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Boddingtons Pub Ale

English Pale Ale

This beer pours well and leaves a solid head. It lacks a bit in taste as it is slightly watered down. But overall goes down quite smooth. It is deceptively heavier than it tastes and after drinking a few I became quite full.

2positive

XS Old Crustacean

American Barleywine

2000 vintage. Appearance is fairly average, with dark copper coloring and a dark beige frothy head that dissipates quickly. Looks can be deceiving - the aroma is the first clue. It's strong and consists of sweet malt, some hop bitter, and definite alcohol. Then the flavor sucker-punched me in the head. Huge flavor all at once, very rich and malty with a kickin' hop bitter, and an alcohol kick at the back of the tongue. Bitter orange peel aftertaste, with nuances of sweet candy. Tangy alcoholic bitter aftertaste sticks in the back of the throat. Very smooth mouthfeel, low carbonation. Low drinkability due to the wallop that is delivered. This one ended my evening, and then pounded my forehead in the morning.

0negative

Chimay Tripel (White)

Tripel

First impression whow! It almost foamed out of the glass even though it was cold. 1/3 beer 2/3 foam! Very lively and carbonated. Wow, it even has a good head in the bottle after I poured it! Mostly fine bubbles that continuously rise up the side of the glass. Very long lasting head continuously reinforced by the carbonation. This brew has a very light amber color with some particles floating around in it. It also has a very mild aroma that is hard to notice. It reminded me of nothing in particular. The carbonation rolled off my tongue yet the taste was mostly of that carbonation with a mild fore and after taste. I liked the taste though. This is a beer I could get drunk on. Lets see if it has the stomach upsetting qualities that some of the other Chimayan ales have had. Time will tell. GF gave it a 4.1 rating. She said she could drink it all night long. That's a pretty good rating from her!

2positive

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

The label say this IS has 9.2% ABV, it pours super dark and slightly syrupy thick. Very deep brown, along the lines of motor oil. A milked coffee head dissolves quickly but not before leaving some suds everywhere on the sides of the glass. There are traces of several dark fruits like currants and prunes. Slightly earthy roasted malts follow and create a mix of chocolate and coffee scents. Taste is as dark as it looks. Molasses body with a strong roast malt backbone. They must have boiled a gallon of wort down to 12 ounces for each bottle because this one is thick and hearty. The fruits that are present in the nose appear again in the flavor. There is a slightly charred oak finish that is masked with light coffee and chocolate and a thin but durable bitterness. An excellent stout. It's nice to see Sam Adams moving towards a more craft beer market. I've always enjoyed their product before but now with a this husky bodied stout and the imperial pilsner in the lineup, consider me a super fan.

2positive

Merry Monks' Ale

Tripel

Aquired as part of Weyerbacher's Big Beer Variety Pack..no date that I can find. Pours a golden yellow, reminiscent of a Pilsner. Highly carbonated with a white fluffy head. Aromas of Belgian yeast and citrus (lemon?) Corriander stands out to me in the taste, light bodied and crisp. High alcohol is well hidden. Not a bad effort

2positive

Founders Rübæus

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Pours pinkish red with an out of control huge pink/white head. Smells like slightly metallic raspberries. Sorry, can't get into this one. Soda poppy sweet and carbonated, with just a hint of hop character, and some slight interesting sour notes. I was hard pressed to get through 6 oz. of this. Not usually a fruit beer fan, but figured i'd try one from Founder's, a brewery I respect a lot. Thanks to beerpanther, for letting me try a single of this. Won't hold it against the brewery, since i still like most of their offerings, but won't be buying this again. Might be interesting as a mixer with a chocolate stout, for those looking for a dessert beer concoction.

0negative

Founders Devil Dancer

American Double / Imperial IPA

Bottle (2011) Acquired via trade Thanks, MrHirschybar! Clear ruby grapefruit in color with deep, dark auburn edges and a thin khaki colored head that leaves the glass completely sticky and messy with sheets, spots, and lines of lacing. I've never really quite known what people meant when they said their IPA smells like onion, until now! This beer is full of raw onion aroma--not quite enough to make me cry, but, it's starting to feel like I should! There's a bit of earth and grass character as well, along with some garlic, strangely enough, but the onion aroma is certainly dominant. This is drinkable, but hardly. The onion and garlic flavors present again, and those aren't exactly flavors I look for in my DIPAs. The level of bitterness is huge, there's a touch of warming alcohol, though not nearly as much I feared. There's some piney and citrus hop flavors hidden underneath there somewhere...maybe? Medium mouthfeel, oily, with low carbonation. I wish I could bottle the rest of this so my friends could taste how terrible it is. I'm cruel. **If given the chance to try this beer fresh, I will revisit my review, as the bottle I had was about 5 months old.**

0negative

Mortality Stout

Foreign / Export Stout

22 oz. into a tulip/ no freshness date P: Muddy brown from the bottle, sits black in the glass. 1 fingered head is light brown, bubbly & frothy with good retention. Leaves webs of lace behind. A: EEEEWWWW! What in the world is that smell? It's like rotten cheese sitting on top of some roasted malts and chocolate. Plugging my nose as it take a sip... T: Oh my god, it tastes the same! Rotten cheese, soured milk, and some metallic along with roasted malts, chocolate, and some coffee. I don't know what the hell is going on with this beer. The flavors underneath the funk have potential, but that sourness is overpowering and disgusting. M & D: Light-bodied like a lager, bubbly and fizzy with way too much carbonation. Drinkability? 2 sips and down the drain she goes! Notes: I always handwrite my reviews, then enter them into the computer when I have the time. I didn't plan on posting this, as I figured that I must have gotten a bad bottle. But, after reading some other reviews that said the same thing, I decided to go ahead with it. Just plain awful!

0negative

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

12 ounce bottle served chilled into a goblet. Murky honey colour with a tightly laced 2 cm head. Nose is very floral of apricots and apples, but citrus dominates. Clean and crisp in the mouth with plenty of carbonation to fizzle your tongue. Alcohol is barely noticeable. Caramel malt taste becomes evident halfway through the experience, and the hops appear about the same time to balance the predominant fruitiness. Excellent drinkability here, and really no faults. Fortunately, several Unibroue offerings are available at the Liquor Barn stores in Lexington, Ky, so I'm just a 2.5 hour drive away from sampling more of these fine Unibroue products. Trois Pistoles remains my favorite, but this one is an excellent choice as well.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

12 oz. Bigfoot 2006 Expedition poured into a snifter. Amber red appearance with a consitant carbonation that lingers well after pour. Thin khaki colored head that sticks well to the glass. Smell has a strong sweet candy smell with a hoppy undertone. Taste is quite citrusy for a barleywine with a malty carmel background. Mouthfeel is quite chewy/earthy/sticky but I like that about this beer, makes it quite interesting each sip. Drinkability is definitely there for a 9.6 abv. I feel it's quite balanced and Sierra Nevada did an amazing job with this brew. Definitely give it a try. I have another I plan on saving another year if I can contain myself.

2positive

Black Orchard

Belgian Dark Ale

Big thanks to cloudskipper, who picked this one off my wants during the fondly remembered Secret Santa of '08. My first Bruery beer, & I'm looking forward to it. Holy carbonation. Big huge head that needs to be poured very carefully into the glass & keeps right on popping & fizzing like pop rocks in soda for a good long time. Initial smell out of the bottle isn't very appealing, but it settles into a nice nose of blended spices. OK. It's hard to get past the overcarbonation, causing the beer to jump & dance & shake its pants all over inside my mouth at every sip. Very distracting, & not appetizing. Trying to get beyond that aspect, this doesn't taste unlike a New Glarus Black Wheat that somebody mixed a mash of spices into. But they're hard to pick out over the roar of the bubbles popping atop the brew. Definitely get the wheat backing... Man, I just can't get past the carbonation; glancing at several other reviews this seems common, & people don't seem to mind. Not I. I'm pretty sure there's a pretty good beer lurking underneath, but I'm going to have to give this one a frowny face.

