Dogfish Head - Old School (2008)

Inspired by a tale of a cask doctor who brought sluggish ales back to life by suspending a fig in them. Brewed from 100% Maris Otter pale ale malt, a blend of fine hops and conditioned on dates and figs. User Instructions: open bottle, pour contents into two snifters. Enjoy. ALTERNATIVELY: Walk hand-in-neck with bottle into the middle of the woods. Use shovel to dig 2x2 hole three feet deep. Seal bottle in plastic bag. Place in hole and pack with dirt. Memorize location and leave. Return exactly one year later. Dig up bottle, open and enjoy.

Purchased this vintage brew at Capones. 
The ABV is 15.0 and the IBU rating is 85
Style - English Barleywine
Glass to use- Pint Glass or Snifter
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Dark amber (copper) in color, a tan head that sticks around awhile. Good lacing.
Aroma - Boozy, malty, dark fruits and figs and dates.
Taste - Sweet, malty, dark fruits, and has a strong boozy after taste.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body, smooth and creamy with an after burn from the alcohol which mellows after it warms up.
Drinkable - At three years old, it's just a tad better than a fresh OSBW.  Needs to age for another fives years to reach it's full potential.

This beer pairs very with cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A+
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =98

Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout (2008)

Dark, rich, roasty and complex, World Wide Stout has more in common with a fine port than a can of cheap, mass-marketed beer. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley. Have one with (or as!) dessert tonight.

2001 - (18%) displays the unaltered words "Vim and Vigor" on the label and with gold cap.

2002 - (23%) "Vim and Vigor" is crossed out with gold cap.

2003 - (18.8%). No "Vim and Vigor" present, gold cap.

2004 - (20%) Bright yellow cap, no date stamp.

2005 - Bright yellow cap, date stamp

2006 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2007 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2008 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2009 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
2010 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
 

World Wide Stout is one of the world’s strongest dark beers. It is brewed using six different yeast strains over seven months and then aged for half a year. World Wide Stout  is released in early winter with very limited availability.

I purchased this bottle at Capones in Norristown.

This post is for the Nov 2008 vintage.  Look in this blog for the 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2009 vintage.

The ABV is 20.0 and the IBU rating is 70
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Dark brown in color and a small dark tan head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - Molasses, plum and raisins, toffee and chocolate. 
Taste - Sweet, coffee, chocolate, boozy, just a hint of dark fruits after it warms up to room temperature, some vanilla.
Mouth Feel - Light/medium carbonation, full body. Smooth finish.
Drinkable - Another great aged WWS. At just three years of aging, still young but taste great.

This beer pairs very with cheese and desserts.  But enjoy it as an after dinner drink if you can find an old bottle.

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

Iron Hill - Wee Heavy

Strong Scotch ale, distinct malty sweet and fruity aroma and flavor complemented by a background slight smokey flavor from the use of peated malt.

2008 GABF Gold Medal
1998, 2001 GABF Bronze Medals
2004 World Beer Cup Gold Medal

Had this as an after dinner drink at a friends house.

The ABV is 8.3 and the IBU rating is 35
Style - Wee Heavy
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter, Tumbler, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery - 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head and some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, sweet and some spices.
Taste - Malty, earthy - peaty and caramel.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and full body. 
Drinkable - Very nice, not a true wee heavy in my opinion.  It's like a earthy winter warmer.  But I still enjoyed it.

This beer pairs well with cheese and smoked meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =96

Dogfish Head - Pangaea 2009

Brewed with ingredients from each and every continent, this is slightly spicy ale, with a mouthful of rich flavors. Pangaea is a great food beer.

List of worldly ingredients includes:

• Crystallized ginger from Australia
• Water from Antarctica
• Basmati rice from Asia
• Muscavado sugar from Africa
• South American quinoa
• European yeast
• North American maize.

Pangaea is released annually in the fall and is bottled in 750ml bottles. I purchased two bottles of this 2009 vintage at the Rehoboth Beach brewpub.  Shared it with a couple friends on a very hot summer night just before dinner.

