Terminal Gravity ESG (Extra Special Golden)

I just so happened to pick Terminal Gravity ESG up from Malt & Vine the other day and then cosequently received a recommendation for it from my good friend Duncan… very much a coincidence I have to take advantage of, so here you go old chap… lets see if our tastes are aligned at all… Actually… I think Duncan recommended the IPA… this one is a Rye ale, so won’t compare beer to beer but lets see what this brewery can do.

Pours a clean, clear golden yellow with moderate head. Nose is light an sunny… hard to put a finger on it, but I note slight citrus. Taste is light… but thick… overall the taste is very mild from front to back, start to finish… they compare it to having more flavor than a traditiona American lager on their website but I would even draw that comparison… I can actually *drink* this beer…

Overall a very easy drinking brew that would be welcome in my fridge on any warm summer’s day.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi

Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi… interesting that we tried this right after the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collaboration with Tomme Arthur since Tomme Arthur is of the Lost Abbey fame, as well…   That might not have been the best move, though, since at the end of it the Gift of the Magi ended up being really very plain and ho-hum.  The appearance is probably the most notable with a solid copper/ruddy brown color .  Head was minimal and didn’t last long… nose was slight and forgettable and the body was uninteresting.  I almost tasted a bit of astringency in the final taste, too, and not in any good type of way.  Overall pretty dissapointing… usually I like Lost Abbey but this one can stay at the store.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Squatters Chasing Tail Golden Ale

So far our beer drinking endeavors have been rewarding to say the least.  We have been able to taste about 8 different brews in about 48 hours and still have quite a few in the fridge to go through.  Ahh… vacation is great, isn’t it.  Need to finish up with last night’s beer… Squatters Chasing Tail Golden Ale was the last one of the evening and I wish it hadn’t been as I am sure that is why I had the recurring nightmare that a dog was pissing in my mouth… <shiver>. 

Not only was this beer not good, but it… well… it just wasn’t good.  Another watered down beer that was attempting greatness and just didn’t make it.  I think I figured out my theory on these beers… beer needs to be beer… it can’t be held back and shackled into an alcohol level that it isn’t made for.  When this does happen, it takes away that special something that makes a good, cared for beer a good beer.  Just like the cheaper bottles of wine.  Some have potential for greatness, but if you put it in a box, you just aren’t going to get the most out of it.

So, this beer was all the wrong kinds of bitter, nasty aftertaste that was in your throat and wouldn’t go away.  Especially out of the bottle, this was some skunky beer.  Golden in color, golden medal, golden lump of dog feces in my book.  Ok… a little harsh, but I really didn’t enjoy this one and neither did my drinking partner of the night, for that matter.

JBB6 Rating: Just Not Right