BUREAUCRACY [Noun]
"Rule of a governing body"
Includes: Systematic inefficiency, Layers of authority and delegation, Stacks of paperwork, Form over function..............................
BEERAUCRACY [Noun]
"Rule of Beer"
Includes: Hops, Barley, Water, Yeast............................
Join our two BEERAUCRATS,
Mugsy and Jugsy, as they cut through the red-tape
to discover the true essence of good beer.
Mugsy and Jugsy will be making some changes to our blog. In addition to our weekly (nearly!) beer reviews, we'll be posting relevant information about beer, beer festivals, specialty craft beer news and anything else that catches our brew fancy!
To all the beer lovers in Southern California, here's something you just can't afford to miss: San Diego's first ever BEER WEEK! And it starts today!
Did you know that San Diego county is home to over 33 working breweries??? With over 100 events planned for San Diego Beer Week and new events added daily - including a Ten Year Line up of Stone Imperial Russian Stout at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, a Barrel Tasting Night with Lost Abbey and a Green Flash 7th Anniversary Party - Mugsy and Jugsy seriously consider a second honeymoon in San Diego this week!
Brewed by: Brasserie Val De Sambre, Gozee, Belgium
Bottle: 1 pt., 9.4 fl. oz. - champagne bottle
ABV: 9.0%
Served in: Tulip glass
Place of purchase: Cost Plus World Market
Price: $5.99
OK, another beer served in a tulip glass.Why not? Mugsy and Jugsy like the Belgians!
But this one is a little different…
As you may have noticed in previous reviews, Mugsy and Jugsy often agree on the general characteristics of the beers they review. However, their views on this particular brew were so different as to cause them to question, “Are we even drinking the same beer???" Pick up a bottle and try it for yourself! You be the judge!
In every proper review, our Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Abbaye D'Aulne Triple Brune
APPEARANCE:
Mugsy:Dark, coffee brown with slight hints of red in the light. Thin head which dissipates quickly.
Jugsy:Pours dark like cola, reddish-brown when held up to the light. Medium head which dissipates somewhat, but thin head remains.
AROMA:
Mugsy:Strong smell of fermented fruit, like plums or prunes. Can smell the alcohol in this one. Hints of dark chocolate, as well.
Jugsy:First scent is that of strong malts, followed quickly by yeast aroma. Chocolate and oak smells detected. Faint scent of smoke and cloves - like someone is smoking a sweet pipe in the next room!
TASTE:
Mugsy:Spicy Winter berry and clove, mixed with more fruit; again, prunes. Aftertaste is of roasted malt, almost like a lighter and nuttier porter. Little bit of sourness and of chocolate in the aftertaste, as well.
Jugsy:Roasted or burnt malt flavor is initially overwhelming. Secondary taste is of bitter hops. The aftertaste is definitely chocolate, possibly with some coffee grounds. Yeast flavor emerges as the brew warms. There may even be a touch of citrusy spice buried underneath.
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy:Lots of hops bite the tongue but don't really come through in flavor. A little watery going down.
Jugsy:Creamy and thick, almost chewy. Goes down smoothly with a moderate amount of carbonation.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy:Easy to drink and not really feeling the alcohol. Would be easy to have a few more.
Jugsy:After just a few sips, this beer already feels a bit heavy and I can certainly feel the 9% ABV - although the brew itself doesn't necessarily taste strong. I think one bottle, shared with Mugsy, is quite enough!
OVERALL:
Mugsy: Pretty good beer. Have tasted many beers similar to this before, especially those from Eastern Europe, interestingly enough. However, this slightly more complex. Would go well with desserts, like fruit pies or fruit cakes. Not bad but would not necessarily seek out again.
Jugsy: As Belgian Abbey ales go, this is a pretty decent one. It's flavorful and complex and would be a great accompaniment to a rich, meat-based dish. It's a little heavy for my taste and I think I have a slight headache developing - - not sure if I can blame the beer, but there it is.
Mugsy had been craving a brew with what he called “Barnyard Funk” for a while and, like a good little wife, Jugsy wanted nothing more than to make him happy! So, when she spotted this intriguing Brewmaster’s Collection with the words “Farmhouse Ale” right there on the bottle, she snatched it up immediately!
