Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 3 Aroma: 3
Total: 24
Great Divide is definitely one of the best breweries in the country with Yeti & Titan. Unfortunately, Denver starts with a relatively flat pour with a mild amber color. It also has a very mild malt aroma to it with a hint of grapefruit.
Pretty good. It starts with some mild malt sweetness. At the mid tongue to the back some hops kick in. A little grapefruit. But mostly a "copper" flavor. A bit of bitterness sits on the tongue. Really, a near perfect pale ale in taste. Having just drank several Bass' last night, this is definitely a step up in flavor and retains a smooth finish. A great bar beer or one for watching the game while downing wings and chili.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Dogfish Head - Worldwide Stout: 27
Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 27
At $10 per 12 ounce bottle, I'm anxious to try this. The color is pure black with no light through it. It has a small head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is huge. Big bold roasted coffee like putting your nose into a fresh bag of coffee beans. Under it is a bit of vanilla.
A second after my first sip I get hit with sweet but really strong coffee. French roast or stronger. There's a good bit of bitterness towards the back of the tongue. And it also turns a bit acidic and then the warm alcohol kicks is. I didn't realize this was 18%. So, this is definitely a sipper over an hour. The coffee, with a hint of dark chocolate sticks to the tongue for a while after each sip. Again, some mild vanilla undertones.
A very potent and bold brew. Definitely worth breaking out over a special occasion. Would be great to split a bottle over dessert.
Total: 27
At $10 per 12 ounce bottle, I'm anxious to try this. The color is pure black with no light through it. It has a small head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is huge. Big bold roasted coffee like putting your nose into a fresh bag of coffee beans. Under it is a bit of vanilla.
A second after my first sip I get hit with sweet but really strong coffee. French roast or stronger. There's a good bit of bitterness towards the back of the tongue. And it also turns a bit acidic and then the warm alcohol kicks is. I didn't realize this was 18%. So, this is definitely a sipper over an hour. The coffee, with a hint of dark chocolate sticks to the tongue for a while after each sip. Again, some mild vanilla undertones.
A very potent and bold brew. Definitely worth breaking out over a special occasion. Would be great to split a bottle over dessert.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Heineken: 16
Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total: 16
Growing up, Heineken and Lowenbrau probably epitomized what good European beer was. In a new world where great craft beer can be gotten almost anywhere, is Heineken still a king amongst brews?
It has a very pale yellow color with a small head. The color is kind of generic. The aroma is what you'd expect for a light lager. Straw. A bit of hops. And it has that European pilsner aroma even though this isn't technically a pilsner. It's a pale lager which to me means generic.
It has a bit of a bitter bite up front. By the middle the earthiness of it opens up. Straw. Earth. I want a little lemon or yeast in it but there is none. And in the back is the flavor of boiled hops. It finishes cleanly with just a hint of hops on the tongue.
I mean, this has more flavor than any macrobrew from the US or Europe. So, in that way it succeeds. It's the step up from Bud that a more discerning drinker wants. So, great for a party to show your guests you have another choice. But, I can't figure out why you'd ever buy it for yourself to drink when there are literally dozens of better brews in the cold case. For those who think this is great beer, move a shelf or two down and get some Pilsner Urquell or Stella Artis. Or Harpoon. Or Sierra Nevada. Or...
Total: 16
Growing up, Heineken and Lowenbrau probably epitomized what good European beer was. In a new world where great craft beer can be gotten almost anywhere, is Heineken still a king amongst brews?
It has a very pale yellow color with a small head. The color is kind of generic. The aroma is what you'd expect for a light lager. Straw. A bit of hops. And it has that European pilsner aroma even though this isn't technically a pilsner. It's a pale lager which to me means generic.
It has a bit of a bitter bite up front. By the middle the earthiness of it opens up. Straw. Earth. I want a little lemon or yeast in it but there is none. And in the back is the flavor of boiled hops. It finishes cleanly with just a hint of hops on the tongue.
I mean, this has more flavor than any macrobrew from the US or Europe. So, in that way it succeeds. It's the step up from Bud that a more discerning drinker wants. So, great for a party to show your guests you have another choice. But, I can't figure out why you'd ever buy it for yourself to drink when there are literally dozens of better brews in the cold case. For those who think this is great beer, move a shelf or two down and get some Pilsner Urquell or Stella Artis. Or Harpoon. Or Sierra Nevada. Or...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Bear Republic - Red Rocket Ale: 26
Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 26
It's a brown/reddish color and cloudy. It has a nice small creamy head. The aroma is very light but has some malt and citrus in it.
