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Heavy Handed IPA

American IPA

Pappers

Being in Chicago, I order this beer based on my strong preference for drinking local and fresh. According to the bottle, this AIPA is "wet hopped" and the hop aroma and flavor is, in fact, very fresh and herbaceous. It poured a cooper and red with a nice 2 finger head , great clarity, very attractive. The aroma has a nice malt to it, but as soon as you taste it, the hops take over. Strong bitterness, followed by a vegetal hop-sy flavor. Very attractive, for those who like hops. I'm not a hop- head, but enjoyed these hop flavors very much.

König Pilsener

German Pilsener

Pappers

Thought I would try the Konig Pils for the first time. Ordered it in a bottle and poured it into a standard Pilsener glass. In summary, I really like this Pilsener, its the style of beer that I'm coming to realize that I appreciate - strong malty flavor, balanced hops, good carbonation without being overwhelming, mild abv. Appearance - pours a typical golden/yellow for a Pilsener, good carbonation with a two finger head that pretty quickly dissipated Smell - mild hops, more malt Taste - despite its appearance, this was not a light or refreshing tasting beer, the malt was strong and very appealing, some fresh baked bread flavors, some hops but balanced Mouthfeel - full, the malt-iness sort of coats the tongue Drinkability - IMHO not a beer to be drank quickly or without thought, because of the deep and pleasant malt character, calls you to take your time and enjoy it

Burton Baton

American Double / Imperial IPA

apowar

12 oz bottle poured into a 10 oz snifter (d'oh!) Pours a surprising shade of rusty red/ruby with a hint of peach. I'm thinking this may be an effect of the glassware, but it is certainly very pretty. Head is soft, small, and not particularly retentive. Aroma is grapefruit, pine resin, burnt caramel and sweet tangerine, with an enticing hint of vanilla. Taste opens with creamy vanilla caramel and is gradually layered with candied citrus and then pine. The initial sweetness is undercut by a dry, hoppy, roasty bitterness in the midpalate that strengthens towards the finish. I'm actually surprisingly underwhelmed by this aspect of the beer. Was expecting much fuller flavor and better balancing of bitterness (especially considering the oak aging) which seems to overwhelm the palate later on. Mouthfeel is medium-full with a solid carbonation. Really good. Overall, if not for the taste (for most people the most important aspect of the 'tasting' experience) this beer would exceptional.

Samuel Adams Imperial White

Witbier

apowar

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Despite a vigorous pour, almost no head develops. The medium amber body is quite surprising for anything that's been brewed with wheat, but is not unappetizing. I am disappointed, though by the lack of any developing head. Aroma of orange blossom, honey, and more alcohol than i'd like. Flavor is enormous! Full of wheat bread, honey, syrupy orange juice, orange blossom, ripe apricot, coriander mulling spices and finishes with big alcohol burn and more orange. The alcohol really kills the enjoyment of the beer for me. The orange finish lasts for aaaages. Very sweet throughout--an element that is never particularly well balanced. Mouthfeel is full and almost chewy with an ever present medium/assertive carbonation. Overall--I'm not quite sure about this. I'm not shy about alcohol, this is really too much, I think. Too sweet, too much alcohol presence, and just too much orange I think. Could really use some better balance in almost all regards, I think.

Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus

Light Lager

Feareon

A - A light gold color with no head and no lacing. S - Just a little bit of lime nothing else. T - Extremely fake lime syrup, with a light grain whisp aftertaste that coats the mouth. It honestly wouldn't be that bad if the lime didn't taste so fake. M - light bodied with moderate to heavy carbonation. O - Only reason I rated it this high, is because it did go pretty well with some lime flavored chicken wings.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

Feareon

A - Pours very dark ruby brown, with a nice thick two finger tan head; outstanding retention and some of the best lacing I have seen. S - Pine, and a little bit of malt, cherries, and a cluster of dark fruits; not as much booze as I expected. T - Much like the smell starts off with nice pine hop bitterness then moves onto the malt, really balanced finishes with a slight bitter aftertaste that dissipates which is pleasant. M - Medium-high bodied with just the right carbonation good mouthfeel.

Saranac Vanilla Stout

American Stout

UCLABrewN84

Best by 3/31/12. Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a 1/2 inch foamy tan head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Foamy rings and dots of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, bread, and vanilla. Taste is of toasted/roasted malt, cocoa powder, and vanilla beans. There is a slightly bitter and acidic roast flavor that lingers on the palate after each sip. Not very good in this regard. This beer has a high level of carbonation with a very crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average stout that suffers from the acidic aspect and too much carbonation.

Smoke

Baltic Porter

UCLABrewN84

Thanks to shrek086 for sending me this one! Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a 1/2 inch foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of smoked malt and maybe some caramel and cocoa notes. Taste is of smoked malt up front with some dark fruits and cocoa powder on the finish. A smoky, roasted bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good smoked baltic porter from Surly. The smoke aroma is somewhat dominant but the smoke flavors compliment the other tastes in the beer very well.

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen

Rauchbier

CarfiCZ

Bought 0.5 liters in Prague 12/2010 Bad Times-pivotka. Nice sweet flavor with accents of smoke and taste "the eggs", but this does not detract from the quality of beer, just the opposite! I like to buy this beer somewhere else and would like to see pulled in Bamberg, Germany - where he maintained a beer called Rauchbier

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

Rauchbier

CarfiCZ

Purchased in 12/2010 Prague, pivotka časy.Pravděpodobně-mean I do not like this style of beer, awful bitter taste. I bought 0.5 liters and I drank only 0.1, I had to dump the rest. I'll have a bitter beer, but this is extreme. RECOMMENDED PSPil am from the same brewery as weizenbock and I enjoyed it

Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner)

Czech Pilsener

WasTrinkenSie

Drank in a Pilsner glass from 12oz screw top bottle. Appearance - Clear golden yellow with a bubbly white head. Poured like smooth and even. Smell - Sweet and a hoppy scent. Taste - Sweet maltiness with hoppy bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel - Bubbly. Drinkablity - Exceptionally drinkable. I was extremely surprise. I found a pilsner I don't hate. Great brewery may have had a great effect on this one.

Saison Imperiale - Belgian Farmhouse Ale

Saison / Farmhouse Ale

WasTrinkenSie

Drank in a tulip from 750mL cork and cage bottle. Appearance - Appearance is a cloudy golden brown with foamy cream head. Smell - Smell is a pasty Sweet, citrus, spicey, hint of apples and very appetizing. Taste - Taste is very palatable with very little aftertaste. It's very citrusy, even sour. Apples and Spice hints. Mouthfeel - Very effervescent. Drinkablity - Drinkability is excellent. 8.50% ABV is to high to session. One is enough. I've heard good things about this brewer, but this is my first one from them. I was very happy with the results.

Columbus Hungry, Hungry Hefe

Hefeweizen

Lolli1315

A- Orange appearance with a nice white fluffy head. Holds decent, but lacing leaves you wanting a little more. S- Yeasty smell paired with spicy cloves begins the profile as it fades into a noticeable hop aroma. Fruity smell intertwines as well. Fairly decent and gets you excited for this one a little more. T- Taste begins with some of the tastes you would expect from a hefe; hints of banana and clove, but all these flavors are very subtle and almost watered down. About half way through there is a kick of hops and citrus, but not a dominating or highlighting profile. It seems as if this is a beer that is caught in the middle of two genres and can't quite decide which way it should go. M- Nice smooth and pleasant. Maybe could use a little more carboantion D- Not that this is hard to drink, but it doesn't really leave you wanting that next sip. Notes: Alright beer, but in my opinion just another try at throwing in hops into another style without much else behind it.

Insanity

English Barleywine

Lolli1315

A- A reddish brown color that is slightly hazy with ruby highlights. A small tan head forms that disappears completely with time as lacing is nowhere to be seen. S- Lots of wood, vanilla, and bourbon punch you in the face immediately dominating the smell. Bits of caramel and dark fruit begin to emerge before alcohol rounds out the smell. T- Just as in the smell, you can really tell that this beer was aged in bourbon barrels. Wood, vanilla, and bourbon are dominating, a little too much in my opinion, as the flavors of the barley wine are somewhat lost beneath them. The dark fruits with a little bit of apple emerge towards the middle with touches of caramel lining as well. The alcohol begins to pick up and becomes slightly solventy towards the end of the beer as it warms with every drink. M- Full bodied and a little syrupy. Low amounts of carbonation as well. D- This beer is a sipper for sure and it was a little struggle making it through a full pint. If you like bourbon, and I do, get this for sure. Unfortunately, I think that much of the complexity of the beer gets lost the booziness of this one. Might as well drink a glass of bourbon instead.

Gerardus Wittems Kloosterbier Dubbel

Dubbel

Sinse

The was quite small and faded away fast. The colour was chestnut brown, a bit darker. Smell was sweet, some pineapple, which could also be found from the taste. The taste was a bit disappointing. Alcohol was very dominating. Sweet, pretty beer with the special pineapple taste, but the taste of alcohol ruined it.

Krušovice Cerne

Schwarzbier

Sinse

A very smooth schwarzbier that pours a white head that leaves some lacing while slowly disappearing. Colour is deep dark, almost black, but not quite there. Tastes are not very clear (not for me at least). Some coffee, dry hay. Drinkability is good: leaves a fresh feeling afterwards.

Bell's Octoberfest Beer

Märzen / Oktoberfest

charliedango

This isn't a Mrzen and this isn't a pumpkin ale, so why does Bells label this as an Oktoberfest beer? When it comes to seasonal beers, especially Oktoberfest, I expect something other than the standard fair of beer. If this is what Bells considers Oktoberfest then I must say it's a muted, almost unreasonable beer. I suppose I can't really say it's a letdown as from previous experience with Bells I haven't found a single style that they excel at. This is just another beer that I feel is a result of the craft beer explosion in which hype matters more than product.

Planet Porter

American Porter

charliedango

12oz bottle poured into pint glass. Typical porter delivery, shallow head which dissipates rather quickly w/good lacing. Deep dark brown, nearly opaque. Smells of high carbonation, but reveals it's body and flavor in taste. Rich bitter taste with a medium to light mouthfeel. Carbonation is present, but not overbearing. Overall I'd say this a porter that slightly bests Boulevard, but there are so many other porters out there that are better that it would be hard to consider purchasing this one again.

Crazy Ed's Cave Creek Chili Beer

Chile Beer

TenHi

I was afraid it was me, but I see that I'm not alone. I love hot and spicy food, and a friend picked up a 6 pack of this for me as a bit of a joke. I have had chile beers in the past and they're not my favorites, but they haven't been terrible either. This one was. Terrible that is. Light yellow in color, very pale in a clear bottle, apparently so that you can see the floating chile pepper inside. There's no head at all and it has a very peculiar (read: bad) smell to it. I almost wonder what the beer would be like if they didn't package it with the pepper. Might it be better? Couldn't hurt. The flavor itself is just a funky spicy alcohol, sort of like if you'd left green chile out all night and it had fermented. Ick.

