A taste of… Tröegs Hop Back Amber Ale

Tröegs Brewing Company
Harrisburg, PA

Preface: The first time I sampled a beer from this brewery was in The Brickskeller, of Washington, DC. I was just about to reach the lip to sip when I caught a whiff of the smoke from someone smoking a cigarette at the other end of the bar. The sensory conflict left the beer the looser. For the record I am in favor of banning the combustion of tobacco from places where food and drink are enjoyed rather than simply consumed as silage.

The cost: ($2.04 US)


The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: Tinny bubbles float up through a brew of deep copper color with a slight chill haze. Atop this brew floats a parchment brown head of tightly knit bubbles that slowly form a more lunar looking finishing head. There is noticeable Belgian Lace.

Aroma: The first impression was a tang of witch hazel followed by more familiar green hop aromas. The second take revealed the malted barley notes. From lip to sip the malted barley notes increased.

Mouth feel: This is not a thin brew. However, it is less than pleasingly plump.

Flavor: After a creamy sensation the first sensation is the grassy and green leaf aromas unique to the hop flower. However, the flavors never finish their potential.

Finish: The finishing notes are an almost bipartisan effort of the malted grain sweetness and the tang of the hops. Since bipartisan is a fantasy the hops finally vote the grain down. Even then the hops never deliver the knockout punch.

Comments: From the size of the hop flower on the front of the label I was expecting an India Pale Ale kick of hops backed up by a fairly warn kiss of alcohol. In the end I was sipping a brew more comfortable when I called it a bitter. This is a social beer that needs good conversation and a few rounds served to show its true assets.

Alcohol content – 6% abv

The Brewery: http://www.troegs.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/694/6322

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/troegs-hopback-amber-ale/17495/

A taste of… Aguila (Pilsner Type Beer)

Bavaria S.A.
Barranquilla, Colombia

Preface: The Bavaria Brewery (Cervecería Bavaria), listed as Bavaria S.A., was founded in 1889 by German immigrant Leo S. Kopp when the Deutsche Brauerei Bavaria began operations on April 4, 1889.

The flagship brand Aguila was introduced in 1913. Seventeen years later Consorcio de Cervecerías Bavaria was created when Kopp's Deutsche Brauerei and other regional breweries merged. The company became the primary Colombian brewer and in 1959 changed its name to Bavaria S.A.

In 2002 the worldwide move to “light” beer resulted in the introduction of Aguila Light beer. Three years later GEB was incorporated into SAB Miller.

The cost: ($1.84 US)


The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A golden yellow well carbonated, slightly hazy brew is topped with a white head of not too closely knit bubbles. The head falls relatively quickly and leaves a semblance of Belgian Lace.

Aroma: The first impression is a slightly malty aroma with hints of phenol. The second impression reveals a hint of wet cardboard.

Mouth feel: This is a light bodied brew with little obvious impressions.

Flavor: From the lip-to-sip, there is a clean, refreshing sensation. The following flavor sensations are slightly sweet grain sensations followed by only a slight tough of hop bitter.

Finish: There is little finish to this brew. It disappears quickly but leaves a refreshing sensation.

Comments: Beer breweries on this scale are most often brewing for the local population and the products complement both the local physical environment and cuisine. In this case, although I have never been to Colombia, I will assume that this beer quenches the average Colombians thirst and insures relief from the spicy cuisine.

Alcohol content – 4% abv

The Brewery: http://www.cervezaaguila.com/HomeAguila2.aspx?scc=478&css=413&grp=477

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/722/46969

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A taste of… Double Vision Doppelbock

Grand Teton Brewing Co.
430 Old Jackson Hole Highway
Victor, ID 83455
USA

Preface: Here is another sample brew from the folks at Grand Teton -

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a dark, hazy garnet-red brew topped with a dense, mocha colored head of tightly knit small bubbles that rest under a creamy top of medium bubbles similar to the effect of a properly half-cooked pancake.

Aroma: The first impression is coffee and some roasted barley grain. The second impression is more candy aromas hiding under the grain aromatics.

