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Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

So I saw this sitting on the shelves, originally priced at $31, marked down to $5 so I thought I'd give it a shot (even though I have heard the rumors haha). Pours a dark carmel brown, almost black. This beer is very thick, almost syrup like. There was hardly any head. Smell is a dark dark chocolate. It also smells like teriyaki sauce. The alcohol was also present. Taste is like none other. I believe that this beer may be too old. The taste is just like the smell: teriyaki sauce. There is also dark roasted malts present. Mouthfeel is smooth, but the taste is so bad that you can't have it in your mouth for very long. The 17.5% abv really is distinguishable here. Overall, this is not something I will be trying again. The bottle is really the only cool thing about this beer. I found myself struggling to finish the bottle.

0negative

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

12 oz bottle into snifter. Pours black with a bubbly brown sugar brown head. Pretty good retention. Aroma is rich with espresso, dark chocolate, roast and a hint of vanilla custard. Taste is exceptionally rich for 5%. Unsweetened baking chocolate, freshly brewed espresso, smokey roast. The roast dominates the finish along with substantial bitterness, but this does not detract substantially from the drinkability. Medium mouthfeel with the perfect amount of prickly carbonation.

2positive

Tire Bite Golden Ale

Kölsch

Appearance- Body is a VERY pale straw/yellow color, very clear. To light for a Kolsch really. The head is white and nice and fluffy with okay retention. Very effervescent. Very inviting looking. Aroma- Aroam is quite faint. some grainyness aromas mixed with some malt sweetness. Fairly dry and crisp describe it well. Taste- Fairly good balance of sour-mash, slight malt sweetness and some bittering hops. Kind of simple for a Kolsch. Some hints of grape leaves and a very interesting spicy bite on the back of the tounge. Mouthfeel- Failry light body, even for a Kolsch. Has a fairly high level of carboantion, but nt so much that it kills your taste buds. Not as smooth as you might expect from a Kolsch, but very refreshing. Has a pretty dry finish. Drinkability- Despite that it's not very Kolsch like, this is a pretty good brew. This has been an issue with Flying Dog. Their beers are rarely to style, but they still taste great. This one is very drinkable and sessonable.

2positive

Lips Of Faith - Dunkel Weiss

Dunkelweizen

Tall curvy dark weizen, crop of manila tinged foam. Very creamy and sticky texture, the glass is coated as it's sipped. Color is a deep red garnet when backlit, slow trails of bubbles ascend languidly. Crystal clarity. After a few sips the foam breaks eventually. Dry pepper and cloves in the nose, something that reminds me of churros... fried dough and cinnamon. Dark malt and smooth wheatiness, not overly sweet and a bit dry in the finish. Clove spice, chocolate covered banana, German Riesen chocolate caramel candies. Some raisin and estery notes. Extremely smooth and medium bodied. Finish is fairly quick and abbreviated, though a trace of the chocolate banana does linger somewhat. Rich and tasty, it's one to savor... a unique twist with the pepper and barley malt, it sets itself apart from Aventinus as something unique.

2positive

Third Voyage Double IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

22 oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. No freshness date. A: Poured a dark copper color with decent head more tan than white. Nice laciness remained as head dissolved. S: Very earthy, dry hopping clearly added strong pine scent. Slight notes of citrus though the earthiness definitely takes over. Could smell this beer all day long. T: First sips seemed a little too strong with the pine/grass flavor but was eventually balanced nicely with caramel malt and a little citrus hoppiness. Finish is excellent with very nice piney hop flavor lasting well after the final sip. Definitely need to enjoy hops to drink this one. M: Medium bodied with a about average carbonation. About what you'd expect. O: I was a little skeptical going into this one but was pleasantly surprised. Delicious earthy hops start with the aroma and follow through with every sip. The best offering I've tasted from Boston Beer Co.

2positive

Staghorn Octoberfest

Märzen / Oktoberfest

I had read some decent reviews about this beer, and I would say the beer lived up to the reviews. I am not a fan of this style of beer, but compared to the Octoberfests I had this is a cut above. I wasn't wild about it at the first sip, but I have to admit the beer grew on me. If this is a style of beer that you like, then this is easily a beer you should pick up if and when you see it. The smell is crisp and clean and a hopiness that is more than detectable, but I don't drink hoppy beers so I might not be the most qualified to make that statement. I had this beer ICE cold and I think that is definitely how it should be served. Would try it on tap if I saw it.

2positive

Samuel Smith's, The Famous Taddy Porter

English Porter

I am getting sick of these dark beers! Youre right, no Im not. I love these dark beers. The darker the better, I always say. Tonight we are drinking a Samuel Smiths Taddy Porter. I have had this beer many times before. I usually buy this beer when I dont want to spend a ton of money on a bottle of something that I know is not only imported, but is also delicious. The first few times I had a Samuel Smiths I wasnt too impressed. I am not really knocked out of my socks here either, but its a good quality beer. The Taddy Porter is actually the furthest thing from a porter in my opinion. Its WAY too thin, and has a short aftertaste. I think this beer will taste better the warmer it gets, but these are always sold ice cold. The beer smells almost as good as it tastes. I dont want to seem like I am ripping on Samuel Smiths, but I feel like every time I try their beers I am disappointed. I dont know I just cant fall in love with this beer. Dont get me wrong, its good. But its not great. Nothing to brag about. It has a pretty cool story, regardless.

0negative

Blue Moon Spring Blonde Wheat Ale

American Pale Wheat Ale

Had (NOT enjoyed) on-tap @ the Hardshell Cafe in Soulard- Downtown St. Louis. Beer was tapped from a Bright Green Handle w/ "Seasonal- Spring Ale" under the blue Moon sign & poured into a Pint Glass. Appearance- Pale, Golden color with 1 finger of head. Huge bubbles of Carbonation and no retention on the head. Lace gradually smears down the sides of the glass. Smell- You can smell signs of the yeast and grain but nothing else... There is an alcohol scent as well. Taste- There is a bit of an orange/lemon twist to it now but not good for this type of style (I wish they did give me a lemon with this one to mask the flavor!) Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, Light Viscosity, Watery, and Dull. Nothing makes this beer anything special... Overall- They really missed the mark on this one. It does have a strong wheat taste but it is going to be a struggle to finish even a pint of this. Blue Moon isn't a bad beer but anything they try to brew otherwise, Honey Moon, this Spring ale, etc. turns out very rough to drink and missing many qualities of making it a decent ale.

0negative

ESB Amber Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

It pours a clear copper, with a thick creamy off-white head rushing up, and settling slowly, retaining well. A frilly lace adorns the side of the glass. There's a moderately floral dose of hops aroma, distantly fruity, with a yeasty maltiness underneath, and a slight caramel note as it warms. First taste brings a fruity wash of hops, melded nicely with a pretty fair malt sweetness and an indistinguishable flash of spice. It finishes with a hops dryness along with a slight malt toastiness. It's light bodied, yet with a light, buttery feel. It goes out with a mild dry hops glow at the back of the tongue. This beer is straightforward and independently assertive; it doesn't confuse the palate with countless dimensions, it just tastes good. It's honest, it is what it is, some sweetness, some bitterness, and lots of good ale flavor. Very drinkable, it goes down smooth, with enough presence to turn the corners of your mouth up with a grin after each sip.

2positive

Founders Cerise

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Notes from 6/20/10; 2010 bottling Pours with minimal head; translucent brown with reddish tint. The smell is tart cherries, though more subtle than I would have thought. Taste is tart cherries and more tart cherries initially; some hints of malt; tartness turns to sweetness on the finish. Mouthfeel is crisp and clean with nice carbonation. Almost no alcohol presence; pretty easy drinking, and I'd return to this occasionally in the summer, but wouldn't want more than one at a time.

2positive

Mythical White

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

This beer is a gold colored brew, with no head to speak of. The scent is light fruit, nothing major going on. As for the taste, its got a light malty taste, the main flavor is an alochol-like flavor. This beer tastes like cheap booze to me, champagne or something. Poor effort.

