ze june brune

"Alcohol: The cause and solution to all of life's problems"
- Homer J. Simpson

22 May 2008
Beer: Dogfish Head 60 IPA
Location: Fine Fare
Price: $11/6pk
Grade: 6.5

A better-than-most session beer that is comforting, delicious and swell. Would be good with some grilled pork and a woman…. And a swimming pool and… also by itself. But nonetheless, a great beer that gets the job done. It has some hops and some bitters, but definitely not enough for the true beer connoisseur. At least a smart one. Basically a stable IPA that is a good way to introduce the archetypical beer to a junior. Other than that, it is what it is and that’s about it. Copper hue and nice bubbly.

22 May 2008
Beer: Six Point Bengali Tiger IPA, Cask Ale
Location: Back Forty, Avenue B @ E 12th St
Price: $8/pint
Grade: 7.3

A good IPA with more power to it than the Dogfish. Cask Ale means it’s at room temperature that may throw off a few. Floral and yeasty, mid-bitters with a medium body. Sweet hops and smooth flow over the tongue. A nice aroma that tingles the nose and definitely tingles the tongue. Not very biter at all, but rather a massage. Slighty grassiness and and little of hay-thrown in (like a horse, right?), but it’s definitely a sweetie.

22 May 2008
Beer: Black Wattle Superior, Baron’s Wattle Seed Ale
Location: Fine Fare
Price: $9/6pk
Grade: 6.2

Funky – like wet cedar wood. Some raisins and poppy, raspberries and blackberries mixed with leather. Sweet and nectar-y, yet still dark and thick enough. Medium body. Rye and wheat, slight yeast with a good amount of maltiness. Subtle, not punchy or hoppy, or even all that bitter. A Dark ale that tastes roasted and balanced. A bit of creaminess with a fine amount of robustness. Tastes of dates and cloves, almost similar to the Scottish Orkney Ale.

22 May 2008
Beer: Negra Modelo
Location: Zip’s
Price: Gratis, Cohen Inc.
Grade: 5.6
Like a dark latin lover. Or something. It’s ok, and it’s has its moments at every other party of eating event – but it’s not on the ‘favorites’ list. Sweet and dark, some sugar and tannish head. Molasses and lots of bubbles, light-medium body. Nutty and such. Not on the ‘favorites’ list for now, but maybe it just needs some more samplings. I’m still waiting for the beach condo on the Yucatan peninsula to pull through - then we’ll see if Negra finds a way to the top.

23 May 2008
Beer: Brooklyn Brewery, Brown Ale
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $19/12 Brooklyn-Party Pack
Grade: 6.5

Deep nutty brown, hints of chocolate and sweetness. Smooth with slight medium thickness, but doesn’t compare to some true brown ales out there. However, it still is a fine sip with some dark hues and tastes. Roasted caramel comes through, maltiness, vague creamy. It’s like drinking a slightly sweet, slightly bitter, slightly dense chocolate-maltly biscuit. As if that even makes sense…

23 May 2008
Beer: Brooklyn Brewery, Pennant Ale ‘55
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $19/12 Brooklyn-Party Pack
Grade: 6.9

Malty and floral, not the most complex pale ale but surely enjoyable. Sweet and dry, clear, crisp copper. Not too bitter, some pine and grass. So-so carbonation and breadiness. But at times can be ‘flat’ to some.

23 May 2008
Beer: Anchor Brewing Co., Anchor Liberty Ale
Location: Ave D @ E 8th St Deli
Price: Gratis, Mroczka Bros.
Grade: 7.1

Always a good fall back for any occasion. Lil citrus, lil bitter, lil hops. Smooth and malty, medium bod, fine for swigging and sitting back. A good beer for a BBQ.

24 May 2008
Beer: Pro AM Long Island Altbier, Cask Ale
Location: East Village Tavern, Ave C @ E 10th St
Price: $6
Grade: 8.1

Sublime goodness. Goes down easy, not overly complex, doesn’t try too hard, just a swell beer. Creamy, medium-heavy body, few hops/bubblies to bother it (naturally carbonated), smooth and yeasty. Like fresh toasted bread, buttery and slight chewiness. Just good beer, that’s all you need to know.

24 May 2008
Beer: Avery Brewing Co., Ellie’s Brown Ale
Location: Bar, Ave C @ E 10th St
Price: $6
Grade: 7.7

Smoky, roasted malts, deep, rich flavor. Chocolate and hickory mixed with a bit of molasses and clove. Heavy body with ample flavor throughout, good bite and frothy pour. Caramel and cream, some toffee and nut. Even a niblet of hazelnut threw its way in there. Very nice, very well done.

26 May 2008
Beer: Associated Breweries & Distilleries Ltd., Maharaja Pilsner
Location: Curry Mahal Indian
Price: $4/bottle
Grade: 3.2

Pissy Indian beer, supposedly “inspired” by German & Belgian brewers. I say, “Bullshit.” Light, insipid, grassy, watery and very bland. Like stale water coating your tongue.

