Review: Vysoký Chlumec Demon 13°

Very good beer from Pivovar Vysoký Chlumec. Had a this in a flight at the Prague Beer Museum.

Review: Bernard Dark Czech Lager

Not your typical Brown. Admittedly this is a Lager and not the Brown Ale I normally drink, but it is still a very full, rich flavor. I was much happier with this than their standard pilsner.

Review: Kvasnicak Opat Chocolate

Smells like Hershey's chocolate, the taste doesn't hold up as well. I expected a heartier flavor. Still a good overall dark beer.

Review: Merlin Dark Lager

Excellent Dark Lager, the blend of malts adds a richness to the flavor, which is a blend of mild chocolate and caramel flavors.

Review: Svijany Maz Pilsner

This is a very interesting pale lager. Good balance of bitter hops, but a little thin.

Review: Kocour Samurai IPA

A Czech IPA that stands up very well with many other IPA's. A little dry with a little bit of fruit flavor in the finish.

Review: Budweiser Budvar Dark Lager

So this is a slightly fuller and richer version of the regular Budvar. Very dark color and brown foamy head. Much darker than Newcastle for example. You might think you were getting a porter or stout.
Very mild for a darker beer. It would be interesting to see how this would do in the US as an alternative to the regular Bud.

Review: Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager

Before anyone dies of shock, I am not reviewing a Anheuser-Busch beer.
This is the original Czech Lager that the Americans stole from the Czech years ago. Apparently Bud managed to copy write or patent "Budweiser" in the states in a way that prevented the original from ever being sold in America. Admittedly is is similar in color and the initial taste, but then you realize it doesn't have that bitter slightly metallic taste that Bud has. It also has decent body and the finish isn't that same metallic taste.

Review: Krusovice Dark Lager

This Black Beer has a roasted taste but not as heavy as most beers this dark. Nice smooth flavor. Goes down easy.

Review: Master Gold 15

This won the Gold Medal at the Brewing Industry International Awards 2011, AKA the Oscar of beers.
It is a nice, mild lager. Goes down smooth with a little hop bite in the finish. Easily drinkable beer, could be an excellent session beer, just watch out for the 6.7 Abv.

Review: Master Dark 18

It seems like Master is the upper end beer from Pilsner Urquell.
This is another beer that looks like it should taste differently. This looks and pours and had a head just like a porter. It has a very rich taste, just nothing like what you would expect. You get a little of the roasted taste with a lot of different sweet flavors. The increased alcohol content in obvious in the taste and effect. Glad I am less than a block from my hotel, I would hate to get lost in a foreign country.

Review: Velkopopovicky Kozel Dark

I need to learn more about Czech beers. I think their definitions of beer differ from what I am used to.
This is a dark beer in color only. None of the expected roasted malt or caramel flavor you would find in a beer that looks like this. It tastes great, just different than you normally find in the states.

Review: Krusovice 11 Dark "Musketeer"

Has a roasted taste but not as heavy as most beers this dark in color. This seems to be the case with many Czech beers.

Review: Pilsner Urquell

This is the ubiquitous beer in Prague
Along the lines of a American "lite" beer but with much more body and a fuller taste.

Review : Sin City Brewing IPA

Just an OK IPA. Pretty mild taste, the hops didn't stand out the way you would expect from an IPA. More of a basic American ale. Not my favorite IPA by a long shot

Review: Sin City Classic Irish Dry Stout

Pretty good overall, one of the better brews at Sin City. As with all the beers they make, it is good but average at best.

Review: Sin City Weisse Beer

Not a big fan of wheat beers but this one was pretty mild. Very drinkable, but just OK overall.

Review: Sin City Brewing Amber

They marker this as a Amber/Octoberfest. Not quite sure if they were actually going for an Octoberfest or an amber, but I don't think they quite made it to an Octoberfest. Not a bad amber overall, very drinkable and nice finish.

Review: Sin City Brewing Light

This their offering for the "Lite" beer drinkers out there. Not that bad overall, pretty mild nothing special.

