Ommegang Game of Thrones Reserve Mother of Dragons

6.6% ABV Limited brew for 2018
Beer Advocate score - 3.93/5

34C. Experimental Beer

This is explicitly a catch-all category for any beer that does not fit into an existing style description. Overall impression varies, but should be a unique experience.

Beer found at The Bier Stein.

Back from a week hiatus (ran a half marathon and didn't feel like blogging, just drinking) I decided I wanted something unique... it was Thanksgiving weekend and it needed to be special. This particular brew I have been eyeing for several weeks now...I mean, who wouldn't want a smoked porter and Kriek ale blend (other than the missus). The hesitation being, would it actually live up to the name of Daenerys? Also, the price tag coming in at $15, it couldn't be consumed on any old weekend. This weekend also happened to be Civil War weekend for the Oregon Ducks. One could mistaken the game for semblance of a Stormborn led army running amok through Reser Stadium. The poor Beavers never stood a chance. It made for a brilliant weekend and the brew all the better. On to the review!

Aroma: Reminds me of a BBQ. A cherry laden BBQ.   7

Appearance: Really dark red, cloudy appearance. Nice cream colored head that last for a very long time.  8

Flavor: Tastes of tart cherry up front. Tapers to a slightly sweet, roasty character. Very little smoke but it balances out the flavors.  8.5

Mouthfeel: Really smooth with the right amount of carbonation. A surprisingly easy drinking beer.  8

Overall: I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this beer. I knew I liked smoked porters and I knew  I liked cherries. So, putting them together seemed like a good idea and maybe a taste sensation like no other. Well, I thought it was a solid offering of a specialty brew. I was really hoping for more of a smoky flavor profile (more akin to that of dragon's breath) but the smokiness did lend for a balance that I think was needed. Otherwise, the cherry would have overpowered the porter bill of the brew.  Ommegang did a nice job crafting a unique, drinkable brew. Not sure I would purchase again but I wouldn't say no if someone offered a pint to me. 7.8

Matt's mark: 3.93/5

Ancestry Brewing Irish Red Ale

21 IBU 5.4% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 3.65/5
Untappd score 3.66/5

15A. Irish Red Ale

An easy-drinking pint, often with subtle flavors. Slightly malty in the balance sometimes with an initial soft toffee/caramel sweetness, a slightly grainy-biscuity palate, and a touch of roasted dryness in the finish. Some versions can emphasize the caramel and sweetness more, while others will favor the grainy palate and roasted dryness.

Aroma: A sweet malt aroma with a little bit of caramel character. The tiniest bit of an earthy undertone.   7.4

Appearance: A deep, Ruby red color with the slightest amount of haze. Creamy oatmeal head with average dissipation. Low-medium to medium lacing.  7.2

Flavor: Nice malty flavor upfront that gives way mildly sweet caramel. A little bit of roasty/grainy bitterness on the back end.   7.5

Mouthfeel: Smooth and medium bodied with a nice amount of carbonation. Has a dry finish.   7

Overall: Ancestry does a solid job with this style. It is a fairly broad style and can have many different outcomes but this one tries to stay close to a traditional Irish Red while having an American flair (being just a tad more alcoholic). While the slightly sweet caramel character is not exactly traditional, it adds that extra something to make it more enjoyable. 7.3

Matt's mark: 3.64/5

It's not very often that I have a weekend to just putter around and relax. It was the perfect (well, almost perfect...the Ducks lost again) weekend to drink beer, watch football and break in a new purchase (bought City Skylines as an early birthday present to myself). On top of it all, my daughter came home for a visit (bless her heart) which meant the meal I had planned for Sunday was not going to be enough food. So the missus decided to let me off the hook for the night and do the cooking. This meant it was the perfect time to pull out the beer I selected for this weekend... a new brewery to me,  Ancestry Brewing out of Tualatin, Oregon. Ancestry brewing has beautiful branding. The

Finally took a picture of The Bier Stein

purchase was almost made entirely on the execution of the label, so simple and clean...but I was looking for an Irish Red as well which whittled my choices down as not many breweries actually have it on their respective beer lists. They should, but they don't. My marks for this beer, while not being out of this world, were solid and I would definitely try more of Ancestry's brews. It seems like my tastes are right on par with the general audience as well. Both Beer Advocate and Untappd were slightly higher than my marks. So, if you are in the market for a solid Irish Red, give Ancestry Brewing a try.

