I Hardcore You - Brewdog/Mikkeller

    It appears as though I stumbled upon a pretty special brew with this one. I Hardcore You is a collaborative effort between Brewdog (Fraserburgh, Scotland) and Mikkeller (Copenhagen, Denmark). This Imperial India Pale Ale is a blend of Brewdog's Hardcore IPA, and Mikkeller's I Beat YoU. I somehow found a bottle at a local liquor store and picked it up on a recommendation of Brewdog by Rebecca Hellowell. I can't wait to see what a collaboration between two of Europe's better brewers (or so I'm told) is like!

    I Hardcore You pours an interesting dark caramel color with a slight orange tint. A small, thin head forms after pouring, but fades quickly.

    The Imperial IPA smells intriguingly hoppy. Fruity, floral hops aromas mingle with the more classic piney resinous scents. There is also a strong background of caramel and other sweet, British style malts.

    I Hardcore You has a medium to full mouthfeel with a low level of carbonation. The ale feels a bit oily, and lightly coats the mouth. There is a little bit of alcohol warmth to the beer, which has an alcohol content of 9.5% ABV.

    The collaborative ale tastes surprisingly malty when you consider that it is a blend of two very hoppy beers. Sweet and robust caramel and toffee malt flavors create a backdrop on which the hops flavors are highlighted. The many different hops used to brew this ale impart many different flavors to the ale. The flavors of tropical fruit are present, as well as more herbal, flowery flavors. There are also more traditional hops flavors such as pine and lemon rind in the beer. This mix really does a great job of showing off the spectrum of flavors that hops can lend to an ale.
 

    I imagine that this beer was named after a couple similar to Romeo and Juliet, only much cooler, that would say "I hardcore you" instead of "I love you", because they were just that hardcore. This couple likely listened to metal music while driving motorcycles through flaming hoops on their dates. The two were so wild that they would probably only kiss inside a cage of hungry tigers while wearing meatsuits. Then, as always seems to happen with such intense love, it's likely that the couple were forcibly separated when a gang of werewolves moved into the woods between their two homes. Of course the two probably fought their way through the hordes of lycanthropes with just their own hands and feet, but each would have sustained injuries in the process. Once the two finally met up, they likely committed suicide together, to avoid turning into werewolves themselves, by cutting off their own heads with an axe. They were pretty hardcore.

   After a bit more research, I found that this was a limited release beer that is no longer being brewed. My local liquor store had a few on the shelf even now though, so if the beer sounds interesting to you, you might get lucky and find a couple dust covered bottles, even here in the States. I'm impressed how well I Hardcore You showcases the many different flavors of hops. This is definitely a unique brew!

Amulets and Ale Rating:

American McGee's Alice - PC/Xbox 360

    American McGee's Alice is an Action/Platforming game that was originally released on PC in 2000, but was eventually ported to Xbox 360 as downloadable content for the Xbox 360 game Alice: Madness Returns. The game was developed by the now dissolved Rogue Entertainment, and published by Electronic Arts. Ten years before Tim Burton introduced us to his vision of a darker Wonderland, American McGee put his own dark twist on the classic tale. It is in this twisted version of Wonderland that American McGee's Alice takes place. I have played both the PC and Xbox 360 version of this game, though the 360 version is what I am heavily basing my review on as I just finished, it as opposed to the 9 years ago that I played the PC version.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is an American Pale Ale brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, California. Sierra Nevada ranks up there with Colorado's New Belgium Brewing as a company that worked hard to make craft ales more popular by distributing their product all over the country. Now days I think of Sierra Nevada as a "Macro micro-brewery", as they produce a huge amount of beer and distribute far and wide.

    The Pale Ale pours a hazy, pale orange with a thick, off-white head. The head slowly subsides into a hearty foam layer on the beer's surface and a thick ring around the inside of the glass that leaves lacing on the glass for the entire time the beer is enjoyed.

    The beer has a light, hops scent to it, with citrus and pine scents being the main players. The hops aromas are lighter than you would find in an IPA. There is also a noticeable caramel sweetness from the malts in the beer's aroma.

    Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is medium bodied with a medium level of carbonation. The body seems to falter towards the end, however, and the beer finishes somewhat watery. The Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 5.36% ABV.

    The ale has a nice, light hops flavor. Citrus and piney, resinous bitter flavors flow across the tongue, followed by a malty sweetness. The flavor dissipates quickly as the body becomes more watery towards the end. The beer leaves the mouth dry and with only a slight bitterness lingering.

    I have a funny connection with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale that is in no way related to the beer's flavor or quality. Around a year ago, my wife went on a spree of watching the many hoarding reality TV shows. As I have a major beer obsession, I would often take note of what beers these hoarders would have around. Eventually, I noticed a trend. An overwhelmingly large number of hoarders had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale boxes, bottles, and cans strewn throughout their homes. This trend continued through a surprising number of episodes of the different shows.