There just a hint of sweetness upfront but very quickly that fades. Bitterness and spice pick up on the edges of the tongue. In the back the hop flavor kicks in. There's a bit of dry nut undertone to it. The finish is a bit oily and stays on the tongue nicely.
This is great. Good flavor but not overpowering. Very drinkable. A bit stronger in alcohol but not overbearing. Definitely a brew you can drink all night.
Total: 26
It's a brown/reddish color and cloudy. It has a nice small creamy head. The aroma is very light but has some malt and citrus in it.
There just a hint of sweetness upfront but very quickly that fades. Bitterness and spice pick up on the edges of the tongue. In the back the hop flavor kicks in. There's a bit of dry nut undertone to it. The finish is a bit oily and stays on the tongue nicely.
This is great. Good flavor but not overpowering. Very drinkable. A bit stronger in alcohol but not overbearing. Definitely a brew you can drink all night.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Bear Republic - Big Bear Black Stout: 22
Taste: 7 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 2
Total: 22
It pure black in a glass with a huge chocolate brown head. It has very little aroma which is disappointing.
It creamy and a bit sweet upfront. But quickly a moderate hop bitterness cuts in. Then a nice wallop of black coffee. A bit of caramel. It stays on the tongue for a while. There's just a little bit of alcohol under it all. This clocks in at 8.1% so it's strong but not overpowering.
It's a very nice and big stout. Not one I would grab repeatedly. But worth a few now and then.
Total: 22
It pure black in a glass with a huge chocolate brown head. It has very little aroma which is disappointing.
It creamy and a bit sweet upfront. But quickly a moderate hop bitterness cuts in. Then a nice wallop of black coffee. A bit of caramel. It stays on the tongue for a while. There's just a little bit of alcohol under it all. This clocks in at 8.1% so it's strong but not overpowering.
It's a very nice and big stout. Not one I would grab repeatedly. But worth a few now and then.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Budweiser American Ale: 16
Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Total: 16
Bud comes out with their first ale. Surprisingly, it looks great. Good amber color with a full head. It has a sweet malt aroma. No hops or citrus.
It is very sweet. Lots of malt up front. There is a bit of dryness at the end which shows there are a few hops in here. But certainly not like what the bottle says. Closing my eyes I'll tell you exactly what this tastes like. Yeungling but sweeter. With a bit of a stretch, it tastes as if Yeungling made an Octoberfest beer. Actually, that's not a bad thing. But, they certainly have not made anything that tastes like an ale. No way, no how. I don't care how they made it. This tastes like a lager.
Total: 16
Bud comes out with their first ale. Surprisingly, it looks great. Good amber color with a full head. It has a sweet malt aroma. No hops or citrus.
It is very sweet. Lots of malt up front. There is a bit of dryness at the end which shows there are a few hops in here. But certainly not like what the bottle says. Closing my eyes I'll tell you exactly what this tastes like. Yeungling but sweeter. With a bit of a stretch, it tastes as if Yeungling made an Octoberfest beer. Actually, that's not a bad thing. But, they certainly have not made anything that tastes like an ale. No way, no how. I don't care how they made it. This tastes like a lager.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Wild Turkey Rye Whisky: 23
Taste:8 Finish: 7 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 23
Tasted on the rocks, no added water.
It has a medium amber color. I'd prefer it a bit darker but it's still appealing. The aroma is light but a good sniff reveals tobacco and hay and just a hint of alcohol.
It's a bit oily up front which is interesting. It is very bold with big caramel, grains, vanilla, and in the back a wallop of alcohol. It is 101 proof . Under it is a bit of sweetness. The flavor lingers and stings the tongue. But it's not harsh. As the ice melts and the mix gets diluted, it definitely mellows a bit. It is very "big country" with flavors of the farm: hay, grains, the earth.
Ryes are typically a bit more bold and lean towards harsh when not done properly. This has a nice balance. Overall I'd say a well done rye. More flavor than its Jim Beam counterpart. I rather like it.
Total: 23
Tasted on the rocks, no added water.
It has a medium amber color. I'd prefer it a bit darker but it's still appealing. The aroma is light but a good sniff reveals tobacco and hay and just a hint of alcohol.
It's a bit oily up front which is interesting. It is very bold with big caramel, grains, vanilla, and in the back a wallop of alcohol. It is 101 proof . Under it is a bit of sweetness. The flavor lingers and stings the tongue. But it's not harsh. As the ice melts and the mix gets diluted, it definitely mellows a bit. It is very "big country" with flavors of the farm: hay, grains, the earth.
Ryes are typically a bit more bold and lean towards harsh when not done properly. This has a nice balance. Overall I'd say a well done rye. More flavor than its Jim Beam counterpart. I rather like it.
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