0negative

Big Flats 1901

American Adjunct Lager

Pours a crstal clear lighter-than-straw yellow with 3 fingers of foamy head and no lacing. Barely any color at all. The aroma is corn heavy with a pleasant earthy tone and hints of citrus. Clove, pineapple, and watermelon rind deep in the background. Not a bad aroma for the style, actually. The flavor is incredibly musty. This one was served at higher than cellar temp so I think some cold might have masked the mustiness a bit. But I want to taste the beer, so I chose to serve it this way. After a few sips, the watermelon notes begin to peek out ever so slightly, as well as some banana peel. Then, after a few more sips, it begins to just taste like water. Typical flavor profile of the style. The body is light, perhaps medium for the style. Carbonation is a tad stinging. Overall this beer is exactly what you would expect for the price. Not much. But screw it, its Walgreens beer so kick back your feet, pound a sixer, and enjoy a taste of corporate America.

0negative

Neuschwansteiner

Munich Helles Lager

Bought as part of a 3 bottle pack from the Control Board in Ontario. Pours a clear straw yellow with huge white head and some nice lacing. Smells of grassy hops with some grainy malts. Flavour has a mild bitterness, but some good sweetness. Very smooth mouthfeel. A really nice lager.

2positive

2XIPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

A- Clear gold, 1 finger head, good retention and lacing. Looks good, pretty pale, nothing too exciting. S- Grassy, Piney, citrusy, very inviting ! T- Spicy ! smooth and complex hop flavor ! M- Medium body, good carbonation. D- I'll have another please ! Great stuff, very very enjoyable !

2positive

Stag

American Adjunct Lager

I ordered this beer only because I had never had one before and wanted to try something new. I knew I was in trouble when the waiter brought a can of beer that just said "Stag Beer". Can't get any more generic than that. No indication of any specific style of beer, just plain ol' beer. I later found out it was made the PBR people which explaines why it taste like a PBR. The beer did have good color and lots of impressive white foamy head when poured into a frosted pint glass. Unfortunately, this beer is all looks and no taste. In fact, it tastes like someone waved some hops over carbonitated water and called it beer. If you like PBR, you will love this beer. If you like beer, don't order this beer.

0negative

Imperial Porter (Brewmaster Series)

American Porter

Aromas are full of dark roasted and sweet brown sugar/caramel malty character. Slight mild boozy character is also present but the dark grains really own this show. The taste is loaded with lots of delicious toasted malts, roasted coffee grains and dark bitter chocolaty malt notes. It also has plenty of sweet brown sugar and caramel maltiness. I cannot detect any significant hop profile or alcohol taste but you can "tell" that they are there. On the palate it has a nice full body and firm texture with mellow carbonation. Overall this was a very tasty and nicely complex Porter. I would defiantly buy this again or recommend it, especially because of the extremely reasonable $4 price point for a 22 oz. bomber. Long Trail is the best valued beers in the country to my knowledge, everyone take advantage.

2positive

Blue Moon Belgian White

Witbier

Pours a hazy pale yellow body, with a frothy white head. Aroma of cloves, citrus and lemon. Light bodied, smooth mouthfeel. Taste of cloves, some spice, some tartness and ends dry. A pretty good product from Coors. Has ok flavour, easy drinking and a decent wit when nothing else is around.

2positive

Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Got this as part of a Shelton "Christmas in Belgium" gift pack. Appearance is a slightly muddy, opaque dark brown. Nice tan head which dissipates quickly, leaving nice lacing on the surface. Aroma is subtle but wonderful. Some fruits with chocolaty notes, also strong yeast in the nose. A very nice combination. Tast follows suit, with only the slightest hint of alcohol. A little bit of bite in the finish, which may be hops or may be spices. There is a lingering dryness to the finish. This may not be the best BSDA i have had, but it's very, very good. I would definitely buy more if I find it again.

2positive

Original Oettinger Export

Dortmunder / Export Lager

Poured from tall boy. Appearance: A darker yellow with 1/3 inch head. Smell: Floral and slight malty smell. Taste: Hops, that is all. Could have a more balanced taste too. Mouthfell: Watery. Overall: An acceptable beer for BBQ's but not much else. I was dissapointed because from the pour and smell it looked like it might be good. Too bad.

0negative

Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat

Witbier

Poured a golden color. Smells of pine mixed with something sweet but not sure what, no hint of fruit so far. It does not taste like a wheat at all. more like a bad IPA. Way to much hop, No fruit taste at all and finishes very dry. Very carbonated and dry is how this one feels. Unbearable I didn't even finish one. Simply awful.

0negative

Celts Golden Ale

American Blonde Ale

Purchased from Whole Foods in Los Altos, CA. Pours, indeed, a golden colour, but surprisingly hazed, with a filmy white head that forms into a ring. Very light body, and no lacing. Carbonation forms in pleasantly fine bubbles at least. Otherwise, it's a pretty average looking beer. Nose is wheaty, with a green twinge suggesting grass in the rain. Slight apricot hints to it, but these are mild. Not bad, but all a bit thin and insipid. Taste is extremely empty. A hint of damp, flat grain around the edges, but otherwise non-existent. It's almost adjuncty in its complete absence of flavour. A very faint, hollow and echoey bitterness at the end, that's almost no different from the bitterness at the back of a sip of soda water. Very poor. Empty, and bland as hell. An "ale that complements all occasions"? God, you must have a boring life, Moylans.

0negative

Hop Rod Rye

Rye Beer

Wow, what took me so long to try this. Pours a nice two inch head into my chalice, brown sugar colored foam and rich dark brown body. Smell the malty richness with pine needle accents. Taste is very complex for this rich IPA. Malty carmel not any rye bread taste, thankfully, but bread like as far as the body of this beer goes. A wonderful hop sandwich with a suntan. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodies, better than a stout. Overall one of my favorite American IPA and certaijnly challenges Arrogant Bastard for best in show. WIll be seeking this one out for future mini sessions.

2positive

Mastra Negra

American Stout

Got this bottle (BBE 21 aug 09)somewhere in Colonia de Sacremento, Uruguay a couple days ago and am having it in my apt here in Buenos Aires now. Poured with a tan head that almost totally faded, no lace. Decent aroma: dark malt, roasty, a hint smokey. Flavor's off though, turning sour. And that's not helped by the thin body. Finish is dominated by sour. Not going to finish the beer.

0negative

Dark Star Lager

American Amber / Red Lager

This is listed on the beer menu as a Munich Dunkel Lager. A - Poured a almost black color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind S - Is faint and not too good smells of raisins, feet, and malt T - Things don't really improve here at all weird feet and malt flavors M - This beer has a very thin and watery body with medium carbonation to it D - I could barely finish my whole pint of this stuff the only good thing about the beer was that it looked like a dunkel stay away from this one.

0negative

Black Bear XX Stout

Foreign / Export Stout

A: Real nice dark with an impressive tan head. S: Quite hoppy and appealing. Nothing special though. T: Very good. Heavy on the hops on the way in with nice yet faint cocoa taste on the way down. I love it! M: Smooth and low on carbonation. D: Excellent. Goes down great. It is a bit heavy, so not the beer to drink all night. Overall: I really enjoyed Black Bear XX. It's very dark and appealing and the taste is wonderful! Best aspect of this beer is the mouth feel. It's incredibly smooth and goes down as such. If you're ever in Portland, this is a must have beer!

2positive

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen

Rauchbier

After pouring you get a BIG smoke aroma, almost too overpowering. Nice dark roasted color, minimal head. I like wheat beers but this tasted nothing like the German wheats I have had, Can't taste the honey, banana or fruits associated with wheat beers. Imagine eating a piece of hickory jerky and swishing it down with an average lager... yum

0negative

Thirteen

American Double / Imperial Stout

Thank'n paulthebeerguru for the opportunity to consider this one!!! Pours an opaque darkness with a big loose foamy dark brown head that fades to cover the surface, leaving spotty patterns of Belgian lacing in it's wake. The smell is altogether aggressive and has a really wonderful mix of that chalky, ever-so-lightly roasted malt NECCO chocolate and a boozy barrel aged berry-vanilla character. After that there's no doubt where this one's going. The complexity and variation of the aroma as it warms is noteworthy. Coming out of the chill the mouth is incredibly creamy. Full bodied, with that killer 'coating' thing going on. As it warms more and more boozy notes are unveiled. Full flavored, the chocolate-berry taste is best with the slight chill. A bourbon thing begins to take over as it warms...so i appreciated the beginning of the bottle a bit more (note to self). A really easy drinker; the 13.4% ABV is a player without being distracting. Best consumed with a slight chill...i usually leave the second pour out..but in this case i would throw the second serving back into the frig. I'm a big fan of double stouts. This one has a bit more complexity than Alesmith Speedway...otherwise i would rank these neck-and-neck, even though they are really different interpretations of the style. Highly recommended.