Viking Braggot Company Winter Squash Porter

8.4% ABV Released Oct. 25th, 2018
Beer Advocate score - 4.12/5

30C. Winter Seasonal Beer

A stronger, darker, spiced beer that often has a rich body and warming finish suggesting a good accompaniment for the cold winter season.

Aroma: A sweet maltiness on the forefront while hints of chocolate and vanilla dance in the background.   8.75

Appearance: An extra dark brown liquid with a nice mocha head. Head retention is long lasting with a decent amount of lacing when it dissipates.  9

Flavor: Strong coffee characteristics upfront with note of chocolate. A hint of caramelized squash on the back end. As the brew warms, the vanilla starts to mingle.  9.25

Mouthfeel: Really smooth and velvety with the right amount of carbonation. A nice sipping beer.  9

Overall: Wow! Just... wow! This is delicious! Viking Braggot Company has done a wonderful job with this seasonal brew. It is rich in flavor and they all seem to mingle with greater intensity the warmer the beer gets. I recommend leaving it out about half an hour before opening and beginning on your quest. I also recommend buying two bottles, you won't regret it.  9

Matt's mark: 4.5/5

Doctor who?

Early in the week, I knew what brew I was going to take home. Viking Braggot is my favorite Eugene, Oregon brewery. All their beers are well done. When I found out the date they were releasing this years version of the Winter Squash Porter, I readied myself for it. But life happens all the same. One cannot simply forget about fun to be had on Samhain (or Halloween). The local winery that my wife and I are members of (Saginaw Vineyards) have a annual party called "Hallowine" (I know, very clever). This year, we both decided to go as "The Doctor". I, of course, was the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and the missus went as the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith). Later on that night, we both decided she looked more like Oswin from the same show, but Oswin doesn't have a cool sonic. We didn't win the costume contest because, well, hardly anybody at the party actually knew who The Doctor was... maybe a handful. We had fun none the less (wine was involved, duh). When the weekend arrived, the missus and I decided to go for a little nature walk on the outskirts of our small town. We started at a nature park near some ponds and the ventured out on a bike trail that used to be a train track. The tracks lead well out of town up to some defunct mines called the "Bohemia mines". During the summer, we even have a festival named after the mines. A pretty important part of our towns history. After a short hike (10.5 miles - no really, we hiked 10.5 miles in 3 hours) we were ready to call it a day. The missus went home to do whatever the hell she wanted and I went to the Village Green lounge to watch the Oregon Ducks homecoming game against UCLA. Today was all about relaxing. After 10.5 miles walking, your hips are quite sore and stiff and you don't want to do much of anything else. I did do some small stuff around the house but today was mainly about opening up a bottle (I bought two of course) of the Winter Squash Porter. This years version is so new that Untappd didn't even have a score. Beer Advocate did but I have it scored higher by quite a bit. I think this is the best beer I have ever had. That is saying a lot because I have had a lot of great beers... this is even counting my own beer... and I make good beer (at least I think so).

Part of the 10.5 miles of trail hiked this weekend.

Vanilla Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout by Great Divide Brewing

9.5% ABV April 2018
Beer Advocate score - 3.86/5
Untappd score 3.85/5

20C. Imperial Stout

Look who I found hangin' in the backyard!

An intensely-flavored, big, dark ale with a wide range of flavor balances and regional interpretations. Roasty-burnt malt with deep dark or dried fruit flavors, and a warming, bittersweet finish. Despite the intense flavors, the components need to meld together to create a complex, harmonious beer, not a hot mess.

Aroma: Sweet malt on the nose that flows into a chocolate aroma laced with a dose of vanilla.   8

Appearance: Roasty black darkness that of a fine coffee. Has a milk chocolate head that last for days. Quite a bit of lacing.  8

Flavor: Upfront is of bitter chocolate that gives way to sweet malt and an Oak wood flavor w a good dose of vanilla. A bitter roastiness to balance it out at the end.  8

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with medium carbonation. Definitely a sipper.  8

Overall: I have had the regular Yeti by Great Divide. While that is a solid brew, the oak aged version is definitely better. It has a balance to it that makes you want to sip it all day long. Not a good idea, as it is quite high in the ABV, but I wouldn't tell if one decided to do it. No judgement here.  The flavor profile makes this a nice fall/winter warmer.  8

