Harvestoun Brewery Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve

I've been drinking some very good beers lately.  Last night I had the Lily Flagg milk stout by Straight to Ale, a local brewery here in Huntsville, Alabama.  It's one of my favorites, and is included in my prior post about Beerfest.  See below.

The night before that I enjoyed a Red Brick Brown Ale, which I also tried at Beerfest.  It was at least as good as I remembered it, and perfect for an evening of friends and laughter.

Right now, however, I'm absolutely floored.  I just poured a glass of Harviestoun Brewery's Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve.

This is the stuff dreams are made of.  I'm blown away by the notes of spice, chocolate, coffee, and a hint of yeasty goodness.  It's like an imperial stout, only better.

The bottle description is even good:

The intensely flavoured but incredibly smooth Engineer's Reserve is our fabulous Old Engine Oil brewed up to 9% alc./vol.  Three hop varieties -- grassy Fuggles, spicy East Kent Goldings, and fruity Galena -- are combined with roast barley providing a slightly burnt, toasted coffee character.  Enjoy a bottle after dinner and take time to savour the earthy, hop fruity flavours of this spectacularly dark, rich beer.

This has so easily blown away my previous favorites that I'm tempted to come up with a new category.  For now, though, just know that it's the best thing I've ever tasted, and will definitely find it's way into my glass on special occasions.  It's a bit pricey for anything more often, weighing in at $6.09 for a twelve ounce bottle.

This was the perfect end to a great weekend.  The flavor and aroma is the best I've experienced.  In fact, it's Legendary.

Rocket City Brewfest

I had been looking for something monumental for my inaugural post.

I went to the Rocket City Brewfest last night, and I loved it.

Dozens of breweries, a couple or three hundred labels, several hundred people, and the laughter and camaraderie of friends. It was great.

The cost was a bit steep for someone who has never experienced this, and I was worried I was going to regret it. Tickets were $35 from Ticketmaster ahead of time, and $45 at the door. I bought a prepaid ticket from a friend for $40 (the extra five was me being nice to him, not him making a profit on me), and my girlfriend (“Sparkles”) bought one at the door. Designated Drivers can gain admittance for $10, which gives them access to the food (same cost of tokens applies) and free soft drinks.

The fest was in downtown Huntsville at the old train station. I'm going to have to check that place out later, because it looks pretty interesting. Anyway, we went through the line with our tickets, had our IDs checked, received an arm band that designated us as either beer drinkers or DDs, and a small beer glass.

Inside the fenced area were long rows of booths, and each booth had a different brewery. The beer list is online here.

We both tried a bunch of different ones, and Sparkles tried a couple that I disliked so much I didn't want to even include them. However, for the sake of fairness and science, I've included a short review of all the beers I know we tried, plus several that were there but that I've tried previously. The reviews are in my words, unless otherwise noted, and the ratings are all mine, with one noted exception.

Here we go:

Good People Nut Brown Ale – This was the very first one we tried. Good People is based in Birmingham Alabama. It's a pretty good brown ale, with nice nutty tones and subtle notes of malt and just the right amount of hops, with a warm, fuzzy finish. It would be perfect for a nice evening playing cards or with a ploughman's lunch. It is one of the few craft beers I've seen that is canned instead of bottled, but I don't think it affects the beer negatively. I'm giving it a Not Bad rating. Definitely will find its way into my glass later. Sparkles thought it was Good Stuff; it was one of her favorites.

Good People IPA – India Pale Ale, and its counterpart the American Pale Ale, seems to be the staple of craft beer makers everywhere. I personally prefer a much darker, much maltier beer, but I will try an IPA from time to time. This one, however, left me very disappointed, especially after the good first experience of the Nut Brown Ale above. This was all carbonation and alcohol, with little else to go on. While I applaud their efforts (breweries in Alabama face a huge uphill battle due to the idiot laws in our regressive state), I don't find this one to my liking. I'm giving it a Yuck.

Cahaba Brewing Company Liquidambar Amber Ale – I didn't like this one too much. It, like the IPA above, had too much flavor of carbonation and not much of anything else. It was tart, almost sour, leaving me wishing I had some bread or something to clear it. I'm giving it a Yuck.

Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale – I've tried this before, and it quickly became my second favorite. I haven't been able to find it in stores since Christmas, though, so I was elated to be able to get a taste here at Brewfest. It's dark, it's bitter, it's malty, and it doesn't have too much carbonation. Just like I like it. It's not one you're going to chug, but that's not the point anyway. Great for an evening with friends, laughter, and deep discussions. I'd pair it with something big and meaty, like steak, chops, or barbecue. Easily a Legendary rating!

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout – I was utterly blown away. I've tried an Imperial before, by another brewery, and was less than impressed. This, however, was mind blowing. Black as sin, blacker even than Guinness or Old Engine Oil, with that definite flavor that Imperials have – a hoppiness that reminds me of coffee or very strong tea. It's going to be hard to say until I can try an entire glass, but this may have just ousted Highland's Oatmeal Stout (more in a moment) as my third favorite ever. I'm giving it a Legendary rating.

Cahaba Brewing Company Oka Uba IPA – Sparkles really liked this one, but I definitely didn't. It was light amber in color, and had hints of fruit that I didn't think belonged there. I'm sure she rated it higher, but mine's Yuck.

Straight to Ale Lily Flagg Milk Stout – Lily Flagg was Huntsville's most famous four-legged citizen. In 1892, her owner, Samuel B. Moore, took her to an exposition in Chicago where she was honored as one of the world’s best butterfat producers. This is a local brewery, so naming their milk stout after the local bovine celebrity is a natural. As far as milk stouts go, this is better than the others I've had, including the one by Left Hand. It's dark and malty, but with a nice, sweet finish, thanks to the milk sugars in the beer. It's probably going to find itself on my top-ten list, and on Sparkles', too. It's pretty much Legendary, like the cow.

Atlanta Brewing Company Wee Heavy Scotch Ale – I tried this in November and loved it. It's dark and malty, with just the right amount of bitterness to it. Easily in my top ten favorites list. Good stuff.

Redbrick Brown – I was happy with this nice brown ale. It reminds me of Newcastle, with a nutty flavor and just the right balance of hops and malt. It would be good with a slice of apple pie, I think. It's Good stuff.

O'FallonBrewery Chocolate Cherry – I've seen the bright red boxes in grocery stores for months now, and Sparkles and I have been daring each other to try it. Well, I got to try it. It tastes like chocolate covered cherries, and good ones at that. This is an amazingly sweet beer, perfect for dessert in itself. I didn't notice the hops or malt, which means that the balance is just right. A very interesting red color, almost brick red. This is Good stuff. Sparkles said that this is what she'll be drinking from now on.

It was about here that Sparkles brought me something nasty that supposedly had pomegranate juice in it. It was so awful that even Miller Lite would be an improvement. Epic fail. I will spare the company the indignity of naming and shaming, because I'm sure their products will soon speak for themselves. Just don't go buying beers with juice in them, ok?

Thomas Creek Pump House Porter – A local organic grocery store carries this, and I'd been thinking about trying it. It's a decent porter, a bit on the hoppy side, with notes of something I couldn't quite place. It's worth a second look, for sure. For now I'll say it's Not bad, but that may rise after I've tried it again.

Bison Organic Chocolate Stout – Wow. This is very surprising. It tastes like a Green & Black's dark chocolate bar. Very nice finish. This is another one that would be good for dessert all by itself. Definitely Good stuff.

Rogue Dead Guy Ale – I'd tried this previously, so it was nice to say hi to an old friend. Supposedly named because it smells and tastes like a dead guy, this is anything but nasty. It actually has a nice yeasty scent and flavor to it, and leaves the tongue wanting more. I consider this to be Good stuff.

Rogue Chocolate Stout – This was new to me. While not quite as good as the Bison, above, it was still very good. It had hints of oatmeal, too, which I really like in a beer. I want to try a whole glass of it. For now, I'm giving this a Not bad rating, but that may go up later.

HighlandBrewing Company Oatmeal Stout – This Ashville, NC-based brewery has been blowing my socks off since I first tried them a few months ago. This beer has a wonderful oat flavor that is paired with a dark, malty bitterness that I just cannot get enough of. Easily my second-favorite beer ever. It's freaking Legendary.

HighlandBrewing Company St. Terese's Porter – This is a bit lighter in color than most porters I've had, being closer to a dark brown than a black. It has a pretty good balance of hops, malt, and yeast, and I like the nutty tones that come through. All in all, it's Good stuff.

