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India Pale Ale

American IPA

Pours clear . orangy color. not much head or lace. Resiny and piney hop notes. Light hop flowers and resin in the nose Nicely balanced with sweet malt. Very resiny hop finish and lingering hop noes. Definitly not mega hopped, but more of a subtle IPA style. I like it, its drinkable and smooth. Probably wouldnt do it if your looking for a real hoppy IPA.

2positive

Improv (Improvisación) Oatmeal Rye India-Style Brown Ale

American Brown Ale

A - Poured out a fairly dark brown color with a thick, tan head of foam that had some good retention. Some lacing. S - It smelled very malty and of some pine. There were some funky notes, too. T - Something wasn't right here. The flavor was pretty messy with an odd funkiness and metallic taste. Hoppy bitterness plus tons of malty sweetness couldn't correct the other odd flavors. M - It was crisp and sharp with a dry finish. A medium-bodied beer. D - It just didn't taste right. I don't know if the funky flavor is intention. To me it seems they tried to do too much with a unique style.

0negative

Samuel Smith's India Ale

English India Pale Ale (IPA)

Mild in comparison to my usual IPAs, but good none the less. Light amber with orange highlights. Off white head that dissipates to a cusion, random, whispy lace. Wonderful aromas of floral, spicy hop, and slightly toasted malt create a perfumy, gentle nose. Very balanced and tasty. Sweet malt entry followed by a tart, spicy hoppiness with rather coarse bitterness. Medium bodied and enjoyable. Not a huge hops or abv kick, but a good brew.

2positive

I.P.A.

American IPA

Review from July 2010 A - It pours a gold hue with a basic IPA look to it. S - Whoa, what a bad nose. Like egg water. I can't believe these people also made the ESB, Limping Mallard, and Wobbly Bob. Those were excellent. This only needs one description for the aroma: Hold your nose. T - The flavor is a bit flavorless, consisting of vaguely bitter grassy hop, naked and pale grain. It tastes like a diet IPA. The flavor is not sharp, good or different. M - IPA. Average, at best. It is fizzy and a bit prickly, which can work well to hammer home 'certain flavors'. Problem is, this is lacking those 'certain flavors.' D - Inexplicably bad, considering the relative quality of everything else at Broad Ripple.

0negative

Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

1994 Brew Reserve This beer is ten year old! Poured about 2.5 ounces into a brandy snifter. Cork is blackened. It has been stored upright for the last ten years, but there must have been some contact. Appearance: Pours very thick, looks bold. Swirled around the snifter it coats the sides with a light amber colored syrupy looking....syrup. Beer is brown, almost black. Held into the light liquid is burgundy around the edges. Smell: Strong bourbon smell, deep molasses, sugary, some chocolate, maple syrup, raisins, caramel,...very intense, very busy. Haha from across the room shouts my lovely wife.."Oh God I can smell that shit all the way over here!" More bourbon smell as it warms, very sugary smelling at the end. Taste: Yazzow!! Whiskey-like. Strong. Sweet. Very much maple. Brown sugar. IMO a little to sweet. Needs some bitterness to offset it. Kind of puts me in the mind of drinking teriyaki sauce. Seems raisiny at the end. A somewhat pleasant aftertaste kept me from giving it a lower rating for taste. Mouthfeel: A little whiskey-like in it's astringency. Definately coats the tongue, doubtless with the sameamber hue that remains stuck to the inside of my snifter. Find myself wondering if this stuff could possibly permanently etch my only snifter. Quite hot in the throat. Drinkability: Tough to drink. I guess for a whiskey or scotch drinker, it might niot be so bad, but not for me. I'm having trouble finishing the 2.5 oz. thaat I poured, but am vowing to do so for the sake of the experience. Would be interested in marinating a steak in this stuff. I will re-cork it, and try it again in a few years. Is it okay to do that?

0negative

Ten Penny Ale

Scottish Ale

My favorite session beer, crisp. clean. One finger head that stays throughout the pint. Malty aroma, a bit smoky. A citrus/grass hop note. The body was average for the style, with light carbonation, mouthfeel was average, but if it was 90 degrees out the mouthfeel would be exceptional. Very well balanced. I had no problem finishing a growler and a half. This is what I reach for after mowing the lawn. A winner in my book . I've got to make it a point to get down to the brewery, I would love to have a fresh pint.

2positive

Sunrise Belgian Blonde Ale

Belgian Pale Ale

Lucky enough to have a friend fly me some down here. Very representative of the style. Big thick mouth feel. Taste is a little thin, but not enough to hurt the overall experience. Golden in color, clean look in the glass. Thoroughly enjoyable. Wish they had a branch down here.

2positive

Samuel Adams Honey Porter

English Porter

A - super dark brown, nearly opaque with a nice thick head and beautiful lacing S - dark and nutty --super inviting T - very nice. Can't really taste much honey. But as a straight porter, very admirable. M - again, nice. Buttery, good fizz. D - I could go through a sixer of these pretty easily. Pretty good.

2positive

Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale

English India Pale Ale (IPA)

This was a surprisingly good IPA. Fresh tasting, with a fruity/floral bouquet. Slight bitterness at the finish. Better at cellar temperature.

2positive

Iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)

American Black Ale

A: Very dark mahogany brown, but still somewhat translucent. Pours with about a 1/2" of tannish head that has little retention and absolutely no lacing. S: Caramel malt. Floral or citrus hops. A sweet scent. T: Sweet. Too sweet. Caramel malt. There is a roasted flavor, but it is subdued and there is a citrus hop flavor and it is also subdued. There is a sweet flavor. It is not subdued. A mild bitterness on the finish. M: Medium body with low carbonation. Along with the sweetness it becomes cloying. D: This beer is not a DIPA. If I were to review it as a DIPA, it would be an F. Aside from that, I found it difficult to drink. Annoyingly sweet with little else going for other than contrast between the roasted malts and some hops. Only saving grace is its 9% abv.

0negative

Ovila Abbey Dubbel

Dubbel

With two egg lays in a row, I hope that Ovila can extinguish that trend. The presentation is classy and not just because it's corked and caged. On to the beer: What a beautiful sight! The ruby brown color of the beer looks shiny inside the large Tripel Karmeliet tulip. The oatmeal colored head forms large at first, then drop to a small creamy lace. Retention and lace are okay, but the lovely color remains. The aroma is not bad, though I'll note that it was stronger when the cork was popped. It gives suggestions of pears, rolled oats, cinnamon in the raw, and nutmeg. It's on target to being Belgian styled. There's a distinct taste looming around that tastes neutral and slighty sweet, oats perhaps? Or is that the yeast doing its part? Creamy pear comes around in the taste, just as it did in the aroma. Light sprinkles of dark candi sugar arrive, as does allspice. The alcohol, listed at 7.5%, somehow warms the throat without being detected in the mouth. The mouthfeel is great; very smooth and creamy in the mouth with a small jump of carbonation. Despite being almost as expensive as the Belgian imports, Ovila is just as good as the Belgian imports. A dandy to say the least.

2positive

Silva Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

Poured into a snifter. Big thanks to enelson for this. 3.5 A: Black color. Nearly three fingers of light brown, frothy/cremy hybrid head. Retention is average for the ABV and a decent amount of non-uniform lacing can be found. 4.5 S: This smells great! Bourbon and barrel foremost, which contributes leather, oak, and a good bit of vanilla. Equally powerful is rich milk chocolate with a strong caramel component and molasses not far behind. Moderate roastiness with cocoa powder lingering. 4.0 T: The taste is a bit surprising because it has a much more subtle bourbon component than I would have guessed from the nose. Still, leathery bourbon is in mild amounts with a moderate booziness. Some melon and peat in addition to good amounts of oak and vanilla. Again, lots of milk chocolate with a moderate roastiness and plenty of caramel and molasses. A little bit of tannic astringency on finish. Pretty good. 4.5 M: Lighter end of a heavy body. Good moderate carbonation. Rich and velvety and that's the way I like it. Good creaminess and smooth other than the hint of tannins on finish. 4.0 D: Good beer that I'd like to see released again. Solid all around.

2positive

Goudale

Bière de Garde

750 ml bottle poured into an over-sized wine glass. Pours an orange-yellow color with a pretty decent off-white head, good lacing. Aroma is sweet malts, some floral notes, a little boozy, and earthiness from the yeast. Taste is similar with some caramel malts and a touch alcoholic. Mouthfeel is very active, medium bodied, and gives a slight metallic aftertaste. Overall decent, but not my favorite.

