Limpd: That sounds perfect!

Five minutes later…

G-LO: Wait. Why are these kids still here? Go away boys! We have serious work to do here.

My boys burst into tears while Limpd’s boys just glare at me. They eventually go away…

Limpd: Nicely done G-LO, though I could have done without the crying. They sound just like you do when you’re having that last dram from a beloved bottle of whisky. Guess the apples didn’t fall far from the tree. Quit the lollygagging and pour me a beer, Sally!

G-LO: Sally? That’s Mrs. Sally to you, Dolores! Can we get started now?

Limpd: Just shut up and start pouring so that you can get your pretty picture taking out of the way. Let’s start with the Sapporo Light. I’m guessing we’re headed to Amstel country by way of Japan.

I open up the Sapporo Light, fill our glasses, and take a photo…

Limpd: Wow! Well that certainly smells like a light beer. It’s a little malty. I’m getting nothing else. Where the hell are the hops?

G-LO: It pains me to admit this, but your absolutely right. I’m getting nothing but malt in a sweet and yeasty smelling kinda way. The nose on this beer is boring me to tears. Are you bored too? You look bored.

Limpd: I am bored! Let’s move this along. I’m going in for a taste.

G-LO: Sorry. I jumped ahead and did that already. This beer reminds me of college. To be more specific, this reminds me of the 100 Days To Go party (countdown to graduation!) at Polo Bay (no longer there). It was a $20 open bar. And by “open”, I mean unlimited bottles of Coors Light. It was like drinking ice cold, fizzy, malted water. The Sapporo Light might be a wee bit better, but not by much.

Limpd: Yeah. This isn’t very good. It’s a little doughy, but mostly just a whole lot of meh. By the way, those flowers over there look a little parched and in need of hydration. Do you mind if I pour the rest of my beer into that flower pot?

G-LO: Go right ahead. And while you’re at it, pour the rest of my beer in there too. While you’re doing that, I’ll set us up with some clean glasses for Sapporo round two.

Get more glasses. Fill them up. Take a photo…

Limpd: Well that certainly looks a bit better. The Sapporo Premium has a bit of a darker color, but once again, no head retention. Whatcha getting on the nose Alistair?

G-LO: Agreed on the color. This one has a healthy-ish glow, unlike you, Sir Pasty Complexion. Definitely a bit more depth on the nose too. Think darker, richer maltiness. But what I really want to know is, where the hell are the hops?

Limpd: Listen up my Sicilian friend, Pasty and Irish go hand in hand, so quit stating the obvious. Anyway. The Sapporo Premium has a bit more going on when compared to the Light, but I’m still unimpressed. This one is a bit more doughy, but as you said, where the hell are the hops?

G-LO: Yeah. If the third one is as dull as these two, there’s a good chance that I might fall asleep in my beer. The flavors on this one aren’t much better than the Light. Very sweet and malty. Talk about a one dimensional beer! There is zero bitterness to balance it out. My tongue is getting all icky. Kinda like how it gets after munching on way too much candy.

Limpd: Thanks for that vision. I’d rather not have to hear about your icky tongue, but to tell you the truth, you’re right. Where’s the oomph? And why exactly is this called “Premium”? While it’s a little more full bodied than the Light, it’s not very interesting. Shall we water another plant?

G-LO: Yes yes! You water the plants and I’ll go get us some clean glasses.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Errr… I mean, get more glasses, pour, and snap another pic…

Limpd: Crap! I forgot my color wheel. I swear this one is marginally darker than the other two. Hang on. Did you happen to see where these beers were brewed and bottled?

G-LO: Huh? Umm. No. I didn’t pay much attention. You mean they’re not brewed in Japan?

Limpd: Nope. Not even close. According to the tiny print on the bottom of the label, the Premium was brewed and bottled in Lacrosse, WI and the Reserve was brewed and bottled in Guelph, Ontario. Me thinks we need to do a bit of digging! Since you’re a wiz with that smartphone of yours, Google it!

G-LO: Will do Maestro! Gimme a minute…

32.5 seconds later…

Limpd: Speed it up G-LOsan! I haven’t got all night.

