Altoberfest

Beer Name: Altoberfest
Brewery: Element Brewing Company
ABV: 7%
Serving method: 16-oz pint poured from a 25-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled on 8/18/10

Ok, NOW I've had everything Element has to offer. Well, everything they've had to offer so far. Altoberfest is Element's first seasonal beer, and claims to be a combination of the styles of altbier (apparently that is a real thing) and, obviously, oktoberfest. It was also only brewed in a limited quantity (530 bottles), which means that I probably should have kept the wrapper and number tag in case this brewery gets huge and it's worth something some day. Hey, people collect a lot of weird things.

Altoberfest is a deep reddish brown beer with a malty scent. There isn't a lot of head, and it fades quickly, so you can get right to the drinking of beer. So let's do that.

This beer has a light to medium carbonation (like a 2 out of 5 if you ranked it numerically). The beer starts malty, and then has some kind of sharp flavor at the end. I am not sure what it is, but I didn't really like it. However, as the beer warms up, this sharpness fades. That makes the beer a lot better. If I get another bottle of this, I plan to take it out of the fridge for at least 10 minutes before I drink it.

Final thought - After it warmed up a little, the Altoberfest was a nice beer to sit and drink while relaxing on the couch. I hope they make some more of it next year, because I think it's better than their Extra Special Oak. Bottles aren't cheap though, so that's one negative. That sharp flavor when it's cold isn't great either. I would drink it again, but not frequently.

-Jon

Pied pIPA

Beer Name: Pied pIPA
Brewery: The People's Pint
ABV: 5.7%
Serving method: 16-oz pint
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

Haha, get it? It's pIPA because the beer is an IPA, so it's a hilarious play on words.

The People's Pint is right around the corner from Kathryn, but somehow I have not tried any of their beers yet. This is about to change.

This beer pours a golden orange color with a small amount of head on top. If you like that sort of thing, you'll probably be happy to know that it sticks around for a good amount of time and then leaves a nice lacing on the glass. Kathryn asked me what lacing meant, and I just made some stuff up that might have been right, but wasn't. It turns out that head retention and lacing means that the beer was brewed well and also that your glass is clean. So that's good. From now on, I'll know that lacing is a good thing.

From the first sniff, you can tell that this is going to be a hoppy beer. It also smells like it's going to be delicious. I have found you can tell a lot about a beer by its smell. For instance, you can tell that Bud Light is going to taste like watery crap because it smells like watery crap. I had very high expectations for this beer from its aroma.

Just like the scent, the beer taste very hoppy as well. It's got a light carbonation, and a flavor I can't quite pick up on at the beginning. It's only there for a second, and then it's all hops and a nice, bitter finish. Good stuff.

Final thought - Pied pIPA was great, and went perfectly with my burger. It smelled good, looked good and tasted good. I will be keeping an eye out for it in the future, and definitely recommend trying it.

-Jon

Porkslap

Beer Name: Porkslap Pale Ale
Brewery: Butternuts Beer and Ale
ABV: 4.3%
Serving method: 12-oz can
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

I have been drinking a lot of beers with unknown brew dates lately. I thought they were making a big deal back in the day about beer freshness, but I guess it is no longer important. Every time I learn something new about beer, something else changes. Remember when people told you that letting beer get warm and recooling it made it skunk faster? Turns out that all you really have to avoid is light, and temperature fluctuations really don't do anything. The world I grew up in is gone. . .

First off, this beer is weird because it's from a can. Usually if I'm drinking beer from a can, it's ____ Light/Lite and I'm about to get silly. However, this can is different, because it's hilarious. Go over to Google and look it up. It's got pigs high fiving!! Actually, they are high tenning, but I wasn't sure you would understand that since high ten is not used nearly enough. You know, because you're a little slow. Maybe it's time to actually talk about beer.

This is a pale ale, so I am assuming the scent I'm picking up on is hops. Maybe not though. Really, I am just so focused on the can that I can't think about other things. It's got pigs!!