29 May 2008
Beer: Brouwerij Bosteels, Tripel Karmeliet
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $7/750mL
Grade: 8.3

Ridiculous 4-finger head that continued to grow for about a minute after pouring. Insane carbonation and good alcohol taste throughout. Very robust, fruity, spicy and floral. Not at all that bitter, but a somewhat sourish-tart aftertaste mixed with honey sweetness (as if that’s even possible?). Very nice, very balanced. May be a bit ‘strong’ for the average drinker, but for those that appreciate – this one delivers. Oat-y, malty, good barley. A wonderful blond that makes you appreciate the Belgians for all the good they do in the world. (Like make beer). Not as sweet and fizzy as a duvel, more of a mellowed out complex blond. There’s more of a sweetness to it – like honey or a faint caramel, with cinnamon and coriander on the tip. A bit bready with an overall medium body. Have a few of these boys while sitting at the beer café and you’ll be feeling real good – both beacause of taste and its 8.1% ABV.

30 May 2008
Beer: Sierra Nevada Summer Ale
Location: Associated
Price: Gratis, courtesy Cohen Inc.
Grade: 6.9

Not a bad summer ale at all. Very refreshing and crisp, not that big of a downer or a try-too-hard beer.

31 May 2008
Beer:Trader Joe’s Hofbrau Bock
Location: Trader Joe’s
Price: $6/6pk
Grade: 5.4

An earnest try and an earnest outcome. Drinkable, sessionable, but surely not awardable. Gets the job done with a little more class than your average mega-brew beer.

1 June 2008
Beer: Magic Hat No. 9
Location: Hi-Fi Bar
Price: $5/pint
Grade: 7.1

Odd, perculiar. A beer to try, but not to come back continuously. Unless you’re crazy like that?

1 June 2008
Beer: Hennepin Ommegang
Location: Mud, 307 E 9th St @ 2nd Avenue
Price: $6/pint
Grade: 7.8

Refreshing and good. Not top notch though. But those Cooperstown fellows surely make some better beer than their American counterparts.

2 June 2008
Beer: Brooklyn Summer Ale
Location: Ben’s Deli, Avenue B @ E 3rd St
Price: $12/6pk
Grade: 6.1

Consumed at Café Cortadito. Lovely, though not jaw-dropping.

5 June 2008
Beer: Strongbow, Cider Beer
Location: Sunburnt Cow, Avenue C @ E 8th St
Price: $6/2 pints (Special)
Grade: 6.2

Cider beer, it’s something else. Surely not for all though.

6 June 2008
Beer: Red Stripe, Jamaica Lager
Location: Ted Sergison Beer Supply Co.
Price: Gratis
Grade: 6.1

Actually not all that bad for being a “hyped up” beer that cool people consume. Whether it’s the stubby bottle or slightly spicy, slightly sweet lager the beer is a swell one. It’d be interesting to get it on draught sometime soon.

7 June 2008
Beer: Stone Brewery, Ruination IPA
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $6/650mL
Grade: 7.2

Grassy, scratchy, germ-y, bitter and tart. Sweet yet hoppy, quite sour aftertaste. Still don’t like the company though, totally full of themselves – whether a joke or not. Some “hardcore” brewery ranting never gets me. Beer was hoppy and unique, but not that cool.

8 June 2008
Beer: Rogue, Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red Ale
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $6/650mL
Grade: 7.5

Hoppy, bitter, very grassy. Juniper berries, pine, cedar. Would be great with BBQ.

10 June 2008
Beer: Corona Light
Location: GQ, Conde Nast Publications
Price: Gratis
Grade: 3.2

Piss. Mexican piss.


12 June 08
Beer: Dunkel HB
Location: The E.U., 29 E 4th St @ Ave B
Price: $9/.5 L
Grade: 8.2

Surprising for a HB beer. I usually think they have good beers – but not necessarily exceptional ones. Maybe it was just this mini-stein or I was just feeling good that day, but this was really nice and roasty, dark and malty.

12 June 08
Beer: Maredsous
Location: The E.U., 29 E 4th St @ Ave B
Price: $9/.5L
Grade: 8.1

A strong contender in terms of Belgian beers. Always reliable and always great. Not a summit-topper but surely gets the job done.

12 June 08
Beer: Schlenkerla, Helles Skaslinden
Location: The E.U., 29 E 4th St @ Ave B
Price: $11/Bottle
Grade: 9.0

Utterly mind-blowing smoked beer. Makes any meat or grilled dinner taste even more amazing. I must go to Germany and try this beer.

13 June 08
Beer: La Chouffe (Draught)
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $11/Goblet
Grade: 8.4

Always excellent, especially on draft. Just as good as the one I had from Croxley’s about a month ago – except this time it was on draught. Not bad at all.

13 June 08
Beer: Strubbe (Draught)
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $6/.5 Pint
Grade: 6.2

Watery pils, very light and pissy.

13 June 08
Beer: Rochefort 8
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $16/Bottle
Grade: 8.7

Amazing, complex, dark, roasty and murky.

