Review: Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale

Highland Cold Mountain Winter Ale from Highland Brewing
Rating: B

Thanks to ipa2xs for sending this one my way - it's the last of the beers I received in the No Name BIF....

Appearance: Garnet, almost purple in color. Good head, retention and lacing. Very clear. A fine looking beer, if nothing else.

Smell: Cocoa, heavy on the Christmas spices, definitely sweet-smelling.

Taste: Spices, maple syrup. Some cocoa and vanilla. Not much bitterness. Heavy flavors conceal the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Thicker body than I think I'd prefer, somewhat syrupy.

Drinkability: I split the 16 oz and that was plenty... Not a huge fan on the whole - not beery enough for me, I suppose.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-29-2007 20:43:10

Review: Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Natürtrub from Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH
Rating: B+

Differently shaped bottle, but appears to be the same beer. Thanks to mymrngjckt for shipping it my way.

Appearance: Hazy peach/gold in color, huge white head with good retention. Appears highly carbonated. Good lacing - exactly like a hefe should look.

Smell: Banana bread - a nice combination of banana esters, bready malts, and clove-like spices.

Taste: Fairly light and easy to drink. Lots of banana. Some bread and spice. Citrusy, acidic finish. Aftertaste is banana bread.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, well-carbonated.

Drinkability: Nice and easy drinking, a great example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-27-2007 22:55:58

Review: Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Rating: B


Appearance: Deep orange/garnet in color, good clarity, big head with good retention. Lots of lacing. Really very nice looking.

Smell: Lots of big pumpkin flavor, with spices in the background - ginger being a standout. Hint of brown sugar.

Taste: Acidic pumpkin, toast, caramel. Spice - ginger finish. Aftertaste is interesting - caramel/pumpkin. 8% abv is well-concealed.

Mouthfeel: Medium-body, smooth, carbonation seemed a little light.

Drinkability: You can only really drink one pumpkin beer at a time, but this one isn't a bad one.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-26-2007 22:59:19

Review: Great Lakes Eliot Ness

Great Lakes Eliot Ness from Great Lakes Brewing Company
Rating: A-

Thanks to mymrnngjckt for sending this one my way in the Secret Bunny '07 exchange.

Appearance: Deep amber, almost garnet in color. Two finger head with good retention. Great lacing.

Smell: Lagery-clean, but much deeper and complex than just that... Bready, toasty malts. Caramel, slight citrus hops.

Taste: Toast and biscuit - malt profile is somewhat reminiscent of Fat Tire. Malt is in charge, but there's enough bitterness to balance. Finish is bitter hops, but aftertaste is all toasted malt.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, good carbonation. Creamy.

Drinkability: This is a great lager - anyone who thinks lagers are boring should sit down and have one of these. Sessionable for sure. Not surprising to see it's the highest rated Vienna Lager.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-25-2007 19:04:58

Review: SkullSplitter

SkullSplitter from Orkney Brewery
Rating: B

Appearance: Ruby/garnet in color, good head, some retention and lacing.

Smell: Very sweet smelling, caramel and butterscotch, some alcohol.

Taste: Sweet, caramel, some alcohol. Bitter finish aids drinkability a bit - sweetness doesn't get too cloying.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, carbonation maybe a bit light.

Drinkability: Usually not my favorite style, scotch ales are generally too sweet for me, but this one wasn't too bad.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-25-2007 16:22:17

Review: Gouden Carolus Tripel

Gouden Carolus Tripel from Brouwerij Het Anker
Rating: B

12 oz bottle at Stubbie, in Gainesville.

Appearance: Poured into a Gouden Carolus glass. Darker than your average Tripel, great head with good retention, not much lacing.

Smell: Banana-y, with a sweet caramel base. Almost wheat beer-like in the intensity of banana. The label indicates that this recipe includes oats and wheat, as well as barley.

Taste: Rich is the best way to describe it. Again, lots of banana. On the sweeter side. A lot *more* flavor, but less complexity than other tripels.

