Beer Geek

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2011-01-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

Weyerbacher Riserva - 5 glasses
Bruery Three French Hens - 5 glasses
Troeg's Mad Elf - 2 glasses (an upgrade)
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum - 5 glasses
Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Canon - 4 glasses (a downgrade)
Steenberge Piraat - 4 glasses
Ommegang BPA - 3 glasses
BFM Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien - 7 glasses
Steenberge Bruegel - 3 glasses
Steenberge Bornem Triple - 4 glasses
Hanssens Lambic Experimental Cassis - 3 glasses
Highlands Black Mocha Stout - 4 glasses
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' - 5 glasses
Steenberge Bornem Double - 4 glasses
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA - 5 glasses
Highlands Oatmeal Porter - 4 glasses
Steenberge Augustiin - 3 glasses
Alesmith Old Numskull - 5 glasses
Avery Joe's - 4 glasses
Move Chimnay to 6
Move Sculpin to 6
I have fallen behind

Beers sorted by Brewer

2011-01-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

* Alesmith * (Speedway Stout)
* Allagash * (Dubbel, Tripel Reserve, White)
* Anderson Valley * (Winter Solstice)
* Anheuser-Busch * (Budweiser)
* Avery * (Anniversary Ale - Sixeen, Maharaja, Old Jubulation)
* Ayinger * (Oktober Fest-Märzen)
* Bass * (Pale Ale)
* Bavik * (Petrus Aged Pale Ale)
* Bear Republic * (Racer 5)
* Belhaven * (Twisted Thistle IPA)
* Bells * (Batch 9000, Expedition Stout, Oarsman, Oberon, Octoberfest, Sparkling Ale, Third Coast Old Ale, Two Hearted Ale)
* Bitburger * (Premium Pils)
* Bockor * (Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge)
* Blue and Gray * (Elwood Thompson Fresh Farmhouse Ale)
* Bluegrass * (Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout)
* Blue Mountain * (Big D.I.P.A., Full Nelson, Rockfish Wheat)
* Boon * (Mariage Parfait)
* Bostells * (Karmeliet)
* Boulevard * (Saison - Brett)
* Brasserie Dieu du Ciel * (Peche Mortel)
* Brooklyn * (Black Chocolate Stout, Monster Ale, Oktoberfest)
* Bruery * (Hottenroth Berliner Weisse, Saison Rue)
* Cantillon * (Gueuze, Rose de Gambrinus, Vigneronne)
* Chimay * (Grand Reserve (Blue), Tripel)
* Clipper City * (Heavy Seas Loose Canon)
* d'Achouffe * (La Chouffe, N'Ice Chouffe)
* de Dolle * (Ara Bier, Dulle Teve, Oerbier Reserva, Stille Nacht)
* De Proef * (Les Deux Brasseurs, Pinhead)
* Dogfish Head * (60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA, 120 Minute IPA, World Wide Stout)
* Drie Fonteine * (Oude Geuze)
* Duck-Rabbit * (Porter)
* Dupont * (Avec Les Bons Voeux, Saison)
* Duvel * (Duvel)
* Fantôme * (Saison)
* Floreffe * (Prima Melior)
* Flying Dog * (Gonzo, In Heat Wheat, Raging Bitch, Snake Dog IPA, Whiskey-Barrel Aged Gonzo)
* Founders * (Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Porter, Red's Rye PA)
* Fullers * (Vintage Ale)
* Girardin * (Gueuze 1882 Black Label)
* Goose Island * (312 Urban Wheat Ale, Stockyard Oatmeal Stout)
* Great Divide * (Hibernation Ale / Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout / Titan IPA / Yeti Imperial Stout)
* Green Flash * (Imperial IPA)
* Guinness * (Foreign Extra Stout)
* Hanssens * (Oude Gueuze / Oude Kriek)
* Hoegaarden * (Original White Ale)
* Huyghe * (Delirium Nocturum)
* Koningshoeven * (Tripel)
* Lagunitas * (Brown Sugga' (cask), Cappuccino Stout, IPA, Undercover Investigator Shut-Down Ale)
* Leffe * (Blonde)
* Left Hand * (Polestar Pilsner)
* Legend * (Brown Ale, Golden Ale, Octoberfest)
* Linemans * (Framboise)
* J. W. Lees * (Harvest Ale, Harvest Ale aged in Calvados casks)
* Magic Hat * (Vinyl)
* Modelo * (Negra Modelo)
New Belgium: Mothership Wit
New Holland: Golden Cap
North Coast: ACME California IPA, Blue Star Wheat Ale, Old #38 Stout, Old Rasputin, Red Seal Ale
Old Dominion: Millennium, Oak Barrel Stout
Oskar Blues: Dale's Pale Ale, Gordon, TEN FIDY
*Ommegang* (Abbey Ale, Biere de Mars, Hennepin, Ommegeddon, Rare Vos, Three Philosophers, Tripel Perfection)
Orval: Orval
Oud Beersel: Kriek, Oude Geuze Vieille
Pabst: Blue Ribbon
Paulaner: Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrub, Salvator
Peroni: Nastro Azzurro
Pilsner: Urquell
Port: Old Viscosity
Rogue: Chocolate Stout, Shakespeare Stout
Russian River: Santification, Temptation
*Samuel Adams* (Boston Lager, Noble Pils, Octoberfest)
Samuel Smith: Oatmeal Stout, Pure Brewed Lager
Schneider: Aventinus, Aventinus Weizen Eisbock, Weisse
Sierra Nevada - Bigfoot / Celebration / ESB / Kellerweis / Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale / Pale Ale / Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale, Stout / Summerfest / Torpedo Extra IPA /
Sinebrychoff: Porter
Smisje: Calva Reserva
Smuttynose: Baltic Porter, "Finest Kind" IPA, Robust Porter
Southampton: Biere de Garde, Saison Deluxe
Southern Tier - 2 x IPA / IPA / Unearthly /
St. Bernardus: Abt 12, Prior 8, Tripel, Witbier
St. George: IPA, Summer Ale
Starr Hill: Dark Starr Stout, (The) Gift, Jumo Lager, (The) Love, Northern Lights
Steenberge: Gulden Draak, Maerfant Damse
Stone: 13th Anniversary, Arrogant Bastard, Double Bastard, Imperial Russian Stout, Levitation Ale, Old Ruffian, Ruination
Stoudts: Scarlette Lady
Strubbe: Ichtegem's Grand Cru
Terrapin: Sunray Wheat Ale
Thirsty Dog: Old Leghumper, Siberian Night
Three Floyds: Gumballhead, Pride and Joy
*Trader Joe's* (2009 Vintage Ale, 2010 Vintage Ale, Bavarian Style Hefeweizen, Joseph Brau Dunkelweizen, Joseph Brau Oktoberfest)
Trappistes Rochefort: 6, 8, 10
Tröegs: Nugget Nectar
Tuppers: Keller Pils
Tyskie: Gronie
Unibroue: La Fin du Monde, Maudite, Trois Pistoles
Urthel: Hop-It, Saisonnière
Victory: Baltic Thunder, Old Horizontal, Prima Pils
Weihenstephaner: 1809, Hefeweissbier, Vitus
Westmalle: Tripel
Weyerbacher: Twelve
Widmer: Hefeweizen
Yuengling: Black and Tan, Traditional Lager

