Lost Abbey Serpent's Stout | ZE Beer Review

I finally review this bottle, which was sent to me by Ryan back in December. At 11% it definitely holds up to four months of aging.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Deschutes Mirror Mirror | ZE Beer Review

I'm pretty sure this is my first-ever Deschutes beer. It was sent to me by Youtube beer reviewer monkeycaveman.

Go check out this channel!



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Stone/Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad Highway 78 Ale | ZE Beer Review

Thanks to Ryan for the bottle!



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Green Flash West Coast IPA | ZE Beer Review

The first beer sent to me by Lidney, Youtube user/beer reviewer monkeycaveman.

The last IPA I'll be doing for awhile, as I'm getting a bit bored with the style.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Quilmes Stout | ZE Beer Review

My friend Josh (whose family lives in Argentina) gave me a bottle of an authentic Argentinian stout to review for the channel. Who am I to say no?



Zymurgical Explorations grade: C+

Pike Brewing Monk's Uncle Tripel Ale | ZE Beer Review

An American-made tripel sent to me by Jonathan AKA NYRFan4ever. Thanks for the beer, even if it isn't exactly my favorite of the style.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious and Hangin' Frank -- A "Parallel Tasting" | ZE Beer Review

I decided to try something different and do a quick compare-and-contrast on two beers of the same style produced by the same brewery. I haven't done a review of the Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious, but you can view my original review of Hangin' Frank here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utbBO2hKPSQ

(I'll also note I didn't re-watch that video before shooting this one.)



Let me know how you like this experiment!

KBS Release Day Video at Founders

Founders KBS release day this year coincided with my birthday, so I had the perfect excuse to get in line at 7:15 to get my case of KBS. Shana came with me, so I ended up getting two cases.

Yes, I lead a charmed life.

Included in this video is some footage of the line, tasting some of the special releases on tap that day, including vintage KBS and nitro-tap KBS, and a trip to famed beer bar Hopcat later in the day. All in all a great way to spend a birthday.

Vlog 2011-03-13 Growler Fill IPA Tasting and Homebrew Challenges

Just what it says in the title. I take my first taste of the carbonated version of the Growler Fill IPA and I talk a bit about what I'm planning for the two homebrew challenges currently around on Youtube.

Frankenmuth Batch 69 American-style IPA | ZE Beer Review

Another beer from a small Michigan brewery. Since shooting this video I learned that Frankenmuth makes both an American-style and an English-style IPA. This is the American one.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-

Mother Earth Silent Night Imperial Stout | ZE Beer Review

Not the Mother Earth in Vista, CA, but the one in Kinston, NC. Just to clear that up.

Bottle brought to me as a gift from my friends Jenna and Jonathan. Check out her homemade jewelry here:

http://www.j2jewelry.etsy.com

Port Brewing Mongo IPA | ZE Beer Review

Is there a beer worthy of being compared with the Three Floyd Arctic Panzer Wolf? I think I may have found one.

This is probably the last of this season's outdoor snowy videos.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA | ZE Beer Review

Fair warning: after I recorded this review I heard reports that this beer may not be consistent from bottle to bottle. The ones I've had have been uniformly excellent, however.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Fuller's London Porter | ZE Beer Review

My friend Ryan (Youtube user StumpyJoeJr) and I reviewed this beer as my very last video for import month. It's one of his very favorite beers and a classic English porter.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout | ZE Beer Review

This was a request from someone, but I can't remember who it was. If you're the one who requested it send me a note and I'll update this info box with your info.

Overall, this isn't a bad beer, but it's a little bit too much coffee and not enough stout for my taste.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Great Divide Old Ruffian Barleywine | ZE Beer Review

One last snow video before spring sets in. I review one of my favorite barleywines, a very hoppy American-style barleywine from Great Divide.

(Note: I'm trying a new rendering/uploading method, sorry if quality drops.)



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Belhaven Scottish Ale | ZE Beer Review

Another import beer review, of a beer that I attempted to review earlier in the month. The earlier review was the bottled version, which was too lightstruck to fairly review.

This is also another review out in the snow, for those interested in seeing me stand in the freezing outdoors.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Zymurgical Explorations Vlog 2011-02-21

Come have a pint with me as I bullshit my way through an unedited vlog and drink a Two-Hearted in my garage....

