Blog Update

Now that this blog has been up and running for a little over a year now it's time to do some updating and housecleaning. When Critical Tastings was started, I was expecting that it would end up housing a wide variety of tasting notes. It quickly evolved to tastings mainly of beer and dark chocolate. To help keep things more tightly focused the beer reviews and dark chocolate reviews are being spun off into separate blogs. The main Critical Tastings blog will remain the home for any non-beer/chocolate reviews (including coffee for the moment), and new beer and chocolate tastings will be cross-posted here from the other blogs as well.

The new blogs are:

Beer!

The Dark Chocolate Blog

Please give them a visit and leave some feedback.

For our current feed subscribers, if you want to see posts from all sites then you don't need to change anything as the Beer and Dark Chocolate blog posts will be mirrored here. If you want to subscribe to the RSS feeds for either of the new blogs, see the links below.

Beer! RSS feed
The Dark Chocolate Blog RSS feed

Scharffen Berger Ben Tre 72% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Scharffen Berger
Cocoa Content: 72%
Location: Vietnam
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Up for review today is a single source dark chocolate bar from Scharffen Berger, the Ben Tre. This is a 72% bar made with cacao from Vietnam. The bar is a deep brown with lots of red and purple.

At first taste the palate is immediately hit with an intense, rich chocolate flavor. There are some spice notes here, with cinnamon and a touch of black pepper. This bar has a very lively, almost juicy, acidity which brings out flavors of green banana, pineapple, strawberries and citrus. Chewing the Ben Tre brings forward vanilla, fresh strawberries and cinnamon. The chocolate melts to a smooth, creamy consistency with a bit of a cooling sensation. The finish has a squirt of lemon with a dash of cinnamon. At the very tail end, there is a hint of herbal bitterness.

When I took my first taste of the Ben Tre, I literally said "Wow" out loud. This bar has an insanely good, rich chocolate flavor and a great, vibrant acidity. I really want to give this bar an A+ rating based on taste alone, but there are a few minor issues separating this bar from perfection. First, the acidity is so dominant that some subtle undertones are a bit muted. Secondly, there is a faint off note of herbal bitterness at the tail end. Despite these quibbling issues, the folks at Hershey have nailed it with the Scharffen Berger Ben Tre. You owe it to yourself to try this dark chocolate bar ASAP.

Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout

Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Imperial Stout
Brewery Website
Rating: B-

Todays tasting is the Peg Leg Imperial Stout from Heavy Seas. The Peg Leg is an opaque ebony color. The head is dark brownish-tan and foamy. The nose has roasted notes along with some wininess.

On the palate there are winy and roast notes up front. There is a notable residual sweetness here. Also notable is some acidity that hints at citrus and berry notes that balance out the roasted character. Some bitterness pairs with the roast and leads to some coffee undertones. There are some faint herbal hops and some pear/apple notes as well. The Peg Leg Imperial Stout has a medium-heavy body and some slight syrupiness. The finish has lingering roast notes and a faint sweet/acid background.

The Peg Leg is an interesting Imperial Stout. There is a bit too much residual sweetness for my tastes. This tastes like the bastard child of an imperial stout and a barleywine, and it kind of misses the mark for me. The roast seems a bit understated and the sweetness and acidity gives me an odd "sweet-tart" impression. The Heavy Seas Peg Leg will probably improve with age as the sweetness mellows, but it falls a bit short in its current incarnation.

Pacari Manabi 65% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Pacari
Cocoa Content: 65%
Location: Ecuador
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is the Manabi 65% dark chocolate bar from Pacari. Pacari produces single-source organic chocolates bean-to-bar exclusively from Ecuador. Manabi is located in southwestern coastal Ecuador, and the beans used in this bar are from that region. The bar itself is a ruddy brown color.

The Manabi hits the palate with roast coffee and hot cocoa notes. Floral and herbal flavors are notable as well. The acidity level starts off rather mild, but then slowly builds to a rather lively level with notes of ripe strawberries and raspberries. Undertones of black pepper are detectable as well. Chewing the Manabi brings forward notes of currants and a faint cashew nuttiness. The texture of the Manabi bar is slightly coarse with some grittiness. The finish has green bananas, floral notes, hot cocoa and some spice. There is also a faint herbal bitterness.

I have some mixed feelings about the Manabi dark chocolate. I really like how the flavor develops over time. There is an herbal bitter note that seems a bit off to me, and there are definitely some construction issues. Still, I like what I see so far in this bar from Pacari. I'm looking forward to trying some of their other dark chocolates.

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2010

Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Location: Chico, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A

With the Christmas holiday around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to taste the 2010 Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. The Celebration is Sierra Nevada's holiday seasonal, an IPA brewed with fresh hops. The Celebration is golden-amber in color with a good sized, off-white, clumpy head. The nose has plenty of ripe citrus (grapefruit specifically). There are some fresh cut grass aromas in the background as well.

The palate is hit with a steely hops bitterness with a lingering bite. Pine resin and some herbal hops peek through after the initial grapefruit bitterness begins to soften. There are some grassy and rye bread notes as well. A faint residual sweetness and some wheat toast take a while to show up, but are notable as the hops fade. The Celebration Ale has a chewy, medium-to-heavy body with some astringency. The finish is quite long and features lingering bitter hops with herbal and citrus undertones.

Sierra Nevada really nailed it with this year's Celebration. There is a big hoppy kick that is really highlighted well by the fresh grassiness of the fresh hops. The aroma is fantastic, and the heavier body really holds up well to the big hops flavor. Everything translates to a fantastic fireside sipping IPA. Fresh hop IPA's are best when they are consumed fresh, so snap up some Celebration ASAP.

Magic Hat Howl

Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: Schwarzbier
Brewery Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is Howl, Magic Hat's winter lager. This dark schwarzbier is completely opaque mahogany in color. The foamy head is brownish-tan in color. The nose detects roasted barley, lager malt, a faint wininess, caramel and peanuts.

On the palate there is a big roasted flavor that has bittersweet cocoa along with roasted peanuts and peanut butter. Lager malt notes are here as well, but are hidden under the roast. There is a bit of hops here with herbal and pine notes. There is a bitter kick, but it seems to be more of the coffee ground variety than a hoppy punch. As things settle down the roasted character evolves a bit leading to some grilled corn/veggies notes. The Howl has a body that is a bit on the heavy side for a lager and has some chewiness. The finish is long with big roasted grain notes.

Magic Hat's Howl is truly a porter in lager's clothing. My only complaint is that the roasted character of this beer is a bit too one-sided. I wish there was a bit more of a hoppy twang to provide some counterbalance. If you like big roasted beers, Howl will definitely feed your fix. The question is whether it suits your taste enough to have you going back for more.

Tully's Kona Blend K-Cup

Manufacturer: Tully's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is a review of Tully's Kona Blend K-Cup. The coffee brews up a light mahogany color with just the faintest shimmer of oiliness visible on top. The nose detects berries and a light roast note that reminds me a bit of grilled corn.

Sipping the Kona Blend reveals light roasted notes along with some bittersweet chocolate. There is a distinct grilled vegetable flavor on the center of the tongue. A faint cherry/berry note sits in the background along with a hint of sweetness and black pepper. There are some nutty notes as well with pistachios and almonds. The Tully's Kona Blend has a smooth body and finishes rather short with roasted veggies and bittersweet chocolate.

The Tully's Kona Blend has an interesting flavor profile that works pretty nicely. The flavors here seem a bit subdued for my tastes, but I do prefer my coffee to have big roasted flavor. If you like your coffee on the milder side, the Kona Blend from Tully's is well worth a taste.

Amano Madagascar 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Amano
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Madagascar
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Up for review today is the Amano Madagascar 70% dark chocolate bar. The Madagascar, like many Madagascan dark chocolates, is fairly light in color for a 70% chocolate. It is light mahogany in color with a reddish-orange hue.

On the palate there is a rich espresso-chocolate roasted note up front. Acidity pops out vibrantly with lemon peel citrus flavor and some tart berry notes. In the background there are hints at earthiness and green bell pepper. Some herbaceousness combines with the citrus to hint at a bit of lemongrass. Chewing the Amano Madagascar opens up a big lemonade note along with blackberries and a faint woodiness. The chocolate melts to a smooth consistency, but the bar itself feels rather course under the tongue as the chocolate melts. The finish has equal portions of lemonade and espresso.

The Amano Madagascar is one of the best tasting chocolates I've had in quite some time. The citrus takes the lead with the roast following right after and there is a wealth of complex undertones like earth and fresh herbs to back them up. I love the flavor combination of lemonade and espresso, and all the supporting flavors marry perfectly. That's why it's such a shame that the texture was so flawed on this chocolate bar. If Amano gets the texture issues worked out on this one, then their Madagascar could very well stand up with the best of the best.

Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout

Brewery: Otter Creek Brewing
Location: Middlebury, VT
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

Continuing with our run of dark beers brings us to today's review of the Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout. This beer pours up opaque ebony in color with hints of ruby. The head is a deep, brownish-tan color and is nice and foamy. The nose picks up big, roasted barley notes along with earthiness and some mineral notes.

