Noble Pils - Boston Beer Company

    Noble Pils is Samuel Adams' take on the Pilsner, a style of beer brewed since the mid 1800's. It is created by Boston Beer Company which is located in Boston, Massachusetts. When compared to the traditional Pilsner, Noble Pils seems to have much more hops in its recipe. In fact, Samuel Adams comments that their Pilsner contains all 5 of the Noble Hops varieties. This is not a bad start if you ask me.

    Noble Pils pours a pale golden color with a decent head which persists for a long time and leaves lots of lacing on the glass.

    The beer's aroma is that of citrusy hops mixed with malty sweetness. In many beers the two scents seem to be separate, though this beer presents them both together at once. Hopefully this is an indication of a well-balanced beer.

    The Pilsner is light to medium bodied and features a medium-high level of carbonation. The beer is very crisp and dry.

Contains all 5 Noble Hops, and a few Peasant Hops as well.

     Noble Pils's flavor is much lighter than I would have expected. It is, however, a well balanced and very drinkable beer. Hoppy bitterness starts out the flavor with sweet barley malts mellowing the hops afterwards. There seems to be a slight acidity to the beer as well. There is no alcohol character perceivable, which at 4.9% ABV, is not surprising.

     The fact that there is apparently a hops hierarchy is news to me. I'm really starting to wonder at this point what the hops king would be like in a beer. If mere nobles in the hops kingdom were added to this beer, and taste this good, I can't imagine what hops royalty must do to a beer. It goes without saying that a King hops beer would likely become my favorite beer in no time at all. Hmm, now I just need to find this mythical kingdom and slowly infiltrate the ranks of the hops king's personal guard. As they say, The king is dead! Long drink the king!

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Oberon Ale - Bell's Brewery Inc.

    Oberon Ale is a Wheat Beer created by Bell's Brewery Inc. which is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Oberon is Bells' Summer seasonal beer. This beer, like a few other beers appearing on the blog, was donated by Emily Hohman. I held one back for a day just like today when I am officially tired of Winter and ready to usher in warmer weather. Lets see if this beer can do the trick!

    Oberon ale pours a bright golden color with a thin, white head on top which doesn't linger for long. The ale is quite bubbly, giving it an energetic appearance. There are tiny flecks of wheat in the beer.

    The ale smells sweetly of wheat malts. There is also a slight scent of orange peel and lemon from the hops.

    The Wheat Beer is medium bodied with a medium level of carbonation. Oberon has an alcohol content of 5.8% ABV.

It's like the sun in liquid form!

    Bells' Summer ale features a full wheat flavor which is very refreshing. Sweet malts back the wheat flavor up with their sweetness. Similar to the nose of the beer, slight lemon and orange fruitiness can be tasted. Oberon also has a slight hint of a coriander-like spiciness. There is an almost grassy flavor to the ale, which I assume comes from the hops as well. This isn't an unpleasant taste, but instead makes me imagine being in a flowered meadow with the sun high in the sky.

    I made it farther through this Winter without getting sick of the cold than in past years, though the chill has finally worn out its welcome. Oberon definitely conjures up feelings of Summer and the warmer months. While I doubt a beer could ever change the seasons, Oberon has definitely taken my mind to a warmer clime.

    I am not usually a fan of Wheat Beers, though I have to say that Oberon is my favorite of the Wheats that I have tried. I very much enjoy the light citrus flavor in the ale, but most of all I appreciate the massive amount of wheat flavor packed into the beer. I think one of my main gripes with other Wheat Beers is that brewers tend to focus too much on the fruitiness instead of putting out a strong wheat flavored beer.

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Special Thanks to Emily Hohman!

Old Court Ale - 16 Mile Brewing Company

    Old Court Ale is an American Pale Ale created by 16 Mile Brewing company which is located in Georgetown, Delaware. According to the bottle, this APA is named after the old courthouse of Sussex County. While the brewery says nothing about it, the beer makes my mind wander to thoughts of colonial Americans brewing early forms of American craft beer. Maybe 16 Mile was looking to create a beer similar to that which our country's founders enjoyed.

    Old Court ale pours a copper color with a tiny head which quickly dissipates and leaves no trace on the glass.