Mouth feel: This is a full bodied brew that refreshes when served at slightly cooler than cellar temperature. The heavier flavors don’t fully develop at low temperature.

Flavor: From the lip-to-sip, the aromatics develop into chocolate, into burnt caramel and finishes with a hint of slightly more bitter than sharp hop sensations.

Finish: There is surprisingly little finish to this brew. It disappears quickly and leaves only a hint of hop astringency under the candy flavors that manage to hang on for a short time.

Comments:

There is warmth to the flavor of this brew that is a hint to the alcohol content 8% abv. However, there is only a medium feel to the flavor profiles. This balance serves well with cheeses and roasted red meats. Rather than a challenge to the taste receptors, this is a easy going complement to foods that have naturally huge flavor footprints.

Original Gravity: 1.096
Alcohol content – 8% abv

The Brewery: http://www.grandtetonbrewing.com/ourbeers.html


What others say:
BeerAdvocate: N/A

RateBeer: N/A

The Full Pint dot com:
http://thefullpint.com/2009/02/10/grand-teton-releases-double-vision-doppelbock

A taste of… Carib Lager

Carib Brewery
Champs Fleurs,
Trinidad, West Indies

Preface: This is the last of what I call the “Caribbean Tasting”. Over the next few days I have tasted four of the beers brewed in the Caribbean. The cost of this beer was $1.84 (US) at a beer wholesaler in Brooklyn, NY USA.

Note: Carib is bottled in a clear glass bottle. There is no hint to any unique selling point on the label. There is a “date” on this bottle “BB JUNE/09 0817OL6 2055”

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a golden slightly orange, well carbonated brew (very small bubbles) topped with a thin almost all white head that falls faster than a Caribbean sunset. There is no discernible Belgian Lace.

Aroma: On opening the bottle there was a very slight “skunky” aroma. The first impression is toasted malt, the second impression reveals only a hint of “bright green” hops. The lip-to-sip reveals a sweet-grassy sensation that continues into the mouth-feel.

Mouth feel: After a refreshing cool sensation, there is light, bright sensation helped by the slight spike of carbolic acid (carbonation) that is a prelude to the flavors…

Flavor: As with two previously sampled Caribbean lagers, from the lip-to-sip, through the initial mouth-feel and into the first flavor impression there is a crisp, clean and refreshing flavor of slightly toasted barley malt with only a hint of hops.

Finish: The final notes of this beer are neither lingering nor too-quickly dissipated. The final pallet sensation is refreshing and does excite the flavor receptors for the next sip.

Comments: First off, I was not surprised that there was a slightly “skunky” sensation delivered both in the aroma and flavor. I will note that this is well balanced with what little grain and hop flavors are incorporated. Served slightly more chilled than traditional lagers or ales it offers refreshment to the taste sensors and the pallet.

Served as a beverage of choice with freshly caught grilled firm fleshed fish, this would be more than acceptable. After an hour or so swimming in the aqua waters of the Caribbean this would be more than enough incentive to seek the shade of a beach bar for a quick dry-off before doing it all over again, and again.

The Brewery: http://www.caribbeer.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/272/750/?ba=Todd

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A taste of… Yardy Lager Beer

Big City Brewing Co.
7 Pechon Street
Kingston, Jamaica

Preface: As it is another fine spring-like morning here in Brooklyn, NY, USA, I will crack open a cool Caribbean brew and get this tasting started. This beer retails for $1.84(US).

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This slightly hazy orange/yellow/gold lightly carbonated brew is topped with a thin head of medium bubbles. There is no Belgian Lace and the head fell faster than consumer confidence here in the United States.
Aroma: First impressions leave a candy sweet aroma followed by a touch of caramel. Lip-to-sip adds little to the aroma profile.

Mouth feel: If fashion models can never be too thin this is a beer for them.

Flavor: After the initial refreshing chill of the liquid, the first, second and last impression is of flavored water minus any carbonation.

Finish: Elvis left the building at “Mouth Feel.”