A quick Google search brought up these examples. Click image to enlarge if you don't believe me!

     I will reiterate that this trend has absolutely nothing to do with the taste or quality of the beer. I have yet to launch a scientific inquiry into what exactly makes hoarders enjoy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale so much, but I find the ale to be a very drinkable, mild Pale Ale. This would be a great jumping on point if you are interested in hops flavors without wanting to risk the sometimes cloying bitterness of IPAs. Also, if you're a hoarder, it's time that you get with the program!

Amulets and Ale Rating:

5 A.M. Saint - BrewDog

    5 A.M. Saint is an Amber Ale made by Brewdog which is located all the way over in Fraserburgh, Scotland. Brewdog beers were recommended to me by Rebecca Hellowell, who lives across the pond herself, and loves their brews. I had a faint memory of seeing the BrewDog logo somewhere in the States, but it took some looking to find it. Luckily, I found three of their varieties, and picked up two!

    5 A.M. Saint pours a hazy copper with yellow tints. The beer's head is full, even though it's only around a finger tall.

    The Amber Ale smells thickly sweet. Heavy caramel and toffee malts dominate the smell with slight hops notes beneath.

    I know it sounds strange, but you can usually tell a British brew from an American brew by investigating two things: the head, and the aroma. The different malts used in British brews tend to produce a fuller, darker head than American style malts. The British malts also lend a sweeter, almost musty (in a good way) scent to the ales. I know that it seems weird, but you really can tell a difference between the styles, and I notice that difference in this beer.

    The ale has a medium body with a medium-high level of carbonation. I find the carbonation to be a bit too high for me, but it certainly doesn't ruin the body. 5 A.M. has an alcohol content of 5% ABV.

One more minute, and you can drink it!

    The Saint's flavor starts with a light bitterness from the hops. The ale then shows its rich, maltier side with sweet caramel and toffee malts with a hint of what could be crystal malts. The beer finishes a little bit bitter, but leaves the sweet caramel malt flavor as an aftertaste.

    I can only imagine that the name 5 A.M. Saint comes from the scenario of enjoying a long night of partying on a weekday. Sure, you're having a great time, but the fact that you have to be up early for work the next morning is always quietly screaming in the back of your head. You get home, go to bed, and BAM your alarm goes off seemingly as soon as your head hits the pillow. You wake up feeling horrible, but luckily, the BrewDog is there with some "hair of the dog" (pun intended) to get you up and going! Wow! This beer truly is a saint! (Amulets and Ale does not condone going into work drunk, even if it would make for an amusing story for your friends to tell about how you got fired from your job.)

    5 A.M. is a nice change of pace from the American brews I've had lately. The British style malts are very enjoyable, and the hops in the beer perfectly do their job of keeping the sweetness from being too much. The carbonation starts out being too lively for my liking, but after sitting for a bit, it mellows nicely. Overall, 5 A.M. Saint is a great Amber Ale that I would recommend, especially if you've never had a British style ale.

Amulets and Ale Rating:

Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Company

    Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout is a Russian Imperial Stout brewed by the Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, Colorado. For this special, seasonal brew, Great Divide ages their super-popular Yeti Imperial Stout on oak, lending a light vanilla flavor to the dark roasty flavor of the Stout. I have had this beer before and loved it, but could not find it again until tonight. Needless to say, I snatched it up and scurried off home to write this review! This beer has the honor of being my fourth favorite beer!

    Oaked Yeti pours an amazingly dark obsidian that seems impenetrable by all light. The beer is topped with a luxurious, two-finger, mocha head that eventually settles down into a thin layer of foam capping the beer and sticking on the sides of the glass.

    The Imperial Stout smells of rich, roasty malts and dark chocolate. The oak definitely lends some of its woodiness to the ale's smell, conjuring the image of a cozy study in an old house in my mind. Just as I imagine a yeti would be, the beer is very strong with an alcohol content of 9.5% ABV.

    Similar to another characteristic I believe would be present in a yeti, the beer is very full-bodied (no fur though, luckily!). There is a low level of carbonation, making the thick brew feel amazingly smooth.

    Oak Aged Yeti's flavors go together so amazingly well that upon first taste it almost seems as though they are one flavor, rather than a mixture of tastes. Upon further sipping, dark, roasted malts become apparent in the flavor as well as dark chocolate and coffee. The wood flavor seems to mellow what could have been too much of a black coffee flavor for my tastes with a subtle vanilla flavor. Each component of the Imperial Stout's flavor blends together and creates a rich, delicious beer that could be dangerous with such a high alcohol content!