On the palate there is a big roasted malt note. There is also a sharp minerality up front. Some herbal hops notes are here along with a solid bitter bite. Earthy and woody notes are present. There is also a hint of wine and just a touch of sweetness. The Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout is medium-bodied, well-carbonated and has a nice chewiness that really works well with the big flavor here. The finish is rather long with lingering roasted malt notes paired with bitter espresso undertones.

Otter Creek has another damn good beer on their hands with the Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout. While I did find the mineral note on the palate to be a bit overpowering at first, that tends to settle down after a bit. This beer has some big roasted flavors and a nice bite, which is exactly what I'm looking for in a winter sipping beer.

Sierra Nevada Porter

Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Location: Chico, CA
Style: Porter
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

We've been having a bit of a cold snap up my way, and when the cold weather hits I always get a craving for dark beer. I'm following up on my last review of the excellent Anchor Porter with another great porter from Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada Porter pours up a deep mahogany with ruby highlights. There is a bit of sediment just barely detectable as this beer is nearly opaque. The head looks just like creamy rootbeer foam. The nose picks up smoky, roasted, and chocolate malt notes along with a fruity ale-like hoppiness.

On the palate there is a roasted chocolate flavor that is balanced by some fruity notes. There are both herbal and fruity hops notes along with a moderate bitter kick. A slightly juicy wininess plays well with the hops flavors. Smoke and black pepper highlights sit in the background along with some minerality. The Sierra Nevada Porter has a medium body and is quite easy drinking for such a dark beer. The finish has coffee and chocolate notes along with lingering fruity hops.

The Sierra Nevada Porter is a well-balanced and easy drinking porter. To me, it seems like it pulls some of the best qualities of a rich stout and a fruity pale ale and marries them perfectly. Put this one on your short list of dark beers to sip by the fire this winter.

Anchor Porter

Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Location: San Francisco, CA
Style: Porter
Brewery Website
Rating: A

In my glass today is the Anchor Porter. The Anchor Porter pours an opaque brownish-black color with some ruby highlights. The nose detects smoke, caramel, banana and some berry-like fruity ester notes.

On the palate the Anchor Porter has a nice roasted note up front reminiscent of roasted almonds. There are some notable complex, fruity notes of berry and banana. Herbal hops sit in the background. Dark toast fades in after a bit. Several minutes after pouring some of the fruity ester notes dissipate and the flavor evolves to that of a rich, fruity dark chocolate. The Anchor Porter is medium-bodied with some slight carbonation on the mouthfeel. The finish is deep-roasted bittersweet chocolate/coffee with a banana highlight.

The Anchor Porter may not have big, over-the-top roasted and smoky flavors, but it has some fantastic complexity that really sets this apart from the typical porter. There are some really interesting fruity notes here. While I found the fruit (the banana note in particular) to be a bit much at first, this beer actually improves after being allowed to breathe for a few minutes. The fruit then mellows out and you are left with what is simply an awesome brew.

Gillham & Grand 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Gillham & Grand (Hallmark private label)
Cocoa Content: 70%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: D

Today's tasting is a 70% dark chocolate bar from Gillham & Grand. Gillham & Grand is a private label who produces chocolate for Hallmark. The bar is ebony in color with some red. Opening the package releases a rather disappointing aroma that reminds me of cheap hollow chocolate Santas/Easter Bunnies.

At first taste there is an immediate strong flavor of raspberry preserves. I had to double-check the package to make sure I hadn't inadvertently gotten a flavored chocolate. I'm assuming that these bars are either produced on the same machine as the raspberry-flavored bars or have been stored in mixed cases with them for an extended period of time. Underneath the berries, sweet notes of caramel and coconut are here as well as mocha and peanuts. Chewing the Gillham & Grand bar lead to more raspberry preserves along with notes of vanilla and coconut. The mouthfeel is waxy and slightly gritty. The finish has lingering mocha notes as the raspberry fades.

It is obvious that the Gillham and Grand bar I tasted has met some subpar manufacturing and storage conditions. Even for a private label chocolate, this bar fails to meet even minimal expectations (see Walmart's Hageland line for examples of the right way to do private label chocolate). If you're in a Hallmark store and you're having a chocolate craving, do yourself a favor and find something other than this.

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72% Cacao

Manufacturer: Ghirardelli
Cocoa Content: 72%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Up for review today is the Twilight Delight. This dark chocolate weighs in at 72% cocoa and occupies the middle of Ghirardelli's Intense Dark line based on cocoa content. The Twilight Delight is deep brown in color with reddish-orange highlights.

The Twilight Delight has a rich chocolate note up front. Acidity slowly builds to a moderate level with notes of orange peel and red raspberries. There is a mild bitter kick of black coffee. Roasted walnuts and almonds are here as well as a faint earthy note in the background. The Twilight Delight melts smooth and creamy on the tongue. Chewing the chocolate brings forward notes of vanilla, walnuts and a faint earthiness. The finish is straight-ahead semisweet chocolate with lingering espresso bitterness and a hint of lemonade.

While it does little to set itself apart from the crowd, the Twilight Delight is a very good dark chocolate bar. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in rich chocolate flavor. I'd love to see Ghirardelli branch out into some single-source chocolates, because this bar shows their potential for producing top-notch chocolate.

Weyerbacher Blithering Idiot Barleywine

Brewery: Weyerbacher
Location: Easton, PA
Style: Barleywine
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Blithering Idiot barleywine from Weyerbacher. The beer pours with a short, light-tan head that fades fast. It is a cloudy amber-brown color with lots of fine sediment floating in the glass. The nose has a big wine note, along with sweet oatmeal/cereal. There is a faint fruity hops aroma in the background as well.

On the palate the Blithering Idiot has an initial sweet note up from that fades to an off-dry wininess. There is a big warming sensation, which is not surprising at over 11% ABV. There is a fair bitter kick from the hops and some citrusy notes as well. Yeast and brown sugar play complimentary roles. The Blithering Idiot has a fairly heavy body, which along with the high alcohol definitely make this a sipping beer. The finish has lingering cereal sweetness with bitter and citrus hops highlights.

Weyerbacher have a pretty good barleywine on their hands with the Blithering Idiot. The flavors here are pretty standard for a barleywine that is this big. There is still a good deal of residual sweetness here, but the hops do manage to poke their head through a bit. This is a beer that will do well with a year or more of age under its belt.

Amano Guayas 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Amano
Cocoa Content: 70%
Location: Ecuador
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Up for tasting today is the Amano Guayas. This dark chocolate bar is made with cocoa from Ecuador's Guayas River basin. The Guayas bar is a deep mahogany color with ruby highlights.

The initial flavor on the palate is a black coffee roasted note. Acidity develops after a few seconds, with a distinctive plantain/green banana note. There is a faint hazelnut flavor along with grassy/woody highlights. Chewing the Guayas opens up flavors of vanilla, gooseberries and blackberries. While the consistency is not noticeably gritty, it isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. The finish has roasted coffee notes along with some bitter hazelnuts.

The Amano Guayas is a complex dark chocolate bar with distinct flavor. The downfall of chocolate with such a distinct flavor is that it won't always work with everyone's palate. In the Guayas's case, there is some bitter note that I just can't place that doesn't quite work for me. Regardless, this is still another quality chocolate from Amano that is well worth checking out.

Green Mountain Coffee Sumatran Reserve K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Location: Sumatra
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A+

In my cup today is the Sumatran Reserve K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Sumatran Reserve is an organic, fair-trade certified dark roast coffee. Off the brewer, the cup is ringed with a latte-colored froth and coated with a faint, swirling, oily sheen. The coffee brews up mahogany in color. The nose detects a delicate aroma of roasted nuts.

On the palate there is a roasted nuttiness similar to roasted almonds. The nuttiness is balanced with a hint of unsweetened cocoa. There is a touch of acidity with some berry undertones. The Sumatran Reserve is light-to-medium bodied, and has little oiliness or chewiness to speak of (especially for a dark roast). The finish has a faint lingering cocoa bitterness paired with roasted nuts and a hint of earthiness.

The Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve is a great balanced, complex coffee. The flavors are subtle, with no one characteristic overpowering the rest. This may not be the deepest-roasted coffee out there, but dark roast fan or not, you owe it to yourself to try this coffee. This is simply one of the best.

Geary's London Porter

Brewery: Geary's Brewing Co.
Location: Portland, ME
Style: Porter
Brewery Website
Rating: B

In my glass today is Geary's London Porter. This porter pours an opaque, deep mahogany color. The head is huge and foamy with a color similar to cola-fizz. The nose has smoke, caramel and some faint herbal hops.

On the palate the Geary's London Porter leads with smokiness which is followed by a touch of acidity. The hops sit well in the background with only a faint bite of note. There is some caramel and a slight warming sensation as well. Geary's London Porter is medium bodied, although it does seem a bit light for a smoky porter. The finish has long, smoky malt notes.

Geary's London Porter is an easy-drinking porter. I do find it to be a bit one-dimensional, and I think the flavor would hold up better to a bigger bodied beer. Despite this, the Geary's Porter is a nice smoky porter to curl up with on a cold winter night.

Hägeland Peru 64% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Hägeland
Cocoa Content: 64%
Location: Peru
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B-

Up for tasting today is the Hägeland Peru, a 64% dark chocolate bar. The bar is deep brown in color with a faint orange undertone. The nose is rather straightforward, calling to mind semi-sweet chocolate chips.

