Beer Diary #9 - Mike

My first thought when looking at my notes was "well these were boring." If you've got any experience with any of beers covered, let me know - I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts are.

6 March 08 Location: World Class Beverages

These are beers we sampled for beer school - they probably should have made it into that post but... they didn't.

Paulaner Salvator Dopplebock - Apple cider appearance, apple juice nose, middle of tongue tastes with caramel, malt, a hint of cooked corn, and the reappearance of apple on the back end.

EKU 28 - Apple characteristics again. Bubbly and yellow, lots of lacing, sweetness on front, strong caramel flavors balance w/ alcohol notes. Crawls up the throat and out the out. More punch than the Paulaner.

Harpoon Hibernian Irish Red - Red/Copper color, lacing around the edges. Flat front, works the back and sides of the tongue, easy drinking.

Bellhaven Scottish Ale - Light woody color, lacing. No nose. Earthy flavors, lively on the tongue, easy to drink, extremely balanced with a slight bitter aftertaste.

Orkney Skull Splitter - Strong scotch ale - dark tea color, alcohol comes out the more you drink, smooth and easy, hint of fruit on front.

29 March 08 Location: Chatham Tap - Post a painful Fulham Tie

Leinenkugel Creamy Dark - This is the first Leinenkugel beer I've ever drank. After reading a review in Beer Advocate that stated something about "always being pleasantly surprised" by the brewery, I thought I'd give it a shot.

Looks-wise the title is fitting - creamy, dark and coke-colored, with a thin oily head. A sweet sulfury nose leads to a hit of sweetness on the front and a burnt pretzel middle. I gave Jason a sample and I think he agreed that pretzel was the overwhelming characteristic. A little chewy. Not bad. But I wouldn't be in a hurry to try it again.

7 March 08 Location: Home

Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock - Cherry coke color with a dead head. Nose of grape bubbelgum. Middleweight mouthfeel with a hint of bubbly grape taste. This might make a nice soda. Alcohol presence was non-existent. Highly drinkable. Pretty forgettable.