Review: Sin City Octoberfest

This is probably more of a Marzen than an Octoberfest. Still very drinkable and tasty. Good session beer.

Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Brother David Double

This is a dark, dark, dark Brown Ale.
Rich malt taste, dark chocolate flavors.

Review: The Beer Company Double Wood IPA

Decent dark IPA with hints of bourbon. It is a little watery for what is supposed to be an Imperial IPA.

Review: Goose Island Oktoberfest

Great Oktoberfest! Full flavored with a nice malty taste. One of my favorites from Goose Island.

Review: Augustiner Brewery Maximator

This is an outstanding Dopplebock. Strong hearty flavor, with hints of fruit, chocolate and malt in a very nice blend. Pleasantly sweet aftertaste.

Review: Goose Island Big John Imperial Stout

So I have had this one in the cellar for awhile now and I decided to crack it open for my father's ( John ) 74th birthday celebration as a dessert beer.
This was a really strong Imperial Stout with some amazing chocolate malt flavors. The various members of the family that sampled this were initially taken aback and then intrigued by this complex stout.
One of my favorite "chocolate" stouts.

Review: Green Flash Brewing Co. West Coast IPA

This was a beer I happened to pick up a Kroger a few weeks back. Didn't grab it until this evening, the night before I fly to San Diego where this brewery is based.
This IPA is an amazing example of an american IPA. Very drinkable, flavor is smooth and balanced with the hops and other stuff.

Review: Moerlein OTR Ale

This is a great American Pale Ale. Very nice taste, full body, smooth finish. Big fan of almost all the Moerlein beers and a big fan of the Moerlein philosophy.

Review: Key West Ale

This is one of those generic in house " specialty" beers that you find in random bars in Florida. It is supposed to be similar to Sam Adams or Pete's. It doesn't really hold up to the other specialty ales. When you have limited options it is better than Miller Lite or Bud.

Review: Abita Save our Shore Pils

This is a easily drinkable Pilsner. Nothing special, but nice flavor and goes down smooth. You do have to appreciate the idea behind this beer. Abita is donating a portion of the proceeds to the cleanup efforts of the BP oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Review: Goose Island Sofie Belgian Ale

Sweet Belgian Farmhouse Ale, lots of orange zest and honey. Interesting flavor but not really to my personal taste.

Review: Bell's Ocoberfest

A somewhat mild Octoberfest. Nice flavor, but not as rich and full as a standard Octoberfest. Great beer, but not what you might expect from this style beer.

Review: Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound English Style IPA

I enjoyed the mild but still pronounced hop flavor. Has a sweet malt taste and finish. This one pours a little darker than the average IPA.

Review: Left Hand Brewing Stranger Pale Ale

Good American Pale Ale, but nothing special overall. This would be a good stepping stone beer for the lite beer crowd.

Review: Breckenridge Lucky U IPA

This American IPA has a very nice first taste of hops that smooths out quickly with a malty aftertaste. Has the characteristic hop taste of an IPA without being bitter or overpowering.

Reviews: 2 Brothers Brewing Domaine DuPage

This is a French Style Country Ale. It looks and tastes like a dark amber ale. Richer than a standard amber. Lots of sweet malt in the flavor and finish. Had this on draft at Gordo's and want to get back before they run out !

Review: Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

So a Shandy is actually a mixed drink of beer and lemonade. So for all the bad reviews I have read out there that this is way too lemony etc. Apparently it is supposed to be that way. Normally I do not like the fruit tasting beers, but I liked the lemon / citrus taste for once. Nice smooth taste, not too wheaty, I have no idea what the beer is in the mix, but it is a good one to have in the mix.
This was very refreshing and drinkable for an outdoor event on a hot day.

Review: 21st Amendment Brewery Brew Free or Die Ipa

This is a tasty fun IPA. It actually comes across like a strong amber, with the mix of flavors. The hops are not as in your face as a lot of IPA's but this still keeps the IPA flavor going.

Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Deependers Dark Porter

This is a very full and rich but not too strong.

Review: New Holland Black Hatter IPA

I liked this one at first but it ended up with too much roasted malt finish. Left a strange taste in my mouth that I had to wash out with a different beer.

Review: Thomas Creek Brewery Orange Blossom Pilsner

I had a bartender in Florida insist I try this. It is made with 30% Orange Blossom Honey, and the honey is right there. It smells like honey, tastes like honey and leaves an aftertaste that ranges from a sweet honey flavor to just sickly sweet.

Review: Redhook Brewery Longhammer IPA

Was surprised that this is considered an IPA. It seemed like a standard Pale Ale. Not a bad flavor, tasted good, very drinkable, just fell short of a typical IPA

Review: Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA

This IPA has a really different taste than most IPA's. It has a rich full flavor with none of the signature bitterness of an IPA. Easy drinking session beer.

Review: New Holland Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock Lager

Bacon Beer ! This is one of the most interesting tasting beers. I enjoy the different New Holland brews and this is far and away their strangest mix of flavors. You really do get a smell and taste of smoked bacon, in addition to all that the beer tastes like smoked malts and some fruity stuff too.

Review: Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

This is an amazing brown ale ! Rich malt flavor, feels more like a stout than a brown ale. Crazy high ABV, so watch out because it goes down smooth.

Review: New Glarus Spotted Cow Ale

I had not seen anything from this brewery before. This is a Cask conditioned Farmhouse Ale, it is very easy to drink, not a lot of stuff jumping out at you. Solid beer, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Review: Leinenkugels Fireside Nut Brown

Usually a big fan of Leinenkugels, but this one didn't really do it for me. Just an average brown ale.

Review: Hales Ales Mongoose IPA

A buddy of mine was nice enough to carry one of the back from Seattle for me to sample.
Good IPA, a little bit thick tasting, but not too heavy.

Review: Moerlein Saengerfest Maibock Lager

My favorite from Christian Moerlein. Such a great flavor, smooth and sweet. Great session beer ! Probably my current favorite.

Review: Moerlein English Summer Ale

Had a chance to go to to the Tapping at The Lackman for this limited edition Ale. The flavor was a mild citrus, not too hopped up. Very smooth, good session drink. So good I think we drank all they brewed !!!

Event: Samuel Smith's tasting at Whole Foods 7/25/11

Monday, July 25, 2011
Samuel Smith's Organic Beer Event!
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Review: Bell's Oberon

From my sister: Bell's Oberon is officially my favorite beer of summer (at least this summer). It has the added bonus of being liked by my favorite MI cousins. It's a wheat ale, a category I will always try (so that Phil doesn't have to), but I particularly like the balance of fruit in this one.

Review: Mission Street Brown Ale

Found at Trader Joe's. Good solid Brown Ale, tastes good, finishes with a nice taste. Holds up better than some of the wine from Trader Joe's!

Review: Southern tier 2 x IPA

Good balance, starts off with nice blend of hops and ends up with a sweet but mild malt finish.

Review: Batesville Blonde Pilsner

Had this at Lil' Charlies in Batesville. Pilsners are not usually my first choice, but this one was not exactly like a regular pilsner, it was heavier and darker then you would normally expect. Still enjoyable.

Review: Harry's Pale Ale

So this is the one out of the beers I tried at Lil' Charlies that I ordered a second round of. Pretty good not too bitter, could stand to have more of the typical hop flavor you would expect in a Pale Ale.

Review: Fire House Red Wheat

It wasn't really a red ale and wasn't really a wheat ale. Overall a little weak , and I think the carbonation was off but couldn't really put my finger on it.

Review: Lil' Charlie's Porter

Also from Lil' Charlie's in Indiana. This hit you with lots of chocolate right off the bat but ended up with a pretty weak and watery finish. This porter is not normally on the menu, I guess they are working out the kinks in the recipe.