Mouthfeel: Medium body (on the full side for a tripel), probably from the oats. Carbonation seems light.

Drinkability: More on the full and rich side than I think I prefer in the style, limiting sessionability.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-25-2007 16:16:08

Review: Bell's Expedition Stout

Bell's Expedition Stout from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Rating: A-

Thanks to mymrngjckt for sending this one my way in the Secret Bunny '07 exchange.

Appearance: black as the night, with a seriously dark and seriously big head. Some retention, good lacing.

Smell: Heavy on cocoa, roast (almost burnt - black malt?) and some soysauce. Hops come across as somewhat grassy. This is one you can keep smelling for a while before taking the first taste. Some alcohol.

Taste: Very similar profile to the nose, but I think soy sauce is a bit more pronounced. Caramel notes come out more on the palate, as well. Good finish. Reminds me of a homebrewed stout I made, except better. Solid bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick, good carbonation. Sticks to your tongue - after this, an APA would taste like water. I'm surprised at the bros' reviews - the carbonation on mine was fine, must have been a batch issue??

Drinkability: Very nice, but not sessionable, both for the huge flavor and the high alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-25-2007 00:49:06

Review: Big Daddy IPA

Big Daddy IPA from Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
Rating: C+

Thanks to mymrnngjckt for sending this one my way in the Secret Bunny '07 exchange.

Appearance: Bottle appears to be underfilled, only slightly past the beginning of the neck - odd... Color is lighter than I'd expect for an IPA, more hazy golden than a rich orange. Head isn't big but exhibits good retention and lacing.

Smell: Predominantly citrusy hops, but a surprising amount of sweet malt. Makes me do a double take and check to make sure this isn't a very very pale DIPA.

Taste: Citrusy hop flavor at the tip of the tongue, sweet malt middle, bitter finish. Finish is actually kind of weak and insipid. Not a great IPA.

Mouthfeel: Lighter than I expected from the nose, but about right for the color... Interesting. Body is light, carbonation seems right, despite the underfilled bottle - maybe it would have been too carbonated with a full bottle? Again, that weak, watery finish detracts...

Drinkability: Not bad, but there are much better IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-25-2007 00:43:10

Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA

Review: Gumballhead

Gumballhead from Three Floyds Brewing Co. / Brewery & Pub
Rating: A

Really an exceptional beer. Received from mymrngjckt in Secret Bunny '07

Appearance: Hazy golden-amber in color, good-sized head, retention and lacing.

Smell: I already know it's going to be good. Much more hops than I was expecting in a wheat ale, but not overwhelming. Sweet, fruity hops in the nose. Light, wheaty malt base - I find myself looking for the typical wheat aromas and do detect a tough of bubblegum.

Taste: Wow, great stuff here. Plenty of hops flavor on top of a light, wheat, somewhat fruity base. Again, I find a tough of bubblegum at the swallow that reminds me this is a wheat beer - and the non-beer drinker that tasted with me agreed, definitely bubblegum. Great balance, the amount of hops lets it avoid becoming cloying. Easily my favorite wheat beer to date.

Mouthfeel: Wheat gives it a nice smooth mouthfeel. Finishes dry and acidic, improving drinkability. Medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: If all Three Floyds beers are like this, maybe I should consider a move to Indiana. Really exceptional, this one. Only 4.8% alcohol? Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-23-2007 20:07:49

Review: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier from Brauerei Weihenstephan
Rating: A

Received from mymrnngjckt in the Secret Bunny '07 exchange.

Appearance: Poured into a weizen glass, hazy gold with a ridiculous head - rocky and great retention (billows of carbonation streaming from the bottom of the glass maintain it). Sheets of lace. Appearance is perfect for the style.

Smell: Complex! Reminiscent of a tripel, really, in its complexity and spiciness. As far as typical hefeweizen aromas go, less bubble gum and banana, more clove. Crisp-smelling, not overdone.

