Black Islay Scotch Aged Beer

Black Islay is a special kind of beer I found and may be the worlds first of its kind.  Black Islay is a 100% organic beer that is aged in 100% organic Scottish whisky casks.  Black Isle Brewery Co located in Scotland and is responsible for this amazingly different type of brew.
The color of Black Islay is, well you guessed it pitch black with the liquid beeing clear with no signs of yeast in the bottle. The head is pretty thick with a light pale brown head that slowly diminishes. As you smell this black beauty you get the aroma of coffee, vanilla, dried fruits, and hints of the scotch from the aging process.  The taste is where Black Islay steals your heart with sweet dark chocolate and coffee flavors in the beginning and slowly moving into the fruit and whiskey kick at the end.  The finish and aftertaste is pretty dry with a strong whiskey taste lingering on the tip of your palette.

The Black Islay is 8.1% ABV and is a great beer to pair up with a big whisky.  Black Isle Brewery recommends Bruichladdich Octomore, which is a Scottish Islay whiskey.  Black Islay beer is very unique in a way that it is 100% organic, 100% whisky aged, and the beer is made in small batches with each bottle individually numbered.  It doesn't matter if you are into light beers, Stouts, IPA's, or dark beers, I feel like everyone should grab a Black Islay and give their taste buds something to remember.

See Also:  Sadler's Hop Bomb   Bells Hop Slam   Drakens DIPA

Tripel Karmeliet from Brussels, Belgiums

The beer I chose today is very unique in a way that it has a history dating all the way back to 1679.  In 1679 there was a conquest to take over the city of Dendermonde, Belgium.
The Karmeliet Monastery left only a single brewing recipe consisting of wheat, barley, and oats.  The only people who knew the true recipe at the time was St. Peter and St. Paul.  Following the destruction of the Karmeliet Monastery, the beer recipe enjoys the tradition shared by many breweries around the area.  This type of beer is called Tripel, which is a term used in low countries.  The word indicates strength or a strong pale ale.  When you pour this beer the color is pale golden, yellow, and has a humongous white head with chunks of fluffy lace sticking to the glass. You can refer to the pictures for reference on the head.  The smell of this Belgium Tripel is of sweet malts, yeast, bananas, clove, and bubblegum. When you start to taste this beer the smell begins to really come alive.  The beer is very sweet with banana floral wrapper, heavy yeast, and bubblegum which, you never would of thought plays a big taste roll in this beer.  The beer is light and crisp with a high carbonation while representing a true Tripel style Beer.  This 8.4 ABV% Tripel is brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels. This beer is very interesting and is still amazing people 333 years later. Think about it, if the city of Dendermonde never got their hands on the final recipe before the city fell, this beer could have been lost in history. Cheers!

See more:  Free of Die Beer!   Sadlers Hop bomb   Angkor Beer 

Sadler's Hop Bomb Pale Ale

Today we take a trip to the British Isles to the Windsor Castle Brewery in the UK to take a look at Sadler's Hop Bomb. Sadler's Brewery is a micro-brewery that has been brewing signature beers since 1900. They have Tons of different beers to choose, from IPA's to Imperial Stouts. Sadler's Hop Bomb is one of their American style Pale Ales. The Pale ale has a light amber golden body and has a nice white head that almost doesn't die down. This beer explodes with Amarillo and Citra hops (hints the name hop bomb), but is not too bitter. Hop Bomb despite its, name has a great balance of taste but the hops do stand out the most. You can taste mango, caramel and lemon drops throughout the Hop Bomb with a slight orange bitterness at the end. This 5% ABV American Pale Ale does have a hop count higher on the scale then say your normal UK beers and is great for anyone who loves a big hoppy beer. Head down to Sadler's brewery next time you take a cruise to the UK and try a wide variety of their hand-crafted beers.

