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Dust Bowl Hops of Wrath: 17

2012-01-29T18:05:00.001-05:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 5 Total: 17 Creamy head with lacing. Color is a bit too clear. Aroma is huge with grapefruit. Flavor is muted. Not the hop bite I was expecting. Some pine and grapefruit. Finish is smooth. Not what you want. It's like an IPA light. Disapointing.

Anchor Liberty Ale: 22

2012-01-13T20:22:00.004-05:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4 Total: 22 It's been a while! It has a nice hops and citrus/lemon aroma. Big head with good lacing. The color is a lightly hazed amber. Really good flavor. It's very "round". Just enough hops to know they're there. A moderate amount of lemon peel. It's got a bit of fizz from the carbonation to round it out in the back. A very solid pale ale.

Three Floyds Zombie Dust: 25

2011-11-27T18:52:00.001-05:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4 Total: 25 Good amber color with good head and lacing. Aroma is filled with pine and grapefruit. For a pale ale, it's got plenty of flavor and bitterness without going over into IPA territory. Probably as strong as you want to get for the category. Great flavor filled with undertones of grapefruit/citrus, pine, earthy elements. Although it's strong, the

Stone Levitation Ale: 24

2011-11-27T18:46:00.001-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4 Total: 24 Stone's "light" beer (~4.5%) comes in a deep mahogany color with a decent head and traces of lacing. The aroma is filled with hops. grapefruit, pine, and woody elements. The taste is very well balanced. Good caramel roasting flavors. A hint of bitter grapefruit. Pine. Wood. Clove. The bitterness is just where you want it for a pale ale. It

Three Floyd's Alpha King: 23

2011-11-20T19:16:00.001-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4 Total: 23 Thick and creamy head. Lots of lacing. Slightly cloudy deep amber color. Aroma of citrus, hops, and pine. It is a very smooth draw. Some creaminess down the middle. The back and finish definitely have some grapefruit and pine. Very well balanced in flavors. But overall everything is a bit muted. That does make it insanely drinkable. It could use

Russian River Pliny the Elder: 28

2011-11-19T18:28:00.001-05:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5 Total: 28 Rated as one of the best beers in the world, it is a pleasure to try. It has a huge creamy head with a lot of lacing. The hops jump out in the aroma as well as grapefruit, honey, and pine. I was expecting a bigger punch from the hops. Instead it's quite balanced. Good hop bitterness throughout but not overpowering at all. Nice tones of

Sam Adams New World: 23

2011-11-12T19:35:00.001-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4 Total: 23 Big head. Lots of carbonation. Nice amber color. Spiced aroma with hops. Nutmeg. It has a round mouthfeel. The alcohol (10%) kicks in and warms a bit. Not overpowering but it's very present. Some good citrus and red fruit. A bit of dry walnut. Clove. Straw. Earthy flavors. Very well balanced and complex. A good brew.

Ommegang BPA: 25

2011-11-11T19:52:00.001-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4 Total: 25 A huge creamy head. A cloudy golden color. It has a faint hint of grapefruit. Good earthy and hoppy aromas as well. The brew is very bright at first. The bitter hops come in a bit along with the grapefruit. It has a good earthy/straw flavor. The yeast lays on the tongue. It finishes dry with a bit of bitterness. Very good.

Terrapin Peaotch: 19

2011-11-05T20:24:00.004-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 5 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4 Total: 19 The aroma is very clean with a good peach scent. The color is an orange/amber. It's got a good bit of crisp carbonation on the tongue. There is a little bitterness down the middle but the peach comes in nicely. The peach isn't overpowering but certainly is front and center. The finish is a little astringent. Kind of like a tart peach. It's a

Dogfish Head Hellhound: 14

2011-10-30T18:27:00.000-04:00

Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3 Total: 14 The aroma is clean with a hint of lemon. The color is a cloudy amber bordering on orange. The head is thin. The flavor is really unique. I'm not sure in a good way. The beer is brewed with lemons. It has a very strong lemon rind flavor to it along with some tartness of the lemon. The bitter hops also kick in at the end but it's overshadowed by

Burnt Hickory Brewing The Fighting Bishop: 22

2011-10-16T17:30:00.001-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4 Total: 22 It pours cleanly with a dark golden color and cloudy from yeast. The aroma is fresh with an undertone of lemon and straw. It has a big lemon and orange flavor. The carbonation helps punch it up a bit too. The alcohol creeps in towards the back (7.5%) but then the yeast and citrus mellow it out. The finish is sharp from the citrus but ultimately

Abita Restoration Pale Ale: 22

2011-10-11T18:11:00.000-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4 Total: 22 Abita donates proceeds from this brew to aid in restoration projects in Louisiana after the hurricanes from the past few years. Aroma is crisp with some citrus and hops. Color is a pale amber. Full head and a bit of lacing. Taste is a bit sweet up front followed by some citrus in the middle. The hops poke up a bit in the back just enough for

