Unibroue - Maudite

Taps for a Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Maudite
Unibroue Inc.
80, Des Carrieres
Chambly, Quebec Canada
Est. 1992
unibroue.com/products/maudite

Brain Damage Quotient = 8.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 (On Tap)

Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy amber with reddish hues.
Fruity esters and spices.  Corriander and faint hops in the background.
Two fingered caramel head with medium carbonation.
Strings and dots of lacing coat the entire glass.
Very slight alcohol taste as it warms, but not distracting.
Full flavor.  All aromas and tastes intensify as it warms.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Muahahaha! I could not have put it better...Maudite means, "The Damned One".  The logo portrays men rowing a wooden canoe, paddling across a blood red sky with the full moon lighting their way.  A horned headed and winged gargoyle has arms folded and is sending a sly grin your way.  His look seems to express knowledge of a great peril awaiting these flying boatmen.  Does this seem typically Canuckle-headed to you, too?

Anyway, about the ale...it's as crazy as the artwork!  There is a spiciness to the boquet on this ale and it is very full of flavor.  It definitely blooms in aroma and flavor the longer you let it sit and warm slightly from the tap, in your glass.  As with strong ales and high ABV beers, let it sit a bit and explore the fullness of its character.

The website mentions it can be cellared for up to 5 years.  You won't be able to wait that long...else you go mad and paddle your canoe in the sky, too!  Ha-haha-ha!  Try some and see how you too will become one of the damned!

Sierra Nevada - Celebration Ale 2009

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Celebration Ale 2009
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA USA
Est. 1980
www.sierranevada.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Rusty, ruddy, reddish in color.
Malt and spicy hops aroma with hop oil and pine scents.
Hoppy tasting; lots of tasty bittering hops up front.
Nicely foaming head with fair amount of lacing down the glass.
Rich full bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This was sampled multiple times at the Orlando Holiday Brew Fest in Heritage Park, downtown Orlando on this damp but fine evening.  While we are used to warm weather, this brew fest was at a bone-chilling 50 something degrees with a steady drizzle of rain.  However, my bones are dry bones and we didn't mind the weather one bit during this outstanding brew fest.

Of all the beer sampled, I had to marvel about this one.  It was simply the best sampling all evening in a field of some pretty good beers.  Twas so remarkable, that I am only choosing this one to write about.  The reason, you ask?  Even though I managed to stay dry, my notepad would have been water logged by the end of the evening.  Hence all the notes were memorized in my head for this review.  Thank you Sierra Nevada for this wonderful seasonal brew.  You had me at when I could smell the hops from 2 feet away, outdoors.  I just knew it was going to be great.

Remember beer lovers, there is no such thing as bad beer weather, just unprepared beer drinkers.  Get out your raincoat and rubbers next time!

Lift Bridge - Crosscut Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Crosscut Pale Ale
Lift Bridge Brewery
1906 Greeley St. South
Stillwater, MN USA
Est. 2006
Brewed by:
Flat Earth Brewing Company - St. Paul, MN
and
Point Brewery - Stevens Point, WI
www.liftbridgebrewery.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Well balanced amber pale ale accentuated by multiple additions of floral Cascade hops and a unique introduction of grapefruit zest to compliment the citrus notes of the hops. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A "ghost writer" has come calling. When I get around to some of this ale, I'll add my two cents. The following comments do not represent my personal views, so tough noogies if you don't like them:

Ghost Writer's Eulogy
Theses are the same boys who brew Farm Girl - still my favorite even though most farm girls are inside for the winter.  I have a stash I'm keeping cold in the back yard.  Another good thing about Minnesota winters - coolers are redundant.  ---TK

Samuel Adams - Blackberry Witbier

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Samuel Adams - Blackberry Witbier
Boston Beer Company
Boston, MA USA
Est.1985
www.samueladams.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0
 
Postmortem Brew Review
Hazy orange color.
A citrus orange and berry aroma wafts from the glass.
Wheat taste and finish that displays blackberry flavors.
Firm one finger head with some lacing.
Light and carbonated mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another Brewmaster Collection beer from the venerable Samuel Adams group.  As with the cherry wheat in the collection, this one took me by surprise, too.  I enjoyed it much more than the cherry wheat, partially due to the fact I'm not fond of cherries.  Blackberries, on the other hand, take me back to days when we'd pick them stright from the field.  

