Drink Matron

Category: Beer Review

  • Anchor Steam Beer

    Steam beer is an interesting style of beer and, as far as I know, Anchor is the only company that still makes it.  This beer has a nice hazy, amber color that makes you think this beer is going to be a medium to full bodied beer.  But that’s the trick, it’s actually incredibly light bodied.  It has almost an airy quality to the taste that is surprisingly dry.  The taste also drops off very quickly leaving almost no finish at all.

    If you want a beer with a load of flavor, this is not the beer for you.  If you’re looking for a crisp, refreshing beer to quench your thirst on a hot summer day, this is definitely the beer for you.

    On a 100-point scale, I give this beer 90 points.  I like the beer, but having no finish is kind of off putting to me.  I can see why people might rate this higher than me, I just like fuller bodied beers more than the lighter beers.

  • Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale

    The coming Autumn time is a signal for us beer drinkers that it’s time to start stocking up on the darker beers that seem to go oh-so-well with the colder weather.  This year, Sierra Nevada brewery has supplanted their usual fall seasonal beer with Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale.  The label design screams Fall Beer with its vibrant oranges and yellows.  It’s almost as if the bottles are whispering “Pick me!  Take me home with you!” from the beer cooler.  They’re very compelling.

    I drank my first bottle of it directly from the fridge, which in hind sight was a mistake.  I was disappointed in how remarkably average this beer was.  No aroma, very little stuck out in the taste, finish was unremarkable.  But then I thought “Hey!  It’s a fall beer, why not drink it at room temperature?”  So I left a bottle sitting in the pantry until it had reached room temperature and cracked it open.

    The aroma coming from the beer was still really faint.  I must have looked like a crazy person, sticking my nose in my glass and huffing beer for 5 minutes trying to glean any kind of distinct smells.  There was the faintest hint of apples that was gone almost before it presented itself.  There was a nutty kind of aroma with a syrupy, almost caramel, sweetness that wafted in.

    When I finally drank it, I could definitely taste a malty, toasty flavor.  I was very surprised at how smooth this beer was.  It just slides down your gullet like it’s going for a nice leisurely stroll.  There was a very subtle sweet taste – like caramel.  Again, I got the distinct impression that I tasted apples, but it was so subtle that I’m not sure I wasn’t making it up.  After a couple sips I got the visualization of eating a biscuit with a slice of McIntosh apple drizzled with warm caramel.  The aftertaste was a little buttery and nutty, but it wasn’t a long finish.

    Tumbler has a thick presence on the mouth for a medium bodied beer, and an impressively short finish.

    All in all, I felt this beer was okay, but I don’t think I’ll buy it again.  On a 100-point scale, I’d give it 84 points.

  • Beer Review: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

    “I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” — Henry David Thoreau

    Reinheitsgebot be damned!  One of the beer styles that has been picking up steam over the last few years has been Pumpkin Ale.  This autumn is the first time I’ve ever sampled a commercial pumpkin ale and it was actually under the recommendation of a friend of mine.  The beer in question is Schlafly (+1 internets if you can teach me how that’s actually pronounced) Pumpkin Ale.  The first thing I noticed about this beer was that they actually use pumpkin in the beer.  A disappointing realization I came to earlier this year was that most “pumpkin” beer doesn’t actually contain any pumpkin, just the spices that make you think of pumpkin.

    After the beer is in the glass, you can just tell it’s a pumpkin ale.  It has this luscious, orange-hued brown color that makes me think I see the toothy grin of a jack-o-lantern in the glass.

    I was a little wary after I smelled this beer, the smell of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg cut through the beer and was almost overwhelming.  I was afraid that the flavor would be cloyingly sweet and taste more like a soda than a beer.

    I’m relieved to say I was wrong.  Initially it’s sweet, and you can definitely taste the pumpkin and spices, but it doesn’t last.  It’s a full bodied, viscuous beer but without feeling too heavy.  The finish is dry enough to balance out the initial sweetness, making for a well rounded beer.

