New Beer Wrap Up Friday May 12, 2006

Today we got a handful of limited release beers from Alameda, Butte Creek, and Dogfish Head. So, without further ado, here's today's new arrivals:

Alameda Amber : The latest offering from Alameda is their spring seasonal, East Village Amber. I haven't had any of this since it was bottled last summer, but the reviews haven't been kind. I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that some of the people were rating a hand-bottled beer 6 months after it was put out. I'll try a fresh one tonight with my tasting panel and try and post a review soon.

Butte Creek Revolution X : So you say you want a revolution? Butte Creek does. They've released this monster of an (organic) IPA to celebrate ten years of brewing. It's big and hoppy with a good malt backbone to help keep it balanced, and its high alcohol content is quite well hidden for a beer that's over 9% abv. It's too new to have any feedback yet, but the sample I had last night was universally enjoyed by my housemates.

Dogfish Head Golden Shower : Ah, the Golden Shower. Quite possibly the most crass name ever given to a beer, with the possible exception of Bullmastiff's "Son of a Bitch." I've been getting calls about this ever since Michael Jackson offered it to Lucy Liu on his now infamous Conan appearance. As you might expect from an "Imperial Pilsner" it's sweet in the mouth, with a good noble hop finish and surprisingly little heat for a 9% abv brew.

Dogfish Head Immort Ale : The official description - "Immort Ale is vast in character, luscious and complex. Brewed with peat-smoked barley, this strong ale undergoes two fermentations; the first on ale yeast and the second on champagne yeast. It is brewed with organic juniper berry, vanilla, and pure Massachusetts maple syrup. It is then aged on oak for at least two months." The RateBeerians give it a 97, while the Advocates give it an 87.

Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA : You know it, you love it, you're constantly asking for it when it's not here. Well, now it's back. It doesn't taste like any IPA you've ever had (except maybe the Rogue I2PA) and is more akin to a barleywine with it's sweet malty flavor and lots of "heat." It's not cheap, but it has five or six beers worth of alcohol in each bottle, so you get what you pay for.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch : The recipe is based on residue found in a jar in King Midas' tomb. The recipe highlights the known ingredients of barley, white Muscat grapes, honey and saffron. Somewhere between a beer, wine and mead, this smooth, dry ale will please with Chardonnay or I.P.A. drinker alike.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale : Punkin' Ale is a full-bodied, spiced brown ale brewed with baked pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale is named after the annual Punkin' Chunkin Festival held near Lewes, Delaware the weekend after Halloween.

I think that's it for now, have a great weekend!

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Tags: beer, Belmont Station, Alameda Brewing, Butte Creek Brewing, Dogfish Head, Rogue Ales, Michael Jackson, Conan O'Brien