Beer #33 - St. George India Pale Ale

Style: English IPA
Purchased at: St. George Brewery by DJ & Liz
What makes this beer different: It's drinkability
Will I be drinking this again: Definitely
Grade: A-

Comments:
I typically prefer a nice bold/spicy American IPA, so I naturally thought I would feel unmoved by this English IPA. Spoiler alert - I was anything but right! This brew exhibits a beautiful copper shade with perfect lacing, delicious english hops, and an overall well balanced malt based recipe. This beer does have moderate carbonation, so make sure you don't let it sit around and linger for long as it will undoubtedly lose its full flavor impact.

I will definitely be drinking this brew again, so thanks to Liz and DJ for this find!

Recommendations:
This beer pairs well with spicy foods. Period. That being said, I would prescribe a nice bowl of steamed mussels with a white wine reduction sauce including shallots, sea salt, fresh ground peppercorn, italian parsley, tarragon, sauvignon blanc white wine, and some fresh bread with some olive oil or EVOO. Cheers!

Comments

Beer #11 - Buffalo Bill's Blueberry Oatmeal Stout

Style: Stout Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Blueberries! Will I be drinking this again: Yes. Grade: B Comments: Yes, another blueberry beer. But this one is more aligned to my tastes! The moment the aroma hits your nose, you smell the blueberries. But the smell can be deceiving, as the delicate blend of hops and barley in this beer contrast the blueberries in a wonderful way so they are not too strong. This is a full and heavy stout so be prepared. If you are looking to shake things up with something a little different than the norm, give this one a shot. If you don't like stouts or porters, this one is no different and I would stay away if I were you. Recommendations: Try this brew out with some hot wings and fried mozzarella while watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and watch Violet Beauregarde turn into a plump blueberry!

Beer #25 - Ommegang Abbey Ale

Style: Dubbel Purchased at: Vintage Cellar, Courtesy of DJ What makes this beer different: Quite Fruity & Spicy Will I be drinking this again: Yes Grade: A- Comments: On the 25th beer, I thought it would be best if I reviewed a beer created by a brewery I hold in HIGH esteem; Brewery Ommegang. You may remember them from an earlier review of one of my favorite Quads, Three Philosophers. Ommegangs foundation is in developing traditional Belgium style ales, and adding their twist to them. This ale is comprised of figs, honey, licorice, cloves, chocolate, toffee, spicy hops, and a plentiful amount of dried fruits. The aroma is very inviting and I just love how it feels in my mouth, mostly do to the delicate balance of carbonation. For a dubbel, this is one of my favorites; the Westmalle is still the favorite, but this classic American brewery has created another hit in my book! Ommegang Abbey Ale was presented to me for enjoyment at one of the many gathe...

Beer #23 - McSorley's Irish Pale Ale

Style: Irish Ale Purchased at: Vintage Cellar What makes this beer different: Spicy, Earthy flavor! Will I be drinking this again: Yes. Grade: B+ Recommendations: Just like its big brother, the black lager, this pale ale is a winner! Smooth & crisp tones accent this hoppy ale. McSorley's Pale Ale is a mix between an English Ale and an Irish Red Ale. Word to the wise: You will find this brew quite drinkable, so don't lose track of how many you put back! Recommendations: Try pairing with a nice cut of prime rib and garlic mashed potatoes :) YUM

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