Abbatacola's Craft Beer Review: Smells Like Bean Spirit, Dragon's Milk, The Roister
By Matt Abbatacola--
(CBS) Hey beer buddies, have you tried any new beers I should know about? Let me know on Twitter and follow me on the Untappd app.
Here are three beers to consider this weekend. Let me know your thoughts. Cheers.
As a reminder, here are the criteria that go into the review.
Pipeworks' The Roister -- $$
This 6.5% ABV ale is brewed with roasted rhubarb, roasted strawberries and lemon balm. The body is a golden opaque color with a slightly dull white head.
The aroma is earthy with a slight spicy quality. The Roister has a unique flavor. It's a nice change of pace from a typical fruity summer ale. Pipeworks is successful is creating a refreshing ale with a slight smokey flavor. It's very mild and finishes clean and slightly bitter. The slight bitterness adds to the quality of this brew.
Remember this: Read all your beer labels.
On my first bomber I got, I didn't read the entire label, picture included.
I liked this beer, and it reminded me of drinking a Dead Rise by Flying Dog or a Tocayo Hominy White Ale. They aren't similar in taste but are in the fact that the brewers used out-of-the-box thinking in creating a delicious ale. Pipeworks' labels and cans don't disappoint when it comes to uniqueness and creativity, and The Roister shows this quality.
Overall score: 7
Mikerphone's Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit Batch #2 -- $$
This stout ale is brewed with Vermont maple syrup and coffee and has a 10.75% ABV.
This stout has a dark, black body. If you aren't familiar with stouts or porters, they have a dark-colored body because of the roasted barley or roasted malts used in the brewing process. It looks silky and rich with a caramel colored head. This is an impressive-looking brew.
The aroma is strong -- very strong of coffee, dark chocolate and a slight sweetness from the maple syrup.
It's smooth and creamy. The coffee taste is heavy and leaves a strong coffee aftertaste and mouthfeel. It's slightly bitter and sweet, a nice balance. This beer has a powerful and aggressive flavor. The higher ABV gave me a nice buzz. If you don't like coffee, you won't like this beer at all.
I don't drink porters or stouts as a go-to beer. I will definitely keep Mikerphone's Smells Like Bean Spirit on my list of other beers when I need a little change of pace for a night. it has a cool label and after two of these bombers, I thought that little bean guy was talking to me ...
Overall score: 8
New Holland's Dragon's Milk (bourbon barrel-aged stout) -- $$
This barrel-aged imperial stout has a 11% ABV.
I loved this beer. It was delicious. I couldn't believe how much I was enjoying it sip after sip. Dragon's Milk has a black body with a tan head. The aroma is chocolatey and rich with roasted malt fragrances. It's smooth and creamy with a light smokey flavor from the oak barrel aging. This stout has a light mouthfeel and finishes rather clean for a dark higher alcohol brew. Highly recommended, I can't wait to get more. It also has a cool label, and the name really stands out.
Overall score: 9
Matt Abbatacola is a producer, host and update anchor at 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MattAbbatacola and email him at Matt@670thescore.com.