    Overall, I really like this beer.  I’ll happily pick up a six-pack if I see it, though this stuff sells like hotcakes so it’s pretty rare to find one in the wild.  This is a complex enough beer that I can only drink 1 or 2 before I need to change it up, but still a very delicious drink.  On a 100-point scale, I give it 98 points.

  • Drink Matron Reviews Sink the Bismarck for Daily Beer Review

    If you follow Drink Matron on twitter, you will have seen the news yesterday that Jessica volunteered to review a beer for Drinker Rob at Daily Beer Review because he’s lazy (we forgive you Rob, you’re on vacation!).  So without further ado, here’s the review written by Jessica for Daily Beer Review.

  • Big Beer Review: TACTICAL NUCLEAR PENGUIN

    With all the chatter on beer blogs lately about Sam Adams Utopias, which is ridiculously expensive and has an abv of over 25%, I thought I’d share a much more unique tasting experience with an even stronger beer.

    If you’ve been following Drink Matron since the beginning, you’ll know that I have kind of an unhealthy obsession with the Scottish brewery, BrewDog. I’m particularly drawn to them because their repertoire includes the first and third strongest beers in the world, which they’ve held onto through a combination of determination, humor and extreme competitiveness.

    Well, if you all know that, Adrian knows that times about 50. I think he finds my obsession adorable and weird. But he also finds it awesome. So, for Christmas, my fantastic, wonderful partner in crime decided to order me one bottle each of both Tactical Nuclear Penguin (#3) and Sink the Bismarck (#1) all the way from the Scottish countryside.

    So of course, we have to taste them, right? Right. But these are special beers, beers we can’t just sit down and slug one random night. First off, they’re expensive to buy and ship here. Second, they’re higher in alcohol than any beer I’ve ever had, so they must be drunk slowly, and with all the care in the world. And they most definitely cannot be tasted in the same night. Why? I dunno. Cuz we didn’t.

    And so, we begin with Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

    Tactical Nuclear Penguin (TNP)

    Made from a 10% abv imperial stout aged 8 months in an Isle of Arran whisky cask and 8 months in an Islay cask, and then processed for 21 days through freeze distillation, Tactical Nuclear Penguin was, for a short time, the world’s strongest beer at 32% abv. According to BrewDog, “This is an extremely strong beer, it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. In exactly the same manner that you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost.” I trust their judgement, so that’s exactly what we did.

    For some reason, I thought using snifters would be an excellent idea. I’ll get back to why it was not, later.

    So, after a long prep period of me essentially laying tribute to the bottle and taking countless pictures, I finally opened it and poured about three ounces in each glass.

    There was very little head, which we expected, and the color of the beer was a dark reddish brown that Adrian described as looking a lot like cola. The legs were quite strong , giving us the impression that the beer was quite thick.

    Off the nose I smelled cocoa beans and dirt. It made me think of creme de cocoa liqueur. It’s quite potent and burns the nose like a strong whiskey, but despite the extreme stench I almost like how sweet and creamy it smells.

    Adrian didn’t find it very aromatic, said it reminded him of a permanent marker or rotting vegetation. He said, “You can tell it’s going to be strong. Since most of taste is based on smell and I clearly don’t like the way it smells, I’m a bit scared to drink this.”

    But he did. And so did I.

    My immediate reaction was that the taste was so sour and overwhelming that I couldn’t determine the flavor.

    Adrian felt similar, saying that the sharp sour taste makes you want to spit it out when you start drinking it. He also mentioned that there was something off about the taste, almost like over-ripe fruit.

    Once we made it through the initial taste, however, we both found the aftertaste to be quite pleasing, leaving a bit of a coffee candy taste in our mouths.

