A Flowery Song

Background: This fall release from the wonderful Great Lakes Brewing Company is a highly-hopped amber ale named after a vampire.

Nose: Caramel and treacle, with citrusy hops in abundance.

Taste: Big punch of hop flavour contributing piny, citrusy, and vegetal leaf mould accents on a bed of rich caramel malt.

Overall: It’s very good.

Background: Founders’ strong Scotch Ale is called “Dirty Bastard”; the bottle only gives us “ale aged in oak bourbon barrels” as the description, but I think it’s a fair assumption that the base beer is Dirty Bastard.

Nose: Fresh corn bourbon and vanilla oak.

Taste: Sugared oak. The caramelisation from the wee heavy plays nicely with the sweet bourbon flavours from the barrel, but the extra alcohol really thins out the body. Somewhat fruity.

Overall: I like barrel-aged beers, I really do. Unfortunately, I find that the bourbon barrels most commonly used have a tendency to overwhelm even the most robust base beer, giving them a distressing sameness. This is good beer, but it’s not great and it’s very bourbon.

Background: Belgian-style farmhouse ale, available as a seasonal release in 750ml bottles. Very energetic carbonation; make sure to chill before opening, and it may be wise to open it over the sink rather than your computer keyboard or photographic equipment. Even a gentle pour produces an impressive head of foam.

Nose: Funky and earthy; a bit of barnyard, a bit of cellar.

Taste: Tart and refreshing. Lemons, black pepper, coriander.

Overall: Good Saison! Not a traditional choice for the middle of winter, but the acidity and earthiness went nicely with the steak and kidney pie I was having.

Background: What’s nicer on a cold wet winter’s night than a nice malty Scotch Ale? Not much, to be sure, though there are things like Quelque Chose that will give it a run for its money. Bell’s is eager to cater to your every need, so here’s a seasonal release of, well, a Scotch Ale.

Nose: Malty caramel with earthy undertones.

Taste: Dextrinous and creamy, with a solid caramel malt presence and hints of appley esters.

Overall: Well, hmm. *scuff scuff*. After the build-up in the introduction, I almost hate to write my reaction. It’s decent-tasting and drinkable, but well on the light side for a Scotch Ale, while being heavier than a normal Scottish Ale. Neither fish nor fowl, it’s not quite what I was looking for to warm the cockles of my heart (or my toes). Still, it’s tasty, and as long as you aren’t looking for a strong ale you shouldn’t suffer any disappointment.

Background: Stout. Rye. Draw your own conclusions.

Nose: Black coffee, chicory, and toasted bread.

Taste: Mmm, spicy. Nice mix of rye and roasted malt character. A bit of chocolate.

Overall: A bit thin, but other than that quite nice indeed.

Background: From Founders in Grand Rapids, this beer is brewed with two types of coffee, two types of chocolate, and some flaked oats. Sounds like breakfast to me!

Nose: Smooth coffee is the first thing to hit; a bit fruity and chocolaty with floral high notes.

Taste: Thick and chewy, slightly sweet and slightly spicy, with lots of roasted and toasted malt flavours along with dark chocolate and coffee. Hints of molasses and tobacco.

Overall: Excellent. Truly excellent. Not much to add to that, really. Go forth and buy some.

Background: In the fall, a young man’s fancy turns toward high-gravity ales, and Arbor Brewing is more than happy to oblige with this seasonal 9% ABV monster.

Nose: Sharp alcohols and esters, with an underlying malty sweetness. Slightly vinuous, with lots of dried fruit.

Taste: Fairly attenuated, with the body a little lighter than I expected. Complex nutty malt background overlaid by dried figs and molasses, solventy alcohol, medium hop bite, and lots of fruity esters. Very dry finish with lingering hints of bramble.

Overall: A nicely warming beer, perfect for cold autumn nights in Michigan. Could do with a slightly chewier mouthfeel and I prefer that alcohol not be quite this evident.

Background: Belgian-style blonde with strawberries.

Nose: Boozy strawberries with a hint of spicy phenols.

Taste: Fresh, floral strawberry high notes, smooth fruity body, cedar and herb influences.

Overall: Very nice indeed. Well balanced, full-throated fruit flavour that manages not to be overpowering.

Background: This unfiltered wheat beer brewed with local honey, coriander, and orange zest is a seasonal offering from Arcadia in Battle Creek. Comes in at a nice light 17 IBUs and is only slightly hefty in the alcohol department at 6.2% ABV.

Nose: Light and grassy, with floral overtones and a bit of earthy herbal influence.

Taste: Malty and spicy. Herbal coriander and oily citrus balance a lightly bready and slightly sweet wheat backbone.

Overall: Easy-drinking and refreshing, just what I look for in a summer seasonal.

Background: Dogfish Head describe this as a “neo-Berliner Weisse” and make an especial point of noting that “extreme beers don’t have to be extremely boozy.” Nonetheless, at 4.5% ABV this is on the boozy side for a Berliner Weisse, which is usually a small beer weighing in between 2.8 and 3.8% ABV. Another departure from tradition is the inclusion of peaches in the beer itself; while many like their BW served with a dash of flavoured syrup to cut the tartness (resulting from the action of the acid-producing bacterium Lactobacillus delbruckii during the fermentation process), this is done at serving time. If you dislike the yeast haze, a careful decanting should avoid stirring up the lees in the bottle.

Nose: Tart and lemony, with a bit of stone fruit and the barest hint of yeast.

Taste: Nice and tart, around the level of good lemonade. Peach, green apple, and lemon on a light, wheaty malt background fade into a puckering finish. Effervescent carbonation and a dry mouthfeel.

Overall: Very refreshing, with the peach quite restrained and natural tasting. Serve lightly chilled on a sweaty summer evening.