Taste: A little less thrilling than the appearance and aroma. Spice, yeast, doughy malts. Banana and bubblegum are mild. Makes it more balanced, less "heavy" than many hefeweizens. Almost citrus-like acidity, but certainly not a "sour" beer. Not a trace of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy, light-medium body, carbonation seemed high in the glass but works fine in the mouth.

Drinkability: High! Not surprising to see it rated so highly. Easily sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-22-2007 23:18:28

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

Review: Negra Modelo (Dark Beer)

Negra Modelo (Dark Beer) from Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
Rating: B-


Appearance: Dark amber/not-quite-brown in color, some head but with little retention. Some lacing.

Smell: Clean and lagery, surprisingly light on aroma considering the color alone. Mild malt?

Taste: Sweet caramel and enough hops bitterness to balance and fit the style. Not objectionable in the least. Who would put a lime into this?

Mouthfeel: Fairly light body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Not bad at all, and given the choices on the menu, this was probably the best choice - and fit the theme of the restaurant, too, but not something I'd choose to buy in another context.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-22-2007 18:18:34

Review: Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager

Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Rating: B

This one came in my excellent Secret Bunny package from mymrnngjckt.

Appearance: Orange-tinted gold in color, hazy but most likely due to the amount of traveling it's been through lately and only an hour or so in the chill chest before being poured. Small head, with not much retention.

Smell: Mild malt, and some Saaz hop aromas. Typically lager "clean," but not boring in the least, in this case.

Taste: Well-balanced. Light and more malty than hoppy, but with a solid backbone of bitterness. I swear I'm picking up a hint of diacetyl, but maybe I'm confusing it with the Saaz flavors here... Vaguely English Pale Ale-ish in flavor profile, like buttered toast.

Mouthfeel: Light and crisp, good carbonation. Makes for easy drinking.

Drinkability: High and sessionable, with its low ABV. A nice and flavorful break from high octane ales.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-22-2007 18:05:59

Review: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Rating: A-

This is the 2007 version.

Appearance: On the orange side of garnet in color, good retention and promising looking lacing.

Smell: Distinctly grapefruity hops, sweet malts... much less of the dark fruit and fig flavors I recall tasting last year. Some alcohol.

Taste: Caramel on the tip of the tongue, then grapefruity hops, sweet middle, finish is dry and bitter.

Mouthfeel: Body just on the full side of medium, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Good way to top off the night. Only drawback is the high alcohol. Not sure how much of the difference from my previous review is due to recipe changes, and how much is just differences in my beer-reviewing vocabulary...

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-22-2007 03:45:30

Review: Full Sail Pale Ale

Full Sail Pale Ale from Full Sail Brewing Company
Rating: B+

Different bottle than the one shown in the picture... This is finally available in Florida.

Appearance: Rather pale in color for an APA - more golden than orange. Decent head and retention, good lacing.

Smell: A very "clean" smelling APA: ale fruitiness, light bready malts, and some piney hops.

Taste: Less citrusy than most APAs and more earthy/herbal. Bitter, sticks to the tongue but in a pleasant way.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-22-2007 00:35:47

Full Sail Pale

Review: Gouden Carolus Ambrio

Gouden Carolus Ambrio from Brouwerij Het Anker
Rating: B+


Appearance: Color is somewhere between orange and purple, nice and clear. Enormous, rocky off-white head, good retention, possibly due in part to the Duvel tulip it was poured into. Some good lacing, too.

Smell: Belgian yeast over a base of malt. Some spice and perhaps a touch of banana. Slight, sweet vanilla? Nice and complex.

Taste: Belgian, grassy, some citrusy, acidic character as well... Again, some banana. I really need to come up with the vocabulary to describe to non-beer-drinkers what I consider to be just plain "Belgian yeast" - it's so distinctive, but tell a non-beer-drinker that and they just stare. Hoppier than I expected.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, well-carbonated. Crisp, dry, almost cidery finish.

Drinkability: Good, I like this one. Glad I picked it up.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-21-2007 01:35:01

Review: Two Hearted Ale

Two Hearted Ale from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Rating: A

Had this one at Eulogy in Philadelphia.