Einbecker Ur-Bock Dunkel

Bock

TenHi

Beer of the Month Club selection and I was anxious to give this one a try because I enjoy bocks. The pour is a very clear coppery color, a bit lighter than I'd like to see. There was a medium-sized head that was nice, but disappeared fairly quickly. Nice smell of caramel and roasted munich and they transfer over into the taste nicely too. Nice bock taste up front and a quality balance. My only real complaint is in the finish where the hops go off track a bit leaving an unusual bitterness in your mouth. It doesn't detract much from the quality of the brew, but it needs to be toned down. Still a very good beer and a pleasant find in the club shipment. One last note is that this beer does even better as it warms towards cellar temp.

Double Wide I.P.A.

American Double / Imperial IPA

Lillie1128

A - Pours a really awesome honey orange with a VERY impressive head S - sweet and hoppy T - Starts off a little bit sweet. Nice hop profile. Simple and well balanced. M - a little thin, lightly carbonated I really like this. It's very solid and easy to enjoy.

Mugshot IPA

American IPA

Lillie1128

A - Pours a pretty clouded amber color with a small white head S - Some hoppy and citrus notes T - Pretty hoppy and a little floral. I've got a hint of grapefruit too. Well balanced. M - Little bit of carbonation, light-bodied D - Pretty high drinkability This IPA is clean and simple; very easy to enjoy.

Stella Artois

Euro Pale Lager

OrionsBow

Another Euro Lager in a dark green bottle, since this was from Belgium I was expecting a really good beer. Sadly this reminds me more of Heineken than any Belgian beer I have had. Granted I did expect a typical lager I was just holding on to the thread of hope that it might have some special magical quality. Oh well a guy can dream right? Appearance This pours with a nice head that is typical for the style. The beer is a light golden yellow and had a fair amount of carbonation bubbles rising from the bottom. This is a nice looking beer in the glass. Smell Some faint hops and some grainy smells mixed in with a slight malt smell. This is nothing special but fairly even and balanced with the smells it has. Taste This is a fairly typical Euro lager in my opinion, a touch of hops, a little malt and some grainy characteristics come through. Mouthfeel - the mouthfeel was good, about average for this style and slightly dry and a touch of crispness. Drinkability This is not a bad drinking Euro lager and I would say it is on close to being on par with a Heineken. Overall this is a typical Euro Lager, nothing special nothing bad. I think this beer will unfortunately suffer because people have come to expect great things from Belgian beers. In truth this is a Euro Lager designed to compete in that market, for that they have created a beer that is very similar to the other beers in this category. You could do far worse than drinking one of these so my overall opinion is that it isnt a bad beer at all when you look at it for what it is.

Miller Lite

Light Lager

OrionsBow

I was at a get together tonight & they had some Miller Lite in the fridge. I figured what the heck go ahead and give one a try. Thank goodness someone brought some Sam Adams; if this beer would have been all that was there I would have felt like I was in beer purgatory. Seriously, thats how bad this beer was, I felt like I had done something wrong and was being punished by the beer gods. Appearance - Golden Yellow, some head that faded fast. Nothing special thats for sure, I guess it's typical light beer but not as attractive as Coors Light in my opinion. Smell - I don't even know how to describe this, it was a funky smelling malty mixture with some kind of apple like essence to it. It just smelled bad to me. Taste - Even worse than the smell, I guess all that corn and other adjuncts just really left a funky taste. Mouthfeel This beer had a kind of dry, slightly harsh, and it is just weird. Drinkability - After all of the above do I need to even say anything? Ok here is the deal, I hate to slam any beer & normally I can find some positive out of a beer, heck even Bud Ice Light has some character. This beer didn't do anything for me, I just didn't like it. I guess it's my taste buds but I just can't find anything good to say about this. The best part about this beer is its appearance which turns wickedly deceiving and is about like eating a beautiful apple that ends up having a big worm in it after you take a bite.

Hawg Wash Belgian Pale Ale

Belgian Pale Ale

StuartCarter

Had on draft many times at the J Clyde. Not much I can say about this, as it is yet another one of Good People's beautifully crafted beers - if you like the Belgian Pale Ale style, you know what you are in for, and if you like Good People you already know this is a superb beer well worth drinking!

El Gordo

Russian Imperial Stout

StuartCarter

Had this on tap at the Magic city Brewfest. Appearance: black, black, black. No light coming through this one. Creamy brown head. Smell: dark fruits - think plums, cherries, raisins. Taste: follows through on the promise from the smell. Mouthfeel: thick, viscous, but not syrupy. Drinkability: even on a hot Alabama summer day, temp and humidity in the high 90s, I wanted more! If you like big, chewy Imperial Stouts, El Gordo will put a big smile on your face.

Traquair House Ale

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

Beguiler

This is an ale to be savored not devoured. If you keep this in the fridge make sure that you let warm up to the proper serving tempature. There you will find all of the subtle tastes come out, if not this will far from impress you. This is an ale that I like to end my tastings with because if I start the evening with it very few ales can follow it. The color is wonderful dark amber shade with a nose that to me has an almost gingerbread smell (but that is just me). The only compliant that I can find with Traquair is that the bottle is to small. I would love to find it in 750 ml bottles.

Hobgoblin

English Brown Ale

Beguiler

I first encountered this ale when I went to the Great British Beer Festival in 2000, however I have to say I do not remember to much of that tasting since I consumed more then my share of ales that day. I have since had a bottle at my favorite drinking establisment and enjoyed it. It reminds me of a lot of the better tasting brown ales that I had in northern England . I did not notice a strong nose to it but it did a full malt flavor that I do like. There was that very english bitter flavor to it but that did not last. On the whole I would recomend this beer for some one that wants a beer with a lot of flavor but not heavy.

The Liberator

American Double / Imperial IPA

BulbMan

A - Medium copper, cloudy. 1 finger head that is very slow to recede. S - Blah. Bit of alcohol, little bit of grapefruit, not a whole lot else T - Wow, bitter. Some lemon, but bitter, bitter, bitter. M - Medium/average/not bad D/O - This one is dominated by the bitterness which overshadows all else. Not really enjoyable. Would not seek out again.

Death By Hops

American IPA

BulbMan

Picked up a 22 at Brawley's on a recent trip to NC... Pours a very nice copper color with a fair amount of head. Some pleasing grapefruit on the nose. Didn't know what to expect from this one, but found it very nicely and surprisingly balanced. Hoppy per the name with some bitterness on the finish, but more DIPA sweetness than I expected for 7.0% - feels like closer to 9% or 10%. Mouthfeel is medium at least and really pleasant. Death by Hops gets even nicer as it warms. Search this out if you're in NC and give it a try. I would definitely buy again.

Aass Juleøl

Vienna Lager

JohnnyP3

.33cl bottle with what looks like a freshness date of May 2011. The pour into the pint glass produces a dark ruby/brown beer with about 2 fingers of slightly tan head that reduces to a thin foam covering of the beer. Pours clear with what appears to be moderate to low carbonation. Smells like a spiced Christmas beer with some sweetness, caramel malt aromas, and perhaps some vanilla/nutmeg lingering in the background. Very sweet tasting and very malty. Not too much in the way of hops in the flavor, but that is consistent with this style of Norwegian Christmas beer. Starts quite sweet with brown sugar/molasses flavors and finishes with an oh so slight hint of fruit. Mouthfeel is very smooth with low carbonation. Slightly like syrup. Drinkability...nice sweet Christmas brew that would probably be a good match with Christmas cookies. A solid product in this style category.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

Dunkelweizen

JohnnyP3

500ml bottle from "The World's Oldest Brewery." Pours a hazy chestnut brown with a voluminous white head of about 3 fingers that clings to the sides of the glass. Some sediment from the bottle emptied into the glass. Smell is classic for the style--bananas, clove, roasted nuts, some toasted malt. Taste really mirrors the nose. Again, bananas, clove, roasted chestnuts, and a strong malt backbone producing a nice toasted malt backdrop. Also hints of apple, spice, and black pepper. Pumpernickel bread and caramel flavors fade in and out. Mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, substantial, and lively--well carbonated. Overall, a true classic.

Orange Blossom Cream Ale

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

david23

Was given this by a friend in a sampler ten pack he picked up while out near Chicago. Poured a light amber color with a whitish tight head that faded quickly. If you llike oranges then the aroma of this will send you to heaven.Very pronounced citrus smell with maybe a little floral bouquet.Light tasting body and the orange flavor is balanced well. Honey flavor comes through but gives way to the orange once again. Actually quite a refreshing little number! Would I drink a sixer of this,no but on a hot summer day I'd have no problem pouring one or two of these.

XP Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

david23

Pours an opaque light copper color with a nice head that settles quickly but leaves nice lacing. Smell is somewhat subdued but hops are in abundance with a nice citrus note. Carbonation is right on for this style and very refreshing on the palate. Dominated by hops but a citrus note makes its way through making this an very enjoyable Pale.All in all, I'm sure i'll be having more of this.

Founders 10K IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

Brew33

Had on tap at Founders tap room and had a growler filled for the lake house. It arrived at my table a glowing orange with a thin white head. The aroma was ALL Simcoe. a Simco bomb. Catty, tropical, and juicy. Slightly solventy in that Simcoe kinda way. The flavor is really good. Tons of bitterness, slightly boozy. The malt bill is very sweet but is overshadowed by tons of hops. A big beer. Medium to full bodied and very sticky on the lips. Overall I really like it but it's a touch boozy. In short, a Simcoe bomb.... and a damn good one.

Cane & Ebel

Rye Beer

Brew33

I was very excited to try this beer. Hopped up Rye Ale sounds right up my alley as Founder's Red's Rye is my absolute go-to beer. The apperance was average. Reddish-brown with a thin white head. The smell was ALL Rye malt. Very distinct, almost no hop aroma. Smells bready and sweet. The taste is super malty. Tons of rye malt. Little hop flavor but enough to add some balance but the beer is definitely a malt bomb. Big beer. Heavy mouthfeel that doesn't really work with the rest of the beer. Little carbonation. Not very good, it's really a mess. I didn't really care for this at all. I actually poured out half of the bottle. Skip it.

Pipeline Porter

American Porter

NDPDuke

Poured into a SA Perfect Pint. 12 oz bottle straight from excellent trader Nitrogen. Appearance: Pours a dark black with a thin head. Head rescinds quickly. Looks like a porter, a beautiful porter at that. Smell: Roasted malts, coffee, malts all come to mind when I took a smell of this beer. Enjoyable. If the beer tastes like it smells, I'll be happy. Taste: Like the smell, I quickly taste the coffee and roasted malts. Not too strong, not too faint. A rather enjoyable taste through and through. Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy. Good feel in the mouth. The taste stays the whole way. Drinkability: I could drink a bunch of these in a row. This beer is wonderful and easy to get through. It is a decently strong porter that could even be a good session beer. Unfortunately I got this through a trade. I do not know when I will be able to enjoy this again.

Samuel Adams Utopias

American Strong Ale

NDPDuke

Purchased a bottle of the 2007 at a local Big Ten on a bank-account depleting purchase. Special thanks to NitroGen for his assistance in helping me get the SA Utopia glass that I sampled from! APPEARANCE: A beautiful copper, amber look with absolutely no head and no carbonation. Leaves a beautiful glow inside an equally beautiful glass. SMELL: Smells like a bourbon. Strong oak and molasses smell. Alcohol is also very noticeable. TASTE: Wow...the alcohol hits first, but the taste is exceptional. Molasses, candy, vanilla...almost like a bourbon with a bit more candy. Excellent taste that is as deep and intricate as any beer or liquor that I have ever tasted. MOUTHFEEL: Creamy, thick, and extremely enjoyable. DRINKABILITY: Due to the amount of alcohol, I would have to knock this down one notch, but it isn't in any way because of the taste. It is an incredible beer to sip! Overall, an exceptional beer/liquor. Well worth the money for me to try once in my life and exceptional to sip on. Will definitely consider purchasing another one if I can ever get my hands on it.

Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin Ale

650gs

I was somewhat hesitant to review this beer, as in my experience pumpkin ales tend to be extreme in that they are either awful - or exceptional. Pours a beautiful deep brown, dark golden color. Carbonation is mild, and it doesn't have much of a head; less than a one finger. The scent is fantastic. Cinnamon and pumpkin dominate, but small hints of other spices are evident. It tastes almost exactly as it smells. A slight warming from the alcohol content rounds out this brew well. A more casual review, admittedly but it suffices to say that I deeply enjoyed this beer. I am happy to say that it fell into the better of the extremes. It's still August, but fall can't come soon enough!

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Quadrupel (Quad)

650gs

Third time I've had it. A - Dark, not able to see through in light S - So much going on, tasting will be more informative T - There is no way this is 10.5 abv. Alot going on. Dark fruits, etic. Truly phenomenal. M - Very slight carbonation D - At being 10.5 abv, this is the most drinkable beer there is. All in all, exceptional is the only word to describe it.

Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Vienna Lager

LyonsHead

A: pours a perfectly clear amber/red with an orange tinted, white fluffy head S: malty sweetness, nutty, biscuit and toast T: warm malty sweetness, subtle earthy hop flavor with a pleasant residual sweetness in the finish M: medium-light body, smooth. sweet finish but not cloying D: you can't have just one, this beer has great drinkability about it. wow, this is good!

Old Scratch Amber Lager

California Common / Steam Beer

LyonsHead

A: pours a deep orange, perfectly clear, nice orangish-white head. head left semi-quickly and there was minimal lacing S: earthy noble hops with a faint malty sweetness, I also get dark fruit. T: Hit with hop flavor immediately, there are very subtle notes of bread and toast. the finish is taken over by the hop bitterness that lingers into the after taste. M: rather thin and watery. I was expecting a much thicker, creamier beer from the color and the head. D: To me this is just average. Nothing really sticks out in the flavors or aroma and the mouthfeel was pretty disappointing.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Euro Pale Lager

Taze

A - Dark straw yellow with vicious bubbly head that dissipated quickly. Minimum amount of lace. S - Smells hoppy and watered down. Slightly skunky but I think that is purposeful. T - Mostly hops and water. I don't know what else to say. I wish I could detect something else but I'm not able to pull anything else out. M - Light body and medium carbonation. Doesn't fizzle much on the tounge and there is no warming effect. D - Easy to drink and good with dinner. The fact that I absolutely used to love this beer and now that i review it after expanding my tastes in beer shows me how much I have learn thus far.

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

Taze

The beer pours a very misty pale golden color. Thick cream colored head with moderate amount of retention. The smells is intoxicating and pleasant. No viable presence of alcohol but it replaced with a slightly tangy but smooth experience. The more I drink this beer the more I Love it. A certain amount of alcohol is present on the palate. Very smoky and full of texture. Once again certain fruits that I am unable to determine are present. Pleasant taste that I will return to. Large amount of carbonation which is most evident at the pour and also decernable with the last passing amounts across the tounge. A very moderate amount of body makes this beer most enjoyable and earns extra points in my favor. I would drink this beer again at any time offered and even at my own expense. Very enjoyalbe even for a beginner such as I.

Point Oktoberfest

Märzen / Oktoberfest

brewmandan

as the oktoberfest style is my favorite style, i had to try this one. the brew pour a light amber-orange color, slightly lighter color than i expected. the smell was that of an average beer of any style. i was expecting a little more malt flavor than what there was. but considering what there was for a taste, i thought the mouthfeel was decent. not the best oktoberfest i've had but still drinkable for me.

Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen

Märzen / Oktoberfest

brewmandan

local german beer hall gets this beer in on tap every year. amber color with white head that disappear somewhat quickly without lacing. smell is little above the average for the style. the best tasting oktoberfest i've had yet. i have had it from the bottle before but it's much better on tap. as long as it's available on tap, i'd be able to drink it during an afternoon at the beer hall. so far, my favorite oktoberfest yet.

Old Milwaukee Beer

American Adjunct Lager

Portertime

There is a reason my friends call this "old mill water" Tried this one when their was nothing else to drink. Poured a pale straw color with some fizzy shooting bubbles. Smells of some soaked cereal grains and a hint of malts. Tastes like watered down Corn Flakes with nothing jumping out at me at all.

Erdinger Weissbier

Hefeweizen

Portertime

This came as a high recommendation from who I assume is the beer stocker at Ward's Market here in Gainesville. Not to poo poo a suggestion from a fellow beer enjoyer I decided to give it a go. Served it slightly chilled in my Duvel chalice. Poured sort of a sulhpur color with a wee head. Smell was faint but there, wheat, banana, lemon zest, cloves. Taste was of a typical German weizen, banana, cloves, lemon, hint of cherry, little yeasty. Not the best weizen I've had but then I have to say "Hast du Lust auf ein Beir?"

Drie Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek

Lambic - Fruit

alfrantzell

Mfielden says that no beer is perfect, that they approach perfection asymptotically. Apparently he has never had Schaerbeekse Kriek. At first there isn't much to it - cherries, wood, cherry pits, lactic acid, and musk. But it fills the mouth without being heavy. It's fruit forward but not sweet. It is in fact perfectly balanced. I bought multiple bottles to confirm. Each expressed the same delicate funk, the same full figured fruit, the same balance. One last bottle awaits me in the cellar, but it won't wait long. Who would have thought perfection would be pink.

Drie Fonteinen Millennium Gueuze

Gueuze

alfrantzell

Millennium Geuze is a bottle of foam interspersed with pockets of geuze. As a 750ml bottle of foam it's unparalleled; it fares less well as geuze -- The smell is of fallen lemons and hay that's passed through a horse. Lemon zest and bark make a brief appearance in the taste before being scrubbed away by those pesky bubbles. The mouthfeel is fluffy and dry because of them - notes of pillow sham, down comforter, and bunny rabbit. MG is not far removed from 3F's 2002 Vintage Geuze, or even their standard Oude Geuze. At least, not enough to warrant the price tag.

Honker's Ale

English Bitter

GeoffRizzo

See through copper, very decent tan fizzy head. Sweet malts, caramel and a bit of hop bite on the nose. Carbonated fuzzy hops; oily and bitter up front. Loads of fruit offerings in the form of grapefruit, peaches, orange peel. A defining malt backbone; very clean and sweet. A massively bitter palate; a nice product!

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb

Hefeweizen

GeoffRizzo

Deep copper, light orange hue, semi-cloudy, perfect for a bright sunny day! A thick egg-shell head quickly dissolves into a decent ring like off-white head, pretty decent lacing throughout the course. A beauty of a nose - fresh lemons, malt, bananas. Smooth and slick, the definitive hefe-flavoring, banana and cloves noticed from the start, zesty and twangy, incredible malt-based backbone. Clean and fresh palate; mild carbonation. Becomes somewhat creamy, thick and still smooth and slick. Some lemon peel and yeast offerings. Very easy to drink, not much to think about, just enjoy it! Top-notch for a mass-marketed brew!

Coopers Sparkling Ale

English Pale Ale

TNKEMIST

As the beer is "brewed using the centuries old top fermentation method" there is a lot of sediment in this beer. It pours very cloudy with almost no head. There is very little carbonation. Very pleasant sweet smell. The taste is very much like the smell, very sweet start with an easy finish. Due to the low carbonation mouthfeel is similar to a beer that has been sitting out for a extened time, not quite flat but close. This could be a very excellent beer if a greater amout of carbonation could be acheived. Maybe it just this beer.

Shiner Bock

Bock

TNKEMIST

A- Good dark bronze color with loose white head that dissipates before the beer is finished. S- Nothing stands out about the smell. T- A supprise here, very good entry flavor and a very clean finish not typical with this type of beer. M- Good heavy carbonation through the drink. D- Very easy to drink more than you should. If you are looking for a very distinct dark beer this is not it. If you want a easy drinking dark that is "light" to drink try this.

Superstition Pale Ale

American Pale Ale (APA)

2beerdogs

I consider this a very solid example of what I like in an AMERICAN Pale Ale. The key here is that APA's tend to be a bit more aggressively hopped. This beer is beautifully balanced with the malt still coming through nicely, yet being slightly overtaken by the hops, slight citrus notes evident at times. I love the mouth feel of Superstition!!! I try to stock up whenever I pass through Flagstaff!!!

Black Tuesday

American Double / Imperial Stout

2beerdogs

I am blessed to live near the Bruery. Patrick, Tyler, et al are brave brewers that have a playful, adventurous, at times a bit crazy approach to fermentations. They love exploring traditional beers, yet are far from afraid to turn them on their heads. Black Tuesday is a true blessing handed down to the lovers of strong ales. It drops into the glass, a dark mahogany, If you give it a swirl, you'll see the liquid leaves a slight kiss of what looks like cocoa butter on the side of the glass before it rejoins the drink. The nose is beautiful. Your first inhale gives you a hint of what is to come. Now inspired, you give it another, deeper sniff. Hints of chocolate, maybe toffee, bourbon, and...Black Tuesday is so complex, you can continue smelling but... I have yet to taste another liquid that I have enjoyed more than Black Tuesday. My first time was an epiphany. And now 2 years later I long for it for months waiting for its release. It has a warming delivery of chocolate, bourbon, at times i get a hint of toffee--maybe caramel. It is a truly beautiful drink. Cheers to the folks at the Bruery!

Stone Ruination IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

IlIlIllIlIllIlIl

22oz. Poured into .5L Franziskaner glass Bright golden amber thick cottony head with fine bubbles high retention sudsy lacing S. very floral, piney, hint of cloves. T. Great! Sour piney hops, malty. M. Substancially intriguing D. Makes me want to study this a lot more. Cheers!

Captain's Reserve Imperial IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

IlIlIllIlIllIlIl

Quick, simple review. My first time with this beer after a long night of work. Bought at my local deli for $5 and poured into a tulip Very smooth and light up front and a nice hit of alcohol on the back end. Medium head retention and carbonation color is pale gold and translucent. White, foamy head ( not cottony fluff ) smell - light grassy hops - peachy with a bit of grapefruit tartness Taste is more grainy than malty

Genesee Bock

Bock

PaulW

Purchased from Warehouse Beverage in S. Euclid, I think it was $6.99 for 12. I also had a $10 bottle of Hoppin Frog so it helped balance the beer budget. Genesee Bock is all about nostalgia for me. I remember buying cases of the stuff in college. Back then it was considered one of the best full-bodied brews you could buy, thank God those days are gone. Appearance: A quick pour into my glass produced 3" of foam that quickly dissipated to a small film coating on the reddish-copper brew. Smell: Not much to smell but it hints of root beer. Taste: Sweet and malty with no balance of hops. Mouthfeel: Weak, carbonation is gone after about 15 minutes. Drinkability: I can't have more than one, its just too malty. It really reminds me of root beer, I'll drink one for nostalgia but not 2 or 3. I realize now that I must take the remaining 11 cans out of the Fridge. It is how it was years ago, all malt. Pretty can design though.