Review: Alexander Keith IPA

This one from Canada was just so so. None of the bitterness of most IPA's, it is almost too smooth to even be an IPA. More of a standard Pale Ale than an IPA. None of the hop taste or smell that you would normally get in an IPA.

Review: The 3 Brewers Brown

This was one of the better beers I found in Toronto. It is an OK Brown ale, it is no Newcastle but worth a try.

Review: Leffe Brune Ale

Not exactly what I was expecting , not your typical Belgian and by no means a typical brown ale. Overall a really good beer.

Review: Rickards Red

Another unimpressive beer from Canada. Not a red like a Killians, more like a lite beer trying to be an amber.

Reviews: Amsterdam Brewing Co. Big Wheel Amber

Great session beer, similar to Fat Tire.

Review: KLB Premium Pale Ale

This is a pretty good pale ale from Amsterdam Brewing. Interesting malt / mild bitter hop finish.

Review: Amsterdam Brewing Co. Boneshaker IPA

Delicious, Great blend of flavors. Good luck finding this one, apparently the brewery can't keep up with the demand of all the bars in Toronto.

Review: Amsterdam Brewing Co. Natural Blonde Lager

Crisp and refreshing, this is the most popular beer at Amsterdam Brewing. It would be a good choice for someone looking for something similar ( but much better )to Bud, Miller, Labatts.

Review: Rickards IPA

This was a very unimpressive IPA. Very weak and watery, almost like a lite beer.

Review: Hudepohl Amber Lager

This is a good inexpensive session beer. Crisp and clean taste, actually not much going on with the taste and flavor. Almost no aftertaste. Nothing incredibly special, but much better than most beers in this price range

Review: Dogfish Head Theobroma

From the Dogfish website: "This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1200 BC. As per the analysis, Dogfish Heads Theobroma (translated into 'food of the gods') is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs, honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds)"

I can't decide if they are serious, or if this is just a really entertaining line of BS. Either way this is an amazingly complex chocolate beer, the layers of ingredients just sneak up on you while drinking this one.

I shared this enormous bottle at an impromptu beer tasting at the house one night and we all agreed that it was one of the most unique tastes, while still being very drinkable.

This one will be the first in the "Cool Bottle" series, ie: Beer my wife picked up because the bottle looked cool!

Review: New Holland El Mole Ocho

This is listed as a Mexican spiced ale. Not entirely sure what that means, but it is a very complex tasting beer. The spices are not overwhelming, the chocolate flavor is there but not overwhelming. I have now had this draft ( in a growler ) and bottled, it does take on a different characteristic in the bottle, I think because of the carbonation.

Review: Dogfish Head Burton Baton IPA

Probably the best find the wife has discovered. I got a phone call one afternoon, she found a beer that she didn't recognize, but the label looked cool.
Love this IPA, could drink them all afternoon. Full rich malt taste, almost a brown ale flavor.

Review: New Holland Imperial Hatter IPA

Good overall IPA, but not the best Imperial / Double IPA out there.
Still worth trying if you get a chance.

Review: New Holland Cabin Fever Brown Ale

Nice sweet brown ale with a hint of spices. Goes down smooth with a nutty aftertaste. Similar to Abita Turbodog, not as good but still very tasty.

Review: Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster Imperial IPA

Great Lakes scores again with this outstanding IPA. The balance of the taste of hops and citrus makes for great flavor.

Review: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

I am a huge fan of Bourbon Stouts. Goose Island really hit it out of the park with this one. Love the roasted chocolate malt flavor with the taste of Bourbon. Amazing, not for the uninitiated or faint of heart full roasted malt flavor with the nose and finish of a shot of top shelf bourbon. !

Review: Abita Jokamo IPA

Always a fan of the Abita beers, and this IPA did not disappoint. Nice taste with a goof balance of hops without being too bitter.

Review: Boulder Beer Company Mojo IPA

Decent American IPA, smooth enough, but without the classic hop finish of a good IPA.