Stille Nacht

2011-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

Brewer: de Dolle

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Tasting notes: (1012) Bottled 2008, in my cellar for 1 yr 4 mn since 0908. Where is the sugar? Fruity with orange zest and funk. Downgraded from 7. A bad bottle? (0811) Marvelous mix of orange zest, spices, alcohol, candy sugar, and funk. Bottle in 2006. Upgraded from 5. Initially put down 6 but could not get the beer out of my mind. (0712) A 2006 bottle. Spicy sour oranges (tangerine?) w/ an alcohol blast. Not as sweet as I remembered. Downgraded from 6. (0610) A glass at Mekong. Sweet, spices, and alcohol. Reminded me of Samichlaus, but better. Click here for a previous review.

Previous ratings: 6, 5, 7 glasses

Rating: 5 glasses

Vintage Ale 2010

2011-01-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trader Joe's
Style: Strong Belgian Dark Ale
Tasting notes: (1012) Prunes, anise, and spice (cinnamon?). A disappointment. For $1 more, Ommegang Dubbel is the buy.
Comment: A contract brew w/ Unibrue.
Rating: 2 glasses

Tripel Perfection

2011-01-16T18:55:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Ommegang

Style: Tripel

Tasting notes: (1012) Cloves, candi sugar, orange rind bite. Might need to age. Closer to 3 glasses than 5.

Rating: 4 glasses

Tripel Reserve

2011-01-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Allagash

Style: Tripel

Tasting notes: (1012) A bottle @ LeMaire. Fruity, spicy, with a tiche of dry funk. Complex. Upgraded from 4 glasses and thought about 6. (1008) Fruity and nice w/ a touch of triple sour dryness. 0705: Dry, sour, grapefruit hops, with hints of lemon and citrus.. Downgraded from 5/8. ???: My first Belgian style ale and still one of my favorites. Fruity and nice. You spend half the bottle trying to identify the flavors and then the 9.0% ABV hits you.

Top 100: 29 December 2005

Previous ratings: 5, then 4 glasses

Rating: 5 glasses

Old Jubulation

2011-01-15T17:47:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Avery

Style: Winter Warmer

Tasting notes: (1012) A spicy brown ale. It tastes like Christmas. Downgraded from 5 glasses. (1011) A hoppy brown ale? A subdued Arrogant Bastard? Strong Ale might be the better classification The brewer calls it English Strong Ale. (0801) A good brown ale? (0801) Big caramel malt with a spicy finish. (0801) A Brown Ale / Stout? Thinking about a 6 and buying another 6-pack. (0801) Burnt toffee. Quaffable and sippable. Very nice.

Previous ratings: 5 glasses

Rating: 4 glasses

Southern Tier 2 x IPA

2011-01-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Southern Tier

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1011) 1st of a 6-pack. Thinnner and more floral than I remembered. Downgraded from 5 glasses and thought about 3. Better on draft. (1011) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Hopped up, w/ some malt to balance. Lots of citrus with some pine.

Previous ratings: 5 glasses

Rating: 4 glasses

La Chouffe

2011-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Brewer: d'Achouffe

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Tasting notes: (1011): Wonderful - A little spice, a little funk, a little sweet fruit.

Rating: 6 glasses

Polestar Pilsner

2011-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Left Hand

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1011) A bottle @ Acacia. Nice, easy drinking w/ some hops. Might rate 2 glasses.

