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Monday, November 21, 2011
Goose Island Brewing Co. - Christmas Ale Review
Brewery: Goose Island Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Established: 1988
Tidbits: Won the 2010 Bronze medal for American Brown Ale at the World Beer Cup. Expansion led to a seperate brewing facility opening in 1995, and a second brewpub opening near the Famous Wrigley Field in 1999.
Availability: Oct. through Dec.
Type: Brown Ale
ABV: 6.2%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: A slightly brown-tinted white frothy head seals a lid on top of the Chestnut brown exiler that poured from the bottle. Hues of red bleed through, a superbly welcoming site.
Aroma: Light char of chocolate, sweet notes of dark fruits, such as plum or raisin come through as well in the initial breath. Some mellow essence of citrus along with coffee follow on the second inhale. Not much of a "winter" spicey nose as one might expect.
Taste: Full, and rich...some cloying on the tongue. Char of chocolate and coffee lead strongly, with some "fruitcake" notes definitely involved. Prune, or fig, possibly plum are mix in for good measure. There is a distinct hop presence over the top near the finish of slight drying bitter as well as some citrus.
Overall: At first I was really looking forward to trying this one...I don't go for any GI brews anymore because of the purchase by AB-Inbev...Call me a snob, whatever, that's another post altogether. In regards to looking forward to it...I purchased it, then heard different opinions of how it wasn't any good, and where is the spice, so I became apprehensive. But, after doing the review, I have to say that I "am" impressed. Nice full-bodied brew with plenty of base malt notes to warm your cockles on a cold winter eve. On top of that there are plenty of flavors running throughout the drink to keep it interesting in the mouth. Good job John and company over at GI, maybe I should suck it up and atart rebuying more of your brews in the future...No promises though.
Similar Brew(s): Anchor Brewing - Christmas Ale or Great Lakes Brewing - Christmas Ale
Score: 8.8/10
 
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
Weyerbacher Brewing Co. - Winter Ale Review
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Company
The Facts:
Location: Easton, Pennsylvania.
Established: 1995
Tidbits: Won a silver at the 1998 World Beer Championships. The Brewery originally started as a Brewpub, but demand for beer, forced them to focus solely on the brewing as of 2001, when the pub closed and they moved to newer facilities.
Availability: Nov. through Feb.
Type: Winter Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: See-thru deep-dark-brown is the main color, with plenty of hints of ruby red peeking through. The head dies off too quickly, but was a basic white as it poured. A beautiful color that definitely gets me thinking about snuggling up with the wife and watching some classic christmas movies.
Aroma: Plenty of roastiness shines through, with notes of chocolate, and wet tree bark dominating. A deeper inhale brings forth a burnt caramel note that is surprisingly pleasant on the nose. Faint hops try but aren't successful at effecting the inhale.
Taste: Toasted choclate, fire-roasted nuts are the flavors that lead the way. Earthiness shows it's face in the way of a that tree-bark essence. Slight drying of the tongue once swallowed brings up the rear of the taste profile. Distant hops are there, but minimal at most.
Overall: Not a bad winter warmer, just not great. There really isn't a dominating aspect to the brew except the earthiness. Mouthfeel is medium with light cloying, and an aftertaste that leaves the tongue need a drink to quench it's thirst. More of a nut brown ale than a winter brew, in regards to not getting any festive fruit notes at all.
Similar Brew(s): Lancaster Brewing Co. - Winter Warmer
Score: 7.8/10
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Newcastle Brewing Co. - Werewolf "Blood Red Ale" Review
Brewery: The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited.
The Facts:
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Established: 1927
Tidbits: One of 4 new seasonal brews created by the ledgendary Brown Ale brewer.
Availability: Fall til gone
Type: Red Ale
ABV: 5.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: There builds a slightly off-white pillowy head that crumbles ever so slowly in the pour, to a rocky lid on the surface. The body is red-tinted brown liquid that doesn't really represent the tag of "Blood Red" Ale.
Aroma: Sweet malts front the profile, but don't encompass the whole inhale. I get a punch of spicy rye, that actually becomes the body of the smell. Dark fruit of prune or fig fill the nose on a deep inhale, and wane as warming.
Taste: The nose does represent well on the tongue. I get rye from the jump...toasty perhaps, and just the perfect amount. I also get dark fruits as were in the inhale, that bleed a creamy coating all over the tongue. There is a dryness, subtle, but still strong enough to add another element to the character of the brew.
