Price: $6.99/22-oz at Total Wine

Region: Boston, Massachusetts

Style: Sahti

ABV: 7%

Sight: copper, russet

Smell: caramel, bready, herbal

Taste: malty, herbal, bready, evergreen, berry finish

Overall:  Sahti is an ancient style of beer from Finland that uses juniper instead of hops.  I didn’t get an overwhelming juniper note off of this, but there is something faintly herbal about it.  It’s a beautifully rich copper hue with steady carbonation and little head retention.  It’s worth pointing out that the nose, in this case, is an exceptionally reliable indicator of the flavor.  I smell and taste caramelly malt, a foresty herbal note, and a good bit of breadiness; but the finish is the unpredictable bit—it tastes like an incense I smelled once, and Christmas (think pine tree + cranberries).  I can’t say I know what a legit Finnish Sahti tastes like, but I think this was a successful tribute to history; despite the smoothness of the mouthfeel, there’s a rustic quality to this combination of flavors that makes me think of an undisturbed forest.  This has been released right before summer, but I’d drink this well into the fall.  Tasty.  

I picked up “Mischief” about a month ago in anticipation for the release of Marvel’s The Avengers on May 4th.  Why?  The main villian of the film is Thor’s brother Loki, god of Mischief.  (See what I did there?)  Actor Tom Hiddleston made Loki my favorite part of the Thor movie that came out last year; somehow his calculating, sinister subtlety is just as compelling as the rawness of his passion and pain.  So clearly I’m inordinately excited to watch Loki take on all of the Avengers in this most epic of superhero films.

Incidentally, this is my very first beer review.  I’ve learned a LOT about beer in the past year since I started working at Total Wine.  I still don’t know as much about beer as I do wine, but I hope I can still do a good job describing the flavors. 

Price: $12.99 at Vintner Wine Market

Region: Orange County, CA

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

ABV:  8.5%

Sight:  cloudy yellow, moderate head retention

Smell: cantaloupe, tangerine, banana, yeast

Taste:  sweet melon, lemon peel, yeast, clove, gentle hops

Overall:  This bottle-conditioned ale pours a little cloudy, and the color is something between amber and Sunny-D, if you can picture that.  Big melon and tropical fruit aromas jump out of the glass, shaded by a gentle waft of yeastiness that somehow made me think of saltine crackers.  Flavor-wise, the candied melon flavor carries through quite roundly; a hint of citrus appears, and the yeastiness turns a little biscuity as the flavor progresses.  The phrase on the bottle that defines Mischief—“not quite evil, yet not to be trusted”—could be an accurate summary of the hop profile.  The hops aren’t full-blown or violent by any means, but they do sneak up on the finish with this spicy little citric tang that provides a great structure for an otherwise soft little ale.  As beautifully balanced and delicious as this is, I certainly look forward to seeking out more of The Bruery’s portfolio.

The Avengers:  There is not a wasted moment of film from start to finish.  Every single character is flexed, challenged, and empathized with.  Absolutely exceeded my expectations, and I hope you get to see it!

How did I do for my first beer review?  Did I leave anything out?