On the palate, there is a dominant roasted chocolate flavor along with nuttiness (i.e., roasted almonds) up front. There is just a touch of acidity in the background here. This leads to a citrus note of orange peel. The Hageland Peru has a smooth, creamy and slightly thick mouthfeel. Chewing the bar brings out notes of mint, vanilla and toffee. The finish has trailing roasted nuts with some coffee as well as a strong caramel note.

The Hägeland Peru is a decent chocolate, but the flavor is pretty one-dimensional with a strong roast flavor. This is definitely a bar calling for a higher cocoa percentage. There is definite potential here. Again, for a made-for-Walmart chocolate, this is a pretty nice surprise.

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre

Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

Up for review today is Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre. This is a Belgian-style dark ale brewed with raisins. The Raison D'Etre pours dark brown with a hint of ruby. A thick, brownish-tan, foamy head slowly rises. The nose detects juicy and winy notes along with some sweet cereal.

On the palate both wininess and a slightly sweet cereal note come to the forefront. There are notes of brown bread and burnt toast here. The hops take on an herbal character with a touch of bitterness. Oaky/woody notes sit in the background along with raisins. The Raison d'Etre has a moderate-heavy mouthfeel that is nearly syrupy. The finish is off-dry with dark wheat toast being the dominant flavor.

Dogfish Head has a really good beer on their hands with the Raison D'Etre. It drinks similar to an aged barleywine with a bit more burnt/raisin notes and not quite as winy. The raisins here seem to emulate the great raisiny flavor that develops with time on a vintage barleywine (see Thomas Hardy). Similar to aging wine or scotch in small barrels or over oak chips, you get a sneak peek at an aged beverage, but some of the complexity that can only be produced by time is missing. I am very curious to see how this beer ages.

Lake Champlain Tanzania 75% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Lake Champlain Chocolates
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

On the tasting block today is another chocolate from Lake Champlain's Select Origin line - the Tanzania 75% dark chocolate. The chocolate bar is deep mahogany brown in color with some ruby undertones. The nose detects cocoa and marshmallow notes.

On the palate a roast chocolate character jumps out up front. There is a rich cocoa bitter note that hints at black licorice. A caramel note is present as well. The acidity is rather slow to build as the thick bar slowly melts, but it eventually reaches a moderate level. Fruit notes of raspberry, pomegranate and currant eventually make their presence known. Chewing the Lake Champlain Tanzania bar brings forward strawberry, vanilla and a fleeting woodsy note. The chocolate is thick and creamy as it melts on the tongue. It is almost completely smooth, but it has just the finest grit. The finish has sweetened coffee and strawberries as it fades.

The Lake Champlain Tanzania 75% dark chocolate bar is tasty and well balanced. I did find this bar to be a little lacking in complexity, especially compared to their fantastic Sao Thome, but overall this is a great snacking dark chocolate.

Green Mountain Naturals Hot Apple Cider K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

We have a bit of a novel beverage getting the Critical Tastings treatment today. Green Mountain Coffee has introduced a Hot Apple Cider K-Cup under their "Green Mountain Naturals" line. As soon as I got word of its release I ordered myself a box online, as I am a huge fan of hot cider this time of the year. The Hot Apple Cider K-Cup brews up a greenish-brown color. It is a bit lighter in color than real pressed cider, although not by much. The nose detects equal parts of apples and cinnamon. This cider smells very much like apple pie pulled hot from the oven.

On the palate there is a nice tart kick, which is balanced with brown sugar sweetness that is just sweet enough without being syrupy. The flavor of cinnamon is notable, but it sits nicely in the background. The body is thinner than a normal pressed cider would be, but it still works fine for a hot cider. The finish does have a bit of a lingering taste from the stevia that is added as a sweetener. As sweeteners go, I don't find stevia to have the chemical bitterness that other sweeteners (such as aspartame and saccharin) have so this isn't a big problem for me.

Green Mountain has really taken the K-Cup to a new place with their Hot Apple Cider, and it works amazingly well. While the K-Cup does have some limitations compared to real pressed cider, the few quibbling shortcomings are negligible when balanced with the fact that in less than 2 minutes I can have a hot mug of cider with no mess or prep work. The only way I can see this improved is if Green Mountain can find a way to make this work without needing to add an additional sweetener like stevia. The bottom line is if you like hot cider and you have a Keurig brewer, then you need to get the Hot Apple Cider K-Cup asap. It is that good.

Tully's Italian Roast K-Cup

Manufacturer: Tully's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

In my mug today is the Italian Roast K-Cup from Tully's. The Italian Roast is deep mahogany in color and comes off the brewer ringed with an off-white froth. There is a fair amount of oil on top. The nose detects earthy and woody notes, along with berries over a background of roasted aromas.

On the palate there is more of that woody/earthy character from the nose, along with a rich roasted note. There is a lingering (yet not overpowering) bitter kick. There is a touch of acidity that brings out a hint of fruitiness. Chestnuts and cocoa sit in the background as well. The Tully's Italian Roast is medium-bodied with a slightly chewy mouthfeel. The finish has lingering earthy & roasted notes over an oily bitter kick.

The Tully's Italian Roast is a dark roast you can sink your teeth into.  I enjoy that it has a bit of a bite to it. It has a nice rustic quality with a good roast character.

Amano Ocumare 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Amano
Cocoa Content: 70%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Amano Ocumare, a 70% dark chocolate bar made with cacao from the Ocumare Valley in Venezuela. The Ocumare bar is mahogany in color with a reddish-purple tint. The palate finds roasted chocolate notes up front along with some smokiness and a pleasant bitter kick. The acidity builds, opening up flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum. Spice notes of black pepper, bell pepper and mint sit in the background with some earth and floral notes.

Chewing the Ocumare brings forward mint, vanilla, earth and a cedary wood note. The mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy, leaving a slight cooling sensation on the tongue. The finish has lingering bitter and roast flavors over juicy acid/fruit notes.

The Ocumare is a very good showing from Amano. This is a complex, well-balanced dark chocolate. The only fault I find is that no one feature stands out. The Ocumare is almost too balanced and complex for its own good. And as far as chocolate goes, that's not such a bad problem to have.

Samuel Adams Boston Ale

Brewery: The Boston Beer Company
Location: Boston, MA
Style: Stock Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

In my glass today is the Sam Adams Boston Ale. While the Boston Lager may be Samuel Adams' flagship beer, the Boston Ale is (unfortunately) often overlooked. In my opinion, the Boston Ale is their best year-round offering. The Boston Ale pours a deep amber with hints of brown and gold. The head is golden-tan and frothy with big clumps. The nose detects citrus and herbal hops notes, along with a faint wheaty malt note.

On the palate the Sam Adams Boston Ale has aromatic citrus and floral hops up front, leading into a rich pizza dough/pretzel malt, which then fades to bitter hops notes of pine and juniper. There are also some wine/barleywine notes here and a hint of residual sweetness. The Boston Ale is moderate-to-heavy bodied with a fairly full mouthfeel. The finish has a distinct barleywine character along with bitter hops notes.

The Samuel Adams Boston Ale is a real winner. It is well-balanced, full-flavored and rich. The malt is the real star for me, but there is just the right balance of hops here to hold up to the rich flavor. Next time you go to reach for Sam Adams Boston Lager as "the old standby", do your tastebuds a favor. Reach right next to it and bring home their Boston Ale instead.

Michel Cluizel 1er Cru de Plantation Hacienda "Vila Gracinda"

Manufacturer: Michel Cluizel
Cocoa Content: 65%
Location: Sao Tome
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is the "Vila Gracinda" 67% dark chocolate bar from Michel Cluizel's 1er Cru de Plantation line of single-source chocolates. The Vila Gracinda is ebony-purple in color. It hits the palate with a rich chocolate/cocoa flavor. Smoky, roasted coffee notes are here. A bitter nuttiness of hazelnuts and chestnuts are here as well. The acidity level is fairly light but does lend itself to a bit of an orange peel flavor. Woody/earthy notes and some vanilla are also detectable.

Chewing the Vila Gracinda brings forward sweet notes of vanilla, honey, bourbon and toffee. As is typical for Cluizel's fare, the mouthfeel is perfectly smooth and creamy. The finish has cream & sugar coffee with nutty and earthy undertones.

While this is a good chocolate, the Vila Gracinda doesn't quite meet the high mark set by some of the other chocolates in Michel Cluizel's 1er Cru de Plantation line. While tasty, I did find this bar to be relatively straightforward. It seems like it could use a bit more acidity to open up. If you try the Vila Gracinda, pop a piece in your mouth and give it a good chew. The sweet flavors that open up are what I enjoyed the most about this chocolate bar.

Goose Island Honker's Ale

Brewery: Goose Island
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: ESB
Brewery Website
Rating: B

In my glass today is the Honker's Ale from Goose Island in Chicago. The Honker's Ale is an ESB that at first taste is clearly modeled after the prototypical English style. In the glass it is a golden-amber in color with a faint haze. The head pours on the shorter side and white in color. The nose detects citrus and pine hops in balance with malty biscuit notes.