Stone Imperial Black IPA: 27

2011-10-05T19:47:00.001-04:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5 Total: 27 The color is completely black. No light goes through. The head dissipates quickly and is a little thin. The aroma has chocolate, malt, and citrus. The flavor is filled with roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate. There's a bit of sweetness upfront. But then the IPA side kicks in with a moderate amount of hops and bitter citrus flavors. A hint of

Ithaca White Gold: 26

2011-10-03T20:35:00.003-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 2 Aroma: 4 Total: 26 What "ruins" this perfect beer is it's duality of visuals. The first glass out of the bottle is perfect. A radiant golden hue with great chunks of yeast floating in it. A full fizzy head. And the a nice clean aroma. But the 2nd pour. Woah. Maybe I got a bad batch somehow. But the sediment in the bottom half of the bottle was horrendous. It came

Stone, Troegs, Fields/Sheppard Cherry Chocolate Stout: 20

2011-09-29T19:32:00.001-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aromas: 3 Total: 20 The aroma is faint but of thick chocalate and malt. I wish it was more powerful. athe color is deep black with a good brown head. First sip is huge chocolate. Almost burnt. The sweetness of the malt is on the edge but really the bitterness is very present. There is no sweetness of the cherries. Its more of that dry bitterness of a cherry. I really

Ommegang Aphrodite: 18

2011-09-16T20:11:00.000-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 4 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3 Total:18 A very fizzy red head greets you. The color is a ruddy brown. The aroma is faint but of citrus. Wow, it's tart. The carbonation hits the tongue first. It's very champagne-like. Then some sweetness of the fruit. Then it's very tart. Like raspberry lemonade mixed with a pale ale. It's kind of like a dessert brew. It's a little too much for me.

Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA: 25

2011-08-20T19:24:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 25 Great deep copper color. Full creamy head with good lacing. Sam Adams really did a great job with this one. Big hops without overpowering. Great earthy flavors in the middle. A good bitter finish that stays just long enough on the tongue. It's an excellent strong IPA without being a double.

Avery White Rascal: 20

2011-08-14T19:38:00.003-04:00

Taste: 4 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4 Total: 20 It has the perfect color for a white beer; a cloudy straw. Good full head without being fizzy. Good lacing throughout. The aroma has good earthy notes and a hint of citrus. The flavor lets it down a bit. It has the standard wheat beer texture. A bit of lemon in the back. Waaaay back is the coriander. But overall it's missing a bit of umph. This

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale: 24

2011-07-03T18:42:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3Total: 24Great head that lingers. Lots of lacing. Cloudy and amber color. Aroma is of hops and slight grapefruit. Lots of hops throughout without being overpowering. It will cut through any thirst but it's a bit too strong to beat the heat. Lots of pine and earthy flavors. A bit of grapefruit in the back. A hint of floral hops on the aftertaste. And the

Troegs Dream Weaver: 20

2011-06-26T18:12:00.002-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4Total:Good head that fades quickly. Pale straw yellow and cloudy color. The aroma has a good amount of yeast and straw. It has a light body with a good amount of carbonation. The yeast is consistent throughout including the exhale. Slight lemon undertones as well. Can really cut through a thirst and cool you off. Perfect for hot weather. Might be better

Victory Headwaters: 29

2011-06-21T19:35:00.002-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 29The aroma is light, but you can smell hops, citrus, banana, and earthy tones. The head is thick and it has a bit of lacing. The color is a medium copper. This is either a strong pale or a weak IPA. Either way it's great. The hops are throughout from the tip to the exhale but they never overpower. Under it are banana, the dryness of walnut, earthy

The Bruery Saison de Lente: 23

2011-05-30T18:15:00.004-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 23A huge creamy head. It literally looks like whipped cream floating. The color is a medium golden/amber. Very cloudy. The aroma has vanilla, some citrus, banana, and bread. The flavor is very light, but it basically tastes like it smells. The huge head takes out much of the carbonation which makes it smooth and doesn't have a bit of bite that I want

Fuller's London Pride: 9

2011-05-30T18:09:00.003-04:00

Taste: 3 Finish: 2 Visual: 2 Aroma: 2Total: 9I was expecting something much better. True, it's a session beer so it shouldn't hit you over the head. But this is a beer that has the makings of a better brew. It tastes like they took a decent pale ale and then cut it with Bud. So under it there is a quick tease of flavor, and then it goes away never to return.