0negative

Fat Squirrel Ale

English Brown Ale

A - Dark red brown with medium carbonation. S: nutty, with a slight citrus hop. T - Roasted hazelnuts and barley malts with a hint of hops bitterness. Very rich and meaty flavor that would go great with a burger or brat :) Drinkability - This is a beer that has some guts to it. I can handle 3 or 4 but a case in one session is definitely not going to happen. This is my favorite brown ale to date. Other browns I have tried just seem to be... well... mellow compared to this. A complex and satisfying flavor that I'll never grow tired of.

2positive

Nils Oscar Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

I love hearing the hiss of the carbonation escaping from a newly opened beer. It excites me and tells me to prepare myself for a wonderful experience. As I slowly pour this deep, nearly black beer into my SA perfect pint glass I notice a salty, almost soy sauce-like aroma rising up. The head is minimal to say the least but there is nice lacing down the glass as I slowly enjoy each sip. This beer tastes surprisingly sweet to me; stouts are not normally a style I enjoy but this one is pleasant. There is a strong taste of coffee and dark fruits within this medium-bodied stout but it's almost overpowered by the sweetness of the malts used here.

2positive

Double White Ale

Witbier

Served chilled from a 22 oz bottle and poured into a large Duvel tulip glass. Pours a pale, hazy, lemon color with a bright white, sudsy head rising to about 1 1/2 fingers thick and then fizzling out to an eggshell surface layer. Lemongrass aroma right up front with a splash of orange peel as well. Some coriander there too, but an underlying scent that gets drowned out by the citrus peel aroma. Very pleasent really. Prickly carbonation up front along with big orange peel flavor that is quickly followed by a wheat-flavored body. This is just less than sweet of being almost like a Mikes Hard Lemonade, which I hate to admit that I love really, but it gives me heartburn. The finish is quick and bitey from some alcohol discovered. Body is medium-light and it is seemingly very easy to drink. It's a Southampton brew, so what else do you expect than the best?

2positive

Noire De Chambly / Chambly Noire

Belgian Dark Ale

Appearance: Pours cola dark with a touch of ruby. Frothy tan head sticks around for a while. Smell: Aroma is of dark, deep malts and fruits (especially black cherry, fig, raisin) as well as caramel. These aromas strengthen over time out of the bottle. Taste: A sweet and somewhat smoky taste upon first sip. Cherry, pear, and other fruity sweetness abounds- but is not cloying. Aftertaste lingers for some time. Alcohol is well-hidden. Mouthfeel: Sweet on the palate, medium-bodied. Finishes dry. Overall: Good little dark ale without the overt personality of an alcohol-bomb. Recommended.

2positive

White Birch Tripel

Tripel

Bomber to tulip. Batch 3, bottled July 27th, 2010, number 220 of 234. A: Pours with a bright white foamy/creamy head of 2 1/2 fingers. Decent retention. The body is pale straw in color and heavily cloudy. Lacing is between good and excellent. Despite the cloudiness of this Tripel, the appearance was pretty good. S: Yeast dominant aromas of must and barnyard with light lactic tones come through on the nose giving the impression of forthcoming sourness. Lightly malted with notes of hay and light candi sugar. Hop aromas include more lemon than orange but again, very faint. T: A heavy, untamed alcohol presence is noticeable immediately. The rest of the flavor profile COULD be decent if the vodka-like heat wasn't so omnipresent. There is a big vanilla component (with possible oaky notes, unless it is merely an extension from the vanilla) mixed with light ginger and coconut flesh flavor. Unfortunately the intensity of the heat ruins the palatability and the bottom half of the bottle finds its way to the drain. M: Medium body with extreme alcoholic heat and texture. Moderately sweet from front to mid-palate. Chalky and dry on the finish. Heat erupts from the gullet up leaving an extremely unpleasant aftertaste. My bottle indicates 10.8% ABV instead of the 10.5% listed here. So that means to me, that the heat was either accidental OR someone thought this brew needed to be even more abrasive. Hopefully the former is the case. D: I tried but couldn't make it the whole way through this Molotov cocktail. I have heard some very good things about this brewery. Unfortunately, I'm turned off after my first couple of experiences.

0negative

Hop 15

American Double / Imperial IPA

I hate to be difficult ... but I've got another flat bottle. It's great when it's on ... not so when it's off. Got at bevmo ... was warned they were getting a lot of flat bottles. Smells like goat, no head and has loads of floaties. Down the tube with this bottle. Please excuse my frustration.

0negative

Heineken Lager Beer

Euro Pale Lager

A - Flat, lame, and boring. Bodily waste comes to mind... S - Smells like a skunk. Stinks T - Very boring and plain. No flavor other than rot M - Very nice carbonation, dry and waxy D - Decent, but not good I would NEVER have bought this brew, one of my buddies left if behind (and for good reason) Cheers! (but, not to Heineken)

0negative

Yeti Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

A: Looks like something I shouldn't be drinking, which I like in a beer. I would say darker than Guinness with a frothy brown head that soaps up the glass. S: Gives off different kinds of smells, the strongest to me seems to be a blueberry toffee. They're basically dead on accurate with the label. T: Heaven. Very smooth, not bitter. Again.. blueberry. Makes me wonder why I haven't found this earlier. M: Not too thick, not too thin. Not extremely carbonated but gives a nice tingle to the throat. Best of all, no disgusting aftertaste. Actually it leaves my teeth feeling clean, I'd swear it was a breath freshener. D: Very smooth, keeps my attention and wanting more because each sip is something new.

2positive

Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale

English Strong Ale

version 2006. 375ml bottle. 7.5% abv well, looks a disappointment in the glass. fairly light in color, deep amber and clear but with chunks of yeast sediment falling to the bottom of the glass. not the good, natural looking sediment you find in other coopers brews, but sort of not quite right stuff you dont want in your beer sediment. not only that, no head. pours really lightly into the glass and only musters up a 1cm head that quickly faded to just a ring around the edge of the glass. not what i was hoping for. ok, close the eyes and just smell. eh, a bit better. sweet fruit cake aroma with a bit of warming alcohol behind. the alcohol becomes more prominent as it warms which leaves it kind of one dimensional. not being a big fan of that acetone alcohol aspect to the smell of beer, this isnt all that appealing so far. the worst part of all this is that for a beer of this style and strength, it really needs/should be enjoyed at not so cold temps. unfortunately, the aroma, for me at least, makes that difficult. smooth flavor. strong malt presence with a bit of yeast accompaniment. some warming as it goes down. little noticeable hops but not sure if they would fit in much here. mouthfeel is ok. little carbonation keeps it from being too lively which wouldnt go well with the strong alcohol. what a disappointment. dont know if age will help tame this beast. not that i need to worry as this is the only bottle i got, and dont plan on going back for more.

0negative

Atwater Voodoovator

Doppelbock

Dark, brown black pour, light head and a small amount of lacing. Bouquet of green olives and soy sauce. Astringent mouthfeel. Altogether unpleasant. High alcohol content, so at least it's safe to drink. Did we get a bad bottle? I know things are tough Detroit, but why at it out on us? If you really like sour ales, give it a shot, otherwise pass.

0negative

AleSmith Horny Devil

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Pours a pretty nice healthy amber with a prominent foamy head and thick lacing. This is a very thick beer, the color is rich and unwavering. Smells like a warm piece of buttered toast that has been chilled and liquefied. Taste is very bready, almost like a good San Francisco sourdough but without the crunchy crust and moist buttery inside. Feels decent in the mouth. Not to excited about finishing this giant bottle.

0negative

Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

This beer came in a ~7.5oz blue bottle and corked. Very pretty bottle, but no vintage date. It pours dark red/brown colors with no head and no carbonation - reminds me of black molasses. The aroma smacked me in the face and said, "smell me byatch". Very strong aroma - maple syrup, strong alcohol, waaay strong. The flavor was more strong than the aroma. Wow. I consider myself a malt lover, but this had way too much malt character for me. Has a certain sweetness and a syrup/molasses texture. Very complex. Regretfully (whimper), this was too much for me. First beer I've had to pour out in a long time, and it was only 8oz. Every sip gave me the shiver I get when taking a shot of tequila. Whoah.