    There is hardly any smell at all to the ale. There is a bit of sweet caramel and roasted malt scent, but not much at all. There is also what seems to be a somewhat...rotten...smell to the ale which is not pleasant and would completely turn me off from this ale if it were any stronger.

    The APA is medium bodied with a low carbonation level. The beer feels more creamy than watery, surprisingly. The ale has an alcohol content of 6.1% ABV.

How many people have sat in that
court room wishing that they had one of these?

 Old Court Ale's flavors are all very light. The ale's first noticeable flavors are sweet, grainy malt flavors. The ale then shows its bitterness with a bit of fruity hops flavor. Once the bitterness mellows out, there is an almost nutty, roasted flavor to the beer which is quite nice. There is no hint of rottenness in the ale's flavor, unlike the smell, for which I am very thankful.

    If you read my blog occasionally, you know that I have a penchant for making up stories, or thinking too far into beer's names. Old Court Ale has once again started up my mind in directions that its creators' never intended. Imagine for a moment, if you will, the Sussex County court house, and everyone inside that court room enjoying a pint as they suffer through the proceedings. Suddenly, you have witnesses and the accused who are more than willing to tell you the truth, as well as every single thing about their life as they sink into their glass. Granted, it would be poor form to allow sentencing of criminals while under the influence, but you never know what punishments might be handed out. I can bet that they would be amusing, such as "eat this bug!" or "do a back flip off of the stand!"

    Silliness aside, Old Court Ale is a very lightly flavored American Pale Ale which focuses more on roasted malt flavors than hops. The ale is pretty easy drinking but doesn't strike me as anything special.

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Guinness Extra Stout - Guinness Ltd.

    Guinness Extra Stout is an Irish Stout brewed by Guinness Ltd. located in Dublin, Ireland. Most of the Guinness beers that we get here in the states are actually brewed and bottled in New Brunswick, Canada, this bottle included. This is the original Guinness which has been brewed since 1759. Since gaining popularity worldwide, Guinness has become a macrobrewery as opposed to its smaller beginnings. While I'm sure that the beer has lost something in the transition to large-scale production, the beer is still many people's standard for an Irish Stout.

    Guinness Extra Stout pours a dark black color through which very little light is able to pass. Upon pouring, the beer presents a massive, thick head which persists for a long time and leaves lots of lacing on the glass. The Stout has an alcohol content of 6% ABV.

    The beer smells mainly of roasted malts and coffee. The scent is much lighter than I would have expected.

A glass from the actual brewery in Dublin!

    The Stout actually feels somewhat thinner than I expected from the thick, foamy head. The beer is medium bodied with a mid-level of carbonation. The Stout is very creamy.

    Guinness Extra Stout tastes much like it smells. Roasted malts and dark coffee flavors predominate with a slight bitterness afterward. The flavors are actually much lighter than you might expect from something that calls itself "Extra Stout". The flavor is very smooth and easily drinkable, perhaps a change made to the brew once it hit mass production in order to please a wider range of customers.

    Since today is Saint Patrick's Day, I have to wonder about Saint Patrick's miracle. Granted, we all know the Irish stereotype, and I won't get into that here, but imagine if some crazy guy who has had a few of these Extra Stouts comes chasing you around with a stick. I honestly don't blame those snakes, I would have booked it off the island as well. I wouldn't even care if I wasn't a water snake, I would learn to swim to get away from that man bonking my friends on the head with his stick. I'm not at all saying that the driving of the snakes from Ireland was any less of a miracle, just that maybe, just maybe, Guinness Extra Stout had a hand in helping things along!

    Guinness Extra Stout is a traditional Irish Stout which has gone through changes throughout the years to accommodate the tastes of a world market. Unlike most marcobrews, Guinness remains decently flavored and has avoided being watered-down. I would encourage anyone who is a fan of this beer to try some different Stouts on the market to see what else they may enjoy!

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Purple Haze - Abita Brewing Co.

    Purple Haze is a Fruit Beer brewed by Abita Brewing Co. which is located in Abita Springs, Louisiana. Purple Haze starts out as a Wheat Beer but has raspberry puree added to the mix once the beer has been through the filtering stage. The beer has an alcohol content of 4.2% ABV, which tells me that the fruit was, indeed, added after fermentation. This beer was graciously donated to Amulets and Ale by Emily Hohman.

