Brew52 » sweet

the jig is up

Rett — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:40:58 +0000

I tried Schell’s Stout while over at Josh’s on Saturday night. It was important to me that I drink a thicker man beer as we were being coaxed into watching Baby Mama with our ladies. Actually I had wanted to see that a bit myself, mainly because Tina Fey is awesome, and hot. Anyway, the beer was really good, very sweet and chocolatey, which now as I’m typing I’m realizing means that it is probably not very manly at all. But at least it’s dark. Ok, I guess the jig is up, I like girl movies and sweet chocolate beers.

OMG, My New Favorite Beer!

Erica — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:59:09 +0000

I loved this one instantly. Nice and creamy and sweet, which are features I enjoy in a beer, but I generally prefer the dark variety, like oatmeal stouts and milkshake stouts. This one captures those flavors well, but is so much lighter! Nice smooth finish. I was literally gulping it.

Sweet, Boozy Relief, …just in time.

al — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:20:22 +0000

Into my Flat Earth snifter you go, Winter Warlock….the name and occasion is apt, as I thought last week, when we spent time in summery sun and basked in 60-degree weather, and the melting snow slipped out the sins of winter, that spring was finally here, at last. I was the fool, and the magician who rules the weather made a mockery of my delight…we’re back at winter again, for awhile, and it’s warlock now rules us. Aw, well… on to investigate this ale.You are golden, sorcerer, with a quickly gone head… your aroma is mostly rich, sweet, boozy malt…I’m not feeling much more from it. Taste: more slick, more sweet, more malt, more booze…not exactly what I expect from the barleywines I enjoy most, and have historically found to my favor, but it is quite nice in it’s own regard. Lacks the hops of many of those, and leans heavily on the malt…something about that dynamic takes it somewhere else, indeed. Golden, bright, crisp, and, yes, boozy…the 9 % isn’t shy at all. Not that I’m complaining.I think Jeff Williamson has a thing for Fantasy/Sci-Fi/sword & sorcery,Tolkien, mythology, etc…not that I’ve played Dungeons & Dragons with him, but I bet if you played craps at his house, the dice would be twelve-sided. Sweetness is just right for a dessert or a nightcap, and the alcoholic warmth is well-needed in chilly evening (okay, mornings) as this… ’tis a fine ale…works nice, tonight …another winner from Flat Earth. I almost forgot the Haiku!Okay, here goes….”Winter Warlock brew/ rich, sweet, malty elixir/ thaw my chilly bones.”

Better Then Advertised

Josh — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:20:15 +0000

I wasn’t expecting much from this beer after hearing Ben badmouth it for the last few weeks but I think it delivers on it’s promise. The label says it’s a caramel lager and that’s exactly what it tastes like. The caramel flavor really jumps out in this beer making it a little sweet for my taste but I wouldn’t mind drinking this once in a while. It doesn’t hurt when your expectations are low to begin with.

Hidden in the cave of mystery

Rett — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:06:39 +0000

This has to be one of the most intriguing beers I’ve reviewed thus far. Just think about it, all of the other Minnesota beers say right on the label where they come from, and usually they point you to a web site where you can find out more info. BORING! Brewer’s Cave keeps you on your toes with it’s mysterious label stating “Handcrafted by the Blue Diamond Brewing Company” and lack of web site.

A google search for the name of the beer doesn’t reveal much, and if you end up on the Blue Diamond web site there’s no mention of the beer. Fortunately, Doug Houverson’s Land of Amber Waters refers to the beer and references an article from the Star Trib explaining the history.

I guess ol’ Frank decided that too much information would ruin the mystery that is Brewer’s Cave. As for the beer itself, not much of a mystery there. It’s a decent sweet beer, too sweet to drink more than one.

Maifest (How’s that for a creative title?)

Mac — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:10:48 +0000

I like Maibocks. Schell’s MaiFest is not my favorite, it is a little too sweet for my taste. Still, it is not bad and like the other beers from Schell’s it is very competitively priced…although, lately, I’ve definitely noticed the hop shortage reflected in the price of beer

This Warlock Packs a Punch

Josh — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:15:24 +0000

This is my first experience with a barley wine ale and it has me feeling a little light-headed. The 9% ABV kind of sneaks up on you and I think 5igmund is on to something with the 12-oz option. The Flat Earth Winter Warlock is sweeter then I would like but it is nicely balanced with the bitter hops. A solid after dinner drink.

This isn’t a beer I would usually buy for myself but it would be a good one to share with some friends.

This one’s a sipper.

Erica — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:38:57 +0000

It’s smooth, it’s a little creamy, it’s a little sweet. If it were just a tad less hoppy and a tad sweeter, it’d be perfect for me. I like that I can taste hops, but they’re not overwhelming. The tall bottle is the perfect quantity for me for an evening. Looks beautiful in a pint glass.

Sweet ending to a long wait

manofwy — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:55:22 +0000

It took quite a bit to find Surly 2 on tap. My favorite place said they had it and would put it on tap after they ran out of Bender. So I drank a lot of Bender. Finally, on Saturday after noon I walked in and they answered yes to my repetitive query. I had even tried to go to other locations and was denied a taste. I was getting somewhat worried about the taste due to comments that had been made. I avoid reading the other reviews until I finish mine so I have no bias. On to the review – I actually liked it. It did taste very fruity and had a cough syrup reminiscence but I could drink one at a sitting. There is no way I would have a second at the same sitting. Almost like finishing a dinner with port. In fact, I think that is the way I will use it next time. I know there will be a next time since Washington Square finally put it on tap and it will take longer to go through that keg than they did with the Bender. Another good thing was the fact that there is not a beer aftertaste.

Think “dessert beer”… enjoy in patient moderation.

al — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:34:07 +0000

“Surly, two years old/ not ev’ryone’s cup of tea / as this beer will prove.” Haiku #4, you’re welcome. I had the first taste of this when I tapped it on the 23rd of January, (at the Blue Nile) and I sipped it and raised my glass and smiled. The bar was surrounded by throngs of Surly fans, and I didn’t want to spoil their enthusiasm. It didn’t win me over with the first slip down my lips, unlike Surly Furious or Darkness.

(I’ve heard this from other folks since then, that the first sip is not the best.) By night’s end, though, when I got a chance to relax and take my time, I was won over. Deep black, with crimson tinges, cocoa-tan head, with purple tints. Fruity nose, matched with roasted malts. Lightly sweet, with a side order of tart.Taste: there’s the tannins. I heard Todd Haug talk about why cranberries have that tannin feel we know from red wine, but I forgot most of what he said. Damn. Something in the bogs, I guess. There’s a flash of sweet, met with a smack of tart, a fun little jitterbug on the palate, followed by some black and chocolate malt flavors. A very unusual brew, closest I’ve encountered has been Bell’s Cherry Stout…never heard of one done with cranberries. It’s probably been done, heck, just about everything’s been done with fruit and beer by now, but I haven’t had it, yet. More I drink, more I like, not too sweet, not too dark, not too rich, not too tart…an intriguing blend, very fresh and lively, a labor of love to commemorate two fun years of great beer. I can certainly see how opinions here will divide on this one, and the extreme flavors, and high alcohol will surely temper enthusiasm. It’s not a session brew, and maybe would be best enjoyed as a dessert brew. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with “one and you’re done”…although I could go for another. But, just one more. So, don’t knock this for what it’s not. You can only enjoy it for what it is.