0negative

Founders Sappy Slappy Bastard

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

Sampled this beer at Founders own tap room. The beer was way too sweet. Taste was less impressive as it warmed in the glass. The malts from the stout style could not overcome the maple and and sweetness from the high gravity. I did not finish the beer. That rarely happens, I almost never orphan a beer. Founders has many beers that are excellent, this was not one of them.

0negative

Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA

Belgian IPA

Picked up a single as a test, and quickly had a 6 within the week, so I guess that will tell you how this review will go. Pour is a yellow to amber, slightly cloudy. Initial 2 finger head subsides quickly, with some nice lacing behind. Aroma is more malt then citrus/hops, but extremely unique. Belgian IPA is a perfect description. Malty, taste of bread and some caramel, with some subtle bitterness from the hops to finish. As you continue the taste, you pick up notes of citrus and some gentle pine. Really nice. Their 20th anniversary beer, and an absolute steal at the price my local specialty store is selling it for. I will definitely grab more before it's gone.

2positive

Amstel Light

Light Lager

Part of my Shitty Beer Review series. A. Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a pint glass. Dark yellow in hue with a small head. S. Skunk. Faint grains. T. The only reason this did not recieve a 1.0 awful score is that I could pick up a bit of something in taste, I think it was some grain and a hint of malt? A lot of skunk and this bottle was not in the sun. M. Light and watery. Nothing much to it. D. Try as I might, I ended up pouring the last bit of this into the lawn. I will not have this again if I can help it. Pairing suggestions: Stinky marijuanna, thats about the only thing that could stand up to the pungent skunk taste of this beer.

0negative

Grand Cru Winter Reserve

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Poured this brew into a Duvel glass. Beer pours a darker golden yellow brew, with a small white head that fades quickly some minimal lacing. Smells of yeast, sweet smell; fruity and floral. The taste is of yeast and fruits. Some nice balance of fruits, yeasts and malts. Very nice taste. This beer is very drinkable - I could enjoy a case of this one, and enjoy all night. They did a great job hiding the alcohol. Very nice. Yet another great brew from Flying Fish.

2positive

Aphrodisiaque

American Stout

my first from this acclaimed brewery, and i was not disappointed. A: black with a lasting brown head and really nice lacing throughout. S: chocolate/cocoa dominates, not a super dark roasty bitter cocoa smell, more like a candy bar chocolate. coffee as well, with some hints of molasses and dark red stone fruit underneath. T: medium sweet chocolatey malts, very smooth, light roastiness and smooth bitterness balancing it to a semi-dry finish. vanilla shows itself on the lingering finish. M: nicely carbonated (in my case, a good amount), frothy. medium-bodied. some dessert-like chewiness. really nice. D: tons of flavor with nothing too big or over the top for this abv. not too viscous which helped this go down way too quickly. could have finished a bomber of this with no problem.

2positive

Tröegs Java Head Stout

Oatmeal Stout

Aroma-roasted nut and coffee Appearance-Black/Nice head/Good retention/nice lacing Flavor-at first malty then bitter then soapy/all in all kinda gross Mouthfeel-Too much carbontaion for any stout/dry/ bitter/makes you salivate/couldn't get past the soapy after taste Drinkability-Absolutly didn't like/the after tast stuck with it and didn't wash away/will never drink this again

0negative

Kirkland Signature German Style Lager

Märzen / Oktoberfest

Bottle three in my aunt's series of 'delicious' brews. Vision Solid finger of densely-packed white bubbles that dissipated after their minute of fame to a skin and collar. Body is the color of copper mixed with fresh honey, no crystallization kind of course It is ridiculously clear which betrays its dirty secret of very little carbonation. There is a single bubble that rises every few seconds but nothing more. Bouquet Thin yeast smell... a tad bit of bready malt. Nothing else. This is awful. Flavor Profile The malt that barely came through in the nose dominates the flavor. It is the wal-mart of malt flavors. Generic and upsetting. The finish is like stale bread with the funk of old nuts mashed and slathered upon it. Its a myriad of unforgettable flavors. Oral Sensations This at least is the saving grace of this beer. It isn't water, but it isn't that much better than it. By failing to have a full body and lingering presence, I am not forced to fully suffer this brew. Minimal carbonation allows me to fully dissect the liquid. Conclusions Never again. No way, no how. Can't even pay me to drink this beer. I feel like this has ruined my palate in some way. Its alcohol isn't noted, but that is what you'd expect from 5.5%.

0negative

Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

We concluded our tasting with this abomination. I would like to thank blackearth for cracking this one but I can't. Bill you are an asshole for making me drink this putrified devils urine. I will never forget the night you raped my tastebuds with this vile liquid. While gently attempting to uncork this vessel of death Bill managed to snap the top of the cork off leaving the bottom half burried in the neck. It was at this point I thought maybe this is a bad idea. Just leave that cork in there and dispose of the bottle no one gets hurt. Bill being a masochist decide to soldier on. After some careful dissecting the cork was extracted. Little did we know we were about to be fucked in the mouth by Jim Koch. A: thick soy sauce, prune juice, motor oil black, no head, no lace So far so good. The apperance has me a bit worried but nothing alarming at this point. S: WTF!? Rotten soy sauce and molded prunes mix to make this one of if not the worst smells my nostrils have ever encountered. Now I should really have called shennanigins and dumped my glass. Well I'm never one to back down from a challenge so I raised the glass to my lips. T: God in heaven above why have you forsaken us!? This stuff taste so horrid it's almost comical. Hot salty soy sauce mixed with prunes and sewer water. My gag relfex almost wouldn't allow me to swallow. I had to choke each sip down. I honestly wish I could give this a zero instead of a one. M: thick syrup like body, no carbnation D: Seriously? Is there any chance I would give this anything but a 1 in the drinkabilty catagory. It may take some time for my relationship with Bill to heal from this damage. I may forgive him someday but for the time being he is no longer considered a friend of mine.

0negative

Curse Of Jack

English Strong Ale

Another review that sort of got lost in the in Microsoft Word saves in my phone. Drank from a generic tulip. Appearance- Pours a murky brown with a small white fizzy head. A small spotty cap remains with a decent collar. No lacing. Smell- Surprisingly subdued. A light tartness is the first thing to greet my nostrils along with sweepingly caramel sweetness. The barrel may add a touch of vanilla but its pretty fleeting for 13 months spent resting on wood. The tart is strange, hope its not big in the flavor. Taste- Well thankfully the tartness doesn't resonate in the taste. A huge rush of bourbon (unmistakable Jack) and rich caramel/butterscotch. Vanilla and even a touch of chocolate work in especially as the beer warms. The hops hold true to the Town Hall standard as there's a fruity bite in the finish. Not necessarily bitter but definitely not sweet. A touch of booze in the finish as well. Mouthfeel- Fairly thin all things considered but the fairly peppy carbonation helps a lot. A bit of warming from the booze. Drinkability- Not shabby at all! The Jack barrel really is the star of the show in this brew. Its pretty easy drinking and full of flavor. Good stuff, glad I came down to try!

2positive

Founders CBS Imperial Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

Ok, got to try this bad boy at the STL Stables, 12oz glass, none-the-less. Could have had more, but hooliganlife and his entourage sucked of the soda keg down before I got there... ;) Served in a nice snifter tulip, pure back with the classic tan head. Sticky and oily sheets of lace really give this a good start. But yeah, what can ya say about the aroma and taste? Just a delicate dance of maple, fig, vanilla, caramel, coffee - finishing with the bourbon kick to round it out. But, I will say, it's just touch on the sweet side to make it an absolute drinker. The high alcohol does have a smidgen of a medicine taste and flushing of the cheeks. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to try such a limited brew.

2positive

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

Winter Warmer

Appearance: poured a dark brown / mahogany with some red hues , with a small tan lace. Smell: Some stuffing like bready malt with cinnamon and other seasoning like scents , hint of orange and ginger , some allsipce. Taste: loads of interesting character! Fruitcake/ raisinbread maltiness , faint orange , hint of the ginger , slight cocoa, some cinnamon , bit of roasty character, bit more ginger in the end , and some balancing bitterness. Drinkability: A good brew to enjoy during the holidays. Nice holiday themed flavors that would be nice with christmas and thanksgiving fare. Even though the flavors are different , i could drink quite a few.