Pete's Wicked Ale: 14

2011-05-08T19:32:00.003-04:00

Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 14Way back in the day I remember this is one kickin' ale. 10 years of great craft beers have not been kind to Pete. This ale is way too sweet. Yes, it's a red that should have a good malt taste. But it's out of balance for today's market. No wonder it hardly has any shelf space anymore. They need to up the hops to help balance it all out. Otherwise

Dogfish Stone Victory Saison du Buff: 21

2011-03-19T18:49:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 21Dogfish Head, Stone, and Victory, my 3 most favorite breweries, come together to brew a saison, mu second favorite style of ale. The color is of straw. It's hazy throughout. The head fizzes out quickly. At first it's a bit creamy but then the bitterness of the hops come through in the middle of the tongue. That's quickly taken over by lemon, straw,

Franziskaner Weissbier: 21

2011-02-24T17:58:00.003-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total:A very good pale and cloudy orange color with a big head. Little to no lacing. Aroma has lots of citrus and yeast. The taste starts crisp. Undertones of orange and lemon. The yeast kicks in the back giving it a bit of a chalky finish. The citrus lingers on the tongue for a while. Pretty good. I'd like it to be a bit cleaner in the finish. But a solid

Spaten Optimator: 20

2011-02-18T18:58:00.002-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 20It's got a good, creamy head. Dark brown color. Very little aroma. Upfront there is a lot of sweet malt taste. Milk chocolate. Roasted flavors. The finish is a bit buttery and disappears quickly. Very easy to drink. Good flavors but a bit two dimensional.

Elysian Immortal IPA: 18

2011-02-05T19:02:00.003-05:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2Total: 18The pale amber color does not inspire. The head is full but it's a bit too fizzy. The aroma is faint and bland. Luckily, the taste is pretty complex. Good bitterness throughout. Lots of pine/woody flavors. Undertones of honey. Although the hops linger, it finishes pretty cleanly for an IPA. It could use a bit of citrus to help jazz it up a bit more.

Guinness Foreign Export Stout: 26

2011-02-04T18:24:00.004-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 26This is supposedly formulate to best match what's served in Ireland. It is highly hopped and very high in alcohol (7.5%) compared to Draught. The head is full and creamy. It has a lot of lacing. As expected, it's as black as night without a trace of color when held up to the light. The aroma has a good amount of caramel and roasted malt. There is a

Abita Jockamo IPA: 21

2011-01-30T18:59:00.001-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 21Good amber color with a full, creamy head. A bit of lacing. The aroma has some malt and a bit of pine. A hint of grapefruit. But nothing that really jumps out. The taste is mild and finishes cleanly. There is some pine and grapefruit in there. The bitterness of the hops jump in mid tongue. There is a mild sweetness towards the back. Very well

21st Amendment IPA: 21

2011-01-23T16:07:00.003-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 21Great huge head. Lots of lacing. Good cloudy amber color. The aroma has a bit of citrus, pine, and malt. It has a mildly bitter upfront taste which quickly falls away to a semi-sweet finish (for an IPA). It is very smooth throughout. Although it boasts a 70 IBU, it really is quite tame. Maybe a notch above Sam Adam's lager. Underneath it is a bit

Weyerbacher Tiny: 25

2011-01-16T17:58:00.003-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 25A Belgium style Imperial Stout. It is black as oil. No light will pass through it. The head is huge, creamy, and malty. It smells like smoke, deep roasted malt, and plums and cherries. First sip has a ton of flavor. The smokey malt hits immediately. The fruit hits next. Towards the back of the tongue is the bitterness of hops. Finally the alcohol

Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale: 18

2011-01-08T19:47:00.002-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3Total: 18The aroma is very faint with a hint of cherries and malt. Visually it looks like a coke... But wow, first is it sour. I mean, I was expecting it, but it still hit me. Second sip is better. Bitter black cherries jam through with some sweetness underneath. A bit of vinegar as well. No real alcohol flavor and the bottle doesn't indicate strength.

Framboise Raspberry Lambic: 28

2010-12-26T19:19:00.002-05:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 28It looks and smells like fruit juice mixed with Sprite. Wow, a very tart punch up front from the raspberries. No trace of alcohol (~3%). Just pure carbonated punch. Drink it by the gallon.

Rogue Single Malt Ale: 18

2010-12-04T18:18:00.002-05:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 18It has a clear copper color with a quick head. The aroma is sweet but faint. The first sip has a good carbonating bite to it. In the back a bit of hops peek in. Under it all is a dry hay flavor. The flavors are very light and subdued. I mean, there's enough hops there to distinguish itself. But this is a lite craft beer.

Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale: 19

2010-11-14T18:20:00.000-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 22Yards is the only full brewery actually in Philadelphia. This excludes small batch brew bars. They've been relatively well respected so I finally decided to pick up a six and start with their Philadelphia Pale Ale.It has an interesting golden orange hue. I kind of like it. The head is full. The aroma has a real nice mix of lemon peel and hops.It

Smuttynose IPA: 24

2010-08-15T18:05:00.004-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3Total: 24Good creamy head. Lots of lacing. Cloudy and golden/amber color. Flecked with yeast. The aroma is of hops and grapefruit, it's just very light. Upfront it's got a good amount of floral hops. A bit of grapefruit comes in the middle as well as the hop bitterness. In the back is a bit of piny oil which stays on the tongue. On the breath is more floral

Harpoon UFO White: 16

2010-08-08T17:47:00.003-04:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 16Harpoon recommends serving with a slice of orange. I have to agree. There is orange undertones to the brew, but it needs a real orange to kick it up and make it taste good. Heck, maybe even a shot of orange juice would help. The flavor is also a bit chaulky and has a seltzer-quality backbone. The head is huge on pour but dissipates quickly and has

Rodenbach Flemish Red Brown: 20

2010-08-07T18:27:00.003-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4Total: 20It's a deep and cloudy mahogany with a thin head. The aroma is light but sweet with ripe cherries. The flavor is very pungent, tart, and sour. Under it is more cherries and ripe red plums. But it fades quickly leaving behind a slightly sour finish. It could use a bit more fruit throughout instead of just the tartness. Certainly a refreshing beer

Stone 14 Imperial IPA: 29

2010-07-31T18:54:00.004-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 29Stone commemorates its 14th anniversary with another huge IPA. It really looks more like a wheat beer. Golden, almost orange colored. Totally unfiltered. You can't see through it at all. Big creamy head. Nice lacing. The aroma has malt, but also grapefruit and orange and even a bit of pine. It's almost sweet upfront. The citrus is really front and

Philadelphia Brewing Newbold IPA: 21

2010-07-30T15:44:00.005-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 21A good whiff of roasted malt and honey. Creamy head with a bit of lacing. Good amber color. But after the pour it's slightly flat which gives it a mellow mouth feel. Nice big cream flavor upfront. Good roasted malt. A moderate amount of hops in the back. But there is no bite from the hops. No grapefruit or florals. I would say it's a very smooth

Dogfish Head My Antonia: 29

2010-06-27T18:37:00.004-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 29An Imperial Pilsner? Yes, please! You know it's going to be good when even the foam is tasty. It pours with a big, creamy head. The color is a slightly cloudy gold. The aroma is big with grapefruit and hops. The flavor is very reminiscent of a medium IPA like their 60 Minutes. But it's somehow cleaner than that. The spiced hops are there. Lots of

Stoudt's Pils: 24

2010-05-29T19:03:00.004-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 24Big creamy head with lacing. Light golden in color. Slightly cloudy. Faint malt, bread, and banana in the aroma. Just having their Gold, the Pils is like the lighter version of it. Much lighter in hop flavor, but a lot more crisp. Definitely lemon peel and slight black pepper. And cleaner finish. This is definitely a hot weather brew.

Stoudt's Gold Lager: 24

2010-05-28T16:06:00.002-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 24The color is a perfect golden yellow with a rich, creamy head. Plenty of lacing. The aroma is mild, but of bread and bananas. Upfront it's a bit spicy and tangy on the sides and back of the tongue. It has a moderate amount of fullness to it. Definitely roasted malt dashed with maybe nutmeg and some earthy herbs. I was expecting something much

Sam Adams Pale Ale: 25

2010-04-30T18:08:00.005-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 25It has a very large creamy head. Minimal lacing. The color is a good golden. It has a good malt aroma. A good amount of malt sweetness kicks in front. Towards the middle the hops start to show up giving it a mild tang. And then towards the back and into the finish is a bit of grapefruit/lemon with honey and bread. The flavors are light and very

Elysian Loser Pale Ale: 20

2010-04-09T18:59:00.003-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 5 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3Total: 20It has a great creamy head. Lots of good lacing. The color is a perfect amber. There is very little aroma. Just a hint of roasted malt and bread. It has a lot of flavor throughout. The hops are present but not overpowering. A bit of grapefruit cuts it. Under it is a nice, maybe banana flavor which lends to a certain sweetness to it. Maybe a bit too

Founders Double Trouble IPA: 29

2010-03-20T19:00:00.004-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5Total: 29When did beer get so expensive? At $12 for a 4 pack, it's a bit pricey. But given the 9.4% alcohol in the end it's worth it. Visually it is cloudy and the color is a pale amber. The head is very creamy with good lacing. The aroma is very strong. Lots of grapefruit and bread. The bitterness kicks in early and stays throughout. Under it is plenty

Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock: 22

2010-03-13T19:10:00.003-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 22Nice creamy head. Minimal lacing. A good golden color leaning towards amber. The aroma is very clean. Definitely some honey upfront for the sweetness. The carbonation kicks in nicely. I get a good amount of spice/clove. Under it is banana. And under that is a bit of lemon on the tongue and in the finish. Hops show up towards the back which lends to

