Palo Santo Marron - Dogfish head brewery

APPEARANCE: (5) Pours a surprisingly syrupy thick Stout colored brew into the testing glass. Foam dies down fast. A fast twirl of the glass builds up the foam again.

AROMA: (5) Sherry vine aroma. Very rich and complex bouquet. There are smell of figs, dates and whiskey. Is this the perfect 'Christmas beer'?

TASTE: (5) Wow, smokey, rich and almost a taste of tobacco. Still the flavors of Madeira or sherry is coming into mind. The flavor is definitely more towards a barley wine style ale or an imperial stout rather than brown ale. The flavor is so rich that is impossible to have another beer after this. Nothing will have a taste after this taste explosion.

EXTRA: (5) They go above and beyond for all their beers and this is not an exception.

Beer style: Brown ale aged on Palo Santo Marron wooden casks.
Serving temperature: 10 C
Alcohol: 12%

Food Pairings: According to Dogfish head brewings website: "Steak, chorizzo sausage, Cajun cuisine, farmhouse cheddar " I think it goes well with cheeses in general.

APPEARANCE: 5 x 5 = 25
AROMA: 5 x 10 = 50
TASTE: 5 x 10 = 50
EXTRA: 5 x 1 = 5

Total: 130/130

Two Term IPA - Diamond Bear Brewery

This Little Rock brewery decided on it's name based on that Arkansas is known both as the Diamond state and the Bear state so the spelling 'Diamond Bear' is deliberately and not a misspelling.

This double IPA is a seasonal and the name Two Term comes from their regular IPA which is called 'Presidential IPA' and since this is a double IPA, the name for this is relating to a President that is elected to a second term, Two term IPA.

APPEARANCE: (4) Thick creamy foam which settles in the testing glass leaving a 1 centimeter resistant foam. A quick twirl to release the aroma built up the foam again to a nice creamy layer. The appearance is towards the darker side for an IPA and somewhat hazy.

AROMA: (4) Piney, earthy and herbal but I was expecting to find a little bit more in the aroma than I did.

TASTE: (5) Full spicy, hoppy flavor with a little bit of sweetness. This version is even better than last years version since this one has more dominance on the hop while the previous version was pretty malty dominant for being a double IPA.

EXTRA: (4) Beautiful packaged. Two term is a genius name which relates to the other IPA from the brewery.

Diamond Bear Brewerys website

Beer style: Double IPA
Serving temperature: 8-10 C
Alcohol: 8.9% ?

Food Pairings: Spicy Asian food or spicy food in general.

APPEARANCE: 4 x 5 = 20
AROMA: 4 x 10 = 40
TASTE: 5 x 10 = 50
EXTRA: 4 x 1 = 4

Total: 114/130

Sudwerk - Märzen

Since I don't drink much lager (bottom fermented beer) this will be a different tasting. The Sudwerk brewery in Davis, California has recently introduced 4 of their beers on my home market. The first one I tried was their Hefe Weissbier which I think is maybe the best American clone of the real Hefe Weissbier from Southern Germany (Bavaria) that I have had with Flying dog breweries version coming in at a second place. (A test of that beer will soon come to this website). Just because I was so pleased with their Hefe weissbier (which is an ale) I decided to also try their Märzen. Märzen is a beerstyle brewed in the spring in Germany and when it is saved for the fall in becomes 'October fest bier'. They also have a Pilsner and a Lager and even if these beer styles does not attract me as much as they used to, I will do an exception and try them. I will probably wait for a true hot summer day though when these type of beers taste best to drink.

A rainy gloomy day like this is on the other hand is perfect for a Märzen.

APPEARANCE: (4) Thick creamy head which settles nicely. Amber clear color.

AROMA: (3) Malty aroma.

TASTE: (4) Rich full flavored lager. Little bit of sweetness on the palate.

EXTRA: (3) I like the way they market their different beers. The labels remain almost the same but they use different colors depending on the beer style. The Märzen is red, the Hefe Weissbier yellow, the lager and pilsner beige and green.

I really like this beer but it will not show that way through the points given. The aroma is not really strong which is not expected either for this type of beer. The taste is really nice but not exceptional. I wish that I could give more points but this is what it ends up with. It is really a nice session beer though.

Sudwerks website

Beer style: Märzen (a bottom fermented lager style beer)
Serving temperature: x-x C
Alcohol: 5.70%

Food Pairings: Good session beer. Meat dishes. Fairly versatile with any kind of food.