2positive

Black Snow Coffee Porter

American Porter

Had this last night at the brewery. Wish I could buy growlers on Sundays, because I would've loved to take 64oz of this one home. Dark brown, almost black color with some light shining through, no head and no lacing. I don't care about the look on this one because the aroma and flavor was spot on. Deep, roasty, coffee aroma with notes of caramel and chocolate. Flavor is espresso mixed with dark baker's chocolate, vanilla, and charred malt. Very complex and superbly balanced. Smooth and creamy, but just a little to light for such a big tasting beer. Excellent beer and if they have this on tap again when I return in a few weeks, I will definitely be taking home a growler with me.

2positive

Coors Light

Light Lager

Pours an off-yellow color, similar to a Mountain Dew that has been dirt-filtered. Has a wierd smell. My vocabulary is not dynamic enough to accurately describe this smell. When swallowed, it feels like an off-flavored water. Congratulations to the Coors marketing team who, somehow, have convinced America that this is what a beer should taste like. 1 out of 5 swills.

0negative

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

American Porter

12oz. bottle into Mad Elf challice on 3/3/08. A - Very dark, opaqe brown body with almost two fingers of dense, tan head that receded quickly but left some thick lacing around the glass. A bit of carbonation bubbles around the edges. S - Rich, roasted malty aroma with some coffee and chocolate notes. Hops are earthy and a bit musty, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Hints of sweet caramel and toffee. More chocolate emerges as the liquid warms up. Just the slightest tinge of alcohol is also present. A bit of citrus way in the back as well as some winter spices. T - Creamy chocolate and caramel/toffee flavors jump out at first, followed by a more bitter coffee aspect with some spiciness. Finishes with a nice, bitter roasted character and an earthy hop bite. M - Medium body with a pretty smooth texture, but mouthfeel is a little thin for a porter. Carbonation is right on track and not too prickly. Finish is mildly bitter. D - Solid, highly drinkable porter with robust flavor and nice hop presence. Body is a little thin, but the aromas and flavors are quite pleasant.

2positive

Skinny Dip

American Blonde Ale

My bad. I was on the market for something different, summer beer, and drinkable. I took the word of a sales person and purchased a half on this one. Got it home and tapped, poured out my first draft. The color was a warm canary. The head was about 1/2" once the pint was filled. Ever so slightly cloudy. The flavor though was disappointing. It's already been stated. I could swear they used bread yeast to make this beer. I untapped it and kept it cold. Sold it quickly on a local internet listing service at a great loss, but was glad someone could enjoy what I could not.

0negative

Verhaeghe Echte Kriek / Echte Kriekenbier

Flanders Red Ale

750 mL bottle poured into a chalice. Appearance: Pours a dark copper/red color with a wispy film-like off-white head. Smell: Some cherry alone at the start, and then the usual Flanders Red tart/sour aroma. Taste: A lot more mellow and fruity than the usual beers of this style,but not overly fruity. A bit like a watermelon Jolly Rancher, with a bit of cherry juice to add some flavor and tartness. The tart and sour flavors come out more towards the finish, and they persist in the aftertaste more than the initial fruity flavor, but it is never very strong. Mouthfeel: Light feeling on the tongue, but has some body to it as well. Light, nice carbonation and smooth. Really good. Drinkability: Quite drinkable; very moderate ABV. The flavor might get to be a bit much for some after a large bottle, but not bad. A more "refreshing" take on this style, I suppose. I quite like it, but in moderation. The cherry flavor is just right, and I'm very picky about intentional strong fruit in anything but lambics. Perhaps a good introduction to this style for some; I'll have to try it on my girlfriend!

2positive

Imperial Nut Brown Ale

American Brown Ale

I wasn't sure what to expect from an "imperial" nut brown ale, and with the brewery's prominent notice that maple syrup was used in the brew, I was braced for something over the top with sweetness. I was pleasantly surprised by the judicious use of the maple flavor in the beer - just enought to provide an interesting dimension, but not enough to overpower, or even steal the spotlight. Nicely moderated roasted malt flavor and the alcohol flavor was subdued. Unusually drinkable.

2positive

Keystone Light

Light Lager

Coors entry into the cheap beer field, I guess. It's on par with the Milwaukee's Best Light/ Old Milwakee Light/ etc. $12..99 for a 30 pack... give it to unwanted houseguests type of thing. Clear gold fizzy fluid with no head. Smells like an Iowa cornfield and/or a freshly mowed lawn. Tastes hopless with an extremely faint hint of sweetness maybe provided by malted barely. Thin and watery. Earthy. Mediocre. Exactly what one would expect from a 30 pack of beer for $12.99.

0negative

Der Weisse Bock

Weizenbock

17 oz bottle picked up today at the Coop for about $5.75... shared with my carpool buddy... my half into my Chimay goblet. 3 finger head atop a dark cloudy porter like brew... foamy head with little lacing. Bready banana spiked with light clove... spicy raisin bread. Flavor mirrors the aroma but with quite a bit of caramel... body is fairly thick and the carbonation is fairly smooth.. making a very easy drinking brew... a little cocoa throughout.. more brown sugar than caramel as it warms mixes well with the banana bread flavors. Pretty excited to see the Coop got another weizenbock in... but that said I would probably only ever pick this up again if I was brewing a weizenbock and needed some inspiration or probably for a style tasting.

2positive

Bière Du Démon

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

This is the worst beer I've had in years. All Alcohol (12%) and no taste of any kind, but alcohol. I'd be crazy to put this product on the market if I were the Brewer!

0negative

Trappistes Rochefort 10

Quadrupel (Quad)

Pours a dark cloudy chestnut with a wide frothy head that settles into a thin ring. Aroma has a lot of elements of raisins, candy sugar, toasted malts and a very light fruit. Swirl the snifter and the head reconstitutes with a trace of banana. Taste is a sticky, sweet malt rum. Elements of dark macerated fruit, tea and some sharp hop bitterness, a variety of which I'm uncertain. Dry caramel malt, dark grainy, bready flavors like a whole rye or pumpernickel. Finish is dry with slight shades of yeast and a little apple or pear. (Fresh fruit elements become more noticeable as it reaches room temperature.) Not a trace of alcohol in the profile. Mouthfeel is medium with enough biting carbonation to keep it clean. Reminds me more of a Belgian strong dark ale than a quad. I would love to try this fresh on tap, my rating would probably be higher than the small bottle. Many thanks to futaboots for rescuing a bottle for me.

2positive

Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

Presented in a 22oz. Bomber A - Pours a dark black with a decent tan foamy two finger head. Lacing was excellent. S - Roasted malts galore. A toasted woody / oat smell as well. Hop aroma follows with a hint of citrus making this one very balanced. T - WOW, this is really a great beer. Dark roasted malt dominates the initial sip, followed by a finish of dark fruit like a chocolate covered cherry!! M - Full bodied and creamy through and through. D - For sure a session in the making. I could drink this everyday in the winter. Um-um goodness, highly recommended.

2positive

Scratch Beer 45 - 2011

American IPA

From notes taken at the Armsby Abbey Stone night. A - Poured into a standard pint glass a light orange hue with a good one and a half finger head that leaves really nice side lacing and a good healthy foam blanket. S - Very light citrus hops (pine/grapefruit) and malts. Unfortunately I dont get any tropical hops. T - Like the nose, unfortunately I get no tropical notes. There are good grapefruit and pine hops though, and it is really, really tasty. M - Just great. Sharp carbonation, crisp dry finish, yet still lightly juicy. Delicious brew. O - Overall this was a really solid offering from Troegs. I would buy a bottle of this if given the chance.

2positive

Or

American Black Ale

Appears a dark black with a small head of tan fluff that doesn't want to fade away. Scattered streaks of lacing are left around the glass. Smell is of heavy citrus, roasted malt, cocoa, floral notes, caramel, and pine. Taste is of the aromas with spritzy hop notes zinging along the back of the palate. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, zingy, with a semi-dry citrusy finish.

