Archive for the 'Food' Category

In the Guinness variety pack. It’s a pub draught can with the nitrogen capsule so pours with extremely strong creamy head, initially looks a light amber but that’s from all the bubbles. As it calms down, it becomes a clear brown with amber tint. Perhaps my sense of smell hasn’t recovered yet, but there isn’t a very strong aroma signature. There’s some of the roast and subtle hops that comes in the middle leaving a slight bitter to linger on the tongue. Medium heavy mouth feel. Smooth and easy drinking.

3 out 4 nitro monkeys.

Picked this Belgian Ale up in the little ethnic grocery adjacent to Olive Tree in Kahala. Pours a cloudy bright yellow with strong head. 7% ABV puts it on the stronger side and you can detect some of the aroma. It’s fairly strong on hops, yet not flowery. It has a brightness and suggestion of citrus, without actually tasting of any citrus. It has a medium heavy mouthfeel that is offset by the carbonation that strongly persists. No roast flavors or much nut. The suggestion on bottle is to serve at “cellar” temp, and it does seem to mellow if you let it warm a little after pulling it out of fridge.

A pleasant and slightly buzz inducing pale ale. 3 out 4 Belgy monkeys.

From Winter variety pack, Old Fezziwig Ale, pours a deep amber, medium small head. Not a very strong aroma, hint of the roasted malt. The roasted malt carried over into the flavor. It’s a spiced beer, but it is very subtle with it, if I didn’t read it, I would never have guessed. There is a little warmth, but I would have attributed it to alcohol, although at 5.9% ABV this beer isn’t particularly high. It’s pretty crisp, the carbonation and medium bitterness middle giving it that and then the finish has a medium mouthfeel.

A pleasant beer. 3 out 4 winter monkeys.

Winter seasonal from Deschutes. Pours a dark amber with moderately strong head. Fairly pronounced floral hop aroma. Flavor is bright and also pretty strong with the hops bitter. Mouth feel has some body, but not super heavy. Given how much the hops seems to figure in this beer, its surprising that I find this beer to be not bad at all. I do seem to detect a touch of funky aroma now. I think with the hops in here, gotta watch out for the hazard of photo skunking!

I’m giving it 3 out 4 winter monkeys, just barely tho.

The last selection from the SN Fall variety pack. Pours a dark brown, medium head. Aroma of hops mixed with the dark roast. Fairly strong hops bitter also. Medium mouth feel. I’m not sure how much I’m liking this iteration. I know I’ve liked previous years, but this one seems too strong on the hops.

2 out 4 tumbling monkeys.