Review: Scrooge & Marley New London Lager

One of my Christmas gifts this holiday season was this 12 pack of beers from Scrooge & Marley. This (fictional) brewery only sells this seasonal holiday gift pack . The New London Lager is a straightforward American Lager in the style of a Macro Brew Lager. Very drinkable, smooth finish, nothing fancy. Not to say there are not many much better lagers available, this is a nice average entry in the category. I think the whole variety pack is a fun conversation piece at a holiday gathering more than a serious attempt at craft brewing.

Review: Scrooge & Marley Red Ale

Fairly average Red Ale, tries to be Killians but more of a watered down taste.

Review: Scrooge & Marley Hazelnut Christmas Ale

One of my Christmas gifts one holiday season was this 12 pack of beers from Scrooge & Marley. This (fictional) brewery only sells this seasonal holiday gift pack . I think the whole variety pack is a fun conversation piece at a holiday gathering more than a serious attempt at craft brewing. That being said this Ale was very tasty and drinkable. The hazelnut and other spices were a nice blend without having an overpowering taste that I have found in some other Christmas Ales

Review: Yuengling Traditional Lager

First tried this years ago at the recommendation of a Pittsburgh native. This Lager has a very mild taste that goes down smooth. No problems putting a few of these away in one sitting. I thought it was better than the typical American Lagers, but also not the best Lager either, just a good beer that is very consumable. That being said, I really don't understand all the hype of this beers arrival in the Cincinnati area. I thought the Cincy fans didn't want anything to do with Pittsburgh......

Review: Shiner Bock

I finally got a chance to sample this legendary beer from Texas. Shiner seems to have developed a cult-like following in the south. It was a easy to drink beer. Goes down smooth, no nasty surprises in the aftertaste. You could sit and drink these all night ( and I did ) My only real complaint is that isn't really a true Bock beer. It does not have any of the traditional taste and flavor and body of a bock beer. Not to say it is a bad beer, it is just not a true Bock. I do applaud the folks at Shiner that have gotten legions of fans to drink this instead of Miller, Bud etc.

Review: Upstream Brewing Co. Downtown Brown

Solid Brown ale, with a heavy hop finish.

Review: Upstream Brewing Co. Dundee 90 Shilling Scotch Ale

Great Malt Flavor, not too sweet. Very nice balance.

Review: Upstream Brewing Co. Gold Coast Ale

Upstream Brewery's answer for domestic beer fans. My guest reviewers found it sweeter than Bud. Much better taste than the standard American Beers.

Review: Young's Winter Warmer

Very Malty Sweet taste, Good overall flavor. Definitely worth checking out.

Review: Red Rock Nut Brown Ale

Really liked the taste, somewhat similar to the Rock Bottom Brewery Nut Brown. Very nutty taste with a smooth finish.

Review: Red Rock English Mild

Found this brewpub in Salt Lake City. My guest reviewer didn't think very highly of this one. He found it to have a thick, syrupy taste.

Review: Red Rock Pilsner Lager

Good smooth Pilsner. Nice upgrade from the average beer, grab this instead of just having Budweiser or Miller by default.

Review: Tabernash Oktoberfest

Another fine Oktoberfest, not an over the top malt flavor, good balance, nice finish.

Review; Pete's Wicked Helles Lager

So apparently "helles" is German for golden or pale. This lager is a good one if you are hanging around drinking beer all day. Not too heavy, not too hoppy or malty. An all around good thirst quenching beer.

Review: Moerlein Fifth and Vine Octoberfest Marzen

Kind of weak and watery, not at all what I was expecting. Mild for a Marzen. Much lighter than a typical Octoberfest.

Review: Chimay Rouge "Red" Ale

An Authentic Belgian Trappist brewed beer. Actual Monks making actual beer and cheese. Great flavor, mildly fruity tasting, also very sweet. It's worth a few tastings. I got it one night at dinner and it took a bottle or two to really get in to this beer. It went really well with the huge steak I had that evening.

Not for the weak, aka. light beer drinkers. Most Belgian ales have a lot going on and this is up there with the best.

Review: Tabernash Pilsner

Wow ! I found a pilsner I actually like. Nice mild flavor smooth texture.

Review: Stella Artois Premium Lager

I found this to be slightly bitter almost skunky going down but surprisingly little aftertaste. Not terrible, but not something I would search out again. I expected something better from a higher priced import.
UPDATE: After much verbal abuse from a certain co-worker, I agreed to check this one out again. I have now sampled this on many occasions and have enjoyed it repeatedly.

Review: Goose Island Pere Jacques Belgian Style Ale

Not anything like the typical Goose Island. It is even better if that is possible. Wonderful Malty/ Fruity flavor. It is named after the Trappist Abbot that allowed the Goose Island folks to tour the brewery in his Monastery.

Review: Barrelhouse Microbrewery Festival 2004

Our "staff" enjoyed a return to the festival this year after a 2 year absence. The session we attended wasn't as crowded as previous years, so we were able to chat with some of the other attendees and share opinions on the various selections.

Toby's New Zealand Dark - Brewed locally at Watson Brothers this Dark Lager has a great smell and taste. Surprisingly not as full bodied as you might expect. Slightly watery finish.

Hebrew Jewbelation - "The world's first Chanukah Beer" Nice rich taste, good finish.

Hebrew Messiah - Did not like this one at all... Sweet and malty, not a good blend of flavors. Possibly a bad bottle???

Spanish Peaks Black Dog Ale - Sweet, but not overbearing. Smooth finish. A good session beer.

Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout - Outstanding Stout, Great flavor and finish. Hints of coffee and stuff in there.

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout - Tasted fairly average, expected something different with the Chicory addition.

Dogfish Midas Touch - We decided this tasted like bad communion wine. Sorry about the religious imagery, that's all we could come up with.

Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre - Mahogany Ale, dark and heavy. Complex taste,
Two Brother French Country Ale - One of the favorites of this year. Loved the taste, great body, great finish.

Mackeson Stout - Always a favorite, It is sweet and heavy, so it is an acquired taste.

Bar Harbor Coal Porter - Nice chocolate flavor, but too much of a bitter coffee finish.

Shipyard Old Thumper - Distinct malt flavor, good finish not too bitter.

Buzzards Bay Golden Ale -

Summit Porter - Another great Porter, the stuff from Summit is usually top notch.

Summit Winter Ale - Again nothing bad to say about Summit, nice flavor, good finish, very solid ale.

Bert Grants Scottish Ale - Good Stuff ! I really like the smell and taste of this one, Sweet and malty, smooth finish.

Pyramid Snowcap - Another favorite, Seemed like it was a hit with a number of people we spoke with.

Unibroue Don de Dieu - This one got pitched so quickly I can't even begin to say why it was so bad.

Unibroue La Fin DuMonde - Also a bad experience,

Adams SSB -

Tilburg Dutch Brown Ale - somewhat disappointed, I am a big fan of the Brown Ales and expected a richer taste.

Goose Island Demolition - Big Winner. The Favorite of the Festival as far as we were concerned. The new special reserves from Goose Island have been great.

Ommegan Three Philosophers -

Review: HC Berger Brewing Co. Chocolate Stout

This is a repeat from the 2000 Microbrew Festival reviews but I found the 2nd time it was kinda flat and the flavor was not as good. I am thinking this is a beer to get out of a tap not a bottle.

Review: Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Very rich and smooth. Surprisingly not as chocolaty as some of the other chocolate stouts but a really good beer

Review: Sun King Brewing Wee Mac Scottish Ale

Very Chocolate and Toffee to start with, ends up with a surprisingly thin finish.