On the palate there is an initial flash of aromatic hops that quickly fades to a malty bread/crackers note which finally leads to some lingering bitter hops. The hops has herbal and floral notes taking the lead over a background of citrus and pine. The bitterness level is moderate and well-balanced. Also present are notes of mineral water as well as a slightly sweet berry note. The Honker's Ale is light-to-medium bodied. The finish has saltines along ngering piny hop notes.

The Honker's Ale is a well-balanced, British-style ESB. It is easy drinking, but it seems a bit thin to me. This is a good beer, but with a fuller body and a bit more of a bitter bite it would have the potential for greatness.

Caribou Coffee Obsidian K-Cup

Manufacturer: Caribou Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A+

Today's tasting is the Obsidian K-Cup from Caribou Coffee. As one can glean from the name, the Obsidian is a dark roast coffee, very dark. The Obsidian brews up deep ebony in color with a swirling oily gloss on top. A golden tan froth rings my mug as I pull it off the brewer. The aroma has a powerful roasted character with peanuts and cocoa.

The Obsidian leads with a distinct dark chocolate flavor that clings to the palate. There is a rich, deep-roasted flavor with earthy and woody notes with a nice touch of smoke. Roast cashews and a faint bacon note are here in the background. There is the perfect balance of bitterness here to compliment the roast without overpowering. The Obsidian has an almost chewy mouthfeel as the oils coat the tongue pleasantly. The finish has a lingering bittersweet cocoa and roast nuts with a hint of smoke.

The Caribou Coffee Obsidian is a top-notch dark roast coffee. This is well-balanced, with big roasted flavor. The bittersweet chocolate note is what really sets this one apart for me. For obvious reasons, the Obsidian pairs quite well with dark chocolate (I paired my most recent cup with the Amano Dos Rios). Highly recommended.

Amano Dos Rios 70% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Amano
Cocoa Content:70%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Up for tasting today is the Dos Rios, a 70% dark chocolate bar of Dominican origin by American chocolate maker Amano. The chocolate bar is mahogany in color with a reddish-orange tint. Snapping off a piece of the bar releases a distinctive citrus aroma that is the first hint that there is something unique with this chocolate. The palate first detects this distinct citrus character (reminiscent of Earl Grey tea), which is followed by woody notes and clove. The Dos Rios has a moderate, balanced acidity which leads to notes of bing cherry and pomegranate. Undertones of caramel and black pepper play a complimentary role as well.

Chewing the Amano Dos Rios bar brings forward notes of orange peel, vanilla and sweet cherries. The Dos Rios has a thick, creamy mouthfeel with just the faintest amount of grittiness. The finish is dominated by fruit with a touch of bitter and roasted notes, akin to peach cobbler chased with a shot of espresso. The powerful citrus note seems to linger forever on the palate as the finish fades.

Amano has a real standout chocolate here with their Dos Rios dark chocolate bar. The distinct citrus note is supported by a nice woody spice. Amano has really nailed the level of acidity on this one as well. Any more and the fruit would be overpowering; any less and it would be flat. I've had other chocolates with notably distinct flavors, but none have had the balance and complexity that the Dos Rios has. The flavors here are just crying out to have Granny Smith apple slices dipped in it. Too bad this bar won't last long enough for me to try that out...

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop³ Ale

Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

In my glass today is the Loose Cannon Hop³ Ale from Clipper City's Heavy Seas line of big beers. As one can imagine from the name, this is a big American-style IPA. The Loose Cannon pours with a short, off-white bubbly head. The beer is a hazy gold with some light amber hues. The nose screams "Cascade!", as the hops aroma asserts itself quite boldly. It's sort of like getting smashed in the face with a grapefruit, James Cagney style. In a good way.

The initial flavor is big, fruity hops, although some bready malt notes do peek through the haze. The Loose Cannon has some slight residual sweetness. There is a moderate level of bitterness, but overall the bite is rather mild for such a heavily hopped ale. The hops flavors run the gamut from herbal/fresh-cut grass notes, to a hint of juniper, and of course the big citrus Cascade notes are present in spades. I found the carbonation level was a bit lacking, leading to a slightly flat mouthfeel. The Loose Cannon has a smooth finish that is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops with a hint of wheaty malt.

Clipper City continues to put out some really good beer under their Heavy Seas line. The Loose Cannon is a well-rounded IPA with lots of hops flavor. I did find myself wanting a bit stronger kick of bitterness as counterbalance to the aromatic hops, but overall this is a very enjoyable IPA.

Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Green & Black's Chocolate Limited
Cocoa Content: 85%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Up for tasting today is the 85% dark chocolate bar from Green & Black's. The chocolate bar itself is a ruddy mahogany color. The chocolate hits the palate with a deep chocolate note. Roasted espresso notes are prominant, but the show is soon stolen by a tangy, lively acidity. Fruity notes of citrus and tart cherries, along with a big helping of plums, shine through. In the background sit hints of earth, toffee, and smoke along with some nutty undertones of peanuts and cashews.

Chewing the Green & Black's 85% dark chocolate brings forward notes of earth, tobacco and marshmallow along with more plums. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with a slight hint of grit. The finish has lingering fruity and roast coffee notes along with a hint of peanuts.

Green & Black's has a real winner on their hands here with their 85% Dark chocolate bar. This bar has big flavor. The roast is bold and cuts through the big plummy fruit notes to create a full, balanced flavor. To me, this is what I like to see in a bar in the 85%+ range - big flavors can really pop in a high-cacao chocolate. I'd love to see some of the great single-estate chocolate makers step out and start making some chocolates in the 85%-90% range, because bars like the Green & Black's really show the potential that extra dark chocolates offer.

E. Guittard Chucuri Bittersweet

Manufacturer: Guittard Chocolate Company
Cocoa Content: 65%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

On the tasting block today is the "Chucuri" from E. Guittard. The Chucuri is a 65% cocoa dark chocolate bar of Columbian origin. The Chucuri is on the lighter side of mahogany in color with light-brown highlights. Up front on the palate is a rich flavor of semi-sweet chocolate chips. There is a mild bitter bite and very little acidity. Sweet flavors of banana and caramel are present. Almonds, coffee and a faint black pepper note are here as well.

Chewing the Chucuri highlights notes of vanilla nad honey. The chocolate has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The finish has notes if hot cocoa and marshmallow with black pepper undertones. This is another decent chocolate bar from Guittard, but something just seems missing to me. The flavor seems a bit flat, like either the bitterness and/or the acidity needs to be bumped up to make it a bit more lively.

Pralus Equateur

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Today we wrap up our tastings from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques" with the Equateur. This Ecuadorean 75% cocoa dark chocolate bar is deep brown in color with ruby highlights. The Equateur hits the palate with a bitter cocoa/espresso note up front that has a nice bitter kick. Acidity builds leading to notes of lemon and raisins. Some buttery notes are here as well as some caramel. Peanut butter nuttiness and black pepper spice are present as well.

Chewing the Equateur brings forward notes of vanilla, caramel and honey. The mouthfeel is pleasantly smooth and creamy. On the finish the bitterness fades leaving a flavor akin to peanut butter and jelly with some lingering spiciness. This is another great bar from Pralus. It has a well-rounded flavor balanced between a bitter kick and acid undertones. There is some nice complexity that develops in this dark chocolate bar.

If you're looking for a sampler of high-end chocolate, then the Pralus Pyramide is a great choice. You can really see the regional differences between various chocolates. All of the chocolates are very good, with a few real gems like the Ghana that really stand out.

Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale

Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery
Location: Frederick, MD
Style: Pale Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

On the tasting block today is the Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, an American-style Pale Ale from Flying Dog. The beer pours a deep, golden-brown color with lots of carbonation. A huge tan, foamy head with big clumps forms immediately upon pouring. The nose has citrus and herbal hops notes, along with a faint pretzel/malty note.

On the palate the Doggie Style Pale Ale has a pretzely malt note along with a fruit/wine note up front. There is a bitter hops note with a moderate bite. The hops present both citrus and herbal flavors. There is also a distinct alcohol/winy note as well. The Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale is medium-bodied with a juicy mouthfeel and some chewy astringency. The finish has both winy and pretzel notes.

Typical of Flying Dog's beers, the Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale is a nice, hoppy pale ale. My only issue is that this beer is a bit too juicy for my tastes; I'd prefer that it was a touch dryer. All-in-all, this is another very good showing from Flying Dog.

Hägeland Costa Rica 71% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Hägeland
Cocoa Content: 71%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Hägeland is a line of Belgian-made chocolates that have been exclusively developed for Wal-Mart. Today's tasting is a single-source bar made from Costa Rican trinitario beans. The Hägeland Costa Rica is deep brown in color with purplish-red notes. There is a deep chocolate flavor up front. Nutty undertones develop, along with some roasted, espresso-like flavors. The acidity level here is very faint. There is a distinct marshmallow note present, along with spice, peanuts and hazelnuts.

Chewing the Hägeland Costa Rica bar bring forward vanilla along with notes of hazelnuts and cherries. The finish has cocoa and marshmallow along with nutty and spicy notes in the background.

