Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, 25.4 OZ, 5.5% ABV, $14.99The Pour: Rich pour, nice tall head in my goblet. Settled relatively quickly.
The Color: Opaque, black/brown, upon first viewing. It was so think, I put a 1.5-million candlepower lantern behind the glass, and I could barely see it. The base tone is actually reddish and the clarity is perfect. No detectable haze whatsoever.
The Nose: Chocolate, malt. I know - shocker, right? Not much else.
The Taste: The first pour resulted in a disappointingly thin mouth-feel. The whole first glass kind of annoyed me. Fifteen bucks for this?! Then I got caught up in a couple things, and the second glass didn't get poured until about 45 minutes later.
Much better. I've been savoring this for an hour and a half, and it keeps getting better. Just like last year with the Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, the lesson is, don't let this get fridge-cold — I'd say no lower than 50 degrees and you'll be fine.
The Verdict:
B. A good beer, but not spectacular. Certainly worth a shot, but it is pricey.
Bud Points: 2.33.
Next!
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, 12 OZ, 12% ABV, $3.50
Yeah, yeah, I know, but holy crap this beer is good.
The Pour: Thick and meaty.
The Color: Black as tar, brown head, completely opaque even to that lantern I have.
The Nose: Cardamom, raisins, earth, wood, coffee, caramel, vanilla, and some fruit I can't quite put a name on. This may be the most complex beverage I have ever had.
The Taste: Sweet and tart, very full mouthfeel. All of the aromas carry over into the flavor, and more. Enough hops to provide balance, but sweetness is the dominant sensation. A brandy-like warmth (and alcohol-presence) accompanies each sip as the perfect carbonation tickles your tongue. This is, in all seriousness, an experience.
The Verdict: A+. This is a tough call, but I think I have to make this my new favorite beer, narrowly edging out Péché Mortel. I need to buy a lot of this and age it in the cellar. Meantime, they'd better get their asses in gear and arrange for the next shipment of the palo santo wood. They can never stop making this beer.
Bud Points: 2.40 (4.73 total).
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, 12 OZ, 9.1% ABV, $2.25
The Pour: Standard thickness in the pour, big head that almost overflowed.
The Color: Again, black as tar, brown head, and completely opaque to 1.5 million candlepower.
The Nose: I'm getting very little out of this. A little molasses, some coffee. Slight vanilla?
The Taste: I don't know, maybe my nose is shot already, but this packs a flavor that the nose just doesn't predict. The perfect balance of malt and bite from the carbonation and hops. Textbook stout of the Imperial variety.
The Verdict: A. Great beer, great value. Makes me want to knock the Sam Chocolate down to a C, just because of the strong disparity in buzz/buck value.
Bud Points: 1.82 (6.55 total).
Dogfish Head Red & White, 25.6 OZ, 10% ABV, $10.99