Matt's mark: 4/5

It seems like I am always doing something in the brewing world. This weekend, I needed to get my blackberry wine bottled (24 bottles, some for drinking and some for aging... if the missus allows anyway) and also wanted to get a squash brew in. I love squash brews and didn't want to be left out of the making of one. I am partial to the Blue Hubbard and decided to use this variety for my brew. It is a brown ale base with cardamom pods, nutmeg, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Heavier on the cardamom pods for a unique take on a squash brew. I am bouncing around with a few names for it but I am leaning towards "My Boy Blue Hubbard Ale" (a nod to the movie Old School). As for the Oak Aged Yeti, my score is higher than both Beer Advocate and Untappd. Not by much, so I don't think I would pull the score higher than what it is. This beer is perfect for sipping while brewing. You wanna take your time with this one because the flavors get more intense the warmer it gets. It is sooo yummy. This weekend as a whole was a nice diversion to the hard to watch Oregon Duck football game... the worst road team in the Pac-12. Now it's time to finish of the Yeti and take my honey out to dinner for a well deserved date night.

Claim 52 Brewing Kolsch

I can't take credit for this picture.

15 IBU 5.2% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 3.73/5
Untappd score 3.63/5

5B. Kölsch

A clean, crisp, delicately-balanced beer usually with a very subtle fruit and hop character. Subdued maltiness throughout leads into a pleasantly well-attenuated and refreshing finish. Freshness makes a huge difference with this beer, as the delicate character can fade quickly with age. Brilliant clarity is characteristic.

Aroma: Slightly floral and citrus notes. Mild herbal notes. Fresh.   7

Appearance: A Clear, bright golden straw color with little to no haze. White head with little lacing.  8

Flavor: Nice clean mild malt flavor with a touch of lemon/herbal notes. Smooth low bitterness on the back end. Overall well balanced.   7.5

Mouthfeel: Light and fresh with low carbonation. Crisp and dry. Smooth and refreshing on a warm autumn afternoon.   8

Overall: I can see why Claim 52 has made their Kolsch a flagship brew. Totally tasty and refreshing. All the flavors are quite delicate and well balanced. I am actually surprised I have never had it before. Well, not really. They do have an extensive list of IPA offerings. I highly recommend the Kolsch if you want something different from the rest of their menu. 7.65

Matt's mark: 3.82/5

It was a full weekend for me. One of my friends/co-workers had his last day at work and the crew and I headed over to our favorite "safety meeting" location to help send him off with a couple of brews. A sad day for us but necessary for him and his career. Then later on that night, another good friend of mine and I headed over to the Claim 52 Kitchen for good food and beer. Alas, I forgot to take pictures of the new establishment, but, I assure you, it has a nice inviting atmosphere and a pretty nice menu to choose from. They have an extensive list of IPA's and a few sours if you're into that sort of thing. I recommend their Westside IPA, a solid offering of which I filled my growler with for the after party back at the apartment. The next day, I said my goodbyes to one friend and hopped next door to spend time with my ex co-worker/friend. Yes, they are literally neighbors. After spending all day and night playing games on something called "Jackbox", eating a decent amount of hot wings and drinking copious amounts of hard cider, I crashed. Overall, for a sports fan like me, it was a great distraction from the Oregon Duck game. Which, from what I gather, was not a great game to watch if you are a Duck fan. Oh well, better luck next time. On the way home, I picked up some nice, juicy bone in New York steaks and starting feeling all was well with world once more. After all, my wife (whom I hadn't seen for a couple days) was waiting for me on the couch with a good book (hence the picture with books in the background), a beer from Claim 52 was on the docket and lovely steaks was for dinner. A good end to a nice weekend.

Sky High Brewing Freewheel IPA

77 IBU 7% ABV
Beer Advocate score - 3.65/5
Untappd score 3.62/5

21A. American IPA

A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale, showcasing modern American or New World hop varieties. The balance is hopforward, with a clean fermentation profile, dryish finish, and clean, supporting malt allowing a creative range of hop character to shine through.

Aroma: Smell of tangerine and orange blossoms with piny, resinous notes from the hops used. A sticky sweet aroma.  7.5

Appearance: A clear, burnt orange color with a solid head retention and medium lacing. Other than reminding me of the Texas Longhorns, a nice visual.  8

Flavor: Sweet citrus up front that quickly dissipates to a nicely balance bitter floral note. A tiny bit a pine detected. Nicely done.    7.5

Mouthfeel: Light and crisp with decent amount of carbonation. I transported it in a crowler so the carbonation is probably a bit livelier if it were coming from a bottle.   8

Overall: Sky High brewing out of Corvallis, Oregon did a solid job with this brew. It is a typical NW style of the American IPA that does a good job of mixing in both floral aromas and the bitterness of the style. Definitely a nice cap to a warm autumn afternoon. Nice job Sky High! 7.75