    The problem; however, is that despite that aftertaste, you have to start again the next time. Every drink is as shocking as the first, making it impossible to get used to. Using snifters was a terrible idea, because the strong scents kept overcrowding our senses. We thought that might be why we were finding the taste so off-putting, so we switched glasses. Unfortunately, while we finally had relief for the nose, it offered little relief in taste.

    What it really was about TNP is that despite it being a beer, it tastes and smells nothing like one. It is much more similar to whiskey, and thus should be treated so. It’s meant to be sipped, and by sipped I mean it took us at least an hour each to finish our three ounces, and not by choice. If you drink fast, this beer will teach you how to drink slowly. I promise. On an up note, if you like sipping strong whiskey, this is definitely the beer for you.

    Overall, I could not drink TNP on a regular basis, or really ever again. I like to enjoy my beer, not suffer through it, and that’s exactly what happened here. I kept praying for the end.

    That being said, it was quite an experience. Not many people in the U.S. have had the opportunity to try TNP, and it was worth every second of that horrible horrible hour.

  • Our Favorite Craft Beers

    Everybody has a favorite drink, and craft beer drinkers are no different. Some like a brewery in general, and others, just a specific brew. My beer drinking friends have some of the most eclectic tastes of anyone I know, and being that it’s American Craft Beer Week, I thought you’d like to know just exactly what it is we’re drinking.

    Adrian’s & My Favorite

    Bell’s Brewery, Inc, Kalamazoo, Mich.

    While Adrian and I both like Bell’s, he likes the taste and range of their beers. If he was going to pick the one he likes the most, he says Two Hearted Ale comes to mind. The reason? “I like hoppy beers, and Two Hearted has a piney, fruity flavor that is just ideal.”

    As for me, I enjoy one Bell’s beer in particular, Oberon Ale. I love Oberon not only because of its fantastic flavor, but because it’s the beer that got me started with craft brews. Since taking my first sip of Oberon about four years ago, I’ve given up the domestic brews that once dominated my early 20’s.

    Andi’s Picks

    Andi’s favorites are two fold because she enjoys them at different times of the year. In summer, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy fills her fridge, and in winter, she warms up with Sam Adams Cherry Wheat.

    Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Chippewa Falls, Wisc.

    Andi says she enjoys Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy because “it tastes like refreshment in a bottle. It feels like you could run a marathon and drink it to replenish yourself.”

    Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, The Boston Beer Co, Boston, Mass.

    Sam Adams Cherry Wheat shows up on Andi’s list because “it’s a warm beer, even though it’s served cold, and it’s flavorful enough that it warms your tummy, and thick enough to take the chill off.”

    James’ Favorite

    Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Col.

    James loves this dark brew “because it has an amazing flavor without being overpowering. Stouts are my favorite style of beer, but some can be a little potent. I enjoy a lot of flavor in my beer, but some seem like they try too hard. Milk Stout seems to have perfected the balance.”

    Erica’s Pick

    Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, Ill.

    Erica “knew it’d be something from Goose Island” because “it was my first taste of a beer outside of the Big 3. It’s what made me realize beer wasn’t ‘gross.’ My go to is 312, but my favorite is Sofie.”

    Danger’s Favorite

    Shine On, Central Waters Brewing Co., Amherst, Wisc.

    Danger enjoys this red ale because it “is a darker beer that I can drink without feeling like I had a meal in a bottle.”

    Rob & Ryder’s Pick

    Widow Maker Black Ale, Keweenaw Brewing Co., Houghton, Mich.

    Rob likes Widow Maker because “it reminds me a lot of Stroh’s Dark, which was always a favorite. It has a good flavor but isn’t real heavy or filling like some dark beers can be.”

    Ryder isn’t much for craft beers, but if he’s going to drink one, it’s going to be Widow Maker.

    Other Picks

    My friend Keith loves beer from Horny Goat Brewing Co. in Madison, Wisc., and Sprecher Amber from Sprecher Brewing Co. in Milwaukee, Wisc.

    Melissa thinks the Cream Ale from Sun King Brewing Co., in Indianapolis, Ind. is “super yummy.”