After clearing a patch in the barn and kicking up our heels onto ready bundles of hay, Mugsy and Jugsy dusted off their Tulip glasses from last week’s review and popped the champagne style cork from the Saison Imperiale!
Ahhh. This is living!
In every proper review, the Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Saison Imperiale, Belgian Farmhouse Ale
APPEARANCE:
Mugsy: Deep brown; impossible to see through, with thick, creamy head that doesn’t ever seem to dissipate! Looks like a glass of iced tea with a beer head. Jugsy: Deep brown and garnet in color; opaque but not cloudy, with medium, creamy head that does not dissipate quickly. Carbonation is visible.
AROMA:
Mugsy: Slight bit of yeasty, barnyard funk straight off. Hints of spiciness, like Cardamom and maybe a little Bergamot orange peel, but funk stands out. Jugsy:Initial aroma is one of sweet yeast with a fruity fermentation. Scent of sourdough with just a hint of malts. Apples, pears and mellow citrus are present. The fruity funk lingers throughout.
TASTE:
Mugsy: Slightly spicy, like a winter brew. Cinnamon and Molasses mix with hints of over-ripe fruit, like oranges. Also, hops are prevalent here, more so than most Belgian Ales of this type. However, the maltiness, yeast, fruit and spice overpower. Aftertaste is of Bergamot orange peel. Jugsy:Very lightly roasted malts with a secondary yeast flavor. Delicate hops flavor provides a bitter middle-note. Spicy citrus and apple taste intertwine with a slightly bitter aftertaste. There seems to be coffee in there somewhere, too!
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy:Is this where I should mention the creamy moustache I got with my first drink? This Ale is spicy on the tongue, as I mentioned before, similar to winter brews. Goes down with a smooth, creamy finish. Jugsy: Feels creamy and rich as it goes down. The flavors fan out smoothly across the palate. Briefly biting carbonation appears then disappears, leaving the tongue coated with mildly bitter funk.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy: Goes down easy! Not heavy at all. I began to feel the 8.5% ABV P.D.Q.! Got that warm, fuzzy feeling all over and a little bit of a flushed face. This would be a great breakfast beer on a cold, winter day. Then another at 11 a.m. and one more for lunch…. Jugsy:The Saison Imperiale is complex but doesn’t taste like a heavy beer. Due to its 8.5% ABV, I wouldn’t recommend this as a session beer, but it’s great on its own. I have to agree with Mugsy, I certainly felt the effects of alcohol very quickly!
OVERALL:
Mugsy: Nice beer. Just complex enough to know that the brewers care about what they do. Would be happy to drink again. Jugsy:Thoroughly enjoyable brew. The combination of flavors is fresh and surprising. I get the feeling this is a cold weather drink that warms one after a hard day’s work on the farm (or at the office?). This beer is meant to be savored.
Just in time for Halloween, Mugsy and Jugsy bring you… Ruination!At a staggering 100+ IBUs [International Bitterness Units], this brew is not for the faint at heart.And, there’s no getting around the menacing demon staring down at you from the bottle, just daring you to take it all in!
The bottle is as interesting to look at as it is to read.(Stone Brewing Co. rarely disappoints in this regard!)Ruination IPA warns: “If you are not already a confirmed hophead … this is NOT the place to start.”
Mugsy?Check.
Jugsy?Check.
Let’s begin!
In every proper review, we will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Mugsy:Reddish brown, almost copper colored with average size heat that dissipates fairly quickly.Can see fair amount of carbonation.
Jugsy:Golden / red, copper color with medium head which dissipates quickly, light enough in color to see carbonation bubbles rising.
AROMA:
Mugsy:Strong, biting hops attack the nose instantly.Hidden in the background are faint scents of honey & fruit – possibly pineapple.Very slight bit of yeasty funkiness becomes discernible later on.
Jugsy:Sweet, fragrance of flowery hops with very mild yeast undertones.Fruity pineapple and apricot scent, almost smells like sweet bread!
TASTE:
Mugsy:Extremely hoppy and bitter as the 100+ IBU rating would imply.These are not floral hops.Tastes as if it is dry-hopped, perhaps.Aftertaste is hoppy as well; almost soapy.