HighlandBrewing Company Gaelic Ale – Another great beer from Highland. It's technically an American Pale Ale, but it's a bit darker and stronger than most I've tried. Good flavor. Not as good as the Oatmeal Stout, but definitely worth a drink or three. Good stuff.

Boulevard Chocolate Ale – Tastes like M&M candies! Of all the chocolate stouts I tried, this was probably my second favorite. Good stuff.

LazyMagnolia Southern Pecan – I've enjoyed this quite a bit, so it was nice to have a taste here. It's a new take on “nutty brown ale”: They brew it with pecans. It's on the dry side, so it's not too sweet. It is great alone, but would probably pair well with pecan pie. It rates pretty high on my list – Good stuff.

LazyMagnolia Jefferson Stout – I've never tasted a sweet potato beer. I was very impressed. It also has lactose in it, so it's a milk stout, but when it finishes I've tasted hints of dark chocolate and coffee as well. I think it's pretty Good stuff.

OldBlack Bear Brewery Roaming Bear Stout – Another local brewery. This stout was pretty good, definitely better than some. There's a nice malt flavor, with some chocolate notes hiding in there as well. Sparkles liked it too, which was a surprise, as she likes lighter beers than I do. We're thinking this is Good stuff.

Unibroue La Fin du Monde – I tried this last week. A waste of money, in my opinion. It had a weird flavor, one I couldn't put my finger on. Then it hit me: Hops. This beer is way over hopped for my taste, and I don't like the fruity notes, either. It's forgettable. Eh.

Unibroue Trois Pistoles – Not much better than La Fin du Monde, if at all. Way too much hop flavor and way too much fruit. Ironically they claim that it's a malty flavor, but if it is my palate is totally screwed up. Eh.

He'Brew Genesis – An APA, it is way too sharp for my taste. Very crisp and carbonated. Despite my love affair with their Messiah Bold, I could easily forget this one. Eh.

Avondale Vanillaphant – From the Brewfest guide: “An ale which is surprisingly light bodied for its robust flavor it has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavors you would expect in a porter but with a special vanilla twist at the end. We use the world's finest hand selected vanilla beans from the bourbon islands of Madagascar in our recipe. The malty and vanilla sweetness are perfectly balanced with hoppy bitterness.” It's apparently aged in Jack Daniels whisky barrels. Avondale has an interesting history, but I'll let you visit their website. We both really enjoyed this beer. It was the last one I tried, and I savored the experience. I'm going to definitely drink some more of it. Good stuff.

That's all I've got notes for. There were more I'd have liked to have tried, but time grew short and my blood alcohol level grew high. I definitely think the event was worth the cost, and I'm going to go back again next year. I'm tempted to skip Annual Conference and go to the one in Birmingham in a couple weeks.

-- Barefoot Friar

Fullers Organic Honey Dew

Sparkling gold, hops character, accents of honeycomb and vague sweetness.  The honey is interesting, but doesn't make much of an impact in the overall picture.

The Bottom Line: This novelty beer will be quickly forgotten, unless, of course, you're a bear of very little brain.

The Rating: Eh

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Mill Street Tankhouse Ale

This Toronto-based microbrewery turns out a mighty fine brew.  Tankhouse Ale is a cheery reddish copper crowned with bright white.  Hops and mild maltiness greet the nose, and the palate follows suit with flavors of slightly sweet malt, caramel, grass, and hoppy bitterness.  Finish is bitter but rounded and clean.

The Bottom Line: A sturdy brew with more depth than many American Pale Ales.

The Rating: Good Stuff

Krombacher Pils

The reviews for boring beers should be short and to the point, right?  So to that end: Looks like apple juice with a nice head and lacing.  Smells like alcohol and hops.  Taste is straighforward hops, vague fruitiness, slight metallic from the can, and finishes with a bitterness that is almost acrid.

The Bottom Line:  You'll remember the cool tower logo a lot longer than you will the beer.

The Rating:  Eh.

Singha Lager Beer

I tried this pale lager by Boon Rawd Brewery in Bankock, Thailand, in a bottle at a local Thai restaurant.  It pours a clear golden yellow with an almost non-existent white head, giving off whiffs of corn and sweet malt.   Taste is clean and crisp, with sweetness and fruit that is almost wine-like, and accompanied by a prickly mouthfeel and a dry hops finish.