    Donna likes Red Sky Ale, from Frankenmuth Brewery in Frankmuth, Mich., “because it goes so well with molten chocolate cake.”

    Pyro says “If you’re going to twist my arm I’ll say Surly Furious (Surly Brewing Co, Brooklyn Center, Minn.). It’s a delicious hop heavy IPA.”

     

     

  • The Capitol City Brewing Company

    I had the serendipitous opportunity to visit the Capitol City Brewing Company’s Shirlington, VA location last week.  This award-winning brewery has three locations throughout the DC area and I think I lucked out with the Shirlington location.  This brewpub is located on the trendy Village of Shirlington Promenade, where nearly every restaurant has sidewalk seating and there are so many trees that you get a lazy, relaxed feeling while walking around.  The Cap City Brew Co. was no exception to this and I took such advantage that I never actually saw the inside of the building.  They have a full compliment of food and booze with a happy hour from 4-7pm every day.

    But that’s not really why I went.  I, of course, went for the beer.  On tap last week they had six beers, their four standard faire beers (Capitol Kolsch, Pale Rider Ale, Amber Waves Ale, and Prohibition Porter) and two seasonals (Fuel and ESB).

    Fuel

    2006 Gold Medal at GABF for Capitol City. English style imperial stout. Blended with 10 lbs of Sumatra coffee, this ale has a full body and medium bitterness. A big coffee aroma rounds out the finish. 10% ABV.

    My informed and entertaining waiter Gino described this as a “Pale Stout with a 10% kick”.  This is a very dark beer with a luscious brown head that had my mouth water as soon as it was set on the table.  I didn’t want to take notes on the look or smell of it, I wanted to dig right in.  You can definitely smell the coffee in it, though the aroma isn’t overpowering or particularly pungent.  It has a distinct smooth, roasted flavor (from the coffee obviously) while the finish has a sharp, spicy, bite.  To be honest, if I wasn’t trying a variety of beers, I would have stuck with this one for the night for sure.

    Pale Rider Ale

    American style pale ale, filtered, medium/full bodied, highly hopped character with a nice bitterness and aroma. 6.1% ABV

    Gino (you gotta love Gino) called this one “the little brother to Fuel.”  He said that if you liked Fuel but thought it was too strong, this would be the beer for you.  The smell was really tight – I practically had to stick my nose in the beer just to smell it – but once you got a whiff it was very fruity and hoppy. It had a very smooth, earthy flavor and was a little spicy on the long aftertaste. Like the burn you feel in your throat after eating fresh jalepenos.  I had ordered some keg rolls (a Capitol City specialty) and let me tell you, you couldn’t pair this beer with anything more perfectly.  In fact, I wouldn’t eat the keg rolls without this beer because they just seem bland in comparison.

    ESB – Extra Special Bitter

    This one is a bit of a misnomer for a classic English-style ale. Herbal hop aroma and a complex caramel flavor make this smooth medium-bodied beer and easy sell. 5.1%ABV

    I’ll be honest, I shouldn’t have had this beer after the Fuel and the Pale Rider.  It was not nearly as strong in flavor or aroma as either of the previous beers and so I really didn’t get anything from it.  I really couldn’t smell anything, despite trying for a few minutes to catch a whiff of anything (I seriously think the other patrons thought I was off my rocker by this point).  It had a really smooth (almost too smooth) texture that reminded me of day old flat beer.  The initial flavor was super malty and reminded me Olde English 800 and finished with a strange sweet/sour flavor that is similar to over-ripe bananas.

    Prohibition Porter

    Dark, roasty ale, unfiltered, medium bodied and nice hop presence to balance the dark malt flavor. 5.3% ABV

    The Prohibition Porter was a tasty start to Round 2 of the tastings.  It had a nutty smell like fresh walnuts.  The texture was crisp in that thirst-quenching sort of way.  It had a nice sharp taste that finished smooth with the same nut taste as the smell.

