SYBARITE: The inhabitants of ancient Sybaris, a Greek colony in southern Italy, supposedly devoted themselves to unrestrained self-indulgence - which is how their name became synonymous with "pleasure-seeker." But unlike the Epicurean, whose quest for pleasure isn't necessarily an exhausting one, the sybarite works at having fun. What's the point of that? See: DEBAUCHED, DISSOLUTE, EPICUREAN, LUXURY.
26 June 08
Beer: Anchor Bock, Anchor Brewing Co.
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $10.99/6pk
Grade: 6.9
Coffee, chocolate, super dark almost porter-like roasted bock. Smoked oak, bitter berries, sludgy malts. But even with all the complexities, it isn’t a very classy or beer worthy of being held high. It’s more of an average beer with odd and peculiar flavors thrown into it. It's definitely an enjoyable beer, but not necessarily a beer that heeds a need to drink again any time soon. You can taste the barley and the wheat, even some dark corn syrup, but afterwards you want a finer bock beer. Very heavy in taste, but not necessarily in body. Funky flavors but not a lasting beer.
26 June 08
Beer: Blue Moon, Blue Moon Brewing Co.
Location: Zip’s, courtesy Mroczka & Dylan Bros.
Price: Gratis
Grade: 6.0
The beer that people enjoy because it’s different, but little do they know Molson-Coors owns it. Better than most mainstream American brews, but still a sad comparison to the true Belgian Ale. Compared not on a scale of International v. Domestic, but rather Quality v. Reproduction. The ridiculous amount of sugary orange and sweetened coriander makes it taste more like a bad cocktail than a beer. It’s like a vanilla diet coke of beer. An earnest try to introduce a new beer to the market, especially a wheat ale, but still it comes up short in terms of proper beer quality. The wheat and the yeasts make their way through, but there’s a cloyingly, thick syrup that coats it all. Goes down in a viscous manner that sticks on the tongue. Spritzy carbonation but taken over by bubbly, sour taste which imitates lime-infused sparkling water. Murky golden color, pretty for sure, but still a let down – at least if it calls itself a Belgian-style wheat ale. Basically, an unnatural, imitated beer that really tastes… well, like an imitation - an earnest imitation.
27 June 08
Beer: Six Point Sweet Action
Location: Botanica
Price: $5/Pint
Grade: 7.0
So mellow, so subtle yet so good. A very nice gulpable, yet enjoyable session-bar kind of beer. Great on draft – since that’s the only way you can get it.
27 June 08
Beer: Paulauner Hefeweizen
Location: Botanica
Price: $6/Pint
Grade: 7.3
Very nice, robust, cheery, rich golden color, twist of citrus.
28 June 08
Beer: Stone Russian Imperial Stout
Location: Associated
Price: $7.50/650mL
Grade: 8.8
Dark, thick, syrupy, super roasted, manly, probably has the testosterone of a bull thrown into the brewing process also. A man’s man’s man’s drink. Still has a cute sweet tinge to it though.
28 June 08
Beer: Harpoon Summer Beer
Location: Associated
Price: Gratis, via Cohen Inc.
Grade: 6.9
Citrusy and yeasty, a very pleasant brew that would definitely make a great drink on the back porch whilst entertaining guests.
30 June 08
Beer: Fantôme Saison, Brasserie Fantôme
Location: New Beer Distributors, Chrystie St, NYC
Price: $13.75/750mL
Grade: 8.9
Super spritzy-carbonated like a soda, same feel and body. Very, very bubbly – like champagne. Almost has a combination of champagne and hard cider taste to it. Sweeter spices come through, with the common citrus notes. Though there is a very apparent yeasty smell in the nose. It’s like smelling the rind of a maturing cheese or an old vintage that has just been given life. There are tastes of apple, pear, lemon and spring-like berries. This is a very peculiar beer – unlike anything else I’ve really had. Unlike the other 750mL bottles, this had both a bottle cap and cork – yet the cork required a corkscrew, just like a wine. It has a very sharp ping that hits your tongue with a highly concentrated burst of flavor, yet there is little “after-life” or body to it. Very much a beer that kicks around and tingles in your mouth. Worth taking in small bites or sips – not so much a smooth, session, gulpable beer. If you were to gulp, you’d be wasting all of its qualities. It holds a somewhat cloudy darkened amber color; however farther down the bottle you can see the “curdled” yeast resting at the bottom. Should be a much more powerful beer, I assume, once I near the bottom. This isn’t necessarily my most favorite beer, yet it gets high marks for its peculiarities. 2nd pour very, very dark and cloudy – so different from the previous pint. Looks like an almost straight milky-brown. Cannot see through at all. Much fuller body, less acidic-spritzy. Must be the difference, as if the top of the beer separated from this part. Much stronger taste throughout. Alcohol much more apparent. A very complex, yet dry, clean-ish finish. Has traits very similar to wine, oddly enough – but with the body and feel of a beer. Truly unique beer.
