Reviews from First Friday December 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the 14th "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Jan. 1 @ 7:45 p.m.).



A run-down of the December 2009 favorites:

Mikkeller Weasel
Best coffee ever!
Very roasty! Thick and delicious
Roasted coffee, chocolate, very smooth
Who knew that weasel shit taste so good? Amazing

Bruery White Oak
Excellent -- Perfect balance of bitterness and smoothness
No, especially after 2 Doves
Amazing -- Rich, smooth, savory
Great -- Vanilla oak and bitter hops

Bruery Two Turtle Dove
Sweet molasses with finish of peanut butter
Carmel nuttiness
Super good

Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi
Like licking the bottom of the barrel
One of the best beers of the night!

Lost Abbey Inferno Ale
If one digs swallowing a cinnamon stick, then yummy!
Very Belgian! Definitely spicy!

Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse
I don't think it's a beer
Tastes like sourdough bread
Yes, like warm sourdough
Tastes much better than it smells

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
Nutty, missing something
Nutty nutilicious nuttness - in other words, kinda nutastic for nut overs. Nut said.

Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout
Lump of good

St. Peter's Cream Stout
Where is the cream?

Moosbacher Weissbier
Nice, light, not bitter
Okay, kinda boring

Reviews from First Friday November 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the 13th "First Friday" — our first anniversary celebration. For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Dec. 4 @ 7:45 p.m.).

 A run-down of the November 2009 favorites:

Bruery Barrel Aged Batch #1
Holey moley
Wow
Very buttery with a hint of fruit
Buttery

Black Xantus
Excellent imperial stout
Needs some cream and sugar
Roasted malt, coffee, vanilla, chocolate
Great stuff

Bruery Two Turtle Doves
Wow
A simply incredible beer

Wild Blue Blueberry Lager
I’ve found my beer
Very raspberry
Mmmmm
Fruitilicious
Good taste
Yummm
Artificial taste

Spaten Optimator
Optimal
Pretty good
De-liciously smooth
Always good

Weihenstephaner Festbier
Yum – light, crisp and smooth finish
Good balance o’ flav-ah
Smooth

Deschutes Black Butte XX
Coffee, chocolate, dark fruits and bourbon
Potent

Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper
Bourboniac
That’s beer?
Carmel truffle dipped in bourbon
Cinnamonny – a bit good, a bit harsh

Kostritzer
Dark and bitter but not too heavy
Smokey
Rich

New Belgium Hoptober
Very hoppy, but good
Tasty – light and smooth. Yum!

Warka
Surprisingly fruity

Peroni
Good
Very bold taste

Blue Moon Wheat Ale
Good taste

Jamaica Red
Very good for a red
Bitter aftertaste

Alaska Brewing Smoked Porter
Cigars?
It’s smoked
Smells like a cigar. The only beer you can roll. It’ll cause you to get smoker’s breath.

Palm
Too simple
Nice to begin with and then bitter

Dale’s Pale Ale
Not good
In a can?
Bueno

3 Horses Lager
Very light, nothing special

Reviews from First Friday October 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the twelfth "First Friday" — our special Oktoberfest edition. For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Nov. 6 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the October 2009 favorites:

THE PUMPKIN PATCH
Kennebunkport Pumpkin
Clovey
Very Good!
Pumpkin pie with a kick
I could drink a bottle
Nice aftertaste but a little boring

Bruery Autumn Maple
Bitter?
Pumpkin pie
Good with turkey

THE BITTER BUNCH
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Great
Bitter

Mission Street Pale Ale
Very bitter
Lavender
Very hoppy

THE LIGHT CROWD
Belmont Strawberry Blonde
Nice & light with a hint of berry

Primo
Smooth
Refreshing
Average

Karl Straus Woodie Gold
Nice palette cleanser

Kokanee
Cleanses the palette

JB Oktoberfest
Easy to drink

Palm
Easy going amber
Smells skunky

THE DESERT TRAY
Southern Tier Choklat
Strong but good
Too sweet for beer
Chocolatte!!
Black coffee!

Russian River Consecration
Sour pucker
Fruity, tart, great!

Harvest Moon
Sweet
I like!

Reviews from First Friday September 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the eleventh "First Friday." For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Oct. 2 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the September 2009 favorites:

New Belgium Mothership Wit
Very Nice – Some licorice taste
Reminds me of my standard Blue Moon

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Marzen
Kind of nice
Ruff ruff

Taurino Cervesa
Wonderful – Could drink 3

Maui Brewing Coconut Porter
Tastes like you’re eating the bra of a hula dancer
It’s coconut!
Coconut sack flavor
Not for me

Rogue Chipotle
No!
Finishes nice
Can taste the spice, but no smoke

Metolius Damsel Blonde Ale
Nice but bitter at the end (no one else noticed)

Lost Coast Downtown Brown
Nice
For a Brown it’s very doable
Good for a Brown

Kona Firerock Pale Ale
Liked!
No! Bitter!