The ABV is 7.0 and the IBU rating is 28
Style - Belgium Strong Pale Ale
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a orange/amber color with a tan head and good lacing.
Aroma - White grapes, coriander, pepper and lots of ginger.
Taste - Malty, ginger and sweet.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body with a dry finish.
Drinkable - Nice brew, aging two years had helped bring out the spices just a bit.  I will hold on to the second bottle a few more years.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =86

Breckenridge - Vanilla Porter

Who would have thought deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and Madagascar grew the perfect ingredient to build an extraordinary Porter in Colorado? An ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure, real vanilla bean. Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter. A vanilla kiss in a rich, dark sea..

The ABV is 4.7 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Porter
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Stein
Delivery- 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head and some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, vanilla, other spices and fruit.
Taste - Sweet, tangy, vanilla, coffee, and some chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. Creamy and coats the mouth.
Drinkable - Different. A strange combination, not sure if I would have another.  But try it yourself.

This beer pairs well with cheese and smoked meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B-
Ratebeer Rating =74

Dogfish Head - Black and Red

Black & Red is a velvety smooth dry-minted stout with a serious fruit problem! The huge portion of heavily roasted grains brings a dry, chocolaty character which contrasts its sweet fruity full body. As you tilt your glass, you'll notice that the black color you are perceiving is actually a very deep reddish hue and the rich creamy foam has a tinge of pink to it. Black & Red starts off roasted and warming with a robust mintiness from 100lbs of organic mint (Washington’s Green Grocer) added to the secondary fermentation and finishes out sweet and smooth.

This is only available on draft at the Rehoboth Beach brewpub and was tapped in April 2011.

Update; had this at the Iron Abbey in August of 2011.  They had it listed as Red and Brown, but it was the Black and Red.  This batch was way sweeter which made it harder to drink.  

The ABV is 10.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Double / Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Snifter, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery Draft

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

The Pour - Pours a dark ruby color with a dark tan head and good lacing.
Aroma - Mint, sweet and malty.
Taste - Dark cherry, dark chocolate, malty, sweet and sour.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. 
Drinkable - Phenomenal, very different.  This is an experimental brew and probable will not be recreated.  I had this at the DFH brewpub in Rehoboth Beach, DE where they test out new brews.  Folks at the bar speculated that this might be part of the 120 Minute batches that went bad last year.  I agree.

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =53

Ithaca - Nut Brown Ale

The rich mahogany hue of the Nut Brown is the first thing you will notice about this complex, malty brew. A delicate blend of chocolate malt, caramel malt, and four other malts brings to this beer a chocolatey sweetness, and hints of coffee. The malt character is subtly balanced with Northdown and Fuggles hops.

The ABV is 5.4 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - English Brown Ale
Glass to use - Pint Glass, Tumbler, Mug or Steins
Delivery - 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Pours a brown color with a tan head and little lacing.
Aroma - Malty, some coffee and chocolate.
Taste - Tangy almost sour like, sweet fruity-tart, some coffee and chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. 
Drinkable - Interesting taste, not sure if the tartness is normal.  Maybe it was from aging the beer for a year.

This beer pairs well with cheese and grilled meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of C+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =67

J.W. Lees - Harvest Ale 2007

Available filtered and pasteurized in 275ml dark glass bottles. Has appeared occasionally in cask.
This fully fermented strong ale has been brewed by J.W. Lees as a celebration of the brewers art since 1985. Harvest Ale can be enjoyed now or laid down like a vintage wine for enjoyment in years to come.

This blog is for the 2007 release which I found at the Foodery.  In 2010 and 2011 I had the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2006 all on different dates of course.  Sadly I have no blogs for the 1997, 1998 or 2001 vintages.

The 2007 is still a young ale and needs to age at least another 5 years.

The ABV is 11.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - English Barleywine
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 275ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a cloudy brown color with a small tan head. Little lacing and a clear coat on the glass.
Aroma - Malty, dark fruit, some dark chocolate.
Taste -  Dark fruits like plums and raisins. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, full body, very smooth some burn from the alcohol.
Drinkable - Drinkable but needs to age, it's very young.  Given that it is a good brew, and a sipper.  