Overall: I am completely impressed with the beer. I was expecting a basic recipe based off the Classic Brown Ale we've known from Newcastle...but we get a loose interpretation of that with noticeable modifications in the hop presence and rye notes. The mouthfeel is medium with minimal aftertaste. The sole complaint would be calling it "Blood-Red" when is at most a ruby-hued Brown.
Similar Brew(s): ??? maybe Coney Island Brewing Co. - Freaktoberfest or Killians Irish Red
Score: 8.8/10
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
Erdinger Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest Review
Brewery: Erdinger Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Erding, Germany
Established: 1886
Availability: End of Summer til gone
Type: Marzen/Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.7%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Oktoberfest flows out eagar as hell...wanting to fill my best glass beer stein to the hilt before half the brew is emptied from the bottle. Once settling and completing the pour, it looks a cloudy sunburst orange with a crazy fluffy slightly off white head
Aroma: Wheat, wheat, and more wheat bellow from the glass and bring tremendous amounts of spice and orange citrus to the nose. The second inhale is roughly a mirror image of the second.
Taste: Sweet, but muted wheat leads the flavor profile. A subtle, but still noticeable citrus, follows close behind...grapefruit orange and lemon are to note. No bitter or dryness really comes through.
Overall: I enjoyed this brew, but wouldn't go as far as to say I'm impressed with it. I wouldn't turn it away if offered to me at a decent price, but for what I paid for the 6'er I would have chosen a local Marzen from Heavy Seas or Dogtoberfest from Flying Dog. Mouthfeel is medium with a mild sour-bite in the corners of the tongue.
Score: 7.9/10
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Peak Organic Brewing Co. - Summer Session Ale Review
Brewery: Peak Organic Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Portland, Maine
Established: 2005?
Availability: Limited Seasonal
Type: American Pale Wheat
ABV: 5.0%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: Out of the bottle it looks like an ordinary pilsner...Bright yellow, with a decent blinding-white head of a inch or so, and some pleasant bubble-action from the bottom to the surface. Virtually crystal clear to boot.
Aroma: Pale malts are dominant with the ever so slightest hint of wheat in the initial inhale. A twinge of lemony citrus does break the basic aroma profile, after a deep sniff.
Taste: Well, things change here. Unsatisfied with the look and smell from the glass, the taste actually came through and made be a happy Beer drinker. Grainy and slightly buttery, with crisp notes of hop citrus and bitter counter-balancing each other well. Refreshing and light, and completely thirst quenching.
Overall: Bravo for Organic brews. A fine example of how good organic brewing can be. Fresh & bold, while still maintaining that drinkability of a session beer. A medium to light mouthfeel lets go to a friendly earthy taste that rests on the tongue til your next sip. Could have scored higher, but the visual and nose weren't anything to impress. Bravo Peak Organic Brewing.
Score: 8.4/10
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Victory Brewing Co. - Summer Love Ale Review
Brewery: Victory Brewing Co.
The Facts:
Location: Downingtown, Pa.
Established: 1996
Availability: May through the Summer
Type: American Blonde Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Observations & Opinion:
Sight: This brew pours nearly crystal-clear bright golden yellow...almost reminds me of the a pilsner. Not much haze as in many of the blonde brews i've had. The head comes out white, and nearly flat, but does leave some bubbly-bumpers on the inner-side of the glass.
Aroma: Very grainy in the first inhale. I get some chilld-out notes of grapefruit, and possibly banana. More cereal malt essence than Pilsner(IMHO), overwhelms the nose, but that's not really a bad thing.
Taste: There is actually a hoppy dryness in the front, which impresses, as well as surprises me. Malt does takeover and hold the rest of the flavor profile, suffocating the hop. Grain, grain, and more grain til the end.
Overall: I've been holding this one for a couple weeks for this review, and I have to say I'm glad I did. My reaction was unexpected...Thought I'd be drinking another watered-down brew that is promoted as a thirst quencher. Instead I got a nicely flavored grain-esque brew that is very thirst quenching. Mouthfeel is medium while creating an aftertaste that is very appreciated. Good job Victory.
Score: 8.8/10
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Saturday, February 5, 2011
Spoetzl Brewing Co. - Dortmunder-Style Spring Ale Review
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewing Co. - Spoetzl, Tx.
Type: Spring Seasonal Ale
ABV: 5.5%
Sight: The brew pours out crystal clear with a tint of orange-hued Golden-yellow. White fluffiness fills the top of the brew about an inch tall...and fades to a thin film on the surface.
Aroma: The nose comes forward with fresh-cut grass, and light malts. On a deep inhale I get a wee bit o honey, and a clean crisp floral hop pop.
