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Horn Dog Barley Wine Style Ale

English Barleywine

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. A: A purple, brownish color with a slight head that dissipates quickly. S: Smell is of sweet malt -- very sugary sweet malt. T: Oh boy. This brew is sweet! Too sweet for my taste. It isn't as bad in the first sip, but the subsequent tastings make this one hard to finish. The sweet malt is overwhelming, and without any hops to balance it out, it becomes almost undrinkable for me. M: The alcohol is hidden well. The only alcohol that is noticeable is when it warms the body. D: The ABV of 10.5% makes this one a two bottle maximum. And with the overly sweet malt, the drinkability is even more reduced. I was very disappointed with this beer. I guess being spoiled with American-style barely wines, I could not take the tremendously sweet unbalanced malt. I drank one-and-a-half of these and the rest were dumped. Glad it was only a 4-pack.

0negative

Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

Dubbel

Not at all a Blue Moon hater, I thought this would hit the spot in a similar way. Unfortunately Full Moon doesn't live up to what it advertises itself as (an "Abbey Ale"). Looks good enough, with a thin soapy head that thins quickly. The body is a gleaming copper color. Some nice lace patterns are left as the head all but vaporizes. Aroma is mostly metallic in nature, with insanely minuscule hints of brown sugar and honey. This beer puts up big losing points where it counts most...too bad. The flavor is unattractive from every angle. The sweetness promised by the "Dark Belgian sugar" is muted; the yeast is hiding; the malts seem dead; the metallic character of the aroma comes out even stronger in the flavor. In general it's just a mess. Having had several over the past week, I now know that I will never, ever buy this one again. Not even in a pinch.

0negative

Infinium

Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut

Thanks to Skip for sending the bottle. I was really looking forward to trying this ambitious beer and was surprised to see the highly mixed reviews to date. Served at 45F into a champagne flute. Pours deep golden and clear with a huge champagne head that dissipates quickly. Mild aroma of fruit amd malt. Clean malt/toffee taste with mild cherry notes. The 10.3% alcohol was well hidden. Champagne like mouthfeel, despite rapidly dissipating carbonation, with a clean dry finish. The bottle was split three ways and I was left wanting more. This experiment may be only a partial success, but kudos to Boston Beer Comapany and Weihenstephan for producing a truly innovative beer.

2positive

Founders Double Trouble

American Double / Imperial IPA

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter glass. Appearance is cloudy golden orange with a small white head that unfortunately dissipated rather quickly leaving a thin cap. Smell is of citrus and fruit aromas with the hops in there as well. Taste starts off with a nice hop bitterness that mellows out with mild malts towards the finish. The citrus flavor is there but stronger in the smell. The alcohol is only faintly noticeable. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth with a mild amount of carbonation. Drinkability is good. It goes down nice and easy for the style and is pretty tasty. A good choice for a double if you've never had one. I'd certainly not mind having another.

2positive

La Seigneuriale

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

This beer poured a cloudy reddish amber color with a huge frothy head. Aroma was very spicy: clove, pepper, anise and possibly cinammon in the nose. Taste was also very spicy, but with quite a bit of fruit mixed in. Tropical fruit(mango), banana and raisin bready flavors along with a light to medium bodied mouthfeel make for an easy drinking experience. Alcohol was not evident in aroma or taste. This is a pretty interesting offering from Unibroue, but it's definitely not a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It reminds me more of a dunkelweizen or even a weizenbock. Oh well, Belgian style beers never go by the book anyway.

2positive

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Vienna Lager

Poured into Sam Adams Sensory Glass... how fitting. Pours a 1 finger head that is some what pillow topped. Decent retention with nice lace rings. Color is a clear golden bronze. Aroma is mainly malts. Some roasted aroma. There is also some carmel. Not to much on the nose. Taste is probably one of the best lagers I have ever had. It barely tastes like a lager. Taste is very malty. Some roastedness. Some earthy hops. Very complex flavor. Mouthfeel is a little crisp, but not bad for a lager. Smooths out a tad but still maintains that lager feel. Leaves a very clean aftertaste. Overall, I have had this many times and I finally reviewed it. This is one amazing beer and it something that I will always buy and have stocked in the fridge. Very easy to drink. Great beer at a great price.

2positive

Road Dog Porter

American Porter

Pours a deep brown almost black with a thin diminishing head. Aroma is loads of black malts and burnt caramel with some bitter chocolate. Taste is cerainly on the malty side; caramel and bitter chocolate dominate. The beer is on the light side of medium with low carbonation. This is an enjoyable beer for a chilly rainy afternoon.

2positive

Four Horsemen Ale

Irish Red Ale

Looks good in a glass- reddish amber with a nice white head. Aroma is rather neutral. Taste? This is sour and rather unpleasant. First I figured that this beer probably sat on the shelves for about 3 years and had gone bad, but from other reviews, sounds like the brewery has a serious QA issue. Why would someone release something so off-putting? This is bad form, guys. This one went down the drain. A beer to be avoided.

0negative

Éphémère (Cranberry)

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Poured from a 750 ml. bottle. Left a bubbly two to three finger head that quickly dissappeared, left no lacing. Body was a cloudy orange yellow. Smell - creamy wheat, fruity yeast esters, and fruit juice. Taste - much like the smell. Very slight wheat creaminess under a wash of a sweet cranberry soda pop flavor, sort of like Clearly Canadian (anyone remember that product ?). Like a cranberry pop flavored sparkling wine. Mouthfeel - thin, fluid, highly carbonated. Drinkability - if I was looking for a sweet soda type beverage, I'd consider this. But, I don't drink pop. I also avoid artificial colors and flavorings, had I seen the words "artificial colors" on the bottle before I bought it, I would not have bought it, let alone drink it, but I seriously did not think that I had to be on the lookout for that kind of thing with this brewer's offerings. That said, this is not entirely bad, I would go for this once in awhile, if it weren't for the food coloring, and I won't until it's gone. In fact, I docked it one point in appearance, a half point in taste, and one point in drinkability for the artificial coloring. Seriously, I see beer as a healthy all natural food, and artificial color, flavor, or artificial anything do not belong in it, or in my life, for that matter. I wanted to dock even more points, but decided that that would be overkill.

0negative

Solstice D'hiver

American Barleywine

Poured from the 11oz bottle into a Maudite snifter. Body is a pretty chestnut color with crimson highlights, topped by a small, creamy off-white head. Aroma of sweet, dark malt with a touch of roastiness, a hint of caramel and maple, and just a touch of dark fruit. Palate is pleasantly balanced up front - rich, sweet malt is offset by some sharply bitter, piney hops. Sweetness comes through after the swallow, with a nice infusion of sublime dark fruit. Dry finish leaves a lingering bitterness and a pleasant warming feeling in the back of the mouth. Body is creamy and just a touch sticky, very ideal for a barleywine. This is a pleasant, tasty barleywine that has great depth of flavor. I would expect nothing less from Diue du Ciel, one of my favorite new (to me) breweries of 2008.

2positive

Strawberry Harvest Lager

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Our tasters thought the strong strawberry nose and the surprisingly unsweet taste were the strongest points of the beer, but it still lacked the body and complexity of a truly great strawberry wheat. Still, on the whole, it was a good fruit beer that even those of us who dislike such beers could enjoy.

0negative

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Poured very dark with almost half the pint glass appearing to be head at first. This has a bit of the rolling head that disappates like Guinness. But what was to come was completely different. Aromas were hoppy and malty at the same time. The initial taste was similar to any other stout but then the hops came through and made this something different. Not like some of the other recent imperial stouts that blow your tounge off with hops, this was a good balance. I still had my thick stout but there was extra flavor with the hops that gave me the blend of a fruity chocolate. This is a very well balanced imperial stout that I highly reccomend for any stout lover.

2positive

Green Flash West Coast I.P.A.

