Colin Considers Customer Picks

This is a slightly tardy rundown of Vendome's (is this actually their site?) February 2nd Customer Picks tasting. It was pretty well varied, and considerably more successful than the Mountain People's Distributors tasting that followed a week later. No offense to Mountain People's Distributors...but I'm off topic. I'll deal with them in another post.


Let's start with The Good.

Hambleton Ales Toleration is a low alcohol (4.4% ABV), gluten free, English Pale Ale from North Yorkshire in the UK. It has a mild scent of grapes and leather (which is not as unpleasant a combination as you might expect.) The flavor includes overtones of sweet white wine, and the beer is smooth and pleasant. I had a particularly clear palette for this one being the first of the day. Props to Hambleton, as well, for having a well designed (and appealing) web page.

Second on the list, and second across the lips was a Burton Bridge India Empire Pale Ale. Despite being higher in alcohol (7.5% ABV), this was a remarkably friendly beer. Brewed in Burton-on-Trent in the UK, this ale wafts citrus and honey. On the tongue it bares a strong hops presence without being overwhelmingly strong. Well done, Burton Bridge.

From Kaufbeuren, Germany comes Aktienbrauerei Buronator Doppelbock. Also a high alcohol brew (7.5% ABV) it is incredibly smooth, filling the nose and washing the taste buds with honey. I don't believe there's actually any honey in the brew (there are laws about such things in Germany, as I recall), but it does show in contrast to many American "honey-brewed" beers that tend to be slightly offensive to the pallette. This doppelbock offers no such offense.


Now for The Bad.

Actually, there's nothing inherently wrong with Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale. I just don't want one very often. When I do, it's usually for its more, shall we say, ass-kicking properties (7.2% ABV) than for its flavor. Stone, based out of Escondido, California, produce this woody, grapefruity ale specifically to show you who's boss (and it's not you.) Arrogant Bastard is appropriately named, and is just a fun beer with a distinct, inoffensive (though powerful) flavor, worth a drink every once in a while. A great looking beer with attitude.


And, of course, The Ugly.

Alpine Ichabod Pumpkin Ale (6.6% ABV). It's not the worst beer on earth, by any measure, but Pumpkin does not belong in beer, and this is no exception. Yes you can taste the pumpkin, while inhaling the aroma of cloves and nutmeg...and beer. It doesn't finish well, either. Sour. Sour, nutmegy, clovey, pumpkiny, uh...beer. Why do people insist on trying to make ale festive by adding non-complimentary ingedients? Also, don't confuse Alpine Beer Co. (makers of Ichabod Pumpkin Ale) with Alpine Brewery (makers of "Fine German Style" beer.) Two different companies. Alpine Beer Co. may have some finer brews, but this is not one of them.

Beer's Best Friend
-Colin