Bell's Batch 10,000 | ZE Beer Review

Every thousand batches, Bell's makes a specialty-release beer that commemorates their own continued existence. For Batch 10,000, they threw in everything but the kitchen sink, and then tossed in the sink for good measure. Over a hundred types of grains and sixty types of hops went into making this massive barleywine.

Definitely not for the faint of heart.

The list of ingredients in the brew can be found here.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

If We Did Book Reviews the Way We Do Beer Reviews

This is a parody.

Which means that I'm not REALLY reviewing the book, but doing the version that I'd do if I did book reviews the way I do beer reviews.

Beer reviewing (at least video beer reviewing) is based on the immediate impression, on what is going on at-the-moment. It's difficult, when recording a review, to really give an overall perspective on a beer.

Imagine if Siskel & Ebert had had to stop every ten minutes during a movie to record thoughts about the flick, and those thoughts had made up the overall review, to understand what it's like to try to do these videos.

Moosbacher Schwarz Weisse | ZE Beer Review

Another German beer review. I've had a request from Youtube user grandilochris to do more German beers, so here goes.

This was my second attempt reviewing this bottle, as the first time I had technical issues that made the footage unusable.

Overall this is a nice dunkel weizen, even if it doesn't really stand out from the pack.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

St Ambroise McAuslan Oatmeal Stout | ZE Beer Review

St Ambroise McAuslan Oatmeal Stout (bottle)
Montreal, Quebec
5.0 % ABV

This is one of fellow Youtube reviewer elharlock's favorite beers. Will I like it as well as he does? Guess you'll have to watch the vid to find out.

Click here's for elharlock's channel.




Zymurgical Explorations rating: B+

New Holland Beerhive | ZE Beer Review

My girlfriend Shana returns for another beer review. Yay!

This is an interesting beer, possibly a nice intro to the style for those just getting into Belgian beers, but ultimately somewhat disappointing to both me (an old Belgian lover) and Shana (who was looking for more prominent flavors from the odd ingredients). It's not a terrible beer, nor a great beer, but just a good one.

(Be sure to stick around until the end for an impromptu song by Shana.)



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+
Shana's grade: B

New Holland Hopivore | ZE Beer Review

Full disclosure: I actually shot this video a couple of weeks ago. Subsequent bottles lost even more of their hoppiness, so if you see this now it'll be even more of a standard pale ale.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-

Newcastle Brown and Summer Ale

In the interest of getting both of these beers reviewed, I decided to do to reviews in a single video. Newcastle Brown is completely common, available in all fifty states as far as I know, but the Summer Ale is a new release that was only in selected markets last summer. Chris over at BGN sent me a bottle when he pulled my name out of a hat for his 400th subscriber contest.

In the middle of this vid I also give you my method for clearing my palate between beers, if you're at all interested.



Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Brown): C
Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Summer): C+

Troegs Scratch Ale 35 (Fresh Hop Ale)

This is my first Troegs beer, sent to me by Chris over at BeerGeekNation, who lives about as close to them as I do to Bell's.

This is part of their Scratch series, where their brewers make specialty one-off releases. This time it's a wet-hopped Harvest Ale.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Beer Appreciation 101 (Part 2 of 3)

This is part two of an experimental series for me. I recorded a three-part series for people who are interested in pursuing the hobby, but who have no experience. In this series, I'm going to be talking about how exactly we examine, smell, and taste beer, with a final part dealing with some of the more general philosophical issues regarding rating beer.

This is not meant to be complete, and I am definitely interested in hearing people's thoughts, particularly from those new to the hobby. Suggestions for future videos are welcome.



In Part One, I detailed the way to pour properly, and talked about some of the things you can learn from looking at beer, and some general aroma notes.

In Part Two, I'm discussing issues surrounding taste, including mouthfeel and drinkability. What techniques should be used when attempting to get the most out of a beer?

Part Three will consider philosophical issues.

Oxfordshire Ales Marshmellow

I review an English Real Ale from Oxfordshire Ales. This one has nothing to do with marshmallows, but is instead a pretty decent ESB.

I found this to be quite a bit sweeter than I expected, without the dry caramel notes, but still quite nice. I'm definitely interested in hearing from others who have had it.

