Friday, March 27, 2009

Victory Wild Devil: 26

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

Victory takes their Hop Devil brew and changes the type of yeast to Brettanomyces.

It pours with a large head. The color is a perfect amber. The aroma is full of sweet toasted malt. There's a lot of toasted malt and smokey flavor. Some earthy spice and pine. Nutmeg. In the end is a good balance of hops. As it warms a bit the finish has some dark cherry to it. The bottle says citrus but I don't get any.

This is an excellent brew with complex flavor and layers. Another worthy addition to the Victory line.

Monday, March 23, 2009

John Barr Gold Label Scotch Whisky: 12

Taste: 4 Finish: 2 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 12

A lower end scotch (<$20) that lives up to it's bargain price. The aroma is actually pretty good at first whiff. Lots of caramelization, sweetness, and grain. Unfortunately after that is a huge sniff of raw alcohol. The upfront flavor again is nice of sweet caramalized malt. The middle has a mild peat and earthy flavor. Again, any decentness of the taste is overcome by the raw alcohol. The exhale is rough. And a lingering rubbing alcohol stays on the breath for a while.

If you ice it down and let it water down a bit, it's certainly drinkable. But it's not good.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Great Divide Fresh Hop: 27

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 27

It has a great foamy head that lasts. The color is a perfect amber. The aroma has plenty of hops and grains and a hint of citrus. The flavor is all hops. But it's not overpowering. Towards the back and in the finish is a bit of grapefruit. And around the edges is some sweet malt. Really a great balance between them all. None overpower. The hops are strong but not brash. It's not an overhopped double IPA. This is as great drinking beer. I thoroughly enjoy it.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Farmington River Blonde Ale: 21

Taste: 8 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 2
Total: 21

It has a good golden, slightly amber color. The head is full and creamy. But there is very little aroma. Upfront there is a bit of sweetness. That is quickly overtaken by a moderate amount of bitterness. Under it is a slight bit of orange juice. At the back some grapefruit comes in. It finishes cleanly with some bitter hops left on the tongue. It has a great balance between sweet and bitter.