Rating: 3 glasses

Northern Hemisphere Harvest Ale

2011-01-15T17:20:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Sierra Nevada

Style: Pale Ale

Tasting notes: (1010) Slight sweetness up front followed by wonderful bite - a tiche of resin and a tiche of pine. (0811) Another fine bottle. Nothing too strong: tamer than the description that follows. (0810) Sweet malt w/ resiny musty hops. Very nice. (0710) A 24 oz. bottle. Resiny, musty hops. May rate a 5, but it is the best example of American Pale Ale. My tastes have changed. Upgraded from a 1. (????) Well crafted but too much pine

Comment: This is a seasonal release (Fall) that uses fresh hops. Sierra Nevade trys to use them the day that they are picked.

Top 100: 29 December 2005

Previous ratings: 1 glass

Rating: 6 glasses

Brown Ale

2011-01-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Legend

Style: Brown Ale

Tasting notes: (1010) Two freebies. Did not finish the 2nd. Downgraded from 2 glasses. May be better on draft. (1006) Glasses from a sixtel. Thought about a downgrade to 1. Previous review.

Previous ratings: 2 glasses

Rating: 1 glass

Unearthly

2011-01-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Southern Tier

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1010) On draft @ Mekong. May rate 5 glasses. (0803) Hoppy w/ enough malt to balance

Top 100: 10 March 2007.

Rating: 4 glasses

Joseph Brau Dunkelweizen

2011-01-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trader Joe's

Style: Dunkelweizen

Tasting notes: (1011) Ditto as first review. (1010) Too much clove? Too cold? Downgraded from 4 glasses. (1010) Easy drinking w/ a tiche of caramel, banana, and clove.

Comment: A contract brew.

Previous ratings: 4 glasses

Rating: 3 glasses

Foreign Extra Stout

2011-01-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Guinness

Style: Irish Stout

Tasting notes: (1011) Good dry Irish stout. (1010) Caramel malt up front followed by odd Guiness sour/tart/bitterness. A sipper: loads of flavor. May rate 3 glasses.

Top 100: 10 March 2007

Rating: 4 glasses

Oktober Fest-Märzen

2011-01-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Ayinger

Style: Oktoberfest

Tasting notes: (1010) Lightly buttered toast. A good example of the style but Brooklyn is more quaffable.

Rating: 4 glasses

Bavarian Style Hefeweizen

2011-01-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trader Joe's

Style: Hefeweizen

Tasting notes: (1010) Bananas, clove and bubble gum. Upgraded from 3 glasses. (1008) Wonderful nose. Flavor is weaker and a little different. Downgraded from 4 glasses. (1004) Bananas and clove. A little thin. May rate 3 glasses but $1 a bottle pushes up the score.

Comment: A contract brew.

Previous ratings: 4 glasses, then 3.

Rating: 4 glasses

Joseph Brau Oktoberfest

2011-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trader Joe's

Style: Oktoberfest

Tasting notes: (1010) Downgraded from 3 glasses. (1010) Toasty, easy drinking, and cheap.

Comment: A contract brew.

Previous Ratings: 3 glasses

Rating: 2 glasses

Octoberfest

2011-01-02T17:35:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Legend

Style: Oktoberfest

Tasting notes: (1009) Butter on burnt toast. Missed my mark.

Rating: 0 glasses

Porter

2011-01-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Sinebrychoff

Style: Baltic Porter

Tasting notes: (1009) A dry stout? May rate 4 glasses. (0606) Wonderful raisan and prune nose and taste. A finish something like Sam Smith Impy Stout.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not 02 January 2011.)

Rating: 5 glasses

Octoberfest

2011-01-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Bells

Style: Oktoberfest

Tasting notes: (1009) On draft @ Caliente's. Some caramel malt, some toast, some hop. Easy drinking.

Rating: 4 glasses

120 Minute IPA

2010-09-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Dogfish Head

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1009) A 1-yr 10-mn. old bottle. Ditto as previous review, but smoother. Ages wonderfully.

Rating: 7 glasses

Two Hearted Ale

2010-09-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bell's

Style: IPA

Tasting notes: (1008) Well constructed but a floral perfumey flavor missed my spot. May rate 3 glasses. (0810) Ditto as before. (0702) Did not hit my spot. Very floral hops. Cloves or chives.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 07 September 2010.

Rating: 2 glasses

Oktoberfest Beer

2010-08-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Brooklyn

Style: Oktoberfest

Tasting notes: (1008) Made for drinking. Thinking about 6 glasses. (1008) A definite 5. (1008) Buttered toast. May rate 4 glasses but left the rating @ 5 because it is my favorite example of the style and something I want to buy each year. (0809) Toasty with hops to balance. Flavorful and easy drinking. I should get another 6-pack next year. Torn between a 4 and a 5 rating.

Rating: 5 glasses

Saison

2010-08-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Fantôme

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1008) Quaffable and complex. A little apple up front w/ interesting sour/dry aftertaste. Though about 5 glasses. (0808) Dry apple cider w/ a musty bite @ end. Different, interesting and complex.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010.

Rating: 4 glasses

Harvest Ale

2010-08-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Brewer: J. W. Lees

Style: English Barleywine

Tasting notes: (1008) A 12-yr old bottle brewed in 1998. Sticky sweet burnt caramel, molasses, leather, apple butter, and prunes. Big, bold, complex, and smotth. Upgraded from 6 glasses. I though about the taste for days. (0808) A 1998 vintage. Massive taste and viscous consistency. Cream brulee, bananas foster, sugared prunes, raisins, a tiche of leather and slight alcohol burn. Upgraded from 4 glasses. (0612) A bottle dated 2000. Complex. Big malty taste up front, esp. when cold, fading to a sour hop bite. Good with peach flan. Sipped for 2+ hours. A better version of Third Coast Old Ale?

