White Birch Deviant Monk: 6.5 – This is another part of their apprenticeship series and is classified as an Oak Aged Belgian Style Dark Ale. And much like yesterday’s Nyx – why are their apprentices so much better than their masters? It’s so weird that these experimental beers are just so good, and while this is not as good as Nyx, hey it’s still a good Oak Aged Belgian Style Dark Ale
Google Shop Average: White Birch Deviant Monk $10
Website: http://www.whitebirchbrewing.com/
White Birch Nyx: 8.5 – This is one of White Birch’s Apprenticeship series with an American Black Ale, and my god this apprentice is more (you’re out of the job) and less (messes everything up with brooms) kind of apprenticeship. To describe why this beer is a problem let me explain that not only does it taste good, but it makes buying beer a real problem. See we often want to to try more and new things, and then there’s Nyx sitting real pretty at 7 bucks and sometimes we cave. And if that’s not the best praise I can give a beer, I don’t know what is.
Google Shop Average: White Birch Nyx $7
Website: http://www.whitebirchbrewing.com/
Jack’s Abby Numb Swagger: 6.0 – While I’m glad that Jack’s Abby is experimenting with their Black Lager – the spice here while interesting just makes me want the regular Black Lager. Unlike the Coffee variant this doesn’t compete with beers from people like Dogfish Head.
Google Shop Average: Jack’s Abby Numb Swagger $5
Website: http://jacksabbybrewing.com/
Jack’s Abby Jack’s Evil Brew: 7.0 – Made in collaboration with Evil Twin Brewing this beer seems to undercut a prevailing thought I had from back when I tried Gordon’s beers. Which is why the hell aren’t there more Schwarzbier’s? Seriously I can’t go into any beer store without tripping over a dozen IPA’s but I’m hard pressed to find on of these, and damn is that sad.
Google Shop Average: Jack’s Abby Jack’s Evil Brew $6
Website: http://jacksabbybrewing.com/
Spencer Trappist Ale: 3.5 – There was a lot of buzz about this in our area – we only bought it during one of our wine tastings because it was flying off the shelf – within the span of 10 minutes 3 packs sold, and intrigued we went to the back and grabbed on for ourselves before they were all gone. I fear that the misplaced hype has colored our review, but even then this is a far-less-superior Allagash White, and is very overpriced.
Google Shop Average: Spencer Trappist Ale $22 for a 4-Pack
Website: http://www.spencerbrewery.com/
Allagash White: 7.0 – As far as a white ale goes, this is the standard we should all shoot for. Allagash’s white and black simply put are what all beer company’s should strive to have. A mainstay beer that is so good, but so drinkable and available that it spoils you. You think of the beer as par, and only when you venture out do you find out how misguided you’ve been.
Google Shop Average: Allagash White $10 for 4-Pack
Website: www.allagash.com/
Ahh to be back to reviewing scotch again. This was a gift to the lounge, and was well received. However we’ve always sort of preferred the Levit over Fiddich as they are comparable in both price, name-recognition, and availability.
