Dogfish Head Miles Davis' Bitches Brew

The hype of this beer has seemed to die down some since last year when the show "Brew Masters" was still airing. The show seemed like a craft brew nerds dream and would have really created more interest  in craft beer, but the show was prematurely cancelled due to low ratings.

Here is a link containing Sam Calagione giving a little more background on the beer and the meaning behind them brewing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9AwdXioyNc&feature=player_embedded

While Dogfish Head beers are hard to go wrong with, the hefty price tag on the 750's ($13+) have kept me away from most of their line up. I saw Bitches Brew and having passed it up in the past I thought I'd give it a chance.

 Pours a solid black with brown head that leaves a pretty nice ring.

The smell is dark chocolate with a touch of smoke. Overall a very earthy aspect to it.

The taste is mild on the front but the back after you swallow hits you like a ton of bricks. Molasses, smoke, loads of chocolate, and just a little roast. Very sweet but well balanced by the complexities.

Overall a damn amazing beer. A big creamy mouth feel makes it seem well above 9% ABV but no alcohol is present at all.

Overall Score: 9 out of 10

Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout

Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout Is currently being sold in the Sam Adams Winter Variety Pack. Overall the 12 pack is a great deal and full of decent to awesome beers, Black & Brew being the stand out in the bunch. Coming in a 5.8% ABV, which seems pretty standard for most Sam Adams beers, it is an easy drinker and fits in the pack nicely. The label looks extremely 90's and outdated to me but oh well I digress.


Pours pretty much solid black with khaki head.

The smell is black coffee and some cinnamon/nutmeg notes.

The taste is a light coffee and coco roast on the front with a stronger coffee and cinnamon on the back. A medium mouth feel that has enough carbonation to keep it silky.

Overall a pretty badass Coffee Stout. It is an extremely solid example of the style, that fits very well as a winter seasonal.


Final score: 9 out of 10

Iron Fist Velvet Glove

Iron Fist is a one year old brewery out of North San Diego County. I have heard great things about their beers for some time now but the large format bottles and $10-13 price tag had kept me away....until now. While back in San Diego a few weeks ago I decided to pick up Velvet Glove, their 9% ABV Imperial Oatmeal Stout.

Pours a solid black with brown hues around the edge. Nice brown head on this one.

The smell consists of raisins, chocolate, and a little alcohol. There are a decent amount of dark fruits coming through.

The taste is mellow chocolate on the front as it glides down with its thick silky mouth feel. But when the back hits, HOT DAMN! Big chocolate notes. Almost a fudge aftertaste.

This is an awesome beer an while it isn't one of those big bitter roasty Stouts (which we have enough of already), it hits the style hard and does it well.

Final score: 9 out of 10

For being such a new brewery and this being the first beer I've had by them I am impressed.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is a long awaited seasonal released each year in time for Fall. Struggling at times to find it on the West Coast, it is in abundance in the greater D.C. area.

While not my favorite Pumpkin Ale it is one of the most solid example of the style. Here's a description from the brewer: "A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg."

Pours amber with a nice creamy head.

The smell is of pumpkin pie spice while still having a bready malt character to it.


There is a balance to this beer that too many Pumpkin beers fail to capture. While being flavorful with spices you can still pick up some of the pumpkin and enjoy the added body it gives.

Final score: 8 out of 10

Oak Aged Black Jack Stout - Duclaw Brewing Co.

I have never heard of DuClaw Brewing Company before, but while doing a trade with a fellow Beer Advocate he suggest I try Oak Aged Black Jack Stout if I get the chance. I found a few bottles at I think $10.99, so I figured I'd give it a shot. DuClaw is a brewery out of Maryland that has a few restaurants as well. The following is my review:


Pours a solid black with brown head.

The smell is bourbon, wood, and pretty much chocolate covered cherries.

The taste is woody alcohol on the front and mid with a lot of chocolate on the back. Not a lot of coffee on this one.

Overall a pretty awesome beer if you enjoy the barrel heavy brews. Looks like it's a little known gem for now so hopefully I can pick up a few more bottles to sit on.

Final score: 8 1/2 out of 10


I realized my last two reviews didn't have a final score which may be helpful for an overall view. I will start to add an overall 1-10 final score to each review.

Trader Joe's Vintage Ale 2011

I have been waiting for this beer since I started working at Trader Joe's in August. After hearing bad things about last years vintage I was slightly skeptical but at $4.99 for a corked and caged 750 ml bottle you can't really go wrong.

Each year this is a Belgian beer contract brewed by Unibroue, the famed makers of La Fin Du Monde. Bottle conditioned and 9% ABV it is a perfect candidate for aging. I have 5 more bottles but plan on picking up a few more.


Pours a murky Belgian style brown with huge off white head.

The smell is very herby. Coriander, grass, and lemon peal.

The taste is herby on the front followed by brown sugar. Ending with prune, caramel, and herb on the back.

The style of "Belgian Dark Ale" can scare me at times because it has been hit or miss and a pretty undefined style. To me this tastes like a dark Witt if there were such a thing.

General Washington's Tavern Porter

   Yards Brewing Company out of Philadelphia is best known for producing fine English Ales. The beer for review today is Washington's Tavern Porter. The beer is based off of Washington's very own recipe, although if you have ever seen the recipe you can see the room for interpretation.

http://www.beerhistory.com/library/holdings/washingtonrecipe.shtml


Pours black with rose hues. Tan head with amazing lacing.

The smell is sweet. A lot of dark fruits and a slight vanilla.

The taste is some dark cherries on the front, with a roasty bitterness coming in on the back.

The mouth feel is the winner in this beer, very velvety smooth and glides across your tongue.

"Historical note: (Yard's) new brewery is located just blocks away from the site of Robert Hare's brewery, where Washington's favorite Philadelphia Porter was crafted."