American IPA

A - Translucent caramel amber, mediocre head with low retention S - Lemon peel, lots of pine, white grape juice T - The bitterness plays out really interestingly. There's a big hop kick on the first sip that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for a wallop of bitterness, but it doesn't hit you right away. It makes you double check the 95 IBU label on the bottle. The bitterness is incredibly delayed, and shows up deep into the aftertaste. That said, it overlaps and builds between sips. It's a little overpowering after a while as you realize they didn't miss a decimal place on the IBUS. The flavor profile includes pine, spice, pepper, and Campari. M - Nice body, very smooth. The bitterness really lingers. D - I split a 12oz bottle with a friend, and we both had our fill after drinking our half. O - A niche beer that's more of a bitter novelty than a session beer.

0negative

Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale

Flanders Oud Bruin

Pours a deep mahogany, reddish color with a mild eggshell head. Aroma of vinegar and cherries. Not bad, but something just seems "off" about it. The taste is tart with a vinegar sourness, backed up by big cherry notes and hints of apple. Sweet. Big, big carbonation that tingles all across your mouth. Clean after-taste and cleanses the palate pretty well. I'm sure the huge carbonation has a had in that. I'm perplexed by some of the reviews that mention "mild carbonation" -- this is one of the most overcarbonated beers that I've ever experienced. If you try to swish it around, you end up with a mouth full of fizzy foam. There's something just cheap about the aroma/taste on this one, and the over-the-top carbonation just really kills it. Reminds me of a Lindemans/Cheerwine blend, pumped full of carbonation. Seems more like a sparkly wine cooler than a beer.

0negative

Uerige Altbier (Classic)

Altbier

From notes. Poured into a stange. Appearance- Hazy brown, with a large foamy head. Decent retention and a little lace. The color of this beer is pretty unattractive. Smell- Caramel, slightly toasty, a touch grainy, and a bit sweaty. Taste- Raison, slight caramel, dirty earth, a hint of chocolate, and a sweaty almost salty dirty sock taste. Not too good. Mouthfeel- Medium body and carbonation. The major off taste made it tough to swallow. Overall- Perhaps a bad or old bottle, but I have had this before and remember the same qualities. I know it is the classic altbier, but it does not agree with me at all.

0negative

Double Dead Guy Ale

American Strong Ale

Poured from a red 750 ml bottle into my Corsedonk Christmas sniffer. Pours caramel colored with an off-white frothy head that dissipates relatively quickly to a thin ring at the surface. Cloudy with mild carbonation. Smells similar to a DIPA with slight citrus and apricot. Flavor is a bit more punch then the Dead Guy ale. A slight chocolate aftertaste, roasted malts, bitters. Pretty complex and full bodied. Very good beer!

2positive

Blanche De Chambly

Witbier

WOW, Head like a fluffy white cloud, sticks to your lips like marshmellow fluff. Bubbles engulf your tongue as the brew wantingly slides down. Awesome white beer. The wife loves it (who never likes MY BEER). It is the champagne of beers. 5% ABV

2positive

DreamWeaver Wheat

Hefeweizen

A - Pours a hazy golden color with a mild fizzy head that disappates fairly rapidly. Not S - Some ripe bananas, a stong caramel malty sweetness, almost no bitterness. Some twang from the banana. T/M - Strong wheat flavor. The banana doesn't come in so strong at first, but comes out rather nicely, not too strong. A little spiciness rounds it out. Not heavy at all, doesn't leave a bad feel in your mouth. Solid. D - Very drinkable. Good mouthfeel, mellow taste. Low alcohol.

2positive

Kells Irish Style Lager

Euro Pale Lager

The color is light copper. There is a nice thin white head on this beer. It smells, like an american lager more than anything. There is really nothing special about the smell here. There is not enough sweetness or bitterness. The taste is reminscent of my high school days when I use to drink mickeys, mgd, and ab. A second taste reveals very low sweetness. The body is thin to medium. Rogue produces soooo many good beers. I'm not sure what they were thinking with this one. I feel totally ripped off. You buy a rogue beer to get a great beer, something you know will taste great and stand out among all beers. This beer is a great disappointment. As a novice homebrewer I could have made something better in this style. I would not drink this ever again sadly. But I have to say I rank Rogue as one of my top 5 breweries in the world. I love most of their beers. So please drink Rogue!

0negative

Duchesse De Bourgogne

Flanders Red Ale

A - Poured into a tulip glass. 1/4" tan head that doesn't hang out long. Color is a deep mahogany red and it's crystal clear. I expected it to be bottle conditioned but I didn't notice any trace yeast in the bottle. Looks quite appealing. S - Wow, the aroma is incredible. Complex with fruity notes. Cherries, plums, some tartness in the nose. Slight barnyard character - sweet caramal. T - This is an excellent flanders red - the sweet and tart is perfectly balanced. There's that a ever so slight barnyard character that just perfectly compliments the flavors in my mouth. You have to search for the barnyard - it's very slight. Sour cherries, raspberries, maybe even some plum with a nice balanced sweetness. I'm loving these sour beers right now! M - Medium to light body with a nice acidic crispness. Moderately carbonated. D - I've died and gone to sour beer heaven. I love this beer. I'm looking forward to trying other examples of this style to see what i'm missing. If this is not one of the better ones then I'm in for a real treat!

2positive

Fat Squirrel Ale

English Brown Ale

12oz. bottle into shaker pint glass on 9/23/08. Thanks to Deuane for sharing. A - Caramel/toffee-colored body with some tiny, gritty particles and one-finger light tan head that quickly receded to a thin, patchy film. Moderate amount of carbonation present. S - Nutty malt presence with hints of hazelnut, sweet caramel and dark bread. Not much of a hop presence. T - Obvious nutty character with some hazelnut and almond flavor. Hints of caramel, brown sugar and crusty dark bread also emerge. Finish is a little doughy. Not much of a hop profile in the flavor, either. M - Medium body with a fairly chewy, albeit a tad thin, texture. Sweet on the tastebuds. Minimal carbonation results in a pretty soft mouthfeel. D - Nice quaffable nut brown from New Glarus. I love the name of this brew... perfect for a nut brown ale!

2positive

River Horse Special Ale ESB

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Appearance: It has an orange amber colored body with lots of yeast fine sediment floating around inside. This is cap off by a tall, light and foamy head. It is light tan in color and slowly fades to thin filmy covering which leaves behind a little slick lacing on the glass. Smell: I get some really nice sweet bready and doughy maltiness with a faint hint of English hops. Taste/Palate: There is a nice base of bready maltiness and yeast with pleasant sweetness. I get some mellow notes of honey like sweetness, sugar cookies and even a touch of light caramel and vanilla. The hops come in at the finish and offer some pleasant herbal character and light bitterness for balance. The mouth feel has a firm medium feel with soft carbonation. Notes: My overall thought is that it may not be the prettiest beer but it has some good flavor notes and nice balance. Also I could see myself drinking more then a few of these at 4.5% abv.

2positive

Cabin Fever

Maibock / Helles Bock

I was hoping for something along the lines of the old Norski but this falls far short of that. Seems to be made for the masses... For the style this lacks character, flavor, aroma, texture and body. It has a mild sweet malt aroma...the taste is bland...the aftertaste is not enjoyable...the body is thin and watery... I might take Spotted Cow over this...highly, highly dissapointed..I hate to see standout like Black Wheat go away and things like this replace it.

0negative

Red Leaf Lager

American Adjunct Lager

475ml swing-top brown bottle poured in a pilsener glass. Cool looking bottles with just a neck label and pictures of wheat embossed in the glass. Clear, dark gold in colour. Lots of carbonations streams feed a head that winds up around 1/8 inch after a big volumous off white head on the pour. Fairly standard Canadian macro aroma. Grains with hints of adjuncts (petrol notes and corn) and a touch of caramel sweetness. Taste is a little muddled. Instead of working together, the flavours seem kind of heaped on one another, piling up into a car crash finish. Grainy with strong petrol notes and perhaps some floral hops at the start. The caramel barges in shortly after and all the flavours have a battle royal through the carbonation rush into an abrupt finish that is both cloying sweet and a little skunky/herbal bitter. The caramel sweetness makes itself so obvious that I had to look again at the label to make sure I hadn't opened the honey brown by accident. Aftertaste is weak but a little bitter. Medium bodied with a harsh, caustic mouthfeel and strong, annoying carbonation. Hmm... I don't really know what to make of this. It's certainly different and an interesting take on the style, but I just don't think it works that well. It's not even clean, crisp or smooth. I'd take this recipe back to the drawing board and try to re-work it so that it's smoother and to lessen the petrol notes and cloying caramel sweetness.

