Bob's Beer Reviews

Chang Beer

2011-10-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

Cosmos Brewery

Chang Beer

Bangkok, Thailand

10/15/2011, bottle, 5.0 abv

Smell

Smell was minimal, maybe a little lemon and corny grain. There was no skunk, which was surprising considering it came all the way from Thailand in a green bottle.

Appearance

Very clear, pale fizzy yellow with a large white foamy head.

Taste

A little sweet and somewhat grassy, but very thin and watery. Nothing objectionable. The best thing I can say about this beer is that it didn't suck.

Comments

Chang, according to the internet (which is never wrong), is the Thai word for elephant, hence the elephants on the label. Elephants in beer names seems to be very popular for some reason.

Rating

National Bohemian (Natty Boh)

2011-10-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Brewed by Miller, distributed by Pabst

National Bohemian (Natty Boh)

Eden, North Carolina

9/30/2011, on tap at River Hill Sports Grill, 4.2 abv

Smell

Aroma is corny and metallic with some cooked vegetables.

Appearance

Clear, pale fizzy yellow with a thin, white head.

Taste

The corn taste quickly fades as does the metallic aftertaste and becomes a thin, watery beer with not much going for it.

Comments

Natty Boh is an average, cheap beer and it was exactly what I expected, but I was not disappointed for some reason. Perhaps, for a brief moment, I was taken back To The Land of Pleasant Living.

I like the fact that no one knows why Mr. Boh has only one eye.

Rating

Shackamaximum Imperial Stout

2011-07-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Shackamaximum Imperial Stout

Philadelphia, PA

7/4/2011, bottle, 10.0 abv

Smell

Strong roasted malt and a hint of black shoe polish.

Appearance

Deep, dark brown with very little light penetration and a 1/2" light brown head.

Taste

Taste is moderatly sweet, moderatley bitter with some chocolate, vanilla, coffee and molassas.The 10% abv is noticeable, but not objectionable.

Comments

Not very complex for an impy, and somewhat thin, but overall, not bad at all.

For those wondering what the name means, here is what is printed on the bottle: "In 1682 William Penn signed a treaty with the Native American leaders of the Shackamaxon village, which later became the district of Kensington, where our brewery is located today."

Rating

Flower Power IPA

2011-06-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Ithaca Beer Company

Flower Power IPA

Ithaca, NY

6/17/2011, bottle, 7.5 abv

Smell

Bright, fresh floral, citrusy hops. The smell is amazing.

Appearance

Clear, deep golden color with a good, fluffy white head.

Taste

Wow! First sip is bright hops upfront with white grapefruit and citric flavors flowing across the tongue. Very fresh and vibrant with a well balanced caramel malt sweetness in the background. The 7.5 abv is undetectable.

Comments

A new addition to my Top 10. I like everything about it...the name, the label, the smell and most of all the taste.

Rating

Stoudt's Karnival Kölsch

2011-06-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Stoudt's Brewing Company

Stoudt's Karnival Kölsch

Adamstown, PA

4/24/2011, bottle, 4.8 abv

Smell

Slightly floral, slightly metallic.

Appearance

Clear, light golden yellow with lots of bubbles rising to the surface with a thin, white head.

Taste

Crisp and clean, malty and bready with little or no hop presence.

Comments

Karnival Kolsch hit the spot after several hours of annoying honey-dos on a hot Sunday afternoon.

Rating

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA

2011-03-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Moylan's Brewery

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial IPA

Novato, California

2/12/2100, on tap at The Judge's Bench, 9.2 abv

Smell

Bursting with hops, grapefruit and pine.

Appearance

Slightly hazy, deep amber with a decent but fast disappearing head.

Taste

There is some malty sweetness, but this is a hop-bomb all the way. Piney hops, grapefruity hops and just plain ol' bitter hops. The alcohol is definitely present, but not unpleasant.

Don't go into this expecting a nice balanced IIPA.

Comments

I enjoyed this one until I got the bill. To date the most expensive pint I've ever had, including stadium beer.

Rating

Victory Donnybrook Stout

2011-03-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Victory Brewing Company

Victory Donnybrook Stout

Downington, PA

3/26/2011, on tap at River Hill Sports Grill, 3.7 abv

Smell

Some typical coffee & burnt stout smells along with some old fashioned shoe polish, black I believe.

Appearance

Dark black with the typical creamy, tan head.

Taste

The shoe polish smell didn't come through in the taste, but maybe that would have given it some punch and made it taste better. The taste is simple and one dimensional and the overall feel is thin and watery. It's not bad, but just ho-hum.

Comments

Victory makes some impressive beers, but this isn't one of them. I was disappointed. Guinness is better.

Rating

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

2011-02-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

Chico, California

1/24/2011, on tap at The Judge's Bench, 10.4 abv

Smell

The aroma is a little less hoppy than I expected, but still nice with faint citrus notes and hints of pine.

Appearance

Poured a clear, orangeish amber with a modest head.

Taste

Awesome hoppy, bitter grapefruit, pine and sweet malt flavors, but the alcohol burn is quite noticeable. Despite the burn, I enjoyed it thoroughly and will order it again if I see it.

Comments

My beer mongers say not much of this beer makes it to the east coast, so I feel fortunate to have found it on tap.

I like the portrait of the hophead guy on the label.

Rating

Heavy Seas Black Cannon

2011-02-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

Heavy Seas Beer (Clipper City?)

Heavy Seas Black Cannon

Baltimore, Maryland

1/24/2011, on tap at The Judge's Bench, 7.25 abv

Smell

The aroma is roasty with a little chocolate and citrus.