Jugsy:Immediate taste is bitter and soapy; flowery hops.Mid-notes include a sweet and lightly funky yeast flavor alongside the full-bodied hops.Leaves a distinctly bitter yet pleasant aftertaste.
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy:Fair bit of carbonation present, but not overwhelming.Feel is surprisingly light for such a strong taste.Not heavy at all.Goes down like a Pilsener more than an Ale.
Jugsy:Smooth and creamy with a perfect amount of carbonation.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy:The extreme hoppiness is fantastic, but by the same token, does not lend itself to being a session beer.Would go well with spicy or rich foods, like curry.
Jugsy:At a 7.7% ABV, this isn’t the type of brew one can throw back in mass quantities.However, even at 100+ IBU, Stone Ruination IPA is light and bursting with hoppy flavor.This is a beer which deserves to be savored.
OVERALL:
Mugsy:Great IPA, but not very complex.Not that an IPA should be overly complex, but maybe just a little more than bitter.However, if you love hops, this is for you -- as the bottle states, this IPA is all about the “Glorious Hops.”
Jugsy:From the moment I smelled its alluring, hoppy aroma, I was dying to taste the Ruination.It certainly did not disappoint!This is one of the finest IPA’s I have ever sampled.The balance of aroma and flavors sets this IPA apart from the competition.
Staying with the Oktoberfest theme from last week, Mugsy and Jugsy decided to review another season-appropriate brew.With a name like “Hoptober” this beer was just begging to be sampled, savored – and naturally, reviewed!At a relatively high 40 IBU [International Bitterness Units] Mugsy and Jugsy couldn’t wait to whet their palates with all the Hoppy goodness this beer promised to deliver!
Let the Hoppiness begin! (Jugsy couldn’t resist that one.)
In every proper review, we will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Hoptober Golden Ale
APPEARANCE:
Mugsy:Deep golden color, with a thin-ish head; lots of carbonation visible.
Jugsy:Golden, deep amber color with slight reddish tones, medium head (most of which dissipates rapidly), visibly carbonated; leaves lacing on glass.
AROMA:
Mugsy:Intense flower hops immediately singe the nose hairs.Smells almost like a West Coast IPA.
Jugsy:Immediate smell is one of flowery hops; noticeable orange undertones with a hint of Vanilla; sweet, inviting scent.
TASTE:
Mugsy:Very hoppy, but not quite as hoppy as the aroma indicates.Definitely bitter, but not like an IPA; slight aftertaste of orange peel, lemon.I can’t help but take a big whiff of hops with every gulp!
Jugsy:Soapy, flowery taste of hops; secondary citrus flavors with a hint of nutmeg and possibly something spicier.It has a pleasant, bitter finish with strong hops aftertaste.
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy:The 40 IBU rating is apparent as the hops bite the tongue.Goes down very clean and crisp.More like a Pilsner rather than an Ale, but not quite as carbonated.
Jugsy:Slightly watery, more than moderately carbonated; crisp and light.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy:Would be very easy to throw these back on a hot day and be loaded before you knew it!The Pilsner-like quality makes it not heavy as an Ale and very drinkable.
Jugsy:Very drinkable – light and refreshing, yet flavorful enough to be enjoyably consumed as a good session beer.
OVERALL:
Mugsy:Good beer.Not overly complex but would be a great beer to drink with friends or with a sandwich (or other light food).Would definitely drink this again!
Jugsy:I’m a big fan of the flowery hop taste.At 40 IBU, Hoptober has a good ratio of bitterness to overall flavor.While I did enjoy this beer, I can’t help but feel that something was missing!It left me wanting just a little more.Having said that, I wouldn’t turn down a tall, cold glass anytime soon!
Brewed by Indian Wells Brewing Company 12 fl oz. bottle – 5.5% ABV Served in a Pint Glass As our second beer for review, we decided to review Märzen Madness, which is actually an Oktoberfest-style beer. We were curious as to why an Oktoberfest beer would be named “Märzen Madness” or “March Madness” -- so we decided to do some investigating!
It turns out that Oktoberfest beers were traditionally brewed in March, before the summer weather rendered brewing impossible. The remaining stock of beer was consumed in the in the interim and then, the special “Märzenbier” or “March beer” would be ready just in time for Oktoberfest.