Delirium Nocturnum
Sorry Brady: Too bitter

Capistrano Amber Ale
Not bad for an ale
Lighter than Downtown Brown – Duh!

Wingwalker Pale Ale
Very nice

Reviews from First Friday August 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the tenth "First Friday."

 For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (Sept. 11 @ 7:45 p.m.).

Note: First Friday in September will be held on the Second Friday (Sept. 11) to avoid conflict with the International Street Fair of Orange on Labor Day weekend.

It seemed like a consistently good batch of beers for August, with no runaway winners or losers.

A run-down of the August 2009 favorites:

Sierra Nevada Summerfest
Good!
XLNT summer brew

Framboise Lambic
Yum! I’d drink this all night!
Too sweet

Hoegarden
Ho Ho Ho gimme more!!
Light taste
Could drink a keg of this stuff
Very good!

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat
Not a traditional wheat aroma
Spicy finish

Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale
Hoppy
Very bitter
Roasty, smooth bitterness

Victory Hop Wallop
Strong bitter
Lots of hops!
Lovely for 1 to 6 beers. Too much for a keg

Bruery Trade Winds
Nice, light, a little hoppy and spice at the end
Sharp, spicy, very nice!
OK
Spicy on the tongue

San Lucas Cervesa
Tastes like Cabo
Nice and Light
Kelly likes – Drank the whole beer

Kona Wailua
Expected to hate it but a good surprise

Scrimshaw
Nice and clean!
Good
Very good!

Sea Dog Wild Blueberry Wheat
Yum!

Reviews from First Friday June 2009

The reviews from First Friday June 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the eighth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (July 3 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the June 2009 favorites:


LEADING CONTENDERS
Damnation
Fantastic
Damn it’s tasty
Very good

St. Peters Cream Stout
Would have liked to taste this.
I did and it was wonderful!

GOOD GRADES
Racer 5 IPA
Yum. Racy.
Too much bite
Good bite, but smooth

Taps 50 Schilling Scotch Ale
Delicious
Hits the spot!
Starchy

Blackened Voodoo
A little bitter. Like me.

Smithwicks
Always a good choice

MIXED BAG
Banana Bread
Bitter-banana after taste
Not so bad

Land Shark Lager
Nightastic!
Weak-kneed watery
Coors?
Not so much…

Peroni
I liked it
No taste
Not so good
Not a big Peroni fan

Tower 10 IPA
Nice to begin and then bitter

NOT SO MUCH
Shock Top Belgium White
Like water.

Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
I brought this and I didn’t like it.

Warsteiner Dunkel
Nothing special

The reviews from First Friday May 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the seventh "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (June 5 @ 7:45 p.m.).

A run-down of the May 2009 favorites:

LEADING CONTENDERS
Drifter Pale Ale
Hoppy Heaven!
It bites, but I like it.
Got my daily dose of Vitamin C!
Bitter & Tangy… at the same time!

Belli Bock
Really bocky
Yes! Really this was the beer of the evening!
Like it!

Rogue Brown
Like ice cream, but healthier?
I (heart) Rogue Brown
If beer and coffee did “it” and had a chocolate baby
Good!
All I can say is “Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake.”

GOOD GRADES
Blind Pig
Waiting for the bite at the end but it never came – Love it
The bite tastes like celery… Peanut butter anyone?
Good hops and barley taste

Monty Python Holy Grail Ale
It’s the beer that makes me say “Ni”
Eki eki eki botong whoqu zoing zoing

Tetley’s English Ale
Much better than Tetley’s Tea – Smooth!
Best right after opening – Widget Magic.

MIXED BAG
Whitbread Pale Ale
Wonderbread is much better…
A surprise for me tonight. I’m down for the bread.

NOT SO MUCH
Poleeko Gold Pale Ale
Speaks for itself… Po-Leak-O
Can’t beat the Pig!

Capistrano Amber Ale
Hard to swallow.
Watered the tree with it. Hope it doesn’t die.

The reviews from First Friday April 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out for the sixth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (May 1 @ 7:45 p.m.).

There wasn’t a dud in the bunch this month. A run-down of the April 2009 favorites:

THE CLEAR FRONT-RUNNER
Weltenburger Kloster Winter Tralem
The best beer I’ve had in a long time!
Winner
Good. Very Good.
Excellent taste!
A little watery

ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 3
Deschutes Hop Henge IPA
Da best!!
Add 2 more “Da bests”

Fin Du Monde
Excellent!
Got a kick to it.
Nutmeg – spicy and wintery

THE REST OF THE PACK
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Hearty
Tastes like soup!

Sam Smith IPA
Definitely can taste the hops!

Black Toad Dark Ale
Good stuff! Basic, smooth beer

Stone IPA
Hemp smell. Crisp flavor without being too sharp.