0negative

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Dirtoir Black Lager

Schwarzbier

Poured from a 22 oz bottle A - Pours a very dark brown/black color with a one finger mocha head; laces clings briefly to the sides of the glass S - The nose is relatively light; I smell toasted grain, light cocoa notes, and a light, fresh hop aroma T&M - This is light and refreshing, with a medium to full body and a carbonated tang on the tongue. Roasted malts is predominant to me in the flavor, with a nicely balanced hop bitterness. The roasted flavor remains long after swallowing D - This may be my favorite Rogue beer at the moment, and I'm looking forward to seeing how their GYO system progresses. I think this is very nicely balanced and easy to drink. The relatively modest ABV makes this sessionable.

2positive

NorCal IPA

American IPA

Chilled bottle into a glass. Purchased from Whole Foods Los Altos. I'm assuming this is fresh, but there's no bottle date, so I get to review it regardless. A: Pours a murky amber that glows a burnt orange against the light. An aggressive pour produces a flaccid pinky finger of off-white head that vanishes quickly, leaving only a streak or two of lace. Hmm. I prefer clear beers with gorgeous, sticky lace. It's fair to say this is below average on IPA appearance. S: A light smell of oranges and pine needles. Definitely West Coast in style, but it's not pungent at all. T: A generous dose of caramel malt peeks through: it's hard not to notice that there is a substantial sweetness here. At the same time, the bittering hops are quite strong, and the beer has a pine-dominated presence which pulls into the finish for a bitter, wet needle explosion. There are touches of earthy orange rind. M: Medium-bodied, but it falls off fast. Some lingering pine resin on the aftertaste. D: Won't buy again. At $5 a bomber this has the potential to be a great value, but when it's a weak beer there is no reason to get more.

0negative

Samuel Adams Wee Heavy (Imperial Series)

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass. A: The beer is a dark reddish brown color, with a thin off-white head, that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass. S: The aroma contains bourbon, vanilla, some chocolate, some dark fruit, roasted malts and a touch of hops. T: The taste starts out with a little bit of smokiness that is quickly followed by sweet flavors of vanilla, bourbon, chocolate, caramel and dark fruit. Theres a significant alcohol sting. The malt character is hearty and theres a mild but complementary hops presence that creates a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly smoky. M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky. D: Tasty, goes down easily, slightly filling, strong kick, good representation of style, although there are other beers in the style that I would chose before this one its still a solid beer to drink for a while.

2positive

Founders Nemesis 2010

American Barleywine

Poured from 12oz bottle into Globe glass. A. 1 finger off white head. Very nice retention. Thick lacing. Color is very dark brown/black. S. Smell is pretty big. Malt, alcohol, hops. Massive amounts of all three of those. Has a real nice rich malty sweetness too it. Next is a piney hop aroma that gives it some bitterness. Then comes the alochol notes that fill the nose. Some molasses and dark fruit. Has a bit of the same alochol notes as Devil Dancer. T. Taste is actually pretty smooth. Lots of flavors going on, but none are overpowering as you might guess from the aroma. Nice malty sweetness. The maltiness is more of a dark malt flavor than a traditional barleywine with its caramel malt flavors. Pretty sweet for sure. It has maybe some added complexity in some roasty flavors. M. Full bodied. Medium carbonation. Finishes sweet. D. Surprisingly drinkable for such a big beer. I drew some comparisons while driking it to Devil Dancer. 2010 Nemesis drinks much easier than DD. This is definitely a complex big beer. The high alchohol adds to this particular beer in my opinion. Interested to see how the other 3 beers turn out over time.

2positive

Bee Sting Honey Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

12 oz bottle. Cloudy golden color. Fizzy, super charged white head. Didn't last long. Initial smells of sweet faint, yet balanced honey. Nicely done. As the head faded a more metallic harsh smell emerged. Taste is very tart, tangy. Noticable citrus undertone and big orange blossom honey taste. Kinda stale toward the end. Medium bodied, and highly charged carbonation. Smell doesn't relent, taste holds on but odd metallic and sweet honey mix confuse the palate. I may have had it past it's prime, It's hard to tell how the label date is notched.

0negative

Oscar

Hefeweizen

On-tap at Uno in Hamilton, NJ on 7/15/11. Poured out a heavily clouded bright yellow with about a finger of dense off-white foam. Tons of lacing is left all the way down the side of the glass. What a sight on a Friday evening after work! The aroma lets you know that this isn't your standard Hefe. Lots of earthy, herbal and piney hops. Some of the ester character more traditional to the style pops through as well. Wow, this is a hoppy wheat beer. Lots of earthy, almost dirty hop character, with a punch of bitterness. Some citrus and banana. More bitterness on the finish. Creamy mouthfeel, with medium body. This was a quencher on a hot summer day and a perfect bridge between the work week and the weekend.

2positive

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

American Pale Wheat Ale

on tap at BW3s in Chillicothe. Presentation was a 23oz weizen glass A - cloudy golden color with 1cm of white head. minimal lacing. S - lemon, banana, clove, other spices, yeast, wheat, cereal?, and something funky going on. it's kind of like floor cleaner (think pine-sol...other than the obvious citrus smell.) T - wheat, banana, clove, lemon, other spices. it's very tangy and the banana and spice flavor is over the top. they entirely dominated the tasting and were the sole reason why I only drank around 6oz of this beer. M - crisp feel with loads of carbonation. has a hint of a grainy texture as it passes the tongue. D - there was too much citrus fruit/spice flavor going on here for me to enjoy the wheat. i've had this from a bottle before and it seemed way more subdued so I'll probably stick to that.

0negative

IPA (India Pale Ale)

American IPA

Its nice to have a real IPA available up in Northern Ontario even though it is rather pricey. Has a nice foam thanks to a sturdy pour, good lacing and retention. A mix of orange and gold colors. The smell is all hops, citrus, pine and grapefruit. Tastes of bitter citric/piny hops, a dash of pale malt and grass.

2positive

Heineken Lager Beer

Euro Pale Lager

I don't get it. I have never had a Heineken that wasn't a skunky light-struck mess. Why green bottles? I've never had this in Europe because there are too many good beers over there to risk the experiment, but does it taste better over there? I'll need to find a can of it over here. Anyway. The carbonation is nice and the golden hue is lovely. But the smell and the taste are the real reason I drink a beer and this one fails. Sorry. I would prefer any American macro brew to this and I will drink alum for the buzz before I'll drink those so this must be a bad beer.

0negative

Arbor Brewing Espresso Love

American Stout

Courtesy of dschuster at the 5/1/08 BA Gathering at Catskellar Appearance - pours a murky, blackish brown. Minimal head, just a lazy swirl in the middle and a thin crown. Just about a proper color but a lackluster show out of the bottle. Aroma - a fine aroma of roasted malt and coffee. Fresh and rich and has me wondering how unwise it might be to drink a caffeine bomb later in the evening here. If it tastes as good as it smells I won't care... Taste - brief malty grain, a tasty beginning of fresh coffee unfolds but is undone by a wash of sour/lactic tartness. If you hold the beer in the mouth for a few moments, you can get the coffee goodness that is intended but the sourness has the last word. If you take a quick sip/swallow, the coffee doesn't register, just the sour. A promising start but a KO finish I'm afraid. Mouthfeel - average to thin body which could be better. Subdued carbonation which I kind of prefer for this coffee stout style. Drinkability - lose the sour bit and this brew could be one of my favorites. With it though, it's one harsh bit of drinking, I can't even imagine what Todd Benzinger might have to say about it. Thanks anyway, Dave. ;-)

0negative

Harnas

Euro Pale Lager

Got this bottle at just 1 quid coz it's already expired (BB 16/02/2006). Suppose the 6%-strength lager should taste alright just two months after the BB date? Served lightly chilled in a weizen-glass. A: dark orangey golden hue, coming with a white frothy beer head only slowly settling down, on top of a gently-bubbly body. S: lightly dusty on top of a grainy and syrupy maltiness, while the sweet lemony+grassy hops and a faintly sour doughy note make a very modest entrance. Quite mild, but by no means bland. T: a modest fore-taste introduces a hint of (grassy?) hops and a refreshing limey lager malt flavour, quickly jumping to a light and thin grainy aftertaste, reminiscent of some corn-added lagers which have literally no bitterness and aftertaste; a slightly sticky finishing touch, which I suppose comes from the thick starch in this strong lager. M&D: the fizz condition is alright, not too vibrant, and the overall mouthfeel for a 6%abv. is pretty smooth; but overall it lacks a balance of flavour and way too lacklustre for a strong lager, as no strong malty entrance nor hoppy influence is felt on the palate. Underperforming for the style, too bland to be enjoyable.