2positive

Coors

American Adjunct Lager

Served in a 24oz. can Ahh yes. Coors. I remember drinking coors extra gold with my buddy's because we could score a 30-pack for $8-9 back in college. Coors was the cat's meow back in the day. Appearance: Poured a yellow/gold colr with a dissapating head. Taste: What a weird taste. To me, this tasted like salty biscuits! Mouthfeel: As someone mention in an earlier review, this beer was like seltzer water. Very fizzy. Overall, I can't imagine drinking this beer and really enjoying it. Perhaps 4 years ago. This one really doesn't do it for me though. I have to admit, however, I kind of cheated for this review. I purchased this beer to cook a batch of bratwursts in, and as long as I had the beer open, I thought, "why not review this beer before I cook with it?"

0negative

668 The Neighbor Of The Beast

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A pleasant surprise from my cousin in CT. The 16 ounce can was split with 2 others in snifters. The pour was a clear orange with a moderate white head, minimal lacing. The aroma was very sweet, fruity and a moderate amount of spice. The flavor followed the nose, with the spiciness was more prominant. The finish was on the sweet side and lingered nicely. The body was medium and the ABV was well hidden. I would love to try this again.

2positive

Keystone Light

Light Lager

Key Light is better than Key ice but that ain't saying much. It should only be drank when ICE COLD and as a last resort. The color/smell is non-existant. The Taste is bad...very copper tasting...the mouthfeel is the highlight, never a good sign for a beer.

0negative

Carling

Euro Pale Lager

Served with a thin fine (going flat?) white head and lots of lace. Color is a very clear amber. Flavor's common world beer and at least it's not overly sweet as is so common these days. Flavor's malt and a teensy bit of hop and corn. Finish is corn/rice beer. A real yawner. Session if you like headaches.

0negative

Viven Imperial IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

Pours hazy orange/amber with a large, creamy head. Nose shows lots of resinous, piney hops, citrus, orange blossom, grapefruit and some peach. Underneath is a fair whack of caramel and clean malt. Lots more resinous pine upon tasting, though the fruit doesn't transfer through quite as well. Next comes a load of sweet clean malt before the hops return for a big, piney bitterness. Does have a medicinal/astringent herbal character to it, reminds me of the bittersweet character found in cough-syrup. Nice syrupy body, carbonation could be higher.

2positive

YuleSmith (Summer)

American Double / Imperial IPA

Huge thanks to MuddyFeet and Zorro for this one. 22 oz.Red and Green bomber shared with my buddy Kaleb. Pours a hazy copper hue with a nice two finger off white head that slowly dies down to a thin lacing. Stickiness is all over, love how this one looks. Smell is very earthy with a bit of a spice note. Piney hop scent is very light, but enjoyable. Taste is shocking. Not much of a hop bomb, quite a bit of caramel malt balances out perfectly with the earthy/pine hop. Flavor ends a bit chewy and grainy with a bit of dryness, but not overly dry at all. Mouthfeel is full bodied with a fair amount of carbonation. There is something about this beer, spices maybe? I'm not sure, but it really makes this stand out among the many imperial beers out there. I hear the Red and Blue is different, I have a bottle waiting, can't wait to find out.

2positive

Schmidt Ice

American Adjunct Lager

A very lightly hazed bright yellow colored body. Quarter inch white colored head hung on about three minutes. No carbonation to see rising. Thin sticky lace. Aroma is a strong blend of corn husks and yeast scents. Nothing in the way of hops bitterness present at all. Yeast is to overpowering. Taste is overpowered in the same way the aroma is. Yeast taste is primary to a very light corn taste. Malt is third, and there is no noticeable hop taste. Watery beer runs of the tongue quickly. Carbonation tingle is closer to a soda feeling then beer. Nice looks betray the taste. Good for washing down bland food. Not one I would drink given any choices, but that said, better then some of the choices in the style.

0negative

16th Anniversary Wood Aged

American Double / Imperial IPA

Poured into pint glass. Pours 1 finger of creamy off-white head. Fades to a thinner layer leaving some sticky lace. Color is a bright orange hued gold. Aroma: Some orange and grapefruit citrus up front. A decent amount of malt shows. A grassy/floral hop profile. Then some oak and vanilla show. Taste: A big amount of oak shows up front with lots of malt. Vanilla and some spices show. Caramel and bready malts. Floral hop profile. Some citrus in the background. Mouthfeel: Bitter, but creamy. A fuller body for the style. Medium amount of carbonation. Ends with a lot of oak flavors. Overall, this is one of the better oak aged ipas I have had. It does show malts, but has a big enough hop profile to back it up. The oak is very dominate in this beer as well and reminds me a bit of cedar. Fairly drinkable.

2positive

Sea Hag IPA

American IPA

Unfiltered burnt amber color with a comfy cloud of white head. Grapefruit and orange rind hop aromas with some grassiness. Not the biggest nose, but no real flaws either. Hints of biscuit and caramel work well with the citrusy bitterness in the crisp finish. Not overly sweet or malty for the darker color it has. The body is smooth and rolls across the tongue with ease. Very clean and refeshing, though not a big standout IPA.

2positive

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

app is hazy gold amber with slight foam head and clearer near the bottom, when shone in the light red can be seen, kind of cool. Smells bad though , like nothing but cherry cough syrup and carbonation. Taste is similarly terrible strong cherry medicine like from begginning most of the way through , although the end is very wheat like and gives a decent mouthfeel , but still this is a hard drinker for me, but then again I don't like cherries so what do you expect.

0negative

Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat

American Pale Wheat Ale

The smell of this beer is fantastic, sweet and malty. Good malt too, not typical American cheapo malt. This beer is almost good, but the mixture of honey and wheat is just off-putting to me. I'm not generally a big fan of either in the first place and I don't think they combine to make a very good beer. Oh well. Just my opinion.

0negative

Samuel Adams Brown Ale

English Brown Ale

Poured into a pint glass. Deep brown color with a finger tall head. Aroma not too significant, leaning more towards the hops than the malt. Taste is initially of flavorful malt with an astringent finish that was not enjoyable at all. It tasted almost tannin-like, in a bad way. This astringency lingered in my mouth even after the sip was swallowed. Mouth feel was fairly light, with moderate carbonation. Overall, the finish ruined the beer for me.

0negative

Scratch Beer 37 - 2010 (IPA #1 Of 4)

American IPA

12oz bottle into Duvel tulip. Thank a ton for this extra HosP! A: Pours a cloudy glowing apricot color with a couple fingers of dense off-white head that slowly receded into a thin film and collar. Some spots of bubbly lacing left down the glass. S: Slight notes of citrusy hops. Not very potent smelling. Is that cooked vegetable I smell? T: Something about this doesn't sit right with me. Notes of citrus hops and some sweet malt, but its dirty, earthy, woody and alcoholic. The finish is sweet with almost a synthetic candy like flavors. Aftertaste has some candied orange peel and tobacco to it. M: Medium body, fizzy carbonation, and the slight warmth of alcohol over a slick body. D: Not my favorite hop combination and a surprising let down from an otherwise outstanding series of beers. Overall a disappointing IPA.

0negative

Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale

American Brown Ale

Bottled: unk - fail A: Pours a dark and hazy brown ale with some ruby hues when light penetrates the ruddiness. Single finger of light latte head falls to a broken quilt of the same. Should have more clarity for the style. S: Smells tart with infection. Sour, nearly brett like. Can't really get anything past this issue. T: Yep, infected. Jesus, bitter and baking soda like in flavor. M: Dry like the deserts of Africa. O: horrible. Two sips, then drain.

0negative

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

American IPA

A: Golden amber in color, fairly clear. Huge three fingers of white head with lots of larger bubbles. The head recedes leaving behings loads of caked on lacing and a foamy cap. S: Mostly pine with citrus playing a supporting role. Familiar Sierra Nevada yeast smell with bready malts. T: Pine way out in front with citrus present, but not as much in the nose. There's a big tea quality to this that I like a lot. There's some bread and sugar like tastes that balance things out a bit, but this still a pretty big hop bomb. M: Full and creamy. Finishes dry. O: Torpedo is very solid beer and one of the better everyday IPAs available in the Nashville market. I hope to get the opportunity to try this fresh at Sierra Nevada's new East Coast brewery..located in TN(fingers crossed).