2positive

Old Herb Barleywine

American Barleywine

Bottle # 115 Appearance: hazy deep amber reddish color, minimal head with spotty lacing Smell: Sweet caramel malt upfront, bready. red fruit aromas, perhaps pomegranate, feint alcohol smell at the end taste: sweet candy, caramel or toffee, malt, quite sweet flavor, very feint bitterness on the finish. alcohol flavor was present but not overwhelming. It gets more boozy as it warms up. Feel: Very smooth and creamy and sticky on the finish. Medium bodied. Almost no bitterness at all. Well carbonated. Overall: Very drinkable beer for the ABV. Its very sweet, a little too sweet for me but I wouldn't turn it down if it was offered. Good beer

2positive

Tiger Beer

American Adjunct Lager

Picked this one up pretty much to just finish filling a 6 pack up. Mostly this beer is like many other lagers. I'm sure it's got hops, barley and malts in it but to what extreme are they putting in? Anyway the beer is pee yellow with very little head. The aroma is mostly malt no hop aroma unfortunately. This beer is rather bland, with something as wild as a tiger on the label should this brew be a little more aggressive?

0negative

Abbaye Des Rocs [Brasserie Des Rocs Brune]

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Abbaye des Rocs and it rocks! This is a great beer. Pours a deep, dark amber color into my goblet and creates a very thick off white head. The boquet is complex, very malty and earthy. Very inviting, I can already tell its going to be a good one! Taste is also rich and earthy. It is spicy, estery, very smooth with a hint of nutmeg. This one gets nicer as it warms. A swirl in the mouth wakes up every point of the palate. This is a very complex brew. Mouthfeel is thick and coating, a bit syrupy. Warms as it goes down, the alcohol is in there but not overbearing. So sad that I only bought one of these, I could definitely drink a couple more.

2positive

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

I was really disapointed with this beer. I was told from a good beer friend how good it was and I was expecting much more from it. It looks good, smells like spicey and fruits, tastes like it smells and has 10x the carbonation it actually needs. Most will disagree but they are my taste buds, not yours.

0negative

Founders Blushing Monk

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

22oz into a pint glass, this is the 9.2% 2011 batch. Pours a rich purple, with a pinkish purple head. No lacing or legging as the brew is drank down. A beautiful and unique looking beer to say the least. The color of the head honestly looked artificial to me. The smell was airy sweet raspberries. A little bit of raspberry bubble gum, raspberry pie and ice cream in there. Basically a sweet wheat beer with a huge dose of raspberry syrup. Your palate is bombarded with raspberries. Opens up and closes with a nice, delicious raspberry flavor that doesn't end while coating your mouth with it's juicy fruit flavor. A little bit of that bubble gum raspberry flavor, and a hint at the base beer which is kind of a witbier like flavor. No real detection of the Belgian yeast due to the concentration of raspberry flavor. Mouthfeel is full with spotty carbonation. Sticky and sweet. Absolutely no detection of alcohol what so ever. An onslaught of real raspberry flavor that seems never ending. Something I wish more brewers would do, but I think they are deterred from fruit beers because the category is sort of a guilty pleasure among most serious beer drinkers. A very unique beer to say the least, glad I tried it.

2positive

Tröegs Nugget Nectar

American Amber / Red Ale

Another great hop fix. Nectar is an appropriate name for this I2PA. Appearance: Amber / Red with 3mm of head on the poor and nice lacing throughout. The carbonation was evident as small bubbles were rising up. Smell: Hoppy - grapefruit, pine and perhaps some sugar. A nice, but not overly sweet aroma. Taste: Whether you call it an America Amber / Red Ale or an Imperial IPA, it is nectar from the gods. Delicious and well balanced from start to finish with little to no typical hops bitterness I have come to expect from BIG I2PAs. Mouth: Light with ever present carbonation to tickle your tongue. Drinkability: Not much I can say here beside, "can I have another?" Absolute Nectar. I would love to try this on-tap or in cask condition. "Nectar"

2positive

Coopers Draught

American Adjunct Lager

I am not as pessimisstic as others about thisone. I like the light colour and the bubblesseemparticularly large . True it is unexceptional and boring but it does have a hint of nutty flavour in there .It softens in the mouth and whilst far from impressive it rates above many popular brews

0negative

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock

Bock

From bottle. On the light side fo medium brown, very clean and clear when held to light, thin head, good lacing. Can't smell much of anything, even after repeated attempts. A wee little hint of malt is all. Bitter chocolate, maple, clean, smooth, balanced and rich. Very nice. A hint of fizz, creamy. Feels fuller than 5.5%. Intruiging and rich. Though low abv, it still is one to savor. Good beer, but for $15, it is way overpriced.

2positive

Trade Winds Tripel

Tripel

Very Belgian appearance with a large head above a bright orange body. Spicing and fruit in the nose, with butter and popcorn as well. Flavor seems very incomplete and very sweet and it's just absolutely loaded with diacetyl. Has some nice elements to it, but sucks overall.

0negative

Colt 45 Malt Liquor

American Malt Liquor

A: Pale yellow with a big bubble head. S: Sweet malt and cheap grain. Boozy smell. T: Pretty harsh despite more malt that I had expected. Warming alcohol in the finish. Some bitterness from slight hops. M: Harsh considering the malty backbone. O: This stuff has one use, to get smashed right out of the 40 ounce bottle and that's about all that it's good for.

0negative

Purple Haze

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

10oz draft on tap at Old Chicago A: Looks like your typical wheat beer - hazy, golden-orange body with a thin white head; head retention is surprisingly minimaland there is little lacing. Looks average to be honest... S: Not much on the nose other than some musky wheat notes. Maybe the fact that this came in a chilled mug explains why the nose seems so dull. Just a faint expression of raspberry in the nose. Defintely was expecting more of a fruit presence here. T: Slightly tart raspberry taste up front, but any raspberry flavors quickly fade to nothing but typical grainy/cereal-like wheat flavors. What raspberry that is there is really artificial tasting and kind of chalky - reminds me of the berry flavor in chewable kids vitamins. M: Kind of chalky and slightly watery. D: Eh. Not really one that I enjoyed, but I manned up and finished off the mug of this swill. Good thing it was a draft special and it was cheap, so I don't feel quite as bad about wasting my money. The fruit presence in this beer was too fake/artificial tasting and the base wheat beer itself wasn't anything to call home about. Can't say I'll approach this one again.

0negative

Best Of Beer Camp: Double IPA - Beer Camp #29

American Double / Imperial IPA

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. Golden yellow with portions of amber color; good clarity on this one. Off white colored head doesn't stick around too too long, but it leaves some excellent lacing. As most Double IPAs hops dominate the smell. This Beer Camp Double IPA does an excellent job representing the style. More citrus than pine on this one. Some of the more sweeter citrus aromas. Smells clean and crisp as well. Taste is also good. Citrus hops come out at you, the strongest part, but not overwhelming. Like the smell the sweeter citrus notes come at you, more tangerine and orange than grapefruit but all are present. Very zesty, but pine also detectable. Not an overly powerful malt backbone but present. Mouthfeel is very good. Light in body, but well balanced and respectable in complexity. Very clean bitter finish from the hops and a lingering warmth aftertaste. A very drinkable beer. Not bad at 8.5% ABV, very drinkable in that aspect, good all around beer. I like this one, but out of all this years BeerCamp beers, Juniper Black takes the cake in my opinion.

