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Miller Lite

Light Lager

biglobo8971

had to have this beer for several times tonight, thought I should review. Poured from tap into a pint, frozen pint even. Looks, smells, taste, like everything I dislike from a beer. The only good thing I can say is that the head retention is quite nice. But the head doesnt cover the taste or aroma. NOt the worst beer I've had, but one of hte worst I've had lately.

IPA

American IPA

biglobo8971

received this bottle from one of my regular CA trading partners. Appearance is a golden orange. I usually like more of a "fluorescent" look to my IPAs. So by appearance alone, was not uber excited to try. Smell changed my mind. Smells like a whole bottle of ganga. Very aromatic. Lots or pine aroma. Made me very anxious to taste. Taste is solid. Not extrordinary. Good flavors of citrus and pine that are very well balanced. Mouthfeel is very enjoyable. Very easy to drink. I am very pleased with this beer overall. Will seek it out in the future. Not the best representation of West Coast IPAs, but a very enjoyable beer.

Hoptical Illusion

American IPA

billzee

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into pint glass. Light amber body with 2 finger white head. Piney hop notes. Not much here. Big on pine flavor with a bit of citrus. Very clean and crisp. Medium body, high carbonation. Nice crisp finish. This is a nice IPA for regular drinking.

Framboise

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

billzee

On tap at the brewpub on 12/30/09 (also purchased a growler to share back home). Pours a beautiful ruby red with small amount of lighter colored head. Smells like raspberry sorbet with vanilla swirl. The taste does not disappoint. If you like raspberries, you will love this beer. A crisp tart bite and sweet raspberry flavor offered in perfect balance. Medium body with very mild (just enough) carbonation to make this very smooth. This beer is amazing.

Quad

Quadrupel (Quad)

bgjohnston

I tried this beer along with their oak aged version, Blasphemy. I found both beers to have a similar combination of flavors and smells, but this was overall a much more drinkable brew. This beer poured into a goblet a very cloudy light amber, with a nice white head. I made sure it was above my normal cellar temperature, almost room temperature, in fact, as I had heard that this style beer with a high ABV likes to be warmer than other beers. The smell was of fruit and alcohol, and the flavor was a complex, fruity, cinnamon, spicy flavor with a really big mouth feel. It improved even as it warmed to room temperature. I really enjoyed this beer, and found that I definitely prefer it over their oak-aged version, which I found to be too harsh.

Anchor Small Beer

English Bitter

bgjohnston

Poured clear amber with a persistent, frothy white head. Kept good carbonation until it was all gone. Smelled like it would be light and refreshing. Not strongly hoppy, not at all malty or sweet. Taste was very good and very much what I would expect from a 3% ABV beer. Not at all offensive, very light and clean tasting. It is very good cold after a warm day outdoors, pretty much the opposite of Old Foghorn.

Rosita Negra Amb Avellanes D'Alcover

American Porter

arturorg

Poured into a pilsner like small glass. Dark brown coffee colored, with a small creamy head that dissipates rather quickly, almost leaves no lacing at all, the smell gives hints of coffee, nuts and malts,the flavor at the beginning it's overpowered with the coffee and decreases after a few zips, very high carbonation feel, little bit bitter and very thin. I would drink it again if it's for free but I would not spend my money on it

Maudite

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

arturorg

Served into an Unibroue tulip A: Pours reddish with a big head that stay, white spiderweb lace that stays stick to the side of the glass, small to no carbonation. S: Sweet smell, apples. For me it was thin in essence. T: Sweet a little bit tarty some like apple cider or some apple wine, a little bit warming, little lingering hop flavor, a hint of banana. Overall it was a fresh beer after all but a little bit thin in the taste and smell department I would re-drink it if possible just to know what's the fuzz about.

Golden Monkey

Tripel

Callaghan

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a my Chimay Chalice. I really like this glass. A: I poured this both ways, vigorously, and easy. Vigorously, a one finger head was produced; a smoother pour produced virtually no head. This review is based on the rougher pour. As a result, the one finger head disappeared within the minute. The brew is a hazy light golden color, with a slight orange hue. There were quite a few particles floating around, and I'm not sure what exactly what they were either, maybe yeast, maybe dried fruit. I wasn't impressed. S: I could smell alcohol, and some spices. After a good swirl, alcohol became more present, and bananas and apricots. Yeast is hidden, or this doesn't have a lot of it. T: This reminds me more of a Strong Pale Ale, not a Triple. Belgian style is loosely used here. I can taste the Belgian yeast, and then big bitterness, like it has a lot of hops. I think the yeast is too strong. It overpowers just about everything else, except the bitterness at the finish, and that just lingers around for a little while. I can't really taste what this beer has to offer, which is a shame, because I swear there are hints of other flavors in there, but they are too faint to taste. M: The best part of this beer by a long shot. It dances in the mouth quite nicely. Carbonation is very little, and it is medium-full bodied. If the bitterness at the finish was a little more balanced, maybe with some sweetness, I would really enjoy this. This slides across the tongue with ease, and leaves a little twinge after it's gone. O: I don't care for this one. It's not that bad, but it's not that good either. I'm trying to think of good things to say about this beer, but nothing really comes to mind.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Callaghan

330ml bottle poured into a Pint glass. A: Black, no question about it. 2 finger mocha head, borderline brown. Minimal lacing left on the glass. About a 1/2 inch of head retains for the entire glass, until the last drop. I would have scored higher if the lacing was there. S: Sweet and malty, like chocolate and molasses. Alcohol is there too, but not strong at all. A little bit of sweet fruit brings it all around! One of my favorites for sure! T: Dark chocolates, caramel, dark fruits, prunes and even dark cherries, bitterness that turns to smokiness. Roasted malts and then a great aftertaste that lingers around for a bit. A touch of alcohol just makes things right. There are stronger and more "slap you in the face" RIS's, but this one perfectly balanced. M: Silky smooth, light and bubbly, yet medium bodied. I expected something heavier based of the look and smell, but I was greeted with a slightly oily feel, but not heavy. The carbonation really brings it together and finishes this beer right! O: I can't quite give a "5" to any of these categories. The beer didn't seem to have the same depth as some other RIS. I don't think it really compares to many other RIS, in that it falls a little short in that respect, but as a beer, it is great! I do like the other Samuel Smith's stuff, and this one did not disappoint.

Leinenkugel's Classic Amber

American Amber / Red Lager

RievyRW

It was previously mentioned, but according the label on the bottle it is a lager, not an ale as listed, and was reviewed as such. Source: 12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Appearance: A little on the yellow side of what I think an 'amber' beer should look like, but I won't complain. Smell: A faint barley grainy smell. Taste: Some grain/malt flavor with a very little hoppy flavor mixed in. Drinkability: Like pretty much all the Leinie products, very drinkable. Not going to stand out in a crowd, but better than the macros that cost the same in the stores (one nice thing about living 10min. from their brewery and probably adds some bias to my review) so I'd be more than happy to drink it all night long.

Molson Golden

American Blonde Ale

RievyRW

Source: 12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Appearance: Pale golden hue with a 1 finger head that dissipates quickly and leave little lacing. Also extremely bubbly, but that may have been a result of the glass. Smell: A skunky smell probably due to the green bottle. Taste: Some grain/hop flavors, but not much. Drinkability: Eh, marginally average would probably be the best words to describe this beer.

Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel

Dunkelweizen

TheDM

I love German brews. Upon pouring this brew I noticed a highly carbonated and very lively brew with an excellent light brown head that contained very fine creamy bubbles and lasted a very long time. Its aroma was very pleasant and filled with malt. It has a very malty taste that goes down superbly smooth with a hint of aftertaste. It has notes of mellow caramel and deep dark malt. Some carbonation was noticeable on the tip of my tongue. Its taste was excellent and very much to my liking. Exactly what I expect of a great German beer and very SMOOTH!

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

TheDM

Another first impression Whoa! This brew foamed up 1/4 brew, 3/4 foam as I poured it into my glass. Its head was a very white color. The bubbles in the head ranged from small to large. Again, this is another very carbonated brew. This brew also had a very mild aroma. It too was hard for me to distinguish from other smells. It has a very light orange color with yeast particles floating in it. Its flavor contains a variety of different tastes. The carbonation once again rolls off the tongue. It is adding to my buzz tonight. I liked the flavor and taste of the brew. It agrees with me very much. All in all an excellent brew! This brew is very potent and it added to my buzz for the evening.

The Abyss

American Double / Imperial Stout

auroracrisis

2007 Vintage that I got in a trade from Solomon420. Thanks again Damian, never thought I'd be able to try this vintage! Pours an oily pitch black with little splashing and a decent two finger head. Lots of legs on the lacing with tiny bubbles throughout the foam. A great looking beer for sure. The smell is delicious. Dark molasses is up front with a bit of oak in the back, as it warms I can smell a tingle of alcohol coming through in the smell. I began reviewing this midway through the bottle due to how good it tastes. I have had the 2008 vintage before and felt the same way about it but with another year on it this beer really shines. Dark molasses, oak, fudgey chocolate cake and alcohol all come through in this. It's such a perfect double stout that I wish Deschutes had the ability to brew this year round and have it available for me to consume locally. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the style but it does not take away from it at all. I like it this way for some reason, if it were any more thick it would take away from the drinkability. Drinkability is through the roof. I could drink a case of this in one night if I could power through the alcohol. Overall, this is a must try. When I can, I'm gonna try and get as much as this as I can afford and Liquid Solutions will allow me to order. A fantastic beer.

Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic

Lambic - Fruit

auroracrisis

375ml into a Russian River tulip, bottled on 11/18/2010. 2010 cork date. A murky cranberry red with a head upon pouring, that dissipates soon there after. Lots of bubbles dancing to the top and the faintest ring of white foam around the edges. Sour cherries up front with an airy, dusty barnyard funk on the nose with highlights of hay, canvas, horse blanket, and petrichor. Some nuttiness and vinegar notes woven throughout the aroma, with more emphasis on tart cherries. Again, forward with sour cherries. Lots of those same funky characteristics and some nice acetic sourness behind the initial fruit and funk. Bacteria has really run wild in this one and given it a real abrasive tartness, but still has a massive tart fruit presence as well. A real nice yet complex balance between all flavors. Medium body with a healthy, spritzy carbonation of tiny bubbles. A little sticky and some drying on the finish. Awesome fruity and acetic tartness with good barnyard woven throughout. A more tart and fruity kriek than say Boon or Drie Fonteinen. Recommended if you can get a hold of it, it's really a shame that Cantillon is becoming rather hard to find in the states.

Pumpkinhead Ale

Pumpkin Ale

CherylM

I usually like Shipyard Beers and was attracted to the festive Halloween label. Unfortunately, that was the only thing impressive about this beer. I found it very thin and watery. The sparse head evaporated quickly. It smelled of faint nutmeg and cinnamon. Mouthfeel had some carbonation. What it really lacked was the rich malt flavor and hop notes that are usually present and the backbone in fine Octoberfest beers. I would probably rather drink an O'Doul's Amber.

Harpoon Leviathan - Imperial IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

CherylM

A- It poured a light amber color, the white foam head lasted throughout. S- Citrusy, some malt. T- It tasted a little like a menthol cough drop. I was hoping for a little more malt at the finish. M- It had the right amount of carbonation. D- I wish they posted the ABV on the bottle. It was smooth enough, but too strong for everyday drinking. I think I'll stick with the Harpoon Octoberfest or Brown Ale.