Flying Fish Exit 4: 24

2010-03-07T18:18:00.004-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 24Exit 4 nabbed the gold at the Great American Beer Festival for best American made Belgian ale. This version is a tripel. The color is great showing a cloudy and glowing orange. It is very lightly carbonated with no lacing. Aroma gives off some citrus and banana. The taste is very smooth. It has a lot of sweetness of honey. There is a decent citrus

Unibroue Don De Dieu: 27

2010-02-28T18:29:00.003-05:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 27A triple wheat brew at 9% and a shelf life of 3 years. The color is great giving off a deep and cloudy orange. The head dissipates too quickly. The aroma is very light but it smells sweet and hints of vanilla. Most of all though it is clean.On the first sip I get a lot of honey and bit of vanilla. The carbonation fizzes on the tongue nicely in

Slyfox Odyssey: 26

2010-02-18T18:03:00.003-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 26The color is amber with hints of orange. The head is creamy and there is plenty of lacing. The aroma consists of malt and pine. There are lots of bitter hops all the way through. Under it is honey. There is also grassy/piney notes. Could use some citrus. It definitely leaves a bit behind on the tongue, but in a good way. Overall, a very good brew.

Old Monk 10000 Super Beer: 6

2010-02-14T19:10:00.003-05:00

Taste: 1 Finish: 1 Visual: 3 Aroma: 1Total: 6I mean, really. How can you not try this beer? Hailing from India. With a Manufacturing Date section clearly on the label...yet blank. Even a blank Batch Number. And the slogan, "Go for Monk". It screams quality.Visually it is very nice. A clear golden amber with a thick head. But it fizzes out quickly. It smells like a copper penny. Oh, god. The

Samuel Adams Noble Pils: 25

2010-02-14T17:54:00.003-05:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 6 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 25Sam's Spring 2010 brew puts all 6 noble hops into one brew. One or six, all I care is if it tastes good. It's got a huge head and plenty of lacing. The color is gold with a hint of amber. The aroma is faint and clean with a bit of malt. Perfect for a pils. Upfront is definitely lemon. Under that is a bit of honey. Also get some grassy and bready

Southern Tier iniquity: 17

2010-02-07T19:29:00.004-05:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4Final: 17It's a bit flat with a head that disappears quickly. Limited lacing. The color is a very dark brown but not black. The aroma has some nice roasted coffee and chocolate. The flavor is very watery and thin. Sure, there is chocolate and coffee undertones. I also get a bit of butterscotch. And in the back is a bit of the alcohol (9%). In fact, it's

Southern Tier Phin and Matt's Extraordinary Ale: 16

2010-01-31T18:02:00.003-05:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 2Total: 16It pours with a thick and creamy head. Lots of lacing. The color is a very crisp amber. Perhaps a bit too fizzy. The aroma is weak with boiled hops. The brew is a bit too sweet with malt upfront. The hops peek in the middle and are a bit present in the finish. The hops get a bit better when the beer gets slightly warmer. Really, a very plain pale

Andelot Mystique: 24

2010-01-22T19:22:00.003-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 24It is a dark mahogany brown with a full creamy head. Good lacing throughout. The aroma is sweet of ripe fruit and malt. Upfront it is very smooth and creamy. Mild hops kick in mid tongue. Towards the back the ripe fruit blooms well. Plums and red grapes. And to finish it is a hint of chocolate. Throughout it all it remains a bit sweet. There is

Samuel Smith's India Ale: 20

2010-01-03T18:04:00.003-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 2Total: 20It has a huge foamy head which lasts a long time. The color is a very good amber. The aroma is a bit disappointing smelling of boiled hops. The brew does have a good bite. But it's not over the top. This is more pure to style than the ultra-hopped Americans. The flavor is reminiscent of a copper penny with a bit of grapefruit and butterscotch. The

Dogfish & 3 Floyd's Popskull: 27

2010-01-02T19:37:00.004-05:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5Total: 27A joint brew by Dogfish Head of Delaware ((thanks Chad!) and 3 Floyd's in Indiana. They've combined for a special "braun" ale that's aged on pala santo wood with botanicals.The brew is a very dark brown with almost no light through it. On top is a thick, creamy, and chocolate head. It leaves a bit of lacing, but not much. The aroma is fully

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale: 19

2010-01-01T17:55:00.003-05:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 19I've seen this for years but never have tried it. I'm not much of a "winter ale" person since I don't like nutmeg.The head is full and creamy. It has a light amber color and is crystal clear. The aroma is faint with a hint of malt. The flavor is very interesting. It's slightly creamy and malty. A bit of hops in the back. And it has some fall and