Marietta Brewing Pale Ale

American IPA

PaulW

Was down in S. Ohio over the weekend and had to try this place. We got in around noon on a Friday. The building is one of many old, nostalgic, brick buildings lining Front St. in downtown Marietta. I'm a big pale ale fan so I had to try this one first. Their APA is 6.6% ABV with 68 IBU. Taken from the tap: Look: About 1/4" of head on top of a slightly hazy, tan beer. The cream-colored foam stays around for quite a while, eventually dissipating to patches on the top. Nice lacing on top of glass after foam resides. Smell: Not overwhelming, but aromatic. I could smell the cascade hops but also the burnt malt. Taste: I was pleasantly surprised. Not overly hopped but finely balanced. I think a lot of the smaller micros have a tendency to overly hop particularly their IPAs. This stuff had the balance of one of the bigger micros. The hops were up front but not overwhelming, just a simple smell and taste of cascade hops that were then balanced by a sweet malt flavor. Mouthfeel: Perfectly carbonated. Drinkability: Fantastic session beer. I stopped back 2 days later to get more. One of my all time favorites is GL Burning River and I have to say this brew was as good or better. This is simply fantastic beer with great taste and balance. Something you would want on a regular basis.

Duchesse De Bourgogne

Flanders Red Ale

Rezzin

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

HopDevil Ale

American IPA

Rezzin

A - Pours a nice amber color with a creamy beige head. Some sediment floating around but not much. Lacing in minimal. S - Nice floral and slightly piny hop aroma with some malt sweetness. T - Hops are there right in the beginning but there seems to be slight metallic flavor there as well. Slightly sweet with a nice dry bite at the end. More of English IPA flavor to me. M - Fairly thin with a little mouth puckering feel to it but not too bad. Moderate to highly carbonated. D - Not a bad IPA but I've had much better.

La Fin Du Monde

Tripel

GrizzlyBeer1282

Look: This beer pours a beautiful golden-orange tint with a medium laced, sparkly white head that slowly fizzles as the beer settles in the glass. Smell: This beer has dozens of subtle aromas that combine for a very unique scent. I detect some citrus in there (mainly orange peel), a spicy-peppery scent, some caramel, little bit of bread and a hint of alcohol which is well balanced with the malt. There is a very slight hint of hops but with very little bitterness. Its truly a very interesting combination of aromas. Taste: At 9% alc./vol. this beer may be the best I've tried at masking the taste of the alcohol. You would never know that this is a highball beer because there is virtually no alcohol presence on the palate. It is very easy to consume too much of this beer because it has such a delicate combination of flavors that come together to conceal the liquor. For the most part it tastes like it smells, but a bit more tangy. There are hints of orange citrus, spices, caramel, very malty, slightly peppery, bread and a very slight hint of hops but without any of the bitterness. The way the combination of flavors combines to cover up the alcohol taste is truly extraordinary. This is a very insidious beer and you'll find it very hard to wake up the next morning after 3 of these bad boys so be careful. Feel: This beer has a dry, prickly feel with a spicy, warm and toasty finish to it. It is very light and smooth for a strong pale ale but also packs a little bit of bite which I find appealing in a pale ale. I find it hard to even call it a strong ale but going by the alc. content it would fall into that category. This is definitely a slow sipper, perfect beer to just relax and enjoy on a nice hot summer day. Overall: This is an easy drinking, very complex and transcendent beer with many subtle characteristics that come together very nicely to form a smooth, clean, dry and fresh ale. This is one of my favorite styles and easily one of my favorite beers. A must try for the golden ale lovers!

Palo Santo Marron

American Brown Ale

GrizzlyBeer1282

A: Very dark for a brown ale but I like that. This is a bold beer that isn't too syrupy like this style usually is. S: A unique blend of vanilla and chocolate, some cherry, alcohol, slight coffee liquor smell, very rich and enticing smell. T: Perhaps the most complex beer I've tasted. It somehow tastes of chocolate and vanilla at the same time. Like the exact mix of chocolate of vanilla without either overpowering the other. It also has a Cabernet-like taste to it from the brewing vessels. It tastes as delicate and rich as it smells. M: A very warm, cold numbing bite to it but the alcohol presence isn't as bold as I thought it would be. It's there, but it simply enhances the other rich flavors. Not too strong for such a strong beer. O: Easily one of the best year round dogfish head brews. This brewery never seizes to amaze me. What an exquisite beer.

Monk's Mistress

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Kudashov

22oz bomber is a pint glass with Kraftwerk on The Hi-Fi . Well this brew marks the first beer ever to be a drain pour . Out to Dorchester Bay you go .Tried my to best get through this but it was tough . Had an OK decent creamy head but , after that the smell , flavor , and overall mouthfeel was vile . Maybe it is my untrained , " green " pallette but sorry , this is awful . Bomb .

Stone Imperial Russian Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Kudashov

This brew was going to be enjoyed while watching my beloved Boston Red Sox . I got neither . The Sox game was called off and this beer was not enjoyable . When poured , the color and the crusty bubbled head was nice and very impressive . The head reminded me of the inside of a Crunchie Bar that my folks would bring back to the States from Ireland . The aroma is coffee and boozy . Burnt and overwhelmingly bitter . I have enjoyed the Storm King and Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout . The latter is one of my favs . Stone makes some very tasty brews but this was a mess . It was not a drain pour but it will not be bought again .

Thunderhead IPA

American IPA

Criscoh88

Appearance - A cloudy orange-brown color. Starts of with a large head and progresses into a medium one over time. Looks Very rich and appealing Smell - Subtle scent of rich hops Taste - Strong and hoppy as an IPA should be, but i feel this one dies a little short. Flavor dies out too quickly and leaves you wishing there was more. Mouthfeel - Very smooth leaves your mouth ready for more almost instantly. Drinkablility - Very drinkable. Easy to put a full glass of this back quickly. I wish the flavor stayed around longer. As an IPA fan i cant help but enjoy it, but there is nothing special about this one. Id possibly get it again.

Foster's Premium Ale

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Criscoh88

25.4 oz can Appearance - A clear brown color. lots of carbonation. Poured out of can with a thick head that sticks around for a while. They say "Ale with caramel color added". Smell - Sweet corn and bitter malt. Not too appetizing. Taste - A bitter taste of ..uh.. beer? Tastes like your generic cheap beer. Nothing stands out except the skunky flavor of processed grains sitting in a can. Flavor dies leaving that taste you get after drinking alot of cheap beer and then crashing on someones couch without brushing your teeth. Mouthfeel - sharp sting of carbonation. not enjoyable. Overall - I figured i would try this. Ive never had this before and have always wanted to since i was younger due to those commercials. Well if Fosters is actually Australian for beer, I feel bad for the Aussies. This un-enjoyable cheap brew leaves nothing to say except "no thanks". This beer feels its only made for college frat boys who want to get drunk. The flavor is generic and sour, not smooth one bit. I probably wont get this again. Also, the can has too big of a mouth hole. It's sure to cause drunkard sloppy spillage.

Samuel Adams Triple Bock

American Strong Ale

cjacobsen

Saw the bottle at the new Binny's that opened up and picked one up ($9 for the 12 oz.) The "beer" poured like old engine oil. Thick, black, and with some hefty sediment chunks that looked like the phlegm that a coal miner would hack up. I didn't know if I should have drank this or resealed my driveway with it. The bottle was black and I was shocked to find out that it was actually a cool blue color when I washed it out. The smell was a mix of onions, salt, cheap alcohol and vomit. The taste was of soy sauce, dirty salt water and throw up, mainly because I threw up in my mouth a bit after taking the first sip. It burned something fierce. The attempt to swallow failed. The mouthfeel was something of horrible. Didn't get it down all the way so I couldn't tell you that much about it. The aftertaste was the "I've been home from school for two days with the flu" type taste. Take the idea of drinkability, find the closest toilet, and toss. If you finished this (most likely spooning out the sludge-like crap at the bottom of your glass) you are either one of the lucky few that got a decent bottle or have probably died. If the latter, I'll raise a glass of actually drinkable beer in your honor. I have no idea why Sam Adams would try releasing this beer so far after its prime.

Samuel Adams 13th Hour Stout

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

cjacobsen

Classified as a Stout from the brewery, but Belgian Strong Dark Ale on BA. Reviewed as a Stout. (A) Pours black, but it's not opaque. When held up to the light, ruby hues are seen throughout the beer. There is a slight head that diminishes rather quickly. (S) Very sweet, well spiced. Has a bouquet of dark fruits and sugars. Dark cherry and yeast. Almost has a sour stout smell to it like NB Clutch or Tart of Darkness. Has a lot and very promising. (T) Promising gone. What is this? The dark fruits, especially dark cherry, are very prominent. The fruits are paired with a bit of raisin and a hefty bout of spice. (M) Medium body and rather oily. It's too carbonated, especially for a stout. Ends thin and dry. (O) Not what I would have expected out of a stout. This beer is over spiced and over carbonated. I liked the idea and the aroma was very pleasant, quite awesome if I do say, but it was all downhill from there.

Santa's Private Reserve Ale

American Amber / Red Ale

Lawl3ss

Poured out of a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip pint glass. Look- Clear rich copper-grapefruity-amber with a generous parchment-colored head that dies slowly and doesn't leave much in the way of lacing. Smell- Oatlike caramel malt and pine, some nondescript citrus. Nice but not mind-blowing. Definitely christmas-y. Taste- Sweetness and grapefruit/citrus dominate throughout, with enough grassy hop twang on the back end to cleanse the palate. A nice malty-maple aftertaste, as well. I do get some of the spruce mentioned on the bottle, but wish it was a bit more present. Mouthfeel- More watery than I was hoping, it's got some snap up front and finishes quite dry. Carbonation doesn't come across at all. Overall- Well done, but I really prefer something a bit more substantial around Christmastime in the wilds of Central/Upstate NY and the pricetag was a bit hefty for the offering. Would probably try it on tap if I saw it, but would pass on the sixer.

Diesel

American Stout

Lawl3ss

Slightly chilled 16 oz. can poured into a nonic pint glass. Look- Pours a deep brown that blocks out just about all the light, with three fingers of loose eggnog colored head that settles down to a nice craggy half inch of foam. Loads of dense marbled lacing. I could eat that with a spoon! Aroma- Comes across with Sixpoint's usual citrusy pine hop bouquet, with a darker background of caramel and roasted grains. Unusual portfolio for a stout, but it works. Taste- Starts off like it smells- pine and nondescript citrus. Fades slowly to a nice roasty-rye/toasted marshmallow with a final spruce resurgence at the end. Aftertaste is almost peat-like, a dark green mossy flavor reminiscent of some scotches I've had. The distinct flavors blend surprisingly well, rather than edging each other out. Did I mention it's delicious? Mouthfeel- Rather light-bodied for a stout, with a moderate amount of carbonation that accents the hoppy bite at the front of the sip. Very clean finish with just a touch of astringency. Overall- Another excellent offering from Sixpoint. I am really digging their signature flavor; which I gather is a love it or hate it kind of thing. I do have to say, though, that this beer barely falls into the stout category, thanks to the light body and big hop presence, though I'm not sure what else it would be called. Whatever it is, its great- this beer will definitely enter my "regular" rotation.