Chateau Jiahu

Herbed / Spiced Beer

LOM718

I had this last night before dinner, I've been waiting all year (I missed it last year). Appearance - nice light golden hue, like a golden sparkling wine Smell - hint of grapes, honey and spice, light and floral Taste - Sweet! Sweeter than I expected, you can taste the muscot grapes and the honey, there's clove and a slight syrup taste as well Mouthfeel - like sparkling wine, light and effervescent, there's a hint of syrup as well Drinkability - I wanted another when I was finished, however, due to the sweetness it would be hard to drink more than 2 (it's also 9%). But I will definitely drink this again! Way to go Sam (again!)!! I love the ancient brews and this one is exceptional!

Lhasa Beer

Euro Pale Lager

LOM718

Pours golden with a slight white head - almost a wheat-like appearance Smells of honey and fresh grains Mostly malt flavors, honey, light crisp fruit Light, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel Definitely a beer I could sit and drink I was very surprised by the flavors of this beer. I was not expecting much, but was met with a lot of flavor (the honey notes really hit me). I like it and think it makes a great sipper or session beer!

Maudite

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

JamisonM

A: its a brown color with off white head S: sweet malts and some belgian yeast in there that drys out the mouth T: sweet malts first then comes with the yeast and also banana but the finish comes in with this chalky aftertaste that bugs me M: med mouth med carbonation with a chalky aftertaste that sucks I would give it 1 full letter grade higher if it was not for that bad finish D: very drinkable if it was not for that aftertaste overall: are you kidding me with this beer? use a better yeast and you will have an A beer use this chalky yeast and its just a average or slightly above average beer!

The Dissident

Flanders Oud Bruin

JamisonM

2010 edition A: quite clear, deep mahogany red. small head goes away quite fast. S: slightly sour big brett notes here lots of funk sour cherry with a small amount of acid on the smell. T: hit with a wave of sourness, first sip is always kind of a shock to the system but in a good way. beer has funky brett notes and cherry notes in there wonderfully complex M: light mouth with med carbonation D: very drinkable given the style and abv Overall: wow one of the best American sours or wild ales I have had I am very impressed they are such a good brewery. They really do nail most of the beer they brew. They do make mistakes and there mistakes have been well documented in the beer world but I that was mainly in 2009 and I am sure they have learned from that and will move forward and continue to make great beers such as this. Video review up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_TuZTHGxRI

Harpoon Chocolate Stout

American Stout

connecticutpoet

This looked to be an interesting beer, and I was not disappointed. On the pour, it was a dark brown brew with a thin layer of head. A good start, although a little more head would have been welcome. Aroma started out with roasted barley and coffee. There was a slightly fruity character, along with some definite bitter chocolate lurking in the background. Well balanced, nothing stood out glaringly. Taste was dark roasted malt up front, along with burnt barley and hints of coffee. A little bitter chocolate was noticeable as well. After swallowing, a slight sweet fruitiness came forth. Aftertaste was long roasted malt. Mouthfeel was OK, not too heavy, not watery. Not as chewy as it could have been, but better then average. Overall it was pretty good, not at the world class level but a good take on the style.

Brutal Bitter Ale

American IPA

connecticutpoet

This poured a hazy amber with a huge, dense, foamy head that left copious lacing on the glass. The aroma was of very strong rich citrus and powerful hops. Well done! The taste was like a HUGE explosion of hops in my mouth, along with a flavor blend of citrusy flavors and a strong pine overtone. Excellent! The mouthfeel was perfect for the flavor, and I would definitely drink more than one of these in a sitting, regardless of the larger bottle size. A GREAT beer from Rogue, and I recommend it highly.

World Wide Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

Tomas77

'06 World Wide Stout-found a few in a small package store down the street from me. Got lucky. Appearance-Black,almost opaque with deep ruby highlights peeking through when held up to the light. Small but tight dense cream colored head. Very pretty beer. Aroma-Strong coffee roast with a bit of chocolate and alcohol that follows. Slight hints of licorice are also present. No hop aroma. Flavor-Big sweet malt flavor with a freshly grounded roast coffee up front. Dark fruits throughout with mostly dark cherry chocolate notes predominate. Some raison and vanilla later on as you breath out. Very rich and complex malt character. Strong alcohol but not hot. Balances well with the beer. Malty sweet finish with little hop bitterness. Mouthfeel-Chewy malt texture. Dark, fruity malt coats the mouth with a warm alcohol presence and a mild roasted bitterness in the finish. Low carbonation. Excellent brew.

Tecate

American Adjunct Lager

Tomas77

12 oz. can Very light yellow-gold color with a small but lasting head. Lots of co2 bubbles race to the top. Brilliant clarity. Sweet malt aroma with a touch of graininess. Little hop aroma. Flavor is also sweet malt forward with more graininess than the aroma. No hop flavor to speak of. Not a bad thirst quenching beer on a hot summer day. Light body with a dry finish.

Our Special Ale 2008 (Anchor Christmas Ale)

Winter Warmer

LordHammer

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. A: A deep, nearly opaque mahogany with about an inch of tan head. Held up to the light, it is a deep ruby. Head lingers a significant time. S: Nose is mainly spices (cinnamon and clove) and stone fruit. A barely discernible bit of hops hide at the back. Certainly smells enticing. T: This is a complex sucker. Opens with mild to moderate hops, tart fruit notes, and a bit of the spices, although much less than in the aroma. Finishes with roasted malts and a pleasant sweetness, as if scrubbing the palate for the next sip. Really a bit much in the fruit department for my taste. M: A nice, heavy brew that is a good pair for a winter day. Carbonation is light but present. D: This is one that really should be savored, although I've been guilty of having three on occasion. My first year of OSA, and this was not disappointing, given the tradition associated with the brew.

Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter

American Porter

LordHammer

Poured from a 12oz twistoff into my Northern Brewer glass. A: Very deep brown, almost black, with about an inch of tan head that fades to a thick lace that stays down the glass. S: Roasted grain, some smoke, and a strong hop presence. T: Really brilliantly balanced here, with the roasted grains and smokiness out front, and a solid dose of hops at the finish. Consistent bitterness throughout coming from different sources which combine to make a beautiful beer. M: Appropriately chewy for a porter, with subdued carbonation. D: A delicious sessionable beer.

Old Speckled Hen

English Pale Ale

Blake

wow I picked this beer out, despite it's horrendous presentation, because I thought I heard somewhere that "Old Speckled Hen" was a pretty good ale. I'm dissappointed. The smell is alright and it certainly smells better than it tastes. At first sip, there's the hops and a really nice bitter flavor, but the aftertaste seriously tastes like rotting meat or something else putridly disgusting. Goes down well enough and has a bubbly head, but the taste kills it. Maybe this is what mung tastes like.

Brooklyn Pilsner

German Pilsener

Blake

I enjoy this brand a lot. Good amount of frothiness. A good hoppy flavor, just the right bitterness. Also a sweet flavor on top of the hops. Smells warm, sweet, and zesty. like a citrus peal. Seeing as I'm from Brooklyn this beer is available for me to drink at anytime. My favorite from the Brooklyn line.

Terrapin Dos Cocoas Chocolate Porter

American Porter

bhalter8

Pours deep, dark brown (only due to the light edges would I say brown, its almost black). Head is rather thin, but a dark tan color. It looks robust! The smell is somewhat lacking, considering the name, especially. There is a nice tinge of chocolate and malt, but no more than a tinge. Funny, that even with that light smell, the taste is spectacular. The bitter chocolate that must have been used in this tastes perfect when balanced with the malts. This is a very smooth drinking porter, even with the distinct flavor. I have been enjoying the entire 22 oz bomber, and still doing well. I am thinking this one had to be a bit lower on the ABV than the rest of the side projects from Terrapin. Highly enjoyable beer, especially for the rare cold weather here in Georgia.

Imperial IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

bhalter8

Lucked into picking this one up recently, and was excited to give the impressive looking bottle a pour. Pours a hazy orange with a nice looking 1 1/2 finger, creamy white head resting on top. A very nice looking DIPA, indeed. I am having a hard time picking up much hop aroma in the nose. I've tried warming and waiting, and I get a slight tart citrus aroma, but rather faint compared to other DIPAs. A crisp bitterness in the first sip, and present alcohol, as well. The bitterness is there, but I am wanting a bit more from it. It seems like its all bitter, and not enough accompanying flavors. The two powerful players here in the taste are alcohol, and a bitter tart grapefruit. Due to the previously mentioned bitterness and alcohol, it doesn't rest too easy in your mouth as you sip it. Also makes it a bit tough on its drinkability. I have been drinking a lot of different DIPAs as of late, and had hoped for a bit more from this one, but it just seems like its missing some supporting parts. Certainly a decent DIPA, but it does not break into the upper echelon, as I had hoped.

St. Pauli Girl Special Dark

Munich Dunkel Lager

cbill

pours a dark ruby color with a very thin light tan head that faded pretty quickly. smells a little sweet with the faint euro skunky aroma in many lagers, but overall pleasant has a sweet caramelish taste followed by a slight, very slight, hop presence. nothing overhwelming or spectacular, but better than most and it goes down easy and keeps going down easy

Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss

Kristalweizen

cbill

i don't have much experiance with wheat beers, but this definately is not like the others i've had. pours very pale just like a mass produced lager with no head at all. there was no cloudiness as i've seen in other wheat beers. very slight honey flavor, but not too noticeable. save your money and just buy bud or miller, this really isn't any better and i don't thionk you're realy getting a wheat beer.

Mojo Risin' Double IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

PorterForMe

A: Pours a a slightly hazy, deep gold with a 1/2-finger head with no retention. Mediocre lacing S: Apple, hoppy aroma with some sweet malts. I'm also getting some cinnamon?? T: Hmmm. Leads with a blast of unbraced sweetness, followed by noticeable alcohol, and bittersweet apple juice aftertaste. Yikes for a double IPA.... M: Medium body for an IPA. Could use more carbonation O: Really missed the mark for me. It was an IPA so I was looking for some nice hoppiness, but got fermented apple juice instead. I double checked and the bottle was fresh. Another disappointing brew from Boulder...

Serious Madness

American Black Ale

PorterForMe

A: Pours a beautiful black with a one-finger light tan head. Awesome lacing. Can't wait. S: Holy malt batman. A plethora of sweet malt aroma with hints of licorice and slight hoppiness. T: Delicious. Sweet caramel and toasty chocolate with great alcohol balance and a hint of hops. Only thing I would ask for is a slightly stronger hop profile in an ABA. M: Somewhat chewy for an ale; more like a stout (I'm not complaining). Solid carbonation O: This is a great beer. Maybe a touch too sweet and a little lacking in hops, but that is nitpicking this tasty brew. Give it a shot!

Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind"

American IPA

Jaycase

a: nice hazy orangish hue s: very slight smell of citrus. t: Hop splash with a nice lingering bitterness. Not overly bitter but just enough of a bite m: medium carbonation - just right o: Very drinkable. Solid, solid IPA. Smuttynose has an excellent offering here.