Propeller IPA | ZE Beer Review

This is the first beer I've reviewed that was sent to me by fellow Youtube beer reviewer elharlock. Quite a nice session IPA -- I'd definitely drink it if it was local to me.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Beck's Lager | ZE Beer Review

I figured as long as I'm doing a month of imports, I might as well do at least one green-bottle European lager. So I picked the standard lager from one of the largest breweries in Germany. It's about what you'd expect.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: C-

BrewDog Punk IPA | ZE Beer Review

Definitely clear evidence that it's best to drink an IPA as fresh as possible. I've had an old bottle of this before, and it doesn't even taste like an IPA.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Lion Stout | ZE Beer Review

In this episode I review a beer all the way from Sri Lanka, that actually includes a quote from the late Beer Hunter Micheal Jackson himself. If there's a such a thing as a sessionable high-gravity stout, this is it.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Founders Imperial Stout | ZE Beer Review

Ho-hum, another excellent imperial stout made within easy driving distance of me. However will I survive?



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Harvestoun Ola Dubh 30 | ZE Beer Review

This is my 150th video beer review, which is awesome. What's not so awesome is waiting ten months or so to drink this beer, which is good but not worth the incredibly high price tag I paid for it. I don't mention it in the vid, but New Holland Dragon's Milk is just about as good for a fraction of the price, and is much more widely available (at least in Michigan).



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Frankenmuth Munich-style Dunkel Lager | ZE Beer Review

I've decided to start reviewing more local beers, especially from smaller, lesser-known breweries. I won't be doing this as a series, but just interspersing these reviews with all the other stuff I do.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: C+

Okocim Porter | ZE Beer Review

I do a beer that's basically definitive of a style -- in this case, the Baltic Porter style. Basically a Euro Dark Lager with black patent malt added to give it a dark, roasty, licorice/raisin character. Quite nice!



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf

I review the last of my Three Floyds bombers, the truly phenomenal Arctic Panzer Wolf. This video is a bit more NSFW than others, simply because I couldn't resist dropping a few extra swear words in discussing how excellent this beer is.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Mikkeller Monk's Brew (Monk's Elixir) | ZE Beer Review

This is my edit of the collaboration video I did with Peter (TheMasterofHoppets) and Jakob (TheLordofMalts), both in Denmark. We reviewed a Mikkeller Quadrupel that purports to be authentically Trappist, but it left us all somewhat wanting.

There was a LOT of footage in the original, which I've edited down while keeping the spirit of the proceedings. I was tempted just to post the whole damn thing as an object lesson in what happens when beer reviews go astray, but I think this one works anyway.

Peter's channel: http://www.youtube.com/TheMasterofHop...
Jakob's channel: http://www.youtube.com/TheLordofMalts



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-

Troegs Nugget Nectar | ZE Beer Review

I review a highly-rated beer that I received from Chris over at BeerGeekNation. Color me slightly underwhelmed.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Wells Bombardier Ale | ZE Beer Review

I have to admit that I really only reviewed this because Simon of the Real Ale Guide shot a video of this being bottled, and seeing all those bottle fills gave me the psychosomatic response of wanting to drink this beer.

Simon's video of the bottling process can be found here.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Alesmith Speedway Stout | ZE Beer Review

In this episode I review a beer sent to me by Ryan, aka Youtube beer reviewer StumpyJoeJr, also of BeerGeekNation. This is one of the top-rated stouts in the world, and it absolutely deserves the recognition.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Mikkeller Black Hole | ZE Beer Review

In this episode I review a Danish Russian Imperial Stout made by Mikkeller. It's a collaborative effort with fellow BeerTuber Peter, also known as The Master of Hoppets.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

We also took a few minutes to have a chat together, which we thought those interested in our channels might enjoy.



Thanks again to Peter for both the review and the conversation.

Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA | ZE Beer Review

One of the top-rated DIPAs on Planet Earth. How would I respond to it?



