http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php RSS Feed for Beer & Spirits WCWN Forums - UBB.threads(tm) http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=372106#Post372106 Posted by Brad Harrington:
Not much of a fan of IPA's in general and black IPA's are only a slight improvement for me. But, if you ever run into the Port Brewing Midnight Expressions Black Lager, grab some. It gets huge reviews on both ratebeer and the beer advocate. They make another black lager called Hot Rocks which has never done it for me but you might like it more than I do. It's more hoppy and I'm not a big fan of over the top hoppiness.]]> Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:22:30 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=372101#Post372101 Posted by tbrockjr:
You nailed with the carbonation. Sessionable with just enough interest to plow through 3 or 4 before I would get tired. ]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:51:52 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=372055#Post372055 Posted by Marc Hanes:
Highland Brewing Company Thunderstruck Coffee Porter American Porter North Carolina 5.8% 12oz, 6-Pack $10.29 Presents two fingers of dark brown foam, islands of larger bubbles create an uneven surface, not the longest retention so it smoothes out as it settles, while thin the lacing sticks for an extended period. Spotless black liquid, now and then you see a few tiny bubbles make a run for the surface, very thin orange band around the glass bottom. The coffee roast in the nose is thick but not heavy and, actually, not as overly dominant as expected, chicory, lemon peel, bitter dark chocolate and a few coconut flakes slip in, some mint or other herbs, dry nostril texture with no real fruitiness, penetrates like an arrow. Medium-bodied, unyielding at moments, yet releases enough to flow forward. As before, the coffee roast is not bitter nor aggressive if omnipresent. Any nuttiness equally met by lemon to grapefruit citrus accents, especially as aided by mineral water flavoring. Sweeter grains and blanche]]> Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:06:56 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371960#Post371960 Posted by R. Schiffman:
We often have Grappa at the end of the night at our wine group events. The wife tried it and said it tastes like Turpentine. I just add that it tastes like very good turpentine. Like Dave, I've never met a Grappa I didn't like. Some I like better than others -- do you hear me Jacopo Poli?]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:21:08 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371936#Post371936 Posted by Marc Hanes:
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Ta Henket (Beer Brewed With Za’atar, Doum Fruit, And Chamomile) American Pale Wheat Ale Delaware 4.5% 25.4oz, Single $13.99 Pours a monumental head that fills half the glass with wispy of-white foam, not much retention, dissolves without dimpling, the microbubbles all knit together, average lacing, not a lot but what’s there sticks in wide splotches. Copper orange to yellow in color, decent clarity, hue depth also adequate, like zero bubbles to be seen, kinda just looks like “beer.” The nose is quiet to subtle, brown bread crust, pretzel dough, salt and pepper, orange to lemon reduction, peach, apricot, pear and melon fruit scents, the chamomile comes through clearly, honey and then some cloves but really no one element leaps out at you here. Medium-bodied, more savory than sweet, carbonation is low but still more than you’d expect from visual inspection, salt, pepper, sage, rosemary, metallic flecks and a light pinch of clove and cumin. The chamomile more muted here, however]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:29:23 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371805#Post371805 Posted by Marc Hanes:
Rogue Ales Brewery American Amber Ale American Amber/Red Ale Oregon 5.6% 12oz, 6-Pack $10.99 Nice, full two finger head of orange-tinted tan, almost all microfoam with an even surface and delicate to the touch, the lacing is not overpowering but where it sticks it sticks in thick streaks. The liquid is a cloudy, glowing, opaque amber red, every bit true to the category, equal parts brown and orange rust, hordes of loose bubbles scattered throughout. The nose seems to take pains to play down the malt side of the equation, all pine, peat, salt and pepper, unprocessed grains and dry earth before allowing room for any butterscotch, caramel hard candy or cocoa accents, does not display discernible fruit nor citrus notes, lasts well without being showy. Medium-bodied, outsized carbonation fluffs it up big time in the mouth, at times you feel like its gonna escape your pursed lips. While there is an underlying astringency, here you get a lot more caramel, toffee, creamed coffee as well as cocoa roast. The gra]]> Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:48:21 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371804#Post371804 Posted by Marc Hanes:
Butte Creek Brewing Company Organic Porter American Porter California 6.1% 12oz, 6-Pack $11.49 Thin head of basic tannish brown, dissipates swiftly down to the barest surface coating, the lacing slides fully off the glass sides back into the abyss below. Clear liquid, mainly brown yet with a strong reddish cast, you get a hint of metallic orange at the glass bottom, widely dispersed storm of tiny bubbles easily visible. The nose is fairly demure, has a clean roastiness to it, dark chocolate, mocha, coffee beans, more grapefruit than other citrus, cherry and blackberry fruit, some mineral water, keeps hinting at deeper complexity but then not delivering. Medium-bodied, the active carbonation takes its feet moving and creates counterpoint to the underlying creaminess. Basic profile of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, condensed milk and cola, not truly that roasty nor toasty, while not that sweet either. Here more orange citrus evident, teams up decently with bitter herbs and bread grains, nothing overt]]> Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:45:44 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371762#Post371762 Posted by Brad Harrington:
This was on tap at Taco Mac in Atlanta. Good night! This could be odd for some people because the cherries are tart and sour. It has a fair amount of the boldness that the Expedition has though backed off just a bit. Had an edge of sweetness but that was balanced by the tartness from the cherries. I liked this a lot. I love sours and I love stouts, this was a combo of both.]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:22:39 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371761#Post371761 Posted by Brad Harrington:
Had this on tap at a Taco Mac in Atlanta. Awesome stout, super rich and creamy. Not sweet, per say, but very little hop bitterness. Loads of espresso and vanilla character. Lots of roasted malt character. Awesome on tap!]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:55:58 PST http://www.westcoastwine.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371746#Post371746 Posted by Marc Hanes:
Uinta Brewing Company Hop Notch IPA American IPA Utah 7.3% 12oz, 6-Pack $10.29 Sort of thinnish head, around a finger’s worth of just off-white foam, moderately tight weave helps retention until there’s just a few islands left, the lacing is wispy but sticks alright. Exquisitely clear copper orange colored liquid, glistens in the glass, virtually no bubbles visible though. Playfully scented nose of hothouse flowers, pine sap, pink grapefruit to tangerine citrus and an erect spine of herbal hops and pepper, the apricot, peach, pineapple fruit more muted, in the end more sweet than bitter but not lacking in the latter, quietly worms its way into your nostrils like it owns the deed. Medium-bodied, places the bitterness and leafy hoppiness upfront for an initial puckering effect, then allows the general creamy mouth texture to take over, orange pekoe tea, licorice, pine, sourdough bread segue to fuller pineapple, mango, peach, apricot fruit. Pink and white grapefruit, tangerine, mandarin orange, citrus sou]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:53:46 PST