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010.

Comments: Previous ratings were 4 and then 6.

Rating: 7 glasses

Oude Geuze

2010-08-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Drie Fonteine

Style: Gueze

Tasting notes: (1008) A 2 yr 7 mn old bottle. Tartness is muted by oak. Hints of apple and grapefruit. Complex and quaffable. (0803) Not as tart as Girardin. More apple and smokey oak. Complex and quaffable. Upgraded from 4. (0712) Grapefruit cider. Vineous and refreshing.

Top 100: 10 March 2007 but not 29 December 2005 or 14 August 2010.

Rating: 6 glasses

Big D.I.P.A.

2010-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Blue Mountain

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1008) On draft @ Southwinds. A great hop delivery vehicle. May rate 6 glasses.

Rating: 5 glasses

Kriek

2010-08-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Oud Beersel

Style: Fruit Lambic

Tasting notes: (1008) NOT Oude Kriek. Lacks tartness and tastes of artificial sweetner.

Rating: 1 glass

Salvator

2010-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Paulaner

Style: Doppelbock

Tasting notes: (1103) Good but lacked the sweetness and dark fruits. Downgraded from 5 glasses after drinking Old Rasputin. (1007) A delightful bottle from Jon S., sweet malty caramel with dark fruits. It is what I remembered from years ago @ Avalon.

Previous ratings: 5 glasses

Rating: 4 glasses

Old #38 Stout

2010-08-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Brewer: North Coast

Style: Irish Stout

Tasting notes: (1007) A bottle @ Acacia. A great example of the style - dry and crisp with chocolate and smoke undertones. May rate 4 glasses.

Rating: 3 glasses

90 Minute IPA

2010-08-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Dogfish Head

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1007) On drart @ Joe's Inn. Citrous and pine and malt and complex and balanced. Upgraded from 5 glasses. (0711) A glass @ CAH. Very nice. Good hops balanced by sweet malt. Still thinking about a rating of 6. (0609) One bottle. A great beer. Complex and balanced. At first I noticed smooth citrous hops with nice malt backbone. It had a lemon flavor at the end of a taste. As it warmed, the malts came forward and it remined me of an English Barleywine. May rate a 6/8. I wonder if it "aged" sitting in my refrig for a while.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010.

Rating: 6 glasses

Keller Pils

2010-08-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Tuppers

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1007) A tasty pils w/ a nice, rough, grassy hoppiness. May rate 4 glasses but I keep wanting to buy it again. A tiche pricey, however.

Comment: Brewed by contract by St. George

Rating: 5 glasses

Summer Ale

2010-08-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Brewer: St. George

Style: Pale Ale

Tasting notes: (1006) English style pale ale.

Rating: 2 glasses

Ruination

2010-08-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Stone

Style: Double IPA

Tasting notes: (1006) Ditto altough the grapefruit was not as promounced as I remember. 0706: Moved to 4 in new rating. (0602) Floral, hoppy nose. Plenty of hops taste but milder than I expected (or advertized on the bottle). Strong grapefruit aftertaste. Would be fun to share with a hop head, although my recollection is that Bear Republic Racer X would be a better choice.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 14 August 2010.

Rating: 4 glasses

Whiskey-Barrel Aged Gonzo

2010-08-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Flying Dog

Style: Baltic Porter

Tasting notes: (1006) On tap @ Mekong. Bigger and bolder than Gonzo.

Rating: 4 glasses

Gonzo

2010-08-14T05:25:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Flying Dog

Style: Baltic Porter

Tasting notes: (1006) On tap @ Mekong. Big and bold.

Rating: 3 glasses

Ommegang Rare Vos

2010-07-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Ommegang

Style: Belgian Dark Ale

Tasting notes: (1008) On draft @ Southwinds. Eh? Not as bold as I remembered. Downgraded from 5 glasses. (Click here for a previous review.

Rating: 4 glasses

Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale

2010-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Sierra Nevada

Style: Pale Ale

Tasting notes: (1006) Nice hoppy pale ale. Upgraded from 3 and may rate 5. (0805) A English version of an APA? Nice. Lacks bite of the regular harvest ale.

Rating: 4 glasses

Scarlet Lady

2010-06-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Stoudts

Style: ESB

Tasting notes: (1006) Roasty malts with a sour tinniness at end. May rate 2 glasses.

Rating: 3 glasses

Blue Ribbon

2010-06-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Pabst

Style: Macro Lager

Tasting notes: (1006) A bottle for $1 @ Mosiac. A little corn sweetness, smooth and drinkable. Good deal for $1. Better than Bud.

Rating: 2 glasses

Sunray Wheat Ale

2010-06-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Terrapin

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale

Tasting notes: (1006) 4th bottle. Liking it less. Downgraded from 3 glasses. (1005) Decent and easy drinking hefe. Lacks complexity and punch. A good substitute for a pilsner. May rate 2 glasses.