This beer is alright. It feels very carbonated, and the major sensation is malt. That's kind of weird, since it's a pale ale. Maybe the aroma I was getting was malt and not hops. Who knows. There's a sweet taste right at the beginning before it turns into that malt, and the aftertaste is pretty clean. That's probably because the beer seems pretty watery.

Final thought - Probably 98% of this beer's awesomeness is the can. While that means the can is super awesome, it also means that the beer isn't that great. I doubt that I would drink this again unless someone else bought it for me. However, I think it would make a good substitution for beer pong though. It's not that strong, so you could easily substitute it for Busch Light and actually enjoy the beer you're pounding. So it's got that going for it.

-Jon

Dark Element

Beer Name: Dark Element
Brewery: Element Brewing Company
ABV: 8.0%
Serving method: 16-oz pint poured from a 25-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

This review will complete the main offerings from Element. They also have something called "Altoberfest," which is a special edition brew that was brewed in limited quantities but is not always available. There is a bottle of that waiting for me in Kathryn's fridge, so we'll get around to that sometime. The guy who works there told me that their beers age well, so there's no rush to drink them.

Dark Element was originally called Dark Matter, so you may have heard of it under that name. However, due to a naming conflict with Brooklyn Brewery, Element reached a friendly agreement to change theirs to something else. You can learn a lot by talking to the guy who owns the brewery.

This beer has a nice smell of maltiness, and a very dark brown color in the middle. There is also a slight red color on the edges if you hold it up to a light. It produces a lot of head that sticks around for a while and sticks to the glass a little.

The taste is great. It's mostly malty with some slight hoppy notes mixed in. There's also a roasty taste, and maybe some chocolate or toffee. It finishes slightly bitter, and the aftertaste hangs around for a while after you're done. There is some carbonation, but nothing overwhelming.

Final thought - Dark Element is a great beer that fits into the black lager category without actually being a lager. It's flavor is quite strong, but it is drinkable on its own. And even better, it is still good if it warms up a little. Fantastic stuff all around.

-Jon

Old Thumper

Beer Name: Old Thumper Extra Special Ale
Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Company
ABV: 5.9%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Dec 2010

So this beer has been hanging out in my fridge for a while for some reason or another, probably because I forgot about it or had other beers to drink or it was in the back behind some other beers and I couldn't see it. The point is, this is long overdue.

The first impression I get from this beer is that is sort of smells like bread. I am not sure if that's a possible beer smell, but there's something starchy going on here. Or grainy. Or buttery? Is that even a possibility? I really have to learn more about beer. Whatever goes on in bread is also going on here, ok?

The taste is alright. There's some breadiness happening here too. Maybe some malt or caramel as well. It's got a sweetness to it, but I don't know if it fits with the other flavors. There's also a medium carbonation in this beer, which is probably too much. I believe it would have been better if it had been a little flatter, like a British beer. Especially since this seems like a beer that is brewed in imitation of a British beer.

Final thought - I don't know, I just don't care for Old Thumper. I want to like it, because it has an awesome name. It's also got a sweet label, but those things don't really come into play here. I don't think I'll be drinking much more of this in the future, especially since Shipyard has some other stuff that is much better.

-Jon

Extra Special Oak

Beer Name: Extra Special Oak
Brewery: Element Brewing Company
ABV: 7%
Serving method: 16-oz pint poured from a 25-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

Ok, so maybe I bought all the different Element beers at the same time. They've just got so many bottles of them there, what was I supposed to do? Leave them behind? I just couldn't do that.

Extra Special Oak is Element's take on the Extra Special Bitter style of brewing. Since you might not know (I didn't), "bitter" is the name they use in England for pale ales. Extra Special ones are bitters that have at least 4.8% ABV, and this one clearly qualifies there. And the "oak" part comes because I believe that this beer is aged in oak casks. That makes a lot more sense that using oak in the brewing process. I am not positive about that last part though, so don't go around telling people that this beer is aged in oak casks like it's a fact.

ESO smells like beer. I can't pick up on any specific scents, but there's probably oak in there, and possibly some vanilla. I am just not sure what oak smells like. Maybe I'll go outside and smell some acorns or something. Probably not though. It has a light brown opaque color and not much head when it's poured, and the head disappears quickly.