Taste: The sip forms from a bready, yeasty-malt combo. Sweets take shape towards the middle, changing to a mild sour near the end. There are some well placed elements of citrus and the honey like in the nose.
Overall: Traditional light lager elements are there. Very light in mouthfeel, with a definite sour that hangs on for dear-life at the end. Would be a great thirst-quencher, after an adventure in cutting the lawn in the spring/summer.
Score: 8.9/10
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Troegs Brewing Co. - Mad Elf Ale Review
Brewery: Troegs Brewing Co.
Type: Winter Seasonal
ABV: 11%
Sight: This brew pours a crystal clear auburn-red with the tones of red winning out over the browns. Nearly no head to speak of, leaving the top of the beer open to the elements .
Aroma: Sweet fruits of dark break out from the roasted malt base. I get the expected cherries in the nose, but i don't smell the honey. I also get raisin or prune from the inhale along with some mild spice of alcohol.
Taste: Sweetness of the cherries, with a little creaminess...possibly from the honey start things off. There is a mild roasted malt underneath, holding things together til the end.
Overall: Pleasant and sweet with a subtle bitter bite at the back of the throat. Mouthfeel is light to medium with a slight creamy texture, which leads to the light-sour aftertaste on the back of the throat.
Score: 8.1/10
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Lakefront Brewing Co. - Holiday Spiced Lager Review
Brewery: Lakefront Brewing Co.
Type: Winter Seasonal
ABV: 11%
Sight: Cherry red off a mahongany brown base tone with hues of yellow highlighting subtly. The head is a half-inch tall after being deliberate in the pour. It melts down to a sparce film on the surface, with minimal lacing.
Aroma: Wow...Orange, cinnamon, allspice and a touch of honey emminate crazily from the glass. Malt cradles those great scents nicely and holds til the end where alcohol finishes.
Taste: Very sweet with flavors of dark fruits and mulling spice flowing strong. Alcohol is warming and noticable with a slight reminder there are hops in there also.
Overall: Thick and syrupy in denseness. Spicey sweet, and creamy...Like Holiday fruitcake. Mouthfeel is full with an aftertaste that grabs the sides of the tongue with sweetness and spice.
Score: 8.0/10
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Avery Brewing Co. - Old Jubilation Ale Review
Brewery: Avery Brewing Co.
Type: Limited Release Winter Seasonal
ABV: 8.0%
Sight: A deep-brown base with hints of cherry-red and even a shade of purple poking through. There is a beige almost white head that is bubbly and builds to a half-fingers thickness. This head dissipates to a very thin film on the surface.
Aroma: A nice roasted malt nose that has hints of nuttiness and unsweetened choclate. Some dark fruit on the deep inhale with a touch of alcohol spiceiness to close it out.
Taste: Sweet and dry up front. Bitter coffee is a very good overall take on this brew. There is notes of chocolate, and mild char, light bitter and minimal alcohol.
Overall: Nice balance of flavors...no flavor overpowers the others, they are all meld together very well. Mouthfeel is medium with a hint of creaminess. The aftertaste is a continued taste of the coffee bitter, but wanes nicely.
Score: 8.8/10
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Goose Island Brewing Co. - Mild Winter Review
Brewery: Goose Island Brewing Co.
Type: Winter Seasonal
ABV: 5.6%
Sight: A toast brown, clear with touches of red glimmering throughout. The head pours thin, but still a full(roughly 1/2") off-white, with some decent lacing down the sides of the glass.
Aroma: Roasted malts overwhelm the mouth of the glass, with burnt grain essences coming through also. There were hardly any smells of hops showing at all.
Taste: The roasted malts from the nose also front the mouth of this brew. Mild unidentified sweetness isthere along with a delicate dryness. No alcohol notes at all, help keep this beer true to it's name.
Overall: Goose Island hasn't disappointed me with any of the beers I have tried and this one keeps up with that tradition. Name stands true..." Mild" for a winter, to me. Usually in winters there are more rich, and roasted notes along with sometime a dark-fruit here and there. Not here, straight malt, light, very light hop, and barely any aftertaste wrapped in a ultra-light mouthfeel.
Score: 8.4/10
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Thursday, December 2, 2010
Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Winter Seasonal Ale Review
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Type: Winter Seasonal
ABV: 7.2%
Sight: A gorgeous dark ruby-red flows to the glass that is basically see-thru in nature. The head is roughly a half-inch tall, and is of a light-tan creaminess .