4 July 08
Beer: Shiner Bock
Location: Hoffhaus Warehaus, Houston, TX
Price: Gratis, via O.M. Hoff Suppliers
Grade: 6.5
A standard. Texas standard. Like Blue Bell, BBQ and Tex-Mex. It’s just something you need to have in your life – a wonderful session beer that may not be the most complex or well-thought Bock beer, but it falls into the category of “Great with any meal, or at least most” and makes you look good at any party. There’s the people that bring Coors light to parties and then the people that bring Shiner. Who should you befriend then? I would hope it’s not that hard of a choice.
4 July 08
Beer: Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel
Location: Spec’s 249, Cypress, TX
Price: $3/500mL
Grade: 7.0
Nice, roasted, malty. Dark and a little spicy, but definitely has more potential in character and feel. Nice body, could have more to it though. Rich brown color, all right carbonation.
5 July 08
Beer: Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Dunkel
Location: Spec’s 249, Cypress, TX
Price: $3/500mL
Grade: 7.3
Not bad at all. Rich, dark, cloudy, hazy look. Beautiful roasted red-brown color. Very refreshing yet medium body feel in the mouth – slightly like roasted berry malts, acorns?, almonds, chestnuts, cloves, cinnamon. A refreshing gulp that doesn’t last for crazy long yet it’s still a nice slosh and bite, rather enjoyable. Enough bubbly and effervescence to seem lively and spritzy – but not so much that it’s like a bubble-central Belgian ale or what not. Wheaty, a little yeasty with good mealy flavor to it.
6 July 08
Beer: Orval Trappist Ale
Location: Spec’s 249, Cypress, TX
Price: $4.20/Bottle
Grade: 8.9
Sweet Jesus. This shit is awesome. A true beer for a true drinker. Trappist Ale, one of the six. Golden, hops apparent, slight sour-tartness throughout. Darker, roasted-orange-like taste. Very sharp bubbles and carbonation. Darker than a golden ale (Duvel, etc), yet almost like a saison. It’s not even that the flavors are amazing or a peculiar combination of ingredients, but rather the texture and mouth feel of the beer itself is unique. If anything, the taste jumps at you from behind, after it’s sat around on your tongue for awhile. The alcohol comes through, then a yeasty citrus tingle. Much more of a “genuine” tasting beer in comparison to imitations like Blue Moon. Doesn’t seem like a forced flavor or attempt at beer. If this is one of the better beers out there – it makes you realize that a beer’s character and feel is much more important than covering up a sub-par beer with “complex” flavors and odd job ingredients. To round it up, this beer gives you a new look at what a beer should feel like – not so much what it should taste like.
6 July 08
Beer: Boddington’s
Location: Spec’s 249, Cypress, TX
Price: Gratis, via O.M Hoffman Suppliers
Grade: 7.0
Beautiful creamy head, but the actual beer is kind of bland.
7 July 08
Beer: BitBurger
Location: Spec’s 249, Cypress, TX
Price: $4.50/4pk
Grade: 6.6
Ok German. Pale, thin, lager-pilsner-y. 16oz. can, nice, light, bitter hoppy with a very crisp, dry taste. Just a pale beer with a clean, light golden color and light feel in the mouth. Nothing crazy, nothing horrible, nothing amazing. A little grassy, but without enough "umpf” to have a taste to it. However, a bit watered-down to be a real thirst-quencher or ‘truly’ enjoyable beer.
9 July 08
Beer: Weihenstephaner Vitus
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $2.49/500mL
Grade: 7.8
Very wonderful beer. Rich, slightly cloudy golden-amber color. A wheaty, good bodied beer that has a fine hop bit with substantial yeast taste. A good froth and overall complex yet enjoyable gulp to it. A mellow sweetness to it that could be like baked apples – almost cobbler like. Notes of honey and very light brown sugar. Has a minimal sour tongue feel that sticks around, slightly malty also. Kind of like a fresh, yeasty dinner roll that just came out of the oven and is still soft – so imagine that in a cooled, liquid form with a little less density and heaviness. A delightful beer.
11 July 08
Beer: Weihenstephaner Festbier
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $2.49/500mL
Grade: 8.0
So German. This really makes me think of a good, German biergarten where you want a giant stein of this stuff. Such a good medium body that isn’t too strong, isn’t too light, but has enough subtle, hearty flavor that it just seems so properly balanced. Nothing really bites out at you, but it’s like a really comfortable pillow or blanket you want to fall on. Basically, this is an ideal fallback beer – something you can sit around and have a few steins of. I don’t think I can stress that enough. Bit of apricot, bready yeasty-ness, some malts and a fitting floral nose. Very moderate in the taste region. Some peach, some light hops, dry finish, nicely subdued. I suppose if you want to be picky – it could had a more creamy feel or more sturdy body – since this does have a slight weakness at times. Has the potential to be great, but for now it’s in good standing.
12 July 08
Beer: Guiness (Bottle)
Location: Avenue D Bodega
Price: $10/6pk
Grade: 6.0
A session beer. A dark one for that matter. Could use some more life to it. Usually better on draught. Excuse me - always better on draught.
13 July 08
Beer: Weinstephaner Korbinian
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $2.49/500mL
Grade: 7.8
Nice. Dark and roasty, molasses and caramel. Quite lovely.