Sun Up Horizon Hefe Weizen

Hefeweizen

breweryaprntc13

L:Poured a hazy golden-tan with a weak one finger head, off white in color with some lace. A:Banana and clove are most noticeable, with fruity undertones and a slight yeast note.Does right by the style, but is lackluster compared to other hefeweizens T:The clove is less noticeable here, with banana leading, followed by fruitiness and a gentle wheat presence and good malty flavors. Slight ester presence. Finally a light hop bitterness. M:Overall a very smooth beer. Starts sweet, slight tart qualities, with a noticeable spicy hops finish. D: Not the greatest in its clas, but the positives outnumber the negatives. Good take on a hefeweizen, but nothings to write home to your friends about.

Unibroue 16

Belgian Strong Pale Ale

breweryaprntc13

Muddy amber/brown, slight gold hue under a one finger solid white head slow to dissolve leaving very thick lace. Piney and citrus hops lead, toffee malts, earthy and grassy hops, hints of dark fruits, slight ester. Tart, pine and citrus lead. sour finish. belgian yeast, dark fruits, slight clove, earthy bitter undertones. Medium carbonation, smooth body, Solid beer, not awe inspiring but impressive and above average.

Red Stripe Jamaican Lager

American Adjunct Lager

Shrews629

Appearance - Very clear golden straw color. Very white head on top that didn't stick around too long. Several small bubbles coming up from the bottom. Not leaving a lot of lacing. It is amazingly clear however. Smell - Some grain. Not getting any hops really. Clean smell. Nothing offensive. Not getting a whole lot of anything really. Maybe only the faintest hint of a biscuit or dough in the nose. Taste - Again, nothing offensive but... Mouthfeel - Thin, crisp, dry, smooth. Drinkability - Haven't had this beer for about 2 yrs. Not as good as I remember. I can drink it, but definitely nothing special. I would, however, choose this over most macro brews.

Kentucky Ale

English Pale Ale

Shrews629

Appearance - Very clear amber with golden/red highlights. Poured very aggressively right down the middle produced a 2 finger, soapy, off white head that did not hang around very long at all. I do kind of like the color though. Smell - Some decent hops in the nose with a slight biscuit/bread smell with a touch of caramel and a slight floral hint. Taste - Not a lot going on with the taste. Slight bit of bitterness at the end but not as much as I was expecting. I found a slight bit of alcohol in the aftertaste. To me, not as strong as a typical Irish Red. Mouthfeel - Very light, thin, smooth and watery. Drinkability - The thin, watery mouthfeel makes this very easy for me to drink. I don't mind drinking a few of these at one time. I could drink this at any time during the year. This brew is not too bad really. Not the best beer ever, but I like it alright. I usually pick some up every now and then because I like the fact that it is brewed in Kentucky and I want to do my part to support our local breweries.

Green's Discovery

English Strong Ale

bbarrows

Served from bottle into a wine glass at ~45 degrees. Appearance- Dark brown and cloudy, no head Smell- Reminds me of apple cider Taste- Very light sour apple, no other distinctive flavors Mouthfeel- Thin, little carbonation Drinkability- I wouldn't want another

Snake Dog IPA

American IPA

bbarrows

Served from bottle to pint glass. A - Amber and clear with 1" fluffy white head. Head recedes to only a thin film, but leaves a dense lacing behind for the first 1/2 of the pint. S - Strong citrus and pine aroma, malt is barely noticeable. T - Fresh citrus and pine, with slight malt flavor in the background; lingering bitter hop finish. Decent balance of flavors. M - Thin, perhaps thinner than I like, but it makes it easy to drink. Not necessarily a sipping beer. D - Easy drinking, maybe too easy.

The Dissident

Flanders Oud Bruin

dac

On tap at the Deschutes pub in Bend and again at Deschutes in Portland. Tawny brown, some lace on top, little head and some lace around the rim of the snifter. Lacto-Brett sour aromas, slight acetic malt vinegar aroma. Delightfully sour, cherries come trough as more of a cherry-pit flavor, but are very subdued. Malt sweetness can be detected, but the beer is quite balanced presenting both malt and sour notes in a quite pleasing manner. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the advertised %ABV. This is a labeled as big beer but it sure doesn't feel that big. Very drinkable. Easy to knock back a few in a sitting once they warm up a bit. I was surprised the Deshutes pubs were serving them at about 32 degrees. Good enough that shell out more than few greenbacks for a case of bottles.

Criminally Bad Elf

English Barleywine

dac

Half liter bottle, cellar temp. Crystal clear copper color. Nice thin head that turns into a loose lacing. Aroma of caramel & crystal malts, treacle and candied apples. Flavor showcases an intense malt profile with caramel and crystalized sugars. Barely detectable diacetyl level and apparent high mineral content lend a distinctive Brittish flavor profile. Very sweet and stickey on the tongue, but with just enough hop bitterness to keep it from being sickening. The hops helps keep the flavors crisp and there is relatively litte after taste, just a sugary coating on the teeth. A pretty decent English style barley wine. Gives a nice glow about half way through the bottle and pairs well with stinky cheese like Royal Blue Stilton.

Steam Engine Stout

American Stout

association330

12 oz. bottle, no freshness date A - Pours black with just a faint ruby hue around the edges. A half-finger of light tan head is brief and leaves a ring of bubbles with little lacing. S - Coffee & cream, roasted barley, faint molasses and bitter chocolate. T - Slightly sweeter malt character up front with a touch of dark fruit. Swallow of gentle hop bitterness. Finishes with lingering roasted barley and coffee w/ cream. M - Light side of medium, with medium-high carbonation. D - A respectable stout that I wouldn't mind buying again.

Fuel Cafe (Coffee Flavored Stout)

American Stout

association330

I don't know what the heck happened to this beer, but it wasn't for the better. Bottle was notched for the second week of June, but it was a newcomer to my local co-op's shelf within the last month. I have to presume it was June of 2008. It starts out fine... A - Pours very dark brown to black with a thick, light tan head. Dissipates to a thick cap with fairly nice lacing. This is where this brew goes south very quickly. S - Ridiculous amounts of grapey, vinegary sourness overwhelm a faint espresso note. T - More sour, grapey vinegar. If not for the appearance, I'd swear I was drinking red wine and not beer. M - Carbonation is moderate to pronounced. The "beer" is medium-bodied and the carbonation results in a very foamy, creamy texture. D - It's hardly a beer at all, let alone a stout, but finding red wine to be a decent beverage from time to time, I can probably stomach these. I paid for them, so I'll try to finish them. But jeez, this brew was bad, and not even close to what I was expecting from a coffee stout. Clearly something went wrong in bottling and/or distribution, unless this is what the brewer really intended to produce. I'm doubting that this particular bottle is actually ~6% ABV too, as there is a warming effect starting to envelop the back of my throat. I'm also noting a wine-like alcoholic astringency as it goes down. I wish I had some way of measuring the ABV of this one. Note also, this was bottle one from a six-pack. Hopefully they aren't all like this, though I have my doubts if they came from the same batch.

Vanilla Porter

American Porter

beertastegood

Pours a deep deep garnet, so dark that it is almost black. Thin head fades into a few fish-eye bubbles. Aromas of black malt and espresso, slight raisin overlaid with a distinct vanilla smell. Tangy, tart aroma in there as well. Taste: Um...wow. This is one sweet beer. Intense vanilla character all the way through, but underneath it there is a sweet stout on a sugar high. Very little roasted character or hop bitterness, letting this beer fall firmly on the "cloying" side of the fence. I think they went a bit heavy on the lactose (milk sugar) in this beer. The finish is slightly tart leaving a molasses-like sweetness on the tongue. Not many porter-like qualities here. Mouthfeel: Full body, medium-low carbonation. Drinkability: Yeesh...if you like your beers sugary (not malty), this is a good one for you. As for me, I would prefer something with a little balance. It lives up to the "vanilla" descriptor, so I can't say I wasn't warned. There is something to be said for subtlety and harmony in beer. This beer does not say it.

Yeti Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

beertastegood

Pours a dark, dark viscous black with a small rocky head that is almost as dark as the beer. Smells of burned coffee and toasted malt, with a bit of earthy hop notes as well. Tastes much like it smells, predominantly of black malt and coffee. Towards the finish, there is a very slight taste of alcohol that merges nicely into a bitter hop flavor. Even better, right after the hops come in, I could detect a chocolatey flavor that just made the taste experience even better. Mouth feel: standard imperial stout fare, medium carbonation with a full, chewy body. Drinkability is about medium, but I could drink a lot of this stuff, just because it tastes so damn good. An outstanding Impy Stout from the Great Divide.

Magnumus Ete Tomahawkus ESB³

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

Godard

Very strong floral hops, similar to Hopdevil or Hopwallop. Tremendous perfume. More smooth than bitter. The alcohol is quite well hidden. I prefer the Vermonster which balances out the hops with malt. Compare the dogfishhead 60 min to the 90 min. Sampled at the Philadelphia Craft Beer festival.

Double Simcoe IPA

American Double / Imperial IPA

Godard

Picked up as part of their Big Beers case. Weyerbacher does like doing too much of a good thing, and here is another example. Lots of hops and lots of alcohol with very little malt sweetness to balance make this a very bitter beer and not terribly pleasant to drink. I did enjoy learning more about simcoe hops because of its single-minded commitment. Like a lot of floral beers, this one smells better than it tastes, and after having a few big beers I did spend a lot of time with my nose buried in my glass and just staring (blame the alcohol). Never was tempted to have more than one bottle at a session though.

SuperShow 69

American IPA

bigbeerdrinka

On Tap at Anam Cara for Hophead throwdown. Pours a very pale golden yellow with a nice light white head. This beer looks more like a pilsner than an IPA but after talking to Dan at the tap I learned they only used one malt in this beer so maybe that has something to do with it. Aromas are of citrus and piney hops, along with some resiny aromas and a little bread. For taste this beer packs a punch. Citrusy and resinousy hops truly dominate the flavor profile. Malts make their way in showing off some dry biscuit flavors but the true beauty to this beer is in its finish. This beer finishes just super bitter with piney hops showing off what they are made of, leaving in the end an incredible hop bitter bite to it. Damn this is tasty. As for mouthfeel, this beer is relatively light bodied, and has a great crisp carbonation. Though this beer is super bitter, it still keeps a great drinkability because of its great flavor profile. This beer alone made the hophead throwdown great. Another great beer by Dan at the Tap..

Very Bad Elf

English Pale Ale

bigbeerdrinka

Pours a very light amber color with copper hues and just a tiny white head. A firm dosage of bready like aromas and spicy limey hops make up the nose of this beer. This beer is initially fairly sweet up front and then hits with a decent dosage of biscuity, pilsner, and bready like malts. The finish is fairly spicy with a sweet citrusy lime hop flavor that reminds me a lot of a classic pilsner. This beer is medium bodied and has a light body to it. Overall this brew in no way reminds me of a pale ale, and just doesn't hit the spot for me..

Veltins Pilsner

German Pilsener

Brewtus

Now I am sure I must have bought a bad sixer because my veltins pils poured cloudy and the smell was of worn gym socks, sour taste and a lingering aftertaste that reminded me of one time when I consumed to much and it came back up in my mouth. I think I will pick up another sixer from a different store and give it one more chance, might re review.