Appearance

Very dark brown with some ruby highlights around the edges and a light tan head.

Taste

One wouldn't think that roasted malt with chocolate and coffee flavors wouldn't work well with bitter, hoppy grapefruit flavors, but it does.

My favorite Black IPA to date, although I've only had one other.

Comments

Heavy Seas (formerly Clipper City) also makes Loose Cannon. While Black is nice, Loose is my favorite cannon.

Rating

Arcadia Starboard Stout

2011-01-17T14:11:00.000-08:00

Arcadia Brewing Company

Arcadia Starboard Stout

Battle Creek, Michigan

1/15/2011, on nitro-tap at Frisco Tap House, 5.6 abv

Smell

Roasted malt, a little coffee...nice, but nothing special.

Appearance

Deep, dark brown with a nice toffee colored nitro head that clung to the sides until the very end. I suspect the nitro had a lot to do with that.

Taste

The taste is roasted malts, a little burnt coffee and a little chocolate. Finishes a little drier than most oatmeal stouts I have had. Mouthfeel was smooth & creamy, but again, the nitro probably helped with that.

Comments

I like oatmeal stout, but this one was just average. Not bad, not good, but in the middle. Or in keeping with Arcadia's nautical theme, this stout is midship.

Rating

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (2010)

2011-01-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (2010)

Chico, California

1/14/2011, 24 oz. bottle, 6.8 abv

Smell

Hoppy and sweet with a little flowery aroma.

Appearance

Clear copper orange with a nice white fluffy head.

Taste

Nice caramel malt balanced by a hoppy, citrus bitterness. Nothing over the top. A good, solid IPA.

Comments

This is a very good beer, but seems a little tame for a seasonal offering. Would be good all year round.

Rating

Green Flash Imperial IPA

2011-01-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Green Flash Brewing Company

Green Flash Imperial IPA

San Diego, California

12/31/2010, 22 oz. bottle, 9.4 abv

Smell

Tart citrus and pine...lots of pine.

Appearance

Slightly cloudy golden orange with a nice frothy, white head.

Taste

Wow. I liked this one a lot. Taste is super hoppy with tons of piney grapefruit. There is some sweetness, but the hops dominate big time. Fairly high carbonation and tons of hop bitterness make it somewhat prickly. Alcohol is fairly well hidden, but still a sipper.

Comments

This beer is very intense. It should have a warning label saying you must be at least this tall to drink this beer.

Not for wimps.

Rating

Anchor Christmas Ale 2010

2010-12-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Christmas Ale 2010

San Francisco, California

12/25/2010, bottle

Smell

Dark fruit, toffee and maybe some chocolate.

Appearance

Very dark, almost black, with mahogany highlights and a nice fluffy, tan head.

Taste

Lots of complex flavors, sweet and mysterious, but also some hops for balance. Nice and creamy with good carbonation.

It's not something I would want to drink a lot of, but a bottle or two on Christmas Day with family is perfect.

Comments

An excellent winter ale and a great gift for a beer guy. I couldn't find it in Maryland, but the daughter's boyfriend found the last 2 bottles in Philadelphia and one wound up in my stocking Christmas morning. I guess he's alright.

Rating

Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale

2010-12-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

Southern Tier Brewing Company

Old Man Winter Ale

Lakewood, NY

12/18/2010, on tap at Frisco Tap House, 7.7 abv

Smell

Some buttery caramel and piney hops.

Appearance

Deep, clear amber with a small head.

Taste

No spices like most seasonal ales, but plenty of malts & hops. The two play well together, with neither one dominating. Sweet malty start and hoppy bitter finish, as it should be.

Comments

Not outstanding, but a solid winter ale.

Rating

Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen

2010-11-27T15:57:00.000-08:00

Harpoon Brewery

Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen

Boston, MA

11/26/2010, bottle, 5.1 abv

Smell

Some lemon, overripe bananas and wheat.

Appearance

Slightly hazy golden yellow, but surprisingly clear considering the "U" in UFO stands for unfiltered. Lots of fizzy bubbles.

Taste

Somewhat unremarkable, but not bad, with mild wheat and citrus flavors and an ever so slight hop finish. Carbonation was fairly high.

Comments

A good entry level hefeweizen.

Rating

Pliny the Elder

2010-11-13T12:37:00.001-08:00

Russian River Brewing Company

Pliny the Elder

Santa Rosa, California

October 19, 2010, on tap at Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, CA, 8.0 abv

Smell

Pine needles, sap, and grapefruit.

Appearance

Bright golden orange with a moderate, bright with head. It may have even had a halo around it, but I might have just imagined that.

Taste

A fantastic fusion of sweet malt and hoppy bitterness. Definitely not a hop bomb, but a perfectly balanced beer with floral, piney, citrusy, and fruity flavors. The 8.0% alcohol is non-existent in the taste, but it sneaks up on you because it is so smooth and goes down way too easy.

Comments

Truly one of the Holy Grails of beer. Too bad it's so hard to find. They don't distribute in Maryland...I had to go to California just to try it.

Rating

Green Flash West Coast IPA

2010-09-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

Green Flash Brewing Company

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Vista, California

9/18/2010, on tap at Frisco Grille, 7.3 abv

Smell

A wonderful combination of grapefruity citrus and pine that lets your taste buds know exactly what's coming.

Appearance

Bright, orangish amber with a 1/4" head with some nice, sticky lacing.

Taste

A delicious, grapefruit and pine needle hop bomb with just enough malt to counteract the bitter finish. Tons of flavor and it's all good. Very clean, crisp and easy to drink.