G-LO: Keep your shirt on Old Chub. Stupid autocorrect keeps changing Guelph to Gulf. Remind me to turn that off one of these days. So according to Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Britannica of the 21st century, the Premium is brewed by City Brewing in La Crosse and the Reserve is brewed by Sleeman Breweries in Guelph.

Limpd: Interesting. Do they make any other beers at those breweries?

G-LO: Yeah. City Brewing in La Crosse also makes Red Stripe, Naragansett, Sam Adams, Milwaukee Light, and a few other beers, while Sleeman brews Stroh’s, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, and Schlitz for the Canadian market. Good to know that they’re using two top notch facilities to make this stuff.

Limpd: Glad to hear they spared no expense on the brewing of these beers. Stroh’s, Old Milwaukee, and Schlitz. That’s some quality stuff right there!

G-LO: Hey now! I have fond memories of Schlitz. Remind me to tell you the Schlitz pony bottles and Cheese Curls story one of these days. This one goes back to my high school days. Can we go back to the review now?

Limpd: Mmmm. Cheese curls. It’s no charcuterie and cheese plate, but I do love me some Cheese Curls! So this one is a bit darker than the other two, but other than that, it pretty much smells and tastes the same.

G-LO: I’m with ya! Yes, the malts are a bit deeper, but other than that, I don’t understand how the Reserve is any different from the Premium. Whatcha getting on the palate Buckaroo Banzai?

Limpd: I’m getting a whole lot of meh. This is some truly unremarkable and forgettable stuff. When you first mentioned that some Sapporo beer samples had arrived, I was hoping that this would be like a virtual trip to Japan for a high quality beer tasting, but instead what I got was a rerouted flight to La Crosse on the way to Peoria, IL. On the plus side, it looks like your flowers are perking up!

G-LO: Well said Limpd-san! I have nothing further to add.

Limpd: Really? Mr. Longwinded has nothing more to say? I’m flabbergasted! So what are we having next? I need something with a bit more oomph. Is it Whisky Time yet?

G-LO: It’s always Whisky Time! How about some Hakushu or Nikka for a bit of Japanese redemption in a glass?

Limpd: That sounds fantastic. Me likey Japanese whisky!

The post The Light, the Premium, and the Reserve. Three Sapporo Beers Reviewed! appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

____________________________________

There isn’t much of a back story associated with the acquisition of this particular bottle of Anchor Brewing’s California Lager. I had it a couple months back, really liked it, and then decided to pick up another bottle for a review. BOOM! End of story.

Here is what the good people at Anchor Brewing have to say about their California Lager:

Anchor Steam’s® roots go back to the Gold Rush, long before icehouses and modern refrigeration made traditional lagers a viable California option. In 1876, thanks to an ice pond in the mountains and a belief that anything is possible in the Golden State, a little brewery named Boca created California’s first genuine lager. Anchor California Lager® is our re-creation of this historic beer.

Made in San Francisco with two-row California barley, Cluster hops (the premier hop in 19th-century California), and our own lager yeast, this all-malt brew is kräusened and lagered in our cellars. Its golden color, distinctive aroma, creamy head, balanced depth of flavor, and smooth finish make Anchor California Lager® a delicious celebration of California’s unique brewing heritage.

Let’s get on with it…

• Appearance: Pale orange with a thin layer of off white foam that covers the top of the beer.
• Aroma: A hint of orange zest scented hops along with some doughy yeast.
• Taste: Lightly carbonated. Very smooth and easy drinking with a lightly sweet biscuity malt flavor at the onset followed by a wee bit of citrusy hop bitterness. Crisp, clean, and well balanced finish with a melange (fancy!) of lightly sweet and bitter flavors in the aftertaste.
• ABV: 4.9%

Beginner Whisky Geeks and Craft Beer Geeks share a similar snobbishness. The moment any of us get serious about a subject, our head becomes filled with notions about what’s good and what’s dreadful. Scotch loving Whisky Geeks turn their noses up at blended whiskies and hail anything called a Single Malt. Craft Beer Geeks mock anyone that dare order a Lager in their presence since they associate it with Bud/Miller/Coors and assume that all Lagers suck and that all Ales are vastly superior. How do I know this? Because I am 1000% guilty of both!

