August 2008 Archives

My wife first heard about this beverage earlier in the year and led us on a tangled search through bars and package stores to chase it down when we lived in Washington. Now that we're in New York, the search is far less arduous, but the cider is no less refreshing and no less crisp.

Characteristics: Pale, pale yellow color, light body, even lighter carbonation, and a continuously tart, smooth apple flavor from start to finish.

Minor Gripes: This is a heavier hitter -- the 6% ABV is hardly noticeable on the way down, which can be a scary thing. Also, I'm not big on sulfites, even though I understand the interest in keeping it fresh a little longer (and hops aren't available as a natural preservative).

Bottom Line: Original Sin is like drinking a Granny Smith apple. It's among the better domestic ciders, though you may want to watch the sulfites and sugar content depending on your propensity for hangovers. For those reasons, I can't drink more than one in an evening, and it can't be the last beverage of the night.

Rating: 5.75 / 10 (after being docked 1/2 point for the ill effects).

The Scots have done it again.  I've already talked about how much I love scotch ale, particularly McEwan's.  I have not reviewed the Kelpie seaweed ale because I had it only once... but it was fantastic.  And now there's the happy accident of a beer aged in bourbon oak casks... amen.

Characteristics: Clear orange-gold color, medium carbonation, light-to-medium body, and a slightly nutty clean taste (reminiscent of Bass Ale) punctuated by the bubbles and then mellowing out through vanilla flavors to a bourbon-tinged finish.

Minor Gripes: The aftertaste can run a bit sweet -- when I burped, it smelled like a Beam & Coke. And it's deceptively strong, at 6.6% ABV (compared with the standard 5% ABV).

Bottom Line: This is best seen as a sipping beer, and a fantastic brew for a lazy evening near a fireplace. I'm not a big fan of bourbon, but I can certainly endorse this use of bourbon casks.

Rating: 8 / 10

My new resolution: "big bottles + wine stopper = good value" -- at least here in NYC, where there's a fierce beer tax, especially on six-packs. If this resolution doesn't work out, these Chronicles may move on to distilled malted barley beverages -- prices on that side of the shop are comparable to what I found in DC. Anyway, today we take a trip back to the heyday of carnival sideshows and exotic-feeling experiences.

Characteristics: Cloudy gold color, average carbonation and head, medium to heavy body, sharp citrus notes (accentuated by the carbonation) that give way to a round, malty, spicy middle (reminiscent of christmas ales) before powering back as the aftertaste.

Minor Gripes: The citrus and malt aren't really playing nicely together, instead fighting for prominence. A little more nutmeg or coriander, or a different hop selection, might have balanced out the flavors.

Bottom Line: If your taste in Belgian whites runs toward first-generation Celis White or Hoegaarden, then Albino Python is definitely worth checking out. For those on the fence about whites (or who see Blue Moon as a pinnacle of this style's evolution), this beer isn't going to work.

Rating: 5 / 10