0negative

Heineken Premium Light Lager

Light Lager

This is just slightly better than Beck's Premier Light, which is to say lousy. This beer is roughly 92% beer-flavor-free. With virtually no beer aroma or flavor, all that remains is a light bit of grain smell, and fairly abundant skunky aroma and flavor. This beer is very light in color, as it is just faintly yellow. To describe it with another comparison; this beer is significantly worse than its original.

0negative

Abbey Belgian Style Ale

Dubbel

Appearance: Thick, dark, dark brown. Excellent foam as well. Very impressive. Smell: Fruit and yeast. Done very effectively I might add. Taste/Mouthfeel: Wonderfully spiced fruit. Thick yeastiness as well. Excellent. Drinkability: Maybe a bit too strong for its own good. Not in alcohol, but in flavor. Very good. OVerall: Fat Tire's best.

2positive

Unplugged Imperial Saison

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

12 oz bottle received in a trade long ago. Pours a bright clear, golden copper with a massive and retentive cream colored head. Some legs and dots of streaky lacing. Aroma is fruity and mildly tart, mushy bananas, pear, clove and grass. Flavor is very fruity and tangy, like a hybrid hefe/saison. Not much funk or earth except for the dry grassy finish. Fruit is generally overly ripe and similar to a slightly past it's prime peach. Medium full body with soft carbonation and mild booze. Refreshing, yet robust; a very unique enjoyable saison.

2positive

Thisted Julebryg

Euro Strong Lager

Colour is pale gold; the low foam sinks slowly leaving some lacing. The smell is very malty with lots of alcohol and sweet notes of bread and almonds. More or less what you could expect from this style. The taste is loaded with sweet malt and alcohol (it is almost like drinking whisky and soda). Some motes of bread (sweet loaf) and bitter/sweet almonds. Medium body. The aftertaste includes some minerals, chemical notes, alcohol, rye bread and a very discreet bitterness. The carbonation is low; big bulles. The liquid is thick, almost sticky. The drinkability value must be low: Too much alcohol, too syrup-like consistency. I will never learn to like those Scandinavian rocket-fuel-lagers.

0negative

Siberian Night Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

I love this beer... finally time to give it a proper review. Served in my Boulevard Smokestack chalice, pours dark, like a night in Siberia. Der. Smells like roast, chocolate cake and beautiful, beautiful hops. Tastes the same with a sharp finish from the hops. You get that cake batter flavor when you run your finger along the bowl and taste the mix that doesn't quite get all the way incorporated. Just fantastic carbonation and a perfect RIS style mouthfeel. For $2-3 a bottle, you can do no better. Awesome stuff!

2positive

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest

American Double / Imperial Pilsner

This poured to a nice thick copper and orange with a medium head. Lace is minor. Hops dominate the smell with slight floral aromas. They take center stage right from the front of the taste as well. Bitterness is huge in flavor but not overwhelming. However, the malt content does not seem provide much character. The mouthfeel is slightly thin, while drinkability is good for the alcohol content.

2positive

Stoudt's Scarlet Lady ESB

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Cloudy copper color with a memorably delicate, lacy head. Delicious nose bursting with over-ripe oranges and tea, while the finish is amazingly English. Hops are fairly mild in bitterness but lend some super-complex flavors, while the mouthfeel beckons you to slug it down like lemonade. If you can't have a good time with this beer you're out of luck.

2positive

Yeti

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Bottle from Jungle Jim's. Poured a hazy golden with an average frothy white head that was mostly lasted and produced good lacing. Moderate tart fruit and alcohol aroma. Medium body, thick particles wth lively carbonation. Medium balanced fruity sweet flavor with a medium sweet finish with a very small alcohol tone. Good brew.

2positive

Šariš 11% Tmavý

Euro Dark Lager

This was my first (to my recollection) dark Slovak beer. Served with a fluffy, foamy, frothy, thick tan head that lasted and some lace. Color is a clear, dark garnet. Aroma is mild, roasty, dark malt, a little coffee, cocoa, & fruit. Flavor was the same with not too much sweetness. Reminds me a little of a black lager. Body is a tad light and has good carbonation. Finish is like flavor with short to medium length. Very easy drinking beer. Session

2positive

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (Africa)

Foreign / Export Stout

Wow - absolutely awful in most regards. I'd love to have said I bought it, drank it and enjoyed it, but I could barely swallow a mouthful of the bitter dark and intense coffee orientated stout which smelt nearly as dreadful as the taste. I'm leaving this one for the hardcore stout fans and Irish who grew up enjoying this brew, because it's definately not something I can stomach. Eat something that makes you squint, and later vomit, and that reflects my feelings about Guinness Foreign Extra.

0negative

Chipotle Ale

Chile Beer

22 oz. bomber, poured into a Duvel tulip, A: Dark red-brown with a medium white head. S: Smells of bready malt, with a hint of chipotle peppers. T: Big caramel malt, the chipotle peppers are subtle and not over-the-top, making their main appearance as some slight capsaicin warming at the end of the sip. M: Smooth, medium-bodied, spicy. D: A good beer, would go well with Mexican food, I would have liked a little more robustness in the pepper aspect of this beer, but overall it was a good experience and I'm glad I tried it, and with this one revisited it.

2positive

La Folie

Flanders Red Ale

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle. A - Pours a nice strong mahogany color with a nice forty head that is ecru and about 0.25 inches tall. There are some nice copper hints while holding the glass up to the light. S - Slight tart notes. Ripe berries are present with some blueberry and some raspberry notes. Some caramel sweetness is present on the palette as well. Nice Brett funkiness is present as well. T & M - Quick and intense tartness comes up, some lactic and balsamic like sour notes come up front but then are met with nice fruit sweetness. Slight raspberry and cherry notes. Some grain flavors are present as well. Initially in the flavor it seems like its gonna be too sour but it curves quite well. Some nice bread notes mixed in with the lactic notes. A bit funky and very dry on the finish. The slight woody flavors balance well with some of the very slight sweet notes. D - Ok beer in my book. Not bad but I don't think I will be having more of these.

2positive

Penny Weiz Ale

Witbier

The color is a very cloudy straw, light and milky looking with a fair white head and decent lacing bunched up here and there. The aroma is a spicey nutmeg and lemon. The taste crisply mimics the aroma with a clear citrus bite with a full wheat and mild pumpkin spice. This has a very fine carbonation with a substantial mouthfeel for such a refreshing summer brew. Nice job.

2positive

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

American Porter

I had this bottle stored in the fridge and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes before pouring into a tulip shaped snifter style beer glass. The beer poured extremely dark reddish brown with a perfect two-finger head of chunky foam. The nose offered faint tones of coffee beans and chocolate. The taste is wonderful. Rich chocolatey malty sweetness, then a nice earthy, woody flavor and a nice dry finish. This beer is a perfect example of a classic American porter.

2positive

XXX Warlock Double Imperial Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

A-pours a clear dark brown liquid with red hues. The head is a light tan color, thin and bubbly S-the nose is huge and intense. Tons of booze, rubbing alcohol ish. Notes of cherries and rum soaked raisins with a touch of chocolate and molasses. T-ouch, tons of alcohol, rubbing alcohol burns the taste buds. Notes of cherries and rums soaked in Nikolai Vodka with some burnt wood in the back. M-brutally harsh on the palate, it stings and burns the tongue. D-this is a big boozy mess...enough said.