2positive

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

Had some Bigfoot on tap with Trep at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh. The beer goddess brought me an amber-copper hue of a brew that turned ruby red in the sunlight. A slim, tan head dissipated shortly after the first sip and left a nice, sticky ring of foam around the edge of the glass. At first, the aroma seemed more like an IPA than a barleywine, which was kudos in my book. There were big, sweet hop notes with citrus, caramel and pungent floral aromas. The taste was a blend of the strange and familiar: Notes of tree bark, piney hops, alcohol, bread, barley, and gin. A crisp, well-carbonated mouthfeel met the palate up front and left a sour, liqour-esque bite to the back of the throat. Although I'm not a huge barleywine fan, this was pretty damn good. Hats off to Sierra Nevada for making a tasty brew...

2positive

Gulden Draak (Dark Triple)

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Dark red brown color, small head. Aroma is fruity and sweet. Very malty and sweet. Slight hop bite. Smooth taste. Large body. Mouthfeel is full and round, slightly sweet. Finish is clean. Aftertaste is malty and slightly dry. Alcohol bite is prevalent, 10.5 %

2positive

Butthead Doppelbock

Doppelbock

Appearance: deep, dark brown color, hinting on violet, almost prunish, even, with a short, quick head. Aroma: vibrant and fruity (grapes, raisins, dates), very nice. Taste: big mouthfeel, warm, generous texture, and overloaded with malt. Very little hops that I can taste. Syrupy sweet at times, thickly coated, almost medicinal. Halfway in, that large presence on the palate seriously thins out, still substantial, but losing some ground. Overall, though, the bright, fruity flavor, with the ample alcoholic content, provides sufficient punch and rings in on every subsequent swallow, making this a very satisfactory, memorable doppelbock. Thanks to morris729 for the sample.

2positive

X-Mas Zinnebir

Belgian Pale Ale

Purchased a bottle at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA. A: Amber hue. Slightly opaque. Visibly effervescent. Virtually no head. S: Sweet with cola traits. A little grainy. Stale. Kind of funky - and not in a good way. I'm sort of afraid to actually taste this. T: Very dry with a roasted, crossing well over into burnt, taste. Any other taste characteristics are well masked by the acrid burnt taste of this mess. MF: Wildly over carbonated. Light mouthfeel. D, notes: This is not a good or even an average beer. Not well balanced, it doesn't taste good, and the mouthfeel is a wreck. Obviously, not very drinkable.

0negative

Genesee Cream Ale

Cream Ale

I had heard this was bad stuff, the stuff of legends, almost, so I had to try it. Wow, did this live up to its billing. I was very disappointed with the beer, but not the way it compared to what I had heard. Pours a weak yellow with a big, soapy head that quickly diminishes to a thin ring around the inside of the glass, leaving just a little bit of lace that is spotty at best. There is no aroma to speak of whatsoever. Perhaps, and this is a big perhaps, some corny adjuncts that mix in with a bitter, sour aroma. And even that you have to try hard to find. Taste is the real kicker here. It's awful. No malt. No hops. All sour bitterness. At the beginning it's thin and weak, like water, but then a sudden sour twist grips my tongue and won't let go. Aftertaste is thankfully shortlived, but acerbic. I actually shuddered when the first sip went down, and not in a good way. Force fed myself the rest of this. Mouthfeel was flat and watery and burned like acid on my tongue. If this was the last thing on the face of the planet, I'd quit drinking beer.

0negative

Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Pours a reddish hued copper color with a thin fizzy white head that fell quickly away to light lacing. Appearance is reminiscent of that of a thin, watery maple syrup as far as coloration is concerned. Aroma is fruits and wheat, as one would expect, somewhat citrusy with a slightly earthy undertone lingering in there somewhere as well. Taste is tart and tangy, mainly of cranberry, some melon like flavor mixed with somewhat sweetly bitter aftertaste, fades quickly, much weaker wheat flavor than the aroma exhibits. Wheat is still present in the taste, but fades in after the cranberry tang attacks your mouth. I honestly expected much more from this brew in many ways, smells much better than it tastes. Mouthfeel is far from what it could be, feels overly carbonated and rough on the tongue, and as far as drinkability is concerned, I doubt I will finish this one, or even attempt the second one in this winter mixpack.

0negative

Dundee Original Honey Brown Lager

American Amber / Red Lager

Pours a pale not-at-all-brown with a decent head. Honey sweet and slightly malty smell. Buh, the sweetness is way too much. It's not a natural honey flavor, i.e. Dogfish Midas Touch, either. Just sickly sweet with barely any beer taste. Really horrible syrupy mouthfeel. I couldn't finish my pint.

0negative

DreamWeaver Wheat

Hefeweizen

Presented as a hazy light orange colored beer with white head. Smell is spicy with cloves predominating and a background of lemon. Taste follows throught with the taste of cloves nixed with banana. Mouthfeel is a bit dry for my liking. Overall a good beer.

2positive

Stone Mill Organic Pale Ale

English Pale Ale

Pours orange with a beige head that remains stiff and wet and leaves plenty of lace on the glass. Very little aroma. Flat, with a fishy, oily taste like liquid childrens vitamins. Name of beer and brewery evoke bucolic images, but this beer is more rusty than rustic--something a shepherd might enjoy in the absence of the real thing.

0negative

Karl May Jubilaums Pils

German Pilsener

This is one of the best Biers youll never drink. Unfortunately you cant find this one other than in a limited area. This is a first for me: A brewery that brews 4 different PILS!!! Glckauf is definitely something spezial in this reich but I couldnt wait to see the differences. Two of them I had trouble distinguishing the differences, both were fantastic regardless of there very subtle differences. One is a Krusen Pils and the other was average (as in better than the big guys but not the best). Finally I come to the best Pils in the line up. The Karl May edition. Dont know who Karl May is? Look it up on Dogpile. Interesting history links between the wild west and Germans. The Bier pours a very creamy thick head and leaves lots of lace. Its straw yellow and brilliantly clear. The aroma is of sweet delicate malt and hints of grain. However what you overwhelmingly get in the nose is wonderful spicy, herbal, flowery hop bouquet. Heavenly!!! Very delicate and very balanced. This is a spezial find! The flavor begins upfront with a bitterness that last through to the finish and lingers nicely. I felt like I had a big mouth of hops. I NCREDIBLE!!! The Bier was not overly dry and even had hints of slight sweetness. The soft malt flavor was in perfect balance with the hop bitterness and flowery spiciness. JOB WELL DONE!!!! Too bad I cant buy it in my area. Zum Wohl!!!

2positive

Tikka Gold

German Pilsener

Nice head and lacing. OK, thats about it for positives. Yellow colored, very clear liquid. Not much aroma, citrus flavor (no indication of citrus on the label - but then there isnt much on this label); very crisp, champagne-like carbonation. This is definitely a pilsner but not a very good example.

0negative

B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal-Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Beautiful black color-poured into a DFH snifter-great slight tan head. Deep, deep roasted aroma-somewhat port like. Slight vinuous aroma. Inky, deep flavor. Strong roasted taste as it warms. Flavor continues to improve. An at first perceived harshness is balanced against a stiff, malty and full bodied, deep licorice taste. Velvety and slick mouthfeel. I wasnt impressed at first but over 30 minutes this has really turned into a great, great beer. Killer stuff.

2positive

Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

Pours a pitch black with a creamy off-white head,taste is very caramelly and of semi-sweet chocolate.The taste is roasted and chocolaty with some caramel sweetness almost like a snickers bar but not as sweet there is some nice nuttiness in the background.A real nice beer a liquid dessert.

