Festina Pêche

Beer: Dogfish Head Festina Pêche
Brewery: Dogfish Head, Milton Delaware
ABV: 4.5%
Style: neo-BerlinerWeisse
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression: Mouth puckering lip smacking sour from start to finish. That more or less summarizes the general thrust of Festina Pêche. I am guessing Dogfish was generally content with this outcome given that they labeled it a malt beverage, unlike thier other products which are labeled ale. Beyond the potent carbonation and a sustained sour finish kissed with a hint of peach not much else is present. The golden hue of Festina Peche makes and excellent backdrop for the fizzy carbonation bubbles zipping around the glass and the malt beverage also suds up into a lovely white frothy head. Unfortunately this package does not justify the outrageously high price point of $10.99/4-pack in my neighborhood. I am typically willing to shell out this type of dough for Dogfish creations which are crafted with the care and diligence of a fine wine. Being a bit of a Dogfish fanboy it is hard to say, but I would not recommend Festina Peche and I don’t plan to ever buy it again…then again if you want to impress a girl maybe you should get it. Mine liked it.

Stone IPA

Beer: Stone IPA
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA
ABV: 6.9%
Style: American IPA
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression:Ahh yes the Stone IPA. To say this beer has a strong following may be a bit of an understatement. This IPA has won the hearts and loyalty of many. In large part I think Stone has earned that admiration and fanfare as this is a good beer. I think it may actually be on the cusp of great, but I personally can’t quite put it in that category. I think Ruination is a superior beverage in the Stone family. But, this IPA holds its own from start to finish even though I wish there was a bit more body and malt. I really enjoy the grapefruit citrus that permeates the aroma and finish. Unfortunately, the ale finishes with a hint of sour acidity that detracts from the overall experience. That of course is all personal taste as some love being pounded by IBU’s regardless of balance or flavor. The bright straw color, healthy sized head, and brilliant hop aroma all fit well within the IPA style. I would recommend you try this ale with food as it will make a fair paring with virtually anything spicy or dripping in barbecue sauce. In summation, while I prefer labels to printed bottles (unfounded personal preference) given this IPA’s availability I would drink this wherever you find it on tap. It is likely the best option.

Double Dragon

Beer: Felinfoel Double Dragon
Brewery: Felinfoel Brewery Company, Ltd., Llanelli, Wales, United Kingdom
ABV: 4.2%
Style: English Pale Ale
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 16.9 oz

Impression: I was immediately attracted to this beer for two reasons. First, it shares the name of one of my all time favorite video games which brought pleasant memories flooding back. Second, at the bottom of the label in rather humble text are the words “the national ale of Wales.” Aside from instantly wondering if there is a national lager of Wales, I figured that between the nostalgia and national endorsement I would likely have a pleasant experience. And, yeah I did. I like Double Dragon. This beer manages to pack a fair amount in while still maintaining a pleasantly understated simplicity. The flavors are earthy, woody, and nutty with mild malt and hopping. At the end of a sip I taste almost a mild toasted popcorn flavor. Really it seems like this beer has an “old soul” which I realize sounds ludicrous. But, it actually smells and tastes of an old bar, as if somehow the wood, smoke and years of spilt beer from a Welsh pub have all made it into the bottle. Of course I mean that in a good way. Admittedly this sounds bizarre, but give Double Dragon a try. I think most anyone would enjoy this ale…Now if I could only find where I put my old Nintendo.

Mighty Arrow

Beer: Mighty Arrow Pale Ale
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado
ABV: 6%
Style: American Pale Ale
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression:I like Mighty Arrow, there it is. It’s not glamorous or ground breaking. It is clean, tight and refreshing. Those are elements I consider essential to pale ales. I also consider Mighty Arrow to be New Belgium’s second most drinkable beer. Second to my favorite New Belgium ware, 2° Below. (If only it weren’t seasonal!) A few noticeable characteristics I enjoy about Mighty Arrow are its blazing clarity, round mellow mouth feel and the smooth farewell as it slides into the abyss of my gullet. I will certainly drink this again. I must admit that London Pride really is my favorite and Mirror Pond my standby pale ale, but Mighty Arrow could push. I recommend anyone who wants to experience mild hopping and a zesty little body pick up a 6-pack, or anyone heading to a social gathering. The New Belgium brand will certainly secure your credibility and the approachability of this ale will provide wide appeal at the function. But, hey you could always tear down a sixer all on your own…I sure won’t judge you.

Odell IPA

Beer:Odell India Pale Ale
Brewery: Odell Brewing Co, Fort Collins, Colorado
ABV: 7%
Style: American IPA
Sample Medium:Bottle
Size: 12 oz

Impression: Odell doesn’t hold back on their India Pale Ale, hop-tastic right out of the gates. Plenty of citrus zip enchants the tongue and olfactory. The effect creates a zesty little jab to the face that really almost overwhelmed my senses. I guess I should have anticipated a wild ride from the rodeo like scene on the bottle depicting a man riding a bucking elephant. I also appreciate the lush foamy head that adorns the top of this beer so proudly and possesses notable staying power. It’s not all sunshine though as I’ll admit I am not exactly smitten with the mildly hazy color that lacks depth and what I consider to be an underdeveloped body. Certainly the fleeting hop forward punch which mellows into a light crisp finish accented with a clean hop bite positions this ale well for the opportunity to earn much admiration. However for me the body could use a bit more presence to balance out the opening act. It is fun for a hop head, but like a one trick pony this ale loses its luster after a bit. I don’t mean to sound too harsh as Odell really has delivered a tidy little IPA and I would recommend it to those who enjoy hops but not too much malty sweetness. This beer is for you. In short: I am glad I tried it and would drink it again, but for the most part I will stick to The Maharaja, 90 Minute IPA, or Hop Knot as my staple IPA’s for now.

Session Black

Beer:Session Black Premium Lager
Brewery: Full Sail Brewing Co, Hood River, Oregon
ABV: 5.4%
Style: European Dark Lager
Sample Medium: Bottle
Size: 11 oz

Impression:I like this lager for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which being pleasant refreshment. But quaff-ability aside, I am thrilled that Session Black single handedly provides an excellent educational opportunity as well as supplying craft newbies a first-rate transition beer. Let me explain. First, this lager really accentuates the difference between “dark” and “heavy” beers and how the two can be mutually exclusive. These two concepts are so frequently misunderstood as interchangeable descriptions in the general public’s mind. Session Black offers a great education opportunity to experience how darker beer ≠ heavy. Second, Session Black, much like the original Session, offers an extremely approachable beer for those who principally drink mass produced light American lagers, but are interested in expanding into other suds. Don’t get me wrong though, I am not saying Session Black is only for rookies. Yes, the dark lager has such a mellow texture and mild well balanced flavors that anyone can enjoy it, and yet there is enough complexity and depth to entice the seasoned connoisseur.

Ok for the actual review. Though dubbed Session Black, the color leans more towards a deep brown. The hopping must be very mild as I don’t detect much. This lager passes gently over the palate with a touch of toasty caramel malt. A hint of well placed sweetness fades into a nice clean finish truly making this a session beer. Definitely try this one and bring it to your next summer gathering. Now I just have figure out which Session to keep on hand. Hey Full Sail how about offering a half/half 12 pack?(6-Session, 6-Session Black)