APPEARANCE: 4 x 5 = 20
AROMA: 3 x 10 = 30
TASTE: 4 x 10 = 40
EXTRA: 3 x 1 = 3

Total: 93/130

The Beast - Avery Brewing

Last out tonight is a heavy weight champion from Avery brewing, The Beast. The last time I tested this beer, I tried it together with Gorgonzola on ginger snaps and since that was altogether one of my best tasting sensations, I am going to stick with that but this time only have the Gorgonzola with the beer.

APPEARANCE: (4) Intriguing dark reddish brown color. Flat rather light foam when pouring, The foam get richer when the testing glass is twirled.

AROMA: (5) A total plethora of aromas. Where could one even start? There are bananas, figs, plums, molasses, cedar, sherry....

TASTE: (5) This is a time when I wish that I could temporarily increase the scoring for taste because this is a treat. This is a 6 out of 5 in taste. With the Gorgonzola the taste sensation increases but maybe the ginger bread should be there to accommodate the sweetness better?

With a piece of Gorgonzola on top of a ginger snap, the Beast totally surrenders and turns into a Feast. This is truly one of the best drink-food combinations that I can think of. This is divine.

EXTRA: (5) Avery makes some of the finest beers in the world. This is from their "demon" series of beers. It is elegant and completely seductive.

Beer style: Belgian Grand Cru
Serving temperature: 10-12 C
Alcohol: 16.21%

Food Pairings: According to Avery brewings website: "Pineapple upside down cake pairs nicely with the sweet, rum-like flavors found in our Beast Grand Cru."

I think this beer is great with a strong cheese like Gorgonzola and don't forget to put in on a ginger snap. Preferable the 'Lars owns'-brand.

APPEARANCE: 4 x 5 = 20
AROMA: 5 x 10 = 50
TASTE: 5 x 10 = 50
EXTRA: 5 x 1 = 5
BONUS: 1 x 5 = 5

Total: 130/130

With this beer I realize that I have to install the 'Bonus' judgment. This beer does not get full 'Appearance' points but it still is one of the best beers in the world so it should be up there on the top.

Midas touch - Dogfish head brewing

King Midas according to the Greek mythologgy would turn everything he touched into gold. Dogfish head has this to say on their website about this beer: "This recipe is the actual oldest-known fermented beverage in the world! It is an ancient Turkish recipe using the original ingredients from the 2700 year old drinking vessels discovered in the tomb of King Midas. Somewhere between wine & mead; this smooth, sweet, yet dry ale will please the Chardonnay of beer drinker alike."

APPEARANCE: (3) Airy foam. Light colored, lighter than gold.

AROMA: (4) Intriguing aromas from peach and honey. I think that I also can find traces of cognac in the scents.

TASTE: (4) Very surprising taste. It is sweet which was expected but there is a taste which brings me back to the first time that I ever tried beer. A taste sensation that I haven't had since long time. It is not as 'different' in the taste as I expected. It reminds me of an almost non alcoholic malt drink which is served around Christmas in Sweden called "Svagdricka" (Literally 'Weak drink') even if this is much lighter in color. It also reminds me of 'Busgrogg', the habit of mixing beer with a soft drink similar to Mountain dew.

EXTRA: (5) One of the most surprisingly tasting beers that I have had and as always a very interesting beer from the most innovative brewery in the world(?)

Beer style: Ale with additives
Serving temperature: 10 C
Alcohol: 9.0%

Food Pairings: According to Dogfish heads website: "Pan-Asian dishes, risotto, curries, baked fish and chicken "

APPEARANCE: 3 x 5 = 15
AROMA: 4 x 10 = 40
TASTE: 4 x 10 = 40
EXTRA: 5 x 1 = 5

Total: 100/130

Salvation - Avery brewing

Tonight we are going to test three beers from two of the best breweries in the whole world according to my opinion. Two beers from Avery brewing which we sadly might loose here in Arkansas and one beer from Dogfish head brewing which we never have seen in Arkansas yet and probably wont for at least a long time.

First out is Salvation from Avery brewing a Belgian Style golden ale (think Duvel).

APPEARANCE: (3) This beer pours a bubbly foam which settles fairly fast. It is golden colored (duh, it is a Golden ale :-)

AROMA: (3) The aroma is a little bit yeasty with typical (for this beer style) ester notes. Some people find pear in Duvel and this beer has a fruity note also but not from pear rather from peach.

TASTE: (5) Taste is silky smooth and very drinkable. This variety of Belgian golden ale I find more drinkable than for instance Duvel even if Duvel is not a difficult beer to enjoy. It is very difficult to detect the high alcohol level of this beer in the taste. It has a warming feeling and is very versatile despite it's high alcohol.