Aroma: Smells of toasted wood from a fireplace are there from the malt. A deeper inhale brings about some hop in the form of earthiness among more woodsie notes and alcohol to finish.
Taste: Sweet malts front with roasted chocolate malt in there also. Definitely burning wood-esque in the initial taste, with some dark-fruit essence. A light dry-bitter in the middle, with the alcohol hidden fairly well for 7.2%. A dry roasted bite hits the corners of the cheek well to finish.
Overall: I haven't reviewed too many winter seasonals as of yet, but this one is the best of the bunch so far. Woodsie, and sweet, with not as strong of an alcohol punch as you would expect. Medium mouthfeel with an actually pleasant aftertaste. Very solid effort.
Score: 8.7/10
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Wednesday December 1, 2010
Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery - Marzen Review
Brewery: Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Type: Marzen
ABV: Unknown%
Sight: This Duck-Rabbit pours crystal clear amber-red, with a head that doesn't amount to much. Minimal carbonation and nothing left on the surface.
Aroma: The nose is even-level with notes of toasted malt, and biscuit. Very light in it's hop character, which is a tad unfortunate.
Taste: Toasted malt of caramel and other grains lead the flavors, with a earthy, almost grassy hop twinge. A touch of alcohol and hop bitterness close her out.
Overall: I grabbed this brew at "The Foodery" in Philadelphia the other day, because I heard good things about this brewery...plus I love Marzens.I know it's past the season a tad, but no biggie. The mouthfeel fits the style well...Light to medium, that leaves a minimal aftertaste.
Score: 8.5/10
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
21st Amendment - Fireside Chat Ale Review
Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery
Type: Winter Spiced Ale
ABV: 7.9%
Sight: This brew pour out of it's can a very deep dark-brown with hints of cherry at the bottom of the glass. Rocky light brown is what you get from the inch plus head. When it dissipates it leaves a swirly light-brown film on the surface.
Aroma: A nice roasted malt with a sweet spiciness. I think the main spice could be mulling...it overshadows the dark-fruits that also add to the inhale.
Taste: Hmmm...Let's see. Not as over the top in malt as I was expecting from the inhale. It starts smooth with dark-fruits popping through strongly. Plum, and possible fig are those fruits. There is a light roasted malt that cradles all of these flavors. In the end, some of the alcohol comes through along with the mulling spice I got in the nose.
Overall: Definitely not for everybody. I could take or leave it. I did enjoy the sweetness from the fruits and the spice combo. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light to medium with minimal aftertaste.
Score: 7.8/10
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Sunday, November 21, 2010
Harpoon Brewing Co. - Harpoon Grateful Harvest Cranberry Ale Review
Brewery: Harpoon Brewing Co.
Type: Cranberry Ale
ABV: 5.9%
Sight: The brew empties from the bottle quickly and with minimal carbination. I see a deep brown with a solid tinting of red throughout the clear body. Minimal head if any at all.
Aroma: Minimal nose...mostly malt with a touch of fruity sweetness from the cranberry. A bit disappointed.
Taste: Malt fronts lends to a nice dry sweetness of cranberry. The malt flows throughout being the balancing board for the flavors of cranberry, alcohol, and dryness. Finishes nearly clean with a minor dry bite on the tongue corners.
Overall: I think this is a good beer for a holiday meal, whether it is a turkey or a ham. The mild sweetness will contrast against the meats, and dressing usual to the seasonal feasts. The body is light to medium with minimal aftertaste and could be enjoyed in moderation.
Score: 8.1/10
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Flying Dog Brewing Co. - K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale Review
Brewery: Flying Dog Brewing Co. - K9 Cruiser
Type: Winter Seasonal
ABV: 7.4%
Sight: I really think this is one of the best looking beers I've reviewed...Deep auburn-brown with creeping hints of cherry-red glistening through. The head pours fairly thin of a barely off-white color that dissolves to almost nothing on the surface.
Aroma: A rich caramel malt rings through strong with sweetness and a light nutiness. There is a hint of dark fruits and maybe chocolate that come near the finish of the big inhale.
Taste: Definitely dry-chocolate along with the sweet malt are the most intense flavors in this brew. Some tingling from alcohol flows through the malt, and newly found prunesque essesence leading to an abrupt finish that is completely clean from aftertaste.
Overall: The name of this brew had me waiting since last year(when i wasn't blogging), to get my hands onto this one again to review it. A nicely balanced malt-dominant body lends room for chocolate and a dark-fruit to flow through easily. The mouthfeel is medium with an aftertaste that is gone almost immediately after it is swallowed.
