Review 67: Olde Peninsula Stout Chocula

Review 67

6/17/12 

Olde Peninsula Stout Chocula: 5.25% abv. 

This beer jumped out immediately at me because it's got such a catchy name. Because of this, it made me much more excited to try it. Not to mention that it's somehow more fun drinking beer from a growler. Onto the beer the nose has notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, malt, caramel, gingerbread, roasted almond, and a smell that reminded us of Rock n' Rye soda. 

In the taste, we found coffee, chocolate, green tea, roasted almonds, raisons, vanilla, caramel, molasses, malt, oatmel, and slight earthy tones. The finish showed a strong presents of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla with slight citrus and green tea with the length being medium-short. What we liked about this beer was it's complexity and uniqueness. Despite the name, "Stout Chocula", this beer had a lot of depth and complex flavors in the background even though it was dominated by the coffee and chocolate. 

Points were taken off of this beer due to it's medium-short and light finish. We felt that a beer with this strong of flavors should have a longer finish. Despite all of this, this beer is very enjoyable to drink and easily one of the best stouts out there for your dollar. 

Score: 8.5/10

Review 42: Olde Peninsula Tornado Pale Ale

Review 42
5/14/12
Olde Peninsula Tornado Pale Ale: 7.25% abv

As you can tell from the picture, this proves to be an exception to our general process of reviewing beers. It turns out, there is a place in Kalamazoo, a Brewpub, called Olde Peninsula. Upon arriving there, a few of my colleagues and myself enjoyed some good spirits, and tried this here seasonal pale ale. Our curiosities were peaked, bu...t they do not sell in bottles. So we picked up this here "growler" Here's what we thought when we gave it an official review.

On the nose, this pale ale will impress you with pineapple right off the bat, with other notes being hops, floral notes, grapefruit, lemon and peach. The nose is not actually very complex, but it is enjoyable with it's refreshing pineapple smell. From there things do get better though, with a taste containing hops, rye, wheat, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pineapple, and a sweet characteristic arrival. The finish turns bitter and dry, with hops, grapefruit and a slight nuttiness. The finish is medium-long in length.

Overall, this is a good expression of craft seasonal beers. Although not the most complex beer ever, and maybe too bitter for me personally, I had a good time trying it and going to Olde Peninsula.

Score: 8.5/10