Comments: From the above illustration you can see this brew is packaged in a clear bottle. What you cannot see is the “twist-off” cap. I will blame the choice of clear glass and the lazy seal of the cap for the less than standard flavor profile of this beer. Perhaps a bit of ganja would help?

During the next few weeks I will try another sample of this brew to see if this was simply a bad bottle.

The Brewery: http://www.bigcitybrewing.com/index1.html


What others say:

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RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/yardy-lager-beer/52182/3677/

A taste of… Banks Caribbean Lager

Banks Brewery
Barbados

Preface: On a fine spring-like morning here in Brooklyn, NY, USA it struck me as a good morning to sample another Caribbean brew. This one, Banks, is new to me although I did run across the mention of the brewery in my research for a book that hasn’t yet been published. This beer retails for $1.84(US).

Description on US bottle label:

“This is the legendary Caribbean beer brewed under sunshine and blue skies and celebrated across the region. Since 1955”

All right, so I’m four years older than the brewery… I’ll try the beer anyway.

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: Here is a brilliant burnished gold brew that is topped with a none-too dense head of medium sized, fairly well knot bubbles. The head slowly recedes leaving not a trace of Belgian Lace.

Aroma: The initial impression is fresh crushed lightly roasted barley malt. The second impression revealed a slightly metallic tang. Lip-to-sip added little to the perceived flavors or aromas of this brew.

Mouth feel: After the initial refreshing chill of the liquid, the first, second and last impression of mouth-feel is lightly experienced.

Flavor: There is a bit more malt sweetness than hop presence to this lager. The effort to brew a refreshing beer that should be served well chilled is accomplished here. However the lack of crispness is the only nit I will pick.

Finish: The not-quite-crisp finish is distracting if it is solo. However, a grilled fillet or steak of fresh caught fish would show this beer off.

Comments: As noted above, the lack of a crisp finish to this brew makes it a good match for simply grilled fish or to put the fire out when sampling some of the spicier cuisine in the Caribbean.

The Brewery: http://www.banksbeer.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/581/7585

RateBeer: http://ratebeer.com/beer/banks-beer-40barbados/4097/39028/

A taste of… Thiriez Blonde

Brasserie THIRIEZ
22 rue de Wormhout
59470 ESQUELBECQ
Tél-fax : 03 28 62 88 44
brasserie.thiriez@wanadoo.fr

Preface: As you can see by the address of this brewery, it is not in the Caribbean. The choice of a French beer is simply by chance. Yesterday I happened to notice it sitting on the shelf of a Whole Foods market in Manhattan and could not resist trying it. It retails for $11.04(US).

Description on US bottle label:

“Daniel Thiriez’s rustic little brick-and-beam brewery graces the village of Esquelbecq, plunk in the middle of the rolling farm country of French Flanders. With a brewing degree from a Belgian university, and decidedly ‘Belgian-oriented,’ Monsieur Thiriez makes ales with an earthy, slightly wild character that recalls the early days of farmhouse brewing, before there was a border between France and Belgium. The delicate spicy champagne aromas of this thirst-quenching blonde beauty are quickly followed by a bracing rush of whole fresh hops.”

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This seems to be a “bottle conditioned” ale with residual yeast on the bottom of the bottle. The careful pour, as seen above, was done in wine glasses to make it easier to sense the various aromatics and flavors. The brew poured as a rather opaque orange very effervescent liquid topped with a thick head of foam like consistency rather than a frothy head. Whether the fault of the glass, or the brewer, there was no Belgian Lace.

Aroma: There were hints of cider and sparkling wine. (It was a similar aroma to the French sparkling wine crement.) The sparkling wine sensations continued through the lip-to-sip.

Mouth feel: A hefty touch of carbonation and creamy mouth feel to the beer was not unpleasant.
Flavor: The vinous flavors fought futilely with what hops were used and ceded the flavor profile to the hops which almost immediately dissipated.

Finish: A crisp and rather dry finish left some residual apple and grapefruit sensations.

Comments:

First of all, for a “farmhouse” brew this was more “suburban split level”… The 250 ml format begged not to be sampled some morning and then poured down the drain as a “sample” beer. (These tasting notes are usually done in the morning when my taste buds are most excitable, before a day of tasting various and sundry have them confused.)