0negative

Hibernation Ale

Old Ale

One of the prettiest beers I've had. Rich, brilliantly clear, ruddy amber in the glass with a tan colored head featuring moderate lacing. I gotta say, though, I really wanted to like this beer a lot more than I did. Overpowering, almost medicinal flavor just about floored me. Just didn't work for me.

0negative

Founders Bad Habit Belgian Quad

Quadrupel (Quad)

Aventinus had begun that day like any other -- preening infront of a mirror. He was, after all, one of the finest beers in existence and he knew it. But Gambrinus is a capricious god and does not tolerate such egoism. So, he decided to play a trick on prideful, prideful Aventinus. Now, there are many variations of the old story floating about -- some say that Aventinus could only love himself and that Gambrinus granted Aventinus's wish by having his female counterpart, Aventina walk through the mirror one morning. Others say, in a story which is perhaps much closer to the truth, that Aventinus was slumming in some seedy bar near the Kellog plant and had a tryst with some flashy (but ultimately unfulfilling) macro lager. While the details are lost to us, the result is not -- Bad Habit (possibly named for either Aventinus's narcissism, or for his habit of slumming -- this is the strongest piece of evidence for the latter version of the story). So, what is Bad Habit? Well, the smell is initially fairly exciting -- bits of banana, hints of clove. It really takes after his father, very weizenesque with a hefty dose of alcohol warmth to cut the spice. But it is all downhill from there. A razor-thin mouthfeel leaves a great deal to be desired, while the potenital of the malts and sugars are left completely behind as raw banana takes over. Nothing exciting, nothing interesting, no wheat-spice nor even clove (really) to back it up. It tastes like a homebrew that was fermented far too hot. Some say that it was merely recessive genes that Aventinus had always had, but rarely manifested all comming to the fore -- others insist it was a legacy from its macro-lager mother. Regardless, this is a child that would have been better served by being locked up in the attic, never to be heard from again.

0negative

Bright Spot Golden Ale

American Blonde Ale

I have had other american blondes but this is just not at all what I expected, I may be way off base here if I am feel free to beermail me. A- Dark gold 1/8 inch head looks very nice and very still S- Some malt and hops smells nice every thing seems balenced. T- Malty very off ballence and I was left with the taste of popcorn hulls in my mouth after a drink. Totally unsettling and not what I expected. M- Just average. D- Hard to dink just too much after taste and I couldn't finish my pint I got through a little over half to give it a good try but it just wasn't what I think a Blonde Ale should be. (Once agin beer mail me if I am wrong on what the Blonde Ale style is like and I will gladly remove this review)

0negative

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale

English Pale Ale

550ml bottle poured into a pint glass Old brewery pale ale pours a beautiful deep red copper with a slight white head which laces a bit. The smell is a bit week but I can dectect low levels of bready malts, light malts and floral hops. The taste is classic pale ale light maltiness with a fair bit of floral hops. The finish is dry with no aftertaste. The mouthfeel is good for a pale ale, good levels of carbonation with a body that is light enough to make drinking enjoyable. On to drinkability this is really hard to top, this is a very solid pale ale.

2positive

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

I received this from a friend in Fla and after 6 months I had to try it. This beer pours pitch black with a very nice 1" head. Smells of a roast and cocoa flavor and it is a very smooth beer considering the style and ABV. Very heavy which is cool, loved how when I was finished in the bottom of my Chimay glass there was a stout/cocoa looking powdery sediment in the bottom. Excellent beer and a great first impression from Cigar CIty brewery. Can't wait to try the brown ale I have next.

2positive

Whitetail Golden Ale

American Blonde Ale

A - Golden in color (shocking) with a small white foamy head that quickly disappeared. S - Slightly bready and spicy. Slight malt presence, no hops that I can detect. Smells like a wine almost. T - Toasted malts with minor flowery hops to finish. Nothing really stands out in my opinion, tastes a bit bland. This tastes like someone's first homebrew if they didn't use enough ingredients. M - Light with moderate carbonation. D - Very sessionable but lacks any real flavor. Overall, pretty disappointing. I've come to expect good things from this brewery, at least from the big beers I have purchased. Let's hope the rest of the variety pack makes up for this.

2positive

Golden Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Pot at Young & Jackson's. Pours a true, clear, golden colour, with a centimetre of white foam that disintegrates fast. Decent lacing. Smell is dull and dated sweet citrus. Pungent and not good. Oh dear! Taste has more if the same, except you can't just withdraw the glass from your nose whenever you want. Sweet, jaded and murky citrus flavour that twangs. The body is ok for the beer, but the sweetness hits and builds. Not enjoyable. Won't be ordering another. Just twangy, sweet and unenjoyable.

0negative

62 Pilsner

German Pilsener

very average and very boring beer. Coopers makes some good beers, their Premium Lager, the Pale and the Sparkling ale, but this new marketing gimmick is an epic fail, what were they thinking?? has it even got saaz hops in it? or anything to make it at least resemble a pilsner? I just cant get my head around how they could have got this so wrong. I mean, honestly the taste is just plain BAD, it tastes like some of the cheapest beers on the market. Honestly, i was told to avoid this beer by other beer drinkers, and i should have taken their advice. wont be buying this again.

0negative

Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon Ale

Smoked Beer

This was a drain pour - I think they got the maple and bacon flavorings somewhat correct although far too overpowering. However, the base beer is underwhelming - it doesn't hold up or add anything to those flavors. This beer lacks body and complexity so about half way through a glass I was already bored and looking how to dispose of it.

0negative

Colt 45 Malt Liquor

American Malt Liquor

Poured into a pilsner glass. Thin head that fades after a minute; highly carbonated and looks better than most malt liquors poured into a pilsner glass. Smells like wet bud light in a paper bag. Doesn't taste too bad, actually tastes like some of the macro beers that cost a bit more. Mouthfeel isn't so good, tastes like a malt-liquor, though not as bad as Steel Reserve. Isn't so bad to drink. Probably one of the better malt-liquors.

1neutral

Coors Light

Light Lager

Coors Light- The Silver Bullet?! This could kill even a werewolf!! Coors Light is the women's beer of choice here in NJ. And that's a shame! Actually its the men's choice in Ocean County! Coors Light has a pale yellow appearance with a soapy white head that disappated very quickly. The smell was sweet & stale actually it was very repugnant! The taste was very weak, very little hops or anything else of that matter. Well, anything that is good. The natural taste is of skunked piss. Don't mean to be harsh but there is no other way to describe the flavor! I didn't want to review such crappy beers but I feel it's my duty to report the bad beers along with the good ones. Coors Light is definitely the Worst one!

0negative

Asahi Super Dry

Japanese Rice Lager

A-Pours a very light straw color with a finger of white head. S-Smells of very light grain and cooked rice. T-Metallic twang with a dry graininess and the slightest bit of hop presence. M-Very thin and watery with quite a bit of carbonation. D-it serves its purpose as a very light and refreshing beer, but if I wanted a beer this light, I'd probably just drink water.

0negative

Southampton Saison

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

On Tap at Capone's for a saison event, this is from old notes. A-Dark copper penny with a ring of suds around the glass, spots in the middle, no lace. S- Getting barnyard hay and some fruit with pears and pineapple. Earthy hops, a str8 forward saison. T- Hay, straw, light fruits, apple, pear, no banana thank god! yeasty, bready. This is a old keg, so the hops are not in the picture but do impart a nice earthy taste. M- Medium bodied, lighty carbed, finishes dry. Long linger of barnyard afterwards. D- I liked this saison and if I see it on tap again I'll probably go for it.

2positive

Brutal Bitter Ale

American IPA

Poured a nice golden color. Was prepared for a big bite with a lot of bitterness, but, instead received a surprised expereince. The smell of hop's and citrus filled the nose and the taste was a medium hoppy flavor with a hint of citrus on the palate. There was a well balance of bitterness and sweetness in this beer. Maybe because I drank it on tap, that it was a little mellow to be called "Brutal Bitter"!

