Review: Goose Island Honkers Ale

Have now had this on a number of occasions and it is a really good session beer. Nice taste, Not too strong for an ale. None of the typical ale hoppy after taste. Much better blend than most of the domestic "English" Ales.
This is basically the Miller / Bud of the Chicago area.

Review: Molson Golden

Old favorite, Good solid lager. Skyline chili and Molson, great combo!! Some like Labatts better, I disagree.

Review: Bitburger Premium Pils.

I have to say that this is exactly what you might expect from a good German pilsner. None of the bitterness that occasionally accompanies a pilsner. It also has a flavor that is not present in mass market pilsners.

Review: Mackesons XXX Stout

This is a awesome stout!! My favorite of all the original 30 beers. I know this is sacrilege but I like it better than Guinness. I actually did a side by side comparison on St Patrick's day a few years ago and Mackesons is actually darker than Guinness.
This was originally only available as an import, it is now brewed under supervision in the US. It has taken on a different flavor, not quite a sweet a taste and a more hoppy / bitter finish. Not bad, but not the same as the original.

Review: Bohemia Beer

Smooth with a nice finish, not as rich as most stouts. Great German-esque beer from Mexico.

Review: Dos Equis

Great lager to have with a big ol' burrito and some chips and salsa, ( funny how that works out!! ) Goes down smooth and not too heavy so you can fill up on the food. I will say that if you are just picking up a six pack there are other choices that are as good; ( or better ) and less expensive.

Review: Labatts Blue

Labatts must be the Canadian word for Budweiser. Tastes better than Bud but you get the idea....

Review: Guinness Extra Stout

The classic stout, by which all others are judged. I do agree with the experts, Get it on tap somewhere. The bottles and cans, even the pub draught cans, don't do it justice.

Review: Pranqster Belgian style Ale

A little bitter, I thought it would be smoother.

Review: Pyramid Alehouse ESB

Very smooth for a bitter.

Review: Belgian Kreik

I usually love Belgian ales, but the cherry flavor of this one just didn't work for me.
See Pete's Wicked Strawberry.

Review: Old Speckled Hen

"English Fine Ale" I think that's all that needs to be said.

Review: Newcastle Brown Ale.

A personal favorite. A great bartender handed me a Newcastle one night when I said I was in the mood for something different and I have been a fan ever since. This is, hands down, my favorite beer. There are a few better beers, but for my everyday, first choice beer, this is the one !!!!

Review: Maccabee

Premium beer from Israel. Somewhat odd taste but not bad at all.

Review: Kirin Ichiban - Special Premium Reserve.

Strong but not over bearing. " Brewed under strict supervision of Kirin's brewermeister by Anheuser Busch" Guess that says enough right there.

Review: Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager

Nice and rich strong lager, I will definitely get this again. Held up well on the Second try with a big meal. Goes down smooth and doesn't get in the way of the food.

Review: Cusco Cervesa from Cusco Peru

" A premium beer from the high Andes". Smooth and crisp but with a somewhat bitter after taste. I still prefer Negro Modelo or even Dos Equis to go with my burrito or fajitas.

Review: Mad River Brewing Co. Jamaica Brand Red Ale

Very good red ale not overly hoppy even though it is advertised as " A crisp, hoppy red bitter for the celebration of life" If you like Red Stripe you should like this. It is, contrary to it name, brewed in the USA. Bummer Mon'.

Review: Old Australia Stout

A classic "coffee beer" as my friend Ed calls them.

Review: Portland Brewing Haystack Black

Good, kind of sweet porter, just a bit hoppy for my taste.

Review: Dixie - New Orleans

Not much flavor but would be a good choice for the folks who love the typical mass produced American beer but want something more.

Review: Steelhead "Extra" Stout

Very full bodied stout!! One of the better domestic stouts.

Review: Goose Island Hex Nut Brown

This Nut Brown from Goose Island has a nice full body, not too "nutty" similar to the Holy Grail Mad Monk Nut Brown, maybe a bit smoother.

Review: Rogue Honey Cream Ale

I expected a smoother taste. I am not a fan of cream ales anyway.

Review: Fullers ESB

Good Ale , Very nice taste

Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boont Amber Ale

The Boont Amber Ale is a great session Ale Nice body without a strong after taste.

Review: Anchor Steam

One of the micro brews that seems like it have been around forever. For awhile there it seemed like you could find it everywhere.
Great tasting, easy to drink, nice flavor.

Review: Pete's Strawberry Blonde

As much as I like Pete's, I just can't stand fruit beers. It is not an overwhelming strawberry taste. If you like that kind of thing stick with wine coolers!!!

Review: Hue Beer from Hue city Vietnam.

I can't explain in words how bad this beer was. Imagine the worst American light beer brewed with dirty river water. If you know the Monty Python Australian wine reviews I think you will get the picture.

Review: Devil Mountain Tasmanian Pale Ale

Great pale ale but it didn't make me spin around and go "loony toons".

Thanks

I need to thank a number of people for leading me along the path to better beer.

Ian and John Ve. for beginning my "education".

Lori and Brian and Mom and Dad L. for providing me with the original 30 beers.

A number of Beer websites that I will not be able to be as funny as or list as many beers as they have.

Ed Westemeier from the Cincinnati Enquirer for all the good beer info.

My sister Beth for her work on the redesign of this site and all her guest reviews, trips to the Microbrew Festival, and for bringing a more refined style with her reviews.

Mad Props to Adam for all the web help and space to park this site!!

Special Thanks to those readers and friends who have contributed Guest Reviews and suggestions of beers to review. Thanks for putting us up over 300 reviews!!!!

My amazingly tolerant non-beer drinking wife, who somehow has a great eye for new or rare beers for me to try.

History

A Brief History

Years ago I was content to consume the mass produced "American P**S-water" ( my brother's eloquent phrase ). You know the Light beers and American pilsners that are mass produced and consumed by the gallon in bars on Friday and Saturday nights and on couches on Sunday afternoons.

I started to see the light when a previous boss started introducing me to other kinds of beer. Being a native of England he had little time for the American macro-brews. At that office we also had a guy who had traveled Europe and gave wonderful reports of the beers he found there.

After that I was always trying to find something to drink at restaurants and bars that was something other than the standard fare. That proved to be somewhat difficult at times!!

Then for my 30th birthday some friends, who apparently encourage my behavior, gave me 30 different bottles of beer. I promised that at some point I would give them reviews.

I also decided at some point that posting all this info on the web was much easier than trying to e-mail it to all who expressed interest in my reviews. Well I have added a few more beers to the list after the original 30.

So here they are, with the disclaimer that I am by no means a professional beer connoisseur. I just thought it would be fun to share my views with the world.