0negative

Dundee Pale Bock Lager

Maibock / Helles Bock

A very clear, light copper color. Started off with a one-inch head that receded to about a quarter-inch pretty quickly, but held there. Lots of visible carbonation. A spot of lacing here and there. Nice sweet, bready aroma, hint of white grape. Not a bad start. Hm. This is the one in the pack that hasn't worked for me. Just an odd mix of flavors to start. Something sour prominently figures here, probably cooked veggies. Maybe I'm drinking this too warm. The hop profile leaves a bitter finish that I find somewhat at odds with the maltiness. Still tastes sort of like a bock in the aftertaste, which is not something I'd say about the rest of it. Lacks any kind of fruity character, or barely even any raisin, which I would have expected. It's just off, almost has the malt character (corn) of a malt liquor, some of which taste better than this. For a beer that boasts "Big and malty" on the label, I can't really say I agree with either with regards to mouthfeel. It's medium-light, sort of airy, too carbonated. I would expect more from a 6.2% beer. There should be some more heft. Gets better later on as carbonation fades. I'm not sure if this is a style I don't really understand or if there's something off about this batch, but this is the weakest of the otherwise perfectly drinkable brews in the Dundee pack. I drank it down, hoping it would start to taste better, and it wasn't hard to glug down the last few ounces when I wasn't paying as much attention. Like most macros, not hard to get down when it goes from glass to stomach in just a second or two. Maybe next time I save this for last instead of starting with it.

0negative

Hoegaarden Original White Ale

Witbier

A - Very Pale Yellow, Cloudy, Almost transparent. Very white head S - Wheat, citrus, and maybe a little lemon in there also T - Very Mild sweetness, Citrus Flavors M - Medium Carbonation and very light Bodied D - Very Drinkable, Especially in the summer.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

American IPA

Pours a dark murky copper color with very nice creamy off-white head. There is an herbal hop scent immediately, there are also some notes of grains and toasty malt. The taste is strong bitter hops from the start, the bitterness fades into a sweet malty flavor with toasty hops and grains, some light citrus as well. Medium bodied, creamy and smooth at the beginning and finishing more crisp. This was a very tasty beer, it sort of felt like it would be very filling at first, but eventually became more smooth and easier to drink .

2positive

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

2011 vintage, bought today, now I have a vertical from 08. Pours ruby with a half inch of head that fades to a collar. Leaves a little bit of lacing down the glass. Smell is caramel malts, a little bit of roast, citrus and pine are in there. Taste is of caramel, citrus and pine, and alcohol on the end. Leaves a warming feeling throughout the body. Mouthfeel is full and nicely carbonated. Drinkability is good, alcohol is a little too much at this point. For a barleywine, this is very fresh. Needs a few months and I'm interested in doing a vertical very soon.

2positive

Coors Light

Light Lager

A: Pale golden color with little white head leaving no lacing. S: Grainy corn aroma T: Watery, weakly flavored with trace of corn. M: Thin, watery without much flavor. Moderately carbonated. O: Disappointing simple yellow fizzy beer. No complexity. Reviewed it because I had some left over after my wife used almost half for a Beer Can chicken on the grill. It turns out that is the best use for it--up a chicken's backside to moisten the meat.

0negative

River Horse Hop Hazard Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Pours an orange copper color with moderate chill haze and a light white head that disappears in a flash. Aroma is floral hops and some kind of sweetness (my guess, malted corn). Taste has a definite fruit sweetness from adjunct with a light bitter finish. Its bitter, but not for any good reasons I can find. Mouthfeel is slightly acrid and dry. I don't enjoy drinking this, but I'm not pouring it out like the Dark.

0negative

Railbender Ale

Scottish Ale

The appearance was good; color and clarity were fair. Head retention was okay as well; but it was all down hill from there. There was little-to- no aroma; and flavor was very poor. Unfortunately, I bought a whole case--took a while to get rid of it. A very disappointing beer! Pony up the extra dough and buy a good beer.

0negative

Rainier Ale

American Malt Liquor

Poured in my glass there seems to have been a recipe change since the early 1990s when I had this. It used to be a red colored ale. This current version is a clear gold colored beer with a tall but fast fading white head. The smell sweet and a little herbal and soapy smelling. There is a clear ethanol scent here. The flavor begins sweet and corny with an alcohol burn to it. Not much beyond that, not the beer I remember from my proto beer geek days. At best it is the best tasting malt liquor, better than crap like Elephant for instance. The mouthfeel is thin. Either the formula has changed, which I do believe based upon the color, or my taste buds have grown immensely. I used to hold this beer in such high esteem, I no longer do. This is pretty much easy to drink Hooch at this point.

0negative

Tire Bite Golden Ale

Kölsch

a- unimpressive watery urine yellow color with no head and minimal lacing s- smells like someone urinated on a grape t- tastes ... not so good, just tastes like someone diluted some cheap white wine with miller high life m- weak mouthfeel, watery like an adjunct lager d- i dont condone the drinking of this beer unless it came in the flying dog variety pack

0negative

Kirkland Signature German Style Lager

Märzen / Oktoberfest

A buddy left one of those multiple pack Kirkland cases in my fridge. Free beer I'm not complaining. Look is copperish but nothing else very dull for a lager. Smell is faint malt a bit of sweet Taste very little anything has a fart like quality on the taste and smell. Mouthfeel is not great either not easy drinking but not good enough to savor Even the drinkability is bad, had high hopes for a contract brew but this did not come through.

0negative

Shoefly Stout

American Stout

One pretty beer. Poured space deep black with a slight creamy head ressting its tired self on top of the beer. Had trouble digging out much from the aroma at first but after a bit I started to find some slight roastiness hovering around. Flavor reminded of the black stuff on burnt molasses cookies. Lots of carbon but then quickly followed by bits of dark chocolate, coffee, and toffee. A consistent flavor throughout. Very rich and creamy. A very full body that had a nice feel on the palate. A nice solid stout ad I really liked the idea of putting it on the nitro-tap.

2positive

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

I poured this into a Corsendonk Christmas Ale goblet. It poured a viscous midnight black, with very minimal deep garnet highlights around the edges, with a dense, head of latte colored foam. The head reduced down to an impressive looking cap of foam, and good lacing was noted. The smell was big roast and heavy malts, raisins and other dark fruits, the faintest whiff of smoke, big licorice, burnt malts, bittersweet chocolate and earthy hops. The taste was big malts, anise or licorice, burnt malts, a touch of raisin, cut by an earthy hop bitterness, and a bit of a hot alcohol finish. The balance was good, the feel was big and chewy and full. There was a good bit of carbonation. A good offering from Samuel Adams. A great after dinner drink, or paired with an assortment of chocolates. I will buy this one again.

2positive

LongShot Cranberry Wit

Witbier

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Appearance: On top there is a small (one finger thick) off white head. It quickly settles down to a thin ring of foam that leaves behind some lace rings on the glass. Smell: Its aroma is fruity, spicy, and tangy with notes of wheat and citrus as well. Taste/Mouth: The flavor has a nice wheat malt base with orange citrus notes, tart cranberry and solid dose of fine Saigon cinnamon. Hop favor and bitterness are very mild. It finishes dry with wheat tang and spice. The texture is lively with plenty of soft carbonation in a medium body. Notes: This is by far the best fruit beer from Samuel Adams! I would love to see this in there regular line up!!

2positive

Lips Of Faith - Sahti

Sahti

I poured a 22 oz bomber into my glass mug... The liquid was an orange, amber color with a bubbly white head that dissipated quickly. The smell is a bit funky, with hints of sour orange juice and other floral aromas. The taste consists of rye, honey, citrus, biscuits and some spice in the aftertaste. The beer is medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a wet finish. Honestly, I did expect more out of this beer. I was looking for Vrienden but they were out, this is still a good and interesting beer.

2positive

Checker Cab Blonde Ale

American Blonde Ale

Pours clear yellow with a 1/4 inch creamy white head; smells of wheat, light malt, light hops and a little lemon, but not very pungent at all on the nose. Tastes of wheat, yeast and lemon up front with mild hops and malt trailing to the dry finish. There's a mild malt skunky-ness that is not bad at all in the finish, but that might turn some people off or it may have been due to dirty lines at Wildwood in NYC. Very crisp and light with high carbonation and a lot of bubbles moving up as the beer sits. Decent lacing for a blonde ale, and overall very easy to drink. The taste is on the dull side, but for a blonde ale it wasn't bad and is the type of beer to drink all night or with food. It is better than most light beers, but just boring and conservative.

2positive

Premium Lager

Euro Pale Lager

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. A- perfectly clear light golden color with a snowy white 1 finger bubbly head that retains surprisingly well. S- Clean malt. Typical lager smell T- Really clean taste to this beer. Very faint sweet malt followed by a similarly faint hop bitterness. Not a whole lot of flavor, but a very clean refreshing taste. Lingering bitterness after a few swallows. Not too much, though. M- Smooth entry, with a nice dry, crisp back. A really good thirst quencher. D- I could easily drink a few of these in the summer time while cooking on the grill or working in the yard. Just a real refreshing lager. Nothing stellar, but a pretty sold entry.