Score: 8.9/10
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Monday, October 4, 2010
Weyerbacher Brewing Co. - Autumnfest Review
Brewery: Weyerbacher Brewing Co. - Autumnfest
Type: Seasonal/Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.4%
Sight: Medium toasted brown body with a half-fingers thick pure white head. Light carbonation continues from the bottom, until the first sip.
Aroma: Sweet caramel and roasted malt are the big scents coming from the glass. A little tingle of alcohol, with an underlying, very distant hop.
Taste: Very sweet up front as the malt comes across as candied sugars and dark fruit(maybe plum)...Whatever it is, it is good. Clean and refreshing up from with very little aftertaste. The body flows very well and the front is comparable to the finish where a slight tingle of alcohol hides.
Overall: Very easy drinking from front to back. Sweet and subtle with a creamy medium body that coats the tongue nicely. Malt dominates throughout in a good way where some fall seasonals fall short with the malt fronting of closing things out. Sweeter than most Oktoberfest, and that is what makes this one original.
Score: 8.9
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Evolution Craft Brewing Co. - Jacques Au Lantern Review
Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Co.
Type: Seasonal/Fall Amber Ale with Pumpkin
ABV: 6.3%
Sight: Out of the growler it pours a gorgeous clear deep pumpkin orange with a tint of brown resinating throughout. The head comes out full and almost pure white, an inch or so thick, that after lessening leaves a foamy film on the surface.
Aroma: This is a real treat, pumpkin, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg are definitely there...The unique thing is that they don't overpower anything. They are full and rich but don't hide the caramel malt body that is the beers base. Mild alcohol is there to tingle the nose on the inhale.
Taste: Clean, and crisp with a mild dryness being the first thing that hits ya. The malt is mellow and is a nice surface to bounce the spices off of leading to the sweet and light tart near the end. The middle is where it comes alive...ginger, cinnamon,and the main part, pumpkin are all represented in the correct strengths keeping it an all around above-average amber, but a great seasonal pumpkin beer, with it's originality.
Overall: Love it, can't say it enough. Just a great all around beer. It could be the balance between malt and hops along with the yeast strain that make this so good. Or, it could be the great combination of the traditional "Pumpkin" spices of nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, along with some not so traditional spices of mace. ginger, and allspice that make it a original. Or maybe it is as simple as making it with an "Amber" base instead of the more fuller bodied based pumpkin beers out there. All I know is that it is an original. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium with a nice tart aftertaste in the finish.
Score: 9.3/10
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Schmaltz Brewing Co. - Coney Island Craft Lagers - Freaktoberfest Review
Brewery: Schmaltz Brewing Co. Brooklyn, NY
Type: Seasonal/Oktoberfest
ABV: 6.66%
Sight: A really cool translucent deep dark-red pours out of the bottle making for a really cool blood-like effect. The head pours about an inch thick of a bubbly cherry-red that adds to the effect of the name of the brew.
Aroma: Nice sweet light malt with a tad bit of alcohol tingling the nose. Some of those 6 different hops do make an appearance, though they are very subtle.
Taste: Mmmm...A very appealing sweetness represents the body of this seasonal. Those six different malts do create a nice backbone to support the six different hops that try to, but don't overpower the balance. It finishes crisp, with a little dry bitterness that adds to the uniquesness of this brew.
Overall: I completely enjoyed this "Freaky" combo of 6 different malt and hop varieties. Pleasant and completely refreshing. Mouthfeel comes across medium with a little aftertaste that isn't offensive.
Score: 8.6/10
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Pumking Ale Review
Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co
Type: Seasonal/Pumpkin
ABV: 9%
Sight: This brew pours a pretty, transparent orange with some slight bubbling from the bottom. The head comes out slowly, and i needed to be deliberate to create the thin bubbly-white head i got.
Aroma: Let's see...Nutmeg, vanilla, pumpkin and a little cinnamon come through well, while the malt is abbreviated and inconsistant through the inhale. I get a hint of floral near the finish of the second inhale.
Taste: Roasted pumpkin comes through as almost creamed-corn. Tingles of alcohol that warm the throat follow with a combination of pie spice to bring it all together. The end is a basically bland and uneventful, which is welcome, but unfortunate.
Overall: It's ashame, I was soooo looking forward to this brew since I heard of it and was expecting very good things due to past STBC beers I've had and the praise for the beer itself. The mouthfeel was fine, clean light, without any significant aftertaste, but that wasn't the problem with this beer. The "roasting of the pumpking actually turned the flavor of this beer to what reminded me of creamed-corn...Not joking! I was so overwhelmed with the corn taste that is suggest they rename it "Creamed-Cornking" for next year.