Smuttynose Homunculus (Big Beer Series)

Belgian IPA

Jaycase

a: hazy, golden amber. s: spicy, citrus. some honey comes through too. slight hint of banana t: malty sweetness is the dominant flavor for me. Hops seem muted for the most part but presence is there. m: thick and syrupy. medium carbonation o: A nice, inoffensive beer. Fairly drinkable for its abv. Alcohol does start to become prominent especially as it warms. Not something I would seek out again but decent enough. I'd likely stick with other offerings from Smuttynose however.

Wolaver's Alta Gracia Coffee Porter

American Porter

Mario61Aler

Poured a nice dark brown with a nice head and lacing. smelled good with loyts of coffee notes Taste fell off could taste some coffee and no vanilla. mouithfeel was thin for a porter. Overall it was okay I wouldn't try too hard to find this one again, but if it was there and none of the other porters were available I'd get it.

Wooden Shoe Bock

Bock

Mario61Aler

Poured a med gold color that was clear with very little head, but laced very well. The aroma was pleasantly yeasty with a medium hop and a hint of pine the came and went. Hmmm Taste was no surprise from the smell, well balanced between the malts and hops, flavor didn't change too much as it warmed, I liked it slightly cooler in temperature. I had a medium amount of carbonation that was enought to clean your palate. Overall this is an easy drinker that I think will be a goto summer/outside at the grill brew. I liked it, and could have drank several more, without feeling full.

Lindemans Faro Lambic

Faro

Wadsey

Lindeman's Faro Served in New Belgium globe glass. A: Pours sunset orange with a minimal head that shows little retention. Medium effervescence. S: Light sour and musty notes. Actually, the mustiness was pungent at first, but that softens as the beer opens up. Some fruitiness, which ranges from artificial to natural. Subtle wood. T: Yes, there is the sweetness, which is sugary like a pop. Then comes a mild sourness, along with some intense, concentrated fruit notes of apple, berry and grape. The flavor fades away. Residual fruit and sweetness comprise finish. M: Light but syrupy body and medium carbonation, which effectively lifts the body. Reminds me of a sparkling grape juice. O: I'm reasonably sure this is not a particularly faithful representation of a Faro. I would liken Lindeman's Faro to the fruit ales in New Glarus' portfolio, a comparison that works in its favor. If it were more available and a bit cheaper, this beer could become a guilty pleasure. Plus, the wife loves it.

Black Rain Imperial Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

Wadsey

Lagunitas Black Rain Imperial Stout Served in DFH signature glass A: Pours very dark brown with dark amber highlights that appear clear. Head doesn't amount to more than a thin skim. S: Smells predominantly of cola, honey, and oxidation. Additional aromas include powdered cocoa and soy sauce. T: Starts off with honey, malty sweetness and molasses. Next comes dark, dry chocolate syrup and a light note of cardboardy oxidation. Medium bitterness and soy sauce take over for finish. M: Medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Time has thinned out this beer. A little oily. O: I inadvertently cellared two bottles of Black Rain but was pleasantly surprised by how well it drank a little over a year ago and made the unfortunate decision to hang on to the final one. It is still drinkable but has lost a lot of ground.

Raison D'etre

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

CudOfCow

Dogfish makes some great beers. This is not one of them. It smells like microwave burned sugar with prune juice and bootstrap molasses. Very alcoholicy smell. Pours a thickly brown it does have a nice foamy head and leaves foam on the inside of the glass. The head goes well with a moustache. Tastes the same. Sugar, prunes, raisins, molasses, all burned, complicated and powerful. The taste lingers forever and ever. This is the only beer i've ever had that I couldnt finish. I tried really hard to finish the bottle and man up, but this is now my number 1 least favorite beer. To each their own. I gave the other 5 away for friends to try.

Panil Barriquée (Sour Version)

Flanders Red Ale

CudOfCow

Split this beer with my buddy last night. 2005 Edition. The smell after opening the bottle was strong and fantastic almost like a wine cork doused in apple cider vinegar! It pours slightly cloudy orangy-red and has a foamy bubbly head. Tastes very crisp, tart and appley, it has a really nice slightly bubbly carbonation feel. We both agreed this tasted a lot more like a gueze than flemish sour balsemic vinegar taste. It smells so good! The taste does not linger for long at all, which is a good thing. It is sharp and tart, leaves your mouth watering, and then dissapears right away, almost phantom. I'd love to try this on a hot summer day. There is a very slight amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle which is quite bitter, Vitamins! The only thing that could be improved is the bottle, it does not do the beer justice.

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale

Winter Warmer

Blatzman

This beer poured a dark amber and it created a small tan head. The head didn't seem to stick around but I may have had a bad pour. The aroma seemed primarily to be of chocolate and maybe some citrus hops. The taste was definitely malt with the chocolate and some carmel dominating the taste. I also picked up some pine notes. I thought the mouthfeel was more on the thin side. This turned out to be a pretty drinkable beer but it did leave a bit of an unpleasant aftertaste. Overall a good beer and a really cool bottle. Thanks to Aksmokedporter and Phantomvodoo for sharing the sample

Great Lakes Blackout Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Blatzman

I have had a little trouble finding this beer but boy am I glad I finally found it. It poured a dark, engine oil black with a small tan head that didn't hang around long. The smell is a chocolate/coffee aroma with a bit of a nutty background. The taste is..well..extremely smooth. There seems to be an almost perfect blend of malt and hops. The hops doesn't hit until the final swallow but the Mocha-like flavor is deteceted almost immediately. I thought the body was medium to full. This was almost too drinkable. The alcohol does cause a bit of a warming effect on the body especially when you drink it as quickly as I did. I have to rank this one in my top 3 GLBC beers. It probably falls right behind Burning River and E.F. Porter. Yes it is that good.

Summit Great Northern Porter

American Porter

bminus

Pours out a dark, deep brown with a somewhat undersized beige head. Smell is of burnt, toasty malt. A bit of coffee and even less of chocolate. Taste is initially of strong burnt chocolate malt, but smoothes out in the finish. Really smooth feel, not too light, but not too heavy. It's a big beer, great for a sipper on a cold day while bundled up in the icehouse or cabin. More than one gets to be overkill, though.

Hamm's Special Light

Light Lager

bminus

Bought a case for 10.50... can't really complain but... pours out the usual yellowish gold with a white head that fades, lots of carbonation. not too smelly at all, little malty corn taste is very weak but what is there is not too offensive... mouthfeel was, in my mind, pretty decent for the class. really smooth. If you're a college kid like me and want a good beer to party with, this is pretty drinkable. It's pretty smooth and pretty easy to drink. It doesn't hurt that you can search your couch to find enough change for a case of this stuff.

Southampton Altbier

Altbier

PubliusII

Appearance- Red, brown pour. Has a thin, half finger head with little retention. Smell- Sweet, bready smell of brown toffee and bread Taste- Bitter ale taste accompanies rich blend of malt, nuts, and toffee. Mouthfeel- Heavy body with medium carbonation. The bitter finish provides a crisp taste to the beer. Drinkability- A fantastic ale with a deep, complex taste that isn't upset by too much carbonation. It is a well balanced brew for a winter day!

Saranac Caramel Porter

American Porter

PubliusII

rather pitiful head that disappears after a minute. It does have a great lace with some visible carbonation. Rich caramel smell with some softer scents of alcohol. It tastes of caramel, dark chocolate and coffee but it the taste is affected by the sour tones of alcohol and something else. The sourness takes away from the overall quality of the beer. It does have a great, heavy body and some heavy carbonation. It's a great beer for a cold winter day. Heavy brew with a rich body and different tastes that intrigue the drinker.

Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

JWU

12oz. bottle poured into my trusty mug. A- pretty bright gold with orange hints. nice white head, that leaves a little lacing down the glass. S- a light, sweet caramel malt with some floral based hops T- Great googly moogly. Taste-wise, possibly the finest Pale I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. The malt bill is more complex on the taste, taking on the likeness of an ESB. Caramel, biscuit and tea mostly. The floral hops are a bit citric, but are absolutely spot on in their assertiveness, balancing the brew. M- Great on the palette. Medium bodied and slick, with a light carbonation, and it has a pleasently dry finish. O- I really, really wish I could get this in Eastern PA, as this would be my go-to Pale. Fantastic.

Punkin Ale

Pumpkin Ale

JWU

12oz bottle poured into a curved pint glass. A- a nice medium amber with orange hues. Not much lacing. The off-white head dissipates kinda quick. S- some light pumpkin pie scents. A little alcohol as well T- The show begins. Finally a pumpkin ale with some ACTUAL PUMPKIN FLAVOR. Not just cinnamon or nutmeg. What a concept. Don't get me wrong, the brown sugar/cinnamon/nutmeg spices are still really, really nice accents. A little alcohol comes through. The finish has a very distinctive DFH taste to it, likely from their house yeast. M- Medium bodied, plenty of carbonation Not a mediocre thin bodied brew as most pumpkin ales are. O- My favorite pumpkin ale, bar none. While fall brings lots of delicious Octoberfests, I really look forward to this brew. Long live the king.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen

Hefeweizen

davednyc

Only the smell rated less-than-perfect with this beer (and even at that, nothing below the average). I'm continually impressed how Sierra Nevada continues to churn out top quality brews while some of the other larger craft breweries seem to fall short these days. Appearance - straw colored and cloudy, as these hefeweizen typically are. Smell - nothing distinctive about the smell. Taste - I always have a difficulty discerning specific nodes, but there certainly is al ot going on. Citrusy - Yes. Hint of cloves - Yes (now that you mention it). Tastes like is comes from a legit Euro brewer - Yes. Overall - Sierra seem to have hit the mark on the head with this German-Belgium inspired brew (I find anything labeled American-Wheat to be a bit dreadful). No need to grab a Hoegaarden or Leffe at your local big market if you have this one at your fingertips.

ApriHop

American IPA

davednyc

This beer has a very clean copper appearance. Some fruity aromas coming through in the smell, although I'm not convinced that it's apricot that I'm smelling (more like grapefruit perhaps). Tastes like an excellent IPA, but I don't really detect any distinct fruit flavors at all (although this brew is complex and mild at the same time, so maybe the apricot is acting to keep some of the bolder flavors in check). Overall this is a very good brew - I may have subtracted 1/2 point only because no matter how much I enjoyed it, this wasn't the beer that I was expecting.

Galactic Double Daisy Cutter

American Double / Imperial IPA

actone2001

Sent to me fresh by RC0032, a fantastic trader who i regularly trade with. I let this one sit in my fridge for a couple months because I had too many other sours/stouts to drink. A - nice orange hue, somewhat clear with a bit of chill haze. S - I'm sure a lot of the hop aroma dissipated, but I still get a nice citrusy smell. It's still hoppy in aroma, no real maltiness comes out. T - A perfect, citrusy hop flavor rolls across the tongue. Slight bitterness, but nothing overpowering. I think the time on this bottle has exposed the tiny bit of maltiness that I love in a great DIPA. The finish is what makes this beer top notch in the category. The way that It can get all the grapefruit, citrus and malt flavor all to balance harmoniously with that crisp, clean finish is wonderful. M - perfect carbonation. Not tingly, but not flat. Good enough to accentuate the flavor properly. O - Wow! Even after too many months in the fridge, this met and exceeded all my standards for a DIPA. I love the citrusy hops, I love that tint of malt backbone. I could drink multiples of this without ever getting sick of it. Next time (if there is a next time) I'll drink it fresh. I'll admit that I am a bit biased to West Coast Ipa's, but Half Acre continuously impresses me with their offerings! Well done guys!

Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs / Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout

Milk / Sweet Stout

actone2001

A - jet black, very little tan head that dissipates very very quickly. S - cocoa, chocolate, sweet, small hint of molasses, slight roast. Tinge of vanilla even. T - interesting tartness up front. Not off putting, but not something that I beg for when pouring stouts. Bittersweet chocolate, dry cocoa. No real sweetness. Tartness gets less desirable as it warms. M - Relatively thin for the style. Plenty carbonation. Nice velvety feel, goes down easily. O - not a fantastic brew. The chocolate cherry title sounded much flavorful, yet the delivery comes up a bit flat. The metallic tartness that everybody mentions gets old, and the combination of the supposed cholocate just seems off. Nothing screams out 'drink this beer again', but I guess I'd drink it over some stone brews.

Immort Ale

American Strong Ale

ShireExfiguniter

Having expected some vile decoction that mated Rogue's Porcelain Disaster Ale with the lobotomized cloying we-go-to-motel-now sweetness of Midas' Touch, I was surprised and relieved to discover that Immort Ale has more in common with Hair of the Dog's Adam than with post-Ruff-Riders Eve. Mind you, it isn't in HOTD's league. Think of this as the flambee dessert created to follow Adam's main course. Lacing is subtle but present, as befits an 11% ale. Nose is dark and low, like the faint whiff of old leather in an unrestored Model T. Fried banana, molasses and a recently worn black leather PVC coalesce in the bushes-near-George-Michaels distance. Add to this a shimmer of vanilla powdered snow and what you get is Immort Ale's olfactory soundstage. The House of Creed wouldn't complain. Complexion of the ale is like that of caramel brandy in a goblet in an amber seriograph. (True, it might benefit from a trip to the dermatologist someday, but that's not important right now.) Mouthfeel is all mysterioso bliss at first: Licorice, leather and figs in chewy saliva-provoking orbit. The texture fits the mouth perfectly for a time; then, sadly, sugar intervenes. With the fructose aftertaste comes the false note of hops and the sense of the whole thing being slightly too over-stylized and sweet: Dogfish's ever-enduring flaw. You want to pull their CEO aside by the lapel and shriek: HEY, BUDDY. YOU'VE GOT A GOOD THING HERE with your basic style, which consists of combining richness, bitterness and glowing dried fruit. Yes, you've redefined the effect of hops' citrus in that context. But for the love of H. R. Puffenfructose, STOP BEING YET ANOTHER OVERLY STYLIZED AMERICAN BREWERY. You repeat the mannerism of overhopped oversweetness as if that were your style, yet that isn't your style at all. Immort Ale might have afforded me entrance to a world of savory sugared darkness. Unfortunately, its promise dwindled to the aftertaste of individuality's affectation. In the beginning, Immort Ale veers close to its epic goal -- dark succulence -- only to flatten in the mouth and slither sickly sweet. After a promising opening glissando, it sweeters out. It arrives like Adam but exits like Candyman in a low-rent smoking jacket.

Brother David's Belgian-style Double Ale

Dubbel

ShireExfiguniter

Pours with a narrow head and settles with strands of lacing. The effect is not so much disappointing as minimalist. The dark tint and translucence of the liquid in my Duvel tulip conspire to suggest watery root beer -- nothing thicker. The taste is a peculiar splice of dubbel and stout: the cream and bitterness of an ordinary Irish tap stout mingle disquietingly with a generic American dubbel's cloying sweetness. It is unintentional sarcasm in a glass. The taste and texture remind me not of Guinness but of Harp: the creamy blandness makes it as drinkable as milk; BDBSDA is fun for the tongue to bat about the mouth. Only the inappropriate hints of toffee and fig render the taste unsavory. The high alcoholic content is welcome if one likes being tipsy; however, it doesn't do much for the palate. I've always enjoyed the thirst-slaking lemony tartness of Unibroue 10 and Edition 2004, which might be due, in part, to the high abv's being paired with a superb use of hops. Nothing close to that experience is likely with BDBSDA. This pseudo-dubbel is quite guzzle-friendly in the sense that, like Harp, it goes down easily. It works best in the company of noisy friends and massive distractions, where it neither calls attention to itself nor withers the nuzzle buds. The verdict? Situational. If I were reclining in a generic pub in Times Square in a state of refined intoxication, I wouldn't hesitate to order (and savor) a brimming goblet. If, however, I happened to be relishing Westmalle Tripel at Vol De Nuit, I wouldn't want to remember this milquetoast's ale existed.

Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA

English India Pale Ale (IPA)

JMD71

Ap: Deep golden orange color with thick head. Head persists. Carbonation medium. Ar: Malty profile dominates but hops are definitely in evidence too. Milder in hop aroma than American IPA's but that was expected. Ta: Very flavorful malty middle with nice hop finish. Well balanced without being overly bitter or not bitter enough. Mo: Light to medium bodied. Leaves mouth feeling very crisp & clean. Dr: Highly drinkable. Very crisp & refreshing. Really enjoyed this English IPA. As my first UK IPA, I thought it was very flavorful without being overly hoppy or bitter as common with American IPA's.

Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

JMD71

Appearance: Deep gold, copper color. Thin, rocky head which lingers. Slightly cloudy. Aroma: Wonderful hoppy aroma with a solid malty background. Citrus, pine noted. Taste: Very hoppy! I see why it is noted as 'Triple Hoppy'. Strong citrus peel flavor with pine needes. Typical of American hop bill Very strong & bitter. Malt profile solid & gives good body to support the strong hops. Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied, Thick & slightly viscous. A bit cloying from the strong citrus peel flavor. The puckering crispness of the citrusy hops leave the mouth tart & bitter. Drinkability: A slow sipper. The hoppiness makes it a slow-goer. Very flavorful & you want to be able to savor it slowly. Comments: Very tasty IIPA. Lovely deep maltiness offset by mouth puckering hops. Slightly more citrusy than I favor, but delicious for the style.

Lindemans Framboise

Lambic - Fruit

Orangevango

This is not a Lambic, and it Pains me to see people shying away from lambic based only on this beer (or other lindeman lambics) Thus, I am rating this to style. I do enjoy this beer, but I do not enjoy it as a lambic. A: When poured, this beer produces a gorgeous ruby red body and a fluffy pink head. Beautiful. S: raspberries, none of the funk or acidity that a lambic should have, raspberries are nice though. T: SWEEET! Wow this is not how a lambic is supposed to be, it isn't tart, dry, funky... It bears no resemblance to the flavor of a traditionally crafted framboise. It is tasty, like raspberry jam, but way off style. M: The carbonation is suitably high, but the acidic dryness is not there. A bit on the syrupy side too. D: way too sweet, makes it difficult for me to drink much of this beer.

Cantillon Bruocsella (1900) Grand Cru

Lambic - Unblended

Orangevango

This beer is quite interesting. When poured, it does not give any sort of head, there is absolutely no visible carbonation, belive me, I looked. The color is, however, a quite clear and atractive shade of gold. The smell, well, its like a punch in the nose, you can smell it from across the room, sour sour sour. A bit of Funk. The taste is rather underwhelming, quite one diminsional. Its just sour with a touch of oak tannins on the side of my tounge. Its even more sour than the smell gave away. The mouthfeel was like wine, completely flat. I would not want to drink a whole 12oz pour of this beer, in fact, I was a bit tired of it after about 6 oz.

120 Minute IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

DIPAbrewer

Finally found one of these at a local liquor store. I poured the sweet hoppy brew from a 12oz bottle into a wine glass and was immediately struck by the deep resiny hop aroma. The color was deep amber with an off white head that fell into a ring around the glass and left significant lacing. Another whiff of the ale rendered even more hoppy aroma with a deep dark almost smoky note from the malt. The hop aroma was complex but pleasant and the strong alcoholic content is revealed in the nose of this formidable heavy hitter. The first sip overwhelms with hop flavor then fades into a syrupy sweet malt taste. This is a heavy slow sipping drink. The hop flavor is resiny, piney, and vegetal. The malt is super sweet and smoky. The malt seems to outweigh the hop bitterness in my opinion, leaving this ale a little too sweet. Despite this perceived flaw this is still an excellent beer that any IPA lover should try at least once. The drinkability is low given the extreme flavor and alcohol percent. I would recommend sharing a 12 oz serving between two people. After half of this beer my taste buds felt numb and burnt out. In summary, if you love hops try this beer, if not forget it.

Uerige Altbier (Classic)

Altbier

DIPAbrewer

Great big fluffy off white head drops very slowly to reveal good lacing. Healthy brown color with a slight haze, this one is bottle conditioned so I'll let it slide. Crisp malty aroma, faint spicy hops in the nose, subdued fruity esters. Sharp clean bitterness up front followed by a clean dry cracker like malt profile. Super dry middle with subtle spicy hops. Faintly fruity but very clean at the end. Very well carbonated, very drinkable and well balanced. Great example of the alt style and I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

India Pale Ale

English India Pale Ale (IPA)

beeronthebrain

750ml bottle into a Marston's pint. Nice orange color, with a head that reminds me of pancake batter when it's time to flip. Smells citrusy with a hint of sweetness. I sense a bit of honey with a strong citrus kick. Some carbonation with a bitterness that strikes the back of the throat. I will definitely finish this BIG bottle.

Plead The 5th Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

beeronthebrain

12oz bottle thanks to Hoppymeal. Poured into a Stone IRS snifter. Black as night with a dark brown head that isn't around for long. Vanilla and toffee are the strongest notes on the nose. Great beer. Vanilla right away. Wonderful. Smooth, with a nice dry finish. I would make this a drink of choice if it was available.

Tire Bite Golden Ale

Kölsch

XVPierogies

Pours (as advertised) tame and gold, with a medium sized medium density white head that never fully disappears. The hop bouquet gives the beer a nice, if unremarkable, smell. Smells like good beer; there aren't distinguishing notes in it. I taste the alcohol first. That taste is absent from further sips once my mouth gets used to it. Malt flavor comes in second, and is balanced by the hop bite at the end. Very well balanced. Not overly carbonated, or ridiculously strong in taste or abv. There is something here for everyone, and most will want more.

Iron City Beer

American Adjunct Lager

XVPierogies

Pours out of those fantastic aluminum bottles a beautiful golden color with a thin white head that disappears quickly. An interesting confluence of smells: sweet, like grape juice, but also metallic and subtly grainy. This is my go-to lager. The taste used to put me off. When I started drinking beer, I hated this stuff. Now I think it's delicious. I nice hop bitterness sets it above other macros, and the combination of grains give the malt character great complexion. This is as a macro should be. The beer is just right in the mouth: a pleasant texture makes it easy to go down, and the taste combines with it to make it drinkable all night.

Alpha King Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

capra12

Reviewed solo served out of a pint glass. Appearance: Poured 2 finger head, tangerine orange with a shade of brown, spotty thin lacing. Smell: piney hops with a hint of floral hops. Taste: Upon first sip, it get a huge piney hop with a hop bitter middle leading to a mildly floral finish, but letting this brew warm up does really bring out the malt profile in this Pale ale. As this warmed there is a ckean piney and malty open as a hop bitter profile sinks in as the finish comes leaving a mild hop bitter, mildly malty aftertaste. Mouthfeel: Light bodied, with minimal carbonation and slightly smooth. Drinkability: I would have this again and I recommend this to someone who enjoys a solid Pale ale with a malt profile that really makes this enjoyable.