2positive

Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Reviewed 10/6/2007: Pours a dark brown red color, slight tannish head, somewhat lasting. Dark grape aroma, very strong & wine-y. Very strong aroma. Strong dark fruit taste. Sour aftertaste. Malty grapey taste. Odd but not really my style. Some dark Belgians I like, some I don't. This one falls in the don't category for me.

0negative

XS Imperial India Pale Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

This beer has a cloudy orange colour and good carbonation. The smell is of very citrussy hops. There is a strong taste of bitter orange and hops. The alcohol can be tasted once the other flavours leave. The hops are really-well matched with the overall flavour of the beer. This beer has a lot of carbonation so it has plenty of body.

2positive

Asahi Super Dry

Japanese Rice Lager

This was on tap, and comes in its own straight sided frosted glass with "Asahi" on one side and two japanese characters on the other. Very striking. The contents of course are more ordinary looking, clear straw coloured, largish bubbles. A small coarsely bubbled white head that does last and leaves a few transient dots of lace when swirled. There is virtually no smell or taste. When I close my eyes, yes, I can still tell it's beer I'm drinking but only by the faintest hint of grain and hops. The mouthfeel is rather watery and a bit overcarbonated. Obviously catering to a market that don't really want a beer that's going to challenge the tastebuds, which is fine. There's certainly nothing unpleasant about it. I can also imagine it being a good accompaniment to Japanese food, the "clean crisp taste" complementing a cuisine focused on fresh ingredients and letting the delicate flavours of the food have the limelight. However for me there are plenty of other mass produced lagers that offer more than this. In both the UK and Australia Asahi is marketed as a premium lager with a corresponding price tag, but all you are getting for this is the packaging. I had a sip of my wife's Nastro Azzuro and this was in a different league by comparison.

0negative

Collaboration Series: Marrón Acidifié

Flanders Oud Bruin

Draft pour into a footed chalice at Brix in Sunset Beach. A: Murky, medium rusty brown with one finger of diminishing cinnamon-tinted foam head. No lacing remains on the glass. S: Fairly straight-forward but focused lactic acidity and aromatic oak. There is a fine thread of well-fermented vinous fruit that marries well with the wood, suggesting nuanced complexity that must be tracked down. T: Begins off-dry, with tannic leather and dark pipe tobacco that are complementary to the heavy presence of well-cured oak. Acidity is intense at first but moderates as the beer warms, coming across as highly lactic. Vanilla butter creme frosting is also noted amongst early flavors. The middle remains woody, drying out some--but with contradictory brown sugar flavor detected--and developing a less appealing urea presence. Spicy clove and cinnamon stick makes an appearance toward the finish, where acidity becomes more felt than tasted. Savory spice lingers on the palate. M: Thin to medium viscosity, moderate acidity is felt late but remains fairly labile, with moderate carbonation. D/O: This collaboration between The Bruery and Cigar City represents a fairly gonzo formulation for their first combined outing, but it is able to deliver a lot of traditional style elements that are at times appealing and challenging. The smell has perfect laser focus on first approach, becoming just a little muddled by the flavors as the two begin to mix into one big and sour experience. The flavors are best at the front-end, really embracing the palate; not juicy, but just as pleasing. Qualities are less focused as the taste progresses, but they do not deviate too far, or for too long. Barrel notes are aggressively woody but refined throughout, and sourness leans into lactic territory, staying appealing. Perhaps the most complementary thing one can say about a barrel-aged sour is that it tastes nothing like the components it was assembled from, and Marron Acidifie fits that description well enough.

2positive

Hop 15

American Double / Imperial IPA

Bottle from Julio's in April, no BBD. Carolus goblet, right after drinking a half growler of Avery collabo. Nearing an inch of sediment on the bottom. I didn't trip on any furniture on my way to my desk. Inch of cream-colored, milky head over a weighed down murky orange/amber body. Layered lace as it falls. Smell is full of buttery toffee, intense nuttiness & grass clippings. Barleywine tenancies creep in as I feel the alcohol macerating my nostrils. Taste is of burnt toast & sugar, leaves, & irritating grapefruit rind. Maybe a twinge of orange to go with the dusty finish. Oxidation-like newspaper note in there too. Alcohol is every bit the 10%. Balance is just something I'd prefer, but since there's no real complexity here, it doesn't offer up much besides acidic bitterness & the comforting notion that you can endure it(which sadly seems commonplace now). Carbonation is strong & beaded though, helping you endure. Still quite syrupy. The alcohol doesn't make any friends. A tired beer. I drink it as a penance.

0negative

Winter White (Brewmaster Series)

Witbier

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Appearance: This beer pours a cloudly light orange with a bubbly 2 and a half finger head that fades quickly. No lacing is let behind at all. Looks a lot like cloudy juice. Smell: Huge aroma of oranges and coriander. A slight detection of wheat in the malt and as this beer warms there's a slight alcoholic aroma which is to be expected as the ABV is 7.2% Taste: The first taste you pick up is the orange and coriander which is followed by a slight taste of oats and wheat. Its pretty simple but only BIG zesty orange and spicey tastes out of this one. Mouthfeel: The fruity and wheat flavors give it the fallacy of having a light body but this beer's body is on the bigger side, big carbonation and a slight dry finish which I guess is from the alcohol. Though the body is light this beer has to be sugary as it leaves the teeth a little grimy. Drinkability: For the alcoholic content the drinkability of this beer is fantastic. I've had a lot of bad experiences with witbiers and i was nervous with this one as it was a higher gravity Witbier. I imagined it be syrupy, super sweet and over spiced. However it is none of these things. Though the body feels light you can sense that its larger making this a sipping witbier which is a strange concept as these beers are generally light and refreshing. However this fits the winter white idea as its a big beer with a ton of flavor making it suitable for sipping. The orange flavors remind you of summer. A great and very flavorful witbier. If they all could have this much flavor. However, witbiers are usually a refreshing summer beer, the alchol content of this beer doesn't make refreshing rather it completely dries out the mouth.

2positive

Twelve

American Barleywine

Almost bright ruby reddish orange in color. Pours with very little head of white and leaves spotty lacing. One thing I can say is that this is 100% Weyerbacher from the nose. Just has that spicey alcoholy aroma that most of their beers possess. Needless to say alcohol overwhelms the nose with some acidic notes and berry fruits. A bit of caramel malt and than a rye endeavor. Dried fruit aromas than come into play. Big alcohol in the mouth and throat and chest. Seems to overpower all else. Same spicey character with an earthy finish. Again some dried fruits and berries but just too much alcohol, which leaves it thin and lacking.

0negative

Fireside Ale

Smoked Beer

Poured into a nonic a full rich brown with a nice formed 1/2 finger creamy-like off white head.Good balance in the nose not overly smoky,smoke infused with some sweet caramel and cherry-like fruitiness with a touch of iron.A mix of caramel and tofee sweetness hits up front with some of that cherry-like fruitiness,the smoke comes in the finish and compliments the sweetish flavors instead of overpowering them.A very nice smoked ale here,alot of nice flavor components.I could see myself drinking this on a cold day next to a roaring fire no doubt.

2positive

König Ludwig Weiss (Royal Bavarian Hefe-Weizen)

Hefeweizen

11.2 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Appearance: I swirled the yeast on the bottom like a madman before pouring it in, and it sunk slowly and wraithlike nicely to the bottom, getting it cloudier and cloudier. Nice hazy color, per usual in a good Hefe, and nice lacing in clumps and rings around the glass. Smell: Big wheat, banana, clove, vanilla cream, and mild bubblegum. Nice balance. Nothing overbearing. And I like it a lot. Taste: A nice balance of the flavors coming out in the aroma. Banana and clove up front, but nothing overpowering. Mild bubblegum and cream on the back end, with a bit of bitterness on the fairly long finish. Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth and creamy with a moderate body and a nice burst of tickling carbonation at the end. Drinkability: An easy-going, solid, and tasty Hefe, perfect for swigging a few for summer on the porch. A lot of flavor, but one that isn't overbearing, and one I could easily session.

