September grades and ranks

September was a good month for beer. Nice variety, nice changes throughout the month. Not to mention my birthday and the Oskar Blues beer dinner.

I don't know why I obsess over having all these listed. Sure, it;s my thing, but to what end? Will something great become of this? I hope so, yet, my approach is far from scientific. It's me giving some witty comment about the beer I just drank. Nothing more, nothing less.

There is also the debate if I grade to easily. I hardly ever have things in the C-range. But I am fairly confident in my ability to pick a good beer to drink. Plus, with free samples at work, it makes my choice all the easier.

The new Twitter layout takes away the time stamp (at least with a cut and paste into excel) so that aspect is lost a little. I know when I had them and you would to if you follow me on the Twitter.


[A+]

#1 The Bruery Coton. Had to have it before it was gone. I love my syrup-like-heavy beers to be chock full of alcohol. It is what I want!(A, A+)

One of the best beers that I have ever had. The more I had it, the more I loved it. Sure, it's high in alcohol, but if you just take the time to sip it slowly, you'll be happy like me.

#2 Allagash Fluxus '10. I know i just tweeted this, but you still have to know how awesome this year's batch is. Taza chocolate and love.(A, A+)

Allagash does it again. And I still have a bottle at home. Taza chocolate and Allagash brewing, how can you possibly go wrong?

[A]

#3 Dogfish Head Bitches Brew. Now, if this isn't the sweetest thing you have ever drank? I would be tempted to age it a year, see how it holds. (A, A)

I am tempted to find another bottle of this and age it. I mean, I don't even know if the way we age at home is effective, but it is a dark place in our most lived in room (living room). But, I don't even go for super sweet beers, but you put enough punch behind it, you gotta give it a try.

#4 Uinta Crooked Line Labyrinth Black Ale. Big beer, big ABV. 13.2%, syrupy, but lighter body than you'd expect. Very drinkable. Great.(A, A)

I want to bring some bottles of this into the restaurant to sell. Or maybe more. Once we empty out the storage, I will be bringing in my stuff. This will be awesome!

#5 St. Bernardus Abt 12. My birthday, my choice of beer. It was strong enough to go with steak, but sweet enough to go with dessert. Heart.(A, A)

My birthday beer. I heart this beer a lot, and it holds a special place for me. I don't know why I even tried it in the first place. Maybe it is the happy monk on the bottle? But, it's my second favorite Belgian, behind the Delirium.

#6 Founders Devil Dancer. Like a whiskey having a love child with an IPA. A super bitter triple, but just enough balance to make it good.(A-, A)

What about Founders isn't great? I think that Devil Dancer was my first introduction to them, way back in probably 2007-8ish, and that first drink has stuck with me since then. Of course I have since become obsessed with the breakfast stouts, too, but this one will stick with you.

#7 Great Divide 16th Anniversary. It's a wonderful beer, a DIPA that's wood aged. It does teeter on the edge of almost too much. Not for the faint.(A-, A)

I am suck a sucker for anniversary beers. I'm all "ooh, let's try that!" every time I see one. But, Great Divide does a great job on almost everything, so it made it worth it.

[A-]

#8 Mayflower Golden Cask. It was like drinking air. I've had it normal before and thought it was fine, but tonight was ridiculously good.(A-, A-)

This is not rated so high because of the beer itself, but the presentation style, from a cask. Seriously, the is the best thing that I have ever had on cask. It was so pure, so light, and so delicious. It's hard to go back to stronger beers on cask after this one.

#9 Lost abbey lost and found. smoky complex flavor. almost distracting because you dont know what you are tasting.(A-, A-)

A great beer from Lost Abbey. And I know that I ranked it pretty high, but this is not the best that Lost Abbey can do.

#10 Duck-Rabbit Porter. Oh my, how did I get my hands on this little bottle? Strictly flavor, this is better than Sinebrychoff. So far away.(A-, A-)

Reason #10 why my job is awesome. There is an underground beer trade that goes on (legally). Beth's gonna kill me when it comes our turn to bring in the goodies.

#11 Oskar Blues Aged Ten Fidy (Stranahan's whiskey barrels). I love tasting regular and then twisted back to back. It was a perfect pairing.(A-, A-)

I had a huge obsession with aging last year. I still really appreciate it, but I started to realize that I am not all that crazy about whiskey or bourbon. That doesn't mean that the beers are good, but if you throw it too far over the age, then you lose a great beer.

#12 Great Divide Hercules Double IPA. A DIPAs that I fell in love with long ago. A lot spicier than I remember, but it accented the meal.(A-, A-)

Another one of those hallmark beers in my life, especially when I was the king of double IPAs.

#13 Smuttynose Farmhouse. Was Lord Hobo sitting on this one for a while? I didn't know it was still around. Regardless, had to have it.(A-, A-)

I raised an eyebrow seeing this still on tap in the late summer. It still tasted fine, obviously, but freshness is a peculiar thing that I have learned about at work.

#14 Pretty Things Hedgerow Bitter. Out of a bottle, out at a bar. See, sometimes it will happen. Lots of bitter, but flavor, too.(A-, A-)

Though I love the idea of selling bottles at the bar, it is hard for me to buy one myself. This was a nice change, being I wasn't thrilled at the draft choice, but the bottles were nice. Look around.

#15 Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale. You know I love, and you should too. THe beer that changed my thoughts about canned beer. Always A- (A-, A-)

I bet you are all tired of me drinking this beer (and all the Smuttynoses). But, I still love them.