    The Fruit Beer pours a hazy red-orange color with a strange thin, bubbly head which quickly dissipates. It is obvious by the sheer number of bubbles which cling to the glass that this will be a highly carbonated beer.

    Shockingly, the raspberry wheat beer smells like raspberries! There is also a slight sour smell to the beer. The scent of wheat lies slightly hidden underneath the fruitiness.

    Purple Haze is light bodied with a high level of carbonation. The beer is very crisp and refreshing.

'Scuse me, while I drink this beer!

    Abita's Fruit Beer's flavor is majorly fruit forward. There is only a small amount of wheat flavor beneath the fruit, though it becomes more pronounced as the beer warms. No hops flavor is present. Surprisingly, Purple Haze is not a super-sweet beer, and instead has more of a dry finish than I would have expected.

    I'm pretty sure that Jimi Hendrix didn't write Purple Haze about this beer, though it very well fits into the song's lyrics. Have too many of these and I could totally see you saying "Purple Haze all in my brain" and "actin' funny but I don't know why"! Have WAY too many, and you might even say the misheard lyrics of "'scuse me, while I kiss this guy!"

    A lot of beer fans hate Fruit Beers. Personally, I really don't have a problem with them as long as they are well crafted. I feel as though Purple Haze is a bit too light on the hops and malt flavors to be an incredibly good Fruit Beer, but it is still surprisingly refreshing. I really think that the brew could be improved with the addition of more wheat flavor.

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Griffin's Bow - Boston Beer Company

    Griffin's Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale is Samuel Adams's take on a classic Barleywine. Brewed by Boston Beer Company (Boston, Massachusetts), this ale differs from regular Barleywines by being aged on oak as well as having more hops in the mix than one might usually see in the style. This is the final 22oz bomber that was included in the "Small Batch Collection" I received for Christmas.

    Griffin's Bow pours a bright golden-orange color with a huge frothy head on top which leaves lots of lacing on the glass. The ale is quite clear.

    The Barleywine smells slightly sweet and much more hoppy than I would have expected. There are some fruity notes to the smell such as pineapple and grapefruit. There is also a slight scent of alcohol which reminds me of dark red wine.

    The ale is medium-thick bodied and has an almost syrupy feel to it. There is a very mild level of carbonation in the ale. A slight alcohol warmth can be felt when the ale is held in the mouth. The Barleywine has a high alcohol content (around 10% ABV) which is common to the style.

Ten pints for Giffin's Bow!

    Griffin's Bow is sweet, but not overly so. Much more bitter hops flavor is present than in most Barleywines which I have tasted. The hops aren't overpowering, however, and add a nice counter-balance to the normally extreme sweet presented by Barleywines. The oak that the beer is aged on definitely lends a bit of its flavor to the brew, but it is quite subdued. There is a huge amount of malt sweetness as well as a bit of honey flavor to the ale.

    I often joke about Sam Adams making beer which is somewhat in-between craft and macrobrews. The "Small Batch Collection" really isn't much different, though Griffin's Bow seems to be the most legitimate take on an ale that Samuel Adams has created so far. I am a huge fan of Barleywines, and I am a huge hophead. Therefore, I must admit that I am quite a fan of this beer.

    With its sweetness and bitter hops balance, as well as its slight oak character, Griffin's Bow Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale is a very enjoyable take on the classic Barleywine. While I wouldn't recommend that this be the first Barleywine that someone would try, I definitely recommend that fans of the style give this ale a chance.

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Guinness Draught - Guinness Ltd.

    Guinness Draught is an Irish Stout brewed by Guinness Ltd. which is located in Dublin, Ireland. The bottle encourages drinkers to "enjoy straight from the bottle" as the Draught line is meant to be as good from the bottle as if you had it poured at a pub.

    The Irish Stout pours a dark black with a large khaki head. There are a large number of noticeable bubbles which cling to the glass after pouring.

    Guinness Draught barely has any smell at all. What aroma there is smells of light malts.