2positive

Genesee Ice Beer

American Adjunct Lager

Picked this up shopping for Woody, can't send it out without a proper test. Poured from the can to a tulip(everything looks better in one), a perfectly clear amber with a decent foam for a head. As the head shrunk down it did leave some nice lacing, after it finally settled out the head wasn't much more than a decent film concentrated at the edges. Deep breathes were taken but all I could pull from this was alcohol, which was very astringent. A later inhale pulled cooked broccoli. Taste, well that was different than the nose for sure, a very thin sweetness, cooked corn, and the alcohol again. Mouthfeel as to be expected is about the same as water, highly carbonated prickles the tongue on every sip. Drinkability this is just a notch above awful I'm sure if they were ICE cold and I had spent 8 hours at the beach I'd be happy for one but this is just a $3.50 6 pack to get loaded on. I'll pass.

0negative

Benediction Ale

Dubbel

Wow. Hmmm. Not sure what to make of this. Pours blood orange with a light head that laces down the glass. Smells and tastes quite sour. So much so it's like a sour ale than a Belgian. Mouthfeel. Hmm. Did I say sour? It's sour with an almost metallic taste, like a recently polished fork. I wouldn't recommend it unless you like, uh, SOUR. Maybe I need to age this for 4-5 years?

0negative

Big Flats 1901

American Adjunct Lager

Can courtesy of BeerFMAndy. This is how he repays me for sharing sours all the time? Thanks friend. Poured into a tulip. A: Crystal clear pale yellow. Three fingers of white head fill the top half of my glass then fade away rather quick. Just a tiny smattering a soapy lace remains. S: Sweet grains, grassy, sour malt. Smells like a weak malt liquor. T: The flavors are fairly mild but nowhere near good. Faint hops, mildly tart malt, grass clippings, cooked vegetables. Pretty standard for the style. M: Light body with biting carbonation. O: It's an AAL. Just as shitty as the rest of em.

0negative

Orval Trappist Ale

Belgian Pale Ale

I was highly anticipating trying Orval after having tried all the other Trappists (except Westvleterten) and thoroughly enjoying them. The appearance was nice and the foamy thick head looked like laundry detergent. The smell, however, was quite off-putting. I'm all for unique beers but the smell reminded me of walking into a doctor's office. There was a faint smell of grapefruit but I mostly smelled what others have noted - hay, horse blanket, medicinal, and as one other reviewer noted, "stale urine.". These are not exactly welcoming smells. Just because something has an identifiable smell (like horse blanket) does not mean its pleasurable. The taste was extremely sour and tart, astringent even, and was very dry. This was not a drinkable beer for me. I'm wondering if the high scores on BA are attributable to the reputation and history of Orval. I appreciate good beer, and maybe my palate is just not as evolved as others for a beer like this, but I can't put Orval in the same class as Rochefort or Chimay.

0negative

Mother Of All Beers

Quadrupel (Quad)

Thanks to cquiroga for sharing this epic beer at the RBSG 08 Grand Tasting. Pours a dark brown color with a dense tan head that leaves thick lacing. Aromas of raisins, oxidized apples, caramel. Primarily dark fruit flavor with fig and raisin. Also some candi sugar, vanilla, and caramel which make this beer rather sweet. Spicy fruity alcohol in the finish. Full bodied and warming.

2positive

California Ale

California Common / Steam Beer

Shared w/ mjyoung A - Cloudy copper color with foamy, white colored head. S - Dominated by fruity aroma with citrus hops and toasted grains smell on the side. T - Mild flavors of yeast, cereal, and sweet malt. Ends on a slightly hoppy note. More flavorful than the well known Anchor Steam. M - High amount of carbonation. Medium bodied. Not bad at all. O - One of the better California commons out there. Definitely recommend a try.

2positive

Mothership Wit (Organic Wheat Beer)

Witbier

Pours a strange yellow/green color with a light head and minimal lacing. Smells overwhelmingly of clove. Taste is overwhelmed by clove and grapefruit. Mouthfeel is average. This beer is missing what I love in a wheat beer. I will not be buying this one again.

0negative

Sternquell Pils

German Pilsener

Canned. It probably would have been better closer to the source. Had it at a slightly warmer temperature than it should have been, but got the jist of the flavours. Watery with some barley sweetness, and light grassy hops, a bit uninteresting, i actually expected worse.

0negative

Southampton Saison

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Damn Kev, way to bust this one out! 750mL bottle poured into a snifter. It pours a hazy medium apricot color with four huge fingers of white foam. There is lots and lots of sticky lacing left all over the glass. The smell is citrusy and kinda funky. There's a good dose of lemon juice and some peppery spices. A great blend of aromas. The taste has a sweet start, with some orange and white grape. There's that bit of tart flavor in the middle that is far from offensive. Very spritzy and alive. One more flavor in there I just can't pick out, but it's flawless. The mouthfeel is incredibly thick and heavy, yet smooth. The drinkability is fantastic. This beer is damn near flawless. Thanks again Kev.

2positive

Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

American Porter

Looks like porter, dark brown heading toward black with a decent sized head on top of it. The smell is big on the vanilla, to the detriment of almost everything else. The flavour on it is also aggressively heavy on the vanilla, very syrupy sweet, sugary vanilla at that, to the point where most of the rest of the beer's flavour seems to get lost in the process. There is a vague coffee backbone to this, but the vanilla makes it hard to taste. The mouthfeel is about average for the style. The drinkability, not too good...perhaps a small glass after dinner, but more than that? Definitely not something you could drink more than one of. The bottom line: flavoured beers like this tread a fine line, and Atwater goes too far into the vanilla territory for me, as that flavour dominates the rest of the beer and destroys any other porter characteristics. Not my favourite version of the style.

0negative

Ryan Sullivan's Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

The name seems to have changed to "Ryan Sullivan's", at least according to my bottle. Not sure why this is. Pours a solid black with just a hint of amber at the edges. Nice fluffy tan head and good lacing. Great nose with chocolate, roasted coffee and toffee combining with some good hops in the background. Taste is nicely complex with a roasted coffee, milk chocolate and mild dark fruit flavor and just a hint of alcohol. Very nice. Mouthfeel is rich and creamy; nice medium carbonation. A very drinkable stout. Not in the upper echelon of RIS I have had but a darn good one. HV

2positive

Skinny Dip

American Blonde Ale

pours a clear gold with a 1 finger white head that leaves spotted lacing down the glass smells of grassy hops with sour malts taste - sour malts and grassy hops but with a very old mothball taste along with a metalic aftertaste - not good mouthfeel is very light with decent carbonation drinkability is poor due to the taste - sure at 4% you could pound these all day but the flavor kills that idea - why torture yourself i have yet to find an american blonde ale that i enjoyed and i doubt i ever will

0negative

Grand Cru Winter Reserve

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

God bless $2 domestic/craft bottle night at O'Neals in Philly. Flying Fish has truly outdone themselves with this sweet, smooth, and creamy little number designed for the colder winter months. Although lacking somewhat in carbonation, the sweet cinnamon/nutmeg flavor and rich mouthfeel of Grand Cru make it hard to stop drinking once you've started. The semi-fruity finish (which may sound overbearing) is actually a pleasant compliment. This is also a beer that loses absolutely no taste even when served at room temp. A side note: Although this beer isn't that filling for a craft, the ABV is definitely higher than 6.10%, as this site suggests. But if you're anything like me, this is a HUGE plus! Just thought I'd warn you. STAY WARM!!!

2positive

Sweetwater Festive Ale

Winter Warmer

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #35 (Dec 2009): Happy to see more beefed-up versions of the Winter Warmer style? Do you want a mouthful of pie spices, or do you want to drink a beer? The beer wants to be black, but in the light, it shows its true color. Good lacing on top. Aromas of chocolate, dried plum and molasses with a hint of cinnamon. Thick and slick full body, carbonation is on the lighter side, which brings a smoothness to the table. Fruity with a heavy rounding of chocolate, nougat, nuttiness, mild spicing and bread crust. Hops are mild, yet push the sweetness down a notch. Alcohol is warming. Hint of burnt sugar and more nutty undertones in the semi-dry finish. Damn tasty, this Winter Warmer is serious, with a festive back end.

2positive

Rumble IPA

American IPA

The beer was poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass, the beer was clear copper in color with a small head and some lacing. The nose had a slight citrus hint that was matched by a little oak. Holy Tannins! The beer tasted overly oaked, it was very creamy, only a slight hop presence that was overtaken by the oak, a little vanilla was blended into decent malt profile. Nice carbonation levels that were on the medium side. The smoothness from oak was very nice and gave the beer a very nice creamy texture. Overall, I was not impressed. Oak aged or barrel aged ipa/dipa's are just unappealing. I will admit that this beer had some interesting complexities in a few areas, but it had a very small hop profile.