The Bottom Line: A little sweeter, pricklier, and more fruity than most American pales, but not bad with food.

The Rating: Not Bad

Garrison Martello Stout

Garrison Martello Stout is a thick, black and surly blending of bitter espresso, dark chocolate, and roasted malt.  Medium tan head lasts forever with nice lacing, while the beer itself is a murky black.  Aroma is of chocolate and coffee.

The Bottom Line:  On the dry and bitter side, but still good.

The Rating:  Not Bad.

Harviestoun Old Engine Oil

Pours out a thick, murky black with no head or lacing to speak of.  Aroma is rich and hints of bitter-sweet chocolate and roasted malt.  More layers of chocolate, coffee, roast, malt, smoke, and bitterness greet the palate, accompanied by a slight prickle of carbonation.

The Bottom Line: This is viscous black liquid love.

The Rating: Legendary.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

This beer is an indescribable experience like no other.  It's a cool summer midnight in your glass, rich and dark and alive and yet understated and refined.

It pours an oily black with a rich khaki head.  Aroma is a complicated palate of yeast, chocolate, bread, raisin, and light caramel.  Fruit and yeast greet your tastebuds, followed quietly by chocolate that isn't sweet, roasted coffee and malt, and a mild burst of alcohol.  There's a depth of flavor here that is both mysterious and comforting, strange and yet so hauntingly familiar.  It finishes bitter and a little dry and slightly sour, but refreshingly and invitingly so.

This was my first imperial, so it may be that I don't yet know what I'm talking about... but.  If this beer really is an example of the imperial style, then I am, without a doubt, an Empire man.

The Bottom Line: I think I've got something in my eye... *Sniffle*

The Rating: Legendary.

Hockley Valley Black and Tan

A "Black and Tan" is blend of pale ale and dark beer, often poured in such a way as to create a layered effect.  In some cases, the two are simply mixed together.  When a pale lager is substituted for the ale, it's called "Half and Half".

In this case, it's a blending of Hockley Stout and a specially-brewed ale to stand in as the "tan".  This delightful brew pours out a rich dark mahogany with a creamy tan head that gently exudes the aromas of smoke, coffee, chocolate, and sweet malt.  The taste is a subtle explosion of sorts, bursting with all of the aforementioned presences with breathtaking richness and harmony that takes one's breath away.

The Bottom Line: I ran out of this liquid awesomeness last night, slurped the last precious drops from the bottom of my glass, and *may* have tried to lick the Hockley Valley website.

The Rating: Good Stuff.

Holsten Festbock

I like the contrast of light and dark, so I grabbed this dunkler bock from Holsten Brauerei last night to pair with my Hockley Valley brown ale.

Holsten has been brewing since the mid nineteen hundreds, and it shows in this classic bock.  Clear and coppery in color, it spouts an odd, fizzy, soda-like head that dissipates quickly and disappointingly without leaving a ghost of a trace behind save for the occasional prickly bubble.   It's pleasantly nutty and malty on the nose, exciting the imagination with visions of a crackling hearth, a soft chair, and quiet conversation.

The taste was surprising in it's sweetness, and even more so in how well it works.  Starting off slightly bitter, the flavor flowers into buttery caramel, roasted malt, and a rounded sweetness that finishes smoothly.

The Bottom Line: A good choice for sipping by a fire with good friends.

The Rating: Not Bad.

Anchor Steam Beer

I've been eyeing this West Coast brew at my local MLCC for quite some time, but never tried it until today.  The anchor logo and squat bottle have always intrigued me, conjuring up grainy, yellowed images of bearded sea captains and chugging trawlers.

Anchor Steam pours a nice coppery color with a creamy off-white head.  Lacing is slight, but sticky.    It's full and nutty on the nose, with malt and hops taking center stage.  Likewise on the palate, where the sweet malt and rounded profile are both pleasing and refreshing.  Tapers off with a slightly crispy bitterness.

The Bottom Line:  This nicely balanced and no-nonsense brew went well with my spicy dinner and was the perfect ending to a long, hot day.

The Rating:  Good Stuff.

Negra Modelo

This Mexican beer had me expecting a fiesta in a glass, but ended up being surprisingly generic.