Appearance: Orangey amber in color, nice and clear, good head with very nice retention and lacing.

Smell: Juicy, citrusy hops. Like juicy fruit gum dropped into grapefruit juice.

Taste: Juicy hops. Nice malt character, but the hops dominate for sure. Just the way an IPA should taste.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Probably my favorite beer I tried during my Philadelphia trip. I could drink this often, and now that it's finally distributed in Florida, maybe I will!

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-20-2007 04:26:05

Review: Arrogant Bastard Ale

Arrogant Bastard Ale from Stone Brewing Company
Rating: A-

After all the hype I was excited to finally try this one. Sampled at Eulogy, in Philadelphia.

Appearance: Dark, tarnished copper in color, khaki colored head. Good retention and lacing.

Smell: Citrus, caramel, roast malts. Complex.

Taste: Delicious and interesting. Well-balanced, not overly hoppy or overly malty. Flavor profile is similar to the smell: citrus, caramel, roast.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy, good body.

Drinkability: High!

Serving type: on-tap

Reviewed on: 03-20-2007 04:14:37

Stone Arrogant Bastard

Review: Tröegs Nugget Nectar

Tröegs Nugget Nectar from Tröegs Brewing Company
Rating: A-


Appearance: Coppery orange in color, good sized white head and retention, some lacing.

Smell: Juicy, citrusy hops, with a good dose of caramel. Nice.

Taste: Wouldn't have guessed it was 7.5% alcohol. Maltier than I expected, but I guess that's what makes it an amber rather than an APA. Flavor profile is much the same as the nose: juicy, citrusy hops and caramel malts.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium-body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Good, but body a little heavy for the style perhaps. I didn't realize this was a seasonal - perhaps a bit overrated on the whole.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-20-2007 03:57:26

Review: Thomas Hardy's Ale

Thomas Hardy's Ale from O'Hanlon's Brewing Co. Ltd.
Rating: A

2005 edition, No. P 36962, 11.7% abv

Appearance: 8.5 oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Slightly hazy, dark amber/brown in color, little in the way of head, retention, or lacing, perhaps due to the high abv.

Smell: Sweet, dark, alcohol-soaked fruits (raisins, figs). Some toffee/caramel notes as well. Some cocoa as it warms,

Taste: Wow, very full-flavored. Same flavor profile as the aroma, sweet dark fruits at the front of the palate. Much more bitter than I was anticipating, which balances all the sweetness well and keeps it drinkable. Caramel in the middle, finishes on a cocoa powder note. Alcohol is noticeable, but not unpleasant. Somewhat acidic.

Mouthfeel: Medium-body, carbonation surprisingly high.Smooth.

Drinkability: Great dessert beer to be had on its own - not too sweet, full and complex. High alcohol is the biggest limitation on drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-14-2007 21:03:47

Thomas Hardys Ale 2006

Review: Avery Anniversary Ale

Avery Anniversary Ale from Avery Brewing Company
Rating: C+


Appearance: Attractive apple cider color, good head, decent retention, some lacing. Hazy.

Smell: Citrus, coriander and grain of paradise dominate. None of the distinct Belgian yeast character is detected, nor the farmhouse ale "funk" - not a good sign...

Taste: Sweet lavender at the tip of the tongue, citrus middle, apple and chamomile finish. Vaguely cidery. Overwhelmingly spiced. In this style, the yeast should shine, not added spices, but that was not the case here... Nothing in the way of hops or malt - all spice, all the time. Disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body, well-carbonated. Finishes acidic and dry, leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Drinkability: Way too overspiced. Not what I was expecting. I'm tasting this after it's been "retired," though, so perhaps it hasn't aged well at the store.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-12-2007 21:29:41

Review: Key West Sunset Ale

Key West Sunset Ale from Florida Beer Company
Rating: C+

This is described by the company as an American Amber, not an APA, and it matches the former much better.

Appearance: Pours an attractive amber color, with a one finger white head. Decent retention, but no lacing.