0negative

Hop 15

American Double / Imperial IPA

This was one big beer. it poured a light colored 2finger head, and had a wallup of floral notes coming off the top of the beer. At first taste the hops were almost too much, but a 2nd and 3rd and 4th drink proved that the hops were perfect. The pine forest of an I P A is by far one of my new favorites you wont have a problem finding this in my fridge.

2positive

Nano Series: Bert Zuurman

American Wild Ale

Tyler may have been of the impression I wanted a lot more of this beer brewed. The Bruery's brewers are absolutely top notch, but not every beer can be a winner. I'd say this was the only down note of, bar none, the best tasting lineup a brewery has EVER featured on a single night. Pours a swirling-ly murky amber-ish brown. Surprisingly robust tan head. Smells like ... ewww... what is that? Plastic/medicinal ointment, a bit of tart berries, some berry skins, and that awful, awful plastic tone that just obliterates everything. Tart, earthy, scorched camel hair, plastic/band-aids ... taste is just not right. The weird herbal sour tones I can only imagine are lingonberries. We should exterminate lingonberries. Well carbonated, but less bubbling might have helped mask the off flavors.

0negative

Pike Street XXXXX Stout

American Stout

22 oz bomber into a oversized snifter. I really appreciated this middle of the road stout. I'm not a huge RIS fan, but I can get a little bored with regular stouts. This one finds a happy medium, with good flavors without being overpowering. Completely opaque, with a nice sized head. Looks like a big stout should. Each time I took a whiff, the smell waffled between sweet/bready and roasted bitterness. There are 65 IBUs in this thing and they show up in the flavor. It is sweet up front, but there is plenty of bitterness here, both from the roasted and charred malts and the loads of hops present. Firm, yet smooth mouthfeel with perfect carbonation. It sat too heavy in my gut and I felt the alcohol too much for a good drinkability score. But, if its just one, this is a great beer.

0negative

Samuel Adams Black Lager

Schwarzbier

Poured this 12 oz. bottle into a standard pint. Appearance: Beer pours an attractive dark brown to black color with a nice off-white head. Carbonation can clearly be seen clinging onto the side of the glass. This beer lets very little light through. Smell: Nothing impressive here. I got some roasted malt and not much else. Taste: This beer really shines here! Nice roasted malt character that is well balanced and very light. Mouthfeel: Light body with moderate carbonation. Drinkability: This can easily become my new session beer. Sam Adams should release this is 12 packs. Final Thoughts - Surprisingly light in body and flavor when noticing the intial appearance of the brew. Definitely worth a try in a 12 pack mix or a sixer.

2positive

Blanche

Witbier

light amber in color with a good amount of cloudiness to it as well. A nice sized head of around two inches in height rose up immediatly but then settled down to about a half an inch and stayed that way until the very end. Some light side glass lacing on this one as well. The aroma was full of grain and slight spices. Some small fruit notes, pears mainly, with a touch of apple. But this hay like spice kept everything going. Rich notes of grass and hay opened it up, and melded seemlessly into a pear driven fruity yeast body. Very intresting and quite complex, but then the smack of the spice hit you and it was all over. Really intense here as the almost pepper like notes bounced all over the tongue and really just put on a great show. Smooth as silk,

2positive

Eleven

American Double / Imperial IPA

22 ounce bottle served in a Duvel tulip. A: Pours a cloudy orange-amber body. 1" bubbly head fades to a thin film. Leaves quite a bit of lacing on the glass. S: Sugary sweet hard candy, caramel, and alcohol seem to be the only things noticeable. Not a hint of hops to be found. T: Mostly sweet malt, caramel, peppermint, alcohol and a very light pine hop. An icky sweet aftertaste remains. M: Full bodied and slick with moderate carbonation fizz. D: This fails to satisfy as what they call a "triple IPA", it was barely hoppy at all. Its more like an alcoholic candy drink. Mine is only a year old, though I guess it's way past its prime. Down the drain it goes...

0negative

DeGroen's Pils

Czech Pilsener

Here's a good American representation of the Pils style. It's bright golden in color with a fast dissipating white head. The head eventually settles into a thin layer with a cupped rim and releases a fair amount of sticky lace. The aroma is malty and mingled with spicy Saaz hops, along with whiffs of alcohol fumes. The malt body is dry and a bit thin. Mildly herbal and abundantly hopped with spicy, peppery and light citrusy bitterness. It finishes clean, thus tempting you to have another.

2positive

Prophecy

Tripel

I've had this one in the cellar for a while. Pours a crystal clear straw color with almost no head. A decent amount of carbonation gives it a little life. You can definately smell the effects of the barrel aging. Oak, bourbon and vanilla stand out to me. The taste shows the same flavors but almost reminds me of a champagne. Very sweet with a frutiness. The high alcohol shows up becoming more and more noticable as you drink. Mouthfeel is smooth and appealing. Drinkability is hurt a little by the high alcohol. This is definately a sipping beer to enjoy in moderation, but enjoy it you should.

2positive

Marshal Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey Barrel Aged

Russian Imperial Stout

From backlog: Thanks to Todd for squirreling away a little taste of this for me. Nice stuff. A - It has the evil appearance that you'd expect from Zhukov: black, ominous, menacing, like a vat of crude. It has not so much head, but huge legs. S - The nose is a bit hot and sweet, due to a seeming saturation of booze. I really like the notes of the whiskey, but it is dialed up a bit too much for me. Underlying is the brutally roasty Zhukov nose, which is enhanced by the saccharine vanilla and oak notes. All in all, the two extremes serve to balance one another. T - The flavor is much less boozy, and does not drink 'hot' at all. The melding of the sweet whiskey's apple-vanilla-oak notes with Zhukov's scorched earth (Masterski), creates a very well-integrated impression reminiscent of decadent liqueurdrinks and candy cordials. Chocolate and cherry notes, and licorice are there too. Good stuff. A little more time and this will likely be great stuff. M - Huge viscosity, mouth-coating. D - CCB -bals are way drinkable, no exception here.

2positive

White Oak

Wheatwine

Thanks to juhl31 for this! Poured into a Delirium Tulip. Is a thick opaque apricot color with a bright white head that turns into nice lacing that isn't going anywhere. Smells like vanilla and caramel. A little booze as well. A little nuttiness comes out too sort of like butter pecan ice cream. Tastes are toffee, mildly tart apple juice, sweet vanilla, bourbon and oak. Some coconut cake like qualities and cinnamon spice give way to booze shining through on the end. Mouthfeel is pretty full bodied with good carbonation. Sticky and a little heat from the alcohol. Overall is amazing and I'm really excited to have got to try this beer.

2positive

Tröegs Nugget Nectar

American Amber / Red Ale

Bottle courtesy of a recent trade with TroyG2352. A: The pour is a crystal clear dark amber color with a small off-white head which recedes fairly quickly to a thin layer. S: The nose is what I was expecting. A big punch of citrus and pine hops with a noticeable but not overpowering caramel sweetness from the malt. T: The flavor is very similar to the nose, but a bit more intense. The hops really steal the show here and give you a nice bitter pine and grapefruit combination both on the front end and on the finish. In between there is a bit of sweetness from the malt. M: The body is medium with a nice moderate level of carbonation that tingles the tongue. D: This is my kind of amber/red ale: nice and hoppy. I found the bitterness to be pleasant and refreshing. I'm glad to have a few more of these in the fridge.

2positive

Sierra Nevada ESB (Early Spring Beer)

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Lovelly looking copper colored ale, clear with a small bubbly light tan head. Great malty aromas,slightly toasty. Very malty taste early on then some gorgeous English hopping, at the back,, spicy, tobacco leaf,earthy. Nice palate to this one, its quite well carbonated , but not thin, very impressive lingering aftertaste. Nice beer from SN, I have noticed recently they are on rather an "English" balanced direction. I like this.