    Amber Waves

    American red ale, filtered, medium bodied, well balanced with a nice malty middle and finishes with an assertive hop character. 5.3% ABV 2006 Silver Medal, 2005 Gold Medal Winner GABF

    To be honest, I had assumed that this beer would be a Killian’s clone that tried a little too hard to taste like Killian’s.  But who am I kidding?  If I’d learned anything by this point, it was that Cap City is good at making unique beers.  There was an earthy smell like dirt after a rain storm.  It had an earthy taste (almost mildewy) mixed with a fruity flavor.

    Capitol Kölsch

    German golden ale, filtered, light bodied lager like characteristic from cooler fermentation temp. Clean and crisp with a dry finish. 4.8% ABV

    I don’t think there’s really anything to say about this beer.  It is a typical golden ale.  This would be the beer to suggest to your Bud drinking friends.

    Southwestern Keg Rolls

    Chicken, corn, tomatoes, cabbage, black beans and mozzarella cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep fried served with sweet thai chili dipping sauce.

    They taste like bean dip egg rolls with a sweet raspberry-like sauce.

    Capitol Hill Hummus

    Homemade hummus topped with tomato, cucumber and kalamata olives, finished with olive oil and cracked pepper and served with grilled wheat pita wedges.

    This has got to be some of the best hummus I’ve ever tasted.  I finished off the pitas and ate the rest of the hummus with a spoon.

  • Drink Matron Birthday Beer Review

    Good Tuesday All!

    This weekend was quite an interesting one.  I had been feeling pretty bummed out about turning 30, and had done a sort of campaign to get people to come down to Indiana and celebrate with me.  While I didn’t succeed in getting all the people that I’d hoped, I convinced enough to celebrate with me that we had a nice little group consisting of Adrian (of course), the Ponkeys, our friend James, and his lady friend Erica.

    From left to right: Andi, Erica, James, Matt, Adrian

    What this weekend was not – a pity party for the good old Matron.  By the end of it, I forgot it even was my birthday, let alone what number it was.

    What this weekend was – a celebration of good friends and a reminder that I am still quite young for my age – especially when it comes to drinking – but adult enough to handle myself with dignity, even when I’ve had more than my fair share to drink.

    Along the way, I discovered a few interesting beers that I didn’t know existed, my favorite being Monty Python Holy Grail Ale by Black Sheep Brewery.  It’s just a standard ale, but COME ON!  Anything with Monty Python on it is worth keeping a case of.

    Yes, that's right. Monty Python Holy Grail Ale. It's real.

    I asked everyone to give me a short review of some of the beers they were drinking and this is what they came up with.

    Pyramid Breweries Apricot Ale

    Andi says: I didn’t expected it to be such a girly beer, but it’s very nice.  Subtle.

    New Holland Dragon’s Milk

    We all tried this beer, but Adrian slowly sipped this 10% abv Scotch Ale for about an hour, longer than I’ve ever seen him take to drink anything…ever.

    He says: Very heavy. It’s extremely thick and potent. Terrible to drink with a meal (which he did).

    Thicker than Guinness, Dragon's Milk tastes like creamy caramel

    Guinness

    Matt says: Best winter beer ever.  It’s like slamming milk.

    Sam Adams Cherry Wheat

    Andi says: It actually has a real cherry flavor that takes the beer taste away.  I would most definitely recommend it to someone who doesn’t like beer.

    Other beers that we tried that night (but had gotten too, um, unreliable to review) were:

    Abita Brewing Co. Turbodog

    Three Floyds Robert the Bruce Scottish Ale

    And New Holland’s Mad Hatter IPA

    Overall, we had an amazing time, and added quite a few new beers to our repertoire.

    If you think we’d really enjoy a specific beer, or you’ve found something that you’d like to see on Drink Matron, please contact us at beer@drinkmatron.prjct.info.

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