Review: Real Ale Brewhouse Brown

Solid tasting Brown Ale, not too chocolaty, good balance. Not too bitter. Very similar to Newcastle or Dogfish.

Review: Founders Brewing Company Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

Very sweet Scotch Ale. Lots of Caramel and malts, ends up with a sweet and roasted finish.

Review: Newcastle Summer Ale

Jury still out on this one. Big fan of the brown ale but this one just didn't do anything for me.

Review: Schlafly Summer Kolsch

Very clean crisp taste. Great summer session beer.

Tip: If you're traveling in MI

Please check out my brother's brother-in-law's place in Allendale, Mug Shots Burgers & Brews! Great beer selection and great burgers and Stuff.

Review: New Holland Brewing The Poet Stout

Great, bold tasting Stout. Nice blend of flavors with subtle hints of coffee and chocolate. Smooth finish, no aftertaste

Review: Left Hand Brewing Fade to Black Ale

I am hit or miss with Black ales. This one came off a little too roasted, the burnt malt aftertaste was sort of overwhelming.

Tasting: Stone Brewing & Hugo Restaurant Beer Tasting Dinner

On April 7 2011, Hugo Restaurant in Oakley hosted a paired dinner with Stone Brewing. Multiple courses were served with a beer chosen to compliment the food.


Saison du BUFF, a collaboration beer from Dogfish Head, Victory Brewing Co. and Stone Brewing. I got a nice blend of Citrus and Herbs. Not a huge fan of Saison's in the past but this one is working it's way up the list.


Highway 78 Scotch Ale, another collaboration beer from Green Flash, Pizza Port Carlsbad and Stone Brewing. I really enjoyed this Scotch Ale, of course it doesn't take much to make me like a Scotch Ale !


Special Holiday Ale, collaboration brew from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Nogne O and Stone Brewing. Very nice winter ale, more nutty than spicy.


Stone Ruination IPA, Crazy amount of hops going on here, hard to see the trees thru the hops. There might have been some malt kind of thing there at the end.


Stone Smoked Porter, great porter ,very full flavor but not too thick and heavy. Good desert beer !

Review: Fat Cat Lager

Apparently this stuff sells cheap, surprisingly tastes decent.
Looks and tastes like a heavier beer. Not my favorite, but not terrible

Tasting: Cincinnati Winter Beer Fest 2011

In February of 2011, after a prolonged hiatus we made back to a beer festival. The 2011 Cincy Winter Beer Fest was a great representation of local and regional brews. Also some cool announcements from the revitalized Christian Moerlein Brewing folks. We had a few guest reviewers on hand for a new perspective.


North Peak Brewing Co. - Diabolical IPA Good IPA Strong flavor but not a standout.


Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Glissade Bock - This is a really good Bock that straddles the line between a Maibock and a Helles Bock. I really like this one in particular, due to the lighter feeling overall. Not a beer you would have a problem consuming in quantity !


Dogfish Head - Indian Brown Ale - I am a big fan of the Brown Ales, but this one just did not work for me. They say it is a Scotch Ale and IPA and American Brown Ale, I think they might have been reaching too far.


Great Divide Brewing Co. - Espresso Oak Yeti Imperial Stout - Have had this on a number of occasions now and have not been disappointed. It really does need to be at the end of the drinking session......


Christian Moerlein - OTR American Pale Ale. This is the beer that will get Moerlein attention in a mass market arena. It is a great tasting session beer that will appeal to the mass market "lite" beer drinkers.


Hudepohl Festival Bock - Loved the balanced Malt flavor.


Listermann's Friar Bacon Smoked Bock - BACON !!!!! We really enjoyed this one ! The bacon is part of the smoked flavor, but in no way overwhelming. Good Malt / Sweet balance. After reading some other reviews, I believe draft is the way to go with this one.


Listermann's Bourbon Stout - This one got a big thumbs up from all of us that were willing to take on the very high abv ( unknown %) Great hearty stout with that characteristic Bourbon finish.