Comments

Great in a bottle, awesome on tap. My favorite IPA to date.

This beer shredded my taste buds and ruined a perfectly good Stone Levitation afterwards.

On an unrelated subject, can anyone name the announcer that came up with the Green Weenie?

Rating

König Ludwig Weiss

2010-09-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Kaltenburg International / König Ludwig

König Ludwig Weiss

Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany

August 21, 2010, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.5 abv

Smell

Ripe bananas dominate the smell with some lemon and bread.

Appearance

Very cloudy, deep, golden yellow with a nice white fluffy head.

Taste

The taste mirrors the smell, which is a good thing, along with a pile of grainy, wheaty goodness. Not too sweet, nice carbonation...a very enjoyable beer.

Comments

A very good hefeweizen. I will definitely have another when the opportunity arises. And I thoroughly enjoyed typing "Fürstenfeldbruck".

Rating

Keystone Light

2010-08-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Coors Brewing Company

Keystone Light

Golden, Colorado

July 2010, can, 4.2 abv

Smell

Smells like corn and sulphur...just what you want your beer to smell like.

Appearance

Extremely fizzy, pale yellow with a large head that disappeared quickly.

The "Unsmooth Moments" on the can are not funny.

Taste

Almost no taste with lots of fizz and a little corn flavor.

I had one of these thrown to me in the pool from the 3rd level of the beach house. The only way I could have enjoyed it less is if it would have hit me in the eye.

This is a cheap beer whose sole purpose is to get you drunk. If that's all you want, go for it.

Comments

Keith Stone? Really? That's the best they could come up with? At least Budweiser gives us Clydesdales that kick field goals, cool frogs, funny talking lizards and the whassup guys.

Rating

O'Hara's Irish Stout

2010-07-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Carlow Brewing Company

O'Hara's Irish Stout

Carlow, Ireland

July 10, 2010, nitro-tap at Frisco Grille, 4.3 abv

Smell

Some wisps of coffee, but not a lot in the smell department.

Appearance

Very dark brown with some ruby red edges with a perfect 1/2" creamy head that lasted until the end.

Taste

Rich, roasted malt flavor with coffee and bittersweet chocolate. A slight hop bitterness is apparent in the finish. Less burnt taste than Guinness. Very smooth and creamy, but that may be the nitro talking, but who cares, I like it. A very good stout that is quite easy to drink.

Comments

Usually, one stout is enough, but I could easily drink several of these.

Rating

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

2010-07-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid

Petaluma, CA

July 11, 2010, 22 ounce bomber, 8.0 abv

Smell

As soon as the bottle was opened, I smelled pine, citrus and tropical fruit...pineapple maybe.

Appearance

Bright, clear orange with a nice, long lasting head and moderate carbonation.

Taste

Wow! A ton of hops no doubt, but also some very nice malty sweetness to counteract the hoppy bitterness. Lots of pine, caramel, citrus and grapefruit. Extremely easy to drink considering the 102 IBUs and the 8% abv.

Comments

I thought this was going to be a total hop bomb that would dissolve the enamel on my teeth and make my head explode. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. By far the best DIIPA I've had. It's going to be hard to beat Hop Stoopid, especially for only $5.00 for a 22 ounce bomber.

Rating

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale

2010-06-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale

Petaluma, CA

6/20/2010, Victoria Gastropub, 9.7 abv.

Smell

The smell is sweet, piney and citrusy.

Appearance

Deep, clear amber red with a big, fluffy off-white head.

Taste

The taste is spectacular. Starts off with sweet malt flavor, followed by some pine and finishes with a big, clean, grapefruity hop finish with no lingering bitter aftertaste. Very well balanced. The fairly high alcohol is extremely well hidden, in fact, I didn't taste it at all. I felt it, but I didn't taste it.

Quite possibly the best beer I have to date. Thank you Lagunitas.

Comments

This beer goes down dangerously easy. I had 2 at a restaurant and the wife had to drive home. Exercise caution.

Rating

Evolution Rise Up Stout

2010-06-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Evolution Craft Brewing Company

Evolution Rise Up Stout

Delmar, Delaware

3/12/2010, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.7 abv

Smell

Roasted coffee, chocolate and more coffee.

Appearance

Dense black with a moderately sized mocha head.

Taste

Big coffee taste, even more that the smell eludes to, with some nice smoky, chocolate/cocoa flavors, but the coffee dominates big time. Very smooth and easy to drink. An excellent stout.

Comments

I'm fairly certain drinking a pint of Rise Up Stout in the morning at work would be frowned upon, so I will stick to drinking it in the evening at my local watering hole when available.

Evolution is making some really good stuff.

Rating

Natty Greene's Southern Pale Ale

2010-06-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Natty Greene's* Brewing Company

Natty Greene's Southern Pale Ale

Greensboro, NC

6/11/2010, bottle, 5.3 abv

Smell

Smell is unremarkable with some malts and floral/citrus hops. I also detected some dustiness.

Appearance

Clear coppery gold with a small head that disappeared quickly.

Taste

Taste is well balanced with equal amounts of sweet malts and bitter hops. There was a very slight metallic aftertaste, but it seemed to go away. Not spectacular, but easy to drink.

Comments

I enjoyed this one in my backyard after a long day of slaying the dragon. I followed it with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I liked the Natty Greene better.

Thanks to brother-in-law Bob for sending up a sixer.

(* Not to be confused with Natty Boh, which is a review I hope I never have to make.)