2positive

Nils Oscar Coffee Stout

American Stout

Got this bottle a couple of months ago at Sams' in Chicago. Should have kept it in the fridge. Poured with a soap bubble head that quickly subsided; no lace. Color is an opaque brown. Flavor is a wet cardboard dry coffee stout. Flat. Thin. Slight boozy finish. Something went wrong with this one. *sigh*

0negative

Hoptimus Prime

American Double / Imperial IPA

Picked up a bomber at The Vintage Cellar. Didn't see the movie, but definitely interested in trying the beer. Review is on a pour into an imperial pint. Appearance: This beer looks like it will taste delicious. The liquid is a really warm coppery orange, somewhat hazy, with an enormous 3 finger rocky white head. The head fades fairly quickly to a bubbly skim, but leaves behind a ridiculously huge amount of sticky, foamy lace all along the walls of the glass. Smell: Smell is surprisingly light. I expected something more prominent from the huge amount of sticky lace in the glass. Some light toasty malts with a hint of syrup come through, along with a touch of hops. That's about it. Taste/Mouthfeel: The different competing flavors seem to take control of each successive sip. At first, I mostly tasted the toasty, slightly sweet malts. As the beer warmed, the very bitter, grapefruit-rind and pine sap hops started to dominate. Even warmer, the vaporous presence of the alcohol takes control. It's even hard to taste the hops and malts beyond the alcohol once the beer has warmed some. The alcohol is very present in the aftertaste. Feel is moderately full, somewhat oily, and seriously sticky. Drinkability: Moderate. The beer isn't particularly refreshing, and the stickiness and hot alcohol slow the drinking down.

2positive

Vitale Aux Pêches

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Bottle: Poured a lightly hazy bright golden light orangey color ale with a large white foamy head with minimal retention and some light lacing. Aroma of peach syrup is not as gross as it could have been with light sugar point also noticeable. Taste is a mix between some sweet malt with artificial flavour of peach reminiscent of kool-aid. Body is about average for style with OK carbonation. Not sure what market they are aiming for but this is getting close to the alcohol-pop territory.

0negative

Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier

Witbier

a. opaque yellow blond s. flowery, fruity. smells like a blackberry (surprising). t. gross. m. gross drinkability. not I love most all of the Sam Adams beer. This is an exception. It is gross. Do not try it unless you absolutely love wheat beers. Not worth the $8 for a six pack.

0negative

Old Knucklehead Brown

American Brown Ale

"Spicy, nutty, creamy, easy-drinking brown ale brewed with, roasted wheat, crystal malts, and dry hopped with Mt. Hood and Saaz hops." Served on draft into a 6oz glass. Nice coloring. Milk chocolate in color with some nice ruby/maroon highlights. Slightly tanned head of about one inch with nice retention. No lacing. Aroma was very nutty. Plenty of hazelnut and almond aromas bouncing off the nose. Not much hop presence but I definitely dig the nuttiness. Nice nutty flavor as well but a very distinct sourness and a bit of acridity. Kind of a puckering bitterness not associated with hops but more associated with off flavoring. Slightly sweet yet sour. Not a very good beer. Luckily, I only had the sampler size of this because a full pint would have been too much. Not very good.

0negative

Oak Aged Unearthly (Imperial India Pale Ale)

American Double / Imperial IPA

Had some high expectations, considering most of Southern Tier's beers are solid. Pours a light orange/light amber with a small head. Smell is light hops and vanilla. Taste is pretty similar to the smell, but the alcohol is very apparent. I'm also tasting LOTS of vanilla, which is overpowering the hops and taking away from the flavor in my opinion. It's also present in the aftertaste. I would have liked the hops to take more of an upfront approach here, as the vanilla flavor really sweetened this. I found this beer difficult to drink.

0negative

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

American IPA

For being a seasonal, I was not overwhelmed with the presence of spice. Nice 1.5" head that lasted a good 15 min. Nice meld of spices. mouthfeel: surprisingly smooth taste does not linger in excess. Felt I could have had a couple and not been overly satisfied. Very tasty brew.... would definately do again. Nice job SN

2positive

Post Weizen Dunkel

Dunkelweizen

Dark orange in color, but not too dark, a little muddy. It's a dunkel, but not too dunkel. Good head, creamy, maybe with little duration. The smell is malty, with a light caramel. Some hazelnut, and cane sugar. Fruity notes (banana). Even the taste is malty and caramel, and banana, too. Some marzipan. But all is undecide, quite flat. It seems something middle between a standard weizen and a dunkel one. A little too carbonated. Medium-light in body.

0negative

Coors

American Adjunct Lager

Situation: feeling good after a hot, useful baseball practice...watching the Cavs as they clinch... Glassware: Wychwood 16 oz. Appearance: softly tinted tawny yellow body with a clear, foamy white head that settles to a bubbly circle--unappealing... Aroma: sweet, corn-tinged swagger that reaks of a thin, syrupy body... Palate: thin, light and smooth as expected--bubbly keg fair that soaks your hamburger... Taste: not much, aside from grass, corn and soft dough...zero drag on the throat, zero arrival on the tongue or teeth... Overall: even a good mood cannot alter the effect of this beer--zero punch or profile' I've softened my criticism of this beer (and its genre as a whole) as it serves a purpose that many friends and family members find quite necessary...but I can not seek this one out myself...

0negative

Southampton Grand Cru

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Sampled at Julio's, reviewed from notes. Even though I had this in a sample glass, there was still a two finger, rocky head floating on a clear, deep yellow body. The head took a while to die down, and left lacing in the glass. Aroma... all I got was buttery. I didn't like it. It seemed almost slick with butter. Taste was sweet, buttery, and not much else. It was like I was drinking liquid popcorn. Mouthfeel was slightly oily, but a little cloying and sticky at the same time. Drinkability... sorry guys, couldn't even finish a two ounce sample.

0negative

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Märzen / Oktoberfest

Poured from bottle an amber color with little head. A little too shy on the hops for me, but still very drinkable. On the verge of being sweet. This one grows on you as you drink it. Lightly carbonated and very malty. I would drink it again. I'm not a big Marzen guy but this was pretty good.

2positive

Organic Hefe-Weizen

Hefeweizen

A-light cloudy yellow gold. a lot of white head S-if i drank a hefe, then threw it up, that is what this beer would smell like. maybe it is too citrusy, certainly not pleasant. T-this tastes like a watered down, lemony version of blue moon. to me, its an absolute abhorrent representation of the style. M-medium carbonation with a light watery finish. D-i split a 500mL bottle, and i'm sure glad i did. i wouldn't have wanted an entire bottle to myself. its simply not a good beer.

0negative

Wild Raspberry Ale

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

A - A rocky and frothy white head with a tinge of pink to it... Modest retention ultimately gives way to full veil of creamy lace... Very still with no carbonation... Mild ruby red color... S - Fresh raspberries... Enteman's danish twist... A slight tartness... Sweet, but fairly mild overall... Fairly enticing... T - The raspberries are far weaker than expected... Some faint wheat notes... A minor metallic tinge... A weird plasticy aftertaste lingers... M - Ever so slight carbonation on the tongue to begin... Light bodied... Thin and watered down... Devoid of any significant mouthfeel... D - My first real disappointment from Great Divide... A beer that I wouldn't recommend or seek out in the future... Not terrible, but other than a slightly above average appearance and aroma there is too much to be impressed with as everything else is subpar or worse...

0negative

Tröegs Java Head Stout

Oatmeal Stout

Got this as a housewarming gift. Black with a thin, muddy, tan head. Eh retention leaves some foamy ledges. Neat bottle art. Smells predominately of unattenuated sugar. Mild citrus hop and mild coffee--kinda smells like tree bark tea. Or at least what I think tea made of tree bark would taste like. Wow, this is really bland. Again, unattenuated sugar, watery gas station coffee, and watery hot chocolate (the sugar-free, fat-free kind) with some citrus hops peeking up in back. Tea-like sour. Honestly, this is one of the blandest beers I've ever had. It's not terrible, it's not really anything. It doesn't have a strong coffee quality. It doesn't have a strong stout quality. If anything it reminds me of a really bland English brown. I thought that maybe it doesn't age well, but it's only 3 months old--max.

0negative

Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Poured a transparent, light amber color with a small white head. Nose is malts and some old, hops. Taste is astringent, soapy and weak for an Extra Pale Ale. Very thin on the mouthfeel and not an easy drinking brew at all. Disappointed and will not try again.

0negative

Camo High Gravity Lager

American Malt Liquor

Clear 40 bottle with camoflage designs and a lot of x's on it. Medium yellow color. Smells of skunky alcohol. Taste makes you think of never drinking beer again. Harsh corny sweetness and lots of alcohol. Purely disgusting, woke up with a terrible hangover the next morning.

0negative

Stoudt's Winter Ale (2010-2011)

American Amber / Red Ale

pours moderately active, head rises a bit, settles quickly with an under the radar mm lacing. bright deep apricot amber. nose hints immediately to a very hoppy presence! at least, not expected. taste matches it, but comes off dry, with the hop bitterness fading out fast. not catching the 'sweetness' reported by others, but would've welcomed it. doesn't seem to be what i expected a 'winter' ale would be like. hops must've put the spices to bed...a second taste and i catch a sense of spices, but very subtle. mouthfeel is good...not thick or thin. as it should be. drinkable enough, but it's held back bitterness reminds me of a lower octane version of the Smuttynose IPA...i think i should've bought a few more of these to see what else is revealed. in essence, a subtle powerhouse of flavors. i think my palate wasn't ready to read in between the lines. i'll return to this. p.s. as i finish it, i am noticing lingering bitterness that i like. the dry disappearance again was a trick. interesting. perhaps a good session brew to see what else is revealed. or mix it with some overly spiced brew.

