweet. It also isn’t overpowering, allowing this white oak aged Kentucky bourbon to speak for itself. Bird Dog is advertised as naturally flavored, and it is very evident. It isn't artificial or fake tasting. It should also be noted how smooth this whiskey is. I’m talking Miles Davis - on vinyl - on a rainy sunday morning smooth. Overall this whiskey is very easy drinking and instantly became one of my favorites. If you’re having second thoughts on a “flavored” whiskey, let me assure you, Bird Dog is very natural, and the blackberry flavor is minor. The bourbon really is the star, so chillax my indecisive people and take a sip. 

If you're thinking about picking up a bottle, I’d recommend checking out birddogwhiskey.com and using their Find Bird Dog link. I searched for two weeks before coming up with the brilliant idea of using the link myself.

As for Dirty Marbles, it’s a board game similar to Aggravation and Sorry, but you use two decks of cards instead of dice to move your marbles. This gives the player a very strategic edge when playing, which makes the game very competitive as a result. 

Cheers.

Recommended Listening: “Whiskey” by Scott H. Biram 

Dragonmead's Final Absolution Trippel Ale

The Dragonmead is a medieval themed brewery that is located right around the corner in Warren, Michigan. It opened in 1997 and currently has 47 BEERS ON TAP!!! All brewed at the Dragonmead. The brewery stores 77 types of grain, from 7 different countries, giving them the freedom to brew of variety of popular styles. The first brew I plan to slay on this Nobel quest, is none other than the Dreagonmead's signature product, Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippel Ale.

A triple ale usually refers to an ale that has a 9% ABV rating or higher. This wonderful accomplishment of nature is the result of a brewer using extra hops, or "three" times the usual amount, and thus the Triple Ale became the adopted title for this style of brew.

This ale pours a clear rusty orange with a thin short lived cap of white head. It doesn't have the most impressive appearance, but mamma said, triple ales are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Final Absolution has a very fruity aroma with a hint of spice. The flavor is malty with notes of bananas, grapes, and cloves. It has a thick syrupy body, with a nice bitter element that helps balance this brew out. The surprise is the carbonation. Despite the lack of a frothy head, this ale is nicely carbonated, apparent both in taste, and in the ring of froth that flares after every sip. The finish is snappy with a sticky sweet ending. 

A very nice brew to fill thy cup, yet never allow thee to overflow. Sadly I have yet to visit the Dragonmead. Perhaps a mighty quest is in order, followed through with great chivalry. A pilgrimage to conquer the 47 headed tap monster with nothing but my own thirst and a mug. 

To help aid in this quest, the Dragonmead has a Passport Club. Read on young squire to learn more

The Passport Club is an exciting and enjoyable way to try the different style brews we craft here at Dragonmead. You receive two signature-logo pint glasses, two free pint gift certificates, and your own passport to our brews. In it we stamp visas for the beers of the world you have tried and it is an excellent way to record your personal tasting notes.  $25.00 + tax.  Available through the pub.

Cheers!!!