It's also my first beer review shot via webcam. Hopefully everything turns out okay.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Bell's The Oracle Vertical Tasting | ZE Beer Review

My first video vertical tasting. Of a truly awesome DIPA, Bell's The Oracle. I know not a lot of you have had the chance to try this yet, but I've heard they're going to be making a lot more of it in the future and expanding distribution.

Batch 9306 was bottled on August 28, 2009.

Batch 9901 was bottled August 23, 2010.

I shot this video on November 2, 2010.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A- (for both bottles)

Peroni Nastro Azzuro

Peroni Nastro Azzuro
Roma, Italy
5.1% ABV

A Euro Pale Lager in a green bottle. I think I know how this is going to taste. I wouldn't have bothered reviewing a macroish import, except it was requested by a subscriber (WrappedInPlastic100) on my Youtube channel.

I hope this review satisfies him or her.

I've heard that the Italian craft beer scene has become fairly exciting in the last few years, but this one is neither craft nor exciting.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: C-

Beer Apprectiation 101 (Part 1 of 3)

This is part one of an experimental series for me. I recorded a three-part series for people who are interested in pursuing the hobby, but who have no experience. In this series, I'm going to be talking about how exactly we examine, smell, and taste beer, with a final part dealing with some of the more general philosophical issues regarding rating beer.

This is not meant to be complete, and I am definitely interested in hearing people's thoughts, particularly from those new to the hobby. Suggestions for future videos are welcome.



In Part One, I detail the way to pour properly, and talk about some of the things you can learn from looking at beer, and some general aroma notes.

Part Two will deal with issues surrounding taste.

Part Three will consider philosophical issues.

Founders Harvest Ale

Founders Harvest Ale (bottle)
Grand Rapids, MI
6.5% ABV

A quick and dirty review of Founders Harvest Ale, shot after a long day at work. Short story: I like this beer a lot; as the earthy wet hops give it a really fresh and interesting flavor.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Vlog 2010-11-03

I meant for this to be quicker than it is, but hopefully it won't bore you all to death.

First I show off my new webcam, where I'll be shooting some reviews. I think the video quality will be good, and hopefully the audio is okay.

Then I reflect a bit on Bell's week, which has just finished. Awesome experience, and I'll be doing a lot more Bell's stuff this winter.

Finally, I update some things that are going on with my channel. I'm changing my rating system for beers, and I'm adjusting my posting frequency. I'm open to feedback on both of these issues, so please let me know how you feel about them.



Thanks to all those who have subscribed to my channel, and to everyone who's ever left a comment or requested a beer review. This community has been really awesome, and after 100+ videos this remains a lot of fun.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale (Bell's Week Day 8 of 8)

Bell's Two-Hearted India Pale Ale
Kalamazoo, MI
7.0% ABV

This was Bell's Batch 9990 and was bottled on September 15, 2010. I shot the review on October 11.

Two Hearted is my favorite of the regular-release Bell's beers, so I saved it for last. An amazing IPA, with a great hop profile and a lot of complex malts.

I had some technical issues with the video quality in this vid, but by the time I noticed it in editing I didn't have the ability to re-shoot. Sorry.

At the end of this review I have a bit of summary on Bell's week, which may be interesting to those who have watched all of these videos.



Zymurgical Explorations rating: 9.5/10

Bell's Pale Ale (Bell's Week Day 7)

Bell's Pale Ale
Kalamazoo, MI
5.2% ABV

This is Bell's batch number 9875, bottled July 12, 2010. I reviewed it on October 10.

This is a fairly hoppy pale ale, but not overly bitter. Very nice.



Zymurgical Explorations rating: 7.0/10

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout (Bell's Week Day 6 of 8)

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout (bottle)
Kalamazoo, MI
6.0% ABV

This is batch number 9801, bottled June 4, 2010. I shot this review on October 8.

The Kalamazoo Stout is actually one of my favorite of Bell's regular offerings. A very nice Milk/Sweet Stout.

You'll see a slight overflow from the head on the beer as I pour, if you're amused by that sort of thing.



Zymurgical Explorations rating: 9.0/10