Left Hand - 400 Pound Monkey

Dead Monkey

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Left Hand - 400 Pound Monkey
Left Hand Brewing Company
1265 Boston Avenue
Longmont, CO USA
Est. 1994
www.lefthandbrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Translucent soft golden color.
Light hops aroma. Notes of apple? Something astringent in flavor.
Off-white, two finger head that covers to a wisp.
Draped lacing down the side of the glass.
Soft hops taste with a very dry hop finish.
Light carbonation with tightly packed champagne like bubbles.
Light to medium bodied mouth feel; pleasantly warming aftertaste. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Ringo Starr's/Beatles "With a Little Help From My Friends" is now resonating in the speakers and my head.

This election night, I decided to put out an instant vote between three beers, using Twitter. This was the winner. As usual in the election process, there were runoffs, tie votes, attempts to bribe the elector-at-charge et al. Also as in real life, it came down to the flip of a coin to decide the 'left handed' victory.  And a 400 Pound Monkey beat a Loose Cannon and some Turtle with a Gamma Ray, into office. Go figure- - -it's art imitating life, or is it the other way around?

This is a pleasant English style IPA, but unlike American IPA's, it hasn't got enough punch of hops to knock out a hanging chad. But a tip of the hat to the British style...at 6.7 ABV, it does have some alcohol warmth. A little drying on the tongue and a bit acidic. Feeling the buzz right now...hard race fought....election won....must be the champagne like bubbles in the head! Where are the balloons, confetti and streamers?

Many thanks to my constituents for getting out to vote:
@AGirlandHerBeer
@EmpireVanessa
@AlanCShaw
@BeerCruiser
@MrBikerBrew
@htcdesign

@MugOfStArnold will need an absentee ballot next time!  That was fun. We'll have to try putting it to a vote more often. Thanks guys!

Shmaltz - Coney Island Freaktoberfest

Dead Soldier

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

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.66 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 22.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Bloody, bright red color.
Main smell of malts; caramel right up front with a bit of hops.
Ruby red body with a funky pink head.  Leaves slight amount of lacing.
Syrupy sweet malt and hoppy taste. Leaning more on the malt side.
Medium bodied mouth feel. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
There are beers for every season and this autumnal season is no exception to the rule. Generally speaking, fall brings us two traditional staples of seasonal. The first is a Marzen/Oktoberfest style which are characterized by being easy to drink, for the festival it's named after. It has a little more kick than your average lager, but still easy to drink.

The second style falls into the fruit/vegetable category.  Yes sir, that would be the pumpkin beer. I refer to pumpkin beers as the Grateful Dead of beer.  You either love 'em or hate 'em. Take it or leave it. Just don't smash them.

The conundrum is that Shmaltz has made a little devil of a witches brew and invented their own niche among the fall selections. Oh, I'm talking about Freaktoberfest. Devilishly good at 6.66% ABV, this one has been salting away in the mortuary cooler for just the right occasion. That's no coincidence on the ABV. Nor the fact that it has 6 different malt and 6 different hop varieties packed inside, according to the label. Not to mention the bloody red color! They planned it all to be that way. Wicked, just wicked!

So while some beer may have a season, how many can say that they 'own the day'? Huh? Hmmm? Muahaahaahaahaaa! Buaaahahahaaahaaa! Muahaha! This is no Oktoberfest nor is it a pumpkin. 

Freaktoberfest - - - get your bony hands on some and enjoy it while you can, my friends! A trick for your eyes and a treat for your taste buds. Now...I'm off to scare the kiddies!

New Belgium - Ranger India Pale Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Ranger India Pale Ale
New Belgium Brewing
500 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO USA
Est. 1991
www.newbelgium.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 6.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Copper to amber in color.
Mostly floral hops and pine in aroma.
Nice off white two finger head.
Distinct rings of of lacing on the glass.
Grapefruit and spruce piney hoppiness in taste.
Moderate carbonation.
Light, clean taste. Medium bodied.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Glad to see that amongst the other fine beer that New Belgium produces, they have a nice India Pale Ale too.  This has a very nice body and character for an IPA that can hold up against others in its class, for the most part.  I never would suspect anything half-done from New Belgium.  You can enjoy this one straight from the bottle or savor it from a glass.  It's sure to please the IPA drinkers in your entourage.