Victory Yakima Twilight: 25

2009-12-27T18:20:00.003-05:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 25A huge creamy head with good lacing. The color is a deep amber brown. It has a good roasted malt aroma with a bit of chocolate. The bitter hops kick in early but the sweet malt is also there around the edges of the tongue. Lots of roasted flavors throughout. Under it is a bit of floral notes and a hint of grapefruit. The alcohol (8.7%) kicks in

Brew Dog Hardcore IPA: 24

2009-12-13T19:30:00.002-05:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 9 Visual: 3 Aroma: 5Total: 24The color is a light amber/orange and little cloudy. It has very little carbonation. The head that does form is creamy and clings well. The aroma is great. Lots of citrus and pine notes. Under it a bit of yeasty bread. First sip starts sweet. But then the hops kick in. Lots of bitterness. The citrus flavor of grapefruit and orange peel is present.

Shock Top Belgian White: 11

2009-11-29T16:49:00.002-05:00

Taste: 3 Finish: 3 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2Total: 11Anheuser-Busch put out this Belgian White for the masses. Visually it's not bad. It's cloudy and light orange. The head is very thin. It smells like a Budweiser with hints of citrus and bread. And that's not a good thing.Upfront it is very sweet. Lots of malt. Too sweet. Then the orange kicks in. But only the sweet part of the orange. There is not

Redhook Long Hammer IPA: 17

2009-11-07T19:56:00.005-05:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3Total: 17The color is very glassy and pale amber. The head is decent with a bit of lacing. The aroma is light with hops and a little banana. But not much citrus and certainly no bread. Upfront there is a moderate amount of bitterness. There is a bit of sweetness under it all. In the back is more generic hops. Again, no real citrus or bread. There is nothing

Unibroue Terrible: 24

2009-10-24T20:37:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 24The head is very fizzy instead of creamy. It is pitch black up to the light. The aroma is faint but smells sweet with ripe fruit. The flavor grows as the brew gets warmer. Definitely let it sit out a bit. Right out of the fridge the flavors are muted. Sweet malt infused with black cherries and plums. The 10.5% alcohol is not noticeable at all as a

Magic Hat Lucky Cat: 23

2009-10-03T19:00:00.002-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Finish: 23Magic Hat may not be the best brewery. But they are consistently good. Lucky Cat starts well with a great creamy head and a nice cloudy amber color. The aroma is a bit weak with spiced hops.There is a bit of sweetness of the malt upfront. That is quickly overtaken by spiced hops. The hops are strong but not overpowering. In terms of intensity,

Maredsous 10 Triple: 24

2009-09-27T19:50:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5Total: 24It has a huge head that settles down. A bit creamy and leaves some lacing. The color is a pale amber, with some orange. The aroma is huge with roasted malt and nuts, with a hint of oranges and ripe red fruit.First and foremost, let it warm up a bit. The first few cold sips left if tasting overly carbonated. After sitting for a few minutes to

Hofbrau Oktoberfest: 13

2009-09-26T19:21:00.003-04:00

Taste: 4 Finish: 5 Visual: 1 Aroma: 3Total: 13The color is totally wrong for an Oktoberfest. This is as light as a pilsner or helles. It should be amber. The aroma is again like a German helles. Sweet malt. A bit of hops. Some grassy notes. If I put a blindfold on, it certainly tastes like a helles. Has all the normal qualities of a German beer. Sweet up front, almost of honey. A bit of grass.

Otter Creek Oktoberbest: 20

2009-09-20T18:54:00.002-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 2Total: 20Visually it's perfect. Nice copper color with a fully creamy head. But it has little to no aroma. A very faint burnt wood smell. It has a decent smokiness throughout from start to finish. You can definitely taste the roasting of the malt. A touch of sweetness but not much. The back to finish has a good bit of hops. It like drinking a pile of

Magic Hat Circus Boy: 13

2009-09-20T15:27:00.002-04:00

Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2Total: 13Circus Boy is Magic Hat's Hefeweizen. It has a deep golden color with a hint of amber. The head is fizzy and subsides quickly. The aroma is very plain. Mostly just boiled hops. No straw, hay, or bread. It's definitely a sweet brew. It starts sweet and the honey-ish flavor stays on the edges of the tongue. From the mid to the back there is a bit of

Magic Hat Odd Notion: 28

2009-09-11T18:05:00.002-04:00

Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 28I guess it's fall. Magic Hat rolls out their Autumn 09 stout. It has a great deep dark creamy head. The color is near black with maybe a hint of mahogany color. The aroma is big with sweet malt, chocolate, and black coffee. It's got a great flavor. Lots of creamy malt upfront, a hint of ripe fruit, which quickly moves to bitter hops, dark