13 June 08
Beer: Urthel Hop-It, De Leyerth Brouwerijen
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $11/Bottle
Grade: 7.7

Very punchy and crisp. Citrus and cordiander really come through.

13 June 08
Beer: St. Bernardus Witbier, Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $7/Bottle
Grade: 7.8

Not bad, a much more mellowed witbier but with fine citrus notes. Very refreshing.

13 June 08
Beer: Delirum Nocturnum
Location: Resto, 111 29th St @ Park Ave
Price: $10/Bottle
Grade: 8.6

Funky, skunky, dark and mysterious. Not your usual beer. And surely not your usual price (at least in comparison to the price at the grocery store…). Very nice beer.

14 June 08
Beer: St. Bernardus Wit (Pierra Celis Signature Selection)
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $6.99/750mL
Grade: 7.8

Super sweet-short-tingle spiciness. Very citrusy – excllent carbonation, very crisp. Cloudy, milky pale yellow. Lighter on bottom and gets darker as higher. Almost could pass for a lemonade look. Very light and frothy head, very fine. A highly refreshing beer that doesn’t linger heavily, but still sticks around. Sharp, sharp, sharp feel in the mouth. Clean and crisp – can’t stress it enough. Yeasty.

15 June 08
Beer: Gulden Draak
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $13.99/750mL
Grade: 9.2

Fat 4.5” head, very frothy, very dark, silky and elegant beer. Musky, deep, dark molasses, like a fine, dark redwood. Very, very, very nice. Roasted, slight berry hints, dark wood, caramel, nice alcohol, soothing carbonation. Good, good malts.

15 June 08
Beer: Kronenbourg 1664
Location: Zip’s, Avenue C @ E 3rd St
Price: Gratis, via Mroczka Inc.
Grade: 5.0

Very grainy, grassy – kind of skunky. Thin, pissy with very light roasting. Malts and carbonation come through – not so much.

16 June 08
Beer: Zywiec
Location: Polonia, 1st Ave @ E 4th St
Price: Gratis, Mroczka Sampling Co.
Grade: 5.4

Polish. Grassy. Light. Pissy pilsner.

17 June 08
Beer: Endurance Pale Ale
Location: Associated
Price: $12/6pk
Grade: 6.5

Mellow, sweet, honey, slight yeast. Good but not excellent.

17 June 08
Beer: Stone IPA
Location: Associated
Price: Gratis, via Mroczka Sampling Co.
Grade: 7.3

Hop-fizzy central. Not bad at all.

18 June 08
Beer: Delirium Tremens
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $9.99/750mL
Grade: 8.2

Slightly disappointing, I will admit. Duvel – I think – just might beat this Belgian guy out. Not expected – but what I have to say after having this.

19 June 08
Beer: Lowenbrau
Location: Tanvi’s Apt
Price: Gratis, via New Zealand Hospitality Group/Chia Inc.
Grade: 5.7

Pissy but German. Not too bad.

20 June 08
Beer: Piraat (Amber Triple IPA), Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $12.99/750mL
Grade: 9.3

Soft, wheaty, yeasty, nice punch. Spicy, sweet, very well balanced, like a nice buttery loaf of bread with a tinge of alcohol. Subtle, comfortable carbonation with a lasting taste that lingers but does not harm. Sweet raisins and brown sugar but also a twist of citrus and that ‘Belgian Golden Ale’ taste. Sweet malt with tropical bitters and farmish-barn-like funkiness. Really peculiar but enjoyable. Like organic soil-ness but beer tasting. Spicy, herbal, sweet, truly enjoyable.

21 June 08
Beer: Saison Dupont
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $9.99/750mL
Grade: 7.9

Yeasty, excellent carbonation, good, robust body but still light and frothy on top.

21 June 08
Beer: Brooklyn India Pale Ale
Location: Grocery N7, N 7th St @ Driggs, Brooklyn, NY
Price: $10/6pk
Grade: 7.5

Punchy, grassy, ample bitters, a bready-citrus taste, with medium body.

24 June 08
Beer: St. Bernardus Abt 12
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $10.99/750mL
Grade: 7.7

Strong alcohol, prunes, caramel, manly leather undertones. Coffee and bitter, spiciness in the aftertaste. Sticks around and kind of pings the palette. Smudges of charcoal also. Almost too strong at times for a good drink though, can be overwhelming in the end if you’re not up for it. Medium body that doesn’t dissapate through, but different flavors throughout the bite.

25 June 08
Beer: Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $8.99/750mL
Grade: 7.9

Chocolate, roasted, rich molasses, syrupy, maple, hazelnut, medium light body. Very nice sweetness to it with good coffee-roast taste. Fine aroma, but a little weak on the finish and follow-through. Could be much more complex and full-bodied, a little of a tease and let down. Very mellow and very calm, an excellent beer to sit at a bar and have a few of. Could have some excellent potential on draught. Mostly a vague malt taste, no room for bitters and hops to mix in really. A great beer by itself or with a meal, but could use a little more if it is to live up to the sans-meal quality. Deep brown color, light tan 2” head. Nice and oak-y, a little spice of cinnamon or nutmeg.