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Brauerei Michael Plank Pilserl | ZE Beer Review

In this episode I review a pilsner made by a small microbrewery in Germany, Brauerei Michael Plank. It's imported to the US by Elite Brands, which is located right in my home city of Kalamazoo, so I'm guessing I get it fresher than anywhere else in the country. A very nice pilsner, one I'd love to try on tap sometime.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Trappist Rochefort 10 | ZE Beer Review

I review another Belgian Quadrupel, currently listed at number 6 on the BeerAdvocate "Best of BA" list. I originally tried this back in January 2006 and reviewed it on BA, but my palate has developed a lot since then and I'm much more able to appreciate its qualities.

The news story about the fire at the Trappist Rochefort monastery is here.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A+

Paw Paw Brewing Two Paws IPA | ZE Beer Review

In this video, Shana and I review a growler fill from a brand-new brewery a couple of towns over from us: the Paw Paw Brewing Company.

http://twitter.com/pawpawbrewery



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Boddington's Pub Ale | ZE Beer Review

While my grains were mashing on my brew day earlier this week, I decided to shoot a quick beer review. This one is for Boddington's Pub Ale, which is listed on BeerAdvocate as an English Pale Ale, but I've always thought of it as a bitter. Probably just me.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-

Three Floyds Broo Doo | ZE Beer Review

So. "Broo Doo" might just be the silliest name for a beer EVER.

Nonetheless, we soldier on. This is Three Floyds' harvest ale brewed with fresh wet hops, so I was a bit reluctant to review it at such a late date. I ended up drinking it on January 3 and it was still deliciously hoppy.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A-

Monk's Cafe Sour Ale | ZE Beer Review

This was one of the very first sour ales I ever tried, and I remember really enjoying it. Would I think it was as good on a second go-around?



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Zymurgical Explorations Vlog 2011-01-16

That's right, a new vlog despite my semi-absence.



Channels mentioned in this vid:
www.youtube.com/monkeycaveman
www.youtube.com/elharlock
www.youtube.com/StumpyJoeJr
www.youtube.com/TheMasterofHoppets
www.youtube.com/Yuichituba
www.youtube.com/BeerichiTuba

Fuller's 1845 | ZE Beer Review

In this import month entry, I review a specialty ale from Fuller's in London. A stronger-than-average pale ale made to commemorate the founding of the modern era of their brewery.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Weihenstephaner Korbinian | ZE Beer Review

Import month continues, with this dopplebock from the oldest continuously-operated brewery in the world.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Nøgne Ø #100 Barleywine-Style Ale | ZE Beer Review

I review a bottle I've had in my cellar for a while, Nøgne Ø #100 Barleywine Style Ale. It's a nice American-style barleywine, but doesn't quite blow me away.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Should We Review Skunky Beer?

I was going to review the Belhaven Scotch Ale, but due to the clear bottle it was overtly skunky. Is it fair to review beers that we know aren't in their prime? I open the question to the peanut gallery.

Zymurgical Explorations Year in Beer 2010

As a little bonus for all my subscribers, I thought I'd go ahead and do a year 2010 wrap-up video. I've done a chronological countdown of some of my favorite and least favorite beers, with a bit of explanation about why I chose to leave some stuff out at the beginning.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 2010 and 2011 has gotten off to a great start.

Zymurgical Explorations Year in Beer 2010

Unertl Weizen | ZE Beer Review

I thought this was a hefeweizen when I bought it, but it turned out to be a dunkelweizen. Still a nice beer, though.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B

Mikkeller Amarillo Single Hop IPA | ZE Beer Review

This is the first of my month of imports, a beer that Shana just picked up for me in Indianapolis, Mikkeller's Amarillo Single Hop IPA. I've never had an Amarillo single-hop, so this was a very cool bottle for me to try.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+

Beer Acquisitions 2011-01-01 or Why I Have the Best Girlfriend Ever

In which I show off a bunch of beer my girlfriend bought for me when she was in Indiana right before New Year's. Lots of great stuff coming up for review soon.

Bell's Expedition Stout Vertical Tasting

This will be my last review of 2010. Happy 2011, everyone!

A vertical tasting of one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts, between a 2008 and a 2010 bottling. Lots of fun.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: A

Stone Double Bastard Vertical Tasting

I do a vertical tasting of Stone Double Bastard, between a 2005 bottle and a 2010. The hops definitely fade out on this one.



Zymurgical Explorations grade: B+