This beer pairs well with cheese and desserts but just enjoy it without food.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A
Ratebeer Rating = 99

Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout (2002)

Dark, rich, roasty and complex, World Wide Stout has more in common with a fine port than a can of cheap, mass-marketed beer. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley. Have one with (or as!) dessert tonight.

2001 - (18%) displays the unaltered words "Vim and Vigor" on the label and with gold cap.

2002 - (23%) "Vim and Vigor" is crossed out with gold cap.

2003 - (18.8%). No "Vim and Vigor" present, gold cap.

2004 - (20%) Bright yellow cap, no date stamp.

2005 - Bright yellow cap, date stamp

2006 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2007 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2008 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2009 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
2010 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

World Wide Stout is one of the world’s strongest dark beers. It is brewed using six different yeast strains over seven months and then aged for half a year. World Wide Stout  is released in early winter with very limited availability.

I purchased this bottle for a fund raiser at the Monk's Cafe.

This post is for the Oct 2002 vintage.  Look in this blog for the 2001, 2004 and 2009 vintage.

The ABV is 23.0 (26.0) and the IBU rating is 70
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Black pure dark in color and no head (maybe a bit).  Clear coat lacing (a good sign).
Aroma - WOW! Dark cherries, apples, plums, very sweet and some vanilla. 
Taste - Explosion of flavor, sweet, tart cherries, molasses,toffee and vanilla.
Mouth Feel - Light to no carbonation, full body. sticky with a nice warm alcohol burn.
Drinkable - What can I say, this is the best aged beer I have ever had, maybe not quite as good as the 1994 Thomas Hardy's Ale.  Different fruit notes indeed.  This is a big time sipper, at an estimate 26% alcohol.  I purchased two bottles of this 2002 vintage, I'm contemplating how long to hold onto the second bottle.

This beer pairs very with cheese and desserts.  But enjoy it as an after dinner drink if you can find bottle at this age.

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

Dogfish Head - World Wide Stout (2001)

Dark, rich, roasty and complex, World Wide Stout has more in common with a fine port than a can of cheap, mass-marketed beer. Brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley. Have one with (or as!) dessert tonight.

2001 - (18%) displays the unaltered words "Vim and Vigor" on the label and with gold cap.

2002 - (23%) "Vim and Vigor" is crossed out with gold cap.

2003 - (18.8%). No "Vim and Vigor" present, gold cap.

2004 - (20%) Bright yellow cap, no date stamp.

2005 - Bright yellow cap, date stamp

2006 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2007 - Dark green cap, date stamp

2008 - Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

2009 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp
2010 - (18%) Yellowish-green cap, date stamp

World Wide Stout is one of the world’s strongest dark beers. It is brewed using six different yeast strains over seven months and then aged for half a year. World Wide Stout  is released in early winter with very limited availability.

I purchased this bottle at a fund raiser at the Monk's Cafe.

This post is for the Nov 2001 vintage.  Look in this blog for the 2002, 2004 and 2009 vintage.

The ABV is 18.0 (21.0) and the IBU rating is 70
Style - Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

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

The Pour - Black pure dark in color and a small dark tan head which vanishes after a few minutes.  Great lacing.
Aroma - Strong dark fruity mostly plum and raisins, molasses and toffee with a lingering hint of apples. 
Taste - Lushness, lost of chocolate influence, dark fruit, molasses some vanilla.
Mouth Feel - Very very smooth, light carbonation, medium body. A little chalky.
Drinkable - Very drinkable. I cannot sense the alcohol but it's in there! Reminds me of an aged Port.  I purchased two bottles of this 2001 vintage, not sure when I will open the second bottle.

This beer pairs very with cheese and desserts.  But enjoy it as an after dinner drink if you can find an old bottle.

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

Unibroue - La Fin Du Monde (2010)

Bottle conditioned.
La Fin Du Monde - The end of the world. The excellence of triple fermentation through a blend of special yeasts gives this malt beverage an exquisitely robust flavor of exceptional refinement.

Updated Feb 2013

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 19
Style - Triple
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for 3 to 5 years, under the proper condition.  Best at three years.