Rating

Bear Republic Nor' Cal

2010-06-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

Bear Republic Brewing Company

Nor' Cal

Healdsburg, CA

5/13/2010, on tap at Frisco Grille, 4.8 abv

Smell

Mild citrus smell with grapefruit and orange.

Appearance

Light brownish orange with a white 1/4" head and nice carbonation.

Taste

Bear Republic calls Nor' Cal a California Bitter. I found it to be smooth and very drinkable. The sweet malts and citrusy hops work well together and finish with a slightly bitter zing. A good summer brew.

Comments

I was told that Nor' Cal is Racer 5's little brother. Being a little brother myself, I wonder if Nor Cal has to use Racer 5's old bottles and if his mother likes Racer 5 best.

(Just kidding mom - don't call)

Rating

Oskar Blues GUBNA Imperial IPA

2010-06-06T14:08:00.001-07:00

Oskar Blues Brewing Company

GUBNA Imperial IPA

Lyons, Colorado

5/18/2010, can, 10.0 abv

Smell

Smells pretty good with lots of sweet citrus and some pine coming through.

Appearance

Bright, clear orange with a nice 1/2" head.

Taste

It starts good with a blast citrusy hops, but finishes somewhat medicinal and a little too bitter. The 10% alcohol is fairly well hidden, but definitely noticeable. Maybe I just need to work my way up to Imps.

Comments

"In Birmingham they love the Gubna..", but me, not so much.

It's very pricey and it's a little weird spending $15 for a 4-pack of CANS.

I always enjoy throwing in a Lynyrd Skynyrd reference.

Rating

Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout

2010-06-06T13:33:00.001-07:00

Harpoon Brewery

100 Barrel Series Island Creek Oyster Stout

Boston, Mass.

3/10/2010, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.5 abv

Smell

Some typical stout aromas, like chocolate and coffee, but also some seawater smells, but not pleasant like Kramer's "The Beach" cologne.

Appearance

Black with a thin head.

Taste

I found this one to be thin, flat, watery, a bit salty and somewhat metallic. Thankfully, it did not taste like oysters, but there was something weird about it.

Comments

I like stouts, but this is my least favorite stout to date. It had a weird taste that became even weirder when I learned it was made with actual oysters. Of all the good things on the planet to make a beer from, oysters aren't one of them.

Rating

Fuller's London Porter

2010-01-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

Fuller, Smith & Turner

Fuller's London Porter

London, England

11/18/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.4 abv

Smell

Very faint whiff of crushed Whoppers. The malted milk balls, not the hamburger...that would just be gross.

Appearance

Poured deep black, but when held up to the flat screen showing a sorry NBA game, it revealed some mahogany highlights around the edge. Does anyone really care about the NBA?

Taste

No disappointment here. Roasted malt, cocoa, a hint of vanilla and licorice and just a whiff of smoke. Rich, smooth and creamy.

Comments

The best porter I have had to date.

Rating

Stroh's

2009-12-29T11:39:00.001-08:00

Pabst/Heileman

Stroh's

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12/21/2009, bottle, 4.6 abv

Smell

Very faint with slight whiff of corn & grain.

Appearance

Clear, pale golden yellow with moderate fizz and head.

Taste

For a cheap American lager, this was pretty good. Better than Bud, PBR, Coors, etc. Basic beer taste. Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.

Comments

The bartender at this particular restaurant keeps Stroh's on hand strictly for my ex-boss. This fact was unknown to our new waiter who was almost reduced to tears when he mistakenly brought him a Coors Light.

The label I am showing is an old one from my youth. It states that it is fire brewed and Bohemian Style and while I don't know what that means, it is cooler than the current label. Stroh's is one of the first beers I ever purchased by the case when I was 16.

Rating

Sierra Nevada Octoberfest

2009-11-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Octoberfest

Chico, California

10/13/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.8 abv

Smell

The smell is dominated by caramel sweetness, with just a hint of citrus hops.

Appearance

Clear, coppery amber with a medium off white head.

Taste

I was pleasantly surprised with this one after having a dreadful Sam Adams Octoberfest the week before. The taste was clean and crisp with malty, caramel flavor and a slight hop kick at the end. Good stuff.

Comments

I'm not an Octoberfest style beer expert by any means, but I really liked this one

Rating

Erdinger Octoberfest Weissbier

2009-11-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

Erdinger Weissebräu

Erdinger Octoberfest Weissbier

Erding, Germany

10/10/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.6 abv

Smell

I didn't get much of an aroma, maybe a little sweet citrus.

Appearance

Somewhat cloudy, golden orange with a half inch head.

Taste

Nice, soft, hefeweizen flavors with sweet, malty Oktoberfest flavors. What's not to like? Silky smooth and creamy with no hop characteristics.

Comments

A wheat Oktoberfest...how delightful.

Rating

Terminator Stout

2009-11-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

McMenamins

Terminator Stout

Portland, Oregon

11/3/2009, on tap at McMenamins, 6.45 abv

Smell

Sweet toasty malt, smoky roasted coffee or espresso.

Appearance

Nice opaque black, just as a stout should be, with a tan long lasting head.

Taste

Sweet, smooth and creamy with lots of flavor...roasted malt, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, chocolate and a moderate bitter bite. Would have been awesome on nitro.

Comments

Terminator 2: Judgement Day is the best movie ever. Citizen Kane my ass.

The brewery already has a logo for their Terminator Stout, otherwise, I would have used this:

Rating

Wolaver's Organic IPA

2009-10-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

Wolaver's Organic IPA

Middlebury, Vermont

10/21/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.5 abv

Smell

Smell was somewhat floral with some citrus rind.

Appearance

Poured a slightly hazy, golden orange with a 1/2" head.