Hitachino Nest Sweet Stout (Lacto)

Milk / Sweet Stout

capra12

Reviewed on 8/31/09 served out of a weyervacher pint glass solo, Appearance: Dark Mohagundy, with two finger head. Smell: There is a distinct hint of sour roasted coffee. Taste: Opens slightly malty. There is a hint of roasted coffee/ chocolate from the middle to the end with the typical milk stout sour notes, leaving a mildy bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel: Light bodied considering it is a milk stout with minimal carbonation. Drinkability: I personally like milk stouts but this is a milk stout I wouldn't have again. I'd rather have a Mackeson or a Lancasters Milk stout.

Flying Monkeys Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale

American Black Ale

SgtStout

Holly Hops Batman! The colour is dark brown, nearly black but not opaque. It poured with a head of about one and a half fingers but this quickly dissipated. The smell was a weird mix of strong pine, some spiciness, some moss/earthy smell, and what I swear was a distinct and strong "herbal" **cough cough** smell. The taste was hops from start to finish. There was very little discernible malt. Lots of pine/citris flavours with a strong bitter finish. Really interesting beer but not something I would probably keep around.

Fraoch Heather Ale

Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale

SgtStout

Nice amber colour with about a finger of head, smell is slightly bready, can detect a little of the heather but it'd not overpowering. Good amount of carbonation. The sweet malt base and the bitterness (from the heather?) balance really nicely. If this beer was more readily available it would be a great session beer and I would drink it regularly.

Sea Hag IPA

American IPA

Bugman

Beautiful brownish red. Thick rocky head. Smells malty and balanced. Taste is medium-full bodied. Biscuit like with a little sweetness in the aftertaste. The caramel malt taste is dominant. Bread like. Hops are resinous, dry, Nice aftertaste. Excellent mouthfeel. Good balance between malt and hops. An excellent IPA. I really dig the can with its blurb about the Sea Hag and the Black, Gold, Blue colors. Drinkable and recommended.

Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)

American Adjunct Lager

Bugman

Pours a typical macro. Straw yellow and clear. Head retention a little better. Neutral smelling. Light bodied but richer than the big three. Clean, dry with a better hop profile as well. A touch of sweetness in the aftertaste keeps it refreshing. Mouthfeel is thin (what lager isn't) but this macro beats the big three hands down. It's lower alcohol content and balanced dry/sweet flavor make it very thirst quenching and drinkable. A good summer/outdoor choice.

Harpoon Octoberfest Beer

Märzen / Oktoberfest

bikerboy

Deep red color. Moderate head with good retention. Smell is mildly malty with no detectable hops. Medium-full bodied. Very malty. Biscuit, bread like with good bitterness. Mild hop presence but not outstanding. The real star here is the rich maltiness. Very fresh tasting. This beer is much better on tap than bottle. I was also surprised to learn this beer is top fermented, not a true lager. Whatever. It sure is good though, no matter what they call it.

Schlitz

American Adjunct Lager

bikerboy

Pours a pale, straw yellow color. Good head with decent retention. Smell is marginal, at best. Now we get to the good part. Light bodied, but a hop profile that reminds me of Pabst. It is dry with no off flavors or aftertaste. malt is a little thin, but at least it is there. This is a good thirst quencher and a steal compared to the big three. Not a bad choice when down on bucks.

Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen

Märzen / Oktoberfest

DeutscheJeff

Given my general taste for German beers, I was disappointed with Paulaner for this beer, nothing at all similar to any of the best Oktoberfest beers I've had. In general I would prefer a heavier, less wimpy German beer for the most German of all holidays.

Pliny The Elder

American Double / Imperial IPA

DeutscheJeff

Wow. So glad I was finally able to procure some of this from the local liquor store. This beer is so tasty, it just goes down so incredibly smooth, with non-stop carbonation running through it. I will gladly try this one again, provided I can find it! Two thumbs up Russian River!

Samuel Adams Honey Porter

English Porter

beace

Apperance is lighter than expected, reddish brown hues highlight the bottom and top of the pint I poured the bottle in. The head is light brown and not too thick, but does leave some nice lace. The smell is quite interesting... ghram crackers, honey jars, and a light maltyness. The taste of this beer is where it really shines. There is a solid porter base to this ale, no traces of roasted barley and small hints of bittersweet chocolate. The honey character is present throughout the entire experince, it is really comforting throughout the finish. There is a subtle earthy hop note in the middle that slowly fades through the finish. This brew is very dirnkable and it goes down smooth leaving you wanting another.

Leinenkugel's Big Butt Doppelbock

Doppelbock

beace

The apperance is an orangish brown. Big Butt lacks much of a head and the bands of lace disapear just a soon as they appear. The aroma brings more to the table. Roast, chocolate, bread, dark sugar, and tart cherries bounce around. The taste is full of malt earthy hops come through in the finish. The carbonation is a bit to much and brings a loud tang and fizz to the experience. Mouthfeel and flavor fight to hold their ground. The nutty character is really nice. This beer would be very drinkable if the carbonation didn't have such a bite.

Bohemia

German Pilsener

AlimonyAle

My new favorite Mexican beer aside from Negra Modelo. Pours a cloudy straw gold color. Hops are abundant in the nose. Taste is like that of a German pilsener. Hop bitterness shows its head towards the back of the throat. The beer leaves excellent lacing on the sides of the glass. This beer is also fairly carbonated, and there is a steady stream of bubbles issuing from the bottom of the glass. This and Negra Modelo are my two favorite Mexican beers.

Miller High Life

American Adjunct Lager

AlimonyAle

High Life, the so called "champagne of beers" is your typical adjunct lager. Pours a pale straw color. The head dissipates into nothing after a few seconds. The liquor store near me sells these in 40's and 32 Oz cans. The taste is of corn. There is an aftertaste, which consists of corn and rice. Overall, this is my go to cheap beer.

Close Encounter Harvest Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

Tbn2

While I poured this beer into my glass, a ruby red body is covered with an off white head that settles to the ring of the glass and doesn't lace too much. The smell is all malt. Has a very caramel and toffee. There is a hint of yeast in the aroma as well. The taste is very similar to the smell. Very smooth and sweet malty taste. This is a pretty good Red Ale. You'll enjoy this offering from Frodham.

Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout

Smoked Beer

Tbn2

Thanks again to drxandy for this. I think this might be one of the best beers I have ever had. I am in a euphoric state right now (this is the second beer I have had and I'm not high right now) A-Black. Almost brown head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. S-Smoke, Chocolate, Caramel, and like it is going to take me to a new world. T-Everything I hoped for and more. One of the best stouts I have ever tasted. I wish I could make beer this good. M-Perfect; enough said. This beer took me to a new world. I would like to think of myself as a seasoned beer drinker. This is probably one of the best I have ever had. I can only remember a few beers that tickled my taste buds in such a good way. If you can't have sex tonight, buy a six pack of this. It will make sweet love to your mouth. Bottoms up...

Reschs Pilsener

German Pilsener

Anonmatel

I once had a Reschs oput of an old wooden cask, and it was truly magnificant. Unfortunatly it must have been a one off experience, cause since then Reschs has dissapointed me. tastes less chemical than other CUB beers, but the inprovements end there. still tastes bland, easy to drink, blah blah blah.. nothing special here.

Tooheys Extra Dry

American Adjunct Lager

Anonmatel

Dry (of course) slightly nutty, other than that rather plain, that said, it's a very drinkable beer, it won the best dry lager section at the world beer cup in 98, so it can't be that bad. good session beer.

Chatoe Rogue First Growth Wet Hop Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

avocadoz

To my knowledge , this is the first wet hop beer I have had. Smells of grapefruit and caramel; pours golden, slightly cloudy with little head. Taste is relatively flat, not very hoppy. I was expecting more, but it's just not there. Very easy to drink though. I would probably not buy this again, but will try more beers in this style to compare.

Founders Dirty Bastard

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

avocadoz

A great, bitter scotch style ale! Pours a dark amber with little head. Smells slightly tropical, not much else. Taste is bitter and heavy.. fantastic! Reminds me of Old Chub, not as smooth, but more bitter. Excellent brew and Im thrilled I can now buy in Georgia.

Brooklyn Monster Ale

English Barleywine

MeisterBurger

Born in 2009. Pours a brownish copper brown topped by a thin ring of foam with thin trace of an island within. The aroma is rich caramel an citrusy hops, alcohol, sherry and tinned peaches. The taste is young, brash, a veritable bitter cacophony of flavors. A fruity malt is met by a bitter chalkiness with some brown sugar and raisins tagging along for good measure. When that goes away all that's left is a very warming alcohol. Very flavorful but somewhat lacking in depth for me, and a little rough around the edges, something which I'm sure would improve with a little aging. Very full bodied, lightly carbonated. Overall a little heavy on the alcohol for me but a decent beer and pretty good value at $2.29.

Snake Dog IPA

American IPA

MeisterBurger

Pours a nice, crystal clear amber with a copious head. Fantastic head retention and lacing. Smells earthy and spicy with some sweet malt. Somewhat fruity. It's subtle. Whatever weak biscuity caramel malt there is killed swiftly a barrage of citrusy, earthy bitterness. The grass/leafy astringency kind of sticks around in the aftertaste, with an aftertaste that reminds me of a Halls Mentho-Lyptus cough drop. Thin bodied. Meh. There are far too many better American IPAs out there for me to bother with this one again.

Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel

Belgian IPA

RidiculedDisplay

When I saw this at the store, I was overjoyed. Having read about this beer's advent here on BA, I was eager to see how it turned out. Appearance: A straw color which is rather dull in body, but man, every review prior has been right about the head: fluffy, sticky, pillowy, amazing. Lacing is impressive. Watching the patterns it makes on your glass after each swirl is very entertaining. Lots of floaties in the body upon holding up to a light. Smell: The hops are rather subdued relative to actual American IPA's, much less Double IPA's, but they are still, definitely, much more present than in your average tripel. Floral up front for me, sweet and meandering into a slight waft of pine. The hops sort of come in mists as you inhale, like a light cloud pillowing the banana, apple, and subdued blueberry Tripel esters I pick up as a base. And then, at the end of the nose, comes a gentle smack of grapefruit peel hop aroma. Great. Taste: I'd agree with other reviewers that the taste takes a back seat to aroma and appearance. Banana, Grapefruit peel pine up front, pear, apple following, with an IBU-packed biting finish. A little warm alcohol as you go down the throat, but pleasant. Not a bad taste by any means, just not quite as complex as the nose. Mouthfeel: Piercing little carbonation bubbles dominate the mouthfeel. Definitely a little over-carbonated, but nothing too detracting. Drinkability: Very quaffable, but the alcohol sneaks up on you. This beer truly is one of a kind.