The answer to that was to taste it at a favorite restaurant of mine (Bar Tabac) where the staff is from various parts of France. Their participation was willing and their observations candid. In short, it was deemed a tasty beer with a bit of a wine sensations to it.

The consensus was that this is a fine beverage to serve with veal escallops in mushroom sauce, thin green beans and mashed potatoes.

The Brewery: http://brasseriethiriez.ifrance.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4315/22842

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/thiriez-la-blonde-desquelbecq/15774/

A taste of… Kalik Beer

Commonwealth Brewery Ltd.
Nassau, Bahamas

Preface: This is the first of what I call the “Caribbean Tasting”. Over the next few days I will taste four of the beers brewed in the Caribbean. The cost of this beer was $1.35 (US) at a beer wholesaler in Brooklyn, NY USA.

I first tried this brew on a trip to the Bahamas seven years ago. I remember it as being refreshing on a hot but pleasant afternoon spent relaxing on the veranda of the Atlantis Casino. Today it is a cold winter morning in Brooklyn, NY. It will be interesting to see what part memories will play in this tasting.

Note: There appears to be very small flakes floating in this beer.

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: After pouring this brew into the pint glass, and shining a light through it the flakes seem to no longer be there. (I can only deduce that it was the reflections of imperfections in the clear glass bottle.) It is a light golden yellow, lightly carbonated brew topped with a quickly dissipating white head of foam comprised of small to medium sized bubbles. There is no discernible Belgian Lace.

Aroma: Sweet malted barley aromas are the first impression when lifting the glass to experience initial aromatics. The second impression reveals a slight unbaked bread aroma. (By this time the head has fallen entirely leaving no “lace.”) The lip-to-sip continues to breathe a slight bread dough sensation.

Mouth feel: A light touch of carbonation and none-too-heavy mouth feel to the beer is on “style” for a light lager.

Flavor: From the lip-to-sip, through the initial mouth-feel and into the first flavor impression there is a crisp, clean and refreshing flavor of slightly toasted barley malt with only a hint of hops.

Finish: The final notes of this beer are neither lingering nor too-quickly dissipated. The final pallet sensation is refreshing and does excite the flavor receptors for the next sip.

Comments: First off I was surprised that there was no “skunky” sensation delivered either as an aroma or flavor. Unclouded by memory, the overall impression this beer gives is refreshment. It is well balanced with what little grain and hop flavors are incorporated. Served slightly more chilled than traditional lagers or ales it offers refreshment to the taste sensors and the pallet. I will exercise my imagination and tell you that this brew offers some evidence that the terroir of this Caribbean brew is evident.

Served as a beverage of choice with freshly caught grilled firm fleshed fish, this would be more than acceptable. After an hour or so swimming in the aqua waters of the Caribbean this would be more than enough incentive to seek the shade of a beach bar for a quick dry-off before doing it all over again, and again.

The Brewery: http://www.heinekeninternational.com/commonwealthbrewerybahamas.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/944/3050

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/kalik/8682/

A taste of… Deschutes Hop Henge IPA 2009

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
USA

Preface: Yesterday I received this brew from the folks at Deschutes Brewery.

A note on the label says, “Stonehenge is a mystery. Hop Henge is a discovery. Our monument to hops – Hop Henge is brought to life by the uncompromising creativity of our brewers. With an immense hop flavor and bitter finish. This experimental IPA will stand the test of time.”

Alcohol by volume: 8.75%
IBU: 95

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a copper-penny bronze, slightly hazy, lightly carbonated brew, topped with a light tan, none-too- dense very rocky head comprised of sparkling medium sized bubble.

Aroma: The first impression is of fresh, green vegetal hops. The second impression strengthened the firs aromas. Not a trace of malt. The lip-to-sip has the hops rushing onward, inward and into the nasal passages.

Mouth feel: This is a medium bodied brew with so much hops that the mouth-feel this out after the initial sensation of cool refreshment.

