Hockey and Brews...What Else do You Need?

The other night I got to see the Adirondack Flames (AHL affiliate to Calgary Flames) and the Rochester Amerks at the Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY. Me being from Rochester, I was the minority routing for the Amerks who fell 2-1 after a well fought battle, including Makarov the Amerks goalie making 45 saves--some exceptional saves as well! During the game, Davidson Brothers, a brewing company I have come to love in Glens Falls, had a couple brews on tap. So, I tried their Winter Ale, which was delicious and a perfect rich malty winter warmer. After the game my brother-in-law Brad and his father, Rich, and I went to Davidson Brothers and I had their Ample Sampler--six 6 ounce beers. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite English style breweries. Davidson Brothers I believe worked up in Shipyard with Alan Pugsley, so they've learned a thing or two and I wouldn't be surprised if they use Shipyard's proprietary yeast as there are similar underlying flavor profiles between the two.

Here's notes on what I tasted:
1) Winter Ale - Robust, lots of chocolate and roasted coffee malt notes, some bittering hops, plus carbonated, toffee, butterscotch, reminiscent of a dry Irish stout style. 5.9% ABV.
2) Brown Ale (on cask) - Same as they have normally in bottles but this was cask conditioned, smooth, malty, on the sweet side with plenty of maltiness, beautiful foamy creamy head and light brown legs that stuck to the entire glass. 4.3% ABV. More here.
3) Irish Red Ale - Crisp, light legs, a semi-scotch like flavor, very session-able and simply flavorful. 5.0% ABV. More here.
4) IPA - More aromatic hops than bittering, floral and citrus flavors, melon, honey, sugar, session-able. 5.9% ABV. More here.
5) Dacker Authentic Adirondack Ale - Malty, sweet, aromatic hops of citrus and pine, thick mouthfeel, lingering maltiness, a scotch like ale that has been brewed in the Adirondacks for generations. 6.2% ABV. More here.
6) Double ESB -Sweet, citrus, lemon, lemonheads, smooth, some alcohol in the back of the taste, syrupy thick mouthfeel, rich, malt balanced just slightly. 7.7% ABV.
7) Scotch Ale - Don't know why but this my 2nd time having this beer I got loads of tart cherry/strawberry/melon notes, malty and smooth, alcohol is noticeable but not offensive. 8.3% ABV. More here.

Favorite on the night: Scotch Ale. Dominates in flavor and richness, even though I loved every other beer I tried. Davidson Brothers is awesome.

Beer Group November Tasting (#5)

Not a great turnout this time around, but my brother, wife and I managed to make a short evening of it nevertheless. Only a couple of beers to preview this time around:

Tasting notes:
1) Greene King The King's English IPA - I found this best at a slightly warmer than colder temperature, nutty caramel, some bitter like an ESB, grassy/hay hops if you nose carefully, apple cider notes and a slight skunk (imported from UK through CA means probably too much travel time). 6% ABV (their website says 3.1%?), more here.
2) Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan Weihenstephaner Korbinian - (Doppelbock) a wonderfully slight smokiness, lies on the malt balanced side, figs, plum, peanuts, hints of chocolate, roasty light coffee, toffee slightly burnt, dark fruit, medium light mouthfeel. 7.4% ABV. More here.
3) Troegs Hop Knife - (Harvest Ale) Mango nose, tropical fruit, a pervading resin/pine character, medium bitterness, peach/apricot, great white legs, pale gold color, reminds me of Heady Topper but a light version that doesn't just give you waves of hops. 6.2% ABV, more here.

Best beer of the night: Wiehenstephaner Korbinian, due to it's Monk's Blood like qualities, and exceptional level of smokiness (not too much or too little, perfect).