See more: Free of Die Beer!   Ashai Beer   Péché Mortel

The Swedish number one Beer: Drakens DIPA

Beer, just like any culture in the world can be traced back hundreds, even thousands of years ago. In Sweden, Ale brewing has been traced all the way back to the Vikings. Back then they didn't have any breweries nor stores to go down and buy your favorite beer, and the alcohol was pretty week. The result was home brewing. Home brewing was very common until up to the 19th century when small breweries started growing in larger cities of Sweden and almost every town had their own brewery. I started looking around for great beers in sweden and ran across Oppigårds Drakens DIPA brewed by Oppigårds Bryggeri in Hedemore, Sweden. The appearance of Drakens DIPA is a hazy orange, peach color with a good cloudy white top which stays in full for a couple of minutes. Drakens smells of apricots, sweet fruit and very sweet malts. You can also smell some hints of mango, pineapple, and even a little bit of grapefruit. Drakens has a pretty hoppy and bitter start with a dry fruity finish. The alcohol is pretty well hidden but there is just enough where you can get warmed up on a cold day. This 9% double IPA is not very carbonated nor sweet which adds to the easy to drink title, probably means this beer can sneak up on you. Bottom line, the Sweden's have come a very long way with beer brewing and I am sure there are many more to come.

See more:  Angkor Beer   Diu du Ciel Peche Mortel    Trappistes Rochefort 10

Trappistes Rochefort 10

Today is Trappistes Rochefort 10 day! Trappistes Rochefort 10 beer is a Trappist beer just like the Westvletern 12 and is brewed by Rochefort Brewery located in Rochefort, Belgium. Trappist beers are brewed by Trappist monks and there are 8 monasteries. There are six in Belgium, one in the Netherlands, and one in Austria. Rochefort Brewery brews 3 beers: Rochefort 6 (red cap, 7.5%), Rochefort 8 (green cap, 9.2%) and Rochefort 10 (blue cap, 11.3%). Rochefort 10 is a dark beer and as you can see has the higher ABV. You can also notice some sediment floating around in this dark almost purple looking Trappist brew as you pour it. From the first smell you are over-powered with fruit smells of raisins, cloves, plums, cherries, hints of chocolate, and sweet spices. This beer is very strong, starts sweet and finishes dry. The taste is like a tidal wave of dried dark fruit rushing into your mouth with a beautiful chocolate finish. For being a stronger beer, the Trappist monks incorporated the alcohol perfect so that it is well blended and not over powering. The trappistes Rochefort 10 is rated the best beer you can buy in Belgium and is definitely world class.  Compliments to the Rochefort Abbey Monks.

See Also: Westvletern 12    Péché Mortel Stout   LowenBrau Original  

Löwenbräu Original of Munich

A little drive through the city of Munich on a quest for a nice beer has led me to the Löwenbräu Original from Munich, Germany. Brewed by Löwenbräu AG, Löwenbräu is a 5.2% golden beer and when poured has a finger size head that does not dissipate. Not very carbonated so you will not be as full as say Einstok of Iceland 

but still has enough to keep it medium bodied. The Smell of Löwenbräu is of roasted barley, sweet honey, and a little hint of earthyness. The beer is very clean and smooth when you drink it with a sweet grainy malt that gets sweeter as more of the barley comes to the plate. It is one of those beers that leaves that nice beer malt after taste in your mouth when you are finish. This beer is a great well brewed beer and gets a medium rate from a lot of people. I guess whenever in Munich you might have to just go and grab one!

See More:  Pliny the Younger Beer    KingFisher Beer   Aguila Beer

KingFisher Premium Lager

Today we are taking a elephant ride through the jungles of India to review KingFisher Premium Lager. KingFisher Premium Lager is the number one beer sold in India. I've read many reviews for this beer and a lot of them say pretty much the same thing. That it really isn't that good of a beer but is good when you are in the right atmosphere. KingFisher is brewed by United Breweries in Bangalore, India. The color of KingFisher is a very pale, deep, golden and is always served super cold because when it is room temperature it is apparently undrinkable. When I say cold i mean like, almost a frozen head cold! The 4.8% beer is also extremely carbonated and keeps you full for a long time. Even though it might not be the most pleasurable of beers it does however go great with spicy Indian food. The beer has a strange smell, like a soured milk smell to it with a weak, grainy, and light herbal hoppiness. The beer is light and crisp besides the full feeling you get after you drink it. Over-all the beer is a 5 out of 10 on the Richter scale. Its not the worst and definitely not the best lager you will ever have, but when in Rome or India for that matter grab one yourself and test it out!