Flavor: Following the refreshing mouth-feel, the initial flavor, before opening the mouth to experience the aromatics, is actually a tap on the tongue of sweet “bready” malt. This is almost immediately quashed by the hop flavors. There are a few levels of hop flavors here and without that first kiss of malt would make this a hop-tea.

Finish: Finishing notes are remarkably clear of grapefruit (Cascade) and leaves both citric, grassy and a whisper of phenol notes...

Comments: After the label warning of 95 BTUs I was expecting to have my taste sensors pummeled with grapefruit flavor. When this didn’t happen in either the flavor or finish I can only attribute that to the hop selection and the use of skillfully blended malts. It would take a real caramel candy sugar malt mix to rein in the hops horses. That said, I am very impressed with the balance and particularly the finish.

Carnivores, seated in front of a platter of rare prime grilled rib of beef can find no better beverage. Thin sliced potatoes roasted in duck fat, and sautéed Brussels Sprouts… ah heaven!

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/splash/default.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/47434

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-hop-henge-experimental--ipa/98697/

Evolution or Intelligent Design?

Yesterday I had a conversation with a chap who markets beers from specialty breweries in Italy.

While sipping a brew, he related the story of the development of the microbreweries in the Piedmonte region in Italy. Of particular note was the prolific use of what beer brewers in the United States and Germany would call “adjuncts.”

There are many in the beer brewing world that will use only three ingredients in their beer: malted barley, hops and water. Yeast, with notable exceptions, is not actually an ingredient. Yeast, with the beer brewer, is a creator of beer. Since the sixteenth century the Bavarians have a word for that style of beer brewing “Reinheitsgebot.”

Please note the use of the word style. There are specifications regarding color, ingredients, yeast and alcohol content for over two hundred “styles” of beer. (Ale is a style of beer… enough said.) The same sorts of folks who cling to the Reinheitsgebot also seem determined to cram every beer brewed into one of their determined “style.” Any beer brewed outside of the style parameters is a badly brewed beer or not even worthy of the moniker. Their “Intelligent Design” take on the fermented malt beverage may give them a sense of place in the world. Perhaps the need for specificity answers a control need. Perhaps it answers a need for power, the power that comes in determining the parameters of conformity. Whatever the need, we are left with a fine set of beer styles with names and even nick-names. However there is discord among the ranks of conformity. To my point, if you have a great deal of time on your hands, try getting a British beer brewer to give the specific parameters for a Pale Ale.

This brings me back to the “Evolutionary” beers being brewed in Italy. The microbreweries in the Piedmont region alone use Chestnuts, Tandoori spices, blueberries, peaches, and honey. As there is no tradition of Italian beer “styles” they have seized the opportunity to brew some unusually tasty and unusual tasting brews. Of particular interest is the use of the word “Saison” by the beer brewers of Piedmont. In the countries north of Italy, and here in North America, the word “saison” is used to name a style of beer that has been a part of French beer tradition for centuries. The beer brewers of Piedmont use the same word to describe a beer that has herbs and spices used in the brewing process. This mercurial definition leads to beers with very different flavor profiles, none of which would ever be found in the French beers. The style-police wring their hands and gnash their teeth and deride this abuse of a style name. (I now draw their attention to the fact that a bottle of Bass Ale has the initials I.P.A. on it and there is no way in this world or any others that what is in that bottle has the flavor profile of an India Pale Ale.)

What are we left with? In the end we are left with a fantastic range of fermented malt beverages to taste and enjoy each in its own time and place. Sometimes we will taste a beer that disappoints for one reason or another. Sometimes we will taste an elixir of such wonderful flavors we will remember the event all our days on this earth. Yes, the folks from “Intelligent Design” have given us a fine framework to admire but the exuberance of the Evolutionaries will get my support every time.

A taste of… Deschutes 20th Anniversary Wit

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
USA

Preface: This is another bottle-from-the-back-of-the fridge… I have no Idea how long it has been in there and can’t find any promotional material to describe it. The label tells me that it is a 20th anniversary reserve.

