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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Wells & Young's Brewing Co. - Bombardier Ale Review
Brewery: Wells & Young's Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Bedford, England.
Established: 1876
Availability: Year Round
Type: English Bitter
ABV: 5.2%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This brew pours a beautiful dark-cherry brown with tremendous carbs bubbling to the surface of the glass. The head is creamy in spots and frothy in others settling to an 1/8 inch thickness from an initial inch or so.
Aroma: Black cherry essence is aggressively over the top of notable roasty/toasty malts. This nose is awesome as are most bitters to me. Light char makes an appearance with a deeper inhale as the smell lingers
Taste: A crazy charred grain front gives way to what, in my opinion is dark fruit notes. Currant, Plum, and again Black Cherry are the sweets that poke through. The finish leads to some mild drying of the tongue and a pinch on the back of the cheeks.
Overall: As some of you might know, I love english bitters. They can sometimes be hit or miss, but this one from W & Y, is right-on perfect. I've had it many times and finally decided to review it. Char, and dark-fruits blend well with a finishing sour and dryness. This would easily be in my top 20 desert-island brews. Great job...Cheers.
Score: 9.1/10
 
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Ringwood Brewery - Old Thumper Review
Brewery: Ringwood Brewery
Type: Bitter
ABV: 5.6%
Sight: Dark rusty metal to an almost clear mahogany color is the pour, with lighter browns towards the bottom. Fluffy white clouds cover the surface of the brew to a fingers-thick height, then die off as quick as they rose up.
Aroma: Malts dominate up front with a slightly sour hop presence bleeding through. Some mellow spiciness helps close out the inhale. The website describes apples but I don't get them at all.
Taste: I won't say wow, but I am impressed. Off the pop, the hop comes through with a sour pinch on the whole tongue. The malt cradles that hop well, with a mildly toasty note and helps the forward flavors walk to the finish, where i pick up some poosible prune or date touches.
Overall: I'm really starting to follow the UK beer scene more than before, because I will probably be heading to the European Beer Bloggers Conference 2011 in London. The bitters are one of my favorite types of beers and it's unfortunate they don't get as much attention as IPA's or Stouts. The mouthfeel is light with a dab of creaminess thrown in, the front sour is gone by the the end, limiting the aftertaste interference
Score: 9.0/10
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Mikkeller Single Hop Simcoe IPA Review
Brewery: Mikkeller Brewing Co. - Belgium
Type: Belgian IPA
ABV: 6.9%
Sight: It pours a deep, dark-orange that is unfiltered, with remanants of yeast floating throughout. The head pours nice and a fluffy whipped egg bright-white.
Aroma: A deep rich malt character tops the Simcoe hop at first, but doesn't hold long. The hops do come alive on the longer inhale...grapefruit dominant, with some orange, pine needle and grass behind. The floral bouquet melds together at the end to close the sniff out.
Taste: Less malt that the nose would lead you to believe, then there is mild dryness that leads to a nice mild bitter...nothing overpowering, but not blah neither. A subtle warming from alcohol nears the end where there is a little citrus bite on the tongue.
Overall: This is a nice above average brew that should be enjoyed by the hop-heads as well as the not-so-hop-heads out there. The characteristics of the IPA stand true, but aren't to overpowering as to where a person who doesn't like too much of a good thing(hops) would hate it. The mouthfeel is medium, with a slight coating affect(I think becuse of iy being an unfiltered brew). Aftertaste is a hint sour, but to me that is also refreshing and a welcome lingering effect.
Score: 8.2/10
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Sunday, August 22, 2010
Tucher(Nurnberg, Germany) - Helles Hefe-Weizen Review
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
Type: Helles Hefe Weizen
ABV: 5.35%
Sight: Cloudy golden yellow body with a fluffy thick white head that hangs well and diminishes to a full film of white on the surface.
Aroma: Wheat and lemon are dominant on first inhale. A light spice and a stronger citrus pop are there on deeper sniff.
