Review: Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius from Milton Brewery
Rating: B

Sampled at Cambridge Winter Ale Fest, 2008

Appearance: not quite pitch black, small head that has good retention but each bubble is surprisingly large, if that makes sense. Some lace.

Smell: coffee, chocolate, and a slightly off-putting sourness that is worrisome.

Taste: thankfully, the sourness that is hinted at in the nose does not follow through to the flavor. Coffee, chocolate, roast, and slight toast notes predominate. Pleasant. Bitterness is solid, but hop character is nondescript.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, silky, carbonation a little light, but as expected in the UK out of a cask.

Drinkability: Moderate, a little high in alcohol for sessionability.

Serving type: cask

Reviewed on: 01-26-2008 16:54:51

Review: Double Stout

Double Stout from Hook Norton Brewery Co. Ltd.
Rating: A-

Appearance: very dark, deep garnet in color. Two finger, off-white head that exhibits excellent retention and lacing. Bottle is well-presented, with helpful tasting and pairing notes. Either the label has changed since the picture was posted, or it's a different label on each side of the Atlantic.

Smell: iced coffee aroma, with a bit of toast. smells great, with a bit of malt sweetness (cocoa?) in the background as well

Taste: brown bread, coffee, decent hop backbone. dark fruits in the middle, cocoa shows up at the swallow and resolves to a smooth, easy finish. the best British beer I've had since I arrived here, I think.

Mouthfeel: moderate body, good carbonation

Drinkability: High! Recommended. Only problem is it's from Oxfordshire instead of Cambridgeshire :)

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-24-2008 19:49:33

Review: Branik

Branik from Pivovar Staropramen Pražské Pivovary
Rating: C

Appearance: Amber color, very clear. Lots of carbonation, some lacing, decent retention.

Smell: some cooked corn, grain, and in the background, spicy hops and tin.

Taste: Mediocre, sweet malt, with some dry graininess. Acid at the finish. Little hop character, some grassiness in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel & Drinkability: watery, light body, undercarbonated by the end of the bottle, or maybe I was just drinking slow. Would not re-purchase.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-23-2008 17:35:22

Review: Kozel Svétlý

Kozel Svétlý from Pivovar Velké Popovice a.s.
Rating: B-

Brought back from my girlfriend for me after a visit to the Czech Republic.

Appearance: Light, golden amber in color. Billowy white head that sticks around. Effervescent looking carbonation. No lace.

Smell: Grass, slight overripe fruit, generally mild aroma.

Taste: Light Saaz flavor prevails. Seems slightly watery. Bitterness is right for the style. Refreshing, at any rate.

Mouthfeel: Light, fizzy, but insipid finish & aftertaste.

Drinkability: Moderate on merits, but refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-11-2008 15:36:05

Review: Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Hell

Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Hell from Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG
Rating: B+

A Christmas present from a Bavarian friend, enjoyed on Christmas day at her place outside of Munich.

Appearance: Straw color, very clear, good head and retention, some lacing.

Smell: Predominantly grassy hops aroma, with a bit of herbal earthiness and DMS

Taste: Rather light. Grassiness, solid bitterness but finishing on a sweet malt note. Good, but not exceptional.

Mouthfeel: Light body, good carbonation. Good for the style.
Drinkabilitz: Very drinkable, and from what I hear an excellent value. I have seen this being drunk all over Munich.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-25-2007 22:14:01

Review: Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel

Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel from Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Rating: A-

Wow, first beer to review with the new system. Also, first beer reviewed from Germany on a German kezboard, with the z and y switched, so here goes...

Appearance: lighter in color than I was expecting, more orange or garnet than deep and dark. Big off white head with good retention, but leaving little lacing.

Smell: dark fruits, toast, brown sugar... surprised by all the fruit, in a lager. no hint of smoke, which i love in ayinger's celebrator.

Taste: raisin, brown bread, bit of roast & toast, brown sugar. malt is the star, but there is enough hops bitterness to balance. never becomes cloying.

Mouthfeel: medium body, bordering on full. reasonable carbonation.

Drinkability: I now have a second favorite Doppelbock. Glad to be in Bavaria at the moment, and looking forward to a brewery tour in a couple of days. Hopefully the beer there will be as good as this Andechs offering..

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-25-2007 22:06:55

Review: Black Sheep Ale (Special)

Black Sheep Ale (Special) from Black Sheep Brewery PLC
Rating: B-


Appearance: copper color with almost a pink tint. Good sized head with (oddly) large bubbles. Decent retention, some lacing.

Smell: Crisp, toast/biscuit malt aromas, earthy hops.

Taste: Solid but easy bitterness, hop flavors are subtle - herbal. Aftertaste is pleasant and lingering. Malt character is subdued - just a hint of toasted grain.

Mouthfeel: prickly carbonation, light-medium body.

Drinkability: easy drinking, good

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-17-2007 00:07:11

Black Sheep Ale

Review: McEwan's No.1 Champion

McEwan's No.1 Champion from Scottish Courage Ltd.
Rating: B+

Wasn't expecting this to be a scotch ale when I bought it. Not my favorite style, but we'll give it a go.

Appearance: Garnet in color, two finger off-white head with good retention, and lacing.

Smell: warm, hints of vanilla, with some hints of roast malt.

Taste: creamy, some toffee, slight molasses but balanced by hops bitterness. Some dark fruit. Very nice, actually. Not too sweet, which is my usual complaint for this style.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy, good carbonation.

Drinkability: A good beer, by any measure.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-14-2007 17:54:08

Review: Golden Champion

Golden Champion from Badger Brewery, Hall and Woodhouse
Rating: B

Appearance: honey colored, clear, moderate retention and some lacing. fairly attractive

Smell: intensely floral aroma. first sweet and perfumed, resolves to a more spicy/floral hop aroma.

Taste: reminds me of a Florida-brewed rose hip beer that I had once, except much better. Floral, but with a solid bitterness that keeps it from being too sweet. Malt brings up the rear, resolving to (again) a floral finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, good carbonation.

Drinkability: Much better than I was expecting after I saw this was an elderflower beer!

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-12-2007 23:43:07

Review: Tiger Beer

Tiger Beer from Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd.
Rating: C-

Appearance: slightly more color than your typical example of this style, very little head retention. very clear.

Smell: grainy smell dominates. sweet. a bit of DMS early on but that fades. at least it comes out of a brown bottle!

Taste: sweet on the front of the palate but finishes with a husky dryness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily mouthfeel. Good carbonation level

Drinkability: Better than most lagers available on the Chinese mainland.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 12-12-2007 23:12:15