Alaskan Amber

Taste: malty and not very hoppy

Conclusion: This was an okay offering. The malty flavor was okay, but it could have used some hops to balance it out. It had a clean flavor, but it washed away too easily. There was a flavor in it that I could not place, however. After a little research, I found that this brew has been cold aged, changing the complexity of the brew.

Although this is a welcome change compared to your average brew, the flavors were not as exciting as I would have liked.

6 out of 10

Port Brewing, Shark Attack Double Red Ale

Look: Reddish Auburn with a short lasting lace head

Taste: Bitter bit with thick hop and malt, resiny mouthfeel

Conclusion: Port Brewing has had better names for other beers, though this one is no exception to their constant excellence.

This is a 9% equipped Double Red Ale. This is my first of this type. Although not my favorite, red ales are usually a bit sweet and have that sturdy malt backbone. This one had it's malt backbone ripped open by a shark, and boy is it delicious!

The mouthfeel borders on the chewy and feels strong but not overly heavy. Stronger beers need not sit in your stomach like a brick.

This brew knocked my socks off. The more beers I have from Port the more I want to go back and try more. Their fame apparently reached the bay area too. When we went up for Strong Beer Month in the bay we ran into Port's Old Viscosity at what turned out to be a predominantly Belgian beer bar. That's a lot of B's! Their fame will only increase when people find this absolute gem of a brewery. Like Stone, they push out some staggeringly strong flavored brews that make savor every last drop.

8 Brews!

Birra Moretti – La Rossa

Look: Caramel color with light foamy head

Taste: Smoky with hints of sweet barley

Conclusion: This is a much better offering from Birra Moretti. The smoky flavor lingers in your mouth after the beer has gone down and there is a great floral aroma in the glass. You can get a whiff just by bringing the glass up to your lips, its great. The beer is not hoppy at all, but the smoke flavor may overpower some finer fish or pasta dishes. It goes great with any meat or red sauce dishes however. The strong flavors were a welcome addition to diner that evening.
The beer still has the flavors of the original Birra Moretti blond beer, but it has a stronger punch when it comes to flavor. Bluntly put, it’s less bland, and that’s a good thing. This is the Beer Lao Dark of Italy; it is made by a company that makes a very popular blond, but wishes to branch out to the dark side. I really need to give these breweries a fair chance. I am always hesitant to try darks from a mostly blond beer brewing company, but I’m two for three so far. Not too bad… so long as Buttwiper doesn’t get any bright ideas. That’ll just be wrong!! Wont it?

I give La Rossa an 8 out of 10

(You'll have to excuse the Guinness glass. It was the best glass I had on hand to catch the aroma of the beer)