Rating: 2 glasses

Boston Lager

2010-06-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Samuel Adams

Style: Vienna Lager

Tasting notes: (1012) A few bottles @ parties. Upgraded from 2 glasses. (0701) Decent

Previous rating: 2 glasses

Rating: 3 glasses

Kentucky Breakfast Stout

2010-06-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Founders

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1012) 2nd of the 4-pack. Big sweet bourbony malt w/ touch of vanilla. Not my cup of tea and disjointed. Downgraded from 4 glasses. (1006) 1st of a 4-pack. Release was delayed in VA for label approval. A ton going on. An odd effervesent tanginess up front, chocolate, coffee, and sweet vanilla w/ a hint of bourbon. Almost quaffable. I can see why it is rated so high but am not sure if this is my cup of tea or if everything comes together well. I was also put off by the odd tanginess - it reminded me of the sensation generated by eating fruit that has started to "turn" from a salad bar. It may also need time to "stew". I'll try another bottle in the winter.

Top 100: 01 March 2007 and 13 June 2010. (But not 29 December 2005. I don't think it existed then.)

Previous ratings: 4 glasses

Rating: 3 glasses

Vinyl

2010-06-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Magic Hat

Style: Red Lager

Tasting notes: (1006) A bottle @ ML's. Pleasant and easy drinking with accent on malt.

Rating: 3 glasses

Raging Bitch

2010-06-13T09:27:00.001-07:00

Brewer: Flying Dog

Style: Belgian IPA

Tasting notes: (1006) A bottle @ ML's. Nice, hopped-up Belgian Pale Ale. May rate 4 glasses but I liked it better than Founder KBS.

Rating: 5 glasses

Golden Cap

2010-06-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

Brewer: New Holland

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1005) Sweet, spicy, and effervesent.

Rating: 4 glasses

Undercover Investigator Shut-Down Ale

2010-06-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Lagunitas

Style: Strong Ale

Tasting notes: (1005) A bottle @ Avalon.Sweet malt dominates with loads of hops in the background. Lagunitas calls is an Imperial Mild. I thought is was close to a good English Barleywine.

Rating: 5 glasses

Saison Rue

2010-06-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bruery

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1005) A bottle @ Acacia. A saison with a kick of rye and a hint of brett. May rate 5 glasses.

Rating: 4 glasses

Framboise

2010-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Lindemans

Style: Fruit Lambic

Tasting notes: (1005) A perfect pairing w/ Mother's Day brunch. Raspberry Sweet Tart. Good w/ dessert. Upgraded from 2 glasses. (0706) Moved to 2 in new rating. Sweet and fruity but still beer. A little is nice but a good portion of 750 ml was too much. I was glad, not sad, to see the empty.

Rating: 4 glasses

Premium Pils

2010-06-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bitburger

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1005): A minikeg. Eh? Unoffensive. Following a Paulener Weiss may have hurt the rating. May rate 2 glasses.

Rating: 1 glass

Arrogant Bastard

2010-06-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Stone

Style: Strong Ale

Tasting notes: (1005) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Still rough but much more mellow than I remember. Sort of like drinking cracked barley. Upgraded from 2. 0706: Moved to 2 in new rating. 602: Loads of flavor. Sort of a Barleywine with a rough taste with more hops and a bitter end taste. I much prefer SNBFBW.

Top 100: 29 December 2005. (Neither March 2007, 2009 or June 09, 2010.)

Rating: 4 glasses

Maerfant Damse

2010-05-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Steenberge

Style: Tripel

Tasting notes: (1004) On draft @ Mekong. Candy sugar, apples, and a spciy finish with a tiche of hops. Pleasant, a tiche sweet, and easy drinking.

Comment: An called it "Naked Draak", I think I have the correct brew but may have the wrong name.

Rating: 5 glasses

Gulden Draak

2010-05-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Steenberge

Style: Strong Belgian Dark Ale

Tasting notes: (1102) A yeasty, spicy, dubbel w/ a clove kick. Downgraded from 6 glasses. (1008) A bottle @ Joe's Inn. A clove fizzy? Thought about a downgrade. (1004) On draft @ Mekong. Yummy, complex, flavorful, and easy drinking.. Tiches of candy sugar, malt, yeast, caramel, and spicy hops. I think it tastes like a Dubbel. The brewery calls it a dark tripel. I call it good.

Previous ratings: 6 glasses

Rating: 5 glasses

Stockyard Oatmeal Stout

2010-05-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Goose Island

Style: Oatmeal Stout

Tasting notes: (1005) A tiche bland. Downgraded from 4 glasses. (1004) A nice stout with pleasant light smokey chocolate touches. Great value @ $5.99/6 pack. (0904) Pleasant stout and a great value. (0711) Needs more kick. @ $5 it may be worth another try. (0701) Last of a 6 pack. Chocolate and coffee smell. (0612) Pleasant and a good value. Charcoal and sweet malt. Needs a bit more kick and a little thin.

Comments: This is a contract brew for Trader Joe's by Goose Island. I don't know if the recipe is the same as the Goose Island Oatmeal Stout.

Rating: 3 glasses

Pure Brewed Lager

2010-05-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Samuel Smith

Style: Lager

Tasting notes: (1004) A bottle @ Edo Squids. Grainy.

Rating: 2 glasses

Red's Rye PA

2010-05-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Founders

Style: Rye Beer

Tasting notes: (1005) Ditto w/ some sweetness @ first. (1005) Very nice. Hoppy red ale w/ a tiche of rye. Might rate 5 glasses. (1004) Nice hoppy, rye bite.