I must admit, this is a pretty good showing for a chocolate made for Wal-Mart, a mass-market retailer usually associated with budget pricing instead of high-quality. I would like to see the acidity bumped up a notch or two, and I think there is a bit too much vanilla going on, but overall this is a decent chocolate bar that's worth a taste the next time you find yourself at Wally World.

Dagoba Conacado (73% Cocoa)

Manufacturer: Dagoba
Cocoa Content: 73%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Conacado 73% cocoa dark chocolate bar from Dagoba. Dagoba is part of Hershey's Artisan Confection brand, joining Sharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt in 2006. The Conacado bar breaks with a crisp snap revealing crimson/ruby streaks over the deep mahogany colored bar.

On the palate the Conacado bar has a rich chocolate/cocoa note up front. Acidity builds to a moderate level with flavors of blackberries and oranges. Faint flavors of hazelnut and black pepper sit in the background with a light roasted note. Chewing the Dagoba Conacado opens up notes of vanilla, strawberry, marshmallow and lemonade. The Conacado has a creamy, thick texture that coats the tongue well. The finish has black pepper and roasted notes with a acid note that fades leaving a faint bitter note and spice.

The Dagoba Conacado doesn't have the biggest diversity of complex flavors here. Despite that, this is a very enjoyable bar that is a good dark chocolate for snacking.

Lagunitas Pils

Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Location: Petaluma, CA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A

In my glass today is the Lagunitas Pils, a Czech-style Pilsner. The Lagunitas Pils is a deep golden-yellow in color. There are fine bubbles of carbonation and a white bubbly head. The nose detects juiciness, herbal hops and a light breadiness.

On the palate there is an initial squirt of juiciness that trails off rapidly. The Lagunitas Pils is dryer than the nose an initial juiciness suggest. A bready note akin to naan or a flour tortilla is here. There is a nice bitter hops kick. Overall, the hops have a grassy, herbal character supported by some floral notes. The Lagunitas Pils is medium-bodied, crisp and has a pleasant fizz of carbonation. The finish is rather short with bitter hops and bready notes.

The Lagunitas Pils is a crisp, dry euro-style pilsner. I love this interpretation of the style. The flavor is bold yet refreshing. While this is clearly styled after your typical euro-pils, there is not even a hint of the typical eurolager skunkiness here. Green-bottle beer fans, this is what your beer is supposed to taste like.

Pralus Columbie

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is a Columbian dark chocolate bar from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques". The chocolate is deep mahogany in color with ruby highlights. The initial flavor up front is bitter chocolate with some roasted notes. There is a moderate amount of acidity present with some blackberry. Espresso, hazelnuts and bitter herbs are also here on the palate.

Chewing the Pralus Columbie brings forward a spice note along with a mushroom/earthy flavor. The chocolate has a smooth mouthfeel with an almost buttery richness. The finish has a bitter herbal note with fruit jam. The Pralus Columbie is well balanced between bitter notes and acidity. Unfortunately, there isn't enough cocoa richness to carry the bitterness, which becomes a bit too vegetal in character for my tastes. Overall this is a decent chocolate, but I've had much better from Pralus recently.

Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale

Brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company

Location: Harrisburg, PA
Style: Amber
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

Today's beer tasting goes out to all my friends in the Harrisburg area. On deck today is the HopBack Amber from Tröegs (umlaut will be omitted henceforth for ease of typing...). The HopBack Amber is a golden/ruddy brown in color with a short, off-white head. Lots of fine bubbles can be seen rising in the glass. The nose detects sweetness along with some citrus that combine to give the impression of lemonade. A faint aroma of wheat bread sits in the background.

On the palate there is a citrus hops note up front. Wheat bread and pretzel maltiness build. The hops give a moderate level of bitterness and more of the lemonade flavor to match the nose. There is some notable sweetness here as well. The HopBack Amber has a medium body with a nice carbonated fizziness. The finish is fairly short with more pretzel and lemonade, along with a light bitter undertone.

Troegs HopBack is a nice hoppy amber with a solid maltiness. The only thing I'd change is to roll back the sweetness here which I think is a bit too much. The Troegs Hop Back is a very good drinkable amber, but there is definitely the potential for excellence here.

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Midnight Reverie 86% Cacao

Manufacturer: Ghirardelli
Cocoa Content: 86%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B-

Today's tasting is Ghirardelli's dark chocolate bar with the highest percentage cocoa, the Midnight Reverie. The Midnight Reverie is deep ebony in color with some reddish-orange highlights. The initial flavor impression is unsweetened cocoa. There is notable espresso-like bitterness. Acidity starts out mild and builds to a moderate level with notes of orange, sour cherry, blackberry and citrusy hop flowers. There are some herbal and earthy undertones as well.

Chewing the Midnight Reverie brings out notes of citrus along with faint spice and earthy notes. The Ghirardelli Midnight Reverie has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel that is slightly drying. The finish has espresso, citrus and herbal notes.

The Ghirardelli Midnight Reverie is a decent chocolate with some nice flavor. It is somewhat lacking in the complexity department, and it is missing the powerful chocolate flavor I would expect from a chocolate in the 80%+ cocoa range.

Pralus Madagascar

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Today's tasting is the Pralus Madagascar dark chocolate bar. The chocolate is deep ebony in color with red undertones. On the palate there is a rich cocoa flavor up front. A lively acidity highlights red fruit notes and fresh bing cherries. There is a sweet herbal note of fresh mint and a faint roasted peanut undertone.

Chewing the Pralus Madagascar gives vanilla, mint, sweet cherries and tobacco flavors. The Madagascar has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The finish fades with cocoa and maraschino cherries. This is another great chocolate from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques" collection. The acid and fruit notes plays very well with the sweet minty undertones in this chocolate.

Belhaven Scottish Ale

Brewery: Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Location: Dunbar, Scotland
Style: Scottish Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

In my glass today is Belhaven Scottish Ale. The Belhaven is a deep amber-brown in color. It pours with a short, off-white, bubbly head. On the nose there is a mineral water characteristic along with dark wheat toast. Faint aromas of wood and wine hang in the background.

On the palate there is a distinct flavor of dark pretzels up front. A pleasing near-burnt wheat toast character from the malt takes center stage. There is a mild, herbal hop bite that plays a complimentary role. Faint wine notes and slight residual sweetness round out the flavor. The Belhaven Scottish Ale is medium bodied with a juicy mouthfeel. The finish has sweet juiciness over dark toast.

The Belhaven Scottish Ale has some great, deep toasted malt flavor that is balanced nicely by a juicy mouthfeel with supporting hops. The result is a beer with rich, distinct maltiness that is very drinkable and not overpoweringly heavy.

Equal Exchange Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate (80% Cocoa)

Manufacturer: Equal Exchange
Cocoa Content: 80%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

After a bit of a hiatus, we should be back on track with a bit more regularity in our postings here. We're kicking things off with a fantastic chocolate from Equal Exchange. This is an 80% dark chocolate bar from Panama. The bar is a deep ebony in color with ruby highlights.

The Equal Exchange bar leads with a rich, deep cocoa note, followed by a pleasant bitter kick. The acidity slowly builds to a moderate level with currant and blackberry notes. There is a touch of sea salt and roasted peanuts along with floral highlights and a black pepper spice. The finish has espresso with spice and light roasted undertones. Chewing the chocolate opens up flavors of vanilla, bell pepper, tobacco and a flavor that reminds me of strawberry-flavored licorice. The texture is thick and mostly smooth with some barely perceptable coarseness.

Equal exchange has a great thing going here with this 80% chocolate bar. There is a rich chocolate flavor with plenty of complexity and a nice spice note. This is by far one of the most "snackable" dark chocolates up in the 80% cacao range I've ever had. Highly recommended.

Coffee People Jet Fuel K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A

Today we complete our trifecta of extra bold coffees from Coffee People. As far as I'm concerned, the bar has been set pretty high by naming this blend "Jet Fuel". I'm a big fan of big coffee, so let's see if the Jet Fuel delivers. The Jet Fuel brews up a deep brown, almost ebony, in color. There is a light tan froth along with a moderate amount of oil on top of the cup as it comes off the brewer. The nose detects roasted notes along with earth and spicy undertones.

Up front, the Jet Fuel hits the palate with a sharp bitter bite similar to a very dark chocolate. There is an earthy note along with some mushroom flavors. A black pepper spiciness is here as well as a roasted nut undertone. The Jet Fuel has a full body with a tannin-like astringency. The finish is nice and long. The bitter kick simmers down after time leaving a lingering coffee-oil and cocoa flavor highlighted by some spice on the tip of the tongue and a faint roasted nut note.

The Jet Fuel K-Cup really lives up to its name. This is a very bold coffee with a nice bite to it and a long, lingering finish. If you're a fan of really dark chocolate, or if you just like a coffee that bites back, then this is the coffee for you. I will definitely be keeping some Jet Fuel K-Cups on hand for when I need an eye-opener.

Coffee People Wake Up Call K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A

Today we have another K-Cup from Coffee People up for review. As one would expect by the name, the "Wake Up Call" blend is a full-flavored, extra bold coffee. The Wake Up Call brews up a deep mahogany in color with some orange highlights and a faint oiliness on top of the cup. The nose has roasted notes, nuts and a faint citrus.