EXTRA: (5) Great American craft brewery version of this beer style. Avery brewing s beers are always nicely presented often with very artistic labels and little curious funny notes about the specific beer. This beer is also available as a mix with a beer with the same name but from Russian River brewing. Their Salvation which is dark is mixed with Avery brewing's golden Salvation to a new beer called Litigation.

Beer style: Belgian style golden ale
Serving temperature: 6-8 C
Alcohol: 9.0%
Hop Variety: Styrian Goldings
Malt Variety: Two-row barley, cara 8, cara 20
OG: 1.080
IBUs: 25

Food Pairings: According to Avery brewing: "We find that dishes featuring mushrooms--like Mushroom Melange on Crepe--will bring out many of the herbal and spicy characteristics of the Styrian Goldings hops in Salvation. We also like portabella beef wellington, mushroom duxelle and salads with spicy vinagrettes."

APPEARANCE: 3 x 5 = 15
AROMA: 3 x 10 = 30
TASTE: 5 x 10 = 50
EXTRA: 5 x 1 = 5

Total: 100/130

Aprihop - Dogfish head brewery

APPEARANCE: (5) VERY thick airy foam, peculiar color which seems to vary between burgundy to light lilac. I don't think that I ever have seen a beer with this color.

AROMA: (5) Wonderful flowery Amarillo hop aroma. Dogfish head claims that the amount of hops is 'irresponsible'. There is also hints of wood and maybe light tobacco.

TASTE: (4) Very refined and not extreme flavor. This is a very, very good beer but I had maybe expected something more in the flavor than I found.

EXTRA: (4) Fun beer and I don't think that I have had an IPA before which has been flavored with apricots. It is interesting but maybe the fruit additions makes a better match together with Belgian style beers like lambic. Somehow the acidity in the lambic is a perfect match with the sweetness from the fruit. A combination that is not as stunning when fruit is mixed with a very bitter IPA.

Dogfish head brewery's website

Beer style: American IPA with apricots
Serving temperature: 10 C
Alcohol: 7.0%
IBU: 50

Food Pairings: According to Dogfish head brewery: Salads, swordfish, Mexican dishes, barbeque, hummus

APPEARANCE: 5 x 5 = 25
AROMA: 5 x 10 = 50
TASTE: 4 x 10 = 40
EXTRA: 4 x 1 = 4

Total: 119/130

Indian Brown Ale - Dogfish head brewery

APPEARANCE: (5) Very dark, porter style appearance. Thick and dense foam which survives long time in the glass.

AROMA: (5) Aroma is intense with syrupy scents and hints of raisins, figs, almonds and chocolate. No wonder why I associate the smell from this beer with Christmas.

TASTE: (4) Thick complex taste with several of the aromas listed above found in this beer. A little bit of a surprisingly sweetness which is balanced perfectly with the bitterness. The bitterness is mostly noticed in the after bitterness. This would be a perfect Christmas beer since it has a warming feeling.

EXTRA: (5) Can I give a beer anything else than 5 that has mixed three distinctive beer styles into one beer? This is good, exciting and new thinking.

Dogfish head brewery's website

Beer style: Hybrid between a Scotch Ale/India Pale Ale/American Brown Ale
Serving temperature: 10 C
Alcohol: 7.2%
IBU: 50

Food Pairings: According to Dogfish head brewery: Balsamic vinaigrette salads, smoked meats, duck confit, braised ribs, venison, prosciutto, stews

APPEARANCE: 5 x 5 = 25
AROMA: 5 x 10 = 50
TASTE: 4 x 10 = 40
EXTRA: 5 x 1 = 5

Total: 120/130

Beer Basket news

We are back with some exciting news. The Beer Basket has been refilled and not just with any beer but with some really different and exciting beers to try. My wife surprised me again and bought me a collection with beers from the famous Dogfish head brewery.

We have both watched the show on Discovery called Brewmasters which is a show with Sam Calaglione who is the founder and owner of the Dogfish head brewery i Milton, Delaware. The show have had so many watchers and the beer from this brewery have had such a demand that they have to pull out of different markets in several states i US in order to keep up with the demand in their vicinity.

Maybe not the best situation when a brewery gets popular but we hope that they will be expanding in order to keep up with the demands in the whole nation and worldwide.

Anyway my sweet wife managed to order this beers from Dogfish head brewery over the internet and I will have some very exciting test evenings of their very different and amazing beers.

Stay tuned for the updates.