Dark amber in color with an off-white head, this beer smells oddly of Vienna sausages, malt, and not much else.  Taste is fairly clean with no particularly distinguishing character.

La línea de base: ¿Podría un mejor sabor si se combina con música de banda.

La Valoración: Eh.

[Traducción al español por traductor de Google]

Estrella Damm

Estrella Damm cervesa is nothing more and nothing less than your average Damm lager.

Crystal clear, straw-colored, and with a tall white head, this Damm beer is crisp, clean, and light.  The Damm aroma is of Damm delicate hops and a slight Damm sweetness, and finishes cleanly.

The Bottom Line:  It's not horrible, but it's not Damm good, either.

The Rating:  Eh.

Desnoes and Geddes Dragon Stout

Dragon Stout by Jamaican brewer Desnoes and Geddes comes in a teeny-tiny bottle (only 300ML) but packs a wallop with the 7.5% alcohol content.

It pours murky and dark with a vague reddish hue and a finger of dense tan head.  Aroma is of alcohol, toffee,  coffee, light hops, and baker's chocolate.

The taste is sweet, but then it would have to be to cover up all of the alcohol.  It hints of licorice and spice, almost like some sort of rum.  Notes of espresso lurk in the background, but chocolate takes center stage.  The finish is bittersweet and alcoholic.

The Bottom Line:  Good, but a bit sweet and chocolatey for my tastes.

The Rating:  Not Bad.

Erdinger Weissbräu Dunkel

Brewed by Erdinger Weissbräu, this Gernan dunkel [dark beer] is described as "A wheat beer from the good old days".  If the good old days were as good as this beer, then they were indeed good.

It looks absolutely beautiful in the glass, a rich, murky dark brown with contrasting off-white head.  The head remains all the way to the end, without much lacing.

My nose was quite busy with this beer, picking out the predominant chocolate, subtle fruit, light alcohol, raisin, roasted hops, and caramel.  Flavor is heady, with malt, hops, and toasted wheat dominating.  Carbonation is mild, and it finishes with a medium bitterness.

The Bottom Line:  This complex dark beer has an interesting aroma and flavor profile which makes it highly enjoyable.

The Rating:  Good Stuff.

Wychwood Hobgoblin (Pasteurized)

I noticed this brew from the UK brewer Wychwood at the local MLCC and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Hobgoblin is a pale reddish brown with a light tan head.  The head sticks around and laces nicely.  The aroma  isn't bad, smelling of malt, caramel, and tea, but the alcohol overpowers it a bit.  It dominates the middle half of the flavor profile, too, which has a medium burnt sugar bitterness that fades into prickly alcohol and then to a hops finish.

I found the alcohol flavor to be fairly distracting and odd, especially considering that it's only 5.2% ABV.  If it wasn't for that, though, Hobgoblin would fall fairly flat, as the only other major theme is the same hops and malt you can get from most any other brew.

The Bottom Line:  Not a horrible beer, but not a good one either.

The Rating:  Eh.

Half Pints Bulldog Amber Ale

Half Pints is quickly becoming my favorite brewery.  Their Stir Stick Stout is definitely good stuff, and this refreshingly dry ale isn't far behind.  It's high praise coming from a guy who thinks darker is better.

Bulldog Amber Ale pours a clear, well, amber color with a reasonable off-white head.  The aroma is clean and complicated: wheat, fruit, floral something-or-other, vanilla, dry malt, and other things I can't place.

Taste, like the nose, is a crisp combination of hops, malt, caramel, earthiness.  Pomaceous fruit offers a slight sweetness, while the hops provides medium bitterness.  The finish is dry and crisp and lingers on the roof of your mouth, but not unpleasantly.

The Bottom Line:  I've changed my go-to beer to this one.  This stuff is awesomeness in a bottle.

The Rating:  Good Stuff.

Fort Garry Riptide Pilsner

I've been told that Fort Garry brews "Riptide" specifically for South Beach Casino in Manitoba, but I've never witnessed anyone ordering it there.  Today I found out why.

This watered-down version of Fort Garry Pale has a garish, artificial coloring that is yellower than day-old piss.  Smells like nothing.  Tastes like faint wannabe hops, plastic, carbonation, dishwater, and absolutely nothing else.

The Bottom Line: I couldn't make myself finish drinking this mess.

The Rating: The Gag Reflex.  I had to create a special rating just for this beer.