Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 24
Centennial 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. Overall, this is a medium IPA leaning towards extreme. Good balance of flavors and good complexity. A very solid brew.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Rebel Yell Bourbon Whiskey: 21
Taste: 8 Finish: 5 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 21
Rebel 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 alcohol and burn. Even cutting it with a splash of water or ice can't stop the Yell. I can take it, but it's a bit much. So definitely check it out if you want flavor and kick. A good choice.
Total: 21
Rebel 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 alcohol and burn. Even cutting it with a splash of water or ice can't stop the Yell. I can take it, but it's a bit much. So definitely check it out if you want flavor and kick. A good choice.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale: 23
Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 3 Aroma: 5
Total: 23
Hop 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 lightly carbonated which helps take some of the bite off of it. The hops make way for some nice grapefruit underneath. And unlike Arrogant Bastard, the finish is very clean.
Overall a nice brew but it's not as complex as I'd like. And I don't taste the 102 IBU. It's much mellower than that.
Total: 23
Hop 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 lightly carbonated which helps take some of the bite off of it. The hops make way for some nice grapefruit underneath. And unlike Arrogant Bastard, the finish is very clean.
Overall a nice brew but it's not as complex as I'd like. And I don't taste the 102 IBU. It's much mellower than that.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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