Massenez Eau de Vie Poire William (Alsace) Pear and sweat, with the sweet-salty character that seems to mark this particular fruit and genre, at least from Alsace. Quite good, with an added lift of sophistication. (4/10)
Macallan 25-year Scotch Whisky (Highland) Sultry and shy, enveloping rather than impressing. The nose has moved through the elegant wood stage into something fruitier, darker, and much more mysterious. Not an enormous amount of fun to drink, but an incredible aromatic experience. (4/10)
Cragganmore 1984 Scotch Whisky Distillers Edition (Speyside) Heady and somewhat dominated by alcohol, but still loaded and layered with caramels, nuts, and creams. Big. Very, very big. (4/10)
White Birch Belgian Style Pale Ale (New Hampshire) A confident, white-hued interpretation, perhaps not overly authentic but very, very appealing despite the idiosyncrasy. Fruit, spice, not too much weight, and a pleasant counterpoint of mild bitterness. Nice. (5/10)
The Bruery Orchard White Ale (California) More ale than white, so those for whom the spicing and froth of true white ale are a bit much will probably be well-pleased. For me, its a handwave at a style, but in failing to achieve that style lessens even its base qualities. (4/10)
The Bruery Black Orchard Ale (California) Vibrant and vivid, full of deep and rich flavors. Unfortunately, one of those flavors is rubber. Still, the rest is appealing, and though this is the complete opposite of a quaffing beer, and both demands and requires attention, the rubber can be ignored. Almost. (4/10)
The Bruery Saison Rue (California) Not fresh, as I expect a saison to be, but rather leaden. If this was labeled as a Trappist knockoff, Id be unsurprised. As it is, Im merely whelmed. (4/10)
Brewdog Chaos Theory Ale (Scotland) Bitter, but in a confident fashion, laying everything up front and demanding appreciation strictly as-is and on the merits. I could quibble that I prefer beer with a little more generosity, but really this is pretty solid. (4/10)
Brewdog Dogma Ale (Scotland) Brewed with honey, kola nut, poppy seed, and guarana. And the point? Excess bitterness to no complexing or enriching ends. Pretty dull, honestly. (4/10)
Anderson Valley Brewing Company Brother Davids Double Abbey Style Ale (California) Mildly thick and a little herbal, which is a new experience in this style. A little spicy. A little insufficient. (4/10)
Anderson Valley Brewing Company Brother Davids Triple Abbey Style Ale (California) Heady and heavy, with the requisite spice and liqueur-like tendencies, but lacking much other than the bare fact of each. (4/10)
Shipyard Pugsleys Signature Series Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Maine) As much pumpkin as Ive ever tasted stuffed into one of these ales, and light on the spice (but not absent its lurid influence). Mostly, pumpkin ales are exceedingly heavy and a very acquired taste. Usually, thats due to excess spice. Excess pumpkin is a new experience, for me, and just for the sake of originality this has appeal. But it really, really tastes like pumpkin. (4/10)
St. Peters Sorgham Beer (England) Beer people are always surprised when I say that I dont like lager. Well, I dont, much. Theres just something watery and unsatisfying about the style, no matter how well-executed, unless its in contrast amidst a tasting or present on a very, very hot day. All the reasons I dont like lager apply to this, an ale that will find its principal audience among the gluten-intolerant. I applaud the effort. I cant applaud the beer, which is bitter, watery, and insipid. (4/10)
Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock Drink (England) My first, and possibly my last, note on a soda. No alcohol here? No. I know its shocking. But the floral and complexing bitter/medicinal notes here are rather extraordinary. Frankly, Id love to taste a version of this in which the sweetness was entirely abandoned, but then wed be talking about some sort of non-alcoholic amaro. Which would be fine with me. This is absolutely one of the best sodas Ive ever tasted. (4/10)
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB (Massachusetts) Were I more fascinated by hops, Id no doubt be more intrigued by this beer. Im not, and soIm not. (5/10)
Macallan 25-year Scotch Whisky (Highland) Sultry and shy, enveloping rather than impressing. The nose has moved through the elegant wood stage into something fruitier, darker, and much more mysterious. Not an enormous amount of fun to drink, but an incredible aromatic experience. (4/10)
Cragganmore 1984 Scotch Whisky Distillers Edition (Speyside) Heady and somewhat dominated by alcohol, but still loaded and layered with caramels, nuts, and creams. Big. Very, very big. (4/10)
White Birch Belgian Style Pale Ale (New Hampshire) A confident, white-hued interpretation, perhaps not overly authentic but very, very appealing despite the idiosyncrasy. Fruit, spice, not too much weight, and a pleasant counterpoint of mild bitterness. Nice. (5/10)
The Bruery Orchard White Ale (California) More ale than white, so those for whom the spicing and froth of true white ale are a bit much will probably be well-pleased. For me, its a handwave at a style, but in failing to achieve that style lessens even its base qualities. (4/10)
The Bruery Black Orchard Ale (California) Vibrant and vivid, full of deep and rich flavors. Unfortunately, one of those flavors is rubber. Still, the rest is appealing, and though this is the complete opposite of a quaffing beer, and both demands and requires attention, the rubber can be ignored. Almost. (4/10)
The Bruery Saison Rue (California) Not fresh, as I expect a saison to be, but rather leaden. If this was labeled as a Trappist knockoff, Id be unsurprised. As it is, Im merely whelmed. (4/10)
Brewdog Chaos Theory Ale (Scotland) Bitter, but in a confident fashion, laying everything up front and demanding appreciation strictly as-is and on the merits. I could quibble that I prefer beer with a little more generosity, but really this is pretty solid. (4/10)
Brewdog Dogma Ale (Scotland) Brewed with honey, kola nut, poppy seed, and guarana. And the point? Excess bitterness to no complexing or enriching ends. Pretty dull, honestly. (4/10)
Anderson Valley Brewing Company Brother Davids Double Abbey Style Ale (California) Mildly thick and a little herbal, which is a new experience in this style. A little spicy. A little insufficient. (4/10)
Anderson Valley Brewing Company Brother Davids Triple Abbey Style Ale (California) Heady and heavy, with the requisite spice and liqueur-like tendencies, but lacking much other than the bare fact of each. (4/10)
Shipyard Pugsleys Signature Series Smashed Pumpkin Ale (Maine) As much pumpkin as Ive ever tasted stuffed into one of these ales, and light on the spice (but not absent its lurid influence). Mostly, pumpkin ales are exceedingly heavy and a very acquired taste. Usually, thats due to excess spice. Excess pumpkin is a new experience, for me, and just for the sake of originality this has appeal. But it really, really tastes like pumpkin. (4/10)
St. Peters Sorgham Beer (England) Beer people are always surprised when I say that I dont like lager. Well, I dont, much. Theres just something watery and unsatisfying about the style, no matter how well-executed, unless its in contrast amidst a tasting or present on a very, very hot day. All the reasons I dont like lager apply to this, an ale that will find its principal audience among the gluten-intolerant. I applaud the effort. I cant applaud the beer, which is bitter, watery, and insipid. (4/10)
Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock Drink (England) My first, and possibly my last, note on a soda. No alcohol here? No. I know its shocking. But the floral and complexing bitter/medicinal notes here are rather extraordinary. Frankly, Id love to taste a version of this in which the sweetness was entirely abandoned, but then wed be talking about some sort of non-alcoholic amaro. Which would be fine with me. This is absolutely one of the best sodas Ive ever tasted. (4/10)
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Single Hop ESB (Massachusetts) Were I more fascinated by hops, Id no doubt be more intrigued by this beer. Im not, and soIm not. (5/10)