Do give this one a try and see how great it is.

Shmaltz - Coney Island Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Coney Island Lager
Shmaltz Brewing
New York, USA
Est. 1996 (5757 Hebrew Metonic Cycle)
www.shmaltzbrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Brilliant copper/amber color.
Very malty with floral hop aroma, all in great balance.
One fingered head, off-white in color.
Medium amount of lacing.
Great hops 'bite' at end of each sip.
Medium mouth feel and 'just right' medium carbonation. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Do you think you like lager beer?  Do you even think you like lager beer? Think again...

There's a new reason to like, enjoy, make that, LOVE lager beer. This is such a full flavored lager, you might think you are drinking an ale of some sort, perhaps even an IPA.  There is such a lusty maltiness and floral hop aroma enticing you in, sip after sip.

This is a beautiful crafted lager that everyone needs to experience. If your palate has "turned off" to other lagers; perhaps made up your mind that they were mainstream and cannot be enjoyed, you are a fool.  Try one of these and experience what GOOD, make that GREAT lagers are like.  To exemplify the carnival atmosphere, "Step right up! Be amazed, mesmerized and baffled by just what a lager beer can become!"

Try one for yourself.  Compare it against any other lager beer that you have favored in the past.  Then tell me if this isn't the best you have experienced in a lager beer.

Do I have your attention?  No? Well then, this beer should!  Step right up and see for yourself.  This is not the side show, it is the main event!

Flensburger Dunkel

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Flensburger Dunkel
Flensburger Brauerei GmbH und Co.
Munketoft 12
Flensburg, Germany
Est.1888
www.flens.de

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0
 
Postmortem Brew Review
Dark copper color.
Wheat, roasty malt with a coffee note.
One finger, caramel colored head that leaves no lacing.
Malty bread like yeast taste; like whole wheat.
Dry and bitter without overpowering.

Slight chocolaty roast taste as it warms.
Medium body with full flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Forget about the beer for a second...go visit their website!  This is an easy drinkable Dunkel.  The website has easy litening euro music and the videos make for some easy views on the eyes!  The beautiful people of the Deutschland.  I don't know what they are saying, but it's just fun to watch.

Back to the beer...you'll want this one from the minute you see the bottle and it's ceramic and rubber stopper top. Pop-jingle-ling! There goes the top, as you push the wire bale.  It's a little show and song every time you open one.  Now I cant wait to try their pilsener.

So grab a Flensburger and enjoy the sights, sounds and, oh yeah, the beer too!

Left Hand Milk Stout

Dead Cow

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Left Hand Milk Stout
Left Hand Brewing Company
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, CO USA
Est. 1994
www.lefthandbrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Black color, similar to a cola soda.
Malty flavor with sweet aromatic hits of chocolate.
Wafer thin tan colored head is gone in 30 seconds; no lacing at all.
Rich roasted malt and slight chocolate tastes, moderate carbonation.
Medium to full bodied mouth feel; pleasantly warming bitter aftertaste. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Black as the night on the pour and rich tasting, this Milk Stout is unique.  It leaves me wondering if it is better on tap, as this bottle poured with very minimal head and no lacing at all.  Maybe it's the milk?  It tasted creamy and sweet.  The fact that there was no noticeable foaming head left me wanting for something more from this stout.  It may be what kept this out of the 'A' group.  I will try this stout again sometime to see if it was an aberration.

Update 12/03/2010 - A new label from Left Hand for Milk Stout.  I am happy to report that it was much more satisfying than the first time around. The head is still pretty much non-existent, but I have found that is just how it is with this beer.  The taste was similar to the first tasting, but with more pronounced malts than before.