2positive

Belgian Style Yeti

Russian Imperial Stout

Poured in to Founders Tulip glass. A - Black with one finger of fluffy espresso-foam coloured head. S - Sweet chocolate, roasted malts, molasses. Not an overly complex nose. T -Roasted malts, sweet milk chocolate. Light licorice and dark fruit notes. It took a while for the Belgian yeast characteristics to really become noticeable but they did half way through the glass (perhaps this one really needs to be served at room temperature) and contributed more notes of raisin and other dark fruit and a noticeable sweetness that was not chocolate flavoured. Once this warmed up it becamse complex and unique. M - Medium body with light to moderate carbonation. At times the body felt somewhat viscous, but not consistently.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Porter

American Porter

A: It's a dark dark ruby color, in which you can only see the ruby through the glass when a light is on the other side. The head retention of this beer is amazing, I poured it five minutes ago and it's still there, nice and thick. S: This has those great roast notes that make a porter a PORTER. Not much of a strong coffee scent, which are generally the porters that I prefer, but rather a sweet kind of toffee/chocolate aroma. T: This is very good, it's a porter that gets away from that classical black coffee and espresso flavor and goes for the toffee element. It is sweet upfront and finishes with a light bitterness. M: Moderate to high carbonation and a nice thicker medium body, and its a tad dry. D: Drinkability is quite nice on this one, it's smoothness helps quite a bit. I really like this beer, but my local porter is still my favorite.

2positive

Troegenator Double Bock

Doppelbock

What a revelation . A dark amber/caramel colored brew with an excellent foamy head upon pouring even unaggressively from the bottle . A moderate lacing that shows me it's worth it's ...malt . A toffee/caramel roasty aroma with subtle fig hints ... A superb robust Germanic slightly bock-bitter initial wash over the tongue with a noticeable ethanol finish just before a tide of malty sweetness cascades down the throat . I really love a beer that finishes this way ... Mouthfeel is of a medium malty foamy bock nature. Nicely restrained carbonation tickles my tongue. A nice beer to savor in the mouth . Drinkability is great on this one with it not being a very thick viscous brew in the way Spaten Optimator/etcetra are. Still, with 8.2% ABV, one should exercise caution before one grows horns like the Horned figure on the bottle's label !!! After a few of these, I can see where the inspiration comes for that imagery ! I've noticed that on the Tregs website they're selling a nice ceramic drinking Horn for this brew... A good Willie Becher glass or American pub/mixing glass is ideal for this one . This is one of Tregs finest beers ... Fresh too ! It appears from the case box that this batch was only brewed last month ... and it shows ! Yum .(Consequent tastings/reviews were of recent batches as well with consistent results). I'd love to try this on tap somewhere, i'm sure it's even kicked up another few clicks... Definetly great pairing with German foods !

2positive

Lips Of Faith - Dark Kriek

American Wild Ale

A - Well, it looks how I think a "dark kriek" should look. It's a dark, but not opaque, red-brown. Not an astonishing amount of foam, but there's enough. S - This isn't terribly impressive in the nose. There's a little vinegar and cherry Jolly Rancher. It's "OK," but pretty generic. T - I'm sorry, it leaves me flat. My apologies to NB, but it tastes like a generic watery brown ale base with some cherries added. There's some sweet cherry, but I don't find this sweetness a problem at all. The whole package is just dull. Sourness is minor, the sweet/sour don't really play off each other at all. Cookie-like malts come forward as it warms, lending further support to my belief that this is just an ordinary brown ale with some attempted trimmings. 35% ale aged in barrels? I don't really get much barrel-aged character at all, if any. Basically, what I'm left with here is a brown ale with cherry juice, not much more. Kinda lame. F - Feel is watery and weak. Here, I think bottle-conditioning would have helped. D - I hate handing out ratings like this, especially to brewers I like, doubly so when the beer wasn't cheap (this one certainly was not). Still, I have to be honest...I like New Belgium, but this beer is a miss. Poor execution, it just seems like a lazy effort to me, a waste of a good idea. As a beer in general, throwing any style consideration or expectation out the window, it's not entirely offensive. I could *finish* the bomber, it doesn't repulse me - but there are too many other beers in my fridge I'd rather drink. Way too many.

0negative

Hartinger Öko Dunkel

Munich Dunkel Lager

Being a malthead and being one to eat Munich Malt right out of the bag for breakfast, I figured I would be reminded with this Dunkel. Sadly, I was mistaken. The .3L glass from the tap arrived with a 3 finger head that dissipated to a slick of brown foam maintained but the bubble release within minutes. i.e., no head retention. While Munich malt is not notorious to be a like a crystal malt for head retention, with better carbonation the brown foam head would be maintained. In this case it was not. Colour was amber-brown, more brown. Beer was cloudy, but advertised as filtered. Smell: Butterscotch candies came to mind, but sweet note (on smell). Taste: Diacytl flavour (definitely not the sweetness from Munich malt). Slightly mealy flavour too, with mouthfeel that had a slick sweet aftertaste that haunted me for some minutes until my next beer. Left me craving bread to cleanse my palette.

0negative

Paddy's Irish Red

Irish Red Ale

A: Orange-red color with a big head of white foam that had little retention. No lace. Medium low level of carbonation. S: Holy Caramel Malt! Strong, very strong. T: Sour malts and grain. Some artificial bitter flavor that I can't put my finger on. It's like having a penny in my mouth. Unsweetened syrupy aftertaste. M: Similar to bubbly water, with no realy noteable character. D: No thanks, i'll likely pass. Notes: Is this really a red? Seriously, I think Trafalgar can do better. Much better.

0negative

Juniper Pale Ale

Herbed / Spiced Beer

A - Nice unfiltered hazy look. dark yellow almost golden colour.Head disappears very quickly. S - Considering that its called a Juniper Ale, I get no hints of Juniper at all. I was a little disappointed but there is a smell of citrus and some hops. T - Strong taste of hops and citrus tones. This beer should not be called a Juniper Ale. No taste of juniper berries at all, mainly just hops and some citrus taste. M- Refreshing, good amount of carbonation. goes down easy. D - It is defiantly a drinkable beer, only disappointment was the lack of juniper flavour. But over all pretty average, wouldn't class this as a spiced beer.

2positive

Old Ruffian Barley Wine

American Barleywine

Great Minds Drink Alike... Well, Great Divide must be reading mine. Good God, abv. aside this is a massive beer, the size of Czarist Stouts! This could take some time... a before during and after dinner brew with after burners! Old Ruffian slides into a Duvel tulip damn near thick, crimson with deep orange highlights just a bit hazy. Heads up huge tan and sticky man! Zero streamers. A swirl exposes the beers legs and she got legs right up to her neck... The puppy smells this one, ha... off the couch like a shot! Ruby's the real Sudsdog, finger taste after finger taste I bet she'd lap this up quick if spilled - better be careful! Nose is rich with sweet caramel malt butterscotch toffee whisky soaked figs, raisins deep dark and fruity. Big piny grapefruit citrus hop profile, a wonderful balance created by the interplay... boozy goodness stings lovingly. Balance is the key here, Old Ruffian IS American Barleywine, must age a few of these! One hit is all it takes... I'm not sure exactly where to begin. This beer is just explosively huge. She plays ball with the biggest boys commands attention walks tall talks loud draws a crowd and carries the big stick. Malts first massive sweet creamy caramel malts, light caramel dark caramel, those boozy fruits all vie for position and all of them win, but not for to long.. no, after the swallow the big hops show up to push back that coup. Guns blazing bitter, resinous piny grapefruit citrus wash clean any trace of cloying sweetness. From one extreme to another this beer changes yet one thing remains constant, oh yea, the boozy spice of fusel alcohol. Damn good shit! This is a beer you want to hold and chew for a moment, get all that can be had out of the malty goodness cause after that first hit you know what's on its way. Lucius barleywine mouthfeel - there's a little cherry there at the very end and perhaps a slight anise breeze. This brew is nuts (yup, its even got a nutty flavor in there too, it just doesn't stop) in scope. So very drinkable you want to keep drinking but one bomber is good at least for this Sudspup. My ass is kicked I have been Old Ruffian'd up... Think I'll take it easy now and sip some bourbon on the rocks!