Cantillon Iris

Lambic - Unblended

RidiculedDisplay

Found a bottle of this at a local liquor store. Appearance: Pours with a lively one finger white head, which settles within minutes to a quarter-finger. Lacing is initially spotty upon swirling, but further swirls reveal some fingers, also. All of the lacing patterns, however, tended to be transient, drooping down the side of my glass within seconds of the swirl. The body is a pretty, if not completely opaque, amber straw color. Smell: Wow. A ton going on here. Alfalfa, timothy hay, brett, fermented fruit, hint of lavender, hint of rosemary, apple cider, acai fruit, caramel, malt sweetness, general mustiness. Really a ton of things that I could pull from for hours. Amazing. Taste: A fascinating thing to me about sour beers, so far, has been the rather obvious revelation that our noses have little to no way to detect sourness. It's entirely a tastebud thing. This is no exception - whereas the nose revealed a variety of barnyard, herb, and fruit aromas, there was no sourness, which hits you like a train, therefore, upon sipping. I understand, from other reviews of Iris, that this is a little on the mild side for Cantillon in terms of sourness, but it still was fairly strong to me. That being said, the sourness is not completely overwhelming, it's just dominant. It allows itself to step aside for a second to gather other flavors. Vinousity, pepper, a strange hint of smokey charbroiled meat. Hard to explain, but unique. Grape skins, flowery perfume, slight alcohol, brett, other wild yeasts. Great. Mouthfeel: A little thin, to be honest, and undercarbonated. Certainly sour. Not too astringent, though, surprisingly. Drinkability: This is definitely a sipper for the sourness, but, as I said, it's a gentle sourness.

Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

BenHesk12

A- Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale is reddish amber in color and pours with a small head that quickly disappears. S- This beer is plain smelling and even with swirling the glass I can't get much aroma from it. T- Malty with a bitter hoppy aftertaste. IT seems like the bitterness is kind of forced and doesnt really flow well with the brew. M- the mouthfeel here attacks the palate. My initial tasting was when the beer was frosty cold from the fridge, but once the beer warmed, the mouthfeel became a bit creamier and somewhat more enjoyable. Although this isn't a style I try often, I have to say this beer really didn't seem like a finished product to me. The hop character is confusing in this brew and seems forced upon the palate. Although I'm a big fan of north coast, I probably won't try this one again.

Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

BenHesk12

Served on tap at Jupiter restaurant in Berkeley CA. Appearance - Stone VEA 11 appears a very deep enticing hue of reddish amber, almost like a red ale. smell- it's a whirlwind of fruit, belgian yeastiness, and of course the cinnamon and chile that make this beer special. taste - Pretty much a thoughtful interpretation of a strong belgian ale. High alcohol and belgian yeasts blend nicely with the chile, cinnamon, and sour notes. mouthfeel - to me this beer had the sharp feel of a red ale, but without the sourness. Its delicately carbonated, and has the expected texture of a fine belgian ale. overall - an interesting take on a classic style, high quality, and as others have said, a palate overload. I wouldnt expect much less from Stone, and this beer only being brewed one time, if you ever see it, TRY IT!

Immort Ale

American Strong Ale

dawg

I picked one up at Amels. Think it was over peated or had bad base malt. Tasted like band-aids. Had to send it back. Substituted a 60 minute IPA which cleansed the palate. The lable was appealing as is typical for DFH. Nice and intricate. The alcohol was dominated by the phenolic tones. The vanilla and maple was also masked. Felt thick and chewy as I expected.

Samuel Smith's Organically Produced Lager Beer

Euro Pale Lager

dawg

From a bottle donated from a friend. Appearance is exceptional. Mostly sexy from the bottle. Smells good like a medium light lager should. Very clean and crisp. Well balanced sweetness and lightly hopped. Tastes and feels very good. Very, very drinkable. Not sure if I would have paid $60USD for the case but a damn fine beer nonetheless.

Newcastle Brown Ale

English Brown Ale

RickKrumenacker

A- Reddish-brown in color, with a 1-finger head that dissipated rather quickly...not much in terms of lacing S- A little bit of a skunky smell at first...gives way to sweeter aromas of caramel and roasted nuts T- Followed the nose...kind of a skunky flavor up front...some roasted malts come through as it warms...a nice bit of bitterness sticks around to give the beer a little more character M- Light to Medium bodied...not much carbonation in this one...kind of crisp for a brown ale D- Easy enough to get through...I seem to remember Newcastle having more to it, maybe my taste buds were a little off tonight, but I was expecting more from this beer...

Stone Ruination IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

RickKrumenacker

A - A hazy, honey colored beer...nice fluffy head of about 3-fingers...head really sticks around for a long time and has some outstanding lacing S - Nice grapefruit aroma, even before I'm done pouring...getting my nose in the top of the pint glass gives even more bitter grapefruit...I'm not really picking up on much of anything else...swirling gives off some sweeter alcohol aromas T - Bitter hops...lots of white grapefruit...not much else M - Creamy...nice amount of carbonation...bitterness sticks around, but not to the point of being overwhelming...very dry finish D - Something that I would reach for again and again...the hops seem to be like a good, spicy food...powerful, but makes you want more

Blanche De Bruxelles / Manneken Pis Belgian White

Witbier

bskrtz

11.2 ounce bottle served very cold, poured into Blanche de Bruxelles (logo) chalice A) Near perfect Belgian white ale. Unfiltered, straw gold yellow with 1/2 inch tight white head S) Orange peel, citrus dominates, coriander, mild spice, sweet fruit T) Crisp yet mild and refreshing. Orange & banana, ginger, sweet malt, mild tart M) Light with loads of fine, bottle conditioned carbonation. Very smooth D) Wonderful summer ale. Low alcohol content says its okay, have another.

Maudite

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

bskrtz

Poured very cold from 12 ounce bottle to beer challice A) A cloudy, dark brown ale. Plenty carbonation with lacy head. S) Ginger, dates & root beer. Distinct smel, unique to Unibroue T) Referred to as a Belgian Dark or Belgian Strong Ale but doesn't taste "Belgian" to me. A very good ale on its own but in my humble opinion, should sit in a different category. Sweet spice, caramel & ginger M) Bottle conditioned, abundent fine carbonation. Tastes 'thinner' than it appears D) Maudite is a good ale with its own distinct taste. Very yeasty or is it hoppy? Very something.... Another good beer from Unibroue

Pilsner Urquell

Czech Pilsener

Taipans

I picked up a 4 pint pack at my local grocer this past weekend. With temps hitting in the mid - 90s I figured this would be a pretty refreshing beverage. I wasn't dissapointed, it was light, crisp and a pretty good rep of the style. Out of can, so I will have to skip on the appearance, but I did like the can design. =) It had a grainy sweet aroma, much like the macro lagers in the states. It tasted somewhat bitter with a nice complex profile. Smooth and easily drinkable, I had a couple pints and didn't feel bloated or full. Highly recommended!

Grolsch Blond

American Blonde Ale

Taipans

I had this beer over the weekend on Easter. It was one of the most mundane beers I have ever had. Everything was just "Ok", looked a bit light, tasted a bit boring, smelled kind of skunky. Head was very fine and was gone in seconds. I could drink this stuff on hot days, better then Bud Light, but would rather have a hundred other brands over this one, including Michelob.

Two Term Double IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

SickGnar

A: Plenty of head, great retention, and spectacular lacing. Golden amber and slightly hazy. With distinct legs, it looks like the hefty beer it claims to be (8.5%). S: Crystal malts dominate the nose. Faint alcohol. Hops are in the background and sort of vague, certainly less than expected for a big IPA. T: Malty and a touch sweet. Lots of caramel, some toffee, hints of honey-like sweetness. Slightly grainy at the margins. Hops are definitely there for bittering, but seem to just balance the malts. Citrus rind and maybe some pine. General C-hop impression. Not really noticing the booze in the palate. Actually, it is pretty clean for its size. It has plenty of malts, but I was expecting a bit more complexity. The biggest thing, though, is the shyness of the hops (especially for aroma and flavor). M: A bit beyond medium body with okay carbonation level. Slightly slick and a little bit sticky. Semi-sweet finish with alcohol warmth. D: Doesn't really smell or taste as big as it looks, feels, and is. But is clearly not a session beer (too much body & abv). It is more of a sitting and thinking beer. Mostly I was wondering were the hops were. It would also have been nice to have some more complexity to contemplate in a beer of this size. Overall there is nothing really wrong with it, but there does seem to be room for improvement.

Bear Naked Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

SickGnar

A: Tawny yet light copper with a bit of haze. A few random bubbles rise to the small off-white head. It keeps a ring of foam and leaves an okay amount of lace. S: Citrus, floral/herbal, barest hint of spicy hops. Some bright fruity esters. Background, lightly toasty pale malt. Smells good, but I want more umph. T: Balanced, but leaning to the hops. Fruity citrus of orange & tangerine up front, floral/herbal/spicy in the middle, end is lingering citrus & herbal which gets increasingly woody as the finish continues. Lots of light, bright, juicy esters are mingled with the hops. Toasty pale malts provide a good platform for the hops show, and just a hint of sweetness. Quite a nice showcase of hops and nice fruity esters. M: Just medium budy but still with a hint of chew. Lightly balanced carbonation. Bright & refreshing leaning to crisp yet only semi-drying finish. D: Nice juicy-fruity citrus both from hops and esters. Rather more pale and amber. Lighter body, loads of citrus hops, mild malts, and all the light & fruity esters. Regardless of style, it is a very nice, characterful, tasty, and drinkable beer.

Wachusett Blueberry Ale

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

DMac

Pours a pale yellow with a fair head that dissipates quickly. No real lacing to speak of. The aroma leaves no doubt this is a blueberry beer: smells of blueberries first, and a subtle grain malt second. Upon tasting, the roles are switched: malt first, then a subtle blueberry, which is actually just a back of the throat aroma. I actually only TASTE a tiny bit of grain, then there's this sort-of processed citrusy feel. Mouthfeel is very light. Strangely, this beer is more enjoyable than the sum of it's parts. The combination of smell-taste-feel is fine. Not something I'll drink if I "want a beer," but if my choices at a BBQ were Bud or this, I'd crush a few dozen of the local brew.

Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat

Witbier

DMac

A beautiful cloudy yellow-amber; the light sneaking in through the edges of the glass gives a nice gradient effect. Small off-white head gives way to a mono-layer of foam. Strong bright fruit smells. Citrus, a bit orange-y; touch of clove. Some light malt. A crisp light malt at the front of the mouth is quickly overwhelmed by esters of tangerine, coriander, and... is it banana??? A sharp introduction to the tongue gives way to a nice creamy body. Finishes light with lots of esters left to linger. A nice American imitation of a white ale.

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

beervana1858

I had pretty high expectations for this beer and after the first taste I thought it would be a beer that I would buy again. About halfway through however, there was an off flavor of sorts which could only be compared to rotting fruit. I did finish it but I was tempted to pour it out. Perhaps the fact that I spent $3.99 on it kept me from not finishing it. Overall, a very disappointing purchase.

Stone Ruination IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

beervana1858

I used to really dislike IPA's but over the last year I have acquired the taste for them. This IPA is called "Ruination" because it claims that it will ruin you for other IPA's that may come across your pallet in the future. This is an exceptionally true statement. Although it cost me nearly $5 for a single bottle, I will definitely be buying this again. This beer truly lives up to its name.

Snake Dog IPA

American IPA

ALESwhatCURESya

Nice look but a weak aroma. There was little hop presence in the nose. There was, what seemed to be, a sharp hoppy start, but it finished more of a sour taste. I don't find too many IPAs that I don't like and this one isn't too bad as well. Just an average IPA with an Above average label.

