Review: Samuel Adams Spring 2016 Releases
Seven new releases from our friends at the Boston Beer Company, including a number of Brewmaster’s Collection releases and two additions to the Rebel IPA group. Thoughts follow. Samuel Adams Crystal Pale Ale – An pale ale made with Crystal hops, fairly representative of the style. Rather earthy up front, this hoppy brew offers notes…
Review: Don Q Rum Signature Release Single Barrel 2005
Destileria Serralles, producer of Don Q Rum in Puerto Rico, has just launched its latest expression: A vintage rum that was distilled in 2005 and spent 10 years in barrel. The first of a new line of single-barrel releases (a first for Don Q; a 2007 release comes out next year), this rum is a…
Review: Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength
It’s probably long overdue, but one of the biggest success stories in bourbon is finally coming out with a barrel strength release. Bulleit Barrel Strength is made from the same high-rye mashbill as its primary expression (roughly 1/3 rye), with no age statement provided. Batches will vary in alcohol content, but will hover around 60%…
Review: Woodchuck Cherry Barrel Aged, Day Chaser, and Campfire Pancakes Hard Cider
Three new seasonals from nonstop cider-churner Woodchuck. Let’s dive in to three very different expressions! Woodchuck Private Reserve Cherry Barrel Aged Hard Cider – Made from Michigan cherries and aged in Napa cabernet sauvignon barrels. Crisp and tart cherry from start to finish, with just a hint of nutty character and some malt for…
Review: Collingwood Canadian Whisky (2016)
After a recent rebranding, we felt it was time to take a fresh look at the standard bottling of Collingwood Canadian Whisky, which we last reviewed on its original release in 2011. While the decanter has been updated to look a bit less like a perfume bottle (namely through the ditching of the plastic cover that…
Review: Jameson Crested Irish Whiskey
Jameson has long made a rare and special bottling called Jameson Crested Ten, which includes a lot of pure pot still whiskey along with some sherry cask-aged stock. While the distillery calls this “a little known minor classic,” the rest of the world is about to get to know it a bit better — or,…
Review: Magic Hat Low Key Session IPA
Lower-alcohol session IPAs are all the rage right now, but Magic Hat’s rendition, called Low Key, is a noble misfire. Decidedly watery on the attack, the beer is simply lacking across the board in flavor, character, and heft. Slight notes of pine, orange peel, and mushroom make an appearance, but they fade away quickly. What’s…
Review: Virginia Dare/American Pioneer “American Myth” Wines – Two Arrowheads, The White Doe, The Lost Colony, Manteo, 2016 Releases
Recently we covered the inaugural wines from Virginia Dare, a new offshoot of the Francis Ford Coppola empire. Turns out that some wines hit the market before those namesake wines, all bottled on the sly under the new American Pioneer label — at least in fine print. These four wines, all named after places and events…