Our Special Ale 2007 (Anchor Christmas Ale)

Winter Warmer

Brewtus

Purchased Anchor X-mas 07 last year and was able to save a couple from then. Appeared dark dark red, so dark you couldn't tell it was red unless held up to a light. Smell was very inviting with hints of nutmeg and ginger. Taste was a little piney crossed with holiday type spices, mouthfeel was smooth and creamy(nice creamy tan head that lingered on top of the beer for the whole time. This is a great brew and I think I will save my other bottle for Christmas day.

Pee Klak Moorsels Bier (for Pee Klak, Gijzejem)

Belgian Pale Ale

Absumaster

This beer pours one of the lightest colors I ever seen in a beer. A very light yellow beer, which looks like a witbier with a slight haze and a creamy head. Smell is fruity with banana notes and some solvent notes. A little cork and topped of with some subtile hop notes. The yeast appears to be a lot like the Westmalle strain. Taste is light, but with a great intensity. With it's 5,4% this beer tastes like a tripel. With notes of banana and pear, together with all kinds of other exotic fruits. Soe light hoppy notes, but little bitterness. Body is light and aftertaste is not very long. Good beer!

Abdis Tripel

Tripel

Absumaster

A clear, orange beer with a thick and stable head. Smell is malty with a heavy husk smell, that is nutty and unfresh. Not much hops. Taste is husky and nutty with a astringent taste. The taste is less husky than the smell. I am not sure if this is ment to be this way. It tastes like a reasonable amount of caramalt has been used. There is not much else in there, but the nutty huskiness. The yeast appears to add a whiff of barnyard flavor. This beer suffers from an undefined style.

Ringneck Chief's Rye Ale

Rye Beer

Manos

My favorite Ringneck Brewery Ale, BY FAR. I have tried about a dozen of their selections since finding this treasure on the west side oif Cleveland (you need to go there if visiting, as well as a Great Lakes experience). Rye scented beauty in a glass. They never have bombers availible, try a growler, if you can. I love this stuff. Alcohol permeates a bit, though not irritating. A very unique offering. Only at brewhouse( thats the Brew Kettle in cleveland(Strongsville, suburb, if you did'nt know): http://www.thebrewkettle.com/

Molson Canadian Lager

American Adjunct Lager

Manos

O.K., first try: "Got any unsweetened iced tea?" I asked the waitress at the nearest resturaunt, Jack Astor's, after a long day of chasing little ones around a Hot day at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (near Toronto). "Oh sorry. You guys must be from the States. We never do up here." she says . "O.K...I'll have a...(looking around all I see is, you guessed, MOLSON CANADIAN! Even the t.v. had the CFL on with Molson plastered everywhere). Fine."One 'Canadian, please", trying hard to seem "hip".The next table over ordered theirs that way. So what. Its Canada's Bud as far a I can tell, omnipresent, macro-promo that tasted refreshing after a hot day. Ice cold, it had very little after taste with little to no smell. Hell, maybe I was just dying of thirst, but after 3, I was'nt even full or uncomfortable, the way some beers make you feel on a hot day.To that I salute it. O.k. if in a pinch in Canada, but I won't go hunting for it here at home, especially when every grocery store here stocks Great Lakes year round, thank God :) It's kinda like drinking National Bohemian in Baltimore, or Iron City in Pittsburgh; when in Rome...

Raison D'etre

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Chadbrew

Appearance - Rich and caramel colored with a decent head and fair carbonation. There is some really nice lacing here. Aroma - Sweetness and raisins and dried fruit and malt. There is a nice Belgian yeast-like smell also. Taste - Very complex stuff going on in here. There seems to be some almost vinous qualities as well as a pleasant aged fruitiness. This is one of those beers that changes as it warms so it just keeps giving. Body - Plenty of it! Drinkability - A little heavy for drinking too many. This is a great after dinner or night cap.

Guinness Draught

Irish Dry Stout

Chadbrew

Popped the cap and heard the "Rocket Widget Delivering me the Great Taste of Guinness Draught". Appearance - Black with just a glimpse of ruby when held up to the light. The Nitro kinda captures the classic Guinness head for like a millisecond, then it's just a half a finger of tan head. Smell - Sweet with light tones of roasted malt and an almost "milky" smell. Taste - Not much here really. Somewhat creamy roasted coffee flavor, a little bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel - Medium to full body. Drinkability - I think the drinkability on this is pretty good. Not my favorite but very smooth and easy. Relatively low abv lets you throw back a few.

Saranac Rye IPA

American IPA

GradyS1

I grew up drinking Saranac, so its gonna be interesting how i rate them. I loved them all but did not have much to compare to. A- light yellow, translucent hay color, heavy pour into a pint glass that results in a thick white head S-a musty hop smell to this one. malts, not much to the smell T- much better than the smell, there is a earthy floral hops up front that finish with a nice Rye, pepper spice flavor. With a second taste, It is almost a citrus hop up front, malty finish. M-light bodied and watery, light carbonation. The look and the taste were a little deceiving to me. I thought this would have very little flavor but, the citrus was complemented nicely by a spice finish, light but there.

Vitis Series: Pinotlambicus

American Wild Ale

GradyS1

A-poured hard into a lost abbey tumbler and there is very little life to this one, a small lacing forms that seems to disappear instantly, light orange yellow cloudy S- a musty grape smell, reminds me of a gueze a lot. Light acidic grape juice smell. T-grape juice and sour apple, similar to a still limbic. Sour finish but not overwhelming M- very little carbonation, has almost a syrupy texture to this one. Medium body Overall I liked this, it reminded me of an unblended lambic. I liked the Taste but was not a fan of the mouthfeel

Big Head San Diego Style Ale

American Double / Imperial IPA

david131

A- A very nice looking copper/ amber clear liquid with a very thick and creamy head sitting atop. Certainly lives up to its name. S- I can smell this beer from 2 feet away. Lots of pineapple and citrus and a little bit of alcohol. This is wonderful. T- A lot different than the smell. The alcohol is more apparent, it is pretty sweet, and there is a slight earthy aspect to it as well. There does pack a punch though, wow. M- Sticky in the mouth, crisp and dry upon swallowing. Not as thin as I was expecting. The alcohol is not really harsh at all. D- The 11% is well masked behind the extreme hopping and the sweet malt. I was expecting this to be more hop water, instead I get a wonderful treat. I love the Midwest spin on a West Coast DIPA.

La Parcela

Pumpkin Ale

david131

Batch 610 Bottled 8-20-10 5.9% ABV A- A very hazy luminiscent, orange liquid with a monstrous bone white head that has astounding retention. The lacing is far above average too. S- Funk, flowers, and some light spices. A little on the lighter side of some Jolly Pumpkin beers, but it is very nice. T- Some oak, light spices, funk, flowers. Slightly sour. A little odd with the spices... M- A perfectly creamy body with a dry, acidic finish. Perfect. D- A very unique pumpkin ale. Drinks nice. I hate to say this, but it doesn't blow my doors off. If this was my first Jolly Pumpkin beer, I am sure I would feel differently.

Yuengling Porter (Dark Brewed)

American Porter

Folderol

Wouldn't it be nice to find that a well-distributed old-line brewery from Pennsylvania makes a damn good porter? Fortunately, one does: Lion Brewery (Stegmeier Porter). This Yeungling stuff on the other hand may as well be ordinary bland American lager with some caramel color added. It smells like a plain yellow lager, all bread and yeast and no malt, let alone dark malt. The taste is a bit sour and tastes like the big brewery beers that turned me off of beer before I discovered stouts. There's a hint of chocolate malt roast here and there but it's way in the back, barely noticeable. The appearance was the only thing right about it: dark brown with a nice creamy head. All in all, pretty much a bust. Maybe this passed for Porter back in 1940, but by today's standards, US or UK, it's nothing more than a brown macro lager.

Long Trail Ale

Altbier

Folderol

Supposedly this is an Altbier, but if you blindfolded me, I'd say I was drinking Yuengling. Not that that's such a bad thing, but I was expecting more from this beer. It pours clear amber with a short white head, and tastes of thin malt and some sourness. Not much hop flavor at all. Try Long Trail's Double Bag instead - now that's a good (sticke) Alt.

Corona Extra

American Adjunct Lager

Bones54

Sure this may not be the best beer in terms of taste, smell, appearance, mouthfeel, or drinkability- but its still one hell of a beer. Go ahead and call me a fool that has fell for the marketing of this brew, but frankly, I don't give a damn. I love having this beer on the beach, in the sun, at JB concerts, etc. I love it all. And yes, I'll have a lime with it please. I know it doesn't do much, but it looks cool in the commercials.

Stormy Water Cream Stout

Milk / Sweet Stout

Bones54

Had this on tap while at the brewery. By far the best beer of the night. I'm not typically a fan of sweet stouts but this one was very good. It had just the right amount of sweetness to it that made the brew a pleasant suprise. It is a dark, thick rich brew. Very tasty and I hope to see this on tap when I return.

Coffeehouse Porter

American Porter

DrunkPagan

I love coffee, and I love beer. Naturally, I love coffee beers. This beer is easily one of my favorites, if not my favorite. It is simply perfection in a bottle. It's smooth, creamy, rich but not heavy, and tastes like the most perfect coffee married the most perfect porter. This is one of those beers I could drink all night if I didn't need to sleep at some point. I originally had it in a bottle, but when I had it on nitro tap, I was blown away. The nitrogen gives the beer just a little added crispness that turns it from a 9 all the way up to 11. I could go on about how perfectly the malt and the coffee work together, or the way it's perfectly balanced, or how I really want another one right the hell now. However, if there is one flaw in this beer, it's that I can only have one, or maybe two before I'll be up all night. I already drink a lot of coffee as it is. Still, this may be the perfect coffee beer.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

American Pale Wheat Ale

DrunkPagan

During my beer day, my girlfriend and I stopped at Chili's for dinner while searching for the Newport Storm brewery. I liked the Summer Ale the last time I had it, so I ordered a 16 oz. They brought be a 20, but who's complaining? Good golden color, faint citrusy smell, pleasing fruity taste (and I'm not partial to fruity beers.) Mouthfeel left a bit to be desired, but it doesn't detract from enjoyment. Drinkability is very good. I have fond memories of sweating in the summer heat, finding refuge in my basement with a cooler full of summer ale. On those days when it's just too damn hot to go outside for any reason, this is a great, drinkable beer. It also, as I discovered last night, goes well with nachos and spicy chili-cheese.

Olde School Barleywine

American Barleywine

baldmasterflex

Another rarity purchased at Capones in East Norriton, PA in a traditional 12 ounce bottle with a dogfish flourescent green cap. Found the last one left on the bottom shelf, a 2009 vintage for $7. I have been looking for this for years, and living down by delaware i am very suprised that i couldnt find it. Pours much much lighter than i thought it would. Pours a clearish orange/yellow/peach with very little head and very fine bubbles. Smells pretty sweet, with more of a fruity presense, like more of an english style barleywine. Taste is very much of dark fruits and i cant help but think that i am drinking an actual grape-based wine. Mouthfeel is not sludgey or overly heavy, but the taste and feel lingers forever. Carbonation is great with just enough of a tingle. An awesome beer and im glad i found it. I have been finding dogfish beers very redundant and overly hyped. This, however, is a HUGE exception.