Taste

Starts sweet and malty, but the typical IPA sweet/bitter aftertaste was replaced by a wet newspaper thud. It had an odd taste I did not care for.

Comments

Let me first say that I don't give a flying rat's ass that this beer is organic. Perhaps a few more chemicals would improve the taste.

Calm down, I do actually appreciate the fact that it is organic, but it doesn't help in this case.

Rating

Evolution 3rd. Lot IPA

2009-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Evolution Craft Brewery

Evolution 3rd. Lot IPA

Delmar, Delaware

10/10/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.8 abv

Smell

Awesome, fresh smell of pine needles and citrus in a blender.

Appearance

Bright, clear, coppery orange with a nice head with decent lacing.

Taste

This beer tasted very fresh with lots of sweet & sour grapefruit, oranges and pine. An easy drinking non-hopbomb IPA.

Comments

May be the best smelling beer I have ever had, even thought the guy beside me at the bar thought it smelled like his cat's litter box. Don't get me started about cats.

And don't get me started about evolution, but if you look closely you should be able to figure out my opinion. The Big Bang Theory is, however, a very funny show.

Rating

Guinness Stout

2009-10-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Guinness, Ltd.

Guinness Stout

Dublin, Ireland

10/22/2009. on tap at Champps, 6.0 abv

Smell

Smoky, roasted or even toasted malt with some coffee and burnt sugar like when a pie spills over in the oven.

Appearance

The perfect pint, deep opaque black with a long lasting 1/2" head. This is what stout is supposed to look like.

Taste

Nice sweet, roasted malt taste with some chocolate and espresso. Very smooth and silky and goes down easy. It may be just a tad thin.

On tap is much better than bottles or cans, IMHO.

Comments

There is a lot I like about Guinness. I like that the brewery is older than dirt. I like the way it looks. I like the cascading. I like the creamy smooth feel. And most importantly, I like the taste. But, with all that said, there are better stouts out there. I will, however, continue to order a pint of Guinness whenever the mood arises, which is quite often.

The kid visited the brewery in Dublin, which made me jealous.

Rating

Brewdog Hardcore IPA

2009-10-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Brewdog, Ltd.

Brewdog Hardcore IPA

Fraserburgh, Scotland

10/23/2009, on firkin at Frisco Grille, 9.0 abv

Smell

Lots of sweet citrus and pine.

Appearance

Clear, orangish copper with no head at all.

Taste

Starts off sweet with citrusy, fruity goodness that is quickly replaced by an alcohol burn. The 150 IBU's didn't bother me, but the alcohol did. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if it was colder.

Comments

"Hopped to hell, then hopped again" says the website. Definitely not for wimps. Double Imperial IPA's are not a style I particularly care for, but I tried it because it was on firkin, and firkin is a funny word.

Rating

Saranac Octoberfest

2009-10-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Matt Brewing Company

Saranac Octoberfest

Utica, New York

10/26/2009, bottle, 5.4 abv

Smell

Sweet and earthy.

Appearance

Clear, reddish brown with a nice head.

Taste

Sweet and malty with just a touch of hop finished with rust.

Comments

Not bad, but just OK.

Rating

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

2009-10-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hacker-Pschorr

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

Munich, Germany

On tap at Frisco Grille, 10/21/2009, 5.8 abv

Smell

Very light, sweet and malty.

Appearance

Very clear, light amber brown with a disappointingly small thin head. One of these days I will have an Oktoberfest beer with a huge frothy head served by a well cleavaged blond beermaid as seen on the German beer labels.

Taste

A very light balance of caramel sweetness and minor hops to keep it interesting. Taste was very good, but I wished there was more of it. Regardless, my pint of H-P Oktoberfest was very short lived.

Comments

Great taste, maybe a little thin.

Hacker-Pschorr has been brewing beer in some form since before Columbus "discovered" America, not that someone wouldn't have stumbled upon it eventually.

Rating

Southern Tier IPA

2009-10-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

Southern Tier Brewery

Southern Tier India Pale Ale

Lakewood, NY

10/3/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.5 abv

Smell

Big, floral aroma with sweet grapefruit.

Appearance

Bright, clear orange with a small head.

Taste

Starts sweet and citrussy like most IPAs with a nice hoppy finish. But this one had a smooth and creamy feel to it. Had a great taste with a not so bitter aftertaste. Very nice!

Comments

A well made, not over the top IPA that was very smooth and easy to drink.

Rating

Peroni

2009-10-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Birra Peroni Industriale

Peroni

Rome, Italy

10/7/2009. on tap at Macaroni Grill in St. Petersburg, FL, 4.7 abv

Smell

Smell is light and grainy, but there is not much there.

Appearance

Very pale, clear, golden yellow with a 1/4" head and lots of bubbles.

Taste

A very mild, unremarkable beer with no hop flavor at all. Crisp, light and easy to drink. It went nicely with my seafood linguini, despite a bad clam.

Comments

We had many Peroni's during 2 fantastic trips to Italy and enjoyed them quite a bit. But in reality, it is just an average beer.

Rating

Tröegs HopBack Amber

2009-09-30T08:13:00.001-07:00

Tröegs Brewing Company

Tröegs HopBack Amber

Harrisburg, PA

9/16/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.0 abv

Smell

Smell has a lot more hops than a typical amber along with some sweet maltiness.

Appearance

Clear deep amber with a thin white head.

Taste

Sweet caramel to start with a smooth and slick feel and a nice hop kick to finish. Not as much kick as an IPA or even a PA, but enough to make it stand out from other ambers.