The first taste of the ESO gives a slight feeling of carbonation, but not too much. There are some hints of some kind of spice, and then a taste of vanilla at the end. The beer doesn't have a strong aftertaste, and despite being called bitter, there really isn't much of a bitter taste.

Final thought - Extra Special Oak is a good beer, but I prefer Element's other offerings instead. I think it's definitely worth a try, especially if you like pale ales. I will stick to my dark beers though.

-Jon

SA Octoberfest

Beer Name: Samuel Adams Octoberfest
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
ABV: 5.3%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Feb 2011

Now this is where it's at.

This beer smells like fall. I am not exactly sure how to describe the smells of fall, but this beer definitely has those smells. That could possible be because the beer comes out during the fall, but it could also be because they did it on purpose because it's a fall beer. It's really one of those "chicken or the egg" situations.

This Octoberfest is not very hoppy, but it's pretty malty. Maybe they use less hops and more malt when they brew it. It's got a little bit of carbonation, but not too much. It also has a sweet, roasty taste at the end. I bet that is a result of the malt as well. Probably some caramel malt, or something along those lines. There's a whole lot of flavor going on here, so it's not for the Bud Light crowd.

Final thought - I really don't think I need to tell you about Sam's Octoberfest offering. At this point, you should know that you either like it or you don't. I think you should be in the first group, but that's because I like good beer. This would be a good beer to drink a bunch of while sitting around a fire and throwing funny things on it. Especially if the fire is at someone else's house, due to the risks involved.

-Jon

Red Giant

Beer Name: Element Red Giant
Brewery: Element Brewing Company
ABV: 7%
Serving method: 16-oz pint poured from a growler
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled (growlered?) 9/10/10

As a native of Massachusetts, I try to buy local whenever possible.

Ok, that is a complete lie. I buy whatever is cheapest when it comes to food, and whatever looks exciting when it comes to beer. But I suppose when the beer that looks exciting happens to be a local one, that is probably good for the local economy. Or not. Hey, I wasn't an economics major. I was a barely competent CS major.

I stopped by the Element Brewery because it's one of only a handful of breweries whose actual physical location I know and because I assumed that getting beer directly from the brewery would result in the freshest possible beer. Seems logical.

Right from the start, this beer comes on strong. It smells like a serious beer, and it's not afraid to let you know. If you're into head (beer head you sicko), this one brings the heat, with almost an inch of that foamy silliness chilling out on top of the beer. I have been told that it's good to have a head on the beer, but I can't see how. More foam = less space for beer = less beer for my enjoyment. But other "experts" claim it's important, so there you go. This beer has got aroma and head in abundance.

This beer has got some bitterness to it as well. There's a little carbonation, but what really hits you is the bitterness and the hops. I think the bitterness is what keeps the flavor in your mouth after you've had a sip. It definitely sticks around. The red ale taste is in there too, and it comes through at the end. It's not like most other reds that I have had though. Or at least it seems different. This one feels like it's quite a bit stronger, and further down the darkness scale in terms of color. If you hold up the glass, you can pick out the hints of red, but mostly this beer is dark. Deal with that!

Final thought - The Red Giant is good, but I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. I think the bitterness would push people away, and the fact that it is really strong means that little sissy drinkers wouldn't like it. Although to be fair, I imagine that if I drank the whole growler, I'd be knocked on my ass and have another "bagel incident." I like it though, and will enjoy it again in the future.

-Jon

Honey Ale

Beer Name: Rapscallion Honey Ale
Brewery: Rapscallion
ABV: 4.5%
Serving method: 16-oz draft in a stange glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

One of the most exciting parts of going to a restaurant is checking out the choices on tap in case there is something I've never tried, or possibly never even heard of. Such was the case tonight.

I cannot figure out what this beer smells like, but it is definitely something. Hey, maybe it's honey, but I'm not sure. I have read that the nose can recall some ridiculous number of smells, but mine apparently sucks. That is disappointing. It's not a bad smell though, so I will put the aroma in the "plus" column. Be careful if you smell it though, because this beer is a bit foamy, which means you may put your nose too far into it and have beer foam on your nose. You're welcome in advance.