2positive

Unibroue 16

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

A- Pours a nice apple-cider amber brown with a bit of turbidity from the yeast. About an inch and a half of white, pillowy head. Moderate lacing. S- Not as strong as I thought it would be. Slight malt, bananas, cloves. Some caramel. Belgian/yeasty spice and a hint of alcohol. T- Nice blend of sweet and lightly toasted malt, some bananas, yeasty spiciness. Slight hop finish. Maybe a hint of molasses? Slightly vinous (but not as much as I would have liked). Not extremely memorable, but definitely good and true to style. Served this one too cold, taste definitely comes out as it warms. A little woody mustiness at the end that I like. Almost vegetable-like. Different tastes are coming out as this goes on. Becoming more memorable. Did age mellow this guy? M- Medium to light bodied, slick, clean. D- Not exceptional, but not bad. Could have a whole bomber in a sitting easy. All in all, a good brew. I think I would still go for a Maudite over this one, though.

2positive

Best Of Beer Camp: California Common - Beer Camp #8

California Common / Steam Beer

A: Dark gold color; a slight haze. Poured a 3 finger creamy off-white head that dissipated to 1 finger layer. Lightly decanted. Laced in wide rings. S: Sweet, bready malt and musty wet grain. A hint of citrussy hops (or maybe it was light fruity yeast). T: It was yeast esters; more like green apple. Transitions to bready malt that's slightly sweet. Mild, building bitter in the finish; balanced and a little spicy. M: Medium body, Moderate carbonation. Smooth and malty. A little sweet more than bitter. O: Good malt character and fair balance.

2positive

Le Coq Imperial Extra Double Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

I'm not sure of the vintage, didn't think to look. It is 9% abv, though, not the 10% listed, maybe that's for an earlier year? Appearance is in a word, black. To expound... ...there is no head whatsoever, barely a crown of tan bubbles on the outside. Aroma is immediately fruity and vinous, like a red wine. Just a background hint of earthiness or woodiness. Taste - big tannic, fruity taste and a mouthful of alcohol! As the heavy sweetness lets up a little, some dark, *dark* roasted flavors come through, only to continue developing into an even darker strong charcoal taste. The aftertaste is a mix of slight bitterness and some yielding but still plenty strong charcoal smokiness with just a touch of sourness on the sides of the tongue. Mouthfeel is huge, heavy, oily and thick. Don't believe me? Tip your glass, straighten it up and observe the viscous coating left on the glass. Good for another 3000 miles and protects against thermal viscosity breakdown, don't you know... I'd have to be in some kinda mood to have a 2nd one of these, one is plenty. I'd only mark it as awful (1.0) if the beer tasted nasty, which is definitely not the case here. Still, this 9% brew drinks more like a 12% brew, the alcohol is a bit too intense for a higher drinkability score.

0negative

Imperial Cherry Saison

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

From notes 9-4-09 Eye: This one pours extremely clear and golden yellow. Carbonation looks low. Nice head formation but bad retention, could be this glass... Otherwise this looks very good. Nose: Spiciness from a saison yeast strain are evident. The yeast comes through quite nicely. Cherry is blended in with the aroma, its not overpowering but is there in just enough amount to be noticed and add complexity. Some alcohol is there too. Maybe some banana and clove phenols. Very nice smelling beer. Tongue: Very nice saison. Yeasty and spicy. Alcohol adds some complexity as well. Just hints at cherries as in the aroma. I was afraid when buying this that the cherry would be real upfront and would hide the saison part of the beer. Its combined perfectly. Cherry flavor is there and just backs the yeast profile on this beer. Very nicely done. Some oak tones come out as well. Not really all that grassy and farmhouse like, guess not all saisons have to be. Hints of sweetness and cherry character upfront when its going into the mouth...after that spiciness takes over. Definitely worth a try. Southern Tier does it again, they do not disappoint. Feel and Drinkability: Finish is going toward dry, complimenting the higher alcohol and oakiness. Carbonation is spot on... spritzy and fine but not too overpowering. It adds instead of detracts from the beer. Aftertaste is long lasting, peppery spiciness comes through. This is one that I'll enjoy drinking, and will drink again. Definitely one of the better saisons out there. Don't hold a candle though to Fantome.

2positive

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

American IPA

Just like every year, as soon as it came out I bought a case of the 2006 vintage; it says it was bottled on 10/18/06. A: Clear copper with slight orange hues underneath and a small but strong slightly off-white head that left a good deal of lacing as I drank my way down the pint glass. S: Hops -- predominantly piney hops but a tad bit of citrusy hops as well. T: Hops once again -- piney/sprucey hops dominate; my tastebuds are overwhelmed by the hops and as a result, I don't really sense any malt flavors in the profile. Whenever I have my first Celebration (usually at some point in November of each year), I immediately think "Christmas Tree." Some citrusy hop flavors -- mainly grapefruit -- are evident as well, but to me this beer tastes mainly like a Colorado Blue Spruce. A peppery spice is there too, however, and it finishes cleanly with a dry, almost metallic zing to it. Nice. M: Light-to-medium bodied and good levels of carbonation give this one a nice overall feel to it. D: Highly drinkable (which is one reason I buy it by the case each year). I remember a few nights at St. Andrews Pub in NYC when I enjoyed multiple imperial pints of this on tap and regretted it the next day (at 6.8% ABV it's slightly stronger than your average beer).

2positive

St-Ambroise Framboise

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

Bottle from the LCBO in fancy and expensive packaging. I poured it into a champagne flute because I was feeling pretentious, and it looked fantastic! Rocky white head and a cloudy dark pink body underneath. The aroma definitely contained raspberries, but I also thought I smelled blackberries. Either way, it was exceedingly fresh. Thick raspberry taste, married to a light carbonated body. I imagine that this is very much a summer beer because of its freshness, and lack of complexity. A good thirst quencher and a good beer.

2positive

Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

Overall, this beer is fairly similar on tap as it is from the bottle - taste might be a bit more crisp, and the mouthfeel seemed to have more body than I recalled. Pours a golden color with a finger thick white head. Pretty much lacing, but not great head retention. Nose is unsurprising - hops, citrus. Taste goes hand in hand with the nose. Hops, citrus, decent bitterness. Not overwhelmingly so, but definitely there. Probably borderline for a BMC drinker. Mouthfeel was medium, and I didn't pick up on the wateriness that I got from this brew in the bottle. Drinkability was good. All in all, an enjoyable experience - it won't go down as one of my favorites, but it's good enough to order at a restaurant if your alternatives are BMC.

2positive

Old Style

American Adjunct Lager

I was back in Chicago last week. A friend brought over and left some Old Style bottles in the fridge. Thought it would be as good of a time as ever to maybe review this brew, as I was never planning on paying for one any time soon. Having lived in the city for four years in the past, I was well familiar with Old Style. Always dreaded showing up to parties and finding out that the keg was Old Style that night, and I would cringe whenever a buddy would come back from a beer run with this stuff. Pours a fair amount of foam that quickly fades away. Some grain and miscellaneous smells on the nose. Nothing much. Taste is even more lacking. Compared to other cheap beers of this style, Old Style does have some distinctive qualities to it, but not in a good way (cant quite put my finger on exactly what it is). Back in college I drank my fair share of "cheap" American "macro" beers, and many were much more drinkable than this. I would pick just about anything over this.

0negative

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Dortmunder / Export Lager

Had this on tap this Christmas at a restaurant in the Cleve. There seems to be really good beer around that area. Some of the supermarkets have illusive Stone ales that I've ironically had a hard time finding here in California. I was happy to stumble upon this brew. Poured a dark amber with a frothy head that left good lace. Aromas of pine and citrus, and that distinct aromatic lager hop. What struck me about this brew was the hybrid of crisp european lager flavors with the more aggressive, hoppy American micro-brew ones. Accenting the buttery malts with a sharper hop really kicks this one up from just another German-styled American lager to a unique craft brew. The malts are very true to their heritage and the hops are refined enough to not wear out their welcome. A highly drinkable choice, with tons of flavor at that ABV. It might come on strong for a session beer but it could certainly do as one. It's really fun to find a lager with the flare and craft of some of the better American ales. Definitely worth a try if you find it.

2positive

Camo Silver ICE

American Malt Liquor

Bought this 24 oz can for 75 cents on sale. Appearance i have to give average as there is nothing wrong with it. Corn oil golden with a small white head. Aroma mostly cooking apples for some reason..cooking apples and a bit of soap. Actually not as horrific as I expected. Taste again sour cooking apples with some rubbing alcohol. Palte thin yet sticky in an unpleasing way. Overall really not as bad as i expected. If you like cooking apples ( UK) you will tolerate this one. Way better than the awesomely bad Camo Genuine Ale.

0negative

Samuel Adams Imperial White

Witbier

A slightly cloudy amber, with settling orange-brown yeast. Decent on the nose, full of spices, citrus, and wheat. Much bigger in the mouth than you might expect from the nose - highly reminiscent, but with alcohol that's far too apparent, and sweetness that is cloying, with just a bit of spiciness, which then quickly turns dry, but it doesn't stick around for very long. Mouthfeel's decent, but it's tough to get past the remaining taste to enjoy it - goes for the drinkability as well. Unfortunate that this is a Sam's offer - pretty disappointing.

