Saturday, February 28, 2009

Blowing Rock Bock: 17

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 17

This is overall disappointing. It has a very light aroma of caramelized malt. Visually it's rather nice. Deep amber color and a full head. On taste, it's way too sweet. Lots of sugar and honey. Behind it is a very faint flavor of ripe fruit. In the end is a touch of hops. But throughout it all is cloying sweetness. It's just too much.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Blowing Rock Ale: 21

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 5
Total: 21

The color is a bit light but it has a decent head. The carbonation is also light. It has a great aroma. Lots of sweet malt, floral notes, and honey. The aroma and the taste go hand in hand. It's a little too sweet, but still good. I also get a slight undertone of cloves. The finish is very clean and light. A good ale that could use a bit of hops in the end to even out the sweetness. But a good choice.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Evan Williams Premium Whisky: 12

Taste: 3 Finish: 3 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 12

For an extra $1 a bottle, you can get the premium version of Evan Williams sour mash whisky. Now, their regular whisky is barely drinkable.There's no mention of what makes it premium. I assume it means some or all of the whisky has been aged a bit more. Maybe an extra year or two. But they leave you guessing. So, does the extra dollar make a difference?

It has a light caramel color. It clings to the glass decently. The aroma is first of alcohol, but under it is a bit of the toasted grain and a hint of sweetness. On the first sip, there is plenty of raw alcohol. But I wouldn't call it harsh. Certainly not smooth either. Really I don't get much flavor beyond the alcohol. Sure, there is a bit of grain and overall "whisky" flavor. But no caramel. No butter. No floral. Nothing. But most surprisingly, it's a bit better than Evan Williams regular.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Stegmaier Porter: 21

Taste: 6 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 21

It's a deep dark brown with a small creamy and chocolaty head. It has a very light chocolate malt aroma to it. Up front there is a bit of sweet malt with a touch of chocolate. The carbonation is light and gives it a nice mouth feel. At the back is a hint of roasted coffee. Everything about this brew is mild. But it is smooth. You could drink this like water. And there lies the dilemma. It's got a the right flavors for a porter. They're just muted. But it's also a very accessible brew. So, is it great? Or not quite living up to it's potential?

Friday, February 6, 2009

Cottonwood Low Down Brown Ale: 19

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 19

I just find this to be a very odd ale. It looks great with a deep brown color and creamy head. The aroma is fantastic with sweet malt, ripe red fruit, and hints of chocolate. The first sip hits with a lot of sweet malt. Chocolate starts to kick in the middle. And then, out of nowhere, sweet ripened fruit blooms in the mouth at the end. Plums and red grapes mostly. On the breath is a hint of chocolate and roasted grains. I'm just not expecting so much fruit in a brown ale. It's not bad. It's just too odd to recommend.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Carolina Blonde: 18

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 18

It has a very thin head and a good golden color. The aroma is very clean with just a bit of malt. The first sip is very sweet. The sweetness is from the start to the finish. I'd say corn except their site says it's pure barley. Also a bit of honey. The hops at the end are almost unnoticable. This is a very clean and drinkable brew. What really separates this from a macrobrew pilsner is that the finish and aftertaste are so smooth and clean. A good choice for the game and surely a brew most would drink without offense.