    Legend tells that the ancestors of the Great Divide Brewing Company used to brew beer at their family home, deep in the unsettled territories of Colorado. The family would sell their brews to other settlers, as the ales and beers would make facing the harsh, Rocky Mountain winters that much more bearable. The story goes that in the third week of November in their first year of brewing, the family was visited by a gigantic beast that appeared as a huge man covered in white-hair that blended in with the fresh snowfall. Apparently attracted by the smells of brewing, this creature tore through the family's dwelling, stealing anything edible. The family had spent a good bit of their money on the brewing equipment, and the loss of a secure, wind-tight home drained the final bits of gold from their pockets. The family somehow survived the winter without money to buy food, but came out of the situation in springtime with a plan.

How they fit the Yeti in the barrel to be aged, I have no idea!

    The family decided to brew a batch of the strongest, tastiest beer that they could. When the months flew by and the air grew cold once more, the family was ready. A giant barrel of the darkest beer anyone had seen at the time was set out near the edge of the family's land where it met the forest. Before long, the monster once again could be seen stalking the family's cabin from just inside the cover of the trees. When the monster eventually worked his way over to the barrel it sniffed the liquid it contained carefully. The beast then quickly went to work, draining the barrel of its alcoholic contents. Upon finishing its drink, the creature let loose with a vicious howl. Or was it a yawn? For then the creature sat down at the foot of a gigantic tree and fell asleep. In fact, the creature slept for the entire winter! When spring's fresh blooms once again dotted the landscape, the beast awoke from its slumber. Feeling the sun's warmth return to the air, the fur-covered monster retreated back into the coolness of the forest's shade.

    Every year from that time on, the family brewed the same beer, and time and time again the creature would come to drink the brew, only to sleep through its entire season of havok. The monster eventually came to be known by the name of Yeti, and Great Divide still, to this day, brews that same ale (with some minor changes to avoid people sleeping for months at a time after Mr.Van Winkle's unfortunate accident).

    Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout is an amazing ale. I slightly dreaded tasting the beer again for fear that my good memories were unfounded, but after my first sip all fears were allayed and I was greeted once again by the amazing blend of flavors in this beer. I can't put my finger on what it is about the Imperial Stout, but something feels so very classy about it. I know that's strange to say about a beer, but I stand by it. Maybe it's the richness of flavor, or the perfection of balance found in the ale. No matter what it is, I highly recommend Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout to everyone!

Amulets and Ale Rating:

Redd's Apple Ale - Miller Brewing Company

    Redd's Apple Ale is a Fruit Beer brewed by the Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You've more than likely seen commercials for this beer, as it seems to be one of the most advertised beers I have ever seen. With the growing popularity of cider in the United States, I'm interested to see if Redd's leads to Miller looking into brewing their own brand of hard cider.

    Redd's Apple Ale pours an extremely clear, apple juice color. Surprisingly, there is no head to the beer whatsoever. The beer's appearance is very similar to hard apple cider, which concerns me since this is supposed to be an ale.

    The apple ale smells strongly of sweet apples that are a few shades farther than ripe. It basically smells like an apple does once it has fallen from the tree and sat on the ground for a week. This rotten smell is the only real aroma given off by the ale.

    Redd's Apple Ale is very light bodied and has a low level of carbonation. The ale has no real beer-like body to it at all. Redd's has an alcohol content of 5% ABV.

Beer has fallen so far, and begun to rot.

    The Apple Ale's flavor is mainly that of sweet, rotting apples. After the apple flavor settles down, the tiniest bit of malt can be briefly tasted before all flavor fades quickly away. The overall flavor is very similar to alcoholic apple soda. The sweetness seems to be separate from the apple taste, as though Miller backsweetened the beer with another type of sugar.

    There really isn't anything "ale" about Redd's Apple Ale. I feel like Miller would have much more success if they would purposely brew a cider instead of trying to make an ale similar to a cider. If Redd's were just a bit dryer and less rotten, it would actually taste like a pretty decent cider, since there is no hops detectable and only the slightest bit of malt flavor. I really can't recommend this as a good Fruit beer, but it doesn't taste too terrible if you are just after a sweet, alcoholic, apple drink.

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Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements - Xbox 360

    Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements, other than being a mouthful of a title, is a First-Person Action game that has some minor Role Playing elements developed by Arkane Studios and Floodgate Entertainment. The multiplayer portion of the game was developed by Kuju Entertainment and the game was produced by Ubisoft. Dark Messiah was released in 2008 on both the PC and the Xbox 360. From what I have read, major changes were made to the game between the PC and Xbox 360 versions, and not for the better for Xbox gamers. All I know is what the Xbox version is like, so I'll review based only on my own experiences with the game.