2positive

AleSmith Decadence 2007 Imperial Porter Barrel Aged

American Porter

750mL bottle, #539, poured into a tulip. Pours dark brown out of the bottle and sits almost completely opaque black in the glass underneath a two-inch fluffy tan head that shows great retention and lacing, especially for a barrel-aged beer. The aroma starts out with a big dose of bourbon and vanilla sweetness. As it warms, the underlying porter starts to show a bit more with dark roasted malts and sweet chocolate. The taste seems to have a heavier dark chocolate presence up front with the roasted malts underneath. The finish is slightly dry with cocoa but is really dominated by the bourbon sweetness as a serious burn in the throat on the way down. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sweet overall with the oak and bourbon really lingering after each sip, like chasing the porter with a shot of bourbon. This is an excellent porter right now with a strong bourbon presence which adds a good bit to the underlying beer. I wasn't the biggest fan of the original Decadence 07, so this is definitely an improvement. That said, in a year or two this thing could be world-class. I hope I get the chance to find out.

2positive

Bolita Brown Double Nut Brown Ale

English Brown Ale

I took an 8oz sample from 1 750ml bottle and poured into snifter on 04/25/2011. Dark brown and black topped by a mocha head. Great retention and good lace. My nose immediately picks up an off flavor- not much else going on here. This is bad. I taste a metallic off flavor, slight malty caramel- a bitterness bites the tongue. An inspection of the bottle shows rust on the cap and on the mouth of the bottle which could explain the bad taste. Full body with decent carbonation. Clearly I had a bad bottle and a definite drain pour. I will try again with another bottle in the future and edit my review.

0negative

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Glassware - Over-sized Brandy Snifter Appearance - Totally opaque black color, no colored highlights, nothing at all. Initially there was a one finger tan colored head, but it didn't last long at all. Lots of nice lacing left on the glass. Better head retention and this would be the perfect looking RIS. Nose - Chocolate, alcohol... and prune juice? It really smells like malta, which is nice when I'm drinking malta... but not a beer like this. I want roasted barley, coffee, chocolate, and all the other great flavors I think of when I think of a RIS. I definitely don't want prune juice. Taste - The taste is a little better than the smell, not as prune-y with more chocolate and some roasted notes in there. Not very complex and not anywhere near the top examples of the style. With each sip the smell bothers me more. The after taste is quite nice but the flavor just isn't there. Huge miss. Mouthfeel - Nice, thicker medium body and nice carbonation. Overall - Unfortunately the appearance and the mouthfeel can't make up for the aroma or taste of this beer. I guess I set my hopes too high, but this one is really bad.

0negative

Best Of Beer Camp: Weizenbock - Beer Camp #37

Weizenbock

Enormous overflowing head, gone three minutes later Cloudy orange highlighted body, one-eighth inch retained head. Sweet malty aromas, and bannana. Above average body and mouthfeel, good weizenbock, some bannana, a little pepper. Above average carbonation.Very drinkable. Drying finish.Beer camp box, a good buy. I had this on tap two months lter, not as good on tap.

2positive

Half-E-Weizen

Witbier

Poured from a bomber into an imperial pint glass. This one is actually the "MoM Hefeweizen" but apparently this is the same beer. It pours a golden color, clear with a small bubbly white head. Not much retention or lacing. The aroma is grassy and earthy, with definite wheat tones. Not much of the coriander or ginger on the nose. The flavor is a little better... I can pick up the coriander in there, and there's a bitter kick to it too that I didn't pick up on the nose. Still nothing that's blowing me away. The mouthfeel is rough to me, don't like the aftertaste at all. All in all, I'm not a fan of this one. Rogue tends to be really hit or miss for me, but this one is a miss. Hopefully my Super Bowl beers go up from here!

0negative

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

American Pale Wheat Ale

Appearance - Very cloudy yellow, good deal of carbonation. Not too appealing. Smell - Grainy smell, pretty faint for the most part. Taste - Wheaty, with an odd aftertaste. Perhaps this is the acidic lemon thats supposed to be in this. Not impressed by this Sam Adams brew--definetely better ones out there. Drinkability - I don't see many positives about this beer and the lemony aftertaste ruins it for me. This tastes more like lemonade and beer.

0negative

110K+OT Batch #4 - Imperial Red Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a tulip. Thanks to bauermj for sharing this bottles. Appearance: A dark, murky, cranbeery liquid enters my tulip with a good amount of thickness and viscosity for an amber. A medium thickness tan head rests on top, leaving some lace behind on the glass. Smell: The aroma is full of caramel and amber malts. VERY sweet, with some resiny pine and a bit of grapefruit bitterness hiding in the background. Taste: This is supposed to be a hopped up amber ale, but all I get is a sweet, syrupy malt bomb. Tons of amber malt impart a malty sweetness, and there is a good amount of caramel and toffee as well. Toward the end some pine and even less grapefruit hops step in, but they cannot prevent the malt tsunami from totally wrecking my palate. A bit of ethyl alcohol lets me up the ABV is up there. Mouthfeel: This has a full body, with creamy carbonation with a little bite. There is a little heat from the obvious alcohol, and it is syrupy-sticky. Overall: Batch 4 is an even bigger culprit of being a malt bomb than Batch 3. It just is not that good. After having enough to sample, everyone thought better of it and dumped the rest of the glass.

0negative

Lion Imperial Premium Malt Pilsner

Euro Strong Lager

Pours a dark golden yellow with a thin bubbly white head that quickly disappears leaving no retention, lacing and moderate carbonation. The nose consists of some sweet malts (honey comes to mind), some grains and alcohol. the taste starts out with a strong sweet honey taste and than the alcohol hits hard. I can barely taste the hops in this beer. This beer has too much sweetness to it that leaves a bad aftertaste. Mouthfeel is smooth, but semi-dry and overall this beer has no balance and not much to offer in a beer. This is a drain pour beer, not something I would expect from Ceylon/Lion Brewery.

0negative

High Tide Fresh Hop IPA

American IPA

Pours a hazy straw orange with a pillowy white head. Gigantic citrusy grapefruit hops. Sharp, crisp, delicious. This is exactly what an IPA should taste like. Tastebuds? Screw your tastebuds. Great carbonation adds to the crisp hop finish. This is exactly what I look for in an IPA

2positive

Kingfisher Premium Lager

American Pale Lager

I look at the bottle and I see India's Premium Lager. I can't say that I was thinking to myself, "Man this thing is going to be awesome" Aroma is skunky and just plain awful. Taste, although crisp and slightly pleasant is overall pretty dull. It's got corn, malt and then a horribly bitter aftertaste. I don't recommend this on to anyone.

0negative

Éphémère (Apple)

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

A - Bright yellow with a huge white head that retained quite well S - Apples, not much of anything else T - I have no idea here. It smells like apples, but tastes like nothing. Despite the low ABV, it has quite a nasty alcoholic taste M - Well carbonated, almost too much. Light in body D - Not a beer I would ever drink again. I used to hate fruit beers and this is a prime example of why. Vile swill.

0negative

Choklat

American Double / Imperial Stout

Wow, I do not understand this beer's 'A' rating at all. Appearance: Opaque black, as you might suspect, with a minimal head that disappears almost entirely after a minute or so. Smell: Powdered malt-drink (Ovaltine), generic chocolate, over-ripe bananas and some smoke. Taste: Cheap milk chocolate and that's about it; not nearly as rich as I'd hoped and extremely one-dimensional. It's also nothing near as sweet as the various iterations of Bourbon County Stout. Mouthfeel: Very thin for an 11% stout. After the initial taste of chocolate passes it's like swallowing water. Probably the most underwhelming beer I've had in the last 12 months. What an absolute fucking disappointment. I bought a bottle of Oat at the same time so hopefully that's a little better, though I'm not optimistic. Bah.

0negative

Black Forest India Pale Ale

American IPA

Sample at the brewpub: Hazy yellow-gold color with a thin white head and stringy lacing. Citrusy hops aroma with an underlying fruity sweetness. Medium-bodied and quite hoppy with some citrus and malt flavor thrown in. The finish is moderately bitter with a lingering hoppiness. Pretty good from start to finish.

2positive

Boddingtons Pub Ale

English Pale Ale

A typical nito-can display when poured. Substantial, long-lived and creamy soft head. Smell is gentle with what strikes me as a whiff of Juicy Fruit gum (?!) in there. Undistinguished gentle taste. Some bitterness that lingers for a bit, but otherwise quite unremarkable. Everything about this beer is soft. No. Not soft. Whimpy. Utterly limp. This is a beer that can't be bothered so neither can I. I pass.

