Tasty Travels & other Stories

Since I can’t resist a Brewery / Restaurant, I had to go to MacTarhahan’s Taproom with friends from Quilt Market. A little out of the way, we finally found it thanks to ‘Helga’ their Garmen GPS. Unbelivable weather in Portland this week led us to the decision to eat outdoors which turned out to be a good choice.

This was the first place that gave me a choice of a 7 glass or 10 glass sampler of the beers. A NO BRAINER, I choose the 10 which included all the MacTarnahan brands but a number of Pyramid Brands as well since this is their brewery house. All had their good and bad but by the time I finished them all, they started to all blend together. I lucked out and got an extra IPA, not sure why but whose complaining.

Dinner was wonderful for the most part. Started off with the ‘Garlic Fries’ which we good but expected a non deep fried version. Suzanne had the mushroom ravioli with no regrets. I had the Scottish Pie and enjoyed every bite. Don’s port tenderloin was dry but flavorful and Mary’s enjoyed her Garlic Chicken Pasta.

Critics were not but if a good time with close friends is what your after, try MacTarnahan’s Taproom.

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Flying Dog Wheat Ale poured with little head, familiar clove, spices and grain
aroma leads off this wheat beer. Color is slightly muddy golden. Flavor is weak to start but has a flavorful finish with medium carbonation. Not bad but for a US wheat, see what other say…

John’s Beer Scale

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Ok,  If your going out to dinner and you want to look like your drinking a million
 bucks, order a Stella Artois.  The bottle is wrapped like champaign.  I found that it poured clear pale yellow with thick white head, very appealing. Aroma was faint but plesant.  The taste was not overwhelming with very little after taste, more like a light beer.

The bottler, InBev Belgium  of Leuven, Belgium describes their beer as:
“Stella Artois is one of the world’s best-selling beers and is enjoyed in more than 80 countries. Its full, characteristic flavour and high quality is assured through a superior brewing process and by using the finest ingredients available.  The UK version is brewed, filtered and kegged at Samlesbury. Batches are sent to Magor for pasteurising before being canned or bottled.”

Although not ranked well on my favorite beer site,  this is a beer I could drink again.

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Had Grolsch a number of time.   Most memorably in Chicago at a convention, that’s where I first got a bottle with the rubber stopper.   Always enjoyed this beer.

Grolsch Premium Pilsner has a wonderful golden color with a white frothy head that disapated to foam on the sides of the glass.  The aroma is faint but grainy.  Flavor starts off strong but lacks a finish.  It does have a fizzy body lasts through the whole glass.

Other haven’t ranked this one as I have so maybe it’s the idea I like??

  John’s Beer Scale

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This is the firt time I drank a Pilsner and knew that was what I was drinking.  In this case, it was a “Bohemian Pilsener” which I found to be defined as follows:

  Hallmarked by the generous use of the Saaz hop, Bohemian (or Czech) pilsners are also noted for their rich gold colour, fat maltiness and moderate to full body. Regardless of origin, to be a pilsner a beer must have at least 28 units of bitterness, and preferably much more.

Pilsner Urquel which is made in Plzen, Czech Republic poured a pale golden color with a small head that disapeared quickly. It had a very light aroma with a medium body.  As the description indicates, it also had a little bit of a bitter taste toward the finish.  I got this beer from a beers of the world pack.
  John’s Beer Scale

Hear what others say about this beer here.  

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Came in a “beers of the world” pack I got for Christmas thanks to my favorite nephew Matt!!  Although I have had it before.  I guess I always assumed it would be better with all the hype.   Pours attractive with bright color and small white head the disappears quickly.  Aroma not strong, kind of thin with a little bitter after taste.
Heineken is brewed in Holland and you can read more about it here at my favorite beer site.

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My first “Flying Dog” beer as I purchased a sample box at the Whole Foods, a favorite stop in Oak Park, on my way home from Troy with Suzanne.   Not sure what drew me to the box other than the outragous look.

The Scottish Stout was dark brown with a tan head that doesn’t last long. Has a sweet almost fruity flavor with a burt overtone, not at all what I expected.

My favorite ranking site, RateBeer.com has this to say about Flying Dog Road Dog Scottish Porter.

On John’s Scale
Color:    9   1=Light   /  10=Dark
Balance: 5   1=Sweet   /  10=Bitter
Flavor:   7   1=Light   /  10=Strong
Rank:    6    1=Dislike /  10=Like

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Another bottle in the Michelob sampler I got was their Pale Ale.  The color is fine, not much aroma but the after taste is not one for my palette, just a little too bitter.  Not to say I won’t drink the rest in the case, just not one I’ll run out and buy more on purpose.

My favorite ranking site, RateBeer.com has this to say about Michelob Pale Ale.

On John’s Scale
Color:   4   1=Light   /  10=Dark
Balance: 7   1=Sweet   /  10=Bitter
Flavor:  7   1=Light   /  10=Strong
Rank:   3    1=Dislike /  10=Like

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First, the Honey Weiss;  As U.S. Wheat beers go, this one is OK.  I Got the Lienie Honey Wheat in a variety pack which I have enjoyed and as I always like a little lienie.  This one is one you can drink any time inbetween the ones you really like.  The flavor is not a strong one nor is the aftertase, just average.  Their web site says this:

Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Select malted wheat, Cluster hops and a hint of Wisconsin honey give this unique refresher a clean, crisp, slightly sweet taste.

John’s scale:

Color:     3    1=Light   /  10=Dark
Balance:  5   1=Sweet   /  10=Bitter
Flavor:    5   1=Light   /  10=Strong
Rank:     5    1=Dislike /  10=Like

Now the Sunset Wheat – This one supprised me as it has a citris flavor in it, maybe it is the coriander that is brewed in it.  Here is wha Leini says:

Brewed with select Wheat and Pale malt, Cluster hops and natural coriander

They also recomend a “slice of orange to complement the coriander and enhance the citrus flavor”  I’m old fashioned and would use a lemon but by my taste, in a pinch, choose this one when you don’t have a lemon wedge for the rim.  I got a case of this from Sams Club and have enjoyed it although will probably not buy it again as there are just too many beers out there for me to try.

John’s Scale

Color:    4   1=Light   /  10=Dark
Balance: 4   1=Sweet   /  10=Bitter
Flavor:   6   1=Light   /  10=Strong
Rank:    6    1=Dislike /  10=Like

Both are fun to give a try if you like wheat beer and especially if you like Leinenkugel’s.

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The first in the variety case from Michelob, the porter was as expected, a very dark ale with the traditional dark flavors.  Chocolate is the flavor that comes to mind most as I drank this one.  It didn’t have much after tase and since I generally don’t like dark, it’s only a 4 on my scale.

On John’s Beer scale:
Color:     9    1=Light   /  10=Dark
Balance:  4    1=Sweet   /  10=Bitter
Flavor:    7    1=Light   /  10=Strong
Rank:     4    1=Dislike /  10=Like

Here is what AB says:  Michelob AmberBock is brewed with all-imported hops and dark-roasted barley malt, giving this lager its unique, rich amber color and smooth, full-bodied taste. AmberBock works well with grilled meats and barbecued foods, as well as a variety of cheeses, from cheddar to gouda as well as smoked mozzarella. The hearty and malty flavors found in bocks can stand up to the bolder flavors of more opulent meals. This beer is best enjoyed served in a tulip-style glass. Contains 5.2% ABV.

Wonder what others think, Look here for other reviews.

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