The Honey Ale has a slightly sharp taste at the beginning, and then has a sweet finish, which I have to attribute to the presence of honey. There's probably just the right amount of honey in there, because it's not overpowering, but it's noticeable. I bet this beer would be really good with food, but I finished it before the meal came and then switched over to something else. I think the beer improved as I got closer to the end of the glass, which means that this beer gains the coveted quality of being able to be served warm. Hooray!

Final thought - Honey Ale is a delightful draft beer to relax with while you're waiting for a table to open up at a restaurant on a Friday night. That is a very specific situation there, but it's definitely applicable. I bet it would also be good in lots of other situations. Delicious!

-Jon

OC Oktoberfest

Beer Name: Oktoberfest
Brewery: Otter Creek Brewing
ABV: 4.8%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled 8/29/10

While it's a little early by the calendar, the weather definitely says that it's time to break out the Oktoberfests. I didn't want to do 2 Sam Adams beers in a row, so I decided to give Otter Creek's offering a try. Let's see how it goes.

The first impression (smell) isn't fantastic. It's not bad, but I'm not excited by the beer that's about to follow it. It's hard to pick out any major scents in here, so I don't know what to expect. Maybe it's better that way though.

After the first sip, things are looking up. It tastes a little bit like an amber ale, although I don't know whether or not it's supposed to. Are Oktoberfests a version of an amber? I am going to go check. Hold on.

Ok, I checked for like 45 seconds and could not find anything definitive other than the fact that American Oktoberfest beers are inspired by the Märzen style of brewing, which is supposed to produce full-bodied beers. So really I learned nothing about the amber question. I should at least get partial credit for trying though. I'll give me a D+, maybe a C- if the rest of this post goes smoothly.

Anyways, it's amber-esque at the beginning, and has a nice smooth finish. There is no real aftertaste or lingering flavor at all, which I also associate with the amber beers. There is a slight hoppiness to it, but nothing overpowering. Letting it get warm is a mistake though. This is a beer that is clearly intended to be drunk cold. Be sure to get them into the fridge ASAP.

Final thought - OC Oktoberfest is a decent Oktoberfest beer, but it's definitely overshadowed by other beers out there. I would deem it slightly above average. It's not a bad choice, but it's not the best. Come on, Otter Creek, you can do better!

-Jon

Boston Lager

Beer Name: Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
ABV: 4.75%
Serving method: 12-oz bottle
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown, best by Dec 2010

Alright, so I don't know the "professional" way to describe beers, so I'm just going to do things my way.

Everyone knows that I am pro-Samuel Adams. Not the actual guy, although I'm sure he was a real guy and not some creation like Cap'n Crunch, but the brand of beer. It's one of the 2 breweries that I've been on a tour of, and they make a lot of good stuff. I can still try to be unbiased though.

The first thing I notice about this beer is that as soon as you smell it, you know you're getting beer. There's no other scents mixed in there, like flowers or fruit or whatever. The flavor is pretty hoppy at first, then a little taste of caramel, and finally it finishes bitter. I remember they told us on the tour what they did to make that bitter finish, but I forget. Something with how they hop it or whatever. Maybe they dry-hop it.

Boston Lager has what I would call medium carbonation. It's bubbly, but not really bubbly like soda is bubbly. However, like soda, it's absolutely horrible warm. Some beers can get away with being served at a warmer temperature, but this isn't one of them. If you buy a 6-pack (or 12 or case or however much you feel like drinking) and it's not refrigerated, do yourself a favor and ice bath it before you start the festivities. You'll be sorry otherwise. And if you don't know about the ice bath, you have a lot to learn about drinking.

I think this beer is a good beer for a meal. I would enjoy a couple of these with a steak or some ribs. Maybe even some barbecued chicken. It's not the kind of beer I would sit around drinking a bunch of while I watch the Sox though. A few of them are enough for me.

Final thought - Boston Lager is a quality brew that makes a regular appearance in the fridge. It's a nice one to have if I'm out at a higher quality bar, and I am never disappointed to find it in the bottom of a cooler if I'm out at a party. Well done!

-Jon