Beer, Motorcycles and Cigars — Beer, Bikes and Butts

BJ’S BREWHOUSE

I was joined by Secret Reviewers ST , JB and JL for this night’s reviews of BJ’s Brewhouse (Irvine, California) and JT Schmids (Tustin, California).  For the record, JL is a beer drinker, but she is a self-described “beer rookie” whose tastes have not yet matured to the level of heavy stouts.  Her insights are useful as representative of how someone who has never graduated beyond the standard light, commercial fare responds to these beers.

Going to BJ’s Brewhouse on a Friday or Saturday night is always insane, with waits of up to two hours, so I long ago developed the procedure of putting our name in, taking the pager, and going to do something else.  If we get back long after the page, no biggie, they always accommodate us.  So on this night we put in our names and then beat it over to JT Schmid’s.  But I digress.

BJ’s is huge, and as you enter you will see two large stainless steel vats that give the impression of an on-site brewery.  Don’t be fooled; there is no brewing taking place, although the server represented to us that those vats are used for storage and aging.

Of all the breweries we reviewed, BJ’s wins the sampler presentation test hands down.  A laminated card is placed on your table which provides information about each of the beers, then the server places each beer on the card while identifying and describing it.  The seven beer sampler is $8.95, and each beer is served in a generous five-ounce pilsner glass.  Doing the math, that’s 35 ounces of beer — the equivalent of about three 12 ounce beers.  Here are our impressions of the beers served at BJ’s Brewhouse. 

Almost no nose, with a very light hint of malt.  Nice mouthfeel, smooth finish with no unpleasant aftertaste.  No complexity, but as JB put it, “my mom would like this.”  I wouldn’t waste my liver on another BJ’s Blonde.

AP – 6
ST – 6+
JB – 6
JL – 7
 

If you like beer on the hoppy side without going so far as an IPA, the Piranha Pale Ale may be a good choice, although none of our reviewers were impressed.  Nice smooth taste with a bitter finish.

AP – 6
ST – 6-
JB – 5
JL – 5

The Jeremiah Red is an Irish style ale.  Higher alcohol content of 7.3%, but doesn’t taste like it.  Nice mouthfeel, smooth nutty, malty taste with nice finish and aftertaste.  Pleasant enough, but ST said it made her want to go back to Oggi’s for their Irish Ale.

AP – 7
ST – 5+
JB – 6+
JL – 5

The Harvest Hefeweizen has the expected wheaty nose, but it is very subtle.  Some complexity, smooth, with a fruity, citrus taste and a pleasant aftertaste that none of us could put a name to.  They forgot the traditional lemon slice, but not needed to cut the wheat taste like many Hefeweizens.

AP – 7
ST – 7+
JB – 5+
JL – 8
 

This dark selection greets you with a pleasant chocolate and coffee nose.  The taste is of caramel and molasses, but all described it as watery.  The PM Porter is not at all a good porter.  JB said, “all show and no go.”  Back to lab with this one, BJ’s.

AP – 5
ST – 5
JB – 5+
JL – 5 

The Totonka Stout is very dark, but does not come across as heavy.  It has a nice, roasted grain nose with a rich, complex taste.  Too bitter for the women folk among us.  “Not for beer rookies.” — JL.

AP – 7.5
ST – 4+
JB – 7
JL – 2

 

The Nutty Brewnette has an appropriate name.  Akin to an English brown ale, it has a strong nuts and malt nose, with a very nutty taste.  Nice, smooth complexity and mouthfeel, with a nice finish and aftertaste.

AP – 7.5
ST – 6
JB – 6+
JL – 5

BJ’S BREWHOUSE
13130 Jamboree Rd.
Irvine, CA
(714) 665-8595

 

In sum, not a single real stand-out at BJ’s Brewery, but a couple of pleasant alternatives on the dark end of the spectrum.  I recommend the Buffalo Chicken Deep Dish Pizza with the Tatonka Stout.  The dark beer nicely compliments the spicy pizza.

Posted on August 7th, 2008 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Beer, Reviews