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Bottom Shelf, The (5 items)

October 10, 2007
23:54
Mackeson Triple Stout
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I bought a six pack of the Mackeson Triple Stout at Trader Joe’s last week. I hadn’t bought a stout to have around the apartment in a little while, so I decided to pick this one up on the fly. I am not disappointed in my decision.

This beer is brewed and bottled by the Whitbread Beer Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. If I had to have guessed immediately after tasting the beer, I would have gone with Portland, Oregon. It definitely has the microbrew vibe going, and the evident use of hops would have led me to guess Portland. I don’t know anything about Cincinnati brews, so I have no idea how they should compare to those of the Pacific northwest.

On the pour, the Triple Stout develops a thick, tan head that very quickly disappears to a thin rim around the glass. The aroma is of dark chocolate or cocoa, and it has a noticeable toasty element. I get the usual roasted flavors in the taste, and it has a dry and slightly bitter finish to it.

It’s a very pleasant stout, but it doesn’t have a “wow’ factor to it like some of Rogue’s darker offerings. But it was very enjoyable, and I recommend it to those who enjoy the occasional dark, dry beer.
August 31, 2007
19:01
Fare Thee Well Michael Jackson
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No, not the world-renowned pop singer. This Michael Jackson was one of the most prolific writers about all things alcoholic beverage, and he passed away today.

I’m currently in position of Jackson’s Bar & Cocktail Companion, on indefinite loan from Roger (thanks Roger!) and Ultimate Beer, a gift this past New Year’s from Paul and Ellen. Ultimate Beer is an exquisitely photographed collection with short tasting notes on all kinds of different beers, few of which I have yet tried. It’s a remarkable collection that makes for a wonderful coffee table book.

Today’s a sad day in the world of beer, wine, and cocktail writing. Fare thee well Michael Jackson.
July 20, 2007
0:17
Baltika 6 Porter
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I tried the Baltika 6 porter for the first time tonight. It was actually a birthday gift I received almost exactly a year ago. It’s been “aging” in the fridge since then. I’m not exactly sure what that does to a beer. But I figured it was worth making known before I offer my review.

This porter pours an opaque black, as dark a black as I can remember seeing from a beer. It has a very thin white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is of roasted coffee. It’s a heavy bodied beer with a creamy mouthfeel. The carbonation is very active on the tongue. I was most surprised by the taste. For the most part, it’s just dry and moderately bitter. I couldn’t pick up much in the way of roasted coffee or dark chocolate or hints of cinnamon in the taste. In fact, I’d describe the taste as boring.

But I’m worried that keeping it in the refrigerator for a year muted the taste. I’m not sure it did, though. I’ve had similar porters that were equally bland. I’ve spoiled myself on the porters that try to achieve something in the way of complexity, and I’m very rarely disappointed. So while I did not dislike this beer, it’s a bit boring, and I’d prefer something a bit richer on the palate.
March 31, 2007
17:54
Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale
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This is one of those cases where “classic” doesn’t mean a good example of an ale, but rather a good example of an ale that tastes nothing like any ale you have ever had. Pouring with a cloudy copper color and a perfect head, the nose is immediately assaulted with this beer’s secret weapon: cedar.

That’s right, what we’ve got here is a classic IPA aged in cedar casks. In this case the strength of the hops is a perfect counter-balance for the strong taste of cedar. Well, actually, I have to assume its cedar as it’s unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. The dominant flavor comes across as a peppery spice, but I think it really is coming from the aromatic wood. The cedar aging is inspired by sake brewing.

It’s hard to say more because the finish was so strong and dominant. This paired well with a spicy Japanese curry, not many foods could compete with the strong flavor. It’s probably not an every day drinking beer, but definitely worth a try. I look forward to going back to Hurry Curry to try the amber and belgian style from the same brewery, Kiuchi.
February 18, 2007
14:23
Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer
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I am not a huge fan of Sierra Nevada. I find their beers too hoppy. The Sierra Nevada brewery is one of the best known and most respected microbreweries in the country, though, so I find it hard pressed not to try one of their beers when I haven’t done so before. The wheat beer recently fell in this category.

This beer pours a nice dark, golden yellow color. It immediately looks like it has some body, some complexity to it. The head is thick and foamy with a lot of large bubbles immersed in it. The smell is mostly grainy, with a hint of a grassy component. Just from looking at the beer, I could tell the carbonation was very active, and my tongue verified this prediction.

The taste was disappointing in that it was bland. It had a bitter finish to it, but the finish dominates this beer. There is just a hint of grain in the taste, but I would not call this a well-balanced beer. This one, like the others I have tried from Sierra Nevada, definitely leans toward the hoppy end. I was disappointed because I like a little citrus in my hefeweizens. It seems like the grain and the yeast take a back seat to the hops in this one. So I’d say it follows the trend of what Sierra Nevada likes to do with their beers, for better or worse.