#16 Southern Tier Backburner. My favorite ST product. A fiery combo of hops with strong ABV. Drinks smooth, burps are rough.(A-, A-)

I talked to the Southern Tier rep the other day. I think that I want to do a dinner/event with them. Their beer is good enough, darnit!

#17 Oskar Blues Ten Fidy. Classic dark, roasty flavor, plus the strong alcohol is exactly what you want from such a strong beer. Glassware!(A-, A-)

As I was saying about aging beers, this was an example of surpassing the original. Not that this beer is bad, but with a dark beer like this, you have some room to play.

#18 Troegs Javahead Stout. Surprisingly good. Ordered it for CC on a whim. Tasted great, though I want heavier stouts. Make it a float!(B+, A-)

Biggest surprise for me of the month. I really didn't think that I liked Troegs, but I had ordered this just to have something different from them, and I was amazed. And though I was trying to make a float, I want to see more beer frappes. Really.

#19 Sinebrychoff Porter. Much better in draft than in bottle, but still the porter in which I judge all other porters. Smoky and coy.(A-, B+)

I am so sad that this one fell from previous ranks. Sure, it could be that the bottle was sitting around for a while, but this was not as dreamy as I remembered it. So many things could influence this.

[B+]

#20 Oskar Blues Old Chub. I liked this one a lot, a very tasty, malt scotch ale. Also tart. I was starting to get hammered at this point.(B+, B+)

It was great to try more of the Oskar Blues line up. This was the best of the new to me.

#21 Harpoon Glacier Harvest '10: The body and the hop that I want my IPA to be, but a little overly herbal, even for a wet hop beer.(B+, B+)

Free bottle from work. You cannot complain with that. I respect harpoon doing the fancier stuff, and I want to try more, but the market is so flooded with their average beers, it is hard to turn around your thought process.

#22 Smuttynose Old Brown Dog. Had it for my pre-meal last night, way to get the palate ready for some dark meat. Where is the Really OBD? Smuttynose Old Brown Dog. Old stand by is more like it. Any time you eat meat, you want something that will pair well, yet subtle. Mmm.(B+, B+)

Two tweets here, if you were wondering. You know I love it.

#23 Oskar blues Gubna. We're talking a strong and powerful beer that'll knock you down. It's full of taste and an experience to drink.(B+, B+)

Again with the new Oskar Blues beers (to me). There is a point though with strong, flavorful beer, that it becomes impractical in large quantities. Just sayin'.

#24 Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale. Well, that is everything in the mixer. I forget that I love the simplicity of the beer and how soft it is.(B+, B+)

My forgotten Smutty. I should drink it more often.

#25 Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. Wish it wasn't 95 degrees the first day I drink this, but we got to grill outside, make some tandoori (apparently).(B+, B)

I know Beth loves it, but I am not as excited about it this year as I have been. Still fine, but I am no pumpkin-expert.

#26 Mayflower Autumn Wheat. A dark wheat? Really should pour it into a glass next time. Dry on first sip, fragile to pair with. Salt kills.(B+, B)

Salt does kill the flavor of a lot of beer. It sucks that some of our best food is so salty. Down a Harpoon IPA, sure, but with the more delicate beers, you lose a lot of the grace intended.

#27 Smuttynose Star Island Single. Learning to like this beer. Or at least have it be a nice session beer. If one is a session.(B, B+)

[B]

#28 Oskar Blues Gordon. First time having it. Thought itwas paired well with herbs and spices (less than 11). Nice red ale.(B, B)

Intense. Fun to drink, but not practical.

#29 Harpoon Munich Dark. I really need to believe that Harpoon can do stuff beyond the IPA. This stands out as a reason to choose them again.(B, B)

A nice surprise out of Harpoon. We have a friend that loves this beer, with is worthy, especially for a session beer. Those are hard to find for me these days, because I hardly dedicate one beer to the evening.

#30 Oskar Blues Mama's Yella Pils. Not something that I drink all that often, but it was refreshing, compared to all the other heavy beers.(B, B)

I am not a Pilsner guy, but I find this only to be in the middle of good. Nothing more.

#31 Anchor Liberty Ale. Great beer, but better in beer-cheese bread. Wanted some of that, too. Will enjoy until wifey makes the yums.(B, B-)

Another beer that I know I like, but find myself being less attracted to. Some of my tastes are changing... or at least asking for something different. I am always looking for an A-range beer, but that leaves some really good beers behind. And completely unrelated, I always thing of that Southwest Airlines commercial about going to Philly... "We got the Liberty Bell, we got cheesesteak." And I say to myself, "I got the liberty ale..."

#32 Lagunitas Pils. Hard call, after a long, fun night out. I don't think that it was all that impressive. It was refreshing, but average.(B, B-)

Again with the Pilsners. Maybe I just want everything to taste like it is from Germany, direct.

#33 Sam Adams Sample B American Rye Ale. Not to bad, though a little alkaline-y. I think that with a little more body it would be great.(B, B-)

The last of a free sample I got from long ago. Meh. Drinkable.

[B-]

#34 Newport Storm Regenschauer Oktoberfest. Sucked at first sip. Got better, but really, no fancy flavors to remind me of anything.(B-, C+)

Please direct me to a great Newport beer. I want to like them.

[C+]

#35 Wachusetts Ryde. Look what I found in the back of the fridge just before dawn. It wants to be flavorful, really. Just like woody H2O.(B-, C)

A running gag for the last few months. You won't see another review any time soon.