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout

ALESwhatCURESya

This was the first drink I had on the night of our wedding reception. This was just what I needed to start out the fabulous night. Beautiful mollasses black color with super fluffy head that lasted forever. The taste was rich in toasted nut and chocolate and finished very crisp! This is a fantastic and very smooth tasting oatmeal stout. Two Thumbs Up!!

Little Creatures Pilsener

Czech Pilsener

Tagger24

Had it on tap at the brewery itself. Appearance - A bit darker than say a European Pils but not overly dark. Not as carbonated as I expected it with a very thin head that disappeared quickly and left very little lacing. Smell - Bland. Some hops in there and a bit citrusy. Nothing really to write home about. Taste - Dominated by the hops. A slight citrus/lemon flavour from the smell was present. Even the hops were one-dimensional. Dry finish with that distinct aftertaste of LC brews. Not inspiring. Mouthfeel - Thin and watery but less carbonated than a macro. Drinkability - I'd get bored of this too easily. Just not enough character. Hopped beers like a pils should have some sort of complexity in the flavour and this beer doesn't have that. Its definitely geared towards a macro lager drinking crowd.

London Best

English Bitter

Tagger24

Served cool in a tulip glass (hey, I just bought it and wanted to use it) from a 330ml stubbie. Appearance - Poured a dark amber red with a good thick off white head that settled down to a small but persistent layer that left a good strong cobweb of lacing. Smell - A bit lacking. A faint honeyish malt waft but mostly dominated by a strong hoppy character with a slight single in the nose and some alcohol. Taste - Quite enjoyable- not as heavy as I was expecting. Has that distinctive malt flavour of other beers of its colour. Long drawn out aftertaste that was reminescent of a sweet stout- slightly dry but with the slightly bitter, burnt taste. Hops I could smell didn't come through strongly- mostly as the beer immediately hits tongue. What I could taste adds a deep, pleasing flavour. Mouthfeel - Weak and watery, not very enjoyable. Very little carbonation. Made it easy to drink but didn't give a fullness you'd expect. Drinkability - This is actually my first in the style (I have a few authentic English bitters waiting in the fridge). I really enjoyed it. Definitely not as bitter as I expected, in fact I was a bit disappointed as I think the taste leant too far to malt, without a balance in hops. Other than that, it was definitely enjoyable and I think would make a good session beer. Not overly complex but solid enough.

Bud Light

Light Lager

BeerBoss

Served out of a chilled tankard. Ok so I had a budlight lying around in the fridge from last summer. No...I didnt buy it..someone brought it into my house without me knowing about it. Figured I would give it a review. Color is a clean light golden color. Has very little if no aroma. Its been a while since I have had one of these...taste is watery with no identifiable notes of any kind...my poor taste buds... It does finish clean though...brings me back to my keg party days...

Samuel Adams Imperial White

Witbier

BeerBoss

Served out of a bottle into a chalice glass A: A deep amber/organge color...not what you would expect from a white but nice non the less. Lacing is thick. S: A malty organge. T: Many different layers here...starts with a bit of a hoppiness into a subtle maltiness and finishes with a citrus. M: A bit rough in the mouth...thick and tingly with a substantial impression on the tounge. O: Not bad...not great...not quite sure what to think of this imperial white...

Brown Shugga'

American Strong Ale

OregonPaul

I discovered this beer last year at the Portland Holiday Ale festival. Actually it was one of my top picks of the event. I was delighted to discover that Fred Meyer had it in 6 packs. Appearance: I wish "brown shugga" was a bit more brown. It looks like a simple pale ale. Boring. Smell: Excellent! You could buy this beer just to smell it! i swear it impossible to smell and not taste. You can smell toasted carmel sugar. Taste: Fantastic. It goes well with the smell. However I believe it's missing something. Something very small but important. Winter ales need the full package. Overall the "taste" is as advertised. Mouthfeel: Nothing to complain about. Other than i'm drinking from a bottle not a keg. Drinkability: Good enough for 3. Overall... Buy some! It's worth it. It's really a great beer. Worth $8 a six pack.

Twilight Ale

American Blonde Ale

OregonPaul

I keep trying to make this a staple of what summer beer should be. And after many failed attempts I come to the same conclusion... I thought this was a good example of exactly what the description on the bottle states - "chilled as the day lingered on". It had enough flavor to garner the end of a very hot summer day. It's not too hoppy (thank you) with a semi-nice crisp finish. It does, however leave an aftertaste of a syrup glazed tongue. I'll probably purchase another 6 or 12 pack before the summer ends. Yes... I'll give Deschutes another shot. Come on, they're from Oregon.

Green Monsta Ale

English Pale Ale

chriskozma

I just saw this in the store so I picked up a 6er because I remember enjoying it at CNY Brewfest. This is a great tasting balanced pale ale. It has smooth red amber notes with a perfect balance of malts and hops. Maybe even a little caramel aftertaste. For it's 7.3% alcohol, it is insanely drinkable. This is my go-to beer for a typical night of drinking based on its reasonable price tag as well (about $8 a sixer).

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Hefeweizen

chriskozma

A: This beer is a cloudy straw color with a foamy white head S: The beer smells great. Bananas mostly T: Sweet banana flavor. Other fruits as well. Maybe a little nuttiness, too. M: Mild alcohol burn. Light creaminess. D: Off the charts This beer is a great example of the style. I could drink this stuff all day.

Otter Creek (Alpine) Black IPA

American Black Ale

RyanWo

A very drinkable black IPA served from the bottle into a pint glass, not too hoppy, not to roasty, not too strong and not too malty. It's aroma is of pine and citrus, and the appearance is black. Moderate carbonation, and good balance. Very easy drinking beer.

2XIPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

RyanWo

A very nice example of the DIPA style. Appearance was a ever so slightly hazey golden color with a nice tight cap of white foam. Aroma was grass, grapefruit, citrus, and pine. The body is perfect on this beer not too thick or thin just right for the style, medium light body. Taste is hop flavor, hop flavor, and hop flavor with mild bitterness, but not out of balance also no heat from the alcohol either. A great interpretation of the style.

60 Minute IPA

American IPA

ScarletFire

I absolutely LOVE this India Pale Ale. Not only is the hoppiness right up my alley, also the alcohol content..This one will get me feelin' all good to go without effort. I am a big fan of 60 Minute IPA. Infact, I think they brewed this beer for me!! I can't seem to find it very often which is dissapointing, but when I find it, I'm all about it. I encourage all hopheads to give it a try, if not twenty!

Long Hammer IPA

American IPA

ScarletFire

Though I can't say I've had this beer on tap..I have had it several times in bottles. It is a back-up beer for me, when the store I'm @ doesn't have any other India Pale Ale for sale. This beer is very average, and not nearly hoppy enough for my preference. I buy it, but it certainly is not a favorite of mine! I am however happy that Red Hook Brewery finally makes an I.P.A.!!

G'Knight Imperial Red Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

CharlieMopps

After enjoying a can of Dale's Pale Ale a while back, I decided I'd keep an eye out for more Oskar Blues products. I had been surprised by the head retention, aromas, and all around great taste that was served out of a can. So, while perusing the aisles of a local Total Wine, I happened upon Gordon Beer. Let's give it a go. A: Poured a deep amber/ruby hue, a quite impressive color to be honest, holding to the proclamation of "Big. Red. Sticky." on the outside. Once again, head retention and lacing is out of this world. Two and a half fingers of dense, immaculate head stuck around for quite some time. A damn impressive appearance. S: A very piney and sweet bouquet, which is complemented with a certain dark fruit and spice scent. I can wait anymore, I've gotta take a sip... T: Well.. I feel like I was thrown for a loop. Expecting a hopped out IPA taste, I instead was rather surprised, yet delighted, on what I found. A coying introduction of maltiness is accompanied by a sticky hop flavor toward the middle. The finish is both anti-climactic and amazing at the same time. The hops recede and a pleasing aftertaste is left at the back of the tongue. M: Very hearty; a thick, creamy mouthfeel with a sticky hop side that covers the entire palate. Still, quite enjoyable and definitely solid in this category. D: The novelty of this beer is that it doesn't kill the palate, yet gives you a mellow hop kick that does little harm. For that, I salute Oskar Blues for this offering; its appearance was enticing, its flavor was unique, and it makes for a very practical beer.

Samuel Adams Boston Ale (Stock Ale)

American Pale Ale (APA)

CharlieMopps

A: Transparent tawny orange color with a half-inch head and very little lace. S: Hoppy and spicy aroma with a laid-back malt profile, some hints of grass or herbs present. T: Very smooth malt flavors coming across up front with a hoppy bite towards the end. A lingering maltiness is left on the palate, not bad, and has a nice balance to it. M: Smooth, but perhaps a bit watery, with a good level of carbonation to it, sort of crisp as well. D: Nice interpretation in the vein of a straight up ale. Would have another for the mouthfeel and dynamic of flavors, yet also its simplicity.

Old Man (Winter Ale)

Old Ale

LeoPanna

A: Medium-dark amber... when held to the light it radiates a nice orange. One finger head, nice and even coating over the top. most of the froth disappears right away when i swirl the glass, but what sticks thins out into some interesting patters.. S: Deep malts... bright hops...orange peel...spring flowers...nothing stands out, but it's a pleasant aroma, i already know this is a quality ale. T: Springy hops just like the smell, don't know enough about specific hops but by "springy" i mean like spring flowers. Orange peel and tangerine essence. Malts are subdued but give it a nice dark balance in the middle of my tongue... the after taste ties in with the initial flavor, citrus and flowery hops with a nice warm alcohol burn. MF: Smooth w/ medium carbonation... Sticks to the lips and fizzles down the throat. As it warms the carbonation seems to get a little heavier and the bitterness of the hops starts to steal the show.. O: A very nice Winter Ale... I'm a huge fan of Southern Tier's more subtle beers. I've been drinking so many extreme brews that these kind of medium-body ales are becoming my refreshment drink. It's late fall in NYC and they sell this around the corner, I'll definitely drink a few more throughout the cold season.

Maudite

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

LeoPanna

Cloudy brown and light red... steady retention on a cream white head...looks like tamarindo juice..this beer has a life of its own, i can see the yeast still doing its thing in my glass. ripe fruits, wheat bread in the nose...lots of spices whoa... spicy clove... bread and toffee, caramel... earthy flowery character like most unibroue ales... i can def taste the hops but its so well balanced in the taste, other tastes are dominant.. light carbonation with the initial blast of flavor, soft on the tongue, alcohol gives it a lift... aftertaste is marvelous, makes you want to take your time drinking this brew i really love this beer... Unibroue is one of my favorite breweries because they NEVER disappoint.

HopDevil Ale

American IPA

ArizonaAl

Having already tasted this beer from the bottle, I jumped at the chance to taste it from a hand-pumped tap (served in a British-style pint glass). First impact was the head -- two inches of dense, long-lasting foam with reasonable persistence. It has a deep color (beyond amber, reddish copper hue) that's nice to look at. The name is apt: it definitely hits you with assertive hoppiness. I was surprised by how faint the aroma was - from a room-temperature, hand-pumped beer I expected more. The flavor made a strong first impression, but didn't linger; each mouthful made a new impression. The flavor was enjoyable but didn't seem especially complex (well, to be fair, the hops flavors were quite complex, but I didn't detect any other major flavor components (e.g. fruit, spice, chocolate, or the other "usual suspects." The carbonation was distinctive. In addition to the foamy head already mentioned, this beer had a very fine, almost imperceptible carbonation that produced a unique mouthfeel -- kind of like eating snow -- it just seemed to "melt away" on the tongue. This is meant as a compliment - I don't remember the bottled version as producing the same effect as the hand-pumped product. I'd drink it again.