The Pour - A cloudy straw color with creamy white head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - A very distinct smell including fruit like apples and banana, and hints spice.
Taste - Sweet, malty, some spices and fruity.
Mouth Feel - High carbonation and full body, smooth but fuzzy with a dry finish.
Overall - Like the other brews from Unibroue this has a distinctive and complex taste due to it's unique yeast. Has a nice warm finish, I need to age a few for a few years.  This bottle was a year old.

Update - Opened my last bottle in 2013 (aged 3 years).  The carbination has dropped, no fuzzy mouth-feel.  Very pleasant and smooth.  Still has the apple aroma and taste with the hint of spices.  I really like how this brew aged!  I have two more from the sample case; Trois Pistoles (Strong Dark) and Don-De-Dieu Tripel Wheat which I will review very soon.   Cheers!

Goes good with seafood dishes and blue cheese.  I had it with a home made salad with sharp cheese and dried fruit.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =A
Ratebeer Rating =99

Sly Fox - Saison VOS

A Belgian style Saison (or Farmhouse Ale) brewed with German Pils malt and hopped with East Kent Goldings. Fermented with a special proprietary yeast which imparts its dry, spicy character. Golden orange in color.
This review was done the summer of 2011 after I purchased a mixed case of Sly Fox's 750ml beers (Incubus, Ichor, Saison VOS and Raspberry Reserve)

The ABV is 6.9 and the IBU rating is 32
Style - Saison / Farmhouse Ale
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Tulip or Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml bottle.

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

The Pour - Pours a straw/orange color with a big white head.  Good lacing.
Aroma - Fruity - banana & lemon, hoppy, spices and bready.
Taste - Hoppy, grassy, some spices - coriander and fruits.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, lite/medium body. Crisp with a dry finish.
Drinkable - A refreshing brew, good on a hot day.  Could be a session beer, should be enjoyed with food.

This beer pairs with white meat, Asian cuisine and cheeses.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-
BeerAdvocate Rating = A-
Ratebeer Rating = 95

Ommegang - Abbey Ale

Ommegang Abbey Ale was inspired by the centuries-old brewing practices of the Belgian Trappist monks. This burgundian brew gives off a variety of aromas, including plum and cinnamon, and packs in flavors such as caramel, toffee, and licorice. At 8.5% abv, it is known to cause spontaneous meditation.

The ABV is 8.5 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Dubbel
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 750ml Bottle

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head that hangs around. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel, dark fruits, spices.
Taste - Sweet, malty, caramel, spices like clove, licorice and slightly hoppy. 
Mouth Feel - Full body, high carbonation.
Drinkable - Not the best dubbel I've had but still a good one.  Too much carbonation for my taste.  I purchased this in Fall of 2010.  Aging another year or two will help in that department.

Try this with savory dishes, meats, slow-cooked French dishes made with pork, lamb, rabbit, beef, carbonnades, hotchpot, marinated roasts, barbeque, rich cheeses, almost every dessert.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A-
Ratebeer Rating = 99

21st Amendment - Monk's Blood

Monk’s Blood pays homage to the monks of Belgium’s monasteries who have been brewing some of the world’s great beer for centuries. During times of fasting, the monks subsist solely on beer, which they refer to as “liquid bread”. Beer, quite literally, is in their blood. The most sublime of the monk’s premium brews is dark like blood, rich and nourishing. 21st Amendment founders Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan traveled to Belgium to develop the recipe for this special beer, visiting small, traditional breweries in the hop fields of west Flanders, not far from the famous Trappist abbey of Westvleteren. Monk’s Blood is designed to pair beautifully with rich winter stews, creamy cheeses, unctuous desserts or just by itself, in a Belgian tulip glass, with a good book by the fire.

Had this at the Grey Lodge in Northeast Philly.

The ABV is 8.3 and the IBU rating is 34
Style - Belgium Strong Dark
Glass to use- Snifter, Tulip, Goblet, Chalice, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Can

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

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malty, caramel, sweet, molasses and dark fruit.
Taste - Tangy, malty, dark fruit - (plum and raisin) and caramel. 
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - A great brew, my first Belgium in a can!  I was not disappointed.

Try this with your favorite BBQ or any grilled meat and goes well with pungent or sharp cheeses.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 96