Rating: 4 glasses

Witbier

2010-05-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Brewer: St. Bernardus

Style: Witbier

Tasting notes: (1004) On draft @ Mekong. Ditto. (0703) The perfect wit - light, refreshing, yeasty, fruity, and extremely quaffable.

Rating: 6 glasses

Hop-It

2010-05-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Urthel

Style: Belgian IPA

Tasting notes: (1004) A bottle ordered by mistake @ Water Grill. A hopped-up Belgian Pale Ale.

Rating: 4 glasses

Saison

2010-05-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Dupont

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1105) Complex w/ a slight perfume sourness. Dry and refreshing. Upgraded from 5 glasses. (1004) Complex and funky. Fruity @ first and dry @ end. Upgraded to 5. (0709) Complex and funky. I did not like the sour taste at end but the flavor became more appealing as I sipped. Very refreshing. Upgraded from a 1. (0606) A funky saison. I did not like the bitter, sour, ??, aftertaste.

Previous ratings: 1, 4, and 5 glasses

Rating: 6 glasses

Sparkling Ale

2010-05-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bells

Style: Tripel

Tasting notes: (1003) On draft @ Mekong. OK. A tiche of sweet.

Rating: 3 glasses

Batch 9000

2010-05-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bells

Style: Strong Ale

Tasting notes: (1003) On draft @ Mekong. An massive, over-the-top, and sticky sweet mixture of chocolate, molasses, and hops.

Rating: 4 glasses

Oarsman

2010-05-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bells

Style: Berliner Weissbier

Tasting notes: (1003) On draft @ Mekong. Light, lemony, and flavorful. May rate 3 glasses.

Rating: 4 glasses

Robust Porter

2010-05-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Smuttynose

Style: Porter

Tasting notes: 1005) Last of the 6. Upgraded from 4 to 5 glasses after following it with Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. (1003) Flavorful, easy drinking, and nice smokey bite at finish. A dry Irish stout? May rate 5 glasses.

Rating: 5 glasses

Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

2010-05-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Great Divide

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1003) On draft @ Mekong. Complex mix of roasty malt and chocolate with undertone of oak. Upgraded from 5 glasses. (0707) Sweet malt up front w/ hint of vanilla, alcohol burn, and burnt bite at end. (Too) easy drinking.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, 25 November 2008, and 24 May 2009.

Rating: 6 glasses

Saisonnière

2010-05-01T04:37:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Urthel

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1008) On tap @ Mekong. Nice, easy drinking w/ an interesting dry funky finish. May rate 5 glasses.

Rating: 4 glasses

1882 Black Label Gueuze

2010-04-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Girardin

Style: Gueuze

Tasting notes: (1002) A bottle purchased 4 mn ago. See previous review. Cantillon may be better??

Top 100: 10 March 2007 and 8 February 2009. (Not on 29 December 2005.)

Rating: 7 glasses.

Elwood Thompson Fresh Farmhouse Ale

2010-04-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Blue and Gray

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1003) An odd collection of fruit, funk and sour flavors. OK w/ food.

Rating: 2 glasses.

Noble Pils

2010-04-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Samuel Adams

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1003) Pleasant. I wanted more hops.

Rating: 3 glasses.

Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout

2010-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Bluegrass

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1008) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Too much bourbon and vanilla. Overbearing. Downgraded from 4 glasses and then from 3 a few days later. (1003) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Ditto. (0608) A pint at CAH. A good stout with vanilla with a touch of bourbon. The bourbon grows as the beer warms. Very (too?) smooth, not a sipper and the alcohol was totally hidden. I wanted more bite and body.

Rating: 2 glasses.

IPA

2010-04-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Lagunitas

Style: IPA

Tasting notes: (1003) Cask ale @ Mekong. Crisp, clean, and hoppy. Rates at least a 5. Let's split the difference and go 3 to 4. (0805) Downgraded to 3. (0709) A bottle @ Mekong. Sweet malt, spicy hops. Pleasant and good w food.

Rating: 4 glasses.

Brown Sugga' (cask)

2010-04-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Lagunitas

Style: Strong Ale

Tasting notes: (1003) Cask @ Mekong. Very nice, muted, balanced, and complex.

Rating: 5 glasses.

Cappuccino Stout

2010-04-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Brewer: Lagunitas

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (1003) Cask ale @ Mekong. Very nice stout, with nice dose of coffee. Rates at least 5. Let's split the difference and go 3 to 4. (0810) A bottle in Harrisonburg. Coffee! A little one dimensional and a tiche thin.

Rating: 4 glasses.

10

2010-03-05T18:21:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trappistes Rochefort

Style: Quadruple

Tasting notes: (1002) A 1 mn 4 mn old bottle. Complex and quaffable. Luxuriant mouthfeel. Wonderfully balanced.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 5 March 2009.

Rating: 7 glasses.

Old Viscosity

2010-03-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Port

Style: Strong Ale

Tasting notes: (1003) A bottle purchased 1 yr and 11 mn ago. Baltic Porter and muted Arrogant Bastard. Downgraded from 5 glasses. (0806) A bottle purchased 2 mn ago. A mixture of Baltic Porter and Arrogant Bastard. Lots of coffee, especially when cold, w/ a hoppy finish. Better when cold - was thinking about 6 glasses. A sipper as it warms. A charcoal bite emerges as it warms. Alcohol blast throughout. Bourbon is present but subdued.