13 July 08
Beer: Gouden Carolus – Carolus D’Or: Cuvée Van De Keizer
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $9.99/750mL
Grade: 8.2
Fragrant, sweet, almost like a coca-cola with a berry-like alcohol taste to it. Some dark, roasted malts but nothing too smoky or roasted. Plum and berries come through, even a bit of vanilla? It’s a peculiar fellow but it’s nice. Not my favorite but surely not a bad one. Very smooth and a good amount of sweetness. A nice complexity that doesn’t seem like they tried too hard, but really know how to meld flavors well. Sort of a ruby-brownish red color, a nice one for a Strong Dark Ale. Interesting enough to be a solo-drink, but also complemental enough to add to a meal. Has a little ping to it as well as a creaminess, but neither shows up too strongly. Surprisingly, kind of like a Port-ish beer, as much as I dislike Port wine? Basically, a rather candied dark ale that will hit you before you know. No need to forget it’s 11% ABV.
15 July 08
Beer: Kulmbacher Eisbock
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $2.99/Bottle
Grade: 9.4
Sweet Lord Jesus. I have not had a beer this mind-blowing in awhile. The per-fect body – sort of a heavy/dense yet medium body. It fills your mouth yet with the touch of your tongue melds into this wonderfully effervescent, properly balanced beer of the Gods. Taste of dark chocolate, dark fruits, a slight tang of leather with malts and breadiness. I suppose you could almost even compare to a really, really good pumpernickel. The kind that is baked just right with the thin, crusty outside yet perfectly soft, pillow and luscious center – all with a middle ground of chewiness that plays with the jaw yet does not pain it. This beer is all about balance, structure and complexity. You even get some taste of meat in the background if you swallow it a certain way – like a rare filet mignon with the right amount of spice. I swear, I’ve never gotten so much out of a beer. Maybe I’m just overly exuberant right now but this beer is fantastic. Has plum, oak, molasses and a soothing carbonation. Figs come through also as well as a baby-like bitterness near the end. It’s really just an enjoyable bite from start to finish. Finishes pretty clean with some raisin like taste. Color is rather dark – a very dark brown, like a well polished leather with age. Rather opaque, becomes a dark red-brown when put against light. For such an enjoyable beer, it’s also 9.2% ABV. A few more of these and not only will I be happy because of the taste, but also because of…. Well, yeah. Good stuff. Definitely recommended.
16 July 08
Beer: Schaefer
Location: Key Foods, Avenue A @ E 4th St
Price: $4.19/6pk cans
Grade: 2.7
Surprisingly not horrible – but still has that “Oh, this is meant for Beer Pong” taste. Has a little sweet, stickiness to it, Light carbonation, cheap hop taste to it. Very, very short lasting flavor and feel to it – yet this odd, sort of wet barley taste sits on your tongue. Maybe it’s just a cheap beer thing to do? Nonetheless, it’s a beer that makes you feel like a farmer on an Iowa farm. Or maybe a frat boy in Wisconsin. Either/or really – they’re basically interchangeable… or one leads to the other. What I mean to say is: Avoid this beer…. Unless you’re playing beer pong. If that’s the case, proceed with caution.
16 July 08
Beer: Schlitz
Location: Key Foods, Avenue A @ E 4th St
Price: $4.19/6pk cans
Grade: 1.9
Worse than PBR but better than Keystone. Even the novelty name of “Schlitz” can’t save it. Super pale, super clear, sweet grainy taste at first then nothing. It’s one of those beers that you have; yet you feel bad as you drink it. It has a sort of stickiness that just stays around and annoys. Makes you feel fat for drinking the beer – not a good thing. Has that annoying kind of carbonation – where it isn’t exactly crisp bubble but rather an annoying tingle on your tongue. Clammy aftertaste, kind of reminds me of a light, yucky corn syrup. The only reason I give it some points is because it’s novelty, it has some form of taste (albeit shitty), and has a prettier can than Keystone Light.
17 July 08
Beer: Fuller’s ESB Ale
Location: Whole Foods Bowery, NYC
Price: $3.99/500mL
Grade: 7.4
Super enjoyable, super drinkable. Excellent blend of hops and malts, really like a 50/50 with a good lightly roasted, nutty bite to it. Perfect for a meal of pub grub or the stereotypical fish & chips. A medium body, which comes in full, yet isn’t heavy at all. Doesn’t weigh you down or make you feel guilty or gluttonous. Rather a nicely flavored, very well balanced and drinkable beer that is very crispy with a smooth, light and dry finish. Tastes of grain, wheat-like germy taste, roasted nuts (thought lightly roasted) and almost like an apple-pear hint.
17 July 08
Beer: Steinlager
Location: Sunburnt Cow, Avenue C @ E 7th St
Price: $6/Pint
Grade: 5.3
Lame New Zealand beer, tastes wheaty. Lame-y. Light, boring, insipid, bland and just life-less in general.
Sybarite excerpt from: Glenn, Joshua. THE IDLER'S GLOSSARY.