2positive

Hale's Red Menace Big Amber

American Amber / Red Ale

Pours with a frothy, initially two-finger thick, amber tinged, tan colored head that leaves a bit of lacing on the side of my glass. The beer itself has a brilliantly clear, dark red color with a touch of amber to it. As I pour this brew I get a nicely hoppy aroma of grapefruit and even a touch of pine. Once I go in for a more in depth look at the aroma, I notice that it is quite well balanced between malt and hop notes. Caramelized malt sugars, bread crust notes and biscuit character mix with the soft, afore-mentioned, overlaid hop notes. The taste has a nice creaminess to it along with a chewy, malty body to it that is quite nice. This malt is immediately balanced by a sharp, yet in line, biting bitterness that lingers on in the finish. The hops show up from the get go; starting out as a light grapefruit / bergamot note, then moving to a herbaceous, pine and even menthol like note that intermingles with the bitterness that one is left with after the beer has passed. The bitterness is not all that remains though, as, in keeping with the overall balanced character of the beer, a nice chewy malt note remains lingering on the palate; light sweet in a caramelized way and with a nice toasted, cracker like note that just rounds out the edges. While I describe this beer as balanced, it really is a hoppy brew with a nice malt profile. This is perfectly fine with me as I am in the mood for some hops tonight. A well made beer, that is better than I was expecting. In the end this is just a really nice quaffing beer, it is certainly not any where near the biggest, or the most original, but the components & flavors are all here at a level that makes for quite a sociable brew. I can't wait to try some more of Hale's Ales.

2positive

Route Des Épices (Ale Rousse Au Poivre)

Rye Beer

Dark ochre with more brick red than brown. The upper half of the glass filled with ecru colored foam following the pour. The cap looks good at the start and gains even more character as it melts. It's also nice and sticky, with pulled taffy bridges appearing between head and glass. Attractive and abundant lace. Just as Peche Mortel smells more like coffee than any stout I have ever had, this offering smells more like pepper than any beer I can imagine. These guys don't mess around. They must have dumped the green and black peppercorns into the kettles with something approaching reckless abandon. This could be interesting. Wow! Double Wow!! Route des Epices tastes like liquified pepper corns. While that might be appealing to some people, it isn't appealing to me. With a spice this powerful, a little restraint is called for so that all of the beer's flavors can work together in harmonious fashion. Brasserie Dieu du Ciel blew right past restraint, didn't give a second look at generous, and decided not to stop at excess. The flavor profile includes pepper. That's it. I have no idea why the brewer(s) decided to make this a rye beer since there's no way that rye malt can be appreciated amid the blast of heat that scorches the mouth, tongue and throat each time the glass is upended. Most chile beer isn't this fiery. Not pleasant. The mouthfeel, along with the appearance, is a highlight among lowlights. It's at least medium in heft and is as smooth as possible given the raspiness of the peppery heat. Carbonation is neither a positive nor a negative. I enjoy hot-spicy food and use Tabasco liberally in chili and a few other things. I even like the idea of a pepper-flavored beer, as long as the pepper is an accent and not an 800 lb. gorilla, as it is in Route des Epices. Sorry, pass.

0negative

Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

English Brown Ale

A: Murky reddish-brown color that should be clear. Moderate light tan head with strong retention. Overall still and bold appearance. S: Light, sweet malt aroma combined with a fresh fruity and floral hops. The malts have a gentle toffee and toasted nut quality. Light fruity esters present but not aggressive. T: Gentle malt sweetness evenly balanced by the floral delicate hops flavor. Bitterness is mild and mineral like. The finish is slightly sweet but not sticky or prolonged M: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation. Good head retention. D: Exceptionally well balanced and drinkable English Brown. A must sample for all lovers of brown ales.

2positive

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub

Hefeweizen

16oz bottle from the Coop for $2.50.. poured into my smaller weizen glass. I must pour hefe's more carefully; 3 in 2 nights and all 3, I've left an unfortunate puddle on my kitchen counter... Anyway, 3 finger head.. looks like merengue... descent lacing.. slighest haze to a lite orange/gold colored brew. Aroma is spicy esters... cloves and bananas up front with a wheat and pale malts in the background. Mouthfeel is oh so creamy.. light carbonation helps add to the body. Flavor is very German.. more bananas than clove for sure.. with bubblegum on the back side of my tongue. Good sweetness mid palate helps tie everything together with a lingering estery finish... doesn't end as dry as most German Hefe's. This may be the first time I've taken the time to buy this beer... I am not sure.... I should remember it if I have; it is every bit as good as the other big dogs in the style.

2positive

Doc Hadfield's Pale Ale

English Pale Ale

A long awaited stop was well worth the "haze gray" boat ride. A: Sampled in one of their 4.5oz samplers the deep yellow to golden color carried little to no head. S: The nose was a very mild citrous aroma, discreet of a mild pale. T: The taste caught my attention with those discreet hops of citrous and served at cool to room temperature, this man knows how to serve his beers. M: I enjoyed a very well balanced ale that was perfect even to quench my thirst after a hot afternoon bicycle ride. D: This pale ale I would enjoy many of at a low ABV. My friend and I walked into Spinnakers in full cycling gear (spandex and cycling shoes click clacking all the way). This was a great post bike ride ale. Double elbows up, Adam

2positive

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Reviewed from notes from my rainy South Caka-Lacka (SC) adventure. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass. Firm pour yields a 2 finger head that diminishes quickly. No lace to speak of. Beer pours a nice orange/golden amber. Nose- Citric hops, not over whelming, but strong enough to let you know what you are in for. Taste- Muted citric sweetness, followed by tart and tangy citric hops. Carmel malts rear their head. Nicely balanced, dry and bitter finish. Very nice. Mouthfeel- Tart and tangy, highly carbonated. Drinkability- Very high. An easy drinking pale ale. My go to at bars with a dubious beer menu.

2positive

Arbor Brewing Mackinac Island Fudge Stout

American Stout

$1.99 for a single @ BevCo. A ton of sediment in the bottle makes for a vile looking brew, so I carefully decanted it. Still, there is a lot of junk in the beer. Pours out to a near black, forming a limp and greasy dark tan head with poor retention and sparse lacing. Mild to moderate carbonation. The aroma is of burnt marshmallows, black walnut, chalk, a hint of sour milk, and chocolate. The mouthfeel is peculiar...light bodied like watery coffee mixed with cola and a hint of vegetable oil...acidic and a little rubbery. Really bad mouthfeel. The taste is a recap of the aroma, but not really in a good way. Burnt coffee, cola, and rubber pretty much sums it up. Pretty vile. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

0negative

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

American Porter

12 oz bottle. Pours a dark ruby brown with a big fluffy tan head that retains well. The aroma is roasted chocolate and coffee with some sweet cream and a little bit of dark fruits. The flavor is bitter roasted chocolate with a big chalky metallic/acidic taste and a finish that is much more bitter (and metallic) than I expected. The mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Overall, the flavor just didn't jibe with me - too metallic and bitter causing it to be unbalanced and not very appealing.

0negative

Milwaukee Premium Brewing Company Classic Ice

American Adjunct Lager

I CAN't believe that I am having a breakfast beer, but coffee is still brewing and I did not get to this one last night before going off to watch the NFL Network, so ... A finger of foamy, bubbly, bone-white head from the pour but with low retention. Color was a light golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose was lager-sweet but underlain with cereal. Oh my. I am really getting tired of these sad lagers that so many brew up and CAN for somebody's (not mine) enjoyment. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium with a cereal/lager sweetness on the tongue. There is NO way I could discern this from many of the others in a blind taste test. Ho hum. Finish was mildly sweet, fairly pleasant, just so so.