Thankfully, I have learned a lot over the years about Whisky and Craft Beer. There are oodles of amazing Blended Whiskies out there (I’m looking at you Compass Box!), and I have enjoyed a multitude of deliciously flavorful Lagers. I am happy to report that Anchor’s California Lager has made it on to my Fabulous Lagers list! This is a delicious and versatile beer that I will definitely seek out again and again. Well done Anchor!

The post Anchor Brewing’s California Lager appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

____________________________________

Minding my own business (as I’m always wont to do), I was assailed by G-LO with another of his “great” ideas for a post. He thought it might be “fun” to try a couple of different world class porters and write it up as a post. While I might agree that it could be “fun” to try the porters, it was a lot more fun to drink them and then not as much fun to write it up. I find my commentary to be rather simple next to the voluminous notes of my verbose counterpart. I find G-LO is a mix between Alistair Cooke and Julia Child and for some reason while I transcribe the notes of my Sicilian friend, I have a peculiar English accent rattling around in my head (think the Monty Python Spam sketch).

For our Porter-palooza (because everything is a little more festive if it ends in palooza!), we selected porters from Anchor, Founders, Great Lakes, and Firestone Walker. Suffice it to say, we had selected four world class porters and any attempt at rating or ranking would be a little like picking out the ugly girl in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. For your reference, Beer Advocate, “the Bros”, and RateBeer scored the four as follows:

Clearly, there was no loser in the bunch. So, our review would be based far more on personal preference than on anything else. This is a Ginger or Mary Ann kind of question; no wrong answer, just an indication into one’s psyche (for the record, I would go for Mrs. Howell, after a suitable mourning period for the dearly departed Thurston; she had a lot of money and probably would have been grateful).

We started with the Founders Porter (ABV 6.5%). Here is what Founders Brewery has to say about their Founders Porter:

 “Pours silky black with a creamy tan head. The nose is sweet with strong chocolate and caramel malt presence. No absence of hops gives Founders’ robust porter the full flavor you deserve and expect. Cozy like velvet. It’s a lover, not a fighter”

We poured the bottle out into the glass and we were left with a dense black viscous liquid with a good bit of tan foam. I noted the obvious; the heavily roasted aroma with big notes of chocolate and a lingering aroma of coffee grounds. G-LO noted that the aroma was reminiscent of an Espresso roast coffee (most likely Kopi Luwak harvested in early April and undoubtedly from the island of Sumatra) with additional notes of a deep, dark chocolate. After allowing it to warm a bit, I found the taste to be medium bodied with a good bit of sweetness (like a glass of dark chocolate milk) ending with a rich, bitter finish. G-LO found the Founders Porter to be lightly carbonated with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel and a taste like an espresso bean coated in deep, dark chocolate (probably made on the second shift on a Thursday in August by Ghirardelli). We were both very impressed with the Founders Porter and it certainly lived up to its world class designation.

Next, we moved on to the Anchor Porter (ABV 5.6%). Here is what Anchor has to say about the Anchor Porter:

“With deep black color, a thick, creamy head, rich chocolate, toffee and coffee flavors, and full-bodied smoothness, Anchor Porter® is the epitome of a handcrafted dark beer.

A blend of specially roasted pale, caramel, chocolate, and black malts, along with our top-fermenting yeast, creates complexity without bitterness. The brew is hopped at a high rate, and naturally carbonated. The result is dark in the glass, but surprisingly light on the palate.

Anchor Porter® became the first modern American porter when it was introduced in 1972. As we celebrate its 40th anniversary, our porter continues to reward those who look beyond its intimidating appearance to discover its smooth, full-bodied drinkability. Anchor Porter® is the definitive American Porter.”

