Advent 2016 Day 24

Very fruity and a strong Belgian quadruple.  This one represents the category well.  A very good choice for the final selection.

Merry Christmas.  We'll pick up again next year.

Advent 2016 Day 23

A nice clear crisp malty fruity beer.  At first I thought I detected that skunky Pilsner taste at the finish, but it seems almost minty on the second swig.  Quite good.

Is there really only one more to go?

Advent 2016 Day 22

I'm almost certain everyone is going to consider this beer terrible, so don't open yours and bring it to my house for proper disposal.  I'd be happy to take care of the problem.

Cheers.

Advent 2016 Day 21

Highly carbonated, and another apparently bottle conditioned ale with sediment.  Got quite a few floaties.  

This one was simply too bitter for me to enjoy.

Advent 2016 Day 20

Poured with a bit of sediment from the bottle... Was it bottle conditioned or something?

Anyways, one sip of this and it is pucker time.  Very tart, almost like crab apples.  Very acidic, tart, even sour.

I drank it but struggled to get to the bottom of the glass.

Advent 2016 Day 19

Well balanced, nice and malty and fruity.  Well done.

Advent 2016 Day 18

Started out with just a slight skunkiness like a Pilsner but that quickly faded to the background.  A nice light beer but I wouldn't look for it in the store.  I didn't get even a hint of wasabi.

Advent 2016 Day 17

Now this one is really nice.  Very well balanced and nice kick.  Pretty near perfect to my palate.

Advent 2016 Day 16

This one tastes off a bit.  It definitely finishes bitter.  Strong and bitter, not a great combination.  I don't care for it.

Advent 2016 Day 15

This one started out really really nice, I just wish it would have stayed that way all the way to the bottom of the glass.  The further down, the more bitter it became, almost like it settled.  I should have drank it down quick.

Advent 2016 Day 14

Start with a Belgian ale and make it a bit sour and tart and you would end up with this beer.  I'm trying hard to like it but the sour beers are just not my thing.  This one isn't too bad though.

Advent 2016 Day 13

Nice molasses flavour and the alcohol level is not obvious.  A bit of bitterness on the finish but overall very good.

Advent 2016 Day 12

All I get from this beer is the smokiness.  It is not a flavour I feel belongs in beer.  I didn't care for it.

Advent 2016 Day 11

Now we're talking.  Getting back into the Belgian style ale.  I'm getting a bit of citrus with that classic Belgian yeast flavour.  Very good.

Advent 2016 Day 10

Highly carbonated makes it difficult to pour.

I was surprised that the triple IPA did not have triple the bitterness of a normal IPA.  It is definitely hoppy flavour but not as bitter as I expected.  Is it possible I am developing a tolerance for the category?  It will never be my favourite though.

Advent 2016 Day 9

Black .  Nice coffee and roasted malts.  A very nice stout indeed.

Advent 2016 Day 8

I'm not a fan of Pilsner beers... They always taste a little skunky to me.  Is that the particular yeast or hops used in the Pilsner style?

This beer is no exception, except the skunkiness was toned down a lot.  I have to say it's the best Pilsner I have ever had.... Still a Pilsner though.

The aluminum bottle is a bit of a novelty.  I don't want to send it to the bottle depot.

Advent 2016 Day 7

This one borders on a cider or a sour beer, it is certainly tart.  I think it represents the category well, but it is not my favourite category.

Advent 2016 Day 6

Black malty goodness.  I really enjoyed this one.

Avent 2016 Day 5

Best one yet this year.  I really like these Belgian beers.  There is something unique in the yeast.

Crisp, smooth, and definitely Belgian.

Happy Krampus day

Advent 2016 Day 4

By the description I suspected Lucille might like this one more than I, so I poured into two glasses.

I found the beer to be a bit on the tart or sour side and didn't really get the ginger.   It reminded me more of a cider than a beer.  It was ok, but not my category.  Lucille enjoyed it a lot.

2016 Advent Day 3

This one reminds me of a brown beer like Open Road but was very smooth on the finish.  No bitterness or harshness.  Nice and malty with a hint of nuts.

I hope we see more like this one in the box.

2016 Advent Day 2

Almost the same as day 1.  Hoppy on the nose but well balanced and refreshing.  This one must be dry hopped.

Is it possible I am starting to enjoy hoppy beers?  But neither day one or two were bitter.

2016 Advent Day 1

Poured a cloudy gold colour with a small head.  Hoppy on the nose but well balanced and not too bitter.  It reminds me of a couple white IPA's I have had before.  The white IPA brings more flavour and balance to the hops and makes it more acceptable to my taste.

I would have another.  Surprisingly good.

2016 Advent Calendar

This years Craft Beer Advent Calendar is all set to go.  As a bonus, I received it as a gift from a buddy I introduced to the calendar a couple years ago.  Additionally Lucille was gifted a David's Tea Advent Calendar, so we will both be enjoying something new for the next few weeks.

Let the games begin.

2015 Advent Day 25

This year there is an Encore.

Saugatuck Brewing Company

Gingerbread Cookie Ale

Poured golden with an aggressive, short lived head.

I don't know how much my cold is interfering, but I didn't find any gingerbread flavour here at all, just a fairly highly carbonated brown ale.  Not too hoppy as it turns out.  I was on guard as the included glass seemed to be in the IPA style.

I really enjoyed the calendar overall this year with only a few selections not to my liking.  And I received another calendar for Christmas so I can enjoy these beers one more time.

My disappointment is with the number of beers that were Brewed exclusively for the calendar.  When I find one I really like, I would like to think I can go and buy it at a specialty store later.  I think there are enough beers out there that they shouldn't need to invent unique beers for the calendar.  Please fill it with regularly Brewer beers next year.