Apricot Wheat

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

baldmasterflex

Was in a fruity beer mood. Wanted to cuddle up with a 6-pack but didnt want somethign too strong or heavy. Appearance is as expected. Clear pale yellow with a billowing pure white head. Carbonation is faintly visible but its def present upon drinking. Smell is faint fruityness with a whiffs of dull apricot. Taste just is not impressive. Although i love bitter beers, i was hoping for somethign much sweeter. Can barely taste the apricot, comes thru in the middle. With its light body and fine carbonation, it is very drinkable. Maybe im rating it against what i was hoping to drink, but i def will not be seeking this out again.

Storm (Islay Whisky Cask Aged IPA)

American Double / Imperial IPA

Briarscratch

This beer is ridiculous. It taste like licking a spatula after grilling a really seasoned whiskey marinated piece of meat. So much smoke in the smell and in the taste. No carbonation at all. A tiny bit of head that laced a bit of the glass. So much whiskey smoke flavor, words can't describe. I like it one sip then I don't like it the next. Crazy crazy brew complements of Brewdog. Will never drink one again but I'm glad I got to try it.

Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale

American IPA

Briarscratch

Poured in a pint glass from a 24oz bottle. Color is a very clear bronze. There is a great, thick head that seems to hang around and is making some sweet lacing on the glass. This beer has a great, mild hoppy aroma. I can't say that anything else really stands out. It has a strong, bitter hop flavor that bites at first and really hangs on the tongue with a hint of sweetness at the end. Just like i like my American IPA except the wet hopping method really gives it a unique character. It has a medium body that's easy to swallow and leaves a tingle in the mouth. So smooth and easy to drink, I could definitely drink a few.

Mojo IPA

American IPA

LibertyTurns

Once you get past the weird label, you find a decent IPA. This beer has a nice strong taste and stacks up well against other IPAs. Not in the same category as Stone Ruination IPA, though. You won't go wrong picking up a six-pack of this, or two if you're trying to make it thru the week.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

LibertyTurns

Bold taste & and outstanding kick. Very hoppy with a nice color. Extremely drinkable. Ranks right up there with Great Divide's Titan IPA & Stone's Ruination IPA. I only bought a 6-pack & now wish I'd bought a case. A nice 22oz bottle version would be perfect.

Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale

Flanders Oud Bruin

KDawg

very nice dark red mahogany color. Poured into a tulip and has a nice and foamy head Very tart nose as would be expected. Sour cherries, apples, with some vinegary aromas as well medium/full bodied with the acidity that one would expect from a good flemish sour. Very tart and sour driven flavors that one would expect as well with apples, sour cherries and some sour red berries too Always consistent and always good. This is a personal favorite for when I need to have a sour.

Modus Hoperandi

American IPA

KDawg

poured into a pint glass from can. Pours a dark orange color with a small head Very resiny aromas along with hops, christmas spices and citrus aromas medium bodied with a nice feel. There is a very resiny finish with some spices as well. The flavors are slightly disjointed a bit a very solid hoppy beer. On the fresher side, but doesn't do anything that is amazing.

10 Squared Fish Tale Ale

American Barleywine

HumuloneRed

The beer pours dark a clear amber with a frothy off white head and soapy lacing. The nose is pure butterscotch! Diacetyl. ! I get no hop aroma and may be some sweet malt but it is overwhelmed by the diacetyl. The flavor is overwhelmingly butterscotch with a lot of bitterness in the finish. No balance whatsoever,. The bottle states that the beer has 100 IBU's which is hard to believe since it doesn't even cover up the diacetyl. To be fare, after the beer warms a bit you can taste more of the hops. Unfortunately that are mash-up of conflicting flavors that leaves a metallic flavor in my mouth. Double fault. Well there is no reason to go much further. I hate diacetyl. It is a flaw in beer that some people like, some can't even detect it. But for the hop profile to be that out of whack is unforgivable. I don't think I can finish this beer. This is a disappointment because I remember really liking this beer the first time it came out. Not this time...

Wipeout I.P.A.

American IPA

HumuloneRed

22 oz. Botttle. This beer pours a slightly murky orange with a striking white thick head and sticky lacing. The aroma is filled with pine, citrus, earth, and a sweet and fruity malt notes. The flavor is has a huge hop flavor and bite. Then the malt comes to the rescue with some balance making this beer very drinkable. A well made beer is what it is.

Deep Water Dopplebock

Doppelbock

Deus1138

Stopped by Total Wine and More tonight. I had never seen this stuff there before, so I snagged a six pack. Poured into a mug. Color was deep brown. Looked somewhat watery. Little to no head to speak of. Smell is mostly of roasted malts? Taste is more like a stout than a doppelbock, in my humble opinion. Mostly roasted malts. Some caramel sweetness in the background. A dry and slightly bitter finish. Mouthfeel is somewhat watery. Drinkability is descent. It's nothing great. There are much better Doppels out there. I'd drink it again, but I wouldn't buy it again.

Lindemans Apple

Lambic - Fruit

Deus1138

I bought the Sam Adams Winter Sampler and didn't like the Cranberry Lambic. So I did more research on Lambics and decided to try some others, this being my first. It's kind of an amber color, like apple juice. About a quarter inch of fizzy, light head that quickly dissolved. The smell wasn't what I expected. In fact, at first I thought I had a bad bottle. Honestly, it smelled bad at first. I thought it was skunked. When I tasted it, I was surprised. The smell had turned me off, and I was fully expecting to take a sip and dump the bottle, but it tasted very good! It tastes like cider. Now that I have tasted it, I gave it another whiff. I don't know what I detected before, but it now smells apply and sour, much more pleasant this time around. I didn't really know what to expect from this Lambic. After my initial smell, I thought I wasn't going to like it. But once I tasted it, I was pleasantly surprised. This isn't something I would drink on a regular basis, but it's something I would buy again. I think this would be great for a party or event where you were trying to bring something fun, light and different. Definitely worth trying. Can't wait to venture into other Lambics!

Terrapin The Dark Side Belgian Style Imperial Stout

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

DrinkinBoy

Terrapin Dark Side pour an opaque extremely dark brown. Head appears a latte color. The head only remained around the rim, a minute after pouring. Smell is faint, I could pick up on lingering notes of roasted coffee and cocoa. Its taste is much more forward than the smell. Begins with a chocolately sweetness. On the mid palate it goes into the roasted taste of coffee. It finishes similar to a carbonated yoohoo in flavor. The aftertaste leaves bitter roasted notes. The mouthfeel is thick and the carbonation is balanced. Overall, I enjoyed the complexity of this beer. As far as I can remember its my first in the style. The name on the label is different from what it is categorized on this site. This makes a huge difference, because I would give it as a dark ale an overall higher rating than as a stout. But as with all of Terrapin's Side Projects it is definitely worth trying while it last.

#9

Fruit / Vegetable Beer

DrinkinBoy

Magic Hat #9 pours a deep gold color, almost the color of apple juice. The head was small and white but it did have great retention. The smell is lightly fruity with notes of apricots ands pears. Its taste begins extremely light, on the mid palate the fruit flavors from the nose comes through. The finish has the first signs of hoppy bitterness. The mouthfeel was very refreshing on the palate, and the cripness of the carbonation and finish balances out nice with the sweetness of the taste. Overall, Magic Hat #9 is very drinkable. Although I was not all that impressed by the beer in general. It says its "not quite Pale Ale" and its classified as a Fruit/Vegetable beer, but it just seems confused and without a direction.

New Holland Ichabod Ale

Pumpkin Ale

SeaUrchin

had a bottle of this the other night, i do have to mention that i had just gotten over a cold and my nose was still a little stuffy appearance - poured a nice golden amber color with moderate carbonation, barely visible head smell - smelled of pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices but none strong enough to detect by themselves taste - taste was alright, a sweet cinnamon at the front, faded more into an almost bitter nutmeg/clove flavor, and finished with a nice sweet pumpkin flavor, none of these flavors were too strong but detectable mouthfeel - this brew felt almost too watery for me, very thin but the carbonation added a nice little boost to it and worked nicely with the beer, giving it a refreshing feel drinkability - i could drink a few of these without even noticing it, but it would be one of those beers i drank if i wasnt really paying too much attention to the flavor, more of a smokey halloween party beer than a finish to a week beer that i was hoping for this beer was alright, iv noticed this year that im not digging the pumpkin ales as much as i was last year, maybe my palate changed, maybe my im just bored with them, or maybe my memories of how they tasted last year are exaggerated to i feel like im being let down, that being said both my brother and girlfriend loved this beer so to each their own, have one more bottle left and ill give it a shot at halloween

Ten FIDY

Russian Imperial Stout

SeaUrchin

cracked with a born on date of 10-03-09 thanks to IDateTheFormula, thank you, poured into a tulip, first sip taken out of the can just to see what it was like(advised by a fellow BA to do so) appearance - black, light carbonation, little head if any, no lacing to speak of, almost the consistency of motor oil smell - smell of chocolate and sweet roasted malts, and slight coffee taste - followed the nose, went with a nice sweet malty chocolate, then it moved into a slightly bitter coffee, then a mild sweet alcohol flavor, very delicious mouthfeel - thick and silky, the light carbonation kept it smooth, this is what i look for in a texture of a russian imperial stout, top notch drinkability - while this is a heavy beer it is still very drinkable, just over a long period of time, if i had access to this on a regular basis, it would be something i enjoyed over the entire duration of a tigers game, when im in a state where this is sold i will be picking up a case of this

Corsendonk Agnus / Abbey Pale Ale

Tripel

bradsmithjr

A - GOlden colored, oily head, not as firm as I would have guessed. S - Citrus nose with some sweetness, nothing too special. T - Terrific at 50 degrees, eminently quaffable at 45 too. Held up nicely to a fine homemade turkey chili. M - Slightly syrupy, citrusy and mossy, helping it hold up well to the chili. D - A fine tripel, though there are better beers on the market, this is was not a disappointment.

Wee Heavy

Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy

bradsmithjr

Consider this an amateur review - but what a beer this is. Tried this at the brewhouse about a half hour ago...nose is sweet with a hint of molasses. Overall color is deep brown, a burnt umbra, and the overall mouthfeel is heavenly, but with enough bite to remind you of what you're drinking. Overall taste reminds me of a honey laced Irish coffee, syrupy-ness that's unexpected and pleasant. Oak aging and high ABV makes for a memorable dessert beer.

Boddingtons Pub Ale

English Pale Ale

BlankFrank

A: Great foamy waterfall effect when poured into a pint glass. As the head settles, a clear golden color remains. I would say that this coats the glass rather than call it lacing. S: Not really much there. Nothing stands out, just some vague almost sweet smell. T: Very mild. Light hops with lots of creaminess. Nothing too direct. M: Smooth as silk, but lacking in carbonation. The smoothness is good, but I don't like that there's almost no carbonation. D: Pretty easy to drink. Alcohol isn't very high, so it's easy to drink plenty. This isn't really a drink that's going to make you think and contemplate its nature, but you don't have to prepare yourself for each sip.