We poured the second bottle out into the glass and we were left with a thinner, dark chestnut liquid that was ruby tinged and had a light cream foam. I noted the sweet malt with a big blast of dried fruit (raisins and figs). I found that the aroma had an almost boozy quality; like a barley wine. G-LO noted aromas of hot fudge (like what one you would get at Coop’s MicroCreamery in Massachusetts), Ellis coffee, and a touch of Dalmatian fig jam. Once again, after allowing it to warm a bit, I found the taste to be a lot better than the aroma. The Anchor Porter was nowhere near as boozy as the aroma had indicated. The flavors were on the sweet side with a lot of dried fruit (cherries and raisins). G-LO found the Anchor Porter to be quite a bit mellower than the Founders. The flavors were complex and full of dried fruit and diner coffee (like what one would get from a woman named Edna every other Wednesday at the Starlight Diner) with a bit of milk chocolate. He found that the Anchor Porter gave off a bit of a Rochefort 6 vibe (and he found that to be a good thing). While the Anchor Porter was exceptional, I think we were both still overwhelmed by the Founders Porter.

Our third bottle was the Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (ABV 5.8%). Here is what Great Lakes Brewing has to say about the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter:

“A complex, roasty porter with a bittersweet, chocolate-coffee taste and bold hop presence.”

We poured the third bottle out into the glass and we were left with a liquid a little darker than the Anchor but noticeably thinner than the Founders. Eddie Fitz was also ruby tinged with a light cream foam. I noted the obvious aroma of lightly roasted coffee. G-LO noted aromas of French roast coffee (obviously a Carte Noire), a touch of milk chocolate, and some licorice.  As with the first two porters, we gave the Eddie Fitz a little time to warm up. I found the taste to be a softer version of the Founders Porter that was leaning more toward bitter sweet chocolate than it was toward coffee grounds. G-LO found the Eddie Fitz to be somewhere between the Founders and the Anchor on the coffee spectrum. There was more of a bitter, sweet chocolate, especially in the aftertaste. And there was some licorice too (clearly farmed from a hillside in Uzbekistan). We found the Eddie Fitz to be maybe a notch above the Anchor Porter while the Founders Porter was still the best of the three.

Our last bottle was the Firestone Walker Walker’s Reserve (ABV 5.8%). Here is what Firestone Walker has to say about the Walker’s Reserve:

“An artfully crafted robust Porter.  Walker’s Reserve presents with dark chocolate and rich roasted coffee aroma and a hint of oak.  Roasty full-bodied malt flavors emerge with English toffee, caramel and cacao to round out for a smooth balanced finish.  Made with beer from our Firestone Union oak barrel fermentation system and bottle-conditioned to create a truly unique brew.”

We poured the fourth and final bottle out into the glass and we were left with the most translucent of the four. I noted the sweet malt with lots of raisins and figs. I found that the Walker’s Reserve was a little closer to the Anchor Porter but without the boozy, barley wine quality. G-LO noted aromas of Chocolate and dried fruit (clearly the porters are catching up to G-LO as he is no longer prattling on like Alistair Cooke).  Finally, after warming a bit, I found the taste to be a little fizzy and a little sweet with hints of citrus and raisins and just the slightest bitterness in the finish. G-LO was getting lots of dried fruit (raisins; like a sultana picked in June on a slope in Western Turkey and then dried through the summer months) in the beginning and then found that it was not as intense on the coffee and chocolate notes until the very end where there is a touch of bitterness. (Ah, Alistair is back). We found the Walker’s Reserve to be just below the Eddie Fitz and on a par with the Anchor Porter.

The Verdict

I thought the Founders Porter was the best of a great group of porters. We probably should have made that the last beer as I found myself comparing the other three to it and Founders had set the bar awfully high. I found it interesting that the Founders and the Eddie Fitz were very similar and the Anchor and the Walkers’ Reserve were very similar. It was almost as if the Midwestern brewers have their idea of what a porter should be and the West Coast brewers have a slightly different idea porter.

G-LO found that while the Founders Porter was his favorite of the four, there was no denying that the other three were also very good beers. He noted that what was really interesting was just how different they all really are. Ranging from the chocolate and coffee flavors of the Founders and Great Lakes to the dark, dried fruit of the Anchor and Firestone Walker, you have decidedly different beers; yet all call themselves Porters. Different beers for different moods; you’ve got to love the range of expressions! Then, he went on about braised meats and aged cheeses, but by then I’d had enough of his prattling, and as the beer was finished, I quickly showed him the door.

The post Welcome to Porter-Palooza! appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.