The Wake Up Call hits the palate with a vibrant acidity that is paired with a solid bitter undertone which hangs around without being overpowering. Complex highlights abound, with cocoa, caramel, citrus, almond and chestnuts all playing a support role here. The Wake Up Call is medium-bodied with some chewy astringency. The finish has lingering cocoa bitterness paired with a roasted nut undertone.

Coffee People have themselves another winner with the Wake Up Call K-Cup. This is a bold, complex coffee with a nice kick and some excellent rich flavor. Highly recommended.

Coffee People Black Tiger K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

On the tasting block today the the "Black Tiger" K-Cup by Coffee People. The Black Tiger brews up a deep, dark brown color with a hint of ruddiness. Straight off the brewer there is a light golden-brown froth along with a very faint oiliness on top of the cup. The nose has earthy notes along with smoke and some roast.

On the palate there is a nice acidity paired up with a bitter kick up front that fades to an oily, roasted coffee backbone. Some hazelnut flavor is present along with some earth. There is a bit of a fruity note in the back that has a bit of a green pepper herb/spice undertone. The finish has roasted nuts and earth fading to a slight astringent oiliness with some faint roast.

The Black Tiger is an interesting take on a dark roast coffee. This a complex, balanced and full-flavored coffee. The Black Tiger doesn't seem to be as roast-forward in flavor as the typical dark roast and that allows more subtle complex flavors shine through.

Revv Pulse K-Cup

Manufacturer: Revv Coffee

Manufacturer Website

Rating: B-

Next up for review from Revv Coffee is the Revv Pulse. Revv have taken their energy drink philosophy a bit further with the Pulse by adding guarana and ginseng, two herbs commonly found in energy drinks, to their high-octane coffee. I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of flavored coffee, so I'm curious to see how these additions affect the flavor of this coffee.

The Revv Pulse K-Cup brews up a deep cherrywood color with a light white froth and just the faintest sheen of oil on top. The nose detects light roasted and nutty notes. On the palate, there is a light roast character along with a faint nutty note. There is a distinct herbal/grassy character here as well that plays well with the roast notes. A bitter bite is present here as well, but it is not the typical bitter kick from a dark coffee. Instead, it is reminiscent of the bitter, almost medicinal, taste most energy drinks have. I'm going to assume this is from the guarana, since ginseng doesn't typically have a strong bitter flavor. The Revv Pulse is light-to-medium bodied and has a finish that fades rather quickly as the roast and bitter notes fade.

The Revv Pulse is an interesting concept, but I'm not quite sold on it. On one hand, the herbal notes from the ginseng and guarana do compliment the coffee rather well. On the other hand there was a bitter bite that I found to detract from the flavor a bit. I'd be interested in trying a Revv with ginseng but no guarana, since all guarana brings to the table is more caffeine and that could be handled by more/stronger coffee in its stead. If you like energy drinks, then you may find the additional herbs in the Pulse to be OK, but I'll be sticking with the regular Revv.

Revv K-Cup

Manufacturer: Revv Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Revv Coffee takes an interesting spin on coffee marketing. They have embraced the energy kick that so many of us turn to our coffee for and seem to be vying for a share of the energy drink market that has become so popular over the last few years. The question is whether the flavor is as bold as the caffeine kick it provides.

The Revv brews up deep, ruddy brown in color topped with a light tan froth and a moderate amount of shimmering oil. The nose has light roasted notes highlighted by some smoke and fruit. On the palate there is a bright flavor. There are some light roasted notes that fade into the background. Smoke and almonds play supporting notes and a mild acidity rounds out the flavor. The Revv is medium-bodied with a fairly short finish leaving roasted notes and a touch of oiliness on the tip of the tongue.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with the Revv K-Cup. I was expecting something a bit more overpowering to match the "high-octane" marketing. Instead, what I found was a bright, flavorful coffee that is smooth and easy-drinking. This is not a coffee reserved for truck drivers and college students pulling an all-nighter. The flavor here makes it well worth a try.

Emeril's Big Easy Bold K-Cup

Manufacturer: Timothy's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

The next K-Cup up for review is the Emeril's Big Easy Bold from Timothy's. As we shall soon see, and as one would expect from a product endorsed by Emeril Lagasse, the flavor on this coffee is truly kicked up a notch. The Big Easy Bold brews up a deep mahogany on color with a nice oily sheen across the top of the cup. The nose gets a big whiff of roasted peanuts along with a faint smokiness.

On the palate the Big Easy Bold hits you with a big roasted flavor. There is a nice, complimentary earthiness present along with some roasted peanuts. There is just enough of a bitter undertone to round out the flavor without being too assertive. There is a touch of acidity, along with a bit of a pepper spice note. The Emeril's Big Easy Bold is medium-bodied with a moderate-length finish led by roasted, earthy and smoke notes.

Timothy's (now part of Green Mountain Coffee) has a real winner on their hands with the Big Easy Bold. This has the biggest flavor of any K-Cup coffee I've tried to date. The Emeril's Big Easy Bold has a big, complex flavor with a really nice roast. This one will always be in my cupboard, and will spend a lot of time in my morning cup as well.

Green Mountain Coffee Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

In my home state of Rhode Island there can be as many as a half dozen donut shops within any given square mile. While I'm sure they sell their fair share of donuts, most of the donut shops make their real business selling coffee. Green Mountain Coffee's Donut House line aims to provide the same easy-drinking cup of joe that seems to be mainlined by so many caffeine addicts.

The Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup brews up deep brown in color with just the faintest trace of oil on top of the cup. The nose is nutty with a hint of smoke. On the palate there is a light roasted flavor with some smokiness. There is a nuttiness with flavors of walnuts and roasted peanuts. A faint caramel note sits in the background as well. The Donut House Extra Bold has a fairly light body with no bitterness of note. The finish is led by more nutty flavors, and hangs around just long enough before a fairly quick fade.

The GMC Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup is a bit more mellow than I like my coffee. Having said that, it's has some nice flavor for a light roast coffee. If you're the type who likes extra cream and sugar in your java, the Donut House Extra Bold  is a good choice. The flavor here will mesh well with the added sweetness while still holding up to milk/cream without getting watered down.

Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Dark Magic K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. True to its name, the Dark Magic brews up deep ebony in color with a light tan froth and a faint oily sheen on top. The nose detects deep roasted aromas, along with some nutty undertones.

On the palate there is a rich roasted, smoky flavor with notes of dark toast and roasted almonds. There is a fleeting bitterness reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate. The Dark Magic is medium bodied and quite smooth for such a dark roast. The finish has more roasted flavors and fades rather quickly.

The Green Mountain Dark Magic has a rich, roasted flavor that you expect from a dark roast coffee. What is unexpected is how smooth this coffee is. The Dark Magic is notably mild for such a dark roast. If you like your coffee flavorful without being bitter or overpowering, then the GMC Dark Magic is the coffee for you.

Green Mountain Coffee Espresso Blend K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Up next for review is the Espresso Blend K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Espresso Blend is a deep mahogany on color. Fresh off the brewer there is a nice mocha-colored "crema" and a very faint oily sheen on top of the cup. The nose picks up deep roasted aromas along with nuts and some spiciness.

On the palate there is a deep, rich, roasted flavor. The Espresso Blend has some pleasing mild bitter undertones and some oiliness that really fills out the full, almost chewy, mouthfeel. Nutty notes of hazelnuts and roasted almonds ate notable. There are also some hints of cinnamon and black pepper spice. The finish on the Green Mountain Espresso Blend may not be as long and full as a "true" espresso, but there are some great lingering roasted notes along with a nice bitter kick.

One of my biggest concerns when I decided to try out the K-Cup brewer was that without control of how much coffee goes into the brew it may not be as strong and rich as I like it. The GMC Espresso Blend K-Cup took that concern out back and put it out of its misery. This coffee has enough punch/flavor that I could happily make this my everyday coffee. But where I think this coffee really shines is as an after-dinner treat paired with a sweet dessert like a great dark chocolate. The Green Mountain Espresso blend is one coffee I will be sure to keep on hand at all times.

Green Mountain Coffee Double Black Diamond K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

We're starting off our coffee reviews with the Double Black Diamond K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Double Black Diamond brews up a deep brown color reminiscent of cola. Straight out of the brewer, there is a light white froth and a slight oily sheen on top. The nose detects roast peanuts and a faint smokiness.

On the palate there is some acidity that is on the light-to-moderate side, just enough to round out the flavor. Roasted notes as well as some nuttiness build with time. A mild bitter bite with some slight oiliness build up along with the roast. There are some nice earthy and smoky undertones that play a support role. The finish on the Double Black Diamond is a moderate length and has lingering roasted notes along with some smokiness.

We're starting off on the right foot with our coffee reviews here. As you'll soon see, I'm a big fan of dark roasted coffees with big flavor and the Double Black Diamond is right up my alley. The roasted flavors take center stage, with some nice supporting notes that really fill out the flavor.

Coffee Reviews Are Here!

Up to this point Critical Tastings has provided dozens of tastings on beer and dark chocolate, along with some wine, scotch and a few miscellaneous tidbits. As of today we are adding coffee to that list.