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

ArizonaAl

This beer is one worth seeking out. Perfect for sipping and people-watching, full-bodied and full of flavor (toasty/malty). My wife is a great fan of this beer, and that's saying something, since she's only an occasional beer drinker, and tends to favor wheat beers. Who'd 'a thunk she would flip for this heavy-duty brew? Quality will out, I guess. Smell it, and experience a kaleidoscope of subtle aromas, including a hint of citrus, and even some floral accents (hops are flowers, after all). The solid foam imparts flavor, too. To my mouth, it's a "wet" beer (thirst-quenching), even though the high alcohol content might impart a "dry" taste in a less complex beverage. This beer stands up to food, and is positively fantastic with strong cheese. I wish it were easier to find in my hometown -- I'd make sure to keep some in my fridge at all times!

Aphrodisiaque

American Stout

Digimaika2

A: Near black with a tall mocha coloured head that is incredibly creamy and billowy. Clings to the glass as it recedes. S: Lots of sweet vanilla and dark chocolate notes. A strong roasted and creamy aroma. Caramel smelling malts present. Overall quite nice. T: Creamy vanilla, dark chocolate, and roasted espresso beans. Tastes quite a bit like chocolate covered espresso beans, with quite a strong bitter roasted flavour. Wasn't expecting this much espresso from the smell but it's very pleasing. M: Medium to lighter mouthfeel with a bit of pleasant grainyness. About average carbonation. D: Definitely drinkable, and will be picking this up again. Great natural-tasting roasted flavours without being too over the top.

Joseph Bellarmin

American Double / Imperial IPA

Digimaika2

A: Deep amber with a slight cloudiness. Nice bubbly head that slowly fades. S: Bready malts, strong citrus notes (grapefruit and lemon), and lingering floral hops. Slight honey sweetness in there. Picking up a bit of alcohol. Overall very nice aromas. T: Rather subdued in comparison to the full aroma. Some hops and citrus notes, but a surprising sweet malty flavour pokes its head in there just as much. No lingering bitterness at the end, but rather a bit of warming alcohol. Was expecting a bit more flavour indicative of the smell. M: Rather grainy and a little oily. Mild carbonation. D: Overall a decent brew, however I don't think I would seek this one out for a little while. Personally I prefer more hopiness in a DIPA but this is a bit of a different take on the style.

Porkslap Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

angelsil

Part of 12 Butternuts pack sampler. Poured into ghetto Ikea pint glass, because it's what I got on hand. A: Nice amber color. Fairly clear. S: Funky mold smell, but not heavy. None of their beers have much nose. T: This beer tasted odd. It's malt forward, but then the aftertaste is like an ashtray and it lingers. Oh dear does it linger. I feel like I've been chewing cigarette butts. M: Crisp. Heavily carbonated, like all their beers I've tried this weekend, but in this style it's TOO bubbly. O: Definitely the weakest of the 4 Butternuts beers I've tried. It's clearly more EPA than APA and it's not a strong version of that.

Heinnieweisse Weissebier

Hefeweizen

angelsil

Part of 12 Butternuts pack sampler. Poured into ghetto Ikea pint glass, because it's what I got on hand. A: Very hazy. Looks like a farmhouse ale should. Head was thin and disappeared quickly. S: Faint sour smell. Aroma was not strong, perhaps the sampler pack had sat around for a bit. T: Tart. The heavy citrus notes overpower the wheat background. M: Heavily carbonated, which worked for the style. Very refreshing on the tongue. O: Pretty average hefeweizen. Wouldn't buy it again, but wouldn't turn it down on a hot day.

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

JJBlanche

A: Golden, cloudy, with some yeasty dregs. Excellent head with great lacing. Beautiful. S: Aroma a touch muted, but still enticing. Malty, spicy, as one would expect for the style. T: Magnifique! If this is what the end of the world tastes like, I want front row tickets to the apocalypse. A sweet symphony of various flavors all combined flawlessly and seamlessly. Malt, spice, hints of fruit. A ton going on, but never overwhelming, nor cloying. 9% alcohol masked extremely well. M: 5.0 'nuff said. D: The great thing about this brew is you can choose to ignore the complexity and session it (at your peril), or revel in the menagerie. Unibroue leaves it up to you. O: An excellent beer. Easily among my top go-to choices. If you haven't tried it, do yourself a huge favor and buy a 750.

Yuengling Traditional Lager

American Amber / Red Lager

JJBlanche

As someone who grew up in the heart of Yuengling country, I feel qualified to write something on this one... Appearance: Fairly attracive amber color. Certainly more to it in this regard when compared to BMC, but the fizzy head (which quickly retreats) hurts it somewhat. Smell: The smell is dominated, in my opinion, by an off-putting sulfur note. Taste: Again, sulfur and adjuncts really kill this beer for me. Not much of a malt backbone to speak of. Hops are detectable, provided one is looking for them. Mouthfeel: This is perhaps the best aspect. The level of carbonation is just right, and it's not too light considering the style. If only it tasted good, then we might have something. Drinkability: The drinkability suffers for me, because I find it hard to choke this down with the sulfur. After I've had a few choice brews, and my palate has numbed somewhat, it becomes easier to drink -- but still far from preferable. Overall, I've never been fond of Yuenling Lager. The porter is okay, and to a lesser extent the black and tan, but the lager is something I really have to choke down.

Cottonwood Endo India Pale Ale

American IPA

Keene

I tried this beer at a bar called A Taste of Carolina in the Charlotte International Airport. It poured a medium brown color with a thin ivory-white head. When held up to the light it acquired a pleasingly orange glow. I detected some malty sweetness in the nose, but little else. Medium bodied and mildly carbonated with an initial nutty flavor followed by some fruitiness around the edges, Cottonwood Endo finishes as an IPA should--dry and hoppy. In the end I wanted more bitterness, but I'd still consider it quite sessionable in spite of its relative strength.

Underlig Jul

Herbed / Spiced Beer

Keene

Pours a somewhat cloudy, walnut brown with a decent amount of beige head. The aroma is intense and characteristic of Scandinavian Christmas beers: pine, pitch, cardamom, and ginger all stand out immediately. Inspired by Glgg, Peculiar Yule has a medium-body and a dark, complex flavor that, to a certain degree, masks the presence of the hop varieties. Pine, cocoa, and the aforementioned spices are the predominant flavors here. Different but drinkable, this malty brew also has a fairly long, rather sweet finish. A must for fans of spiced beer.

Greene King IPA Export Strength

English India Pale Ale (IPA)

cj2002

A great amber colour from the start, but both nose and palate are FAR too hoppy. However, once you're over the first few mouthfulls, the taste begins to grow on you. The standard IPA is a pleasant, if unspectacular, beer, and this, despite the increased strength, does nothing to improve on that.

Trappist Westvleteren 12

Quadrupel (Quad)

cj2002

"All "5's" should be rare (ie. cannot improve anymore). Just keep that in mind." So say the guidelines... well I think this deserves it. The restrictions on its sale prove only one thing to me - the monks want to keep it for themselves. And rightly so. A deep amber/brown, poured from its traditionally unlabelled to give minimal head; the nose is pleasant, but is no preparation for the first taste. Words failed me then and, frankly, they fail me now as well. This beer is as close to perfect as I have ever found one.

Vanilla Porter

American Porter

BuckeyeSlim

12 oz. bottle poured in a New Belgium snifter. A - Virtually no head on the pour. What's there disappeared almost immediately. Very deep ruby red and pretty opaque. S - The bottle after the pour smells distinctively of vanilla, but the nose of the glass presents hops. Getting the beer up on the sides of the glass releases vanilla along with some caramel. As the beer warms in the glass, the vanilla takes over the nose just as it does the taste. T - There's the vanilla, almost like tasting straight extract - it's rather astringent. There's also a bit of roasted malts, a touch of 50% chocolate, and noticeable bittering hops. Finish is an unpleasant medicinal taste that needs a waterback to get rid of it. M - Light carbonation. Rather thin structure. Finish plants itself in the back-middle of the tongue and stays. D - There's nothing subtle or nuanced about the components of this beer - they compete with each other instead of blending and complimenting. Way too much cheap vanilla extract. Bakers know a little vanilla goes a long way and this beer proves how easy it is to abuse the flavor. It's a bowser, and a porter in name only.

Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Vienna Lager

BuckeyeSlim

12 oz. bottle poured into a New Belgium snifter A - One-finger head of light creamy tan foam than dissipates at a moderately quick pace, leaving a ring around the glass with lace and bubbles on the surface. Color is a reddish copper and clear. Held to a light, color is sunset orange and shows a trail of bubbles rising from the bottom of the center of the glass. S - Lightly toasted malts and aromatic hops jump into the nose. Toffee and caramel in the background come out as it warms in the glass. T - Very similar to the nose. Hints of sweetness mixed with the malts combine with the hops, which prevail in the finish. As the beer warms in the glass, the malt/caramel profile becomes more pronounced and the hops recede. M - A bit foamy to start, then a tad thin in the body. Pretty well carbonated. Decent structure. Finish fades quickly, but lingers at the end. D - Somewhat more bitter than the typical lager, although the rather muted taste profile fits the style. Not as clean and/or crisp as I like my lagers and a tad too bitter for my tastes, although I can easily see how this beer would appeal to those who want a recipe that leans in favor of hops without the tastes being sharp. The trade-off seems to be between cold/hops and warm/malts.

Molson Canadian Lager

American Adjunct Lager

Jhaysohn

Molson is one of my favorite beers. Canadian beer, this one especially, has an exceptional smell and taste to it. When I am not drinking a heavy, dark beer, this is my favorite beer. Whether you drink it out of a bottle or can, Molson Canadian Lagar will always taste great.

Bud Light

Light Lager

Jhaysohn

For a light beer, Bud Light isn't that bad, but not that great by any means. After drinking my homebrews and other thick, rich tasting beers, Bud Light tends to give me a water like taste. No matter what the beer comes in, the taste is about the same quality.

Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

American Double / Imperial Pilsner

BeerMansGirl

I sampled this rare brew last night and I have to say that this pils was without a doubt, an outstanding brew... Beautifully packaged in a white ceramic bottle with a resealable cap with an oriental design, It poured a hazy medium-amber hue with only the slightest trace of a white head that dissipated as quickly as it presented itself. The aroma was HOPS, HOPS... pretty much all the way, with just a touch of herbs somewhere in between. I've never smelled a head like that before. The initial sip was even better than what I've anticipated. Instead of the big hoppy flavor that was insinuated by the aroma, it was amazingly smooth and consistent in its hop-malt equilibrium. The hoppy taste was there but so was the malt, neither one overpowering by any degree. The aftertaste was crisp and clean. The alcohol taste was well-hidden. I could hardly believe that this brew was 8.8 ABV until I stood up... Excellent brew! If you can get your hands on one, GO FOR IT!!

Sunrye Ale

Rye Beer