Leffe Blonde

Belgian Pale Ale

BlankFrank

A: Deep, clear golden color with an adequate, white head. Has some nice lacing. S: Grainy, earthy, herbal, a little spicy and fruity, but nothing very strong. T: There's a nice toasty sweetness with a little herbal/hoppy sharpness. Creamy honey comes in at first, but then there's a yeast taste that's kind of grainy in texture. It has a strange finish with the bitter yeast taste, but I wouldn't say that's bad. M: Medium heaviness with nicely active carbonation. D: Pleasant to drink and very smooth. Unique enough to give you a taste to think about, but it's not going to overwhelm you. This beer is pretty satisfying, and it won't offend many palates.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

American Barleywine

Snow81

Dated: 2011 Appearance: Very clean red body Smell: Big Citric, small amount of a malty sweetness Head: Thick tan head that last the life of the beer Taste: Malty hits first then comes a heavy dark citric, some heat hits next then the palate is covered in hoppyness and stickiness Weight: Medium to heavy on the palate with high carbonation Finish: Sticky hops with a bit of heat then hops seem to last forever or at least till my next sip

Samuel Adams Irish Red

Irish Red Ale

Snow81

Appearance: Brownish red clear glow Head: Light tan frosty head Smell: Sweet malts with little grass and some caramel Taste: Caramelized malts with a sweet grassiness Weight: Medium to light body with a medium carbonation Finish: Grassy and earth

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Quadrupel (Quad)

BMan1113VR

Beautiful. Pours dark brownish with a red tinge with a large, creamy, kahki head that stays for the duration. Excellent lacing. Smell is extremely strong, good, but very complex. Aroma has heavy yeast notes, with undertones of pine, chocolate malts, and apple, cinnamon and ginger and many fruits that I cannot put my finger on. Alcohol is appereant in the aroma. Flavor is great and continues on for a long long time. The aftertaste has a hint of sweetened Marmite, which shows the yeast in this beer. Creamy body with lively carbonation and an alcoholic aftertaste, this beverage was a pleasure to drink, and I cannot wait to taste the bottle of Abt 12 SE that I was able to get a hold of!

Natural Light

Light Lager

BMan1113VR

One beer I will rate from memory. . .what a nightmare! Other than price this beer has absolutely no reedeming qualitys. Looks bad, smells worst, believe it or not tastes and goes down worse than that! This beer is seriously seriously bad! Keystone or Natty Light? Neither, would rather not having anything to drink these days.

Exit 16

American Double / Imperial IPA

Chico1985

750ml. Notes from a tasting. Pours a hazy light orange, quite a bit of sediment. Bubbly white head is reduced to a cap & ring. Some weirdness in the smell at first, maybe it's the rice, hops detectable along with some citrus and other fruit later on. A little bit earthy also. The rice for me was very up front and apparent, definite brown rice taste. It works well though, I've never encountered this in a beer before. Fresh citrus and fruit too, especially in the aftertaste. Biscuity. Booze is very well-hidden. The mouthfeel has a decent creaminess to it, good carbonation. Very easy to drink. Didn't blow me away at all but this was an interesting and solid brew from a brewery I've never heard of. I would try more of their beers.

Sisters Of The Moon

American IPA

Chico1985

An extra sent from cdflem. Thanks man! Pours a nice coppery orange with a tempting, sudsy white head. Eventually reduced to a cap but leaves very nice lacing. Lots of earth and fruit in the nose, fruit scents are light but nice such as citrus, apple, and lemon. Also later on a strange off-smell comes into play...almost a bourbon roastiness? Something of that sort. None of that in the taste though, which by the way is excellent! Fruit is more noticeable. This bottle is dated 5 months ago, but there is still a nice hop bitterness. Sweet candy caramel malts and citrus with a nice tangerine finish on every sip. The mouthfeel is nice and creamy, perfect amount of carbonation. Very full-bodied for an American IPA and no alcohol taste. Very drinkable and enjoyable. Very nice taste and body overall, always nice getting an 'A' beer from a random small brewery extra. If I ever see any of Mother Earth's products around I will pick them up for sure.

Chicory Stout

American Stout

Murrdogg

A: Dark, no other color in the light. Light and creamy head S: All I got was roasted coffee, but not too strong T: creamy and smooth, slightl malty sweetness. Delicious. light and stouty-coffee aftertaste m: smooth and creamy and easy to down. Very light in the stout realm. D: smooth as heck and easy to down.. one of my new favourite stouts!

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

Dortmunder / Export Lager

Murrdogg

I had this at the GLBC brewery itself A: light golden, almost rosy tint with a decent head of pure white S: Sweet smell, reminiscent of champagne or grapes. Light floral hops T: smooth and malty at first, rough after taste M: feels almost frothy with the carbonation. hops make it feel rough D: This is a good lager, very solid in it's taste and feel. Would be good in the summer, yet was fulfilling in the winter

Founders Devil Dancer

American Double / Imperial IPA

Sean9689

12oz bottle into Duvel tulip. A - Pours a mirky reddish-rust color. An aggressive pour yields a little less then one fingers worth of white head with some lacing. The head settles down quickly, leaving a white ring around the tulip with some bubbles here and there on the top of the beer. S - Sweet malt and lots of hoppy notes right off the bat. Some tangerine, orange peel, and mango notes really stick out to me here. The bitterness and sweetness combines together well. T - Tons of bitterness which stays on the palate for quite some time. A nice smoky/malty finish, but the bitterness still hangs around the entire time. Wow, this beer is gonna destroy my palate! M - Medium bodied, lightly carbonated, oily finish. All fits the beer very nicely. D - For the style, not as easy to drink as others I've had. However, this is a good beer, but not mind-blowing. It's also not cheap, at $18 per 4-pack. Overall, good and will drink again.

Smuttynose Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stout

Sean9689

Growler, thanks to Alex! Poured into tasting glass. A - Pours black, no head, lacing or retention. Looks like chocolate syrup in a glass...yummy. Some brown hue along the sides of the glass, thick-looking. S - Chocolate, oak, apple brandy, caramel. The apple brandy is wonderfully blended in this beer, as it doesn't overpower the stout at all. Rather, it's a great compliment to the beer. T - As with the nose, the apple brandy works wonderfully in this beer. Sweet chocolate syrup, caramel, not hot at all for 10%...the alcohol is very well hidden. Creamy chocolate finish. M - Full body, rich and smooth, flat (but still enjoyable). D - Really enjoyed this one. Could use a touch of carbonation, but hey, it's probably the growler's fault, not the beer. Would def have this again if offered. Recommend!

Jennings Sneck Lifter

Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)

AleYes

Got this in pints at a pub while in London; one of the best "real ales" I had there, and I had many, of course! Unfortunately, I couldn't find any in bottles to bring home! Some of the descriptions here say they aren't sure how to categorize it; it is categorized in England as a Strong ale, which means over 5% alcohol. I would categorize it as a brown ale, based on taste, color and body. Nice toasty, roasty, malty, coffee, chocolate, etc., nose and taste, touch of sweetness and hoppy bitterness, just like you would expect in a good brown ale. Excellent brew to have relaxing in a pub. One good reason to go back to England!

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout

American Stout

AleYes

The label on the back not describing the beer should've been a good clue. Opened cold - tasted - wasn't much, but it is a stout, so of course I let it warm up. At cool still not impressive. Up to about 55 degrees and still a flat, slightly watery unimpressive stout. It poured dark, giving me hope. Head was flat and dissipated quickly. Had light milk chocolate and coffee flavors, and hints of more complex flavors, but it never got there. The flavors didn't meld, was unveven in the mouth. Light mouthfeel, neither sweet nor bitter. Would not recommend it to a serious stout drinker.

Estrella Damm Inedit

Witbier

AdamJackson

I'm not sure how I got so lucky to find this beer. Picked it up at Charles Street Liquors in Boston. The bottle was enticing but the reviews weren't too glorious. Paid $10.99 for this bottle that filled 6 Champagne flutes among friends. My advice is to let it sit for a bit after opening. The flavors became more pronounced after 15 minutes. Label said "1/11" on the side. I'm going to assume that was the manufacture date and not drink by date because I'd be a year too late. A - Hazy tan color of a very mild wheat beer with bubbles that resemble champagne. The coloring also reminds me of a hazy pinot noir wine. Three finger head that subsides after 5 minutes. The plethora of bubbles that come from bottom to top never really stop. S - Pine comes through a lot. Maybe even spruce and maple. I'm gonna say this smells like a Butterscotch candy very sweet and mild but earthy. T - It's taste is hard to pinpoint but after a few minutes, I'd say the taste was Robitussin or a cough drop. Very medicine like taste. If you like cough syrup, you'd like this. M - Very dry like champagne or white wine. It's a solid beer, very little carbonation when you swish it in your mouth and doesn't stay with you except for a little cough syrup taste. O - This is a nice solid beer but not something I'd drink often. I can actually see, as the label suggests, pairing this with asparagus and salmon. Fatty fish dishes would go really well with this. I had this with some English butter cheddar and it was a nice pairing but something was missing. This is a sipping beer and at $10.99 a bottle, share it with friends because drinking the whole thing is insane not because it's high alcohol (it's not) but it's a very heavy beer.

Isle Of Pines Barley Wine

American Barleywine

AdamJackson

Served in a Pilsner glass, I asked that I was able to have the 2009 and 2011 Isle of Pines (both on tap) served to me at the same time to compare to two tastes and the affects of 24 months of aging on a Barleywine that hasn't left the brewery. This review is for the 2011 IoP Barleywine --- A - Dark amber color with a very thin head less than one finger. It was poured into a Pilsner glass which I found a bit odd. S - Brown sugar and honey entered my nose quickly and stayed with me. I could have sworn there was an oakiness to this beer but maybe I'm mistaken. T - Very beautiful taste for a medium bodied beer. As with most barley wines, the flavor feels thin until you swallow and then an eruption of tastes happen. I picked up watermelon hints that paired well with the sugary taste M - Very little carbonation, insanely dry with a champagne feel. An unobtrusive beer for a bowl of clam chowder or chili. O - I'd love to have this beer again. Just thinking about it is making me hungry. --- The 2009 IoP was similar to the 2011 but aging did a few things to it. If you can get to Flying Goose before the 2009 runs out (it's on limited pour right now), do it. The 2009 was much darker and very cloudy, the brown sugar was more pronounced and other flavors were more muted and, of course, the carbonation was distant and fleeting from the mouthfeel. I preferred the 2009 to 2011 and I'd give it a 4.5 on Taste, Mouthfeel and Smell.

AleSmith Speedway Stout

American Double / Imperial Stout

Birdiebeagle

Bottle thanks to Brandon Pours a good deep black with a creamy brown head. The head lasts well. The lacing is perfect. Has a wonderful aroma of good alcohol, roast, coofee, chocolate, and some spices. Has a light carbonation. A tewrrific mouthfeel. The flavor is real good. Alcohol is well hidden. The balance is real good. The flavor is wonderful. Not too heavy and very smooth. Has a thick texture. Has a full body. The finish is nothing short of super. A great lasting aftertaste. This is a flat out awesome beer. I would drink this anytime any place.

The Angel's Share - Brandy Barrel-Aged

American Strong Ale

Birdiebeagle

bottle 2008 Pours a murkey brown with no noticable head what so ever. Has a wonderful aroma of wood, sweet fruits, vanilla, and sweet caramel. Has a awesome flavor. Very lightly carbinated. An Awesome mouthfeel. The alcohol is well hidden. Very well balanced. Has a great mouthfeel. A real good finish. This is a wonderful beer. Makes me wish I was an angel for my share. Very well done.