Matt's mark: 3.88/5

It was a beautiful weekend. My wife and I (mostly the missus) needed to get out of the house for some well deserved R&R. So, of course, we didn't even leave town. The nearest hot tub was all that was needed and so we booked a room at the Village Green Resort here

in our hometown. A beautiful place with beautiful gardens, a restaurant on site and, of course, the hot tub (also a pool but who's kidding whom, it was all about the hot tub). While the missus was relaxing in the hot tub, I was in the bar/lounge watching an excellent game between Oregon and Washington (while drinking a few local brewski's), two excellent programs that absolutely hate each other. It's no joke, us Oregon fans hate the Huskies even more than our little brother, the Oregon State Beavers. We even refer to the week leading up to the big game as "hate week". It's a thing, totally a thing. AND WE WON! IN OVERTIME! Oh the exhilaration! Afterwards, I joined my lovely wife in the hot tub. It was a glorious day. The next day, we packed up and headed up to Corvallis to have lunch with our gorgeous daughter that is now out of the house and in college (it still seems weird saying that). Of course, no one knew where to go, so I suggested the local brewpub Sky High. They definitely are Sky High. The building itself is four stories high and the restaurant is located on the fourth floor, a unique setting. The food is great and the beer even better. I highly recommend if you are in the area. Of Course I had flight to taste the menagerie of beers that are available...all of which were solid. They didn't sell bottles of beer so I came
home with a crowler of the Freewheel IPA, the most popular beer they have according to our server. After eating and saying our goodbyes, we headed home. My wife turned on Doctor Who re-runs and I bottled my braggot...and, of course, had my crowler of beer. Both Beer Advocate and Untappd had a score pretty much the same. I was a little higher...probably because I had such a good weekend. Or my taste buds are way better than everyone else's...that's probably not it. I am not that arrogant.

Epic Brewing Imperial Pumpkin Porter

8.4% ABV Release #38
Beer Advocate score - 3.82/5
Untappd score 3.93/5

30B. Autumn Seasonal Beer

An amber to copper, spiced beer that often has a moderately rich body and slightly warming finish suggesting a good accompaniment for the cool fall season, and often evocative of Thanksgiving traditions. (Disclaimer: This also could be classified as 30C. Winter Seasonal Beer as they are darker and more full bodied, like the beer being reviewed. But the pumpkin is autumn, therefore, I will grade on how I like it and less about how it compares to the class.)

For this beer, I went back to one of my old haunts (I worked in the meat department)... The M.O.C., otherwise known as the Market of Choice. As the name touts, they do have a large selection of many different kinds of produce and goods...and also beer...many different varieties and brands of beer. There is so much variety, it's like walking into another bottle shop. The clientele is a little pretentious, so I don't go often. But when I do, I am usually not disappointed. Now on to the review!

Aroma: On the nose you can detect the roasted malts. It definitely has a strong chocolate smell with traces of nutmeg, clove and sweet vanilla.  8.7

Appearance: Dark with a head the color of cream when it hits a nice cup of coffee. The head is persistent and dissipates with medium lacing.  8.5

Flavor: Roasted maltiness that gives way to bittersweet chocolate. Of course I detect all the essential spices of a pumpkin beer; nutmeg, vanilla and the slight trace of clove.    8.4

Mouthfeel: Creamy texture with light carbonation and a full body. A smooth finish. A nice sipping drink that warms a little.  8.5

Overall: I like a good pumpkin beer and this is a good pumpkin beer. It had all the flavors you look for and it has a high ABV. The pumpkin was not detectable in this brew but it did lend to the creaminess of the beer. The varying spices that usually comes with a pumpkin brew were there and weren't overpowering, lending to nice roundness to the over arching theme. Solid and will buy again. 8.5

Matt's mark: 4.26/5

The calendar turned to October, so obviously I was going to buy a pumpkin beer. I always turn to this feeling when the temperature phases from the heat of summer to the briskness of autumn. Pumpkin beers, in my humble opinion, get you ready for the cold season to come by providing a little warmth via spices and high alcohol content. My scores were quite a bit higher than Beer advocated and Untappd. I am not sure why, maybe I just like pumpkin beers a tad bit more than the usual beer drinker. I am biased at this time of year. Also, I am in a particularly good mood since I finished my porch bench (featured in the picture) and my training for my next race (a half marathon) is going fairly well. Now, I must attempt cooking...which is going to be difficult as I am highly intoxicated. See ya next week!