Score: 6.5/10
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Weihenstephaner - Festbier Review
Brewery: Weihenstephaner - Festbier Review
Type: Oktoberfest/Marzen
ABV: 5.8%
Sight: Clearly bright golden-yellow with a significant amount of carbination bubbling from the bottom. A fluffy pure-white head that hangs well before leaving a very thin film on the surface.
Aroma: Ultra-floral notes hit on minor inhale. On second good breath comes a lemon sweetness, and a very mellow malt.
Taste: The flavors remind me of an american pilsner or light lager more than an Oktoberfest type beer. Easy to go down with a balance that is good, but also not good because of no seperation of flavors. A mild malt begins with a tingle of alcohol and more lightness in hop flavors of lemony-citrus and sourness.
Overall: ot blown away...but it is close to the style in that it is light and refreshing and can be drank in abundance without fear of getting wasted or having a hangover the next day. Mouthfeel is medium, and when finished there is a little sour that pinches the corners of the mouth.
Score: 7/10
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Monday, September 20, 2010
Warsteiner - Oktoberfest Review
Brewery: Warsteiner - Oktoberfest Review
Type: Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.9%
Sight: It pours a clear golden yellow with a hint of orange. The head fills to about a half-inch in a fluffy white.
Aroma: Sweet malt and hop combo come through nicely with maybe a hint of yeast in there also.
Taste: Nice sweet malt to begin with a hop floral essence from behind. The hops are there but so mildly represented that even the biggest hop-hater would still enjoy this Marzen.
Overall: Mellow and malt dominant. A perfect representation of the style. The mouthfeel is light, with little or no aftertaste to speak of. There is a nice balance between the malt and hops that keep this Oktoberfest at the top of the Marzen heap.
Score: 8.8/10
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Friday, September 17, 2010
Heavy Seas Brewing - Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Brewing
Type: Seasonal/Imperial Ale
ABV: 8%
Sight: This brew pours a deep translucent Orange over brown in color with an abundant frothy-white head near a half-inch in height. After the head calms, it leaves a beaten egg-white latter on the surface.
Aroma: Nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon rock the front as you should expect with this type of beer. On a second inhale I pull some roasted malt, and an ever-so subtle hint of pumpkin.
Taste: Creaminess in the form of the spices easily go down with a bit of the alcohol warmness following close behind. Malt tries to keep things balanced, but unfortunately the combo of spice and alcohol are a tad overpowering.
Overall: Definitely a good pumpkin brew, but I actually could have used more of the pumpkin in there to maybe mellow out the warmness and tingle of the alcohol. The mouthfeel is right-on, being light to medium and creamy, while the only aftertaste is the warming feeling in the back of the throat.
Score: 7.9/10
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Monday, September 13, 2010
Spaten - Oktoberfest Review
Brewery: Spaten
Type: Marzen/Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.9%
Sight: A nice roasted marshmellow brown overcoming the golden undertones. This brew pours with a thick fluffy white head about an inch or so tall.
Aroma: mellow roasted malt that has a hint of earthiness fighting through. Sweetness is there in the nose but not overwhelming.
Taste: A nice toasty malt front with a great sweetness that is the main component and keeps every other taste in check...a tad sourness, some mild earthiness from a subtle hop presence near the end.
Overall: A great example of the style coming from the land of where it was born. Spaten is one of the better original marzens out there. The mouthfeel is light, and still has a creamy tongue coating component to it that I like. I love this time of year, because it brings out the best of what the German brewers have to offer.
Score: 8/10
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Otter Creek Brewing - Oktoberfest Review
Brewery: Otter Creek Brewing
Type: Oktoberfest
ABV: 4.5%
Sight: Transparent orange with a hint of gold towards the bottom. White and less than a half-inch thick is how the creamy head pours...a thin film completely closes the surface of the beer.
Aroma: Hop overwhelms the malt a tad with an earthy grassy front. Some mild alcohol spice brings on the sweet malt body at the end.
Taste: Light biscuity malt starts the beer out, then light hints of dryness and a generous amount of hop essence. Grass and pine parts keep the body working towards it's end where there is a good tartness that bites the back of Not bad at all...I enjoy the hoppiness that comes through in earthy tones, and leaves that sour tart taste that lingers for a good 5 minutes after the last sip. The mouthfeel is light as is the carbination that helps the aftertaste hold on for a good while.