Rating: 4 glasses.

Urquell

2010-03-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Pilsner

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1002) A bottle @ Avalon. Wet and cold.

Rating: 2 glasses, downgraded from 3. Click here for previous review.

Porter

2010-03-05T17:35:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Founders

Style: Porter

Tasting notes: (1002) A bottle @ Avalon. Stoutlike: dark and rich.

Rating: 5 glasses

Siberian Night

2010-03-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Thirsty Dog

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1003) A 1 yr. 11. mn old bottle. Bittersweet chocolate w/ a hint of soy. May be better fresh. (1002) A 1 yr 10 mn old bottle. A disappointment. A tiche of soy, some sour, some bitter chocolate. Downgraded from 7 glasses. This serving would rate at most 4 glasses but I dropped the rating to 5 based on previous tastings. Click here for previous review.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not 10 April 2009.)

Rating: 5 glasses

Prima Pils

2010-03-05T17:22:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Victory

Style: Pilsner

Tasting notes: (1104) Upgraded from 4 glasses. Maybe I am becoming a lager fan again. (1103) 1st of a 6er. Nice, crisp, hoppy refreshment. May rate 5 glasses. (1002) On draft @ Joe's Inn. Nice hoppy pils. Went great w/ sailor sandwich. The serving merits 5 glasses but I left the overall rating unchanged. Fresh is good. Click here for previous review.

Previous ratings: 4, 3, 4 glasses

Rating: 4 glasses

Hottenroth Berliner Weisse

2010-03-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Bruery

Style: Berliner Weissbier

Tasting notes: (1001) Lemon-lime tartness and refreshment.

Rating: 3 glasses

Solid Rotation

2010-02-07T20:26:00.000-08:00

I am thinking keeping a small stock of three beers on hand. The three beers are: Sierra Nevada Stout, Starr Hill The Love, and Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA. Each of these is reasonably priced and a good example of the style. The diversity of styles and flavors would let me find something to match almost any occasion or food.

I would plan to supplement my standards with some occasional treats and seasonal releases. Some highlights would include: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Founders Imperial Stout, Bigfoot, Hibernation Ale, and a variety of Belgian ales, sours, and gueze.

The Love

2010-01-30T06:02:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Starr Hill

Style: Hefeweizen

Tasting notes: (1008) Very nice - slight banana and clove. May rate 5 glasses. (1005) Last of 2 6's. Good but downgraded from 5 glasses. (1002) On draft @ Joes's Inn. Would be 6 glasses if not for Weihenstephaner. (1001) Lemony fruit, a tiche of cloves and a touch of banana. Refreshing. May be overrated at 5 glasses but fond memories from my first tasting and drinkability push it up from 4.

Comment: The Love was the hit at a beer festival I attended a few summers ago.

Rating: 4 glasses.

Imperial Stout

2010-01-30T05:49:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Founders

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1102) A fresh bottle ($3/bottle). Very nice. Smoke, chocolate, and hops w/ alcohol breath, (1001) A 1-yr. old bottle.
Wow! A little chocolate milkshake, a little chocolate syrup, some charcoal, a hint of bourbon, a wonderful mouthfeel and hoppy, smokey, charcoal bite. Wonderfully balanced and the alcohol is totally hidden.

Rating: 7 glasses.

Golden Ale

2010-01-30T05:36:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Legend

Style: IPA (?)

Tasting notes: (1010) On draft @ Joe's Inn. A bit of pale malts followed by some harsh hops. Not sure if the glass was worth the happy hour price. (0903) On draft @ Joe's Inns. A tiche sweet, w/ a funny finish. I wondered if the line was clean. Not much hop. May rate a 2.

Comment: The Legend web site does not list Golden Ale. It lists Golden IPA and Pale Ale. A poll on the web site lists Golden Ale and Pale Ale - I guessed Golden Ale = Golden IPA.

Rating: 1 glass.

Aventinus Weizen Eisbock

2010-01-30T05:09:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Schneider

Style: Eisbock

Tasting notes: (1001) Complex. Aventinus on steroids? Baked apples w/ cloves and nutneg followed occassionally by an alcohol blast? Upgraded from 5 glasses for being a great example of the style. (0811) Sweet apple cider w/ a touch of clove and nutmeg. More than sippable. Downgraded from 6 glasses. (0604) Sweet prunes and alcohol. A class of 1.

Comment: Eisbock formed by freezing the beer and removing some of the water, thereby concentratinng the flavors and alcohol. I read once that it was discovered when beer was shipped via railcars and drinkers noticed differences in the winter.

Rating: 6 glasses.

Baltic Porter

2010-01-09T18:13:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Smuttynose

Style: Baltic Porter

Tasting notes: (1001) Figs and prunes and slightly smokey bite. (0803) Sweet chocolate, coffee, figs, prunes, and alcohol blast.

Comment: This bottle had aged some. I think just under two years.

Rating: 6 glasses

Shakespeare Stout

2010-01-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (1001) Ditto. as previous review. Nice smokey bite at end.

Comments: Downgraded from 6 glasses; it doesn't seem as "full" or "thick" as I remember it.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 3 August 2009.)

Rating: 5 glasses.

Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale

2010-01-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Sierra Nevada

Style: Barleywine

Tasting notes: (1103) A fresh, 2011, bottle. Malty and long bitter finish. Hops were strong but not overpowering. The sensation of biting into a grapefruit with lots of pith emerged as I drank the beer. (1101) A 2010 bottles about 1 year ago. Yummy caramel and honey and subdued bitterness and long bitter aftertaste. (1101) A 2006 bottle cellared almost 5 years. Marvelous sweet barley malt followed by pungent yet restrained piney hop bite. A tiche of chocolate in the malt? Is the chocolate sherry? Best beer ever? (1003) My favorite beer? (1003) A fresh 2010 bottle. What's for dessert? (1001) A fresh 2010 bottle. Smoother than I remember w/ a bite that grows. Fantastic. (1001) A 2006 bottle cellared for almost 4 years. Marvelous sweet barley malt followed by pungent yet restrained piney hop bite. A tiche of chocolate in the malt? Previous Review.

Comment: The beer is getting better and better with age.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 but not 10 March 2007 or 26 September 2009.

Rating: 7 glasses

Ichtegem's Grand Cru

2010-01-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Strubbe

Style: Flanders Oud Bruin

Tasting notes: (1001) Pleasant blend of sweet and tart apples and vinegar. Very easy drinking and quenching. May rate 5 glasses.

Rating: 6 glasses - 4 glasses

Saison - Brett

2010-01-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Boulevard

Style: Saison

Tasting notes: (1101) Mellowed over the year. A wonderful quaffable saison w/ a touch of pineapple. May rate 5 glasses. (1001) Ginger ale and pineapple. Sweet up front and w/ slight citrus bite at end. Quaffable.

Top 100: 9 January 2010. Not available 29 December 2005 or 10 March 2007.

Rating: 6 glasses

World Wide Stout

2010-01-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Dogfish Head

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (0912) Prunes cooked in soy sauce. Interesting in a freak-show kind of way.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 but not 10 March 2007.

Rating: 1 glass

Monster Ale

2010-01-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Brooklyn
Style: English Barley Wine
Tasting notes: (0912) A draft @ Mekong. Big sweet dark malt. Upgraded from 4 glasses. (0710) A 2006 bottle. A little caramel, a little chocolate(?), a little sherry, and a little too hot. Might age well.
Rating: 5 glasses

Twelve

2010-01-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Weyerbacher

Style: American Barley Wine

Tasting notes: (0912) What a differnce a year made. Sweet apples, a dash of sherry, and some rye. English barleywineish up front with a slight sourish hop bite at end. Probably a 4 for this bottle. The rating is a weighted average. (0811) Malt, tart apples, lemon flavor, with husky hop bite. Didn't fit.

Rating: 3 glasses

1809

2010-01-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Weihenstephaner
Style: Berliner Weissbier
Tasting notes: (0912) Green apples. Refreshing and easy drinking. Reminds me of a fruity, slightly tart, Belgian Pale Ale. May rate 5 glasses.
Comment: A contract brew for Dr. Fritz Briem . Dr. Briem has a passion for reviving forgotten sytles. He is also the driving force behind 13th Century Gruit.
Rating: 4 glasses

Vintage Ale

2010-01-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Fullers

Style: Old Ale

Tasting notes: (0912) A 5-yr old bottle dated 2004. A luscious and subdued blend of spice, malt, and lactic acid. May rate 7 glasses.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 but not 10 March 2007.

Rating: 6 glasses

2009 Vintage Ale

2010-01-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Trader Joe's
Style: Strong Belgian Dark Ale
Tasting notes: (1101) Eh? Too much licorice. Downgraded from 4. (1101) Nice beer. Good value. (0912) Interesting, complex and smooth. Some clove, some chocolate, and (??) nutmeg, cinnamon, hazelnut, and licorice. May rate 5 glasses. A terrific value @ $4.99.
Comment: A contract brew w/ Unibrue.
Previous rating: 4 glasses.
Rating: 3 glasses

Black Chocolate Stout

2010-01-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Brooklyn

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (1101) A year-old 2009-10 bottle. Chocolate malt w/ a flash of charcoal. Very nice. (1008) A 2006-07 bottle, 4.5 yr. old. Chocolate nose. Almost soy but not, Bitter/sour end. Dry port? (1004) A 3-yr-old bottle from 2006-07. First sip was bittersweet chocolate and charcoal dust. Sippable and quaffable. Upgraded from 4 glasses. (1001) A fresh bottle from 09-10. Dark chocolate syrup. Downgraded from 5 glasses. (0912) A 3-yr. old bottle from 06-07. A delightful, deep, dark, stout. Some port peeking out? Upgraded from 4 glasses. Previous review.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 but not 10 March 2007 or 26 September 2009.

Comments: This beer seems to vary slightly by year and improves w/ age.

Previous ratings: 5, 6, 4, 3, then 4 glasses.

Rating: 5 glasses

Peche Mortel

2009-12-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Brasserie Dieu du Ciel

Style: Imperial Stout

Tasting notes: (0912) Sweet coffee w/ a dash of vanilla. Easy drinking.

Comments: Brewed w/ coffee. Peche Mortel = mortal sin.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 26 December 2009.

Rating: 5 glasses

Pride and Joy

2009-12-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Three Floyds

Style: Pale Ale

Tasting notes: See previous review.

Rating: 5 glasses

Calva Reserva

2009-12-25T15:48:00.000-08:00

Brewer: Smisje

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Tasting notes: (0912) Baked apples and very easy drinking. Purchased after tasting @ Mekong a few days earlier.

Rating: 4 glasses