Saturday, August 30, 2008

Voodoo Wynona's Big Brown Ale: 21

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 2 Aroma: 5
Total: 21

It smells great with big whiffs of chocolate and roasted coffee. The color is a deep brown. Unfortunately it is way over carbonated and the head was monstrous.

Even when the head settles down, there is still enough carbonation that stabs the tongue. It's slightly sweet but by mid-tongue the bitterness of the chocolate and coffee kicks in. Under it is some bitter hops. It finishes dryly leaving a mild but lasting bitterness on the tongue.

It definitely smells better than it tastes, and it tastes pretty good. Not a top notch brown ale, but pretty good.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Voodoo White Magick of the Sun: 11

Taste: 3 Finish: 1 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 11

It has a nice deep golden color. The aroma is rather generic hops.

This beer is brewed with coriander, junipers, orange peel, and 12 types of peppercorn. Well, let me tell you. There is definitely peppercorn. I thought it might add a little bite to the brew. It does start nicely with some sweet malt up front, then the tartness of the orange kicks in. The spice is muted. And then the aftertaste is of stale black pepper powder. Horrible! I mean, I get why they tried but it failed.

The 11 rating is mostly off of a nice looking brew. Avoid at all costs.

Grimbergen Blonde Ale: 26

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 26

It has a great dark golden color. The head is thin. The aroma is of light hops and straw.

A medium bread/yeast flavor hits upfront with some mild sweetness from the malt. The bread lasts the whole way through from start to aftertaste. Acidic lemon and orange pick up midway through. It ends sweetly. Under it all is coriander and spice.

A very complex brew that is filling yet refreshing. A tad on the sweet side but extremely good.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Victory Baltic Thunder: 23

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 23

It's a very dark brown with a whiff of malt and chocolate. It's mildly sweet upfront. The hops start to kick in and right after that the dark bitter chocolate. There is a bit of dry spice on the tongue at the finish. There is no hint of alcohol that I can taste.

A very good porter. Full of flavor without overpowering.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel: 19

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 19

Ayinger gives us a pretty good dark beer. It certainly is better than other German mass produced beers. But, it's just missing something to take it over the edge. Maybe a bit more caramel or malt would help. But certainly drinkable.

Ayinger Ur Weisse: 19

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 2 Aroma: 4
Total: 19

A dark weisse is something I've never had before. I can say it looks horrible with a cloudy brown color. The aroma is great. It has the traditional weisse aroma with a sweet malt added. In fact, that's exactly how it tastes. Upfront is a great sweet malt flavor. The mid to back is more wheat and lemon. It finishes cleanly. The front is great. The back is a little weak. So, a pretty good brew that could be better.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Southampton Saison Deluxe: 26

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 26

It has a great golden orange color that is slightly cloudy. The head is way too large and foamy. The aroma is of bread and lemon.

It has a sharp lemon bite up front. Honey becomes present at the middle of the tongue. And then the baked bread surfaces towards the back. The lemon and citrus stay throughout. The mix of flavors keeps the brew fresh through several glasses.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout: 26

Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 26

Stone celebrates its 12th anniversary with this brew. It is a purple black color. A very thin head. No light passes through the glass. The aroma is of malt and chocolate.

Its slightly sweet up front. As it washes over the tongue the bitter chocolate takes hold. It's sweet yet bitter. The dark chocolate coats the mouth. I can't even taste the alcohol but it's 9.2%. It's a little chewy given its oatmeal base. All the flavors linger on the breath over time.

A great beer. Definitely a dessert beer or something to savor over a glass or two. Would be great with a cheese cake or other creamy treat. Definitely grab one while they are available.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Stoudt's Scarlett Lady: 21

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 21

Scarlett Lady is an extra special bitter (ESB). It lives well up to its name. It has a nice amber color except it has a thin head with minimal carbonation. The aroma is of slight malt.

Upon first sip there is a medium malt flavor. It has a little bite around the edge of the tongue. As it washes over, the hops kick in the back and in the aftertaste. The bitterness is perfect. Enough bite to notice, but not nearly as much as a strong IPA.