Works for us!
In every proper review, we will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10. Märzen Madness
APPEARANCE:
Mugsy:Golden color with a hint of red; appears to be fairly carbonated by number of rising bubbles, yet has a very small, thin head. Jugsy:Amber / caramel in color, very thin head which dissipates quickly.
AROMA:
Mugsy: Nose is a little funky, almost like some very yeasty Belgians; sweet note of fruit, but the funky smell dominates. Jugsy: Light smell of apricot; scent of sourdough bread, mild yeast, possible pineapple; fruity funk.
TASTE:
Mugsy: Crisp hops; strong at the top, which dissipates; takes a taste or two to get the flavor of malt, which is completely hidden and is only a distant aftertaste. Overall taste is light and fairly watery, although there’s a tiny taste of hops bitterness left on the tongue. Jugsy: Strong sourdough aftertaste; more complex than the aroma would suggest, mildly bitter, but bitterness dissipates quickly, giving way to lightly roasted malt, crisp, moderately carbonated with some kind of muted fruit flavor in the background.
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy: Lots of carbonation. Bubbles! The bubbles go right up your nose. The beer itself is extremely watery. Jugsy: Average - definitely not a full-bodied beer; light, crisp, moderately carbonated and very watery.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy: Can throw these back as this beer is so light. Not very complex, though. Jugsy: Since it’s not heavy, you could certainly drink this all night, but with all the other great beers in the world, you might not want to. Just an average brew.
OVERALL:
Mugsy: A bit bland; lacks complexity; extremely one-dimensional. Due to its lightness, this would be a good session beer, after you run out of your first two or three session beers. Jugsy: I’m not a huge fan of most Oktoberfest brews I’ve tried thus far and I’m sorry to say that Märzen Madness doesn’t do much to change my mind. This beer is so average as to be completely forgettable. I’ll take a beer with character any day of the week.
Mugsy & Jugsy’s first beer up for review… {drum-roll, please}
Black Hart – Irish Style Dry Stout
Brewed by NorthCoast Brewing Company
12 fl oz. bottle – 5.5% ABV
Served in a Pint Glass
Mugsy, who is by far, the more discerning beer enthusiast is open to trying anything. He actually likes stouts! Jugsy, on the other hand, has a strong preference for certain types of beer – stouts not generally among them. But when faced with the taunting question: “Are you afraid of the Dark?” She knew she had no other choice but to face the challenge head-on.
In every proper review, we will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.
Black Hart – Irish Style Dry Stout
APPEARANCE:
Mugsy: Extremely dark, brown to black with slight reddish tint, medium dark cola-ish head; head dissipates, but not overly rapidly.
Jugsy: Small head, very dark in color, almost black even when held up to the light; leaves a delicate lacing on the glass, head evaporates quickly.
AROMA:
Mugsy: Roasted malt, with big toffee taste and slight coffee undertones.
Jugsy: Funky, burnt malt, sour smell of yeast, slightly reminiscent of sour milk/cheese, sourdough, hint of coffee grounds.
TASTE:
Mugsy: Roasted malt, slight smokiness detected, big toffee taste that stays long after drinking; hint of caramel aftertaste; very slight coffee ground aftertaste; hint of bittersweet chocolate.
Jugsy: Strong chocolate flavors; bitter, with creamy roasted malt; light coffee aftertaste; simple flavors, not a complex palate.
MOUTH-FEEL:
Mugsy: Good amount of carbonation, much more so than a true English / Irish stout; obvious that this is a U.S. brew. Fair bit of bitterness on palate as it goes down; dry, like a stout should be.
Jugsy: Creamy, smooth feel, mild carbonation and a delicate finish.
DRINKABILITY:
Mugsy: Easy to drink, especially for a stout, but wouldn’t drink more than a couple of glasses at a time due to the dryness and bitter-sweetness.
Jugsy: Surprisingly light and refreshing, particularly for such a dark brew – very drinkable.
OVERALL:
Mugsy: A fine beer. I like this better than many English / Irish Stouts. It would pair well with rich foods. I would definitely drink this again, any time!
Jugsy: This is a pleasant stout, refreshing, not heavy – not overbearing – just the thing for those chilly Irish twilights.