Comments

If you like ambers, give this one a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Rating

Sierra Nevada Stout

2009-09-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Stout

Chico, California

9/28/2009, bottle, 5.8 abv

Smell

Somewhat subtle aroma for a stout, with roasted, smoky malt and coffee.

Appearance

Very dark, opaque brown with a big, light brown head.

Taste

Typical tasty stout flavors...coffee, chocolate, smoke, but also a little hop zing finish. A nice touch.

Comments

This was a very good stout and may deserve a higher rating, but I had it the day after I had a Yeti and I still had visions of that magnificent beast in my head.

Rating

Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale

2009-09-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Kona Brewing Company

Fire Rock Pale Ale

Kona, Hawaii

9/27/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 5.8 abv

Smell

Aroma is a nice, but subtle blend of sweet malts and citrus hops.

Appearance

Clear reddish orange with a decent head.

Taste

The taste is a nice amount of sweet malts balanced nicely with citrus and pine hops. This beer is crisp and refreshing. The aftertaste is smooth and makes it easy to drink.

Comments

This is a very enjoyable pale ale. But again, I would rather be drinking this in Hawaii than here in Maryland.

Rating

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

2009-09-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Great Divide Brewery

Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Imperial Stout

Denver, Colorado

9/27/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 9.5 abv

Smell

Roasted malts, chocolate and vanilla. I may be confusing the oak with vanilla, but whatever, it's nice.

Appearance

Poured dark and syrupy with a half inch head. No light is penetrating this one. Like holding a brick up to the light.

Taste

Great taste with chocolate, cappuccino, roasted nuts and vanilla. The high abv is well hidden, but there is a little burn as it warms up, which may be a result of the cayenne pepper that the brewer adds. But it is a good burn.

Comments

This is my first Imperial Stout and there will be more. Great Divide has several species of Yeti and I look forward to trying them all. It's not an everyday thing with the high abv (and price), but definitely a treat.

Rating

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

2009-09-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

60 Minute IPA

Milton, Delaware

9/4/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.0 abv

Smell

Big aroma with the usual citrus, pine and hops.

Appearance

Golden amber with a small head.

Taste

Big and hoppy, but there was not as much of the fruit or citrus as I had initially smelled and I have come to like in an IPA. It was there, but it was overpowered by the bitterness. A good IPA, but there are others I like better.

Comments

I will try The Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, but the 120 Minute IPA scares me.

Rating

Clipper City Loose Cannon

2009-09-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Clipper City Brewery

Clipper City Loose Cannon

Baltimore, Maryland

9/16/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 7.25 abv

Smell

Nice hoppy aroma with some grapefruit and pine.

Appearance

Bright golden orange with a smallish white head.

Taste

A well balanced combination of malty sweetness, grapefruit twang and nice piney, bitter hoppiness. The grapefruity citrus taste was very pronounced and the hoppy aftertaste was not overly bitter.

Comments

Loose Cannon is very good IPA. I found it to be juicy. I know, that sounds weird, but it was juicy.

Rating

Warsteiner Premium Pils

2009-09-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Warsteiner Brauereri

Warsteiner Premium Pils

Warstein, Germany

9/4/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 4.8 abv

Smell

Very light and somewhat flowery.

Appearance

Clear, pale golden yellow with no head by the time it got to my table.

Taste

Taste was very mild (yawn) and inoffensive. Average beer taste with very little hoppiness. It wasn't bad, but over all it wa zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Comments

With a good German name like Warsteiner, I was expecting more.

Rating

Bud Light Lime

2009-09-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Anheuser-Busch

Bud Light Lime

Missouri, USA

9/12/2009, bottle, 4.2 abv

Smell

Smells like lime, fake lime.

Appearance

No mystery here since the bottle is clear. The liquid is clear, pale yellow with lots of bubbles. It seems to be taboo to pour BLL into a glass, so no head comments.

Taste

Tastes like a lime soda. There is no beer taste whatsoever, which is not surprising since BL has no beer taste. The lime is fake and industrial. If you want lime in your beer, do it yourself. It's not that difficult.

Comments

As a beer, it is hideous. As a lime flavored beverage, it is not that bad. I have had a few BLLs at cook-outs and picnics and found them to be somewhat refreshing. For that reason, I give it 1 mug.

Rating

Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

2009-09-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

Anheuser-Busch

Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

Missouri, USA

9/17/2009, on tap at Bill Batemans Bistro, 5.5 abv

Smell

It was difficult, but I finally got a faint whiff of pumpkin spice.

Appearance

Orangish copper with a small off-white heat.

Taste

Once it warmed up a bit, I got some faint nutmeg and cinnamon flavor, but no pumpkin. Overall, it was thin, watery and somewhat flat. Nothing bad or offensive, just boring.

Comments

I think the problem here is the beer is not very good to begin with and there is not enough pumpkin spice. If you are going to do something, DO IT! This was a weak attempt. There have to be better pumpkin spice beers out there.

Rating

Heineken Light

2009-09-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Heineken Nederland B.V.

Heineken Light

The Netherlands

9/16/2009, bottle, 3.3 abv

Smell

Ahhh, the infamous Heineken skunk, except this was "skunk light".

Appearance

Extremely pale yellow with big bubbles full of skunkified gas.

Taste

Tastes like regular Heineken, except lighter. Crap Light? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Who knows, who cares...stay away!

Comments

You may be asking why I would order a Heineken Light after giving regular Heineken such a scathing review a while back. Well, apparently I am an idiot. If I ever have another Heineken, it will be in Amsterdam.