Don't be put off by the simple logo and label branding. While that may be in need of an upgrade, there's no denying this IPA will be a winner in your book.  A unique and zingy bite of hops is there all the way through, but it won't crowd out your taste buds.  Enjoy one today.

Abita Pecan Harvest

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Abita Pecan Harvest
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Abita Springs, LA USA
Est. 1986
www.abita.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Clear copper color.
Pronounced nutty aroma with a bit of hops present.
One-finger off-white head that leaves no lacing.
Dry, nutty taste.Taste and smell of pecans.
Modest amount of carbonation.
Light mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Although classified as an American Brown Ale, I didn't get that while sampling this beer. It was in a world of its own with the addition of pecans. Abita makes mention on the label that while other beers hint at nuttiness in flavor, it is usually due to the process of brewing, but not by adding nuts.  They have gone the step farther and added some of Louisiana's finest pecans to the batch making a uniquely flavorful beer.

Don't be fooled by the 'brown ale' handle, it doesn't taste at all like your usual brown.  But that said, it does make for an interestingly off beat version. I liked it.

"33" Export

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
"33" Export
BGI Tien Gang (Fosters)
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Est. ????
www.fostersgroup.com
facebook page

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Straw to light yellow color.
Cereal grain and hops aroma.
Two-finger crisp white head that leaves scant lacing.
Dry, grainy malt taste with dry hops at end.
Active carbonation.
Light mouth feel.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A rather watery version of just about any American style 'yellow' beer, there's really nothing remarkable to state here.  If you want to go for the novelty version of an American lager in a Dortmunder export style, than look no further.  It is a simple straight forward yellow style beer that lacks any specific qualities. It does not separate or distinguish itself from others in the category save for it's an easy to drink beer.

Brewed in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam which is sort of interesting.  At 4.5% ABV, it doesn't weigh you down, so if you're having some spicy Asian food, this would make a good pairing.

Rogue - Mocha Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Rogue Mocha Porter
Rogue Ales
2320 OSU Drive
Newport, OR USA
Est.1988
www.rogue.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.3 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0


Postmortem Brew Review
Black and opaque in color.
Roasted malt aromas with caramel and a bit of hops is noticeable.
Tan colored head with little to no retention and lace.
Medium amount of carbonation.
Caramel, vanilla notes dance around, but the mocha/chocolate flavor is profound.
Medium bodied. Easy to drink.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
A yummy porter that makes a delicious end of the night dessert, either paired with something sweet or all by itself. This is like a more compact version of their Chocolate Stout.  It is a bit easier to drink being that it's a porter and not overly sweet.  The dryness at the end of each sip is also enjoyable.

All said and done, another fine brew from the Oregon crew at Rogue. So handy that it comes in 12 ounce bottles as well.

Beck's Oktoberfest

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer

Beck's Oktoberfest
Brauerei Beck & Co
(Anheuser-Busch/InBev)
Bremen, Germany
Est. 1873
www.becksbeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.0 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Caramel in color.
Malt, grain and hop aromas.
Rich, two finger tall, off-white head with good lacing.
Malty and hops taste in good balance with malts leading.
Good carbonation.
Light mouth feel, best if not served ice cold.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
This Oktoberfest by Beck's is quite a tasty devil. The only thing missing is a bit more punch on the ABV.  Most Marzens are in the 6% range but this one weighs in a a scant 5%.  No matter.  It is such a delicious and easy to drink Oktoberfest style beer, that the lighter alcohol content will keep you going.

I happened across this beer while in a remote part of central Florida this weekend.  A favorite haunt of mine, it's a small German bakery and deli on a country road in a town named Yalaha.  I ordered my sandwich and was blown away when I saw the German beer selection.  Having just missed their Oktoberfest-tivities, the fridge was well stocked with Marzen beers. Need I say more?  It went well with the German ham and Swiss cheese sandwich, oh yeah, and the German potato salad. Mmmmm.  Good eating and drinking for the Reaper! Muahaahaahaaaa!