Phuket Lager
Very light
I just like saying it – Phuket, Phuket, Phuket

Victory Prima Pils
European taste

Birra Moretti
Drinkable

Fat Weasel Pale Ale
OK

Photos: First Friday (April 2009)

The reviews are in for the "fifth" First Friday (March 2009)

Thanks to everyone who came out for the fifth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (April 3 @ 7:45 p.m.).

The most-talked about March 2009 beers included:

THE CLEAR FAVORITE
Beautification Russian River
Strange (but beautiful) brew. Lime flavor, dry finish.
Lemon funkiness. Finishes tart and dry. Super good.
Similar to unflavored Lambic. Nice and sour. -- Chris O
Good choice for a very hot day (in small amounts) -- Joseph B
How about some Alka Seltzer -- Al

TOP MARKS
Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Loved it. My kind of beer.

Long Hammer
Great IPA. Loved it.

San Luis Obispo Brewing Extra Pale Ale
Easy drinking ale.
Nice and smooth. Something you can definitely get a keg of.

Leffe Blonde
Al says: I totally love it.
Ditto Al!
Yum! Not too shabby

Firestone California Pale Ale
Love the aftertaste.
Not as hoppy as I expected.

Steelhead Double IPA
Smooth for the 8%+ alcohol content

New Glarus Raspberry Tart
Tastes like a raspberry truffle. Not too sweet though. Well balanced.

Ale Smith Grand Cru
Tastes like caramel, vanilla and candied fruits.

Smithwicks
Smooth & de-lish! Could drink it all night long.

Sierra Nevada Barleywine
Strong as shit!

MIXED REVIEWS
2 Degrees Below
Grabs you at the first sip. Then it's smooth there after.
Delicious brew!
Smooth. Not as good as Fat Tire

Moose Drool
Will not be droolin' over this anytime soon
Dark and smooth. Great taste!
Coffee taste. So so.
Welcome to Starbucks

Lost Coast Raspberry Brown
Too jammy! -- Andrew
Perfect balance of berries and beer.

Jumping Cow Amber Ale
Decent amber beer, but nothing special.
Mooo! Happy cow
Good!

NOT SO MUCH
Stone Mill Pale Ale
Not too good. Left a bad taste in my mouth.

Stone Levitation
Harsh!
Fair to middlin'

Grimbergen
Not that great.

Hofbrau Original
Too light, too watery
Heinekin -- not that good

Photos: First Friday (March 2009)

The reviews are in from the “fourth” First Friday

Thanks to everyone who came out in the rain for the fourth "First Friday."

For those who couldn't make it, there's always next month (March 6 @ 7:45 p.m.).

The most-talked about February 2009 beers included:

THE CLEAR FAVORITE
Wisconsin Belgium Red
Better than Wisconsin cheese! Amazing.
High Octane cherry cola!
Very good – Tastes like a cherries jubilee

TOP MARKS
Blue Moon
Light, crisp, refreshing
Very light and good!
Fantastico muy good! – Al
Not too sweet. Smooth

Karl Strauss Red Trolley
Smooth, yet lively like the Gaslamp District
Rich and smooth and wet
A big everyday beer

Bruery Saison Rue
Even the bottom of the bottle was good. -- Will
It gud

Allgauer Oktoberfest
Loved it – solid German beer

Chimay Red
Stellar as always. Solid choice.

MIXED REVIEWS
Chimay Blue
The Belgians know what they are doing.
Floral, fruity yeast. Good.
Less than impressive

Bischofshof
Good. Light.
Went down easy
Just alright

Brugse Zot
A beer that gets stuck in your teeth. It’s unfiltered.

New Belgium 1554
Licorice, malt, dry finish – OK
Nothing special – Joseph
Karhu, koff, olvi, lapin kulta

Alpha Klaus Three Floyds
Fruity with a nice aftertaste
It’s like unsweet syrup, if you’re into that

Flying Dog Old Scratch
Four ingredients combined to please
Two open and warm bottles on the bar – can’t be that great

THE DUD OF THE BUNCH
Heineken Dark Lager
Taste like hollandaise sauce
Not much flavor/taste

Bruery Black Orchard: Top of the Hops for January

The Bruery is a small craft brewery in Placentia owned and operated by the Rue family (thus the name) that makes some great beers -- so says Beer Advocate Magazine, which gave three of their "brues" a coveted "A" rating.

We tried the Black Orchard, an unfiltered, bottle-conditioned Belgian-style black wheat beer, or “black wit.” Chamomile is added for its floral aroma, while the coriander and citrus peel give the characteristics of a traditional witbier.

"It's an intimidating-looking beer that's extremely palatable," said Joseph.

Of course, Joseph was quoting liberally from The Bruery's website at the time as he surfed the net on his iPhone (via Avocadoville's WiFi).

Six packs are available at BevMo, Total Wine, Hi Times and Hollingshead. Growlers are sold at the Placentia tasting room.