Rating

Pete's Wicked Ale

2009-09-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

Pete's Brewing Company

Pete's Wicked Ale

San Antonio, Texas

9/14/2009, bottle, 5.5 abv

Smell

Light, pleasant, nutty and caramelly.

Appearance

Clear brown with reddish highlights and a medium sized head.

Taste

A nice blend of malts, caramel and roasted nuts with some hops to even it out. Extremely drinkable and not at all wicked.

Comments

I enjoyed this brown ale a lot. After some of the hop bombs I have had recently, this was a very nice change of pace.

Rating

Weyerbacher Simcoe Double IPA

2009-09-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

Weyerbacher Brewing Company

Weyerbacher Simcoe Double IPA

Easton, Pennsylvania

9/15/2009, bottle, 9.0 abv

Smell

Smells great with lots of piney hops and grapefruit.

Appearance

Slightly murky, orangish brown with a 1/4" off white head.

Taste

The first sip caused my hair to stand up. Sweet grapefruit start with a massive piney, hoppy, bitter finish. Fairly astringent with a big pucker factor.

Comments

After the first sip, my hair relaxed and it became much more drinkable, but this is not a beer that I would buy. This is probably a good one, but DIPAs are not my style.

Rating

Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball Ale

2009-09-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Hairy Eyeball Ale

Petaluma, CA

9/10/2009, bottle, 8.8 abv

Smell

Smell is nice, dominated by sweet caramel malt with a whiff of alcohol.

Appearance

Clear, dark mahogany with a clingy 1/2" head.

Taste

Does not taste as good as it smells. The sweet caramel malt is there but it is quickly replaced by a stinging alcohol burn. The 8.8. abv is not masked very well. Mouthfeel was sticky and syrupy with not much carbonation.

Comments

This is simply a style of beer (American Strong Ale) I do not care for. I'm sure it would be more enjoyable on a cold winter evening.

I love the name...I have received many.

Rating

Blue Point Hoptical Illusion

2009-09-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Blue Point Brewing Company

Blue Point Hoptical Illusion

Patchogue, New York

8/31/2009, on tap at Frisco Grille, 6.8 abv

Smell

Citrus and piney hops.

Appearance

Clear, pale orange with a half inch head.

Taste

Taste is nice & crisp with lots of grapefruit flavors and piney hops in the background. Sweet start and tart bitter finish. Pretty smooth and easy to drink for an IPA.

Comments

Not a bad ass hop bomb like some IPAs, which is fine by me.

Rating

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

2009-09-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Chico, California

8/12/2009, on tap at Bill Bateman's Bistro, 5.6 abv

Smell

Pretty good aroma of hops, hints of citrus and grapefruit.

Appearance

Clear copper with a small head.

Taste

A great, well balanced mix of sweet and bitter. There is definitely a hint of red grapefruit. Once the upfront taste goes away, the aftertaste surfaces and lingers for quite a while. Very nice.

Comments

I am told the draft version of SNPA is more subdued than the bottled version. I will try it in a bottle, but it's going to be pretty hard to beat it on tap.

Rating

Yuengling Original Black and Tan

2009-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

Yuengling & Sons

Yuengling Original Black & Tan

Pottsville, PA

8/26/2009, bottle, 4.7 abv

Smell

Light with some smokey, roasted malt and a touch of coffee.

Appearance

Cola brown with reddish highlights with a moderate off-white head.

Taste

Not bad, smokey sweet upfront with a very mild bitter coffee finish. I was expecting a bit more, but I probably shouldn't have. It was a little watery, but that's what happens when you mix a porter or stout with a lager. This was kind of like stout for dummies. I would like to try Yuengling Porter by itself.

Comments

Black & tans on tap with a nice stout & lager mixed on the spot are much more enjoyable. This is my first B & T from a bottle and it wasn't bad.

Rating

Lionshead

2009-08-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Lion Brewery

Lionshead

Wilkes-Barre, PA

8/4/2009, bottle, 4.5 abv

Smell

Basic beer smell with a hint of something odd that I haven't figured out yet.

Appearance

Pale golden yellow with just a wisp of a head.

Taste

This is a basic, no frills American lager. Taste was light with an odd, earthy aftertaste. Not horrible, just OK, but barely.

Comments

I don't want to sound like a beer snob, but this one tasted kind of cheap, which it is, not that there's anything wrong with that.

There are amusing little rebuses (or is it rebi) under each bottle cap that get more difficult with each beer. Enjoying your "Windy Curtain Beer", Shaun?

Rating

Corona Light

2009-08-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Grupo Modello

Corona Light

Mexico

8/24/2009, bottle, 4.5 abv

Smell

Smell was not good. It smelled like it needed a lime, but alas, none was to be had.

Appearance

Fizzy, clear pale yellow with a quickly disappearing head.

Taste

You would think this would just be a lighter, watered down version of regular Corona, which I admit, I have had many. But it is not, it is worse, a lot worse. It has a funky, metallic taste that got significantly worse as it warmed. A lime, or several limes are required. I had a few sips and gave the rest to the wife. Even she didn't like it. Most of it went down the drain.

Comments

More than half a case was left in the refrigerator after a family reunion and I made the mistake of bringing them home. I don't understand why someone would voluntarily drink this stuff. If you are worried about calories, have a Diet Coke or a BL, ML or a CL. It's a lot cheaper.

I will probably use the rest to kill slugs in my garden.

Rating

Yards Brawler Pugilist Style Ale

2009-08-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yards Brewing Company

Yards Brawler Pugilist Style Ale

Philadelphia, PA

8/23/2009, bottle, 4.2 abv

Smell

Light, malty and just a bit earthy.