Rivertown Brewing Co. Munich Dunkel Lager - Wasn't my favorite beer of the night by a long shot, flavor is OK, the malt aftertaste isn't the greatest either.


Rivertown Brewing Co. Ellzebelle Belgian Tripel Stout - another favorite


Wooden Shoe Brewing Co. Helles Bock - Decent Bock, not outstanding. Good effort for this revived brewery.


Wooden Shoe Brewing Co. Lager - Nice basic Lager. Pretty plain, nothing special.


Thirsty Dog Twisted Kilt Scotch Ale - Not a big winner, missing that full malt flavor of a good scotch ale.


Quaff Bros. Jones' IPA - If you ever enjoyed any IPA you really owe it to yourself to track this one down. This stuff is aged in a Bourbon Barrel to give it a really amazing and unique taste.


Quaff Bros. Figgy Pudding Winter Warmer - All the great variety of flavors from spices to figs, also aged in not one but two different Bourbon Barrels.


Mt. Carmel Nut Brown Ale - I have enjoyed this all the way back to the days when it was only available in growlers and people would look at me strangely when I would show up at parties with one or two growlers, clearly Joe sixpack was not ready for a solid local brew.


Mt. Carmel IPA - Barely a passing grade on this one, and by this point in the evening we were definitely grading on a curve! I will have to try this one again at some point.


Goose Island Pepe Nero Black Rye Saison - This one got and A++++ from all of us and everyone else we talked to at the Goose Island Booth. This Belgian Ale has a complex full flavor and has a very full and rich taste.

Review: Bluegrass Brewing Co. Jefferson Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout

A bit of a surprise. For the hype and price ( $15 for a 4 pack???) I expected more. Not a overwhelming stout, heavy on the roasted malts but pretty average for a normal stout much less one that had aged in a top shelf bourbon barrel

Review: Oggi's Brewing Scottish Ale

So this was one of the better beers at Oggi's Pizz and Brewing Co.
A little thin for a Scottish ale but still very tasty and not a bad session beer.

Review: Butlers Pale Ale

Fairly mild and unassuming, not really worth looking for. There are many other Pale Ales that are much better.

Review: Sierra Nevada Porter

Really good Porter with a great flavor, a bit malty but not over bearing and not too heavy.

Review: Otter Creek Stovepipe Porter

Great Full Flavored Porter. Not overbearing or heavy, good blend of hops. Very sweet finish.

Review: Rogue Mocha Porter

Great tasting Porter with a surprisingly smooth finish. Didn't really get the Mocha part. Maybe just a little chocolate flavor.

Review: Salopian Brewing Entire Butt Porter

Well blended Porter, strong finish. The "Entire Butt" is a English brewing term that means the whole barrel. Or as we would say " everything including the kitchen sink" I guess they are referring to the 14 different malts and 3 different hops used to make this porter.

Review: Lafayette Brewing Co. Pipers Pride Scottish Ale

This was probably the best one we sampled on this trip. Very nice caramel malt flavor. The sweet malt balance was great. Also very good sweet / malty finish.

Review: Lafayette Brewing Co. Hop Rocket 85

I enjoyed this IPA, it was a little over the top in the Hop department, but pretty decent overall.

Review: Lafayette Brewing Co. Eastside Bitter

This was too light and, believe it or not, not bitter enough. Also too fruity in the finish. They were trying too hard with this one. Stick to the basics.

Review: Lafayette Brewing Co. Prophets Rock Pale Ale

Decent Pale Ale. Nice overall flavor, hops are upfront in the taste, but not overwhelming.

Review: Black Angus Oatmeal Stout.

Decent stout. Flavor was OK, but too bitter for my taste in Stouts.

Review: Kona Brewing Co. Fire Rock Pale Ale

Fairly mild Pale Ale, easy drinking, not too hopped up. A little bit of citrus flavor in the mix

Review: Kona Brewing Co. Longboard Island Lager

This was one of the go to beers when I was in Maui. Above average lager that goes down smooth and goes well with all sorts of food.