Victory Helios Ale: 26

2009-09-07T19:58:00.005-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 26It has a huge head that clings to the sides of the glass. The color is a cloudy golden. The aroma is of grapefruit, hay, and bread. The flavors really meld and taste "farmy". They don't call this a farmhouse-style Belgian for nothing. Lots of earthy flavors with hay, grass, pine, and autumn spices. Black pepper kicks in mid tongue. Under it and

Saranac Helles: 21

2009-09-07T17:01:00.003-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 21The color is a good medium golden. The aroma has some malt and honey. It's got a good carbonation level to it giving it a crisp mouth feel. There's a bit of malt sweetness upfront. Under it is some good earth flavors of straw. The hops in the end have a bit of a copper flavor to it. Some lemon left on the tongue. For a Helles, I'd say it's not

Saranac Rye Pilsner: 19

2009-09-06T16:37:00.002-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3Total: 19Visually it's pretty blah. It's a crystal clear, very light amber. The head is full but dissipates quickly. The flavor is much better. Some sweet malt up front. But some spiciness kicks in the middle. Definitely some fall flavors of the rye, hay, and nutmeg. It finishes with a little hop bitterness and lemon. And then it's clean. It's definitely a

Saranac Amber Wheat: 19

2009-09-05T19:28:00.003-04:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 6 Visual: 5 Aroma: 3Total: 19It's got a great creamy head. The color is equally great. A deep and cloudy amber. The aroma is a bit light but smells of wheat and hay. The flavor is a bit lacking. There's a bit of caramel undertone to it. Definitely can taste the wheat. It's got a medium body. And the finish has a little bit of hops to it. It's a beer you could easily drink a

Saranac Pale Pale Ale: 16

2009-09-04T16:31:00.003-04:00

Taste: 5 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 2Total: 16It has a fizzy head. The color is a good pale amber. The aroma is light, but of hops and malt. I don't get any citrus. Up front it is a bit sweet. Honey and malt. A bit of lemon hits in the middle. In the finish a bit of bitter hops. Nothing notable. And that's kind of how I see this brew. Not bad. But nothing really good either. Kind of like

Saranac Summer Ale: 19

2009-09-04T15:00:00.003-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Aroma: 3 Visual: 3Total: 19It has a good copper color. Unfortunately it's got coloring added to it. Odd. The aroma is nice of sweet malt and honey. Wow, it's a sweet brew. Honey. Malt. Sugar. Mid tongue the bitterness starts to kick in. A good punch of lemon and orange. And some hop bite. It really helps clean the palate. A good brew for a hot day and a barbecue. I find it

Witches Brew: 22

2009-08-30T20:48:00.002-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 22The aroma is muted. Honey and citrus. The flavor is big. It is very sweet with honey, but also lemon cuts through to make it tart. Little to no hop bitterness or bite. And definitely some warming alcohol in the back and aftertaste (9%). Overall, very good. Could use a bit more aroma. And there could be some hops. It's reminiscent of a barley wine.

Stone 13th Anniversary: 28

2009-08-23T17:52:00.003-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 28It pours with a great dark creamy head. The color is deep mahogany. The aroma is full of hops and smells sweet. The flavor is very reminiscent of Arrogant Bastard and Ruination. Lots of upfront flavors. Big bitter hops all the way through (90+ IBU). An undertone of caramel. More of an alcohol bite (9.5%). After a few sips the pine starts to come

Ommegang Witte: 25

2009-08-09T19:19:00.004-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 25It has a huge and fizzy head. The color is a very light straw and it has a uniform cloudiness. The aroma is of light malt/straw and a bit of banana. I don't get any citrus or bread. It's very sharp on the tongue with its carbonation. Good orange peel and lemon citrus flavors come through in the middle to end. And just a hint of spice at the end.

Victory Whirlwind Witbier: 20

2009-08-08T18:43:00.003-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3Total: 20It pours with a big head that dissipates quickly. There is no lacing. Big chunks of yeast are dispersed throughout which is interesting, but I'm more used to a uniform "cloud". The aroma is nice of bread, bananas, and coriander. The flavor is very light. It's easy to just suck it down quickly. There is some nice orange peel and lemon. A bit of

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA: 30

2009-08-01T20:32:00.003-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5It is a great golden amber color. The aroma is full of floral hops and honey. Lots of hops up front but then the alcohol numbs the tongue a bit allowing it to flow over. Honey undertones. Then mid-tongue the hops kick back in through the finish. There's also some citrus as expected.Really, this is a flawless big IPA. It does not disappoint. One of the

Yards Saison: 21

2009-07-03T20:35:00.002-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 21The aroma has a good whiff of hops and lemon. The color is good light amber. Upfront it hits more like an IPA. Good bitter hops cut with lemon. Actually, that's how it tastes throughout. If I didn't know better, it would be a very good IPA. But this is a Saison. There's no bread or yeast. No spice. No hay or earth. So, it's a pretty good beer, just