Appearance

Clear reddish brown with a small, rapidly disappearing head.

Taste

Taste is malty, with caramelly, nutty sweetness and ever so slight hop bitterness at the end. This is a nice flavorful beer that goes down smooth and easy. Carbonation was low.

Comments

"Crafted in the style of English session ales" according to the Yards website.

I prefer a bit more carbonation, but maybe it was just the bottle I had.

I look forward to another Brawler and other selections from Yards.

Rating

Abita Purple Haze

2009-08-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Abita Brewing Company

Abita Purple Haze

Abita Springs, LA

7/26/2009, bottle, 4.2 abv

Smell

The smell was a combination of beer and fake raspberries, like Children's Dimetapp cold medicine.

Appearance

Slightly hazy, golden yellow with a nice 1" head. Lots of carbonation.

Taste

The taste was obviously dominated by raspberry, but there was no wheat beer goodness. The raspberry taste was somewhat industrial. Tasted like a purple popsicle dropped in a mediocre lager. I could not finish it.

Comments

OK, it's official. I do not like raspberry beers. I like raspberries and I like beer, but not together. Brewers frequently include a raspberry beer in their variety packs, probably so they can get rid of them.

Rating

Pabst Blue Ribbon

2009-08-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Pabst Brewing Company? Miller? Who knows.

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Milwaukee?

8/16/2009, can, 4.7 abv

Smell

The smell is not one of PBR's finer qualities, corn, earth, sulphur, tin...funky and unpleasant.

Appearance

Clear pale golden yellow with a fizzy head that disappeared quickly.

Taste

Drink it ice cold and drink it fast. At 33°, the taste is not all that bad if you hold your nose. At 34°, things go downhill quickly and the smell gets even worse. At 35°, pour it into a pot and use it to cook bratwurst.

Comments

PBR is not a beer I would normally drink, but one was plucked from the ice and hurled to me from a second story balcony into the pool. I had just finished a sweltering round of golf and I must admit, it tasted pretty good and I even asked for another to be thrown to me. But, after having one in the controlled environment of my house, it was pretty bad. The key to PBR is to drink it ice cold.

The best thing about PBR is the old school design on the can.

Rating

Kenzinger

2009-08-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Kenzinger

Philadelphia, PA

8/2/2009, bottle, 4.5 abv

Smell

Light malt and hop aroma, with the hops up front.

Appearance

Clear, golden honey color with a good sized head.

Taste

A nicely balanced beer with the right touch of sweet citrus tang and hoppy bitterness. Very clean and refreshing.

Comments

Thanks to Melissa and Shaun for bringing the PBC variety pack from Philadelphia. They also brought the PBR, but I won't hold that against them.

This is a Kölsch style beer. I mention that just so I can use an umlaut. It's weird that the word umlaut has no umlauts.

Rating

Row House Red

2009-08-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Row House Red

Philadelphia, PA

8/4/2009, bottle, 5.0 abv

Smell

Aroma is malty and a little floral with some toffee.

Appearance

Dark copper red with a moderate off white head that lasted for a few sips.

Taste

Taste was very nice with some sweet caramel malt, brown sugar and toffee and a moderate bitter hop finish. The rye was barely noticeable but worked well with the other flavors. Overall, smooth and creamy and easy to drink. Too bad I only had one before the vultures arrived and picked the cooler clean.

Comments

Another nice selection from the PBC variety pack named for things Philadephian. Rumor has it that the original name for this one was "Crack House Red", but cooler heads prevailed.

Rating

Newbold IPA

2009-08-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Newbold IPA

Philadelphia, PA

8/3/2009, bottle, 6.5 abv

Smell

Red grapefruit, some pine and some earth.

Appearance

Somewhat hazy gold with an orange tint with a medium off white head.

Taste

The sweet/sour red grapefruit comes through along with the pine and spicy, bitter hops. Overall, this one seemed like just a basic IPA...drink it, don't complain about it and soon forget about it.

Comments

This was my least favorite from the PBC variety pack, but definitely not bad. IPAs are not my favorite style, but they are growing on me. I have had IPAs I liked better.

I do like the retro label.

Rating

Walt Wit

2009-08-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia Brewing Company

Walt Wit

Philadelphia, PA

8/3/2009, bottle, 4.2 abv

Smell

Light and citrusy with a little spice.

Appearance

Hazy, pale golden yellow with a good sized head.

Taste

Very nice witbier flavor with wheat and a tangy citrus zing. The spices are not overdone. This is an unpretentious wheat beer that is clean, crisp and easy to drink.

Comments

Great for a hot summer day.

I like the picture of craggy old Walt on the label. You may think this beer is named for the author, but it is actually named for a bridge in Philadelphia that is named for the author. They don't read much in Philly. This is evident if you've ever seen the fans at an Eagles game.

Rating

Pyramid Audacious Apricot

2009-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

Pyramid Breweries, Inc.

Pyramid Audacious Apricot

Seattle, Washington

8/6/2009, bottle, 5.1 abv

Smell

Smelled like apricots and canned peaches.

Appearance

Somewhat cloudy, yellow orange with a nice head and good carbonation.

Taste

Not surprisingly, the taste is dominated by apricots, but I did not get any wheat beer or ANY beer characteristics after that.

Comments

This tasted pretty good, but it came across more of an apricot beverage than an apricot beer. I would like some more beer flavor to come through. As is the case with most fruit beer, one is enough.

Thanks to Troy for sharing this and the following 4 beers at our family reunion. He learned quickly that beer makes these reunions go better.

Rating