Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Aroma: 3 Visual: 3
Total: 19
It 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 to be a bit too sweet up front. But certainly a good choice.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Witches Brew: 22
Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 22
The 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. Given the price ($12/750ml), it's a bit pricey and probably not worth the money. Would be a great buy at $8.
Total: 22
The 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. Given the price ($12/750ml), it's a bit pricey and probably not worth the money. Would be a great buy at $8.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Stone 13th Anniversary: 28
Taste: 10 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 4
Total: 28
It 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 through. And a bit of grapefruit, but that's muted by the huge hops. This thing is bitter and delicious. Even though they brewed it as a red, this thing has double IPA all over it. Fantastic.
Total: 28
It 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 through. And a bit of grapefruit, but that's muted by the huge hops. This thing is bitter and delicious. Even though they brewed it as a red, this thing has double IPA all over it. Fantastic.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Ommegang Witte: 25
Taste: 8 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 25
It 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. Maybe clove and coriander. It has a great citrus finish that cleans the tongue. A great hot day brew or one just to enjoy lazily.
Total: 25
It 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. Maybe clove and coriander. It has a great citrus finish that cleans the tongue. A great hot day brew or one just to enjoy lazily.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Victory Whirlwind Witbier: 20
Taste: 6 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 20
It 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 coriander but it's muted. It's moderately acidic which really quenches the thirst. And the finish is clean.
It's a good brew but lacking punch. It could really use a slice of orange, which for me says it's missing a bit of flavor. But perfect for a hot day on the deck.
Total: 20
It 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 coriander but it's muted. It's moderately acidic which really quenches the thirst. And the finish is clean.
It's a good brew but lacking punch. It could really use a slice of orange, which for me says it's missing a bit of flavor. But perfect for a hot day on the deck.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA: 30
Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
It 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 best I've had easily on par with 90 minute. Maybe better. I'll have to try them side by side.
It 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 best I've had easily on par with 90 minute. Maybe better. I'll have to try them side by side.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Yards Saison: 21
Taste: 7 Finish: 6 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 21
The 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 not a good saison.
Total: 21
The 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 not a good saison.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Weyerbacher Merry Monks: 22
Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 22
A 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 belgian ale. It could use a bit more citrus and a little less carbonation. But it's very close to a Duvel.
Total: 22
A 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 belgian ale. It could use a bit more citrus and a little less carbonation. But it's very close to a Duvel.
Weyerbacher Insanity: 28
Taste: 10 Finish: 10 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 28
For 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 finishing comes through. Then a lot of warming alcohol (11.1%). A bit of butterscotch is left in the aftertaste. Even with its strength, I wanted to gulp it. A truly fantastic and complex flavor.
Total: 28
For 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 finishing comes through. Then a lot of warming alcohol (11.1%). A bit of butterscotch is left in the aftertaste. Even with its strength, I wanted to gulp it. A truly fantastic and complex flavor.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Pabst Blue Ribbon: 7
Taste: 2 Finish: 2 Visual: 1 Aroma: 1
Total: 7
Oddly, 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. If drunk very cold it is acceptable and it certainly quenches a thirst. But other than that, PBR is not worth the effort. If you want an American lager, I say go for Coors which I actually enjoy.
Total: 7
Oddly, 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. If drunk very cold it is acceptable and it certainly quenches a thirst. But other than that, PBR is not worth the effort. If you want an American lager, I say go for Coors which I actually enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)