Anchor - Bock Beer

First brewed in 2005.  Bock beer, released in celebration of the arrival of spring, is an ancient and mysterious part of the brewing tradition. Over time, the term "bock" has come to mean a beer darker and stronger than the brewery’s regular brew.  San Francisco’s Anchor Bock Beer is virtually handmade by the brewers of Anchor Steam® Beer, in one of the most traditional small breweries in the world.  It is brewed from a complex blend of the finest barley malts, wheat malts, and fresh, whole hops.

The ABV is 5.5 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Bock

Glass to use- Flute, Pilsener Glass, Mug or Stein
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a very dark ruby color with a big tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malts and chocolate. 
Taste -  Some sweetness from the malts, some hops, chocolate and a slightly hoppy aftertaste.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and a medium body.
Drinkable - A good session beer, drinkable.  have it with some wurst.  I would call this an American Bock.

This beer may pair well with cheese and meats.  German food like a wurst.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =92

Lost Abbey - Red Poppy Ale

Perhaps no country embraces the use of fruit in beers more so than Belgium. Numerous traditional as well as regional specialty ales are infused with every sort of fruit imaginable. In this way, the flavor of the fruit becomes especially prominent. Red Poppy Ale is a veritable celebration of Sour Cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in oak barrels for over 6 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart. The Golden Poppy is the state flower of California and the Red Poppy is found in Flanders Fields where the inspiration for this beer comes from.

I first had this at the 2011 Extreme Beer Event in Boston, then was able to find a few bottles locally. 

The ABV is 5.0 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Flanders Oud Bruin / Sour Ale

Glass to use- Flute, Snifter or Tulip
Delivery - 375ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a big tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Cherries and oak tannins. 
Taste -  Sour, tart, sweet and hint of vanilla from the oak.
Mouth Feel - Medium to full carbonation.  A fuzzy finish.
Drinkable - Nice noise, extremly sour with a tart finish.Needs to age a bit before I try another.

This beer may pair well with cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating =100

Flying Dog - Horn Dog Vintage 2008

By far the biggest dog in the yard... Horn Dog Barley Wine is a dark and malty English-style Barely Wine that is aged for a minimum of three months before being packaged. Like a fine wine, this beer will only get better with age when stored at optimum conditions.

I had been searching for the regular Horn Dog in the 12oz bottle.  I found the special Vintage version in a 7oz bottle at my Craft Beer Outlet store.   

The ABV is 10.2 and the IBU rating is 45

Style - English Barleywine

Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 7oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a small tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, raisins, sweet.  Very pleasant.
Taste -  Not as sweet, a bit metallic, some hops.
Mouth Feel - No carbonation.  Full body.
Drinkable - Pretty good, however the aroma is better than the taste.  Maybe my taste buds were off today.  Will tray again in a few months

This beer may pair well with cheese and deserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 93

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Traquair - House Ale

Mainly available filtered in bottles, though part of the production goes unfiltered into cask.
The traditional brewing process used in the production of Traquair House Ale consists of the following; 1. Traditional infusion mashing process. The wort is then drawn off and boiled during which process the hops are added. 2. The wort is now cooled and pitched with top fermenting yeast under controlled temperature. It is then fermented in oak over a period of seven days. The beer is then transferred into cold storage tanks or barrels and matured over a period of weeks. After maturation the beer is filtered prior to packing.

I found a case of this brew but passed on it because I had not had a chance to sample.  I finally had a bottle at Monk's.  If I can relocate the case I will purchase it, if the price is right.

The ABV is 7.2 and the IBU rating is ??

Style -Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy

Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter or Tulip
Delivery - 330ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a small tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, dark fruit, maybe bourbon and a hint of oak
Taste -  I get caramel, some chocolate, toffee, hint of raisins and vanilla, a trace of sherry.
Mouth Feel - Low carbonation.  Full body.
Drinkable - Pretty good, needs to be aged a bit longer.  Not sure the age on this one but the bottle looked new, my guess was 2010.

This beer may pair well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating = 97

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Lost Abbey - The Angel's Share - Bourbon Barrel-Aged

Down in Kentucky and across the pond in Scotland, distillers who age their whiskeys for many years refer to the evaporation of the spirits from their barrels as “The Angel’s Share.” Each time a barrel is filled, a measure of liquid seeps into the oak and is lost for good.  This striking Strong Ale is brewed with copious amounts of Caramel malt to emphasize the vanilla and oak flavors found in freshly emptied bourbon or brandy barrels. The beer spends a year in oak before it is packaged for release. The beer is 12.5% ABV and is available in 375ml and 750ml bottles and on draft at inspired locations.

2010 ABV: 12.5%, 375 ml
2009 ABV: 11.5%, 375 ml
2008 ABV: 12.5%, gold lettering, 750ml and 375ml, with 2008 on label
2007 ABV: 11.5%, gold lettering, 750ml only
2006 ABV: 10.5%, black lettering, 750ml only

I had been searching for this brew for a while.  I found it in several location with prices ranging from $30 to $50 per bottle.  A lass I found it for $25 at the Iron Abbey.  I had heard so much about this brew that I was gearing up to be disappointed due that it may all be a bunch of hype. Well I was not displeased, though it is a strange beer. 

The ABV is 12.5 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - American Strong Ale

Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter or Mug
Delivery 375ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a chocolate brown color with a small head. Little lacing.
Aroma - Strong oaky and vanilla, very sherry like.
Taste -  Sweet, malty and vanilla. After it warmed up for 15 minutes or so, I got a sweet chocolate after taste. And actually it keeps changing throughout the session, I get bourbon some maple, caramel, toffee and molasses.
Mouth Feel - No carbonation but it was not flat.  Full body.
Drinkable - A strange tasting beer but in a good way.  It did take time to get use to.  Very close to a sherry,  I like it. 

This beer may pair well with cheese and deserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A
Ratebeer Rating = 100

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Huisbrouwerij Sint Canarus - Potteloereke

The tiny village of Gottem is just south of the small East Flanders town of Deinze, thereby making it downtown. But the house brewery of Sint Canarus is not exactly situated in a bustling, urban setting. Far from it. This is in fact a small craft brewery serving a small, rural community. And with a bit of a quirky streak, brought to you by the brewmaster mister Piet Meirhaeghe - also known as Dr. Canarus. The brewery & brewmaster get their name from a local drinking club, called "Semper Canarus." Translation: always drunk. Indeed, the good doctor is known to host group lectures at the brewery on the subject of the positive health benefits of alcohol. We understand them to be quite informative. Medical expertise aside, Dr. Canarus has also crafted some first rate beers. This one is a Belgian Dark Ale, showing a dark mahogany color, off-white head, and aromas of ripe fruit and roasted malt. Quite effervescent, on the palate this is full of supple dark fruit, plum, raisin, scorched sugar and burnt toast. Dessert with a kick. 8% abv

Had this at Monk's

The ABV is 8.0 and the IBU rating is ??

Style - Belgium Dark Ale

Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet or Chalice
Delivery 330ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark amber color with a big tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Malty and piny.  After it warmed up a bit I got a candy aroma.
Taste -  Thick molasses and dark fruits, wine like, kind of like a sherry.
Mouth Feel - Over carbonated.  After it warmed up a bit the carbonation settled down.
Drinkable - Very tasty. 

This beer may pair well with cheese and meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 91

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