0negative

Brewer's Alley Nut Brown Ale

English Brown Ale

Part of a sampler tray during a lunch break from the AOPA Fly-In in Fredneck. Fantastic color, deep malt in the nose, with a rich mouthfeel and solid, roasted malt flavor. Maybe it's the name, but the taste was reminiscent of roasted nuts; with a bit of hops bitterness to keep it balanced. I tried this early in my beer drinkin' days (from a growler at a party) and was turned-off by the rich, dark taste. Years later, I'm really happy I tried it again. A definite "go to" beer at Brewer's Alley. And if you go, be sure to get the shoestring fries. Fantastic.

2positive

Trafalgar Hop Nouveau 2009

American Pale Ale (APA)

Pours golden yellow with a creamy head that seems to last and good lacing. I had this from a wine glass with the beer at cellar temp Aroma of sour green apple, piney, citrusy hops with light spices, ginger, pine needles Not a whole lot of balance in the flavour, this beer shows off the hops. Citrus ripe grapefruit and lemon rind with no real solid malt backbone for any depth of flavour. Hard to ignore how light bodied this beer is. Really quite watery

0negative

Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru Belgian Special Brown

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Pours light, translucent brown with leanings towards plum. Ridiculous amount of carbonation present and head retention/lacing are excellent. Plenty of yeast is there and it's presence fills the whole glass, but it just adds a grainy characteristic to the appearance. Home movie beer. Powdery brown sugar and molasses are present in the smell. Soft brown/chocolate malts noticeable and inviting. Grape-y sweetness with plenty of sugar. Front of the mouth is loaded up with brown sugar and molasses. Towards mid palette it shifts to a spicy yeastiness and some residual sugars before taking on a burnt spice aftertaste with brown sugar kicking back in. Mouthfeel is kind of weak (probably due to the damn thing exploding). It's on the watery side, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. Hard to believe this is 9.5, but the alcohol does start to show itself a bit after it warms.

2positive

Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder

Dortmunder / Export Lager

I got this brew from Auslander, Thanks Chris! 12oz bottle served in a pilsner glass. L - clear yellow/orange color with a fluffy white head that fell to a ring leaving plenty of lacing, carbonation bubbles through the entire session. S - earthy/yeasty/grainy/saazy. T - sweetness at first sip and then a bitterness hits, finishing dry and somewhat sweet. F - medium bodied with a crisp carbonation feel. D - an easy drinking, enjoyable brew.

2positive

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub

Hefeweizen

Poured from 500ml bottle into glass Wow nice! Very appetizing looking beer. Nice white foam head that sticks around nicely, nice lacing as well. Beautiful colour, translucent gold. Not too pale. The aroma is fruity and malty. Ripe fruits (especially banana) come through nicely. A hint of citrus. A little wheat and yeast. Very pleasing. Taste is very nice too. Slightly tart to start with, builds up a nice fruity banana flavour and finishes yeasty and only slightly hoppy. Very smooth and enjoyable. This flavour is quite complex and multidimensional but is not too overpowering for macro drinkers. Perhaps this would be a good convert beer. Mouth feel is also good. Nice body, refreshing canbonation that compliments the flavour nicely. This beer is very easy to drink as it is very unoffensive and very tasty. I enjoyed this beer very much, it is a high quality beer but it is not too "big". I highly recommend this one.

2positive

Hopportunity Knocks

American IPA

The beer looks ok in the glass. A bit hazy with a nice thick head. It smells like butterscotch with a hint of citrus. It tastes like butterscotch with a bit of hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is ok but I can't get past the butterscotch. Am I tasting diacetyl?

0negative

Old Herb Barleywine

American Barleywine

I can't say for certain, but from what I've gathered, this is a 2005. Pours a slightly fogged brown with a tan head. Nose is wood, touches of alcohol, and darker fruits. Flavor is a bit boozy. But the main character is a woody and slightly fruity tone. This just screams out "I'm a barleywine" to me. Smooth liquid feel. Low carbonation. Quite easy to drink really. Don't notice it's 11% at all. A smooth and well done barleywine.

2positive

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock

Bock

12 oz bottle, Best by Apr 2011 Pours a brownish black with hints of red when held to light. small tan head falls fast leaving spotty lacing. Aromas of grainy malts and a hint of dark chocolate and coffee. Taste is much stronger with dark chocolate and sweet flavors then the aroma suggested. Grainy malts are more subdued by the chocolate rush and slight herbal hop presence. Mouthfeel is a bit thin and watery, couldve used a little more zap in the carbonation Dept. as well. Very sweet and flavorful beer, more of a dessert then a beer for beer drink, yet i find myself drinking this again someday. Also this is a Bock say what?

2positive

Entire Butt English Porter

English Porter

Great Porter! Deeeep Chestnut in color with a tad of amber around the rim. Fairly decent head and decent lace. Aromas are beautiful with coffee, nutmeg and roasted chocolate malt. Medium bodied offering that tangy quality found in the first cup of coffee of the day. Waves of bitter chocolate come in to play as the crisp, tangy coffee notes subside. Te beer finishes long and memorable. A must try, and my next mate with rib eye.

2positive

Butthead Doppelbock

Doppelbock

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Served at 49 degrees and allowed to warm. Hazy brown color with no head but a fruity, bubblegum and sweet plum aroma. Flavor consisted of raisin, pine, and vanilla notes. So-so. medium full mouthfeel over the whole palate is the highlight here. Not much drinkability due to overpowering alcohol warming feeling as it goes down with sour fruit aftertaste as it warms. Not recommended.

0negative

Hoegaarden Original White Ale

Witbier

When I was first getting into good beers my girlfriend picked this one out for me and I'm glad she did. Hoegaarden tastes highly of citrus, and really looks a lot like lemonade itself, being an incredibly pale yellow-white cloudy colour. Incredibly refreshing, and so very easy to drink.

2positive

Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Pours a clear golden with a pink tint. A sizable head forms but quickly disipates leaving very little lacing. No activity in the beer after that. The smell is cranberries and a bit of cloves from the yeast. A slight hint of wheat malt. Things go downhill once you actually taste this beer. It seems a mess. Tartness from the cranberries and the cloves doesn't really mix well. It leaves that same combination in the aftertaste. It left me with a unhappy face the whole time I was consuming this beer. It seems light bodied but the lack of carbonation hurts it also. If you couldn't tell, I didn't like this beer.

0negative

Red

American Amber / Red Lager

My second tasting of this dirty red beer to see if there was any improvements. Fresh can from the Brewer's outlet. I must say that some of the off tastes are gone (infected yeast?) but the rest of the beer tasted much like the other welfare lagers from this adjunct brewer...some DMS, watery, raw (unaged), stale hops and cloying dextrosesame nasty finish with an alcohol bite...but hey...at least the labels red. SB silver comes in a blue can but has the same phony yellow color, same screaming adjunct smell, same fizzy carbonation, same nasty heavy water bite in the finish and the same "Douglas Point" watery body. Red is identical...except the can is red and the brew a darker color. Steelback is still giving you choices...you can still calcify your liver with a very bad red labeled yellow fizzy corn beer instead of a very bad blue labeled one...thats what Canadas newest premium beer brewer is all about...choices.

0negative

Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)

American IPA

Found this on special for $4 a six-pack; the store was making room for this year's Celebration Ale. At that price this beer is outstanding, and even at its normal retail it is exceptional. Poured from the reassuring short California bottle; it has a very rich buff colored foam which lasts until the beer is finished. Lovely amber color, and a wonderful spicy aroma which is what you'll remember longest. It is over-hopped in the typical US micro fashion, but there's enough malt heft here to keep everything anchored. Orange zest, pine, and a lovely hard to place floral/herbal note are all backed by a centering solid ale richness. A sharp and spicy aftertaste akin to the aroma finishes things up. Another lovely West Coast brew from a reliable source. Don't miss it if you can still get it.

