For our first six-pack review of 2017 we combined November and December’s six-pack. Life got busy and my husband just wasn’t drinking enough!!! Back in mid-November I took my husband to the Warwick Valley Bed & Breakfast to celebrate his 40th birthday. While we were in Warwick, we came upon the Craft Beer Cellar. My husband was like a kid in a candy shop when we entered the store. The shop sells all kinds of craft beer and ciders by the bottle. For the November & December six-pack all the beers were hand-selected by my husband from the Craft Beer Cellar.
Unibroue: A Tout Le Monde Megadeth – A Tout Le Monde Megadeth is a beer created through a partnership with craft brewery, Unibroue, and Dave Mustaine, co-founder and lead singer of Megadeth. A Tout Le Monde is a Belgian style Saison ale, brewed in Quebec. The beer was recently launched in October in 12 ounce bottles. This beer was one of my husband’s favorites! He thought that the beer had a unique flavor, which he liked. It had hints of spices and the tang of grapefruit, but the flavor was smooth and not overwhelming. As he said, anything with Megadeath on it is worth trying and this one was a winner in his opinion.
Verdict: A winner! Definitely worth a try.
Ballast Point Brewing Company Mango Even Keel – Ballast Point Brewing Company began in 1996 and is based in California. They brew spirits as well as craft beers. The Mango Even Keel is available year-round in a 12-ounce can and draft. This is a hoppy, session ale with mango flavors. My husband found this beer to be very hoppy and bitter. There was just a hint of mango flavor. He didn’t end up finish this one and noted, “I won’t go out of my way to get another one.”
Verdict: Pass
Belhaven Brewery Scottish Oat Stout – Belhaven is Scotland’s oldest working brewery, established in 1719. This Scottish Oat Stout is not currently on their website but appears to be available online and at distributors throughout the country. The commerical description notes that this beer is, “dark, rich and layered with a wonderfully silky texture and a lingering finish.” My husband found this beer to be thick and flavorful with hints of coffee and chocolate. It was one of his favorites of the bunch!
Verdict: A winner! One of his favorites!
Einstok Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale – Einstok Brewery is located in Akureyri, Iceland, 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle. This pale ale is where, “robust hoppiness meets smooth malty undertones.” This beer had a smooth taste. However, my husband had higher expectations for the beer. The label makes the beer compelling, but my husband noted that if it didn’t have a special label, “it’s just beer.” Overall this gets average ratings, but he wouldn’t get this one again.
Verdict: Pass
Rogue Mocha Porter – Rogue Brewery and Pub opened in October 1988 in Ashland, Oregon. The beer is now brewed exclusively in their Newport, Oregon location. Rogue makes ales, porters, stouts, lagers and spirits, as well as ciders and sodas. According to Rogue, their Mocha Porter has, “a bittersweet balance of malt and hops with a light cream finish.” This beer is available year round. My husband found this beer to be dark and rich with a nice lingering, chocolate-y flavor that he enjoyed.
Verdict: A Winner! Would get this beer again.
Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale – Charles Wells has been a British family brewery located in the United Kingdom since 1876. They brew over 25 beers including this Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. This beer was inspired by the traditional British dessert, combining darker malts with toffee, caramel and fruity aromas. My husband found this beer to be dark and rich with a sweet finish. He thought it tasted like the dessert that it’s named after. Although different, in his opinion, this isn’t a beer that you can drink more than one at a sitting.
Verdict: Definitely worth a try. He’d get this beer again as a treat.