The impetus behind this is my recent acquisition of a Keurig K-Cup brewer. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the K-Cup system, these are individual sealed packs that contain a pre-measured amount of ground coffee as well as a filter. The brewer forces pressurized water through the K-Cup (not unlike the way an espresso machine works) and you have a cup of coffee in 2 minutes with no prep or cleanup. Aside from being pretty dang convenient, it makes it pretty easy to taste a whole sampling of coffees without having to buy a pound of each. So, while we won't be limiting the coffee reviews here strictly to K-Cups, there will be quite a few K-Cup tastings over the next few weeks.

Now, a few caveats in regards to our coffee reviews. First of all, I don't consider myself a high-end coffee connoisseur. I'll never pay 500 bucks for a pound of roasted civet excrement. I just happen to enjoy a flavorful cup of joe in the morning and/or after dinner. All coffees will be ground and brewed like I normally would for any other cup of coffee (K-Cups will be an 8 ounce brew unless stated otherwise). Another point of note is that my use of the word "bitter" in a review here does not generally connote a negative quality as it does in many other coffee reviews. As far as my palate is concerned, when in the proper balance, bitterness adds a flavor depth to coffee in much the same way as it does with a fine dark chocolate or hoppy IPA. I enjoy a coffee that has a nice bite to it and that will be notable in the tasting notes here.

So, without further ado, onto the reviews...

Newport Storm Cyclone Series "Neo" Cascade Pale Ale

Brewery: Coastal Extreme Brewing Co.
Location:Newport. RI
Style:Pale Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A

Up for review today is the "Neo" from Newport Storm's Cyclone series of limited release beers. The Neo is deep, ruddy-gold in color with a short, white, bubbly head. The nose has a notable citrus character with aromas of lemonade and grapefruit. Also present on the nose are some pretzel notes.

The Newport Storm Neo's flavor profile is juicy citrus over bready malt flavors. Bitter hops fades in with time. There is a slight sweetness that holds everything in balance. The bitter hops meshes nicely with the toasted pretzel character of the malt. There is plenty of the signature grapefruit citrus of Cascade hops here, but it doesn't overpower. The finish is fairly long with bitterness, citrus and wheat toast. The Neo has a medium body that holds up well to the big flavors here.

Newport Storm really does a good job with this one. The Neo highlights the Cascade hop character well without being overbearing. There is a nice balance here for a hoppy pale ale and the malt really holds up well to the citrus character of the Cascades.

Shipyard IPA

Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Co.
Location: Portland, ME
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

Up for review today is the Shipyard IPA, which is a British-style IPA brewed with Fuggles hops. The Shipyard IPA is deep gold in color with fine carbonation. It pours with an off-white, clumpy head and leaves a fair amount of lacing on the glass. The nose has citrus and grassy/herbal notes similar to a Fume Blanc, as well as notes of fresh bread.

The Shipyard IPA leads with herbal hops notes moving into bready malt and finally into a bit of "Eurolager" notes as the flavor develops. The flavor of salted pretzels is notable as well. There is a mild acidity leading to some juiciness. Hop resin notes lead to a moderate, balanced bitterness. There is an interesting savory character here as well. The finish is a slow fade of juiciness and pretzel malt along with herbal and bitter hops. The Shipyard IPA has a medium body as well as a crisp, almost tingly, carbonated fizz.

Shipyard has a really nice IPA on their hands here. The choice of Fuggles hops really sets this apart from the crowd of IPAs. The Shipyard IPA really has a unique and enjoyable flavor profile that makes this beer well worth checking out.

Lake Champlain African Blend 80% Cocoa Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Lake Champlain Chocolates
Cocoa Content: 80%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is a dark chocolate from Lake Champlain Chocolates. Their Select Origin African Blend contains cocoa from Tanzania, Ghana and Sao Thome. The African Blend dark chocolate bar is ebony in color with a hint of purple. The initial flavor is a bitter espresso. Acidity builds to a mild-moderate level with blackberry and cherry fruit notes. A wealth of complex flavors make their presence known ranging from peanuts to floral notes to plantains and even edamame.

Chewing the Lake Champlain African Blend bar opens up sweet fruit notes of banana and ripe kiwifruit. The finish has nuttiness, some herbal notes and faint black coffee. The African Blend is thick and creamy in texture, although there is some noticable grittiness.

The Lake Champlain African Blend is a well-balanced dark chocolate with some nice flavor complexity. While I did have some issues with the texture here, this is still a really good dark chocolate that is worth a try.

Pralus Ghana

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Up for tasting today is another selection from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques". Today's selection is a dark chocolate whose cocoa comes from the West African country of Ghana. The Pralus Ghana is deep ebony purple with ruby highlights. A pleasant bitter cocoa presents itself to the palate first. Powerful floral aromatic flavors show up next. The acidity level is on the mild-to-moderate side. Hazelnut and pomegranate flavors are here along with toasted notes and some roasted peanuts.

Chewing the Pralus Ghana dark chocolate releases more complex aromatic flavors including fresh cut grass, floral notes, tobacco and cherries. The finish has dark roast coffee along with some tobacco notes. The mouthfeel has a nice creaminess to it.

The Pralus Ghana is my favorite so far as I work through their "Pyramide des Tropiques" chocolate sampler. There is a nice bitter kick that is well-balanced with the other flavor characteristics. The flavor alternates between roasted notes and aromatics without ever clashing or producing an off-taste. The Pralus Ghana is a great, complex dark chocolate that I recommend highly.

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Brewery: Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Location: Chippewa Falls, WI
Style: Witbier
Brewery Website
Rating: B

Today's beer up for review is the Sunset Wheat from Leinenkugel. The Sunset Wheat is a hazy golden-amber in color with some large clumps of sediment visible in the glass and a short white head. The nose is loaded with sweet fruit. Aromas of blueberry, orange and honey are present with a faint wheaty malt note in the background.

On the palate, the Sunset Wheat leads with a distinctive sweet berry note. As the initial sweet fruit fades wheat malt becomes detectable along with a yeast note. The finish continues with fruity sweetness similar to "Fruit Loops" cereal, along with some wheat bread. The Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat has a light, crisp, fizzy body that is the perfect match to it's flavor.

The Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat is a perfect "beginner beer". This is an easy-drinking, straightforward beer. It is light and sweet (without being syrupy) with a nice fruity kick. This is a great choice for the wine cooler crowd, and a good choice for the more initiated of us when you want something on the lighter side.

Otter Creek Pale Ale

Brewery: Otter Creek Brewing
Location: Middlebury, VT
Style: Pale Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A

In my glass today we have the Otter Creek Pale Ale. This has long been one of my all-time favorite beers for the summertime, and it's long overdue for a critical tasting.

The Otter Creek Pale Ale is golden amber with a faint haziness. The head is pale tan in color and leaves a nice trail of lace behind it. The nose detects a citrusy hops note along with some pretzels and a slight sweetness.

On the palate there is a sweet, bready malt flavor up front. A bitter hops character builds slowly. There are some nice hops flavors of citrus and herbs. There is a bit of a mineral water character as well. The finish has bitter hops, some herbs and pretzel notes. The finish fades a little bit quicker than the typical hoppy pale ale. The Otter Creek Pale Ale has a crisp, medium body that is smooth, but holds up well to the hops.

The Otter Creek Pale Ale has the perfect balance for a summer session pale ale. There is a nice hoppy "oomph" here without being overpowering. The Otter Creek Pale Ale is flavorful, yet crisp and smooth at the same time. Along with the Smuttynose Pale Ale and the Long Trail Pale Ale, this is one of the best American Pale Ales coming out of New England right now. Highly recommended.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2010 Vintage

Please bear with me as the posts may be slow to roll for a while due to the birth of my son. Hope to get back up to speed here in the next few weeks.  -E

Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Location: Chico, CA
Style: Barleywine
Brewery Website
Rating: B+

On the tasting block today is Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot barleywine. I am tasting a bottle from this year's (2010) bottling. The Bigfoot pours a deep amber brown color with a thick, light-tan head. The nose has aromas of citrus, caramel, honey and oatmeal.

On the palate there is a distinct wininess along with a mild acidic note. The malt has a pretzel-like flavor. There is a notable bitter hops bite that is powerful without seeming out of balance. At 9.6% ABV, there is an obvious alcohol presence. Minor flavor notes of raisins, toast and mineral water sit in the background along with a slight residual sweetness. The finish has a lingering bitter hop bite. The Bigfoot has a full body without being too heavy.

I have been a big fan of Bigfoot since the first time I tried it. While every year's brewing has produced good results, some years are "A" quality right from day one. This year's brew seems to be a little rough around the edges to me. Notably, the bitter hops notes seem to clash a bit to me. I'm holding high hopes that the 2010 Bigfoot will age well (as most Bigfoot vintages do). I think there is some great promise for this one after a couple of years in the cellar smooths out the rough edges a bit. Good to drink now, but will likely be great to drink in 2-3 years.

Beer Fest!