Smell: Crisp, light aroma. Some caramel malt, slightly oxidized.

Taste: Caramel malts and citrusy hops. Acidic middle and a good finish. Balanced much more like an amber than an APA.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Well-carbonated. Aftertaste is slightly offensive.

Drinkability: Unextraordinary, but decent.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-12-2007 01:31:21

Review: Piraat (Amber Triple IPA)

Piraat (Amber Triple IPA) from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Rating: B+


Appearance: Very nice looking beer. Pours with a huge, white, rocky head with very good retention and nice lacing. Color is golden straw, not perfectly clear. Unfortunately this was the best part of the beer.

Smell: Typical Belgian yeast aroma, plus some funk, some spice, and some floral hops character. Not nearly as much hops in the aroma from a beer that says "IPA" on the bottle, and not nearly as much as the last Belgian IPA I had...

Taste: Hugely cidery - in fact, the dominant flavor here is apple cider. Crisp, and slightly acidic. Alcohol is noticeable. Some spice. Bitterness is decent.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Slightly disappointing, unfortunately. I was surprised by the relative lack of hops character and the overwhelming cidery-ness. Alcohol too high and flavor not enjoyable enough to drink much at a time.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-10-2007 03:49:28

Review: Trappistes Rochefort 10

Trappistes Rochefort 10 from Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy)
Rating: A+


Appearance: Dark, mahogany brown in color. Nearly opaque, but not quite. I stopped pouring as soon as I saw lots of dark sediment in the neck of the bottle. I'll pour in the floaties later. Head is modest, tan in color, and shows good retention. Little lacing, perhaps due to the high alcohol content... or my glass not being clean enough.

Smell: Belgian, spicy... Aroma is more "dry" than "sweet" - curious to see if the taste matches. Dark fruits, brown sugar and hefeweizen like aromas (bubblegum, especially) come out more as it warms. Also, boozy when it's warmed more...

Taste: Wow that's good: an explosion of flavor on the tongue. Spicy, with dark fruits (cherry?), tart. Yeast lends itself to breadiness, plenty of hops to balance the sweetness common in the style. Finishes tart and dry (highly attenuated) rather than sweet. 11.3% abv? You must be kidding. Very good.

Mouthfeel: Body is much lighter than I would have expected, I'd call it just on the light side of medium. Tingly carbonation. Warms on the way down rather than in the mouth. Creamy.

Drinkability: High, high, high.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-08-2007 03:37:45

Review: Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout

Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout from Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, The
Rating: B+

Thanks to ipa2xs for sending this one my way in the No Name BIF.

Appearance: Very dark but not quite opaque, with garnet highlights. Big two or three finger off-white head, rocky, with good retention. Not much lacing.

Smell: Roast, coffee, and chocolate - very typical stout profile, not the sweetness in the nose that I'd expect from a milk stout.

Taste: More flavorful than I was expecting based on my previous experiences with the style. Classic chocolate and coffee flavors. Vanilla in the finish. Enough hops have been added to balance the sweetness, but they don't take center stage. Dry, acid finish - good for the style, keeps it from being too sweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, good carbonation. Creamy from the lactose.

Drinkability: Better than I expected. Not as sweet as I expected, but for me that was a good thing because I shy away from the overt sweetness of some styles.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-05-2007 04:28:10

Review: Duck-Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale

Duck-Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale from Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, The
Rating: B+

Thanks to ipa2xs for sending this one my way in the No Name BIF.

Appearance: Garnet in color, one finger head. Mediocre retention and little lacing.

Smell: Malty, with sweet brown sugar notes and slight smoke. Dark fruits slightly reminiscent of a dubbel.

Taste: Sweet and malty, with a hint of smoke. Some caramel and dark fruits. Very little hops character.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy. Medium body, lightly carbonated.

Drinkability: This isn't my favorite style, but I've been thinking of brewing one soon (smokier than this though) so I was looking forward to trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-05-2007 03:12:11

Review: Sweetwater IPA

Sweetwater IPA from Sweetwater Brewing Company
Rating: A-


Appearance: Fairly light, orange/amber in color, not very clear despite sitting in my refrigerator for a few days. Nice head, good retention and some lacing.