2positive

Samuel Adams Wee Heavy (Imperial Series)

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

hazel brown with a nice one inch head that slowly faded lacing up the sides. Much visible carbonation and a noticeable hissing sound. Smell was very nutty, and I mean that literally. Smell was of nuts and caramel with a hint of hops and just a touch of alcohol, smells like its gonna warm you up. The taste was very very sweet, syrupy and lots of dark fruit flavors. Very sugary sweet, no real taste of alcohol, which at 10%abv is a nice touch. another great beer in the imperial lineup. i am seriously getting impressed with their releases

2positive

Saison De Lente

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

Picked this up at Abe's in Bethlehem for around $9. Poured from a 750ml capped bottle into my tulip glass. Appears a mildly hazed super bright golden yellow with two full fingers of tight creamy pure white head. A prominent lacing is left on the inside of my glass as I make my way to the bottom. Smells and tastes of lemon which lends a mild oregano aroma, biscuit, spicy, peppery yeast, touch of brett in the flavor, citrusy hops and a sort of asiago sharpness. Clean, crisp and dry through the slightly bitter finish. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Another well done beer from the Bruery and at a decent price.

2positive

Turbodog

English Brown Ale

Man I dont know what it is with abita but this looked and smelled great dark brown with a nice head and sweat chocolate and nuts but then the taste is just a train wreck. It is hard to imagine how it can go from smelling and looking so good to falling short so fast. I think i am done with abita they cant say i didnt give them a chance though

0negative

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a clear pint glass. No freshness dating on bottle or label. Single purchased from John's Market for $2.75. A-Pours a deep, dark brown almost black hue with a two finger, creamy tan head with good retention and ample lacing. S-Very fruity, with deep, dark chocolate and toasted malts. Rum and raisins are also prominent. T-Coffee, chocolate malts, and blackstrap molasses are the most prominent flavors I discern. There is also a pleasant toasted bitterness with a slightly sour twang. M-Very smooth with medium to full body. Nicely carbonated. D-Good for a RIS, but not great. I like this and always want more when I finish a single 12 oz. bottle, but it doesn't achieve the rich complexity it aspires to. Not quite on par with other offerings from Samuel Smith.

2positive

Iron City Beer

American Adjunct Lager

Well, being from Western PA, I had to try Iron City in its new aluminum bottle. Poured a golden color with a white head that fled the scene quickly. The smell was somewhat sweet, but not all that great. The taste was sweet, yet a touch bitter, maybe even sour. The mouthfeel was thin, but wasnt too horrible either. I could not picture myself drinking this ever again, I have been caught drinking worse, much worse.

0negative

Adam & Eve Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Had to see what all of the "Great Sex" hype was all about before I cast my final judgment, so the kind folk at Great Sex Brewing (marketing company) sent me some samples (contract brewed). Their schtick is that they want you to go around asking for some "Great Sex" ... get it? Yeah. Anyway ... I sampled 4 bottles of this brew, each tasted the same. Bottles were sent "fresh," stored cool, and enjoyed at optimal temperature. With the marketing aside, my thoughts ... Pours a bright amber colored beer on the lighter-side. A very clear brew, topped with a tightly laced white foamy head. Head retention is average. Looks inviting. There's some dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the nose and a musty, earthy, garden aroma that's not very inviting. Some fruity notes, and suggestions of slick diacetyl on its way. Odd flavor. It's rather sweet, some slickness, with an overdose of husky tannins and a very unpleasant buttery / bready presence. Tannins really overwhelm, and segue into an astringency laced flash of hop bitterness and carbonation. The estery fruitiness seems out of place. Hints of berry and a solvent-like alcohol presence. Dirty finish with residual husky tannins covering the palate. Unpalatable. This is an extremely unclean brew. Major mistakes were definitely made throughout the production of this beer. Like my bro said in his review: maybe too much protein in the boil. Or maybe too much trub in the fermenter, wacky fermentation temps. Who knows. There's way too many signs of a poorly made beer. # End When you talk bold, and market what is essentially a really dumb gimmick, make sure you at least have the beer to back it up.

0negative

Atwater Vanilla Java Porter

American Porter

A-Dark brown nearly opaque. 1/2 inch tan head fell quickly and left a big collar and varied coat. Sheeting lace rose and fell with each swallow. S-Roasted barley, choclate, dark roasted coffee and just a hint of vanilla. T-roasted, almost burnt gains first then dark roasted coffee and a touch of choclate. The vanilla comes in the end but is not overwheliming at all. There is a twang in the finish. Through this beverage there was an off-putting mettalic edge that I could not take. M-thin for a porter but nice carbonation. D-It was a near dump dur to teh off flavors. I will not be having this again.

0negative

Founders Breakfast Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

A: Very dark brown, though not the darkest I've seen. When I tilt my snifter to the side, the color lightens up a bit to a warm medium brown on the sides. I didn't get too much head out of the pour. S: Perhaps the strongest-smelling beer I've ever had. Wonderful rich, dark coffee smell, as if I just opened a bag of coffee beans. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I spent about a minute just smelling the beer. A bit of chocolate and oatmeal as well, but coffee dominates. T: Big notes of coffee right at the start, but it quickly recedes. Right after there is some milk chocolate, with a touch of sweetness. Towards the middle the oatmeal comes out, with a bit of coffee appearing again. The coffee flavor appears at the end again, with a bit more acidity this time. A little bitterness lingers as a not-unpleasant after taste, but doesn't stick around too long. I think that if I liked coffee more, I would have given taste a 5. M: Fairly chewy and full, though not as thick and viscous as I was preparing for. D: At only 8.3% and with a non-overwhelming mouthfeel, it's pretty drinkable, but the intense coffee flavor makes this one a beer I wouldn't have all the time. All in all a quite impressive brew, and if I liked coffee more, would probably be my new favorite stout. With the acidity from the coffee bean flavors, it also seems like it would be an excellent beer to have a cigar with, if you are partial to those.

2positive

Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Every beer has some redeeming quality to it, right? I've yet to find one in Sam Adams' Cranberry "Lambic". I tried this last year and thought I'd give it a second shot. My opinion of it has only gotten worse. Poured a cloudy medium-orange in color with an off-white head. Aroma smelled of ripend fruit and grain. There's a mild sweetness up front that gets replaced with a smooth tartness in the middle that turns sour at the finish. I've had lambics before and this is a far cry from the style. I don't know why Sam Adams keeps putting this one in their Winter Classics. It's a tough one to finish.

0negative

Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale

American Brown Ale

Poured from 12oz bottle into a standard pint glass. Appearance: Deep brown with two fingers of khaki colored foam that settles down to a thin layer after a minute or so. Smell: Nice roasted nutty aroma, caramel and coffee/roasted-burnt malt. Taste: Strong roasted malt, coffee and nutty. Some caramel and biscuit malt comes through. A very tasty Brown Ale. Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied and very very smooth. Drinkability: A very smooth and tasty beer. I've had this on draft before and often over look it. Since it's now available in 6 packs, I see myself buying this on a more regular basis.

2positive

Decadence

American Strong Ale

eyes... audibly sizzling head, goes down faster than a hooker on hunt's point avenue, we are left with a faint o-ring, ample carbonation meanders it's way up through the brew as if passing through as many channels into the ocean, lacing is non existent but the "legs" are apparent from the strength of this brew, cloudy brown with a touch of glowing orange. compares to strong dark ales of the belgian variety (except without the monster head some of those belgians have). good looking. If this beer were a girl you wouldn't be embarrassed that you woke up along side of her.. nose... cotton candy, uber sweet notes of honey, "lighter" dark fruits lie underneath. to be honest the sweetness is a bit distracting for me. it does have some sort of "artificial" feel to it as well.. interesting but distracting and not all that pleasant. taste etc... oddly some chocolate notes mixed in with the overpowering sweetness, wow, this is going to take an adjustment.. it's still hot alcohol wise and that may be it's saving grace... the aftertaste is off-honey, like it is trying to be honey but doesn't make it there.. or is some weird chemical take on honey, pair this with something to offset the flavor, this is hard to drink by itself. a nice accompaniment to something else in between sips. the alcohol is very noticeable but is manageable. verdict? I am glad the 80's are over and so is this decadence.. this one is off the mark, I thought having it 2 years out might have matured it into something more drinkable.. I was wrong...