    The "Stout" is actually very thin-bodied, and almost watery. There is a lot of carbonation in the beer, though it feels quite smooth.

    Unfortunately, the flavor in Guinness Draught is almost as non-existent as the aroma. The only flavor that can be perceived is a light roasted malt flavor. While Stouts usually have an alcohol content on the higher end of normal beers, this draught contains only 4.2% ABV. Higher alcohol contents usually signify greater amounts of malts used during fermentation, so this low alcohol content could easily be taken as a sign of a lack of flavor.

    I am extremely disappointed in the lack of flavor in this beer. I have had Guinness Stout before and know that it has much more flavor than this version of the beer does. I have no idea why Guinness would allow this beer to be sold with their name on it. The only reason I can think of for it to be named Guinness Draught would be that there is such a drought of flavor in the beer.

    With bottles of the Guinness Stout and Extra Stout being extremely common, I can't see why anyone would purchase this beer. I almost feel as though this was brewed for people who don't enjoy beer in order for them to have a type of the famous Guinness Stout which they too can enjoy.

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Whitewater IPA - Boston Beer Company

    Whitewater IPA is an interesting take on the American India Pale Ale created by Boston Beer Company located, where else, but Boston, Massachusetts. Instead of the usual malts used in IPAs, Whitewater uses wheat, giving the beer a much different flavor than other IPAs.

    The IPA pours a hazy straw-yellow with a massive foamy white head which persists for quite a while. When the head finally fades, it leaves lots of nice lacing on the cup.

    Whitewater IPA smells mainly of wheat with a bit of citrusy hops and lemon. There is also a slight peach scent to the ale.

    The IPA is light bodied and moderately carbonated, though the carbonation works well to make the beer feel creamy. The beer leaves an oily feeling in your mouth after swallowing. There also seems to be little bits of wheat throughout the beer that at some points can be felt in your mouth.

Whitewater IPA thinks it is more extreme than it is...

     The first flavors which hit your mouth when drinking Whitewater IPA are the bitter, citrusy flavors of hops. There is a good bit of lemon and orange peel in the flavor which are common in wheat beers. There is a malty/wheat sweetness that follows the citrus bitterness as well as a funky fruit flavor. Whitewater's aftertaste is that of bitter hops and citrus. The beer finishes relatively dry and at 5.8% ABV, has no alcohol flavor.

    I really feel as though this beer has all the hops of an IPA, but just doesn't quite back them up with the malts needed for balance to live up to many of the great IPAs on the market. I honestly would not call this beer an IPA at all. I would call it an extremely hopped wheat beer, which will never be as good to me as a good old classic IPA.

    Whitewater IPA doesn't taste bad, but the flavors of orange peel, peach, wheat, and citrusy hops really don't cater to any one niche of beer fans. I feel as though fans of wheat beers will be turned off by the massive hops in the ale, and IPA fans will be turned off by the wheat and fruit flavors present. Sam Adams has a knack for making beers that are very drinkable, though I feel that Whtiewater IPA might just be an exception to that rule.

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Stack N Stabb - Three Floyds Brewing Co.

    Stack N Stabb is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale created by Three Floyds Brewing Co. which is located in Munster, Indiana. I picked up this 22oz bomber on my birthday visit to the Three Floyds brewpub. As of now, there has only been one release of Stack N Stabb, making this bottle a special treat.

    The Belgian Strong Pale Ale pours a transparent orange with very little head.

    Stack N Stabb's aroma is very light. The normally powerful hop aroma that is Three Floyds' signature is extremely subdued in this brew. Instead, sweet malts and the spicy, banana scent common to Belgian yeast predominate the aroma. There is also a scent similar to that of stone fruits.

    Three Floyds' ale is light bodied with a medium-low carbonation level. The beer is quite creamy but finishes dry. There is a very slight alcohol warmth which you would expect from a Strong Ale

Warning: Beer and sharp objects may be dangerous
when used in conjunction!

    Much like the ale's aroma, Stack N Stabb's flavor is dominated by flavors from the Belgian yeast. Sweet banana and apricot can be tasted along with spices such as clove. There is more hops citrus flavor in this Belgian Strong Ale than other beers of the style which I have tried, though that isn't surprising considering it's a Three Floyds ale. Even with an alcohol content of 8.5% ABV, there is no flavor of alcohol that is noticeable. Instead, the ale is sweet at first, and finishes extremely dry.

