New Holland Dragon's Milk Reserve with Toasted Chilies

Today, I have New Holland Dragon's Milk Reserve with Toasted Chilies in my glass.  Years ago I used to say Michigan was my favorite beer state.  After all, they had Founders, Bells, Dark Horse, and New Holland.  I hadn't had bad beer from Michigan.  Later, some of these breweries began to disappoint me.  I didn't care for Dragon's Milk as much the third time compared to the first.  It seemed a little boring in a by-the-numbers sort of way:  not bad, but not especially interesting or good either.  But now I've heard a lot of buzz about the Reserve bottlings so I had to hunt one down.

Smaug's Breath, as the Chili de Arbol bottling is affectionately known, doesn't disappoint.  The chili peppers add a toasty heat and smoke counterpart to the sweetness lent by the bourbon barrel aging.  For an 11% ABV beer, this one is deceptively smooth, even after less than a month and a half of aging.  If I had a complaint about Smaug's Breath, it would be that the mouthfeel comes off a bit thin in points.  Perhaps a little aging will help to fill this out, but I was impatient.  I should mention that this is one of four in a series, though unfortunately I wasn't able to find the other three.  In short, maybe New Holland is a little better than I've regarded them recently and it's time to give standard issue Dragon's Milk another shot.  Keep your eye open for the Dragon's Milk Reserve bottlings, if you can find them!

Bell's Best Brown Ale

Today I have Bell's Best Brown Ale in my glass.  This one tastes like fall to me.  The lightly roasted malt is akin to the toasty leaves falling from the trees, the hops add crunching texture (like more leaves) ringing in like the last vestiges of summer, it feels like a step between the lighter beers so perfect for hot summer days and the heavy stouts that make winter a little more bearable.  Eminently quaff-able, I would never call any brown ale "my favorite beer," but at the same time there is absolutely nothing wrong with this beer.  It's simple, it's straightforward, and it's good.

Founders Harvest Ale

Today I have Founder's Harvest Ale in my glass.  For what it's worth, I think I like this beer better than Surly's Wet (see previous post), but that isn't saying a ton.  The nose is full and juicy, but it's a bit thin on the palate, albeit fairly complex.  A little funk, a little juiciness, some herbal qualities, some grapefruit, and a bit of asprin on the finish.  Every year I want this to be one of the beers I most anticipate as we enter wet hop beer season, but every year I'm disappointed by it.  I'm glad other people love this beer.  I wouldn't go so far as to say that I hate it, but I feel like it's closer to good than great, and every year I want it to be great, I want to discover what I missed last time I had it, but I never seem to figure out why others are so enamored.

Bell's 30th Anniversary Ale

Today I have Bell's 30th Anniversary Beer in my glass.  Bell's has been around for a long time.  I've been around slightly longer.  Today I am celebrating my 33rd anniversary of being alive with the beer that Bell's made to celebrate their 30th Anniversary of being, um, alive.  Anyway, it's good.  

This darker than dark Imperial Stout pours out with a very quickly settling head.  It weighs in at a full 11% ABV, but tastes notably less boozy and hot than a fresh bottle of Bell's standard Imperial Stout, Expedition.  As a rule, I would say Expedition should always be aged a few months to take the bite off, but this one is ready fresh out the gate.  There's a bit of sweet licorice and molasses in there, and a pleasant bitter hoppiness and cacao on the finish.  This one sits deceptively light on the tongue compared to my recollection of Expedition and my expectation from an 11% beer.  I'd recommend picking up a single of this beer, as I don't think it's really worth the price for a full six pack, but it's definitely worth trying.  It decorates the glass nicely with foam, and has a pleasant interplay of flavors, but ultimately I think it comes off a little too light in the body and heavy on the hops to be one of my favorite Imperial Stouts.

Founders Breakfast Stout

Today I have Founders Breakfast Stout in my glass.  Also known as "The Beer with a Baby on the Label."  At least in most states.  And it is good.  Founders Breakfast Stout has everything you need to start your day right:  chocolate, oatmeal, and of course coffee.  This one is deliciously coffee forward with plenty of dark chocolate riding through to a slightly hoppy finish countered with creamy oatmeal and, you guessed it, more chocolate and coffee.  Look up "perennial classic" in the dictionary and you might see a picture of this (though you're more likely to see a beer from Perennial Artisan Ales, or perhaps a flower.)  I recommend making sure you have a reasonably fresh bottle of it, as it's not a beer that ages well.  

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Ernest Hemingway fishing at Walloon Lake, Michigan
1916, image in the Public Domain.

Today I have Bell's Two Hearted Ale in my glass. This is another old favorite. It was the first IPA style beer I had, and it changed the way I looked at beer and hops. I've since gone on to have lots of better beer, and a few disappointing bottles of Two Hearted, but on a good day Bell's Two Hearted can, like the Hemingway story it's named for, stand with the best. Today was one of those days:

Bell's Two Hearted pours a hazy amber color into the glass with a slight and quickly diminishing head. Rich and piney hops meld with tropically fruity ones to provide a pleasing nose and palate. A strong malt backdrop holds everything firmly in place. Hops round out the finish with pleasantly stinging bite. Two Hearted is a good choice for the hop novice who wants to learn something new, and it's also a welcome familiar option for the more experienced.

Try a Bell's Two Hearted if you haven't had one in awhile. Give it a go it you've never had the pleasure. Try it again in a few months if you're disappointed. It's worth trying again, because when it's good, it's good, even if it's not always so good.

Bell's Expedition (2012 Vintage)

Today I have Bell's Expedition in my glass. Every year devotees await the release of this annual beer from the esteemed Michigan brewery, though I think it best with at least a few month's age to take the kick off of its 10.5% ABV. Fortunately for me, this bottle has been left to "sit quietly in your (my) cellar, aging and improving while you (I) wait for the moment that seems perfectly appropriate for its consumption."

I think three years and some change is enough aging for this one, and the first issue of Beer'n with Bjorn is the right occasion for consumption so I'm going to open this up and tell you what I find:

The first thing I notice is a massive nose of dark roasted malts. I'm getting very dark chocolate (110% cacao) and some sweetness. A slight tan head forms, but it quickly dissipates. The aging has smoothed out the rough edges on the palate; this stout goes down velvety smooth with a parting satisfying smack at the end. The finish lingers with tons of licorice, chocolate, and dark coffee. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this may be one of my favorite Russian Imperial Stouts.

In summation, I recommend buying a six pack of it and trying one fresh. Then try another one in six months or so. Then another the following year. And if you like it, buy another six pack!

Bjorn.