0negative

Smoke (Smoked Porter)

American Porter

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass gave a thick, but short lived head. Nice lacing. The foam really liked to stick to the side of my glass. The color couldn't get much darker and was opaque when held up to a 60 watt bulb. The smell was similar to an oatmeal or chocolate stout, but not as heavy. I assume the slight darker smell I got was the smoke, but it wasn't obvious. The carbonation helped to give the liquid the feel of a heavier beer when it hit the tongue, but started and finished a bit thin. Not much in hoppiness. The taste was where the smoke kicked in. First, the burnt, dark malt flavor is followed by a smoke aftertaste. My tongue tingled with the flavor that slowly grew to a burning sensation to the back of my mouth. I really enjoyed it.

2positive

Heineken Lager Beer

Euro Pale Lager

16oz can Served in a pilsner glass A - It pours a pale yellow color. The head is about a half inch and white with absolutely no retention. S - I get grass and grain, much like an adjunct lager. T - The taste is pretty bland. I get some of the grassy notes. Just not a lot going on. M - Thin with a carbonation bite. D - I had a can so at least it didn't smell skunked, but it still doesn't improve the flavor. I have never been a fan.

0negative

Blue Moon Belgian White

Witbier

Taste is overpowered with spices. I can't taste hops or beer. It taste like chicken broth and kitchen spices. Horrible beer. Head is alright and appearance is good, but the taste and drinkability is horrible. Smells similar to the taste... bad. Would not recommend to drink at any time or any season.

0negative

Autumn Maple Barrel Aged

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Bottle from the Bruery, shared at a tasting. I shelled out $18 for this sucker whilst standing among the very fermenters and -bals that produced this beer, and I drank it out of a Bruery tulip glass. A - Pours a dark mahogany brown with a small tan head. S - Aroma is bourbon, yam, spice, wood, and caramel, a little sweet. Definitely more well-rounded and plain better than the standard Autumn Maple. T - Wow, what great things -bal aging can do. This is much better than the standard yam juice-like Autumn Maple. Flavor is fairly sweet but not overwhelmingly so, with yams, brown sugar, maple syrup, oak, bourbon, vanilla, and spices. Really tasty. Side note here: I was told while drinking this that what I always thought were yams are not actually yams, and that yams are actually ginormous African roots that are about the size of...well...I can't actually think of anything as big as an actual yam. They're like 2 or 3 feet long and heavy as all hell supposedly. Sorry, but the last time I checked, this is America, and if you don't like it, feel free to haul your ass out of here and go somewhere miserable like Canada. My mom always made a mashed yam dish every Thanksgiving since I was a little kid, and it was delicious. Furthermore, Patrick Rue says there are yams in this beer, and I guarantee you he didn't get huge-ass 500 pound tubers shipped in from Africa. If you deny that those orange-fleshed potato-like things are yams, you are basically slapping my mother and Patrick Rue in the face. I do not take kindly to that. M - Palate is smooth and creamy with some spice and medium-full body. Not boozy at all. D - Good. This does not get cloying like regular Autumn Maple, nor is it Lost Abbey flat like 2008 Autumn Maple. Great beer overall, definitely benefited from hanging out in those -bals.

2positive

Great Lakes Blackout Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Appearance: pitch black Smell: roasted malts, chocolate taste: A ton of chocolate malts and roasted goodness. A long finish that is just right mouthfeel:: not too carbonated, nice and soft Overall: Great Lakes never fails to impress. This is a great stout that is not too heavy. It has a "clean" taste which I really like

2positive

AleSmith Old Numbskull

American Barleywine

got this one in a trade with tangfoot, and it didn't even last 24 hours. thanks fred! 750ml bottle with silver foil top. sampled dec 22/07. pours a great red colour witha small dense tan head. the head drops fast but leaves lots of spotty lace behind. aroma is great. resiny grapefruit and pine. alcohol. big caramel. biscuit and bready malt. a touch of earthy character too. orange and tangerine. taste is excellent. nice solid medium bitterness level. grapefruit and pine balanced with orange and tangerine and a great caramel sweetness. big bread and biscuit malt. light alcohol and a nice warmth on the way down. light toasty and earthy notes in the background too. mouthfeel is excellent. low carbonation level, very well integrated and super smooth. medium-large body. drinkability is excellent too. perfectly balanced - even my coors light drinking father-in-law liked it and commented on how well balanced it is. one of the benchmark beers for the style. balanced and complex enough to keep you going back for more. a big beer and yet the full 750ml bottle went down with no trouble and i was still wishing for another. i really just need to get a case of this one in my cellar...

2positive

Bernard Sváteční Ležák

Czech Pilsener

Presentation: 0.5 liter brown glass swingdown bottle, silver and gold on white label Appearance: light golden color, snow-white big head, average lace Smell: light maltiness, something else (can not recognise) Taste: medium body, light and crisp mouthfeel, malt and lot of hops, pleasantly bitter Notes: highly carbonated, and VERY refreshing

2positive

Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Czech Pilsener

Consumed May 28th, 2010 at Angel's Restaurant, Mammoth Lakes, CA. Beer is an exceptionally clear and pale lemon yellow. Plenty of active carbonation throughout the consumption of the pint. The head = one finger of extremely fine white foam. Aroma is, as with almost all Samuel Adams beers, soapy. Blecch. There is almost no flavor. Really. After a couple of sips, I got a husky, slightly sweet and altogether proper (though puny) pilsener malt character. A very slight pepperiness follows. A second or two after swallowing, a thin, aspirin-like bitterness emerges. Maltier and more bitter as it warms. It's not an improvement. Mouthfeel - nothing of note. Not a fan of this one; I didn't even finish one pint.

0negative

Solomon Juneau Ale

American Blonde Ale

Had two of these on tap at the Milwaukee Ale House on March 17, 2008. A= This one poured toward the golden end of orangey-gold. There was a decent 1/2 inch head that faded slowly to nothing as I made my way down the glass. S= Smelled clean and mildly hoppy. Also lots of bakery scents present, such as malty biscuits... T= The taste is where this beer won my heart. It was unexpected and very enjoyable to taste an earthy sweetness of malt up front and then have the flavor switch to a bitter hop at the end of the swallow. Both ends of that spectrum are in fine balance and stand up to each other well. The flavor range was frankly impressive. The saaz hops are the perfect choice for this dry-ish finish. This is the beer that M.A.H.'s Pullchain Pale Ale wants to be when it grows up. MF= This beer has fairly low carbonation, and a slick malty feel on the tongue. D= Fantastic session beer. Will order again when I am in town!

2positive

Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout)

American Double / Imperial Stout

Served this beer in a Duvel glass. No date. 22 oz. brown bottle. The body was a very dark opaque brown with a light brown head. The foam dissipated quickly. Smell was fantastic. No alcohol, but lots of dessert aromas. Custard, butter, vanilla. Taste was also like a dessert, but with alcohol. This is a boozy sweet sipper. Chocolate and caramel. Buttery vanilla. Somewhat cloying. This one should really be released in 12 oz. bottles instead, 22 oz. is too much. Mouthfeel was silky smooth and full bodied. Definitely a beer to share, a dessert for two (or more).

0negative

Great Lakes Nosferatu

American Strong Ale

64oz. growler courtesy of AKSmokedPorter and his recent trip to Cleveland. For the first time in a L-O-N-G time, a different serving type has just blown me away compared to a bottle. Fresh Nos on tap is such a beer. The previous times I'd had it in bottles (thanks to Blatzman, TwelveVoltMan, and PhantomVoDoo!) it was good. This....is damn near perfect. Same clear blood-tinged ruby darkness. Hefty layer of off-white lace. All sorts of lovely rings of lace paste the sides of the glass. Aromas are swirling with hoppy fruit and citrus notes battle with a swarm of malt sweetness. Reminds me of Stone's Arrogant Bastard. Worthy praise, indeed. Flavor is off the charts. Whatever brashness I experienced with the bottle is smoothed out in the tapped form. But make no mistake, there is a TON of flavor in this beer. Up front assault of citrus and fruity hops, followed by a crescendo of sweetness of caramel, maybe a twinge of honey, and some choco-toffee notes. Ends with a smile- and burp-inducing bitterness on the palate that is not quite piercing, but certainly monstrous in size and long-lasting. Definitely smoother than the bottled version. Stupidly/laughable/amazingly/insanely/superbly/etc. drinkable. 64oz. is not enough for me. This is a "call AKSmokedPorter and drive up to Cleveland with him to get more of this" beer. Flash...I owe you big time for this. Simply wonderful. GLBC shows yet again why they are my favorite brewery.