The week has been Boston Beer Week, and it culminates with the American Craft Beer Fest this weekend. We have reviewed several of the beers that will be featured at the festival this weekend. For those who would like to compare notes, or would like some ideas on what beers to try this weekend, here are our reviews of those beers:

Clipper City:
Heavy Seas Below Decks Barleywine
Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Uber Pils

Dogfish Head:
World Wide Stout

Harpoon:
Leviathan Big Bohemian Pilsner

Left Hand Brewing Co:
Polestar Pilsner

Long Trail:
Double Bag
Pale Ale

Magic Hat:
Blind Faith

Otter Creek:
Stovepipe Porter

Sierra Nevada:
Pale Ale

Smuttynose:
IPA

Victory:
Hop Wallop

Weyerbacher:
Double Simcoe IPA

Magic Hat Blind Faith

Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

Along with their full time IPA, Lucky Kat, their current "IPA on Tour" is the Blind Faith, which is on the tasting block today. The Blind Faith is a hazy amber in color. It pours with a clumpy off-white head that fades rather quickly. The nose has notes of citrus, wheat toast and caramel.

On the palate the Blind Faith has an initial citrus and bitter hops rush that fades a bit to open up a cereal/bready malt note. There is a touch of caramel and sweetness present. The hops component has an herbal character along with pine and citrus in the background. The finish is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops along with a sweet malt note with oatmeal and caramel.

The Blind Faith is a really nice IPA. The malt holds up well to the hops without ever stealing the show. This has just the right balance of malt and hops for an IPA, and a nice mix of hops flavors. I'd love to see Magic Hat make this their year-round IPA.

Pralus Trinidad

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Up next is another tasting from Pralus's dark chocolate "Pyramide des Tropiques". Today we have the Pralus Trinidad up for review. The Trinidad is deep brown in color with merlot highlights. The first impression on the palate is a rich chocolate flavor with a noderate bitter kick. The flavors that open up are earthy with herbal and vegetal notes, similar to grilled asparagus. There is a hint of spice. A mild acidity is present that gives rise to some citrus and black cherry notes.

Chewing the Pralus Trinidad opens up more earthy notes along with some tobacco. There is a slight grittiness to the texture as the chocolate melts on the tongue. The finish is well-balanced with smoke, bitterness, slight acidity and herbal earthiness all present. The lingering herbal and bitterness do lend themselves to a slightly medicinal taste on the tail end.

Overall, the Pralus Trinidad has a good chocolate flavor. Like many other selections from the Pralus Pyramide, the taste profile of the Trinidad is very distinct. The Trinidad focuses on aromatics, herbs and earthy flavor notes to create a unique chocolate experience.

Michel Cluizel 1er Cru de Plantation Hacienda "Concepcion"

Manufacturer: Michel Cluizel
Cocoa Content: 66%
Location: Venezuela
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Our next review from Michel Cluizel's 1ier Cru de Plantation line is the "Concepcion" from Venezuela. The Concepcion bar is deep brown in color with faint purple hues. On the palate, the Concepcion has a nuttiness with peanut and walnut notes. There is a moderate acidity that brings out citrus, blackberry and dark cherries. Vanilla, roasted notes and "grilled" notes are also detectable.

Chewing the chocolate opens up notes of grilled vegetables, earthy/mushroom flavors and sweet lemonade citrus notes. The finish has a nuttiness along with a bitter note that combine to leave the impression of hazelnuts. The Concepcion's mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.

While the Concepcion didn't quite "wow" me the way the other chocolates from the 1er Cru de Plantation line have, this is still quite a tasty chocolate. Michel Cluizel's chocolates always seem to have just the right texture, along with balanced acidity and complex flavor. What more can you ask for?

E. Guittard Ambanja 65% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate

Manufacturer: Guittard Chocolate Company
Cocoa Content: 65%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Up for review today is the Ambanja dark chocolate from E. Guittard. The Ambanja is made from Criollo cocoa beans from the Sambirano Valley in Madagascar. The bar is rather light brown in color for a 65% cacao chocolate, along with some orange/red/yellow highlights. The Ambanja leads with a rich chocolate flavor on the palate that has notable, yet balanced, sweetness. Acidity slowly builds to a moderate level. Red fruit notes of pomegranate and cherry are present, along with a banana/plantain note. Some floral and herbal flavors are present as well.

Chewing the Ambanja opens up sweet aromatics of vanilla and caramel, along with some floral notes. The finish has cherries over a faint bitter note. The mouthfeel has some barely noticable grit, but is otherwise thick and creamy. While the Ambanja leaves a nice initial impression, I find that the floral notes clash a bit with the bitterness and acidity in a way that ends up leaving a bit of a medicinal aftertaste. A decent chocolate, but has some room for improvement.

Pralus Tanzanie

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is yet another dark chocolate from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques". As you can probably guess, the cocoa in the "Tanzanie" dark chocolate bar comes from Tanzania, which is located just south of Kenya on the east coast of Africa. The chocolate bar is dark mahogany in color with hints of orange and red. The initial flavor impression is a bitter note resembling black coffee or bitter, IPA-style hops. There is an acidity that builds and highlights orange and citrus notes along with tart berries.

Chewing the Tanzanie dark chocolate brings forward floral and herbal notes, along with cherries, tobacco and pepper. The finish is rather long with a bitter/tannin note resembling hop flowers, along with some fruit notes and a hint of spice. The texture of the Tanzanie has a bit of grittiness to it.

I really found the flavor of this bar to be quite interesting. The bitterness plays off the floral/herbal flavors as well as the citrus notes to give the impression of a hoppy India Pale Ale. Being a big fan of hoppy beer, I really enjoyed this flavor combo. The only thing keeping this chocolate bar from scoring higher was some texture issues. This chocolate is well worth searching out if you like both bitter beer and bitter chocolate.

Chimay Grande Réserve (aka Chimay Blue)

Brewery: Bières de Chimay S.A.
Location: Chimay, Belgium
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brewery Website
Rating: A+

Today's tasting is the legendary Chimay Blue. Chimay is widely regarded as the preeminent Trappist brewery in Belgium, and the Chimay Grand Réserve is their flagship offering.

The Chimay Blue is a hazy, deep reddish brown in color with some fine sediment. It pours a frothy, brownish-tan head bith big clumps of foam. The nose picks up some sweetness, with notes of port, sourdough bread, yeast, as well as earthy and mineral notes.

The Chimay Grand Réserve has a rich maltiness up front. There is not as much sweetness on the palate as the nose would have you believe. There are toasted notes, yeast, wine and some warming alcohol. There are distinct notes of wood and earth. The Chimay Blue has a faint acidity, and a slight note of black coffee bitterness. The finish is soft with woody and earthy notes along with toasted sourdough and a lingering winy warmth. The Chimay Blue has a medium body that stands up well to the complex flavor, and is surprisingly smooth for a beer brewed at 9% ABV.

The Chimay Grand Réserve is one beer that lives up to the hype. Perfectly balanced, and loaded with great flavor complexity, this is the pinnacle of Belgian beer. Buy two and stash one for aging, as a beer of this style and complexity will only improve as the years go by. One matter of note, with many of the complex flavors being quite soft, the Chimay Blue is particularly sensitive to the temperature it is served at. Anything more than a slight chill (45-50F) will kill off some of the softer notes. Give it ample time to warm up a bit if you had this in the fridge.

Long Trail Unfiltered IPA

Brewery: Long Trail Brewing Co.
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is the Unfiltered IPA from Long Trail. The Unfiltered IPA is hazy golden yellow in color with some clumpy sediment. The head is white and bubbly and pours rather short in height. On the nose there are notes of citrus and yeast as well as a "Eurolager" note.

On the palate, the Long Trail Unfiltered IPA has a wheaty maltiness with some yeast. There are citrus and pine hops notes present, as well as a touch of sweetness. There is a bitter hops undertone that builds slowly, as well as some warming alcohol. The finish is wheaty malt with some bitter and citrus hops. The Long Trail Unfiltered IPA is medium bodied with a crisp, juicy mouthfeel.

As I've mentioned before, I don't think going the unfiltered route really lends itself well to an IPA. While this is an enjoyable beer, it drinks more like a hoppy hefeweizen than an IPA. The yeast and malt flavors tend to lead more than the hops here, and that just doesn't say IPA to me.

Victory Hop Wallop

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-

Today's beer review is the Hop Wallop from Victory. As we've seen before with their Prima Pils and their Hop Devil Ale, Victory has a great track record with my favorite green flower. The Hop Wallop, as the name suggests, is a highly hopped ale that is not to be taken lightly.

The Hop Wallop is a hazy golden yellow in color. It pours a short, white, bubbly head. The nose is loaded with hoppy aromas of grapefruit/citrus along with pine. There is also a faint wheat aroma notable.

On the palate, the Hop Wallop wallops you with hops. (Yes, that was cheesy.) There is a bitter resinous hop punch. Citrus and pine notes are present in spades along with a bit of a mineral note. Some warming alcohol is here as well, which is expected at 8.5% ABV. The finish has clinging, bitter hops with citrus and mineral notes. The Hop Wallop is medium bodied with clinging tannic hop resin.

The Hop Wallop is another winner from Victory. This is a potent hoppy brew with plenty of flavor to support the strong bitter kick. While the alcohol level is high enough to keep this a sipping brew, it smooths things out nicely and provides a solid background that can hold up to the hops. Victory knows hops, and their Hop Wallop is a must-try for fans of bitter hoppy brews.