Weyerbacher Merry Monks: 22

2009-06-14T20:51:00.003-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 22A nice golden and cloudy color. The aroma is lacking. The ale is really bright on the tongue. Lots of carbonation. In fact, too much. In the middle is some are some cloves and spice. That leads to orange and honey. The finish leaves of bit of hop bitterness and some tartness. Under it all is warming alcohol. Overall it's very close to a real

Weyerbacher Insanity: 28

2009-06-14T20:44:00.002-04:00

Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 28For my first barley wine, I check out Weyerbacher Insanity. In fact, I had no idea it was a barley wine when I bought it. What a great surprise. It's a deep and cloudy mahogany color. It has a very sweet aroma. The flavor up front is very sweet. Lots of honey and brown sugar. Next is raisins and dates. Mid tongue through the finish the oak

Pabst Blue Ribbon: 7

2009-06-06T18:54:00.005-04:00

Taste: 2 Finish: 2 Visual: 1 Aroma: 1Total: 7Oddly, PBR is "hip" right now with the college crowd. It's cool to be so blue collar and drink PBR. But how does it taste? Not horrible. That's about the best I can say. It's very pale in color. The aroma is typical of American macro-brewed beer. The upfront taste is very sweet. Definitely a lot of corn. From there the boiled down hops are evident.

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly: 27

2009-05-25T20:30:00.004-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5Total: 27It pours with a great big fizzy head. The color is a yellowish-white and cloudy from the yeast. The aroma is great with citrus and bread. It's very light up front. A bit of malt sweetness. A nice undertone of honey. Around the edges is the citrus which keeps it crisp. There is also a nice breadiness, like a good white bread out of the oven. And it

Blue Moon Rising Moon: 19

2009-05-23T20:12:00.004-04:00

Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3Total: 19Blue Moon creates an amber ale infused with lime. It has a nice amber color with a full head. There is little aroma. Upfront there is plenty of malt sweetness. Sugary almost. Very close to a sweet red ale. Then the lime kicks in. It's not big but enough to cut the sweetness through the finish. It ends cleanly with very little aftertaste. I never

Sam Adams Honey Porter: 23

2009-05-01T20:20:00.003-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4Total: 23The aroma has a good milk chocolate scent along with a slight undertone of coffee. The flavor is sweet upfront. A bit of honey. But also more milk chocolate and coffee. The finish is a bit dry and yet sweet and still behind that is some hops. Overall it's a very clean brew. It's got just enough flavor to satisfy but light enough not to bloat.

Founders Centennial IPA: 24

2009-04-29T20:13:00.003-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 24Centennial IPA has a cloudy and amber color. The aroma is full of grapefruit, hay, and hops. Upfront it has a nice honey and hay flavor. That is quickly overtaken by bitter hops. Under it is a bit of earthy hay and grains and a bit of spice. Under that is some alcohol. The hops and alcohol stays on the tongue for a bit, but it's not too heavy.

Rebel Yell Bourbon Whiskey: 21

2009-04-23T21:04:00.002-04:00

Taste: 8 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4Total: 21Rebel Yell delivers what you expect and yet surprises. The aroma has a bit of butterscotch and grains. And also a big whiff of alcohol. Up front it has a very nice buttery flavor and mouthfeel. It just rolls over the tongue. It also has some spice and hay. But mostly butter. In the back the Yell kicks in. It's a very bold whiskey with lots of

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale: 23

2009-04-11T20:14:00.003-04:00

Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 5Total: 23Hop Stoopid clocks in at 102 IBU. This should put it in contention with Arrogant Bastard and a few other excessively hopped brews.The color is kind of bland. A very plain amber color. But it does have a large head. The aroma is great. Tons of grapefruit and orange. It's perfect. Wow it's smooth. Yes there is a good hit of bitterness upfront. It's

Victory Wild Devil: 26

2009-03-27T20:32:00.002-04:00

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

John Barr Gold Label Scotch Whisky: 12

2009-03-23T18:09:00.002-04:00

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

Great Divide Fresh Hop: 27

2009-03-13T20:41:00.003-04:00

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

Farmington River Blonde Ale: 21

2009-03-07T20:13:00.003-05:00

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

Blowing Rock Bock: 17

2009-02-28T20:19:00.002-05:00

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

Blowing Rock Ale: 21

2009-02-27T20:36:00.003-05:00

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

Evan Williams Premium Whisky: 12

2009-02-18T20:26:00.003-05:00

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

Stegmaier Porter: 21

2009-02-07T20:27:00.003-05:00

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

Cottonwood Low Down Brown Ale: 19

2009-02-06T20:51:00.003-05:00

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