Smell: Citrusy, juicy hops aroma. Can't really name any discernible malt characters in the nose.

Taste: Ridiculously juicy hops. Some grapefruit, but "juicy" is the best word I can think of to describe the hop character here.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Very high! This is a very good beer!

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-04-2007 06:22:53

Review: Maredsous 10

Maredsous 10 from Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV
Rating: A-

Appearance: More or less golden in color, with an orange tint. Big fluffy white head, with good retention and sporadic lacing.

Smell: Smells very much like the last Belgian-style beer I brewed, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same exact yeast strain. A bit more hop character than you'd expect. Belgian and fruity, but less spice and other notes than expected.

Taste: Reminds me more of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale than a tripel. Finishes dry from the alcohol, but you'd never think it was 10% abv. Vinous in the middle, spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, reminiscent of La Fin du monde in this respect, I thought.

Drinkability: Highly drinkable, though in my opinion perhaps miscategorized.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-03-2007 17:59:54

Maredsous 10

Review: Okocim Porter

Okocim Porter from Browar Okocim S.A. (Carlsberg)
Rating: A-

Appearance: Opaque dark brown in the glass, nice head with good retention and lacing.

Smell: Very intriguing aroma. Molasses, chocolate, and roast. With a somewhat marine background that reminds me of the beach.

Taste: Very much along the same lines as the nose, with chocolate, roast, coffee, molasses... and the same mineral/marine character I found interesting in the nose. A touch of smoke. There might be a hint of anise here, as well, which is usually a flavor I detest, but if it's here it's still just under the threshold of being consciously recognizable.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, low on carbonation that accentuates how "big" this beer is.

Drinkability: Good. It's different from every other porter - and even baltic porter - I've had, with those marine and extremely subtle anise notes. That said, perhaps a bit overrated.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-03-2007 17:45:20

Okocim Porter

Review: Palmetto Porter

Palmetto Porter from Palmetto Brewing Company
Rating: B

Thanks to mikesgroove for sending this one my way.

Appearance: Very dark, opaque, tan head with decent retention and lacing.

Smell: Lots of chocolate, with roast and coffee underneath. Caramel hints.

Taste: Coffee and chocolate in the foreground. Caramel is light, which is nice - avoids tasting like coca cola, as some poorly made porters do.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation. Creamy.

Drinkability: Not exceptional, but decent and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-02-2007 17:28:38

Review: Duck-Rabbit Amber Ale

Duck-Rabbit Amber Ale from Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, The
Rating: B+


Appearance: Reddish-orange in color, a good head with decent retention and some lacing.

Smell: Very bready smelling, even though there's no rye (that I know of) in this beer, I thought it smelled vaguely like rye bread), some caramel as well.

Taste: Bready, with enough hops to balance. Definitely malt dominated. Well-balanced for what it is.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Good! It's not too light, not too heavy, not too bitter, not too bland... Very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-02-2007 02:45:48

Review: Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend (Quadrupel)

Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend (Quadrupel) from Brewery Ommegang
Rating: B+

Shared with my dad out of a 750 ml caged, corked bottle. Paired with lamb chops and asparagus tips in hollandaise sauce.

Appearance: Garnet colored in the glass, smaller than expected head with not much in the way of retention or lacing. A bit disappointing in this respect.

Smell: Lots of cherry character in the nose. Alcohol and slight caramel, but to me at least mostly cherry.

Taste: Again, lots of cherry character but not a lot of anything else... Wishing there was more complexity here... Somewhat tart, with some flavor reminiscent of a dubbel here, too... Not surprised this a blend. I get the feeling I would have liked each of the constituent parts more than the whole...

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation. Fairly creamy in mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Lacking in complexity, I thought, but good overall if you know what you're getting into.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-02-2007 02:30:51

Ommegang Three Philosophers