0negative

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

I tried a 750 mL corked bottle. This was my first Unibroue brew, and if it's any indication, it won't be my last. This was just a really good Belgian-style ale. It was a little tart with some warming alcohol (9% ABV) lying underneath. It reminded me a little of Duvel in that it hides that big alcohol content underneath a somewhat bittersweet taste and bubbly mouthfeel which just attacked my palate. This one worked well with teryaki marinated pork chops on the grill.

2positive

Atwater Winter Bock

Bock

A - Dark reddish in color with dark tones. S - Cherry and wheat. T - Expected like a winter warmer with spice but got.. malt cherry. And ugh like a sour hit in the finish. M - Bark like flavor and malt is thinner than expected. D - Having a hard time finishing the glass but it's not nasty enough for a drain pour. I had their Vanilla Java Porter and it was pretty good but with the name "winter bock" I guess it achieved a sort of sour bitter cherry wheat beer.

0negative

Old Clam Digger

American Barleywine

2009 bottle served in nearly appropriate glasses at the 28th annual East Coast Relocation Cellar Clearing Barley Wine Event. It is dark red and ready for the fight, but the fight ends in the 1st round with an obnoxious metallic grin. The flavor mimics the aroma, but there is more. A grim robot dips his flaming arm in a cardboard bath of sin. There is an oxygenated sense of helplessness in this beer that is gripping. It is sour, metallic and wet cardboard all at once. A magnificent display of how not what to look like. This is a barleywine that has no soul. No old soul..Or if it does, a rancorous and foul one. Sad to say, this barleywine does not age with grace, at least not this vintage.

0negative

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale

Winter Warmer

I didnt care for this. This beer had a grainy aroma and a malted milk-ball flavor, of which I am not a fan. Appearance was a clear and brilliant tan/copper color. Aroma was very grainy and cereal-y. Flavor was very much like a malted milk ball, which I really didnt like. Mouthfeel was relatively smooth, but if you dont like the way something tastes, does it really matter? I would not recommend this.

0negative

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen

Hefeweizen

Poured from two 12oz bottles into my Ayinger weizenbierglass. Pale citrine body, hazy with a delicate layer of ivory froth shading in the top of the glass. Nice sticky lacing, average retention. Fresh wheat bread, asian pear, faint banana and honey in the nose. Full flavored, sweet from the bready yeast, tart from the acidity of wheat and a suggestion of navel orange zest, and faintly spicy with the suggestion of coriander and white pepper. Smooth, creamy, but with lively carbonation to keep you from guzzling. Maybe slightly "generic," but you have to give credit to Sierra Nevada for trying to do this style the correct way with open fermentation and pure ingredients. One of the best bottled domestic Hefs I've tried, particularly from the West coast.

2positive

Skull Splitter Ale

American Strong Ale

Review from April 2004. Pours dark brown with a yellowish and tannish color head. Nice lace left behind. Nice looking beer. Memorable aroma on this one. Very fruity and very juicy and very hoppy with mainly grapes and tangerines. This was delightful. Flavors of spruce, pine, sap and bark with other citrus notes available as well. This was a very nice beer.

2positive

Orval Trappist Ale

Belgian Pale Ale

Bottled Jan 22, 2009 - Bubbles up like crazy when i poured into my glass. Overflowed a bit even! Unlike any other trappist beer. Sour, dry finish, likely from the Brett. Refreshing. Once you drink the beer, you might notice the bottle is especially heavy, probably to hold the carbonation. A bit stronger than your average beer. Quite unlike most Belgians I've had I'm going to open bottle #2 now! My gf said it "reminds me of Cuvee Renee, but not quite"

2positive

Sweetwater Festive Ale

Winter Warmer

The appearance and smell of this beer was decent, however there is just too much ginger used for my preference. So much so, it is undrinkable. This could be a much better beer if they backed off the ginger. I am hoping the 2007 edition will be better.

0negative

Goudenband

Flanders Oud Bruin

Unique is the word of the day! I've never had anything like this beer...that doesn't make it my favorite or anything, but its damn good and there isn't much else out there thats easy to find like it. After getting the paper wrapping off the bottle (one of my friends said it reminded her of a bottle of A-1 or something haha), I poured out this uncarbonated murky reddish brown beer. I've also never seen so much sediment floating, then sitting in the bottom of my glass. It was thick down there. Aromas of sour fruits are prevalent, and the flavors and complexity are off the charts. This is the sweet 'n' sour sauce of beers...somewhere between a lambic and a dark Belgian ale. Begins with flavors of tart fruits, cherries, and dry citrus fruits. This is followed by a well balanced dark malt flavor intermingling with caramel and a spicy but mild hop finish. Quite interesting because very different flavors that are not usually found in the same glass of beer appear almost simultaneously in this one. Definitely glad I came across this beer. Try it if you find it!

2positive

Heady Topper

American Double / Imperial IPA

Appearance: Beautiful golden body with a sizable head and great lacing. Smell: Waves of citrus hops with flowery hints. Excellent. Taste: Citrusy with a dry and slightly bitter finish. Extremely drinkable. Mouthfeel: Very smooth and a bit creamy. Overall: Not as good as when I had it on tap at the Alchemist, but pretty damn close. Everything about this beer is essentially perfect.

2positive

Green Flash Imperial India Pale Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

Aroma: Grassy green hop aroma up front with an odd corn-like sweetness that seems weird and out of place. Appearance: Hazy amber pour with a sticky and sudsy off-white head that retains well. Flavor: Ick. Corn-like sweetness followed by some earthy bitterness. Onion-like flavors follow and more grassy hop notes. Straw-like hops and fresh cut grass. Balance is to the hops. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is long and oniony. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Overall impression: This is bad. Summit+Nugget hops = epic disaster. I'm not sure what happened but the recipe formulation is terrible. Avoid.

0negative

Yeti Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

This beer poured a thick pitch black body with a small thick brownish tan head. Nose was a huge fat creamy chocolate, toffee, coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate, ice cream and slightly dark fruit smell. There's definitely a bite of hops and alcohol giving a nice little sting. Extremely inviting. Full bodied and very thick. A rich creamy coffee, dark rich chocolate and dark dark espresso bean taste. There's a strong citrus hop bite that really balances almost perfectly with the bite roasted malt bite. Never overpowering but sits perfectly in the mix. Bitterness is almost identical. Big and present, but just enough and not too much. Grapefruit peel, charcoal and some leafy piney hops as well. Ends surprisingly smooth without much of a long lingering bitterness. Great Divides big beers are out this world good, and this beer is no exception. Big, creamy, full bodied, just enough bite and just enough bitterness to be both in your face and yet never overpowering. Almost the session beer of big beers.

2positive

Unplugged Iced Barleywine

English Barleywine

huge thanks to madtowndmb1 for setting me up with this barleywine! A - deep clear reddish brown color with a nice off white head. S - figs, caramel, a hint of noble hops and a earthy note. T - rich deep toffee, caramel notes, figs, raisins to a degree. M - full bodied, nicely carbonated, slightly concentrated residual dark fruit notes. D - oddly light in the abv notes it transmits. flavors warm up and blend in a harmonious way as temps increase to room temp. a sipper for sure but one that does not broadcast STRONG.

2positive

Green Flash Imperial India Pale Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

I've given this one more than a couple of chances to impress me but some how it seems to just fall short of some of my other favorites in the IPA class. That being said, this is still a better than average IPA! It has an insane amount of flavor right off the bat. Very heavy on the herbs and spices. This beer pours great and is served best at 45-50 degrees. The smell and feel add to the allure of this ale. I rate the drinkability if this one only a 4.0 as the herbs and spices make this a one or two beer max. per outing.

2positive

Lips Of Faith - Grand Cru Abbey Ale

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Glancing at the other reviews, I realize that I'm going to be the lone dissenter amongst the crowd that recommends this beer; I know full well that my taste buds may (must?) be out there on this one. A second caveat: for whatever reason, dubbels (and Belgian darks) are a style that I struggle with. My fun tickets ran out quickly on this one... A: Light brown with low carbonation and little head. S: Caramel and flesh. Not exactly appetizing, but it's not that different from the slight repulsion I detect at most dubbels. T: Most of the fruitiness I like in the regular NB Abbey is absent, though there is a nice banana and fig presence. Nonetheless, for a 'grand cru' this is like a quad that forgot half of its malts! It's very peppery and light on the finish. M: Too thin overall. I would have liked something with more length and strength to back up some of the flavors. D: The lack of body detracts from overall quality. To my palate, there was just too funky a mix of strong fruits and spritzy tonic. Take a pass on this, and try one of NB's other fantastic brews.

0negative