Beer Review #4 - Punk Rock Pumpkin

If America's hearty pilgrims had developed advanced punk rock brewing techniques and had somehow managed to produce Thanksgiving type meals on a weekly basis, the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale would be the beverage of choice. Punkin Ale is a thick brown ale brewed with classic holiday spices such as brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course the meat of pumpkin. Dogfish Head brews Punkin ale every fall to help the citizens of America warm up, get cozy, and survive the often stressful and consumption heavy holiday season. The brew is malty and toasty, it features hints of brown sugar, pumpkin and caramel, making it a perfect vessel for mental transportation into the holiday spirit. It seems unlikely that this brew would be craved with most meals due to it's undeniably holiday vibe, but paring the Punkin Ale with roasted duck, turkey, venison, or the pheasant you recently shot, would be an excellent choice. Buying several four-packs or even a case to save might make the holidays and family receptions just that much more bearable.

Grade: B

ALC: 7%

IBU: 28

Beer Review #3 - The Beer that Launched 1,000 Ships (but was named after one)

The Don De Dieu from the Unibroue Brewery in Chambly Quebec is a top fermented triple wheat Belgian strong pale ale, and what a mouthful it is. It's fairy tale meets Peter Jackson cover art preps the drinker for a slightly exotic wheat beer experience. In 1608 the King of France commissioned explorer Samuel de Champlain de Brouage to command the Don De Dieu and explore "this vast and inhospitable land called America." The Don De Dieu's exotic aromas and flavors certainly support the imperialist spirit that the Europeans so deeply cherish.

The brew is a golden amber orange and features a medium body and yeasty haziness that gives you something to chew on. The aroma is filled with tropical fruit, spice, vanilla, malt, and a yeastiness characteristic of the re-fermented Unibroue beers. The 9.0% ALC is hard to notice due to the beer's lushness and smooth complex flavor. The Don De Dieu is a Belgian style wheat ale to compete with the best of them. Viva la Canada!

Grade: B+

IBU:10.5 IBU stands for International Bitterness Unit, a scale that indicates the level of hop bitterness of a beer. Technically speaking an IBU is 1 ppm isohumulone, an acid that comes from the hops used to brew. A 10.5 is very low! Bitterness seekers look elsewhere, start with an Irish Stout or an IPA.

Beer Review #2 - A White Ale From 日本

Every great nation has some type of beverage associated with it (hopefully more than one). When you think of Japan a couple of things should come to mind, tea, sake, and maybe Suntory whisky if your really into the salary man Japanese boozing scene. You might not think of delicious beer, but as the world becomes "flatter" and beer recipes continue to spread over hill and dale Japan's Kiuchi Brewery in the Ibaraki prefecture has produced some excellent selections as part of the Hitachino "nest beer" line.

The Hitachino White Ale is in the "Witbier" style. It features a light and hazy golden straw color with a nice frothy white head, smooth carbonation, and classic wheat beer aromas including coriander and lemongrass. The body comes in at a creamy medium, fruit and spice dominating the initial impressions. The White Ale has a dry and refreshing finish and would be great with sushi, soba noodles, Thai food, a sandwich, pretzels, or really anything be it from the east or west. I recommend trying one, writing a haiku, having another, and then attempting some difficult varietal of martial arts.

Grade: B+

Beer Review #1 - A Stunning Ghost

The first beer up for review is the Belgian artisanal ale known as the Fantome de Noel. Starting with this beer is similar to starting a blog about great ancient cities with a post on Rome, it's grandeur and mysterious nature is hard to beat. This 10% ALC seasonal winter brew falls under the flavorful "saison" or farmhouse style. It is produced by the Fantome brewery located deep in the Ardennes forest of Belgium where ghosts, elves, foxes and other creatures use herbs, exotic spices, and other ingredients to produce adventurous brews that sync with the seasons.

The Fantome de Noel is a dark chestnut brown with a mellow head that features subtle, tiny little bubbles. The flavor is fruity and spicy with just a touch of sourness that adds yet another angle to the already oaky, warm, and complex brew. The high alcohol content is masked dangerously well by the dark fruit, spice, subtle sourness, and ghostly magic. The body is fairly thin and features a delicate carbonation that Santa surely loves. Overall this is a truly excellent beer no matter what season you are in!

Grade: A

A Matter of Style, Man of Science/Man of Faith

Beer styles have evolved over centuries of brewing experimentation, evolving recipes, marketing programs, and consumer recognition. Being aware of a beer's deemed style and origin can help one differentiate between different brews and develop a sense of personal preference. All beers can be divided into two basic categories, ales and lagers, which are classified by factors such as fermentation, temperature, and speed at which the yeast strains make the magic happen (more later) The beer world and the categories that accompany it are constantly changing and hybridizing...

Beer Fox reviews will strive to provide a unique angle on beer styles in a fun, easy to understand, and of course foxy way.

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog that draws inspiration from the planet's craftiest creature to discuss and critique the planet's craftiest and quite possibly greatest beverage. The Beer Fox aims to expose some of the most exciting classic and contemporary beers from around the globe. Stay tuned for beer knowledge, musings, and rants. Many beers to come!