Beer and Taxes

October 20, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

The only bit of politics that I will formally post on here. So pass by if you get easily politically offended, no hate for Obama just a nice insight to the tax system.

OUR TAX SYSTEM: Suppose that every day, ten men go out for a beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1.00 The sixth would pay $3.00 The seventh would pay $7.00 The eighth would pay $12.00 The ninth would pay $18.00 The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.00

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New Belgium Red Hoptober

October 19, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

New Belgium Red Hoptober, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: Had in a bottle at the lake so couldn’t really tell but I would guess light brown in color.

S: This is dank and spicy: grass, marijuana, citrus, black pepper; some bready and slightly burnt malts but mostly really dank hops

T: Doesn’t taste as dank as it smells; much maltier with that typical, slightly burnt NB malt profile; some grassy hops with a touch of citrus; not bad but not as good as aromas hinted

F: Medium body and fairly creamy; a touch thin on back end

O: This is a nice beer, but man does it smell awesome–I just wish that translated more in the taste. I will have to try this again in a glass for the proper treatment

Serving type: bottle

Trappist Achel 8° Bruin

October 16, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Trappist Achel 8° Bruin, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a rich amber color with about one finger of head.

S: The nose is quite complex with yeast, caramel, dark dried fuits, and floral notes as well. A very complex nose.

T: Sweet caramel malt and plenty of dark dried fruits. There is some mild spice (clove is what I mostly notice), and a little yeast as well.

M: Medium bodied with a high level of carbonation and a dry finish.

D: Great mouthfeel and some nice fruit and yeast character to this beer

Serving type: bottle

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 12

October 16, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 12, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A – This pours a hazy orangeish amber, not much head to speak of.

S – On the nose I get some light spice, small amount of hops, caramel malt.

T – On the palate I get the same as what I was smelling. The spices are very subtle, you almost have to be looking for them. The hops aren’t overly noticeable, but the caramel malt gives way to toffee and caramel flavors. Sweet on the finish.

M – Medium-bodied and it seemed to be noticeably carbonated

O – This beer tastes extremely young and age will do it wonders. I have another five bottles from a six pack that I purchased and plan on letting them sit for quite a while before opening another one. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either.

Serving type: bottle

Russian River/ Sierra Nevada Brux

October 12, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Russian River/ Sierra Nevada Brux, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Pours a hazy honey color with a modest head that fades rather quickly leaving lace behind

Smell: Bready, with orchard fruit (apples, pears and peaches) with a bit of barnyard funk

Taste: Opens with a bready character that persists and grape flavors add tartness; in the background, the orchard fruit adds another angle. The funkier flavors arrive and the Brett dries everything out in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Clearly an entry point to Brett beers for the uninitiated, this beer brings a fair bit of complexity, as well; it will be interesting to see how this develops

Serving type: bottle

North Coast Le Merle

October 6, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

North Coast Le Merle, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a cloudy golden orange color with an huge white head that eventually dies down and leaves some nice lacing.

S: The nose is driven by the cracker and bread malt aromas along with a strong yeast presence. Some light citrus zest along with some pepper and banana. Not all that much that says saison.

T: The flavor is similarly boring. The intense carbonation mutes what flavor is there. Again, this beer is mostly wheat bread and yeast (almost doughy) with a light citrus component.

M: Over-carbonated to say the least. The body is medium, but the intense carbonation is just a bit too much.

D: This is a rather mediocre beer. North Coast gets a lot of notoriety because of Old Rasputin and Old Stock, but I’ve found most of their other beers to be mediocre.

Maui Brewing Sobrehumano Palena Ole

September 27, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Maui Brewing, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

a: murky brown yellow orange color. an inch of off white head quickly fades and leaves no lacing.

s: some cherries and malt with a juice aroma to it.

t: Not what I was expecting but not horrible.

m: kinda thin, lacks carbonation.

o: I was expecting an amazing beer from these two great breweries. I would buy this again but not what I expected.

The Bruery Saison De Lente

September 26, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

The Bruery Saison De Lente, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Poured a clouded, dirty blonde body with a large, white head.

Smell: Lightly doughy maltiness with notes herbs, green apples, musty leather, sour lemon.

Taste: Crisp malted barley with a mingling of whole grain crackers. Very subdued, very fleeting sweetness. Finishes rather dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: A nice saison but not one of my favorites in the catergory

Serving type: bottle

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel

September 25, 2012November 3, 2012 / Adam Barhan / Leave a comment

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a big tan colored head.

S: The nose is good, but not over the top. Some dark fruits in the form of raisins, plums, and figs with plenty of sweet malt notes: molasses, caramel, and toffee.

T: A lot more intensity in the flavor. A great malt character that’s bready with balanced sweetness that provides some molasses, toffee, caramel. The fruits are over-ripe and sweet, mostly cherries, plums, and figs.

M: Medium in body with very ample to high carbonation.

D: Really a delicious and easy to drink beer. One of the better dubbels I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle