Taste: 3 Finish: 3 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 11
Anheuser-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 citrus bite. In the back and exhale is a bit of bread and yeast. The aftertaste lingers too long with flavors of soap.
On the good side, it could have been much worse. It's kind of like taking a Bud and mixing in some orange juice. So, I'd probably take it over a Bud in the summer. But that's about it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Redhook Long Hammer IPA: 17
Taste: 6 Finish: 6 Visual: 2 Aroma: 3
Total: 17
The 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 wrong with this brew, but also very little is right. A decent session IPA.
Total: 17
The 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 wrong with this brew, but also very little is right. A decent session IPA.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Unibroue Terrible: 24
Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 4
Total: 24
The 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 flavor. Instead it helps numb the tongue a bit and allows it to finish very cleanly. Just traces of fruit. Very very good.
Total: 24
The 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 flavor. Instead it helps numb the tongue a bit and allows it to finish very cleanly. Just traces of fruit. Very very good.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Magic Hat Lucky Cat: 23
Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 3
Finish: 23
Magic 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, it's middle of the road for an IPA. The finish is dry and has a bit of a copper penny flavor. The alcohol is higher (5.8%) but not huge.
A very serviceable IPA. Something much more drinkable than the high end IPAs that I love so much. But this is one that I can drink many of which certainly has it's uses.
Finish: 23
Magic 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, it's middle of the road for an IPA. The finish is dry and has a bit of a copper penny flavor. The alcohol is higher (5.8%) but not huge.
A very serviceable IPA. Something much more drinkable than the high end IPAs that I love so much. But this is one that I can drink many of which certainly has it's uses.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Maredsous 10 Triple: 24
Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 4 Aroma: 5
Total: 24
It 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 release it carbonation, the warming released the flavor. A nice roasted malt sweetness upfront. Then the ripened fruit followed. The alcohol kicks in the back (10%) to warm it on the tongue. The finish is very dry from the alcohol but also akin to walnuts.
A very nice triple. A bit over carbonated. And the alcohol steals the flavor a bit too much. But definitely worth a try.
Total: 24
It 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 release it carbonation, the warming released the flavor. A nice roasted malt sweetness upfront. Then the ripened fruit followed. The alcohol kicks in the back (10%) to warm it on the tongue. The finish is very dry from the alcohol but also akin to walnuts.
A very nice triple. A bit over carbonated. And the alcohol steals the flavor a bit too much. But definitely worth a try.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hofbrau Oktoberfest: 13
Taste: 4 Finish: 5 Visual: 1 Aroma: 3
Total: 13
The 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. A mild hops finish. Oh, and ever so slightly skunked. When will the Germans move to brown bottles?! A decent helles lager. Unfortunately it's sold as an Oktoberfest. It would be 4 points higher as a helles.
Total: 13
The 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. A mild hops finish. Oh, and ever so slightly skunked. When will the Germans move to brown bottles?! A decent helles lager. Unfortunately it's sold as an Oktoberfest. It would be 4 points higher as a helles.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Otter Creek Oktoberbest: 20
Taste: 6 Finish: 7 Visual: 5 Aroma: 2
Total: 20
Visually 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 slighted roasted autumn leaves. And I mean that in a good way. So, a pretty tasty brew but to me not really an Oktoberfest. It's missing that certain flavor. As an amber lager it's pretty good. But not a good Oktoberfest.
Total: 20
Visually 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 slighted roasted autumn leaves. And I mean that in a good way. So, a pretty tasty brew but to me not really an Oktoberfest. It's missing that certain flavor. As an amber lager it's pretty good. But not a good Oktoberfest.
Magic Hat Circus Boy: 13
Taste: 4 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 2
Total: 13
Circus 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 coriander and spice. But the flavor stops about there. Just like the aroma, this hefe is missing the core components. No earthiness. No breadiness. No citrus. And too sweet for what it's trying to be. The positive is that it is very easy to drink. But that's about all I can say about it. Magic Hat has much much better stuff. This is disappointing.
Total: 13
Circus 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 coriander and spice. But the flavor stops about there. Just like the aroma, this hefe is missing the core components. No earthiness. No breadiness. No citrus. And too sweet for what it's trying to be. The positive is that it is very easy to drink. But that's about all I can say about it. Magic Hat has much much better stuff. This is disappointing.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Magic Hat Odd Notion: 28
Taste: 9 Finish: 9 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 28
I 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 chocolate, and black coffee. The exhale definitely has some plums and apricots. The flavor clings to the tongue for a while. Under it is a good bite of alcohol. Kind of reminds me of an Irish coffee but without the tons of cream.
Really, an excellent stout. A+.
Total: 28
I 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 chocolate, and black coffee. The exhale definitely has some plums and apricots. The flavor clings to the tongue for a while. Under it is a good bite of alcohol. Kind of reminds me of an Irish coffee but without the tons of cream.
Really, an excellent stout. A+.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Victory Helios Ale: 26
Taste: 8 Finish: 8 Visual: 5 Aroma: 5
Total: 26
It 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 through the finish is grapefruit. It's really a unique combination. I don't think I've had a brew that tasted like this. It could be off putting or delicious depending on your tastes. I like it but I would definitely limit it to an occasional purchase.
Total: 26
It 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 through the finish is grapefruit. It's really a unique combination. I don't think I've had a brew that tasted like this. It could be off putting or delicious depending on your tastes. I like it but I would definitely limit it to an occasional purchase.
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