Taste: The initial sip brings alot of spicey notes from the wheat, along with deeper lemony and lime esters from the combo of the hops and the wheat. There is a little light malt bringing the front to the end where the flavors basically come to an abrupt end.
Overall: Not bad at all, but it is nothing really different than the many other Hefe-Weizens from Germany I have had...Spicey, light malt, and citrus, generally in that order. This one though is much easier to down in a hurry if need, than some with a harder-core strength of spice. The mouthfeel is medium and there isn't much of an aftertaste to speak of.
Score: 7/10
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Thursday, June 24, 201
Baltika - Grade 9 Extra Lager Review
Brewery: BALTIKA - GRADE 9 EXTRA LAGER
Type: Lager
ABV: 8%
Sight: Clear but hazy golden yellow with a significant white head that hangs for a while then coats the top nicely
Aroma: On a big inhale the malt hits along with some alcohol and a touch of citrus.
Taste: Sweet maltiness is strong along with a light lemony essence. From the front to back there isn't much inbetween...It finishes sour and holds the tongue well.
Overall: It's okay. I wouldn't turn it down if someone offered it to me, or if i was at a bar in Moscow, but I wouldn't hunt one down again for myself. A little lopsided with sweet up front and sour at the end with nothing substantial in the middle.
Score: 7.5/10
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 Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Greene King/Morland Brewery - Olde Speckled Hen review
Brewery: Greene King/Morland Brewery
Type: English Pale Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Sight: Beautiful R\red body that is crystal clear, with a very thin head that is gone almost immediately.
Aroma: Strong floral-grassy nose that eminates from the glass well. Some mild hoppiness comes through in the end.
Taste: Nice bite up front with a mellow tingle on the back of the tongue. Roasted malt is prominent and mixes well with the grassy peaks from the hops.
Overall: Very good classic beer with a smooth balanced body. The mouthfeel is light to medium. There is a nice mild aftertaste on the tongue.
Score: 7.6/10
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Saturday, July 3, 2010
BrewDog Mikkeller - I Beat You Imperial IPA Review
Brewery: BrewDog Mikkeller
Type: Imperial American IPA
ABV: 9.75%
Sight: Nice translucent amber-orange with lighter highlights at the bottom. The head pours a thick white that clings to the glass nicely.
Aroma: Right on with the typical hop nose of grass and citrus, along with a sweet malt deepness of possible caramel that brings it all together.
Taste: Alcohol is the main thing that is noticed when sipping. Citrus and maltiness lag far behind. There is a bit of dryness that trys to dull the main characteristics and bring things to a balance, but it isn't enough to do it.
Overall: The dry from the hops "almost" overtake the dominant alcohol. A rich maltiness(i'd bet it is roasted lightly), tries to lasso the taste of the alcohol to median levels...It doesn't. All it can really do is help someone say "I BEAT YOU" in the pursuit of getting drunk.
Score: 6.8/10
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 Friday, June 25, 2010
Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale Review
Brewery: SAMUEL SMITH'S OLD BREWERY PALE ALE
Type: Pale Ale
ABV: 5%
Sight: Deep dark orange with an almost brown hue. The head pours a creamy off-white that is half a finger thick
Aroma:Light orange tang at first, then malt shines on the deeper the inhale...some spice adds to the tingle of alcohol.
Taste: Sweetness of citrus and malt hit first, then the transition to close, is a tad sour with a moderate amount of alcohol tingles.
Overall: Nice balanced light body with a friendly citrusy backbone. The malt melds well with the alcohol to get to the tangy end. That alcohol is an asset to the beer in that it keeps the front and back leveled to make this a nice balanced ale.
Score: 8.5/10
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
Germany's KOSTRITZER SCHWARZBIER Review
Brewery: KOSTRITZER SCHWARZBIER
Type: Schwarzbier
ABV: 4.8%
Sight: As the name would imply...It is black with a thin white head
Aroma: Sweet maltiness with very little to almost no floral or hoppy tones
Taste: Definitely a roasted malt kick to it up front. Then some dryness that is nearly overwhelming. Alcohol is there but not to a ridiculous degree.