2positive

Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

I found a bottle (1997) at a random beer store in Ocean City, MD. This beer lived up to all the hype. It was just as terrible as everyone says it is. Six of us shared a bottle, and we didn't come even close to finishing it. It was a malty, boozy, soy saucey, vomit inducing mess. I'm fairly certain it is one of the worst things I have ever drank. It poured a dark oily black, and left brown stains on the glass. After you smell it, you will not want to drink it. It tastes almost exactly like it smells. The dregs of the bottle look like moldy soup when you pour them out.

0negative

Nit Wit

Witbier

A: served a cloudy hazy yellow with maybe an inch head. S: smelled floral spices and a little yeast. Had a unique smell was hard to pinpoint but very light and floral. T: really not that great. Can taste some grain, light malts, and floral spices but not overly exciting. No real aftertase...just o.k. D: BJ has so many other better beers that I really wouldn't drink this again. Beer was very light in the mouth and had a decent tangy carbonation. Overall not the best BJ's or white Beer out there.

0negative

Kingfisher Premium Lager

American Pale Lager

On tap into a pilsner glass in the lounge of the Windsor Bangaluru Hotel in Bangalore, India. Oh my goodness, where to begin? This was really horrible swill. A = Clear straw color with white foamy head, fair carbonation. Looked just fine for a macro lager. S = This smelled nothing like beer. It had a sickening sweet smell like corn syrup and not much else that I could detect. T = The taste was even worse than the smell, the sweet corn syrup smell was present in the taste but so was an unpleasant bitterness and some really off pungent sewage tastes (at least it's what I would imagine sewage tastes like). M = Although it looked light and thin in the glass as I would want from a nice light, crisp lager, this actually felt kind of thick in my mouth. The difference between what I expected based on the style and the actuality was a real turn off. D = I would not under any circumstances order another one, though I might be willing to try a bottle and see if there was simply a problem with it on tap where I had it (though the lines on the Bud seemed fine, so I do not think that was the problem).

0negative

Captain Bastard's Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

A - Good black color with brown edges. Solid head. S - Some roastiness, otherwise, not too much to suggest. T,F - I did not find this beer to be particularly enjoyable. Plenty of roast, which is fine, but no oatmeal taste or more importantly, feel, that I could notice. Not at all creamy or smooth enough for an oatmeal stout. This might be my least favorite Squatters beer. D - This one doesn't work for me.

0negative

Chipotle Ale

Chile Beer

Appearance: Fizzy off white/ivory head - it's super bubbly; the head looks like it is composed of rows of bubbles on top of each other. The actual beer is a amber cloudy color that reflects the light. It's pretty standard looking, minus the great head that lingers if you give it a hard enough pour Aroma: Smells like an amber ale, lots of malt up front. There is some spice and sweetness in the background, along with some sourness. I smell pickled watermelon, chipotle ice cream and some smokiness. Smells yummy. Taste/Mouthfeel: Wow, there is some spice. After you swallow, there is a definite burning in the throat that is very interesting. I've never experienced this in beer. It's a slow burn that becomes more evident over time. There is also some sweetness - hints of roasted bell peppers maybe? The spice definitely dominates though and the mouth feel is very thin. This is good but weird. Notes: I was expecting more. This is super spicy, so much so that it is making my acid reflux act up. I would like it more if the spiciness could be minimized a bit, but I guess that's why it is called Chipotle Ale. Split a bomber and not looking for any more. Ever actually. This was nice thing to sample, but I'm not gonna go back for more.

0negative

Chimay Tripel (White)

Tripel

Served in a chalice at The Old Monk, in Texas. Appearance was pale gold in color, with a moderate head which subsided into lacing over time. The aroma consisted of yeast & malt, but the hops really came through for a Belgian. Some spicy notes were also present. The taste was slightly sweet at first, with a good hop balance which was present more in the finish. I also picked up some clove/pepper towards the end. Mouthfeel was smooth, with a body that seemed lighter than the bottled version (which I would call medium bodied) and somewhat more carbonated. Warmth from the alcohol was present, but fairly well hidden. Drinkability was high, and I would consider this beer a troublemaker in that you are unlikely to realize the ABV from the taste.

2positive

Juniper Pale Ale

Herbed / Spiced Beer

Pale orange color, gathered a small head and quickly dissipated. Nice lacing on the glass the entire time. Mildly Sweet hoppy aroma. I wouldnt guess juniper berries if I didnt already know. Some of the aromas from mild Belgians come through like mild barnyard and clovey spice. Taste is very in line with the style (pale ale). Sweet (mildly) and nicely balanced hops interact. Citrusy hop character is present. The Juniper is really an afterthought, although it comes thru really nicely. Again, not sure I would be able to pinpoint it to a "spice" addition to the beer though. The juniper really shines thru in the mouthfeel. Nice spicy,zesty finish. Makes it seem more carbonated than it is in a nice way. All the flavors start to pop when I inhale after swallowing. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Nice spicy pale ale I could drink all day.

2positive

2° Below Winter Ale

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

I poured this from the bottle into a pilsner glass; it is a nice-looking beer, copper-caramel colored with a small head. Smell was mild with hints of pine, suggesting more hops than this beer has. Taste is mild and grassy, with a brief hop bitterness on the finish. This tasted a little thin to me for something advertised as a "winter ale" - more of a boozy Fat Tire to enjoy at an after-sunset cookout. Mild flavor and low carbonation makes this an easy drinking beer; I'm not sure if this is accurately categorized as an Extra Special/Strong Bitter, but it's a decent beer nonetheless.

2positive

Iron City Beer

American Adjunct Lager

poured from the aluminum bottle. Pale gold & clear with a well constructed pale white head. Smell of corn with a very faint floral nose. Corn sweetness, a little citric tartness, and very faint bitterness. Light and fizzy body. I finished it. almost. This wasn't my first Iron City. I had one at Primanti Bros. on a road trip. Almost ruined the sandwich. This reminds me very much of the Hudhepohl we used to drink in college. Nasty stuff. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, the aluminum bottle.

0negative

Barrel Aged 2 Turtle Doves

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Bruery really has some great bourbon barrels. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Pours a deep brown color. Thin light tan crust around the edge of the glass. No real head. The bourbon really shines through and makes a decent base beer something special. Bourbon, vanilla, some light brown sugar notes, chocolate, roast dark ... plums/raisins/dates? Complex nose. Taste is also excellent. Roasted cocoa and malt combined with roasted dark fruit with a ton of bourbon, brown sugar, sweet malt, vanilla, and a hint of slightly oxidized acrid-ness. The best of the four variations of their winter brews thus far, easily. Mouthfeel could stand to be a little thicker, but acceptably "chewy."

2positive

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

Rauchbier

50cl bottle poured into Paulaner seidel BBE July 2011 A- Jet black with hints of ruby in the light. Excellent clarity with a 3 finger creamy tight head. Retention is good as is lacing. S- Due to the intense smokiness, this reminds of any smoked food i have ever eaten - pork, bacon, fish etc. Underneath this there is a hint of dark chocolate and toffeeish malt. T- Toasted and biscuity sweet malts linger underneath the smoke. Finish does manage to retain a lot of bock like sweetness. Lager clean. M- Moderate carbonation and body. D- An intense smokey experience while still retaining bock-like malt sweetness. Very tasty and im sure an excellent pairing for a lot of foods.

2positive

Cerveza Cristal

American Adjunct Lager

The beer poured with a pale yellow color and was sufficiently clear. The head was white, moderately low with an impaired retention and no lacing. The smell was unpleasant and very grainy. Its taste, which confirmed the smell, was grainy and husky (no hops). The mouthfeel was gassy, low-strengthed and dry. Light body. The finish was short and a little astringent. Definitely my first and last try.

0negative