See Also: Pliny the Younger Beer   LowenBrau Original   Aguila Beer 

Einstok beer of Iceland

Happy Fathers day to all, we are taking a boat ride to Iceland for a closer look at the Icelandic Einstok beer brewed by Einstok Beer Brewery or in Icelandic, "Einstök Ölgerð".   For a little translation lesson, Ölgerð means brewery in Icelandic.  Einstök Ölgerð uses centuries-old belgian style tradition brewing. The White Ale is 5.2% ABV and contains coriander and orange peel.
This carbonated White ale pours a very hazy pale color with a nice big creamy white head that last for a couple of minutes. The Einstok White Ale smells of lemon, orange, citrus, wheat and coriander. Einstök White Ale has a beautiful blend and all the flavors mix together perfect for a flavorful smoothness. According to Baldur's Notes, Einstök White Ale has, "A clean and crisp start with a smooth mouthfeel thanks to the oats, citrus and spice round out a refreshing finish." So if ever boating around the Icelandic coast, dock up and grab yourself a nice cold Einstök White Ale to stay hydrated.

See more: Tiger Beer    Chang Beer    Cristal Beer

Bohemian Black Lager Herold Beer of the Czech Republic!

Herold is a brand of beer that is brewed at the Herold Breznice Castle Brewery which is a small brewery in Breznice just a couple of miles outside of the Czech Republic. Herold brews a wide rage of about 9 beers and today we are going to examine the Bohemian Black Lager. The Bohemian Black Lager is a Schwarzbeir style classic and is brewed with 4 malts and put on the shelf for about 70 days. The Bohemian is a very black beer with hints of red and has a nice tan head. The smell of the beer is sweet with the aroma of dried fruits and even soy sauce. Sounds weird right? The Bohemian is not very carbonated so the beer is not to heavy. If you would love a different, dark, light, sweet, and fruity lager the Bohemian Black Lager is a perfect beer of choice.

                       See more: Einstok Beer   Westvleteren 12    Hanoi Beer

Westvleteren 12: Belgium

Today we are flying over to Germany to look at one of the highest rated beers on the planet, Westvleteren 12 from Belgium. Westvleteren 12 is a Belgian Trappist Ale brewed in the       Trappist Westvleteren Brewery and is only brewed at the St Sixtus Abbey. The brewery was founded in 1838 and is operated and owned by the monks of the St Sixtus Abbey. The brewery only brews 3 beers: Westvleteren Blonde (green Cap), Westvleteren 8 (blue cap), and the Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap). 8 and 12 have a long shelf life and sometimes sit for several years just like wine. This 10.2% Belgium style ale is dark and glowing with burgundy red and golden brown and when poured has a big head. Flavors of pears, plums, and grapes can be found in the Wetvleteren 8 with no roast or bitterness. The finish is short and sweet with a fruity sensation and a little pop. Being only made at the Trappist Westvleteren Brewery makes this beer very hard to come by and likely expensive.

See more: Tiger Beer    Chang Beer    Cristal Beer

Russia: Three Floyds Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout

So the First beer of today is from the motherland of Russia. It is called three Floyds Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Lord Russian Imperial stout. It is brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Co. & BrewPub in Munster Indiana. It is Dark Lord aged in bourbon barrels for one year. Recently has used a blend of barrels from Heaven Hill, but has also been Woodford Reserve in the past. It has been formally known as Oak Aged Dark Lord.

See more: Chang beer   Cristal beer   Einstok beer

 

England: Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve

Next we are taking a trip over to Diss, England for a taste of Old Chimneys Good King Special Reserve. It is a limited release oak matured Imperial Stout brewed by Old Chimneys Brewery. Good King Henry Special Reserves 11.0% abv. and bottle conditioning makes it ideal for cellaring.  Good King Henry pours a thick black slightly bubbly, with no head.  The aromas of Good King Henry  is coconut macaroon, raisins, cherries and milk chocolate.  With a silky body as you let the beer go down its like christmas time in your throat.  Subtle chocolate, roasted nuts, vanilla, coffee and cream!  The finish is amazing as well with dry wafers, hazelnuts and even wood shavings from the Oak barrel.  Conclusion, one of the possibly best combination of flavors for beer ever.  Good King Henry Special Reserve's is ranked as the Best Beer in England, no wonder.  Who wouldn't want a christmas party right there in your mouth?

See more:  Bells Stout  Alesmith Speedway Stout   Bohemian Black Lager