Overall: The look and taste are very close to a stout. It has the overall complexity of a lager, with the texture of the stouts. It isn't bad at all. I could drink it regularaly, but not more than maybe 2 at one sitting.
Score: 7.6/10
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010
MURPHY'S IRISH RED ALE REVIEW
Brewery: MURPHY'S
Type: Irish Red Ale
ABV: 5%
Sight: Transparent brown with a red tone(no really?) with a one-finger thick creamy white head.
Aroma: Mellow spicy sweet with a nice floral bouquet that stays within the glasses frame.
Taste: Creamy but dry with a mild bitterness. There is a very light malt touch that hangs til the end as it coats the tongue nicely.
Overall:
Good but very simple. Not too complex at all. It is balanced but nothing stands out to make it unique from the other reds out there.
Score: 7.3/10
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Samuel Smith's INDIA ALE Review
Brewery: SAMUEL SMITH'S - India Ale
Type: India Ale(Pale)
ABV: 5%
Sight: Shiny new penny copper with a slight tinge of red added. It has a nice thick creamy white head(like beaten egg whites) with incredible lacing.
Aroma: Sweet and clean...Orange with other hints of citrus. Some light floral tones coming through from the hops.
Taste: Smooth and very subtle...at first dull, like tap water, then it comes up and the hops hit through, not hard, but subliminally in the guise of orange and a little smoke. Some malt keeps things balanced til the end where that smoke helps dry things out.
Overall: I am very happy that i picked this brew up the other day. Well balanced, clean and refreshing. Can dfinitely be enjoyed with spicy foods or on a hot summer afternoon.
Score: 8.8/10
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Monday, May 10, 2010
HUYGHE Brewery BELGIAN - Delirium Nocturnum Review
Brewery: Delirium Nocturnum
Type: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Sight: Deep Dark Brown with amber touches at the bottom of the glass. Nice thick solid creamy tan head.
Aroma: Sweet but not too much with possible cherry essence. Very mild hop nose with a malt end.
Taste: Some coffee up front with cherry and even a hint of banana in there. Then the alcohol, as light as the taste is, is still distinguishable. The finish is straight forward and non-lingering.
Overall: Nice sweetness that I shows up first with a light to medium body that laces tha glass well. Sippable beer than i can enjoy in moderation. It is true to the style, and Huyghe made an exceptional offering.
Score: 8.4/10
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Saturday, May 8, 2010
BELGIAN'S BOSTEELS Brewery - Tripel Karmeliet Review
Brewery: Tripel Karmeliet
Type: 3 Grain "Tripel"
ABV: 8.4%
Sight: Cloudy but gorgeous golden-yellow body with a nice thick "rocks and cliffs" white head.
Aroma: Sweet maltiness with intriguing fruit and floral notes. Small spicy touches and a dab of vanilla.
Taste: Orange and some lemon pop right from the onset. Spice hits the back of the tongue and doesn't let go. Strong grain presence more-so than any hop bitterness. It finishes off mellow and clean.
Overall: Full bodied and slightly weighty. Some might not enjoy the boldness of the spice, but i do. The citrus tones are full and abundant. This is how a Belgian Beer is supposed to be...clean and strong but still chilled out enough to go down easy.
Score: 8/10
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Thursday, April 8, 2010
Duvel Strong Pale Ale - Review
Brewery: Duvel
Type: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Sight: Bright translucent Golden-yellow body, with a very thick creamy ridgeful head.
Aroma: Freshness, Hoppiness, some sitrus almost a scent of honey.
Taste: Pallet matches the smell. Bright and citrusy with some spice to boot...a taste of honey with nearly no hints of malt at all. Finishes consistant to the start.
Overall: If you like begian ales then you won't be disappointed with this one. Nice up front bite that gets sweet and ends up like it began. Believe me you'll want more than one.
Score: 8.0/10
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