A note on the label says, “After twenty years we know a thing or two – About beer anyway. We took everything we’ve learned to handcraft our 20th Anniversary Wit. It’s a traditional easily drinkable witbier combined with years of passion, brewing tradition and oh… some hints of Curacao orange peel, coriander and grains of paradise thrown in for good measure. We think you’ll thoroughly enjoy this new twist on a classic style.”

Alcohol by volume: 5.5%

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A straw-yellow with a touch of yellow-gold brew is topped white head of fine small bubbles. The Belgian Lace is skimpy but there.

Aroma: As soon as I opened the bottle there was a hint of wheat. The first impression is a distinctive wheat tang that is followed by a green-grass aroma. The second impression brings a very slight hint of banana to the forefront in a shy, rather than brash way… The lip-to-sip confirmed the previous flavor sensations.

Mouth feel: After the refreshing chill of the brew the impression is of a medium to slim body. The carbonation doesn’t get in the way.

Flavor: The first flavors are wheat tang and then a sweeter malt flavor follows up with a friendly hop “shadow”. The American Wit flavor profile is unabashedly celebrated in this brew. That is to say there is no obvious bubble-gum or ripe banana flavor or aroma that Bavarian wheat beer yeast is noted for.

Finish: The finish is a pleasant clean exit by the previously mentioned flavors. At the very end there is a cleansing sensation from the last vestiges of the hops.

Comments: Let me start out by noting that I am not a great fan of American style wheat beers. However, this one is so easy-going that I can’t find any fault. It is a well presented version of the American wheat style.

I would take a great deal of pride presenting this brew as an ingredient in steamed clams and, well chilled, as a beverage of choice with those steamed bivalves or with clams on the half-shell. What we have here is a real summer brew!


The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/splash/default.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/43397

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-20th-anniversary-wit/89158/

A taste of… Black Butte XX

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR
USA

Preface: Last night (Super Bowl ’09) I found this bottle hiding in the back of the refrigerator. I have no Idea how long it has been in there and can’t find any promotional material to describe it. The label tells me that it is a 20th anniversary reserve.

A note on the label says, “XX It usually means bigger, richer and we can think of no better way to describe the taste of this even-bolder take on our classic, black butte porter. Black Butte XX is an imperial porter with a lot more malt and hops, a wealth of coffee, cocoa nibs and aged in bourbon oak barrels. It also means twenty. Enjoy one on our twentieth anniversary. On the flavor scale – it’s legendary.” Also noted on the label – “Porter brewed with chocolate beans and coffee added. With 20% aged in bourbon barrels.”

Alcohol by volume: 11%

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This is a very deep garnet red brew, almost black and not opaque. A maglight can be seen shown through the pint glass. The head is a very rocky but well built mocha tan rich and creamy construction. It falls gradually and leaves a fine brown Belgian Lace.

Aroma: As soon as I opened the bottle the rich malt aroma, followed by chocolate was very evident. The first impression of aromatic sensations is of toast, followed by a dark chocolate aroma. The second impression added the bourbon aromas… The lip-to-sip was rich in chocolate and then bourbon.

Mouth feel: Rich, creamy sensations followed the refreshing cool sensation. There is only a hint of the alcoholic “heat”.

Flavor: An initial refreshing chill of the brew there is a series of flavors here. Chocolate is shy but the coffee and bourbon are less inhibited. However there is also some oak, leather and burnt malt there also. None of these flavors become overpowering.

Finish: There is a remarkably quick finish to this brew. This is not to say that is a bad thing. There is no cloy or soapy finish. All of the flavors remain for a moment but then bow out gracefully.

Comments: This is a “sneaky” brew in that if you didn’t know how powerful it is you might want to make short order of the first pint and only then take your time enjoying the complex flavors you will find if you take your time with the second pint. If you swallow the second pint with the gusto of the initial one you are on your way to perdition.

I would pair this beer with either a prime rib (roasted), hash-brown potatoes with lots of onions and peppers, and creamed spinach. Or save it for a few choice chocolates after the meal.
It is perfect to share with a dining companion.

The Brewery: http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brews/reserve-series/black-butte-xx/default.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63/42836

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/deschutes-black-butte-xx/74573/