Score: 7.8/10
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Monday, September 6, 2010
Victory Brewing Co. - Festbier Review
Brewery: Victory - Festbier
Type: Oktoberfest
ABV: 5.6%
Sight: Clear deep-dark amber-brown with a light red hue. A nice white head pours from the bottle, leaving a fingers-thick fluffy cap that dissloves into a very thin film on the surface.
Aroma: Lightly roasted malts are in the foreground with a tingle of alcohol and a touch hop earthiness in the background.
Taste: Dryness and the malt come forward well. The middle gets a little chalky and a bit more dryer. Following to the end comes a inubtrusive sour pinch on the corners of the tongue. The finish is mild and brings more maltiness that tries to cover that sour.
Overall: Not a bad representation of the style. Light mouthfeel malty and a light sweetness. It could be enjoyed as a session beer if you don't mind a little sour holding on to the edges of your tongue.
Score: 8.3/10
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Friday, September 3, 2010
Heavy Seas Brewery - Prosit! Review
Brewery: Heavy Seas Beer
Type: Imperial Octoberfest Lager
ABV: 9%
Sight: Very nice deep amber color with hints of red that is able to be seen thru. The head pours off-white, thick and of a whipped consistency. Nice carbonation bubbles rising to the surface of the brew.
Aroma: Malt, Malt, and more Malt...I get some very distant hop earthiness also, along with a a twinge of alcohol.
Taste: A nice caramel maltiness that is front a foremost but not abrasive at all. Creaminess is light but noticable and there is a tad bit of that earthen-hop I spoke about with the nose. Those hops bring a nice balance to the beer that ends with a very light alcohol tingle.
Overall: I think this is a great effort. Creamy, malty, some hop and a pop of alcohol, mix them together with the right balance and bingo. Mouthfeel is medium and creamy, with a tingle and bite of sour on the back of the tongue and corners of the cheek. More creaminess and a tad less hop and it would rival the originators of the style from Germany.
Score: 8.7/10
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Brooklyn Brewery - Oktoberfest Review
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Type: Oktoberfest Seasonal
ABV: 5.5%
Sight: Transparent amber brown with an almost cherry hue to it. The head pours bright white, fluffy and thin...quarter inch thick.
Aroma: Earthy, like grass hop front with some alcohol tingles. The roasted malt comes near the end as caramel and is light and clean.
Taste: The malt roastiness comes through strong but balances well through to the middles light hoppy pop. Not any bitter but there is some dry in the finish. There is a little zing from alcohol that smooths out to close.
Overall: Like the earthiness of this Marzen. The hop notes are of grass which I love. Great balance of ingredients. Light-medium mouthfeel and a dry aftertaste.
Score: 8.0/10
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Monday, August 23, 2010
Flying Dog Brewery - Dogtoberfest Marzen Review
Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery - Dogtoberfest
Type: Marzen/Octoberfest
ABV: 5.6%
Sight: It is a beautiful crystal clear amber red with those beautiful carbination bubbles floating towards the top. The head is fluffy-white and a half-inch thick...dissolves to a swirly white film on the surface.
Aroma: A mellow sweet malt nose that basically engulfs the glass. There is also a very light spice of alcohol, along with ultra light hoppiness.
Taste: The malt continues from front to back. A tad bit of yeast hits first along with a very mellow hoppiness that takes the beer to its end. Malt overwhelms, but it is really a great quality malt taste...Slightly sweet and deep without the roasted or smoked flavor you would usually need to get this type of malt depth.
Overall: Very well put together with nice ultra light flavors of yeast and hops under the nice even sweet malt. I really want to give kudos for the flavor of this malt...I can't really explain what the "thing" that makes it so original to me is, but it has some"thing". Mouthfeel is light to medium with some creamy characteristics that coat the tongue to the end, where a tad sour bites the corners of the tongue.
Score: 8.7/10
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Schlafly Brewery - Pumpkin Ale Review
Brewery: Schlafly Beers
Type: Special Release Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8%
Sight: Very deep amber red with a lighter orange hue at the base. It is a very beautiful shade of brown. The head pours roughly an inch thick with an off-white color. It dissloves to a thin film on the surface.
Aroma: Nutmeg and a little of the namesake Pumpkin pop at first then I get a light tingle from alcohol along with a deep malt base.
Taste: The top flavors are of clove, nutmeg and alcohol...The pumpkin comes in mellow at first then finishes strong with a nice malty backbone to bring things full-circle. The cinnamon is lax to me I really get more nutmeg and clove spice.