2positive

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Vienna Lager

Has been my favorite beer for a few years. When poured from a bottle in to the new Sam Adams Glass: A- Very beautiful Amber Color, Beautiful Thick Head, Very Nice Retention. S - Oh god!! You can really smell the hops, that beautiful flowery-hoppy smell you've always wanted, well it has it. T- beyond anything i can call Amazing. full flavored, It taste way more complex than it looks, you hit the full range of taste buds ( from the new glass ) and every time you drink you sense new flavors. Quite an amazing beer tasting experience. M- Full bodied. I really don't know what else to say for mouth feel. D - very easy to drink more than you originally planned. Although Sam Adams Boston Lager is great in a bottle, or in a pint glass on tap, it is absolutley amazing when out of the New SAM ADAMS GLASS!!! try it, if your a beer lover you won't regret it.

2positive

Founders Kaiser Curmudgeon

Old Ale

had this side by side with a regular curmudgeon. Scents of vanilla, oak and brown sugar in the kaiser. Stickier, sweeter and softer than the curmudgeon, the kaiser seems like more of a fireside beer. Any sharpness that could have been attributed to the original curmudgeon has mellowed out. This would be wonderful after a day of being out in the cold, but its still pretty damn good on a summer night.

2positive

The Devastator Double Bock

Doppelbock

A beer from Utah! Pours a medium/dark brown with an off white head that quickly fades. Simple and medium assertive carmel/whiskey nose. Pleasant albeit light. Mouthfeel is medium/light with light carbonation. Thin in character and after initial light creamy character. Flavors are thin, simple, short and watery. Finish is simple light bitter coffee. Does not come near exhibiting the 8% abv. Not much to this one at all. Thin and watery all around with very little character or complexities. I just went back and saw prior review. I don't look at prior reviews before I write mine. However, and respectfully, I really feel like I was tasting a different beer. Bottle I had was as indicated above.

0negative

Tripel Van De Garre

Tripel

Served in goblet. Poured a lightly hazy golden-honey color with over 2 inches of fluffy and rocky white head that had very good retention and lacing. The aroma was a very example of the expected spice and yeast over a solid grain base. Same on the tongue, all the anticipated flavors of the style, grain spice and yeast, just very well defined and bold. The body was good, however I found it to be a bit thicker and stickier than typical. Drinkability was excellent. If time had allowed, I would have had another one immediately. Overall, a very well-done example of one of my favorite styles. A must try if you see it.

2positive

Heineken Lager Beer

Euro Pale Lager

Well, I really have no idea why this is such a popular beer. Anyway onto the review. I've had this many times, out of the bottle, out of the can, and on tap. It is best on tap, but even then I will avoid it at all costs. Nice golden yellow color, with a one inch frothy head. Smells cardboardy, and a bit stale, and a bit grainy. Not good. Taste, this is just brutal in my opinion. I just dont like it. Goes down rough, with a bit of hoppy bitterness, then leaves that typical euro lager after taste. Just bad. Mouthfeel is full, about the best thing going for this beer. Drinkability, i just cant enjoy this beer, ice cold, or what ever temperature I just dont enjoy this one.

0negative

Brewer's Art Green Peppercorn Tripel

Tripel

Thanks Doug for buying me the beer! A: cloudy, yellowish-orange color S: not overly pronounced but yeasty and clean T: nice, well-balanced tripel with yeast and fruit notes M: great mouthfeel, slightly dry (possibly from peppercorns), lively on the tongue D: very drinkable and enjoyable beer Traditional Belgian tripel. Well done.

2positive

River Horse Tripel Horse

Tripel

Poured into my Hennepin goblet. There is a decent 2 inches of head that initially sits atop a strange colored tripel. It is an amber, dark honey color. It is also crystal clear. This has already brought me to a tough choice: Do I rate this beer on what it tastes like, smells like, etc. or do I judge it on the standard of a typical Belgian Tripel? The head falls to a retentive chunky layer about an inch thick. I've made my decision to rate it against a true Belgian Tripel... They have the nose about right. Sticky sweet and smooth. Mellow yeast and ripe fruit. C02 and bittering hops (saaz?) Cookie dough sweetness. On to the taste. Doesn't really taste like a tripel at all. It is very coarse, one dimensional, and hot. Burnt candi sugar, artificial sweetener, more like a high octane red ale. They need to work on their hop and yeast integration to make this a round an balanced beer like a good tripel should be. It's too harsh for anything delicate to permeate from the beer. Where is the delicate bready malt, the sweet citrus, and the cloves? This is just a strong beer made with candi sugar. Not so awesome.

0negative

Green Flash West Coast I.P.A.

American IPA

12 oz bottle. Pours a copper orange with lots of miniscule floaties. The head is huge and rocky off white and retains well and laces the glass. The aroma is a huge piney fruity hop blast, yum! The flavor is sweet malts and melon initially, that are quickly followed by a big hop bitterness that lingers through into a sharp bitter ashy aftertaste. It is medium bodied. Overall, an excellent IPA! This is right up there with Titan and Stone for me. It a bit unbalanced to the hops (especially in the aftertaste) which keeps it from being top notch (Two-Hearted). I'll definitely be getting this again.

2positive

Beerlao Dark

Euro Dark Lager

Pours dark brown with a thick white head that dissipates quickly. Bretanomyces nose (which I expect is not intentional) with an underlying vegetal character that is not unpleasant and which turns to burnt carmel when in the glass a few minutes. Thin mouthfeel that thickens and improves. Flavors of burnt carmel and light coffee with a high acid character and a malty fruit mid palate and goes to coffee and cooked fruit in the back palate and initial finish. Finish then "finishes" with long pleasant malt and hops. End palate and finish is strength of this beer. Not what I would call "drink" friendly.

0negative

Maribo Slots Pilsner 2,8%

Light Lager

The colour is very pale straw yellow. The foam doesnt sink down it disappears. There is, however, lots of lacing. The smell is fragile. I found some anonymous notes of malt and cookies. The taste is also weak. Some sweetness, some traces of chemical roasted nuts, a perfumed banana-like flavour and maybe a hint of bitterness. Maybe. I almost wrote that the aftertaste is non-existent: But I did, after a while, find a weak flavour of dough somewhere. The carbonation is quite strong, it is probably artificial. Small bubbles. A budget lager at 2.8% AVB. What did I expect? Well, I didnt get it.

0negative

Chipotle Ale

Chile Beer

I can't say this is my favorite brew, but I didn't dislike it. The beer has an amber color with a decent head. S: I could smell the Chipotle pepper and smokiness in the aroma. Being sensitive to anything with a hot pepper in it....I was a bit....tentative. T: I could taste the pepper and was grateful this was well balanced by the malt. I can't say I like the idea of my beer having a spicy aspect - but I can respect Rogues offering. M: Medium mouth feel, crisp on the palate. D: I enjoyed it for what it is. My boyfriend loved it. I'll go back to my IPAs and let him have the spice. :)

2positive

Imperial Stout Trooper

Russian Imperial Stout

Thanks to jac5084 for bringing this out, and for ralflord for sending it his way. Poured into two tulip glasses... A: This was literally sludge coming out of the bottle. Very, very thick coming out. It poured into the glass and concocted a small brown head that rescinded quickly into the brew. Pretty still and, again, pretty darned thick. S: Smell is very good and on par with some of the best of its style. Some nice dark chocolate, slight soy, dark figs, raisins, and a touch of roast. Not much dark patent or bitter roast as I like in my big stouts, but this was on the fruitier side. T: Good, but something is missing. It is a tad light and flavors of the above mentioned scents. Slight soy, rum soaked raisins and figs, and slight coffee. Overall, I'm glad I as able to try this, but it is not my favorite in the class.

2positive

Winter Ale

Winter Warmer

The beer came in a handsomely labeled bottle, and poured out dark red, with a decent sized foamy off white head. The aroma was that of roasted grains, and grassy hops. The taste was where things started to go downhill. The taste was down right weird, with off putting wet paper, leather, and rubber tastes mixed with some aweful spices. The mouthfeel was thin and watery as well. Bad on several levels. Not quite sinking to a drain pour level, but flirting pretty close.

