Kev's Beer of the Week - Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 4/27/12

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale

Kev Rating: C
Style: Smoked Beer/Brown Ale
ABV: 5.60%
IBUs: 30

Availability:  Very limited outside of the brewery
Had:  Picked up a bottle from Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont & shared it with Jimmy & George
Region: Newport, OR 

 

I first heard of Voodoo Doughnuts in Oregon because of various food shows I'd seen on TV.  I've always been a fan of Rogue beers and when I heard they were doing a tribute to Voodoo Doughnuts, I was definitely intrigued.  I finally got my hands on a bottle and decided to save it to enjoy with Jimmy & George.  George just got back from a trip to Portland, OR and Seattle, WA so I figured this would be a perfect "welcome home" beer to share.  Also, I didn't think I'd be able to stomach the whole 750ml bottle on my own.  

According to Rogue's website, "Rogue Ales has collided with Voodoo Doughnut to create Bacon Maple Ale! This unique artisan creation contains a baker’s dozen number of ingredients including bacon and maple syrup from one of Voodoo’s signature doughnuts."

After staring at the super pink bottle for awhile, I opened it up and poured it out into a few glasses.  I really didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised with the color - a nice light brown with a white frothy head.  

After putting my nose in the glass, it really was like smelling a big sweet doughnut.  I was hoping that this intense doughnut smell wouldn't translate completely to the first sip; it didn't.  The first sip was a bit of an odd one, mostly bacon/smoked malt.  After a few more sips to see if the smokiness would subside, I decided to let it sit a bit.  This was a good move, as it opened up a bit, it was more about the maple.  

 

If I saw this beer again, I probably wouldn't buy it, but for the novelty alone it was worth it.  And really, how many times do you get to say you had a Voodoo Doughnut inspired beer made with bacon and maple?!

Kev's Beer of the Week - Levitation Ale

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 4/20/12

Stone Brewing Levitation Ale

Kev Rating: B+
Style: Amber/Red Ale
ABV: 4.40%
IBUs: 45

Availability:  Fall, pretty easy to find when it comes out
Had:  Picked up as part of the mix 6-pack I did at Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont
Region: Escondido, CA

I believe this is the lowest ABV (alcohol by volume) beer on my Beer of the Week series.  What that means is, you can have a few and still be able to function.  With the weather getting better for most parts of the country, I figured I'd highlight a beer that has less kick, but great flavor.  The Levitation Ale poured a beautiful color and had a pretty decent inch head.  On the nose I could smell malt and a bit of citrus.  This one went down easy and was rich in malt and a pretty decent citrus hop throughout.  If you're not a big hop-head, this one is perfect for you.  While the hops are consistent, they're far from overpowering; nicely balanced with the malt.  This would be a nice outdoor/bbq beer...a BIG step up from the Bud, Corona, and Light beer norms you tend to see.   Yes, you know who you are - stop it..just stop. 

Kev's Beer of the Week - Plead the 5th

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 4/13/12

Dark Horse Plead the 5th Imperial Stout

Kev Rating: A-
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.00%
IBUs: ?

Availability:  February, very limited
Had: 4-pack, the lovely ladies at Craft Beer Cellar reserved a 4pack for me!
Region: Marshall, MI

I've been on the lookout for this beer for the last few years.  This year was the first time I've been successful in acquiring any.  I opened one up the other night and it was a real treat.  The nose had some chocolatey notes with roasted malt - nothing too overpowering.  The first sip was a real delight - bitter chocolate with some sweet molasses coming through.  As it warmed, it opened up a bit (12% abv) and turned into a really special stout...even had some dark fruit type flavors on the finish.  Again, I'm super happy that I finally had this one and look forward to the bottle stashed away in the beer fridge to see how it ages.  I think it will really open up with a bit of aging on it!  If you're lucky enough to find this one, I highly recommend it for the stout enthusiasts. 

Kev's Beer of the Week - Deviant Dale's

Kev's Beer of the Week ending 4/6/12

Oskar Blues Deviant Dale's

Kev Rating: B+
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.00%
IBUs: 85

Availability:  Spring, pretty tough to get your hands on it once it's gone
Had: 4-pack, picked up at Gordon's in Watertown
Region: Longmont, CO

Don't judge a book by it's cover.  For the longest time, beer in a can = bad (or just good for copious amounts of drinking, typically outdoors).  However, there has been a big can resurgence among craft brewers.  Oskar Blues has been all about the can since their inception in 2002 (distribution not just the brew pub (1997 if you're checking my facts)).  If you're a craft beer fan, you've probably seen their cans on the shelves - Dales Pale Ale, Old Chub, Mama's Lil' Yella Pils, GUBNA, and my favorite Ten FIDY.

I had heard rumors that Deviant Dale's would be coming our way and was very excited when I saw the email from Tom over at Gordon's!  Cracking one open, I immediately could smell the citrus & piney hops.  The first few sips, while really nice were a bit disappointing for me.  I was really looking forward to a big Double/Imperial IPA.  What I found was a low level DIPA but a really strong IPA.  I don't know if it will hold up against some of the powerhouse DIPAs I've had recently, but I would definitely pick it up again.  It's a really tasty IPA with strong bitterness and citrus & earthy hops.  I highly recommend this one, not only as a canned beer, but a solid beer overall!

Below are some of the reasons Oskar Blues is pro-can:

• Cans keep beer incredibly fresh by fully protecting it from light and oxygen
• Cans are highly portable, allowing craft beer lovers to easily enjoy great beer in places where glass bottles are not ideal or allowed: the beach, pool, boats, trails, rivers, slopes, hot tubs, bath tubs, golf courses and so on…
• Unlike cans of old, the modern aluminum can is lined with a water-based coating so beer and metal never touch, and there is no exchange of metallic flavor
• Cans are the most easily and frequently recycled beverage package in the world, free of glass breakage issues, and less fuel-consuming to ship (cans enable Oskar Blues to reduce its fuel costs and carbon footprint for shipped beer by 35%)
  • A recycled aluminum can generates 95% less pollution than one made from scratch and requires 96% less energy
  • 1 recycled can saves the energy equivalent of 6 ounces of gas, or the electricity to power a guitar amplified for 2 hours