Beer of the week: Brooklyn Pennant Ale '55

Beer score: 8.5

Web site: Brooklyn Brewery
ABV: 5.0

IBU: 24

Has a slightly dark, almost burnt blonde color to it in the glass, and a perfect quality beer scent. The Scottish Maris Otter malt brings a solid, almost cake-like sweetness, but it’s a soft sweetness, not overpowering but obviously there. The bitterness is strong at first taste, then fades away a little but returns on the way down. This is one of the most well-balanced beers I’ve ever tasted, with a perfect mix of hops and malt, and one of the better pale ales from the U.S. The name of this brew comes from the 1955 World Series when the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Yankees.

Beer of the week: La Fin Du Monde

Beer score: 8.7

Web site: Unibroue

ABV: 9.0

IBU: 19

Normally I'm not a big fan of Canadian beers, but this fine beverage from Quebec brewer Unibroue can give most beers in Europe a run for their money. This is a Belgian-style ale that's been triple fermented. Pours with a cloudy gold color and has a strong wheat and fruity smell. I'd be surprised if there's not been a touch of citrus and honey added to this drink. In the drinking there's just a little too much carbonation for my liking, almost like you're drinking champagne, but it's not too bad. The flavor starts off fruity for the first sip or two, but then a strong bitter and alcohol flavors kicks in. If you are a fan of Belgian-style brews, you are more than likely going to enjoy this one. I can't quite classify La Fin Du Monde as a favorite, but it's darn close, and I'd never turn one down.

Beer of the week: Guilford Golden Ale

Beer score: 4.1

Web site: Natty Greene's Brewing Co.

ABV: 3.8

IBU: unknown

I was really looking forward to this lighter American ale. It's from a regional brewery in Greensboro, North Carolina, and I always like trying something new. Plus, I was in the mood for a brew that wasn't real heavy, and I had hoped this beer would suffice. It didn't. Sorry, but the smell assaulted me right off the bat with a skunkiness reminiscent of something like Old Milwaukee. The flavor has sort of a light, bread-like quality, but that's it. Nothing special here, and the fizz was a bit too much, though not overpowering. Also, I found three different Web addresses for the brewing company, none of which was working, so I'm not sure if this company is still in business or not; apparently they are also a restaurant and pub. I've included a link above just in case the site was only down temporarily. Regardless of my all-around disappointment, this was just one brew, so I'll give this brewery another shot at some point.

Beer of the week: Hell's Belle

Beer score: 7.2

Web site: Big Ross Brewing Co.

ABV: 7.0

IBU: 30

Has a nice, light floral quality to it with a very pleasant scent that wafts up from the glass. There’s just a touch of almost IPA-like bitterness on the tip of the tongue with this drink. Just a hint of spice and sweetness here. Very restrained in its fruitiness, but there are fruity undercurrents here. Light enough you could drink several in one sitting, but does have a complex flavor that keeps you guessing. Comes from the Big Ross Brewing Co. of Raleigh, North Carolina. The bottle calls this a "Belgian Style Ale," and that's right on the nose, almost like a white ale.

Beer of the week: Smuttynose Maibock

Beer score: 8.4

Web site: Smuttynose Brewing Company

ABV: 8.7

IBU: unknown

R-i-i-i-i-c-h. As in flavor. The price is actually very decent. But that flavor kicks you right at the first sip. And what is that flavor? It's difficult to describe. Kind of grainy, as in wheaty, almost like this brew came right from a farm field and was served to you. Has a fine caramel smell, and there's a hint of fruit, perhaps citrus or grape, in the back of that scent. Goes down smooth though there is a strong alcohol flavor with fruity undercurrents right at the back of the tongue. Goes well with broiled pork chops and potatoes, I can say. Might be a little too strong for drinking every day of the week, but if you're in the mood for something different then this beer is more than worth considering. Comes from the Smuttynose Brewing Company of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and those folks should be proud of this brew. A maibock is traditionally a light-colored lager with a robust amount of alcohol, and that's the case here. The Smuttynose folks put out a new maibock each Spring, and the one I tried was for 2011. I'll be looking for this one again next year.

Beer of the week: Saison Dupont

Beer score: 7.9

Web site: Brasserie Dupont

ABV: 6.5

IBU: unknown

This beer from Belgium almost always draws very high marks on various brew review websites, and while I give it fairly high marks myself, I didn't feel it was so great or so unique. Don't get me wrong, this is a solid beer. Your Budweiser friends will be at a loss if they tried a Saison Dupont. But the flavor and texture here was nothing unexpected and nothing all that complex or unusual. If you like a traditional Belgian ale, you can't get more traditional or normal than this. On the plus side, several people have told me this beer has a skunky odor to it (which is common among beers in green bottles), but I have to say I did not experience any of that. Very earthy without being thick on the tongue, with early hints of fruitiness that die away swiftly to be replaced by a cool bitterness. Has a nice head. This is a bottle fermented brew and a top-fermented brew. By the way, a "saison" traditionally is a beer somewhat similar to a pale ale but with a low-alcohol level; historically this beer was brewed and fermented in farmhouses in Belgium and possibly some parts of France and served to farmworkers.

How to name your dog after beer

If you are a beer lover and an animal lover, like me, at some point in your life there's a pretty good chance you are going to want to name a dog after a beer. However, it's quite possible your significant other will shoot down the idea, or perhaps it will be your parents. Or maybe there could be some other reason that would intrude upon you wanting to name a dog after a beer.

Don't let this get you down. You can still name a dog after a beer, you just have to be a little more sly about. it.

For instance, you obviously wouldn't want to name your dog Budweiser. Why? Because that's a world-wide recognizable name meaning beer. However, you might be able to get by with something a little more slick, like Bud or Buddy. Not exact, but it's close enough to count.

Another fine name for a dog is Foster, after Foster's, the Australian beer. I'm not a huge fan of this particular brew, but I do like the name. And I once fooled my wife into allowing me to name a dog Foster. She never caught on until I told her years later.

If you'd like something a bit more esoteric, you could name a pet after Bert Grant's. Heck, this brewing company doesn't even exist any more, but they put out some very fine drinks. Either Bert or Grant would be solid names for a dog. Even Bertie wouldn't be too bad for a small dog.

If you want a sturdy, old-fashioned name for a dog, you could always try Breckenridge after the Breckenridge Brewery. Possibly Breck would do, as well.


Are you religious? How about Pete or Peter after St. Peter's Brewery of England. They make a fine Organic English Ale. And don't forget the folks at Pete's Wicked, who make a great Strawberry Blonde.

Even less obvious options would be Rod or Roddy after Young's Ram Rod, or Nick or Nicholas after Young's Old Nick, or even Dick after Young's Dirty Dick's Ale.

If the dog is female you could go for Stella after Stella Artois or possibly Sierra after one of the fine Sierra Nevada brews, such as Sierra Nevada Porter.


One of my personal favorite names is Skullsplitter. And yes, there is a Skullsplitter Orkney Ale.
More obvious choices would be Sam or Sammy, after such brews as Sam Adams Triple Bock or Samuel Smith Taddy Porter.

Truly, it's up to you. I suggest having fun with the exercise. Pick a unique name for your dog, something you think will represent his or her spirit and will fit well.

And don't forget to enjoy a good beer every once in a while.