Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 7th

I was quite unwell last night. And I was quite unwell this morning.  So the very last thing I needed to pull out of the advent calendar today - was a stupid beer.

Ah well.

Flying Dog - The Fear
Ugh.  This beer was hard to drink.  Not just because of my sensitive disposition.  It's a pumpkin ale, which I never enjoy.  And it's another imperial (9%) one.  Not even Flying Dog could fix pumpkin beer.
It seems to be quite well received on beer sites and the like.  So it must just be me,..
Nutmeg, cloves, pumpkins - I guess if you like that in a beer this would be nice.  It's not, though.
I'm not sure if being imperial strength helps.  I doubt it.

I would describe this beer as YUCK.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 6th

More late posts.  I blame friends, such is there inconsideration for the demands of beer advent.

Yesterday's beer was a nice one, started me off on the road to the way I felt this morning - but I'll not hold that against it.

Brewery Achouffe - La Chouffe
Belgians.  You've just got to love their beers.  La Chouffre is an unfiltered blonde beer.
Pours really nicely, lovely fruity smell.  Nice and soft texture, really nice to quaff.

In a word I suppose I would say this beer was schmooblydong.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 5th

Oh dear! I didn't post this yesterday!

Well.  At least I'm not 5 days behind on my beer advent like some people who shall remain nameless...Matt.

Today's beer is correctly themed, and it is the correct beer for this type of year (Yum! Stout!).  Shame it's not a better example though.

Great Heck - Black Santa

Managed to get 2 beers from the same brewer the day after one another. Skills.  Sadly this one isn't to the high standards of it's brethren.

This is quite a nice stout, but it's pretty standard. Average sweetness, average roasted flavours, medium body and dry finish.  It's OK.  Certainly far above the usual "look we brewed a Christmas beer" rubbish that seems to get carted out every year aimed squarely at middle aged men - but far below a plethora of stouts I've had over the years.

I would describe this beer as middling.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 4th

Lots of good bottle design this year - so far...honestly, that's not why I picked them off the shelf! ^_^

Great Heck - Shankar IPA
What a beverage.  Whiffs of caramel and malty goodness.  Fantastic crisp fruity flavours before the bitterness kicks in, with a little sweetness to finish.  Good strength at 5.9%.  Beer of the calendar, so far.  Will definitely have to pick it up again.

Summed up in one word?

T'riffic.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 3rd

Today I received the parcel containing the final 6 whiskys for the 12 whiskies of Christmas, chasers for the 2nd half of the calendar.  If it goes well enough I might abandon beer in favour of whisky for 2015.

Anyway.  Beer.

Domination - Hop Mountain

This is a bit more palatable at only 6%, and it's terrific.  Perfect balance of malt and hops to suit my tastebuds - nice and red too,  Is it a red ale? Apparently not - but if not presented with the bottle or the internet that would have been my guess.
Nice sweet tasting, hoppy, malty goodness.

Now a word to summarise...

YUM.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 2nd

Seems like I'll be getting all the high strength beers out of the way early this year.  I do hope there are some nice beers left by the end of the selection.

Founders - Double Trouble
Imperial (9.4%) double IPA.
This is not as easy to drink as yesterday's imperial strength beverage.  It's a bit cloying.
I like a good IPA, this one is technically good but I'm not really enjoying drinking it as much as I expected to.

I know it's not an adjective - but I would describe this beer as

American Hustle - because I feel the same way about this beer, as I do about that film.

Beer Advent Calendar 2014 - December 1st

*Insert standard oh for goodness sake is it December again? Already!? comment*

I find I'm lacking the same enthusiasm I once had for beer advent, that's not to say I don't love buying and drinking the beer.  Just the photographs, reviews and scores.  I like beer a lot, so most things get high marks. So I'm not sure I can fairly score the beer anymore.

I might just try and think of a different adjective to describe each beer instead.  And I'll try not to use the same word twice all month.

Siren - Shattered Dream

Nothing like an ass-kicker of a beer to start things off.

Shattered Dream is a 9.8% breakfast stout.  The bottle says it's brewed with vanilla and cacao nibs, I can't really taste the vanilla - the roast is quite overpowering.  I can definitely taste the cacao.
It's extremely drinkable for almost 10% - especially if you compare it to lots of other imperial stouts.

It's very pleasant.

Which is what today's adjective is.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! 
Pleasant.