Thankgiving '09 beer collection, Ben

Jason Ortiz Home Brews,

Holiday Ale: Best of the three. Cinnamon and nutmug, but not too overwhelming. A-
Cherry Stout: Not at all cherry, but it was good for a medium body stout. B
Apple Wine: Tasted just like that. Apples and wine. Strong and drinkable. B-

Free State Doppelbock: Dark and smooth, with a little tang at the end. It was a nice contrast to the Hennepin we bought. B+

Ommegong Heppepin: Great farmhouse ale. Most belgian styles are easy to pair with a variety of foods, and this worked well. Not the A+ pairing with any one thing, but it did not overpower any part of the meal. A-

Three Philosphers Quad: This was fun to drink, despite the strong liquor taste to it. Similar to bourbon or whiskey in the tartness, but the kick did not distract you from wanting the drink more. A

Great Divide Double Wit: It took me forever to buy and drink this beer. Really enjoyable with a nice balance between a classic Belgian taste and smoothing it out with a subtle sweetness. A

Breckenridge Sample Pack,

Avalanche Ale: Didn't actually get to drink it this time, but it went perfectly in the beer bread. A-
Oatmeal Stout: It promises what it delivers and really enjoyable, but doesn't capture that balance of the Founder's Breakfast Stout. B
Vanilla Porter: This is what I want a vanilla porter to be. The vanilla didn't overpower the rest of the beer and the body was nice and thick. A-
Pandora's Bock: This actually had a negative taste on the first sip because I didn't know what to expect, but as a kept drinking it was enjoyable and had a second. B+


Overall, we did a good job picking out the beer for Thanksgiving, and it seemed my whole family enjoyed it.