0negative

Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)

American Adjunct Lager

I am not even going to lie. I am a big fan of PBR. It is really a beer that you cannot go wrong with. Yes, I know that it is a cheap American macro but to be honest it is one of the purest and less adjunct. Most of all it is a classic. I have had this in the can, on tap, and in the bottle and it still remains to be a versatile beer. It has a golden hay color to the body with usually some moderate carbonation bubble. It has usually a moderate head and just a little lace. For a cheap beer you can taste the hops and the malt. OK and some minor adjunct but no worse than a lot of the micro's people rave about. It is very crisp and refreshing. The body is light but not too light. You still know you are drinking a beer. It goes with almost any food and any occasion.

2positive

Tröegs Mad Elf

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

12 oz bottle courtesy of Dithyramb Pours a pale, slightly hazy rose color with a small, but well formed white head. Retention is a bit lacking, but the lacing and collar are nice. Smell is cherries, slight honey, some hops, a bit of caramel, definitely wine like in character, with just a hint of cough syrup. Taste is a bit bitter up front, with some residual sweetness. Cherry cough drops come to mind. Bitter hops finish this one out. It seriously tastes like Vicks Cherry cough drops. Which I like, but not in my beer. I was hoping that this would be a lot sweeter than it actually is. Mouthfeel is okay, carbonation is nice, and it's not particularly hard to drink. Overall, wow, I was really hoping that this would be better. Nevertheless, I'm not very fond of it and I probably won't have much more of it.

0negative

Coors Light

Light Lager

Super advertising on the 24 ounce can - silver and gold, some black accents, this one being a commemorative Super Bowl XXVIII collector's item - wait, this isn't part of the rating. Medium yellow hue, zero head, beady carbonation. Has a weak, perfume like aroma. Up front, thin and weak bodied, has very little hop or malt flavoring, maybe some faint grainy/grassy notes which should be illegal for beer. No body, no character, and call it no taste, I feel sorry for those who drink this on a regular basis.

0negative

Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic

Gueuze

From notes, bottle to white wine glasses on 12-22 with the girl. My first Cantillion. A- Poured like champagne on the side of glass yielding thin head and a golden hay color. Hazy and nice carbonation rising throughout. S- Nice funk to it. A little barnyard like things have been eating and then doing what comes next. But nice. T- Love that tart. Like you just want to slowly let it sift into your mouth and let the sour hit, then the flavors, apple, cider, some pear and then barnyard with a smooth finish. You can taste the quality. M- I love the puckering but it lets you move into some real nice flavors and leaves you wanting another pucker. O- I haven't gotten into to much Gueze, Wild, Sour territory so what a great start. Really awesome.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale

American Brown Ale

Pint glass for a 12 oz. bottle. The Tumbler pours a clear 'light' brown with cranberry notes in the light. Half inch of head caps the pour and bubbles away in moderate fashion, keeping a surface film and tossing random lace. Rather light in color overall. Nose is straightforward with a nutty malt profile. Touch of hops in the background remain subtle. A Classic profile and not far from an English Brown. Bit of smokiness with warming. Flavor is a bit sweet up front with a return of a nutty cocoa flavor. Pleasant feel and finish without the paparazzi, the girl next door.

2positive

Atwater Voodoovator

Doppelbock

A: Pours a big somewhat thick rich almost 2 finger head that sticks around for a while. The beer is super dark brown, almost black. N: Lots of sweet malts, syrups, extract like aromas, a slight sour tangy fruit even, with off aromas. A little spicy rye almost, with touch of booze and lots of sweet malts. T: Bleh! WTF! Some sweet malts, very sweet, lots of syrups and bad tasting extracts, just bad! A really weird almost rye extract and other weird bad flavors I can't really put my finger on. It has a weird tangy flavor too. GOD this is bad! M: Medium body with decent carbonation. F: Finishes with more of the really bad flavors, some bitterness (not hops), and syrupy flavors. ALso some tingly booze and not so tasty. Bleh, I'm thinking drain pour!

0negative

Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

A: Poured into a pint glass from the bomber. Body is black with a 2-finger tan head that shrinks to a 1/2-finger head that retains well. Good splotchy lacing. S: Mainly coffee, but also some fruit (berries, I think) and a hint of dark chocolate. T: First impression is coffee/espresso/coffee beans. Earthy roasted barley that finishes with a dry, smoky, burnt charcoal bitterness that lingers nicely. Slightly metallic/coppery taste in there somewhere too. M: Slightly lighter than expected -- call it medium-bodied. Somewhat creamy in feel. D: Pretty good.

2positive

Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

This 2001 vintage is quite possibly the worst beer I've ever had. Pours to a completely opaque black color with absolutely no head on a hard pour. Nothing much to note about it. The smell is the only thing decent about this beer. Smells very soy-saucy, but accompanied by a huge berry blast. Smells like a port wine. Every time I take a sip my face literally curls up in disgust. Tastes like straight soy sauce, and looks like it too, with the utter lack of head and all. Also has a barrel-aged taste to it. Very highly tannic with a soapy and thin mouthfeel. Most definitely NOT recommended for consumption by humans. This one is a drain feeder. I suppose if you are into port wine or sherry, it wouldn't be quite as bad, but I for one think it is the most disgusting "beverage" on the planet.

0negative

Autumn Maple

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

A- Dark reddish brown pour with thin white head, no lacing. S-Earthy, rasin, maple syrup T- Light pumpkin pie spice sweetness, even though this beer is made with sweet potatoes it has a typical pumpkin beer flavor. Some malt and a little alcohol, little or no hop bitterness. For a beer with maple in it's name I can't really taste it. M- Light carbonation. Champagne like bubbles on the tip of the tongue. Slight malt aftertaste. O- Not a bad beer but kinda mild. Rather disappointed. Kinda reminiscent of an English brown with a little sugar and spice thrown in. I had expected a much bolder beer with much more maple and fall flavors.

0negative

Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout)

American Double / Imperial Stout

A: Black/brown with a browner bottom, small cream-colored head, some visible carbonation, and mild/medium lacing. 4/5 S: Extra strong! Wow!!! Very Bailey's/liquer-ish sweet, some vanilla cream, and just a hint of roast. I'm not sure how to rate this, but since this is what it's supposed to smell like, I'll go 4/5 T: This is beer? It tastes more like an Irish Car Bomb! Liquer sweetness again with vanilla creme mixed in, some buttery notes, and a hint of bitter/roasted coffee again. I can't believe I'm drinking beer. Like their other Imperial Stouts, there's an alcoholic aftertaste to it, especially as it warms. Again, I have no idea how to rate this. 3.5/5 M: Medium to full body, some carbonation. I almost forget about the body with the crazy flavor going on. 4/5 D: Sorry, this is drinkable in 3-4 oz doses. I split this bomber with my wife, and I really had trouble finishing my (larger) portion. 2/5 Overall impression: It left an impression indeed. I might have viewed this one more favorably if I had 4 oz of it, but being far to miserly to pour any out, I "enjoyed" this one for 2.5 hours. I'm glad I tried it, but this is too much sweetness for me. This one toes the "novelty" line far more than, say, ST Choklat does, but it says Creme Brulee on the bottle and, doggone it, it does taste like it says it will. I won't be revisiting this one unless I have 4 friends to split a single bomber with.

0negative

Green Flash Le Freak

Belgian IPA

Thanks to raoulduke37 for buying this for me at Hi-Times a week ago. 22 ounce bottle with a colony of yeast found at the bottom. On to the beer: Very cloudy and electric blonde on the pour, could be tangerine color. Two-fingers thick of creamy froathy head as it lands in my Stella Artois chalice. Good nose, mild on the power, some tart mango, horse blanket, and lemon rind. Fairly complex aroma, and I really dig it. Clove and peppery spice knock on the palate in it's introduction. There's faint pineapple and bitter grapefruit rinds making a pleasant bitter flavor. Echoes of fresh sqeezed mango. Spearmint, aspirin, and medicinal qualities linger on in the aftertaste. Medium-heavy feel, not too hevay for me, somewhat silky texture with a tickle of carbonation. Just what I would want in a Belgian IPA. A break from the easily accessible San Diego hop bombs.

2positive