Overall: Someone on Twitter asked today if it was too early to be having Pumkin brews...because of the heat of summer still in full swing. I said it is never too early for pumpkin anything. I love pumpkin and could have it all year round...It has a medium mouthfeel that leaves a little tingle of spice and alcohol at it's finish. Schlafly, being the first pumpkin beer for me of the season, has brought me back to fond memories of decorating the yard to scare the neighborhood kids, going to the local pumkin patches to do hay rides and such with my boys, and my favorite...horror movies. Thanks for refreshing my memories.
Score: 8.0/10
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010
DOGFISH HEAD - Festina Peche Review
Brewery: Dogfish Head - Festina Peche
Type: Summer Seasonal Berliner-Weisse
ABV: 4.5%
Sight: Golden-white that is barely see-thru, with a generous amount of carbination coming up from the bottom to the top of the headless brew.
Aroma: Definitely and obviously Peach. It comes through crisp and clean to the nose.
Taste: Sour leamony punch to the up-front peach. The body is light and clean. The tart of the peach holds onto the tongue corners while the rest of the tongue is clean and clear.
Overall: Been looking forward to this one for a while, and while i was surpriseed by the usual "outside the box" approach...I still totally enjoyed it. Knowing what to expect from Sam and the Dogfish Head crew. I would best describe this one as a "Peach and Tonic"
Score: 8.2/10
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
EVOLUTION CRAFT BREWERY - Summer Session Review
Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing
Type: Summer Seasonal(Hefeweizen-esque)
ABV: 4.6%
Sight: Translucent Golden Yellow with a slight haze. A nice white flat head is created when poured, hangs for a little than dicipates quickly.
Aroma: Light hop nose with some hints of sweetness sneaking through...Citrus, and rye are the most significant.
Taste: Very light bodied with a refeshing dryness. Not too bitter, just bitter enough to make me happy. Some grain taste is there with a twinge of sweet light malt.
Overall: Completely enjoyable...smooth, with a nice balance of dryness sweetness and malt. Semi-foggy, wheat-beeresque. The only thing missing would be a slightly higher ABV...but it being a summer beer, they usually don't get up there in ABV anyways. If your in the region and want to try a great refreshing brew... Get to Delmar, Delaware and get yourself a growler of this.
Score: 9.0/10.0
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
LAGUNITAS - The Hairy Eyeball Ale Review
Brewery: LAGUNITAS
Type: (Seasonal)Strong American Ale
ABV: 8.8%
Sight: Very dark auburn brown with nice red bleeding through.
Aroma: Toasted malt sweetness with spice of orange zest. Darker fruits are there also...Plum, maybe raisins are subtle but noticeable.
Taste: Mild malt sweetness with spice and light hoppiness. Some thickness in the sip, possibly from those dark fruits involved. Alcohol is easily tasted...not scare me away strong but definitely there.
Overall: Nice and the sweet maltiness is strong, but not too overpowering. The finish is tame and uneventful...nothing really unique to seperate it from other strong ales. Not bad but not really good either.
Score: 7.5/10
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 Thursday, April 22, 2010
Samuel Adams - Seasonal - NOBLE PILS Review
Brewery: Samuel Adams
Type: Seasonal Pilsener
ABV: 5.2%
Sight: Transparent bright yellow with a light white head...some light clinging to the glass.
Aroma: Fresh hops and clean citrus dominate. I don't mind. It is nice...some lime or lemon with subtle floral notes.
Taste: Dry and mildly hoppy. Mellow body with some citrus hints. I think lime. Light malt sweets hit in the end.
Overall: Nice seasonal that is good enough to be an all year brew. The citrus is the uniqueness is the citrus...possibly from the hops. It has drinkability that can lead to enjoying this in over-moderation. Boston Beer has done it again.
Score: 8.0/10
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 Tuesday, April 20, 2010
MAGIC HAT - SUMMER SEASONAL - "WACKO" Review
Brewery: MAGIC HAT
Type: Seasonal...SUMMER
ABV: 4.5%
Sight: Transparent light cherry red with a light white head
Aroma:Mild sweetness with a plentiful hoppy nose. Light spice also(maybe corriander or clove).
Taste: Muted at first with bland sweetness. Barely bitterat all. Uneventful finish.
Overall: Completely disappointed with this offering from Magic Hat...I like #9, Blind Faith, and Circus Boy alot and loved the spring seasonal "Vinyl". Knowing what they came up with before i was expecting another home run. But it was a strike out. Very muted and almost untasteful. Sorry Magic Hat, but you have became the lowest score so far.
Score: 5.5/10
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