Brew52

bad batch bureau

flashmcduff — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:53:34 +0000

I like scotch ales.

I don’t like buying a six-pack of rancid scotch ale that tastes like someone barfed lemons into a Mr. Beer.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 19.

This is the way it’s supposed to taste?! I like it.

Eric — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:10:18 +0000

I suppose I should preface this review with the statement that I don’t much care for scotch ales or beers with any smoke, be it peat or malt. In fact I almost passed this week’s review up so that I wouldn’t have to drink a smoked scotch ale.

I’m glad I didn’t.

This Scotch Ale may be my re-introduction to both styles. Or maybe it’s the combination of the two that did it for me. I can’t say I’d rush out and buy a sixer of it, but I was certainly surprised at my appreciation of this brew. Sure, it was a little sweet and malty, a little smoky, lacked the hop backbone (and frontbone) I prefer. But it wasn’t repulsive to my palate–to the contrary–as many representatives of the styles are.

*Edit*

I just read some of the other posts, alluding to a bad batch, which is maybe why I liked this smoked Scotch Ale that didn’t really take like a smoked Scotch Ale. It does have a funky sorta bandaid taste, typical of some wild beers and apparently smoked Scotch Ales.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 19.

Crap

Josh — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:45:17 +0000

I really like the Sam Adams Scotch Ale so I was expecting to enjoy the Brau Brothers version as well. This beer tasted nothing like I was expecting. It is very tart and fruity and I have a hard time tasting any smoky malt. As some people complained about the previous Brau Brothers beer I think it’s possible I got a bad batch. I have a sixer so I’ll update this post if the others are better. I’m starting to really dislike Brau Brothers beers.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 19.

Malt-tissimo

Rett — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:27:14 +0000

Very much malt. I don’t have a good bench mark for what a scotch ale should taste like, but I’d guess this is pretty accurate. I think it’s the peat-smoked malt they mention on the label that’s giving me the smoky taste. I was pretty disgusted to find peat-smoked malt described as “medicinal/bandaid-like” when I googled it. Yuck, if I ever taste bandaid in my beer I promise that I’ll dump it down the drain. On second thought maybe this is a good beer to have out when playing softball to pour on someone’s fresh scrape. When they start screaming at you, you’d reply “What?! It contains peat-smoked malt which is medicinal/bandaid like!!”

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 19.

If you like coffee stout, this is coffee stout.

selah — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:24:47 +0000

Perfect on those occasions when you want to get drunk and wired at the same time and don’t want to fuss with two mugs. A volatile blend of caffeine and alcohol make this a welcome alternative to vodka Red Bulls in the bipolar beverage department.I for one think coffee and stout marry quite nicely, but if you’re not a fan of stout to begin with, I don’t suspect the coffee variation is going to win you over.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 18.

Good coffee, good beer, everybody wins.

ryan — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:29:03 +0000

I like good coffee, I like good beer. No surprise that I like this combination. Roasty, earthy… notes of chocolate, a hint of smoke. Very nice. Flat Earth did something that no one else has done with their coffee beer, as far as I can tell. Paradise Roasters pulled a ton of coffee through a Clover machine, a labor-intensive job, to say the least. If you haven’t had coffee made in a Clover, I implore you to visit Kopplin’s in St. Paul. In any case, the coffee comes through quite nicely… not bitter or acrid, just lovely. Yum.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 18.

Way too expensive!

5igmund — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:47:47 +0000

One of the better brews from Lake Superior. Nice hints of coffee while not being overpowering. Not much head out of the bottle that I would like to see from an oatmeal stout. Since I am reviewing the total beer package at almost $10.00 a 6 pack I would expect this to knock my socks off. There are much better local beers out there at a better price point.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 17.

Mmmmm…… cold coffee, mixed with beer.

Erin — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:57:04 +0000

OK, I know I didn’t technically drink an entire pint of this, but I can still make a judgment off of the 2 sips I stole from Becky. Yuck. I could barely choke down the 2 sips I had. It was like an explosion of different flavors in my mouth, and not in a good way. I will not be having this ever again.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 18.

helicopters make me think of Rambo

flashmcduff — Sat, 03 May 2008 03:08:31 +0000

Well, the meetup turned out to be a definite fail on my part. We were there but didn’t really interact due to our clandestine location. We walked in and snagged the only open table in the joint. You’d think that would be great…and it was. Not having to stand is nice. However, we did end up around the corner from any and all action happening aside from Big Buck Hunter 2006. *see diagram*

The plus side was far greater than the lonely table. This was the best smelling beer I’ve ever had. Black Helicopter smells like coffee - no surprise there - and good coffee at that. Not burnt coffee or like Sanka. It smells more like a cold press. The flavor is stout but doesn’t hang around long, making it pretty drinkable. Unfortunately coffee stouts seem to create some sort of negative reaction in my body. I enjoy both coffee and beer and I’m theorizing that the two of them battle for my beverage love and it leaves me unable to consume more than one in a sitting. The same phenomenon happened at last year’s Gnome Fest, I just found out after the fact…while I was biking. I digress. Kudos to Flat Earth for coming out with good new brews and thanks to the Ugly Mug for hosting - and giving me a super cheap happy hour.

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 18.

Where’s the Helicopter?

Aaron — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:39:26 +0000

Black Helicopter is a darker stout that’s mixed with a bit of coffee. At first glance the pints looked and smelled almost as if they were filled with coffee. Little to no head on this beer and we joked that we could get away with this at the office if we put it in a mug. It’s about one part coffee for every twenty-five parts beer but honestly, it tastes like it’s closer to one to one. The coffee comes through loud and clear but it’s not too overpowering. It’s a smooth beer but has what I’m starting to call the “Flat Earth Flat,” the tenancy for Flat Earth beers to taste like they have little to almost no carbonation. It’s tasty though — and I don’t generally drink coffee. A very drinkable beer overall and I went through three pints without really even noticing it. Well, I noticed it a lot when I was done.

We also took the opportunity to take photos with Flat Earth brewmaster Jeff Williamson who’s a very personable and nice guy.

I’d like to have another pint of this soon.

Cross-posted on s4xton.com

See all Brew52 reviews filed under Week 18.

Brew52

bad batch bureau

This is the way it’s supposed to taste?! I like it.

Crap

Malt-tissimo

If you like coffee stout, this is coffee stout.

Good coffee, good beer, everybody wins.

*Way* too expensive!

Mmmmm…… cold coffee, mixed with beer.

helicopters make me think of Rambo

Where’s the Helicopter?

Way too expensive!