    One thing that I love about Three Floyds is their nerdy, comic book-like inspiration for many of their beers. It feels as though, finally, people who are creating new beers are people whom are much like me. Stack N Stabb obviously follows the Three Floyds norm as is illustrated (literally) by the label and name of the ale. I realize that naming and marketing have very little to do with the quality of the actual product, but I definitely feel that Three Floyds backs up their bold labels with very good beer, so it's a win-win for me.

   As someone who does not enjoy Belgian style beers, Stack N Stabb is not something that I would drink regularly. I can, however, see that it is a very decent example of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale with a little bit of Three Floyds' personality added in. Fans of the Belgian flavors should definitely check Stack N Stabb out if they find it in stores, as it is a unique take on the Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

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Singularity - Xbox 360

    Singularity is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) developed by Raven Software. Singularity stands out from the crowd of FPS games on the Xbox 360 however by including some very interesting time-manipulation mechanics. Singularity was released in 2010 on Playsation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. This review is written on the Xbox 360 version of the game.

Stone 11-11-11 Vertical Epic Ale - Stone Brewing Co.

    Stone's 11-11-11 Vertical Epic Ale is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Located in Escondido, California, Stone Brewing Co. has been doing the Vertical Epic series since 02-02-02. The Vertical Epic series are beers that are meant to be collected until the final 12-12-12 release and then enjoyed in order of release. These are all ales which are designed to age, and 11-11-11 was no different as I am drinking it over a year after bottling. It is important to note that this review is written over a bottle which has aged at around 60 degrees Farenheit  for one year, rather than a newly bottled 11-11-11 Vertical Epic as there may be grave differences.

    11-11-11 pours an opaque cinnamon color with just the slightest bit of foam on top which quickly dissipates.

    The Vertical Epic has an incredibly interesting smell. Notes of banana and cloves from the Belgian yeast are quite obvious in the nose. A malty sweetness is also prevalent. Much more subtle notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and chili pepper leave me anxiously awaiting my first taste.

 
    The aged ale has a medium body with a medium-low level of carbonation. The ale finishes extremely dry.

Unofficial beer of Alduin, the World Eater.

    Stone's ale has a flavor that is one of the most complex that I have ever tasted. All I can say right off the bat is that whatever it is you expect when you taste this ale, you're in for a surprise. There is definitely a sweetness to the ale, though at the same time it almost tastes somewhat sour. A number of spices can be tasted in the ale including black pepper, clove, cinnamon, and even paprika. The sweet malts remind me of dark sugars. There is a surprising amount of citrusy hops flavor up front in the ale that quickly gives way to the warmth of the alcohol and the Anaheim chili used in brewing the ale in the middle. There is a very slight alcohol flavor in the ale, which at 9.4% ABV is not surprising.

    I joke about this Vertical Epic being my Skyrim beer. The reason behind this is, that as some of you may know, Skyrim was released on 11-11-11. My original plan was to take the day off of work, pick up one of these Vertical Epics, and play Skyrim until I fell asleep with the controller in my hand. Unfortunately, my plan didn't work out and I ended up working that day and not picking up this Vertical Epic. As it turns out, I'm glad that I waited an entire year to try this ale. From what I have read, the 11-11-11 Vertical Epic is much better after aging than when I would have first experienced it.
   
    Overall I was extremely surprised by the complexity of this ale. The warmth from the chilies used in brewing along with the light cinnamon flavors make for an extremely comforting flavor that makes me think of the holidays. If you can find a bottle of the 11-11-11 on shelves at the point, I recommend that you give it a try!

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Grand Theft Auto IV - The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC

    The Ballad of Gay Tony is the second episode of downloadable content (DLC) released by Rockstar Games for Grand Theft Auto IV. It is available in download form as well as part of the "Episodes from Liberty City" standalone disc.

    Similar to The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony centers around a new protagonist in Liberty City and tells a tale that runs parallel to both Niko and Johnny's stories. The DLC also adds new features and activities to the game, stretching the playtime of GTA4 even farther.