0negative

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

I already reviewed this beer and my comments on the various components of the SNPA experience remain the same. It seems like every time the subject of beer comes up I always go to SNPA as a year-round "can't miss" and I have repeatedly described it to anyone who would listen as "overall, the best beer in the world". Taking into account quality, price, consistency and availability - I still hold this statement to be true (given my limited experience). Therefore, I think that this beer belongs in my very limited pantheon of "5's". If one would like to split hairs, I would give it somewhat less than a 5 in every category except taste and drinkability but, as a man in love, I say to you - "I don't care, she's perfect!"

2positive

Gulden Draak (Dark Triple)

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Brought back from Brussels. BB: 30/03/06 Pouring from the faux-ceramic white bottle with the strangely Asian-looking black label, Draak poured beautifully into my abbey-style glass, revealing an extrememly rich-toned beer. At first I seen light ruby, and a dark brown with hints of red, with the slightest touch of light orange.Thick, sedimentary and caramel-thick in body-appearance. A mocha-coloured head formed, which was solid and thick, but was not very consistent throughout my drinking it. Swirling the glass from time to time kept it creamy. Patchy lace, sticky but not screening the glass. The aroma is rather complex, with dark mustiness and phenols dominating. Dark fruits, richly sweet malt. Hints of licorice and leather, horehound, medicinal syrup. Prunes and dates also were quite easy to smell. Initially, the aroma with the glass a good distance from my nose was mouthwatering fruitiness; in closer, the alcohol is immediately evident. Later I sense sourdough and sharp blue cheese. Beastly malt, huge alcohol, and yeast. The flavour at first was metallic, like iron, followed by intense fruit like a cherry brandy, or mollasses. A finish of yeast and oiliness, the everpresent alcohol, and a great deal of bitterness for me. The aftertaste is initially all sweetness, but after a few seconds it leaves the throat very dry and dusty-feeling, which is why I rated mouthfeel and drinkability quite low. The feeling left in my mouth disappointed me: alcohol combined with extreme must is far too dry; mouth-puckering muskiness. Dry tannins as in a rich red wine. This beer literally seemed to purge all saliva from my mouth, and I could actually feel my glands pumping to hydrate my mouth. For me personally, this greatly reduces is drinkability value. Others may not have the same experience. The least taste is in the middle, though it remains full-bodied and resiny. Oily yet gaseous in the mouth. The lees were less sweet, with a strong iron taste. I enjoyed this beer up until the mouth could not handle the dry dustiness. Too much alcohol in the character of it.

0negative

Hop Rod Rye

Rye Beer

The beer poured crystal clear deep amber with a yellow, moussy and everlasting head which laced the glass from top to bottom. The aroma was malty and hoppy with citrus and fruity aromas and rye. The flavor was malty with a slickness from the rye and a substantial bitterness that shines through the flavors. The bittering and maltiness along with the mouthfeel work together to keep the beer from becoming overly bitter or overly sweet. The finish was dry with a pleasant yet muted hop bitterness lasting into the aftertaste. The body was medium, actually just a bit more, but not quite medium full. A great beer! 22 ounce bottle.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Pours a golden yellow color with one finger of fluffy head that lingers a long time. Great hoppy aroma with some sweet malt notes in the background. The hop aroma is crisp and piney. Taste starts out right up front with a nice, medium body and a touch of sweetness before the hops just blow everything else away. While bitter, it is in no way harsh or unpleasant, helped out by good carbonation and a nice crispness that really brings the flavor out and intensifies the aroma. Finish is lingering with a earthy bitterness. One of my favorite Pales.

2positive

Rainier Ale

American Malt Liquor

Bought the sixer while drunk, only because it looked comically bad. The can says copyright Rainier Brewing Company, Irwindale, CA, but I'm 0% surprised to discover an association to G. Heileman. It looks ok in a glass, but smells like my grandparents' old recycle bin, full of Special Export empties. Or a derivative of any of their other swills. It claims to be an ale, but definitely has a malt liquor taste and feel. If you really like Mickey's or Steel Reserve, but are on a budget, grab yourself an ice cold Rainier. Otherwise, stay away.

0negative

Kriekbier

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Kriekbier was served from a 375ml corked (2002) and caged bottle which was wrapped in decorative paper. In a Duvel tulip, the beer was an attractive mahogany-like warm reddish-orange brown color, and was topped by a thin white head that quickly disapated into a ring form. The nose packed a wallop of juicy, musty, tart cherry that carried a bit of nutmeg spice and twinge of apple cider vinegar. I found it to be deep in pleasant subtleties found underneath the cherry bang by slowly pulling in long whiffs. On the palate, a wooden, lightly musty sour cherry complex rises up, only to be countered shortly after by a pronounced but balanced sweetness. The tartness then came back as the sweetness piddled out, ending up in a loosely defined oakey drier tart finish that left lingering black cherry essence. While the overall flavor wasn't as "wild" or developed as it could have been, it was especially tasty (if you don't view a little transitory sweetness as a negative) and had a very nice flow. The body was superbly smooth and full, and the fine fluffy carbonation presented the flavors quite well. All of this made for a very drinkable, refreshing, and satisfying beverage.

2positive

100% Barrel Fermented Autumn Maple

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Pours a dark brown. CAnt' see through glass. Very little head. Smells slightly tart/funky, with the familiar autumn maple sweet base coming through. No spices in nose. Interesting. I would haven't have thought it was possible to mask that aspect of the base beer. Taste is all over the place. The brett is strangling and overpowering, and the sweet, yammy, oak-y undercurrent is fighting for air. I'm not too sure this beer is really in harmony. The brett is like a sledgehammer. I'm struggling to cut through it. Mouthfeel is good for the style.

0negative

Old Heathen Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a snifter. No freshness date or batch number. Much thanks to Jredner for this sample!!! Pours a very inky black color with a nice one inch thick tan head. No lacing whatsoever. Lots of dark fruit smells, especially prunes and a faint hint of alcohol. Decent taste lots of roasted malts, ends with some dark fruit flavors and some bitterness. The alcohol is hidden quite well in the taste. Mouthfeel is quite thin and a little chalky. Overall a good example of a Russian Imperial Stout. My first brew from Weyerbacher, and I'm anxious to try more. Recommended.

2positive

Uff-da

Bock

This is maybe the worst beer I have ever had. I have been getting into Bock beers recently and thought this might be really good. Recenlty I have enjoyed La Rossa, Big Butt Doppelbock, Amstel Bock and Huber Bock. This beer smelled and tasted like Worcestershire sauce. My wife described the smell as sweet, like urine and after prompting, like Worcestershire sauce. Prior to drinking this beer I had a Berghoff Pale Ale which was great, a Berghoff Octoberfest which was pretty good. After the Uff-da I had a Hacker Pschorr Weisse which was very good but somewhat ruined by the aftertaste of the Uff-da. I have read other reviews of this beer and none of them describe my experience so maybe I got a glass from a bad barrel or something.

0negative

Blue Moon Spring Blonde Wheat Ale

American Pale Wheat Ale

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a wheat beer glass. This? This is a wheat beer of some sort? There's nothing appearance-wise to seperate this from macro lager 52. Clear golden color, three fingers of white dense head that quickly fades, all that stuff. The aroma? Ugh. No. How does this smell so awful? It's basically just a super-cheap aroma. Hints of wheat, Pledge, and something that might have once passed for hops. The taste on this? Corn. Honey. Sticky-sweetness. It's passable, but just barely. I wouldn't really like another. The mouthfeel is thankfully thin, and the drinkability is alright. This is not a good beer. This is not a good beer at all. I'm fairly fond of the base Blue Moon, and Pale Moon is alright, but their seasonals aren't really all that great.

0negative

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

apearance was nice but god, the smell! Completely over the top cherry cough syrup smell. Not a hint of wheat that I could discern. Taste was a little more pleasing but still oh so heavy on the cherries. This was closer to some kind of carbonated flavored mixed drink from smirnoff than it was to a beer. Taste wasn't terrible but so sweet that I'd never want to drink more.

0negative