Welcome to the first installment of Beer Reviews From Complete Amateurs! To celebrate Alisha’s 22nd birthday, she and I got decided to get some delicious crêps at Le Happy and then head over to Portland’s Primere Beer Store and Biercafe, Belmont Station, which is home to over 700 bottled beers from all around the world. Picking five was difficult, but we spotted a few we had been looking for and chose a few newbies to try. These were our specimens:
L to R: Moylan’s Hopsickle Imperial Ale (Triple Hoppy), St. Bernardus Abt 12, Rogue Juniper Pale Ale, Unibroue’s La Fin Du Monde, Le Caracole’s Saxo
This was our rating system:
1. La Fin Du Monde by Unibroue in Quebec, Canada (triple fermentation), 9%.
We chose a delightful beer to begin with and, at first taste, Alisha described it’s texture trail as “fizzy then smooth”, to which I responded “uhhuh.” I added that it was very enjoyable and, relating it to one of my all time favs, added that it tasted “less yeasty than Delirium” and “golden”. Translated as “The End of the World”, La Fin Du Monde received may grain references and, although a bit inconsistent, Alisha stated that it had a “light grain, very grainy” taste and reminded her of a “rice flour pancake”.
Rating: 7.5
2. Abt 12 by Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV in Watou, Belgium, 10%.
Although the build up was huge for this one, and we realized it was way more kick-ass than a Bud Light or some shit, the Abt 12 was unfortunately kind of a let down. “It’s like you’re in a luke warm bath and your lover walks in the door…” is what I stated, nailing the exact feeling we had: a hope for more, blue balls, just a tease, etc. Alisha originally felt “all over the mouth sensations” but added that there was “no aftertaste — (just) a rush of fizz and flavor”. I thought it was kinda “nutty” and hit on the “edges of the tongue”. After taking another sip I affirmed this thought, “yeah, it’s pretty edgy.” Up to this point we were drinking out of rim-chipped champagne glass and I was wishing that we had real Belgium glasses and Alisha thought that we “may need to let it ‘air’” before trying it. This was a good call. We ate some cabbage, muenster cheese, and sauerkraut and let the Abt 12 breathe for a few minutes and it opened up a bit. As I finished my glass I stated, “it’s a belly ale for sure, though not super heavy.“
Rating: 7
3. La Caracole Saxo by Le Caracole in Falmignoul, Belgium, 8%.
The Saxo was a delicious Beligum Blonde Ale that I described as “less intense and a little more rounded” than the similar Le Fin Du Monde. “Still sharp with a light, airy texture”, I thought as I imagined that it could be the perfect beer if served cold on a hot summer day — especially at the remarkably low price ($2.99 for a 12oz. bottle). Alisha described this one as “simple and subtly sour”, even going as far as saying it was “the whiskey-sour of beers (Jordan: “with less pucker!”).“
Split Rating — Jordan: 7, Alisha: 7.5
4. Rogue Juniper Pale Ale by Rogue Ales in Newport, Oregon, 5.2%.
“Whoa!” Alisha said after her first sip. The Juniper Pale Ale tastes earthy, leafy, woody, and Alisha pumped out the mountain references: like the “high desert mountains of New Mexico” or “breathing in mountain air” or “or hiking in a forest and breathing deeply”. The juniper berries were very present but not too overwhelming and the overall taste of the beer is well rounded, “full, and surrounds your senses” — “it’s like a smell in your mouth!” My knowledge of Rogues vocally came out a-shining and, as the bottle neared empty, I stated that “it tastes like a Rogue. For sure.“
Split Rating — Jordan: 8.25, Alisha: 8.5
5. Moylans Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale (“Triple Hoppy”) by Moylans Brewery in Novato, CA, 9.2%.
I enjoyed this brew the best of all. I initially thought “broad tan and foamy butter and sour potato (Alisha’s handwriting was a bit blurry by this time)”. Julie tasted this one and was reminded of a “sudden rough awakening in a car on a roadtrip.” Caleb chipped in that it tasted like an “old, long-dead tree branch” and Vicki threw in a “citrusy, grapefruit” reference. Alisha thought it was “rounded and fleshy”.
Split Rating — Jordan: 8.5, Alisha: 9
There it is…and here is our bellies full of beer:
