Review: Tuppers' Hop Pocket Ale

Tuppers' Hop Pocket Ale from Tuppers' Hop Pocket Brewing Company
Rating: B

Appearance: Amber-orange color, one finger head, decent retention. Some lacing. Not as clear as it could be, but jostling during transportation is probably to blame.

Smell: fresh hops aroma, but more subtle than I was expecting. Very "clean" smelling, with some caramel malt present as well.

Taste: More like a watered down DIPA than an AIPA. Sweet malts are the first thing to hit the tongue. Doesn't finish as dry as I prefer. Hard to describe the hops characteristics, as one particular flavor doesn't sound out. The aftertaste is quite piney, though.

Mouthfeel: Thicker mouthfeel than I was expecting. Good carbonation.

Drinkability: Not bad, but not great. DIPA-light is a good description.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-11-2006 01:26:54

Beer Bar Review: Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill in Washington, DC
Rating: B

Great atmosphere, something for everyone with the bookstore, cafe, and bar, well-divided into distinct areas so the noise from the bar doesn't penetrate the bookstore or cafe too much. Unfortunately, the group next to us was pretty loud. The service wasn't bad, but she did seem a little rushed. Also, you need to get a token from your server in order to use the bathroom - irritating! The first two things I ordered on tap were out, so selection is an issue. Nice that they attempt to have 18 taps at all times, though. As far as food goes, we only had dessert, but what we had was good - the mixed fruit pie with cinnamon ice cream in particular.

Reviewed on: 08-11-2006 00:05:50

Review: Samuel Adams Black Lager

Samuel Adams Black Lager from Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams)
Rating: B+

Appearance: Looks like a stout in the glass, very dark with a nice off-white head that displays good retention and lacing. It lives up to its name.

Smell: Sweet-smelling, initially reminded me of a macro for some reason, but as it warmed chocolate was definitely detectable. Not very complex, but surprisingly appealing for a lager.

Taste: Interesting. Only schwarzbier I've had, and it seems like a stout for climates too cold to use top-fermenting yeast. Very similar flavor profile, anyway. Roast, chocolate, but not burnt. A touch of caramel in the finish. Good bit of sweetness, reminiscent of a cream or milk stout. Enough hops to finish fairly dry. No dark fruits present, though, must be the lager yeasts and temps.

Mouthfeel: moderate body, carbonation seems right.

Drinkability: Not bad, but I think if I want a seriously dark beer, I'll go for an ale and get a broader array of flavors. Thickness detracts a bit from drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-07-2006 01:37:10

Review: Fordham Copperhead Ale

Fordham Copperhead Ale from Fordham Brewing Company
Rating: B

Appearance: Nice looking copper/amber-colored beer with good head and lacing.

Smell: Subtle aromas of bready malt and earthy hops.

Taste: Flavor is well-balanced, but mild. Finishes nice and dry.
Mouthfeel and
Drinkability: no complaints in this department, decent mouthfeel and sessionable. Accessible. The world needs more good altbiers: when the top three in the style are all from the same brewery, a style is not being brewed widely enough!

Serving type: on-tap

Reviewed on: 08-07-2006 01:12:33

Review: Oyster Stout

Oyster Stout from Fordham Brewing Company
Rating: B+

Served at the Rams Head in Historic Savage Mill.

Appearance: Very dark garnet, with a nice one-finger head with decent retention and good lacing.

Smell: Roasted malts, but subtle nose all the way around.

Taste: much more hoppy/bitter than I expected, which almost made up for the scarcity of chocolate/coffee flavors. More hop character than I'm accustomed to see in a stout, the bitterness here comes from hops, not burnt grain.

Mouthfeel: lighter than I prefer in a stout, but it helps drinkability

Drinkability: not bad, light enough to session.

Serving type: on-tap

Reviewed on: 08-06-2006 04:01:40

Review: Chimay Première (Red)

Chimay Première (Red) from Bières de Chimay (Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont)
Rating: B+

Appearance: Dark brown with garnet highlights. Big two finger head with good retention. Nothing in the way of lacing.

Smell: Aroma is surprisingly spicy, with some malt and belgian yeast underneath.

Taste: This is a beer to let warm up. The warmer it got, the more flavorful it became. Spicy, then bready yeast and malts. Bitterness seems well-balanced. Finishes dry, which I like.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body, improves as the carbonation fades

Drinkability: Could use a little bit more in the flavor department, but drinkability is good.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-03-2006 23:14:33

Chimay Ale Premiere Red 25.4

Review: Blanche De Chambly

Blanche De Chambly from Unibroue
Rating: B+

Appearance: Nice pale straw color, lots of bubbles, two finger white head that lasts. No lacing.

Smell: belgian yeast, spice, and orange.

Taste: Light, crisp. Good summer beer. Not as spiced as I was anticipating, corriander and orange are subtle. Hops are spicy and well balanced. Good stuff!

Mouthfeel: light-medium body, with high carbonation. works for the style.

Drinkability: light, refreshing, thirst-quenching. Good introduction for a non-beer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-03-2006 01:26:10

Review: Redhook Sunrye Ale

Redhook Sunrye Ale from Redhook Ale Brewery
Rating: C+

Appearance: golden color, surprisingly small head, but decent retention and looks like good lacing.

Smell: reminiscent of a macro, but with some rye and fruitiness as well.

Taste: tastes better out of a glass (not surprising), but still very light. i'd put this in the "kolsch" style, more than any other. Imagine a macro, with some lemon, toast, fruit and a (very minor) rye sharpness.

Mouthfeel: watery. undercarbonated, for being so light.

Drinkability: "light and refreshing," as the packaging says, i suppose. I bought a six-pack of this. I won't again.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-02-2006 22:54:03

Review: Harpoon IPA

Harpoon IPA from Harpoon Brewery
Rating: B+

Appearance: Lighter in color than i was expecting, golden color, very nice head, clear. leaves lots of lacing as you drink.

Smell: hops presence isn't overwhelming, but it's there. yeast and malts come through too. hops are kind of floral, not very aggressive. soap?

Taste: more hoppy than I remember it being the last time I tried it, but since it was following Smuttynose IPA that night I'm not surprised. An IPA balanced for sessionability. Hoppy, yes, but not an assault on the taste buds (however welcome it may be!). Fruitier than your typical AIPA.

Mouthfeel: aftertaste lingers, carbonation is good.

Drinkability: Goes down easy. Drinkable, sessionable, better than I remember.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-01-2006 22:57:23

Review: Carlsberg Elephant Beer

Carlsberg Elephant Beer from Carlsberg Danmark A/S
Rating: C-

whoa! I picked this up on a whim not realizing it was "malt liquor" at 7.2% abv. classified as a euro strong lager here, I'm hoping it's just complying with some labeling laws.

Appearance: pours golden, darker than your average EPL, big white head with good retention and nice lacing. about as good as you can expect from this style, really.

Smell: skunky, sweet, not appealing at all. i think i'm picking up corn, but that might be a result of having seen "malt liquor" on the label.

Taste: doesn't taste quite as bad as it smells, but not good either. kind of sweet, hops toward the tail that are kind of harsh. alcohol is apparent.

Mouthfeel: more syrupy than the pilsner/EPL i was expecting here, too thick, really. that said, carbonation seems okay.

Drinkability: man am I sorry I got suckered into